Summertime Blues

Took a vacation to Saint Francisco's town in the state of California. I have become obsessed with Plants vs. Zombies. It's only $10 and will entertain you (in the way that a heroin coma "entertains you") for hours on end. Good for a summer fling--I like the idea of "casual" games. Here's an interview with one of the programmers for Pop Cap.

Ye Cats!

Molo reads up on the latest scientific recommendations for personal health and "wellness" in the latest Arms and Ether--"Scientification." Apparently, Molo also has a cat (above). I did not know that until today.

Life is flying out the window it seems. I feel I've aged 50 years in the last 6 months or so. Death and disease are laying waste to those around me and by association my beliefs and assumptions about what's "important". This feels like "experience" in the bad, Blakean sense. (Kids, it turns out that Death, not Sex = loss of innocence, so get with the lovin' and leave-off the dyin') And so, my mid-life crisis moves into the "questioning the mission" phase. Awesome. Just awesome. So not so much drawin/bloggin as of late.

A nice goofy little interview with Roz Chast in the Sunday NY Times. I mention because a) she was an early hero of mine, b) she kind of looks like an older version of Lady Miss Julie who also digs Ms. Chast's stuff, and c) I relate to her description of how she spends her Sundays as described in the article. I'll likely be up till 3 tonight as well, so cheers, Roz.

Anywayz, I first saw Roz Chast's stuff in The National Lampoon when I was in Junior High. One of my favorite 4-panels went something like this:
1. Where's Mister Etch-A-Sketch?
2. He's not here.
3. He's not here either.
4. His family is getting worried.
All of the drawings and characters looked like they were half-heartedly drawn on an etch a sketch. That strip gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Finally, thanks to Lea Of The Woodlands for the link to the very cool when I am king. The strip takes some nice twists and turns visually as it evolves. Dig it.

A Question

Will I get it together to get the new Arms and Ether up by tomorrow? I don't know. I really don't know.

If I don't , will you still love me?
If I don't, will the best parts of our humanity grow and flourish all the same?

Of course, the answer to these questions is, "no." Without plain country folks like us makin' art and makin' love, there just ain't no goodlinesse. . . just mile after mile of them Dark Satanic Mills™ (now available in China!).

Marks of Weakness, Marks of Woe

I face daily occupational hazards the likes of which the average 21st century lady-boy can scarcely imagine. Just today I accidentally marked my thumb twice while recapping a "big-ass" Sharpie marker. And before you fire off a fusillade of outraged comments and emails, know that the photo above is not retouched.

"God man!" you may say, but know that without risk there is no reward. These ebon devil's marks are the bitter price paid for inscribing my external Q-drive with a clever and fetching Duchamp shout-out. Noblesse oblige.

Why two marks when most of you stay-at-homes can scarcely imagine one? I will tell you, though my explanation beggars credulity. The second mark came when having left the "s" off of "alors," I was forced to uncap, write, and re-cap yet again.

I accomplish in a day what the ordinary person strives to accomplish in a lifetime.

And I will have your respect. Oh yes.
Yes.

S.O.U. Animation Students Kickin It

Trisha Johansen and Casey Pyke's computer animated short, Alley Dog premiers this Wednesday night, June 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Meese Auditorium of the SOU Arts Building. Be there.

Gratuitous Kudos

To Bethesda, makers of Fallout 3. The Button Gwinnett robot (above) brought tears to my eyes. And yes, if you can convince him that you're Thomas Jefferson he says, "Do give my regards to Sally." So, Bethesda, I salute you with heartfelt thanks.