• Not only is the world going 7/7/07 crazy today, but we are too, celebrating exactly TEN YEARS of News Askew on the web — Wow, that’s a LONG TIME. Ten years. In porting over the redesign and news database for the new site you’re now viewing, we had the chance to look back on our travels and experiences since we started posting on the web back in 1997. What a long, fun ride it’s been. We’re very happy to continue to provide your almost daily dose of View Askew news, and thankful for those of you that have been with us, whether it’s for 10 years, 1 year, or 1 week. It’s readers and scoopers like yourselves that keep this site alive, and have made it the success that it is. Today’s new site represents a fresh beginning for the next ten years, and presents the most advanced base for News Askew that we’ve ever had.

Let’s learn more about the new site, including what’s done, what’s NOT done, what’s on the horizon, and more. We’ve also got your weekend edition of News Askew, so let’s not forget about that (the show must go on, after all, despite our lack of sleep squashing site bugs). And of course, let’s again say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for keeping the site alive, and of course to Mr. Kevin Smith, who pays the bills and keeps this site coming your way.

• So, here we are! News Askew X. The site you’re now viewing represents almost a half a year of preparation, layout, and database design. And we’re still not done. We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you use a modern browser, the latest version of Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari. We’re still finding heaps of Internet Explorer 6 bugs, so if you’re under that browser, please upgrade or be patient with us as we work to figure them all out. Also, enable Javascript if you know how. That will ensure that some of the extra features will function as we intended.

You may notice an options console in the upper-right corner. This currently functions under all browsers except for IE (a fix is coming for that). With it, you can switch News Askew from a fluid, widescreen design to a more static, slimmer design. You can also change the main color scheme to your liking. These features may stick around, or we may force a color on you down the line. For now, the choice is yours. We have some design left to do as far as graphics go, so things are going to evolve from this point, especially in the site header.

We’re still in the process of categorizing the almost 7,000 stories here at News Askew. When we’re done, you’ll be able to use a new extended live search to interactively pull up stories by month, year, or even catgegory. For now, the general archives page will get you where you need to be.

Image handling is much nicer at the new site. If you’re using a fairly new browser, say goodbye to those images that show up in new windows. Try clicking this thumbnail image below and see how the new image expansion feature looks. Niiiice.

We’re pleased to say that our polls archive is 80% re-established, and live polling has now returned to the site. Be sure to cast your vote on the current poll question, and submit your own ideas for future News Askew polls. Yes, we’ll be asking at some point what you think of the new site, but want to get the major bug fixes before we start getting some feedback.

That’s about all we want to say about the new design, for now. As we put the finishing touches on features, we’ll let you know here at the front page. Commenting on stories is encouraged and live, though you’ll have to re-register yourself. Reserve that user name that you’ve been looking for now. As always, we have the rights to refuse any user name or comment post. So behave yourselves. Poke around a bit, try a search, and see what you think. We realize it’s a big change. We know you’re going to grow to love it, if you don’t already. Welcome to News Askew X, the new News Askew!

• Kevin’s “Live Free or Die Hard” exchange with film critic Ty Burr made the New York Post’s famous Page Six column again this week:

• Just three weeks to go until the world famous San Diego Comic-Con, who have now posted the official schedule. This is probably the biggest and best comics and entertainment event of the year. Kevin is once again a featured guest this year, and without a major film release to get in the way, we’re betting he’ll be there EARLY and willing to do the Q&A thing as long as he can have the room.

This year, you can catch Kevin doing the Q&A panel from 6:15 to 7:45 PM in Hall H, on Friday, July 27th. No word yet on if Kevin will be holding a signing, though we’re guessing that the famous View Askew swag booth will be on the floor, full of bargains on some of the fantastic stuff sold exlusively through Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash.

As always, we URGE you to get to the con early, as Kevin’s appearances always fill to capacity. If they’re handing out tickets, get in line and get one, to ensure you’ll get a seat in the room.

• Leo Quinones interviews Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier tonight, live on 97.1 KLSX Free FM. You can listen and watch it as it happens via their website. Click the banner above to head over to the site. Ten random winners who visit Leo’s myspace page, add Leo as a friend, and message back “ASKEW ME” will have a chance at winning some prizes from the show (the guys are hoping to get signed scripts to offer up to fans). Also, if you login and ask a question in the chat room tonight that’s used on-air, you’ll ALSO win a script. Nice eh?

Tune in tonight, from 7 PM to 9 PM PST (10 PM to midnight EST). Exclusively on 97.1 and online!

• Malcolm Ingram’s award-winning documentary “Small Town, Gay Bar”, produced by View Askew, will be available on a packed DVD August 7th, 2007. You can bet that we’ll have a fantastic pre-order price on SIGNED copies of this film through the Stash, so stay tuned for those details as soon as we can get ‘em. Those of you lucky enough to see the film at a Vulgarthon or another film festival over the past year or two can attest to what a good job that Malc did to capture this walk of life. Read Kevin’s reveal over at the board.

By the way, sneak into Kev’s post and you’ll also notice that he’s made a MAJOR casting for “Zack & Miri” — Judging by the secrecy, we’re betting this may be for the “Zack” role, too — As we’re still figuring Rosario for “Miri”. We can’t wait to find out who’s coming into the family.

• Yep, it’s never a View Askew production unless something weird happens — Kevin has openly denied a couple’s claim that “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” is based on them.

• The voice of Kevin appears on a new DVD with a behind the scenes look at the new Superman animated movie. The disc, distributed by Diamond this week, came inside select comics. In it, Kevin appears in a brief voiceover at the end saying, “Like we really needed him to bust up a mechanical spider, LAME.” If anyone has a capture or an extra disc, let us know!

• According to IMDB.com, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are going to co-write another film, their first since “Good Will Hunting”. We’ve heard this before, from time to time, so we’ll wait for concrete news before reporting further.

• And while we’re talking Affleck, Kevin has high praise for the dude’s directorial debut, “Gone Baby Gone”. You can now view the theatrical trailer exclusively over at Yahoo Movies.

• USA Today gives Kevin’s turn in “Live Free or Die Hard” the edge in this silly little story comparing elements of that film to “Transformers”.

• Jason Lee answers a few new questions for “Disney Adventures” magazine, about “Underdog”, of course, and we’ve got the scan for ya. Click and enjoy, using that snazzy new image expansion feature of ours.

• Everyone remember Afroman and that addictive tune “Because I Got High” that appeared in “Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back”? AP is now reporting that the artist is working on a new film titled “Waiting To Inhale”.