We discuss a nickname for Nephyrem, which would be convenient for obvious reasons but difficult to do for equally obvious (but I suppose spoileriffic, so never mind) reasons.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 10:00 pm
Oh, also, should we come up with a pet name for Nephyrem? It's kind of a mouthful, in-universe, I mean.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 10:02 pm
In-universe meaning in our universe, where we have to type out all those letters, most of which across the keyboard from each other?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 10:03 pm
You know what? Both. I use NPR, sometimes, but then it reminds me of Neil Patrick Harris.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 10:05 pm
National Public Radio? Philip Seymour Hoffman?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 10:06 pm
Neph just feels odd.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 10:07 pm
I... don't know. Nephi?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 10:09 pm
Nephi sounds like some Greek word, or a term 14-17 year old fangirls would use to refer to him
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 10:11 pm
Which would be hmm.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 10:17 pm
People might start thinking we have a hard-on for Utah.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 10:18 pm
Lynxon, NB?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 10:23 pm
No, there are in reality elaborate puns to back all the names up, right.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 10:21 pm
I guess I'd like to think our inspiration wasn't so mundane, but hey.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Correspondence 1/24/12 20:19 - 21:33
In the midst of spoilery discussions on characters, we manage to have a non spoiler-laden discussion involving character names, which should be fine since I've shown you those discussions in the past. No, wait, that's what the conversation was already about. So, it was a spoilery discussion on character names, then we drift to names of characters who aren't characters so there aren't spoilers. Unless the fact that there is no Schmitty constitutes as a spoiler. I guess there would indeed be spoilers below. It ends kind of abruptly here because after that, we get right back into spoiler territory, and don't want to give those away.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 8:19 pm
Whatever happened to Schmidtty?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:13 pm
Schmidtty?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:14 pm
Yeah, remember how there was one OREM meber we could never quite remember after we had come up with all of them the first time?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:19 pm
Maybe he's living up to his legacy a little too well, because I'm not too certain who you're talking about.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:20 pm
I don't know; I always had the nagging feeling there was one member, after we had come up with all the names originally when we were doing track.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:21 pm
I think that was before I ever grew fond of using "Schmitty" as a joke placeholder name, though, unless you assigned it.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:24 pm
Well, to be fair, a lot of the names were jokes at first- Django was originally Jingo, for example. Well, actually, Django was originally Django, but then I jokingly suggested Jingo for a member of Lynx, and from there we remembered the names of the rest of the OREM members.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:25 pm
Well, that sounds about right. And I remember being told by someone else that every team of code-named members needs a "Specs" as well.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:26 pm
Yess! See, it's coming-ish back now.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:28 pm
You know, I've never been sure if you have a really good memory, or I have a really bad one. I'm inclined to believe the latter.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:31 pm
I'm not sure if it's that, either; my earliest memory seems to be of me waking up with no memory of the previous day, being, I suppose, at the formative part of the brain's capacity to retain knowledge. It's not that we don't remember our very early childhoods; it's just that memories of them never existed in the first place.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:33 pm
I was about to say that we got off topic, but if you think about it...
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 8:19 pm
Whatever happened to Schmidtty?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:13 pm
Schmidtty?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:14 pm
Yeah, remember how there was one OREM meber we could never quite remember after we had come up with all of them the first time?
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:19 pm
Maybe he's living up to his legacy a little too well, because I'm not too certain who you're talking about.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:20 pm
I don't know; I always had the nagging feeling there was one member, after we had come up with all the names originally when we were doing track.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:21 pm
I think that was before I ever grew fond of using "Schmitty" as a joke placeholder name, though, unless you assigned it.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:24 pm
Well, to be fair, a lot of the names were jokes at first- Django was originally Jingo, for example. Well, actually, Django was originally Django, but then I jokingly suggested Jingo for a member of Lynx, and from there we remembered the names of the rest of the OREM members.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:25 pm
Well, that sounds about right. And I remember being told by someone else that every team of code-named members needs a "Specs" as well.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:26 pm
Yess! See, it's coming-ish back now.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:28 pm
You know, I've never been sure if you have a really good memory, or I have a really bad one. I'm inclined to believe the latter.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 24, 2012 9:31 pm
I'm not sure if it's that, either; my earliest memory seems to be of me waking up with no memory of the previous day, being, I suppose, at the formative part of the brain's capacity to retain knowledge. It's not that we don't remember our very early childhoods; it's just that memories of them never existed in the first place.
Re: attus Norvegicus
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 24, 2012 9:33 pm
I was about to say that we got off topic, but if you think about it...
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Hyperfictional Television
Sometimes even non-post-modern television doesn't exist, inside of itself. I mean, even that's all fictional, even within the world it takes place in. Even more fictional than just something that would exist as nonfictional fiction within the universe. You know what, this would be easier to illustrate than to explain. Observe:
- Tommy Westphall from St. Elsewhere himself visits St. Elsewhere on several occasions, starting with the 1983 episode "All About Eve." He is thus himself a figment of his own imagination. Which is alright, because Tommy Westphall was imagining stuff before he was even born, so it makes sense.
- The show "Knots Landing," a spinoff from Dallas, takes place in Pam's head. I mean, when Bobby died but it was just a dream, from then on out, at least. Knots Landing acts like Bobby did die, so it's just her little dream world.
- The entirety of the series "I Dream of Jeannie" was a dream of the character Howard Borden, dreaming he was Major Healey (also played by Bill Daily.) The Bob Newhart show was itself the dream of Bob Newhart, and Bob Newhart is himself a figment of Tommy Westphall's imagination.
- Speaking of dreams within dreams, I have a pet theory where Dom Cobb from Inception is just Cobb from Nolan's Following, except as a dream version where he's played by Leonardo DiCaprio. "And the top's spinning and spinning, and just when it's about to topple... I wake up."
- In-universe, the PBS children's television show Arthur was created by Matt Damon, but based on the adventures of the real Arthur after Arthur sent in a video entry of his life as part of a contest Matt Damon was doing. Matt Damon, played by himself, liked it so much, he turned it into a show. Let that sink in for a sec. Yeah, you got it. Also, Neil Gaiman, also played by himself, is sometimes imaginary and made out of falafel. Just sayin'.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Tom Cruise Day '14
I just found this file clearing out all of the old Russian cartoon samples I had downloaded from the internet. Good thing, too, since it looks like the site I got them from came down with a bad case of the junk codes. At least I had snagged some Winnie-the-Pooh and Hedgehog in the Fog samples in that time.
Really, though, (fun fact) an animated character consciously modeled off of Tom, Cruise? Aladdin.
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| Not that one. (Via Last.fm) |
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Lies in... the Other Kind of Lines
It's certainly not considered fictional if you have people pose for a photograph, though they would not naturally be doing that if they weren't getting their picture taken. What about actors? If you place a camera in front of actors acting, could the result be considered a work of fiction? What if you videotaped it? Is that fiction? Or just the truth of people lying?
Acting is fiction, and a form of lying. Overacting, though? It could be said just a magnification of what's already there. So lies come in words. Only in declarative statements, though. Questions can't be lies; they can only be misleading.
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Lies in Lines
A drawing is just lines put together. Is a line a work of fiction? By itself, it's an object, and only that. With thickness and length and curve and sometimes texture. A photograph captures a single moment, and it is inarguable that an undoctored photograph is non-fiction. A photograph captures a moment, and a drawing can capture a moment, but imperfectly. Even if the drawing is 100% true-to-life, it will be fiction, because it is an artifact of an artist's hands.
A drawing, more often than not, though, does not capture a moment, while a photograph captures a moment 100% of the time (well, "moment" is subjective, and it really depends on exposure length. (Which raises questions on its own, most notably involving direct-contact long-exposure photography techniques such as sun printing, but we'll drop that for now.)
A drawing, more often than not, though, does not capture a moment, while a photograph captures a moment 100% of the time (well, "moment" is subjective, and it really depends on exposure length. (Which raises questions on its own, most notably involving direct-contact long-exposure photography techniques such as sun printing, but we'll drop that for now.)
Friday, October 3, 2014
Thespis Strip Dated Sunday, October 3, 2010
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| Click to embiggen. |
Offstage Voice: So, what. You're saying Marvin and you had legs once?
Collin: Not us, Bambi. The ancestors of the modern drama masks. The two brothers.
Offstage Voice: So, you've never had legs. Do you even know what pants are?
Collin: Yes, but be don't even have a place to put them. No legs, no pants!
That's why we can "walk" around without pants and avoid the censors' [sic] wrath!
Unlike you and your forest friends, who have legs.
But, you know, you're all animals, who don't have pants, either.
Offstage Voice: Wait, so... It's not about having the rights to the characters?
Is that why we're off screen all the time? 'Cos we is... nekkid?
Collin: Yup.
Offstage Voice: ...
You can't see me, but I'm making a goofy frat boy face right now.
Collin: Alright!
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Correspondence 1/19/12 20:33 - 21:01
We wrap up this run with a discussion of needing to get published in order to become worthy of being published by Vertigo. We swap our story ideas, and Cailin makes references to some awesome ideas we've corresponded over that I've elected not to share with you out of respect to the ideas. We go on to discuss why storytelling is in a broader sense even necessary. I may be extrapolating a bit when I say that, but pay careful attention to my talk of bearing a "legacy."
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:33 pm
Oh, yeah, we actually need to, like, write some short stories to get our names out there first, don't we?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:36 pm
Probably a good idea, yeah.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:40 pm
I've got... St. John the Divine and the Angel, mostly planned out; Air Liner Number Four, written but missing a climax; some personal stories written just for the sake of getting something written, some of which with science fiction elements thrown in for the sake of science fiction, some of which with metafictional realization and psychoanalysis of why I'd throw in sci-fi elements for the sake of sci-fi; and a bunch of plotlines for The Artefact and Artificial Winter.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:44 pm
Most of my ideas are much more loosely organized, and more or less in my head. I've still got my "temporally unique" artifact time machine idea kind of plotted out.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:45 pm
That seems more expansive, though. You should write stuff down. That way, you'd already have a legacy.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:48 pm
Legacy's a strong word. I also have a coming of age tale with very slight sci-fi/fantasy elements, kind of like a modern American Wuxia story.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:50 pm
Well, if you die, then all the people will at least know you had ideas.
I've got those, too, but, like I said, the only reason I even add the slight sci-fi/fantasy elements is to make my coming-of-age story be not hipster.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:53 pm
Yeah, I see what you mean on both accounts. I'll give it a try, then. I always tend to think that I'll remember, but I rarely do.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:53 pm
Sweet.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:59 pm
Indeed.
...Well, we done here for the evening?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 9:00 pm
Yeah, you pretty much don't even need to respond to this post. But it was a good run.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 9:01 pm
Well I will out of courtesy. Great brainstorming just then.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:33 pm
Oh, yeah, we actually need to, like, write some short stories to get our names out there first, don't we?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:36 pm
Probably a good idea, yeah.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:40 pm
I've got... St. John the Divine and the Angel, mostly planned out; Air Liner Number Four, written but missing a climax; some personal stories written just for the sake of getting something written, some of which with science fiction elements thrown in for the sake of science fiction, some of which with metafictional realization and psychoanalysis of why I'd throw in sci-fi elements for the sake of sci-fi; and a bunch of plotlines for The Artefact and Artificial Winter.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:44 pm
Most of my ideas are much more loosely organized, and more or less in my head. I've still got my "temporally unique" artifact time machine idea kind of plotted out.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:45 pm
That seems more expansive, though. You should write stuff down. That way, you'd already have a legacy.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:48 pm
Legacy's a strong word. I also have a coming of age tale with very slight sci-fi/fantasy elements, kind of like a modern American Wuxia story.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:50 pm
Well, if you die, then all the people will at least know you had ideas.
I've got those, too, but, like I said, the only reason I even add the slight sci-fi/fantasy elements is to make my coming-of-age story be not hipster.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:53 pm
Yeah, I see what you mean on both accounts. I'll give it a try, then. I always tend to think that I'll remember, but I rarely do.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:53 pm
Sweet.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:59 pm
Indeed.
...Well, we done here for the evening?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 9:00 pm
Yeah, you pretty much don't even need to respond to this post. But it was a good run.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 9:01 pm
Well I will out of courtesy. Great brainstorming just then.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Correspondence 1/19/12 19:33 - 20:21
We continue from our discussion of how the romance and escape artist subplots are best told in a serialized format. From there we speculate on which governmental organizations would be in on what in this universe.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:33 pm
Episodic is good. It certainly allows us to have... more... noir?
On the whole Catholicism thing, with the demonology, maybe the organs convince her that the demons are real?
Wow, so much context is needed to understand that sentence fully...
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:34 pm
Haha, yeah. But yes, I like that. But why would they? They're intelligent, but not sapient, I wouldn't think.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:37 pm
Maybe she thinks that they are the demons?
But, man, what a cop-out that would be, when it turns out that they're just her organs all along. Okay, she knows that they're her organs, but she sees them as demons, in a sort of metaphorical-yet-literal sense.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:39 pm
I can deal with that. I never really thought of her as being particularly religious, though.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:41 pm
I thought that there was this dramatic backdrop of demonology? But, yeah, she herself isn't all that religious, or at least not pious. She just thinks that this is what the Bible meant when it said that Jesus cast out demons.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:43 pm
Yeah, there is, it just seems a little hard to work in. Maybe she's the type of person whose faith varies from day to day.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:46 pm
I always saw her relationship with her FBI partner sort of Mulder-and-Scully-ish, so, maybe? I don't know; I'm just trying to fit the whole demonology business in myself. Maybe it ties into her mother, something her mother said? A scripture, perhaps? "I am Legion, for we are many"?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:47 pm
That could be an interesting. And, FBI partner?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:48 pm
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that. She is FBI, right?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:49 pm
I figured the technology came from some CIA-ish secret branch. maybe they also employ the Silver Bullet? Or maybe that's UN related.
Re: Story Idea
From: POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:52 pm
Haha, the UN, awesome. No, Silver Bullet's federal, US technology, unless you're talking about the parasites, which would also have to be US, since the same tech is used with the escape guy. Uh, I like the idea of the UN, though.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:57 pm
The parasites feel a little UN-y, to be honest. But, yeah, Bullet's American.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:58 pm
So, Parasite Girl and the Silver Bullet's fates grow more and more entwined as the Silver Bullet kills the bad guys of the secret organization and Parasite Girl delves deeper into this organization... crap, the thing with the Kuru and the genetically modified wheat is become just a Macguffin now.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:02 pm
I'm sure there's a way to tie it in a little more strongly. Or maybe all the details are irrelevant, and we just wanted science fictiony excuses to write a romance.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:04 pm
Like I said, episodic.
Umm, we get the World Health Organization in on this? There's a UN thing, right?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:12 pm
The WHO and the CDC are pretty genuinely terrifying, so yeah.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:14 pm
Ah, right! It starts off FBI, and then later they team up with the CDC. Jurisdiction!
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:21 pm
Jurisdiction! I kind of like that. I think Vertigo would publish this as a comic.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:33 pm
Episodic is good. It certainly allows us to have... more... noir?
On the whole Catholicism thing, with the demonology, maybe the organs convince her that the demons are real?
Wow, so much context is needed to understand that sentence fully...
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:34 pm
Haha, yeah. But yes, I like that. But why would they? They're intelligent, but not sapient, I wouldn't think.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:37 pm
Maybe she thinks that they are the demons?
But, man, what a cop-out that would be, when it turns out that they're just her organs all along. Okay, she knows that they're her organs, but she sees them as demons, in a sort of metaphorical-yet-literal sense.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:39 pm
I can deal with that. I never really thought of her as being particularly religious, though.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:41 pm
I thought that there was this dramatic backdrop of demonology? But, yeah, she herself isn't all that religious, or at least not pious. She just thinks that this is what the Bible meant when it said that Jesus cast out demons.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:43 pm
Yeah, there is, it just seems a little hard to work in. Maybe she's the type of person whose faith varies from day to day.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:46 pm
I always saw her relationship with her FBI partner sort of Mulder-and-Scully-ish, so, maybe? I don't know; I'm just trying to fit the whole demonology business in myself. Maybe it ties into her mother, something her mother said? A scripture, perhaps? "I am Legion, for we are many"?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:47 pm
That could be an interesting. And, FBI partner?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:48 pm
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that. She is FBI, right?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:49 pm
I figured the technology came from some CIA-ish secret branch. maybe they also employ the Silver Bullet? Or maybe that's UN related.
Re: Story Idea
From: POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:52 pm
Haha, the UN, awesome. No, Silver Bullet's federal, US technology, unless you're talking about the parasites, which would also have to be US, since the same tech is used with the escape guy. Uh, I like the idea of the UN, though.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:57 pm
The parasites feel a little UN-y, to be honest. But, yeah, Bullet's American.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:58 pm
So, Parasite Girl and the Silver Bullet's fates grow more and more entwined as the Silver Bullet kills the bad guys of the secret organization and Parasite Girl delves deeper into this organization... crap, the thing with the Kuru and the genetically modified wheat is become just a Macguffin now.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:02 pm
I'm sure there's a way to tie it in a little more strongly. Or maybe all the details are irrelevant, and we just wanted science fictiony excuses to write a romance.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:04 pm
Like I said, episodic.
Umm, we get the World Health Organization in on this? There's a UN thing, right?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:12 pm
The WHO and the CDC are pretty genuinely terrifying, so yeah.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 8:14 pm
Ah, right! It starts off FBI, and then later they team up with the CDC. Jurisdiction!
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 8:21 pm
Jurisdiction! I kind of like that. I think Vertigo would publish this as a comic.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Correspondence 1/19/12 19:15 - 19:30
From our discussion of Silver Bullet, we move on to a minor character Cailin had mentioned she had an idea fro a superhero of: the man who can escape any trap you put him in through the subconscious planning and execution of escape routes. I think I saw that in an anime once, but, hey, he's just a minor character.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:15 pm
So, the government is breeding dudes now? Explains that escape artist guy.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:15 pm
Escape artist guy? I don't recall.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:16 pm
Your dude who was able to plot out escape routes from any situation, subconsciously? Ah, well, I think it's been done before anyway.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:18 pm
Yeah, probably. Maybe work him in at some point, with a long description about those children in African tribes who could be dropped in the middle of the ocean blind, and would still know where north is, subconsciously.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:19 pm
And parasites.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:21 pm
And parasites?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:21 pm
Who talk to you. I figure that they use the same technology.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:27 pm
Oh, yeah, that works.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:28 pm
...But he's a pretty minor guy, right? How would he fit into the story?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:30 pm
He probably wouldn't. Maybe as a side thing, if it were to be done in a more episodic fashion, but that's probably it.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:15 pm
So, the government is breeding dudes now? Explains that escape artist guy.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:15 pm
Escape artist guy? I don't recall.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:16 pm
Your dude who was able to plot out escape routes from any situation, subconsciously? Ah, well, I think it's been done before anyway.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:18 pm
Yeah, probably. Maybe work him in at some point, with a long description about those children in African tribes who could be dropped in the middle of the ocean blind, and would still know where north is, subconsciously.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:19 pm
And parasites.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:21 pm
And parasites?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:21 pm
Who talk to you. I figure that they use the same technology.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:27 pm
Oh, yeah, that works.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:28 pm
...But he's a pretty minor guy, right? How would he fit into the story?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:30 pm
He probably wouldn't. Maybe as a side thing, if it were to be done in a more episodic fashion, but that's probably it.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Correspondence 1/19/12 19:04 - 19:14
We discuss the characterization of Silver Bullet/Black Arrow.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:04 pm
And, so, what, the organization does terrible things, so the Silver Bullet begins taking out these guys who happen to be members of a top secret society?
Kind of takes away from the idea of the power corrupting him so he becomes Black Arrow as well, but...
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:07 pm
Actually, I'm kind of feeling the Silver Bullet romance thing a little more. Maybe he's some sort of raised from birth super-soldier type, that way the ages ought to be congruent. Maybe he's paranoid about aging, because he thinks he'll be replaced as he gets older.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:10 pm
Ah, so he's pretty much a foster child of the government, raised from day 1 (and before, even: day-- hold on- nine times thirty-- negative two hundred-seventy) to do his job. I never really thought about him as an actual person outside of his actions, but now he's starting to become delicious.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:14 pm
I know, right? Plus, teens will eat that stuff up.
And maybe he always goes on about how he's been raised from day -270 as well.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:04 pm
And, so, what, the organization does terrible things, so the Silver Bullet begins taking out these guys who happen to be members of a top secret society?
Kind of takes away from the idea of the power corrupting him so he becomes Black Arrow as well, but...
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:07 pm
Actually, I'm kind of feeling the Silver Bullet romance thing a little more. Maybe he's some sort of raised from birth super-soldier type, that way the ages ought to be congruent. Maybe he's paranoid about aging, because he thinks he'll be replaced as he gets older.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 7:10 pm
Ah, so he's pretty much a foster child of the government, raised from day 1 (and before, even: day-- hold on- nine times thirty-- negative two hundred-seventy) to do his job. I never really thought about him as an actual person outside of his actions, but now he's starting to become delicious.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:14 pm
I know, right? Plus, teens will eat that stuff up.
And maybe he always goes on about how he's been raised from day -270 as well.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Correspondence 1/19/12 9:06 - 19:01
We continue our discussion of the parasite girl story. This is a really good illustration of how story ideas come together, so pay attention.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 9:06 am
Should probably start with a clear list and outline, yeah. Seems like you remember more than I do.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 9:14 am
Let's start with the biological stuff, work our way further into the future from there. TIMELINE:
1. Little Catholic girl almost killed in (car crash?), is offered new experimental surgery
2. Congress passes law allowing government to send out assassins, serving as judge, juror, and executioner, and using a bullet with holographic technology with evidences of their crimes to explain to government later.
3. Corporation modifies wheat with human brain stem DNA.
And, then... the main characters step in and solve why everybody is dying of Kuru? There's something about bird flu from cysteine in there as well.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 9:57 am
Sounds good to me, but how far apart are these events?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 10:01 am
Um, the superhero government assassin is just a current-events character; it doesn't really matter when he was authorized, and, um...
Parasite Girl can be one of the detectives investigating the rash of laughing deaths?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 2:53 pm
The thing with the Cysteine causing the Avian influenza outbreak should take place a few years before Parasite Organ girl is born. Her (Catholic headmaster?) should know about it, realize that the current Kuru outbreak is operating on the same principle, and tell Parasite Organ Girl about it, only she confuses "Cysteine" with "Sistine," following a dead end red herring. Maybe this leads her down the path of her past and why she has parasites for organs in the first place. I'm not sure how her adventures with the (DEA? FBI? Who's investigating these deaths, anyway?) intersect with the Silver Bullet/Black Arrow, though. As a (member?) of (some investigative agency?) she should be well aware of his exploits. Maybe they get romantically involved together?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 5:55 pm
I actually really like that flow of events, but the romantically involved bit may be a bit much.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:24 pm
Right, yeah, I didn't really plan on them knowing each other that well either, but it was the only way I could think to tie him into the rest of the plot. She's with the FBI, right? Right? So, sometimes guys are found dead, with a silver bullet between their eyes, and I'd imagine then the FBI would take over jurisdiction. But that still seems so tangential to the rest of it as a whole...
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:25 pm
I figured one of her Parasites would cause her to hear voices, which would actually be connected to a secret society super computer or something.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:31 pm
See? That's good.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:34 pm
Maybe she thinks she's schizophrenic half the time because of the fact that she's got a voice in her head that tells her that she's some sort of transhuman demigod.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:35 pm
Yes, yes, keep it coming...how does this work?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:44 pm
The talking parasite? I figure they all have a hive mind, which the girl will initially think is only linked to her, but is also linked to the headquarters. At first they just let her adjust, and live her life as normal, and then the messages begin, and they subtly push her this way and that, hoping that she'll join willingly.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:47 pm
So she could always hear them?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:51 pm
And they could potentially take control of her body, but maybe they fear that she could, being directly connected, override their control, or cause her body to reject the things from an averse psychological reactions.
Maybe one of the lesser directors is her (twist) father, or something, who got her mother pregnant when they were both young, and left her. He hears about his daughter's accident around the time when they're about to begin practical tests, and he pulls some strings. Maybe follow both sides.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:55 pm
Oh, right. That would explain a lot.
And he was Catholic or something? The secret society is Catholicism? No wait, that's stupid. Her mother was Catholic. All right. That's better.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:56 pm
Yeah, the Catholicism is incidental. Maybe it's just her step-dad that's Catholic.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:58 pm
No, it's her mother-- and the pastor's use of the word "Cysteine/Sistine" causes her to look further into her past via her mother, and discover her father's secret!
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:01 pm
Not bad, not bad. We have something altogether more coherent than when we began.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 9:06 am
Should probably start with a clear list and outline, yeah. Seems like you remember more than I do.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 9:14 am
Let's start with the biological stuff, work our way further into the future from there. TIMELINE:
1. Little Catholic girl almost killed in (car crash?), is offered new experimental surgery
2. Congress passes law allowing government to send out assassins, serving as judge, juror, and executioner, and using a bullet with holographic technology with evidences of their crimes to explain to government later.
3. Corporation modifies wheat with human brain stem DNA.
And, then... the main characters step in and solve why everybody is dying of Kuru? There's something about bird flu from cysteine in there as well.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 9:57 am
Sounds good to me, but how far apart are these events?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 10:01 am
Um, the superhero government assassin is just a current-events character; it doesn't really matter when he was authorized, and, um...
Parasite Girl can be one of the detectives investigating the rash of laughing deaths?
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 2:53 pm
The thing with the Cysteine causing the Avian influenza outbreak should take place a few years before Parasite Organ girl is born. Her (Catholic headmaster?) should know about it, realize that the current Kuru outbreak is operating on the same principle, and tell Parasite Organ Girl about it, only she confuses "Cysteine" with "Sistine," following a dead end red herring. Maybe this leads her down the path of her past and why she has parasites for organs in the first place. I'm not sure how her adventures with the (DEA? FBI? Who's investigating these deaths, anyway?) intersect with the Silver Bullet/Black Arrow, though. As a (member?) of (some investigative agency?) she should be well aware of his exploits. Maybe they get romantically involved together?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 5:55 pm
I actually really like that flow of events, but the romantically involved bit may be a bit much.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:24 pm
Right, yeah, I didn't really plan on them knowing each other that well either, but it was the only way I could think to tie him into the rest of the plot. She's with the FBI, right? Right? So, sometimes guys are found dead, with a silver bullet between their eyes, and I'd imagine then the FBI would take over jurisdiction. But that still seems so tangential to the rest of it as a whole...
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:25 pm
I figured one of her Parasites would cause her to hear voices, which would actually be connected to a secret society super computer or something.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:31 pm
See? That's good.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:34 pm
Maybe she thinks she's schizophrenic half the time because of the fact that she's got a voice in her head that tells her that she's some sort of transhuman demigod.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:35 pm
Yes, yes, keep it coming...how does this work?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:44 pm
The talking parasite? I figure they all have a hive mind, which the girl will initially think is only linked to her, but is also linked to the headquarters. At first they just let her adjust, and live her life as normal, and then the messages begin, and they subtly push her this way and that, hoping that she'll join willingly.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:47 pm
So she could always hear them?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:51 pm
And they could potentially take control of her body, but maybe they fear that she could, being directly connected, override their control, or cause her body to reject the things from an averse psychological reactions.
Maybe one of the lesser directors is her (twist) father, or something, who got her mother pregnant when they were both young, and left her. He hears about his daughter's accident around the time when they're about to begin practical tests, and he pulls some strings. Maybe follow both sides.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:55 pm
Oh, right. That would explain a lot.
And he was Catholic or something? The secret society is Catholicism? No wait, that's stupid. Her mother was Catholic. All right. That's better.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 6:56 pm
Yeah, the Catholicism is incidental. Maybe it's just her step-dad that's Catholic.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Jan 19, 2012 6:58 pm
No, it's her mother-- and the pastor's use of the word "Cysteine/Sistine" causes her to look further into her past via her mother, and discover her father's secret!
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Jan 19, 2012 7:01 pm
Not bad, not bad. We have something altogether more coherent than when we began.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Thespis Strip Dated Sunday, September 26, 2010
 |
| Click to embiggen. |
Collin: Yes... The knowledge... The information!
The how! The why! The when and where!
All the past! All the present! The histories ancient & modern! The reasons! Who we are, where we've been, how we came to be!
Listen and I will tell you how the drama masks came to be!
In the start, all players wore drama masks. Among them ...
Two brothers- Two balancing forces of drama- the comedy and the tragedy. (Sort of like in LOST.)
Which I totally understood, 'cos I'm smart now.
And they had bodies, with which to act! Work, and play...
SFX: SPLAT KRAK
Collin: And that's why we don't got no legs!
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Style/Substance/Message/Messager
In post, The Sweep of August 19 2012, I made a comparative of all three of my 24 hour comics to date-- I there mentioned the skill gauged against the style. "Cleaner," was the word I used, reflecting the gauge of my usage of subsurface art techniques. Read that link. Alright.
A lot of perceived "talent" is just decent execution upon a good style. How can you tell if it itself is good if it's decent execution upon a mediocre-to-terrible style? Here I seem to be using "style" in the way I previously have used "substance" in this series, and oh look here's a link to a post that talks all about that, the style versus substance thing I did a whole thing on. Now I'm using words to mean the opposite, which is maybe a bit confusing, but this is execution upon a style, or perhaps a method, of doing something, I mean to say. That makes more sense. Right?
For example, a lot of criticism is levied against Christopher Paolini for his Eragon series, specifically the amount of cliches allegedly therein. But the writing itself- isn't all that bad. I've had a lot of time to think about this, so I'm glad I wasn't professionally published when I was fifteen. Link. As good as some of my ideas might have been (I don't think I'm still holding up any projects starting at that age or before, so maybe not- no, wait, there's still project "Artefact," but it's gone through so many reformations and maturations since then that a vast vast majority of the backstory and plot and everything is just- pardon me- an artifact) I realize now that I lacked the ability to execute upon any ideas.
My daily blogging has inspired- well, no, I shouldn't get into that, but... I'm focused, anyway, and, daily, and, adjective, and...
Let's just say I'm motivated, that's a good way of putting what I couldn't. Put out a post every day, motivated. Get things done. Some days are better than others, both quality- and productivity-wise. It's all a strengthening learning experience, though, even with the absolute crap that I display unapologetically to the world. Having that behind me, good, but in the public... It's nice to see evolution and all, but embarrassment caused by things you said when you were young and stupid, remaining there forever-- I don't know, man; it's tough.
A lot of perceived "talent" is just decent execution upon a good style. How can you tell if it itself is good if it's decent execution upon a mediocre-to-terrible style? Here I seem to be using "style" in the way I previously have used "substance" in this series, and oh look here's a link to a post that talks all about that, the style versus substance thing I did a whole thing on. Now I'm using words to mean the opposite, which is maybe a bit confusing, but this is execution upon a style, or perhaps a method, of doing something, I mean to say. That makes more sense. Right?
For example, a lot of criticism is levied against Christopher Paolini for his Eragon series, specifically the amount of cliches allegedly therein. But the writing itself- isn't all that bad. I've had a lot of time to think about this, so I'm glad I wasn't professionally published when I was fifteen. Link. As good as some of my ideas might have been (I don't think I'm still holding up any projects starting at that age or before, so maybe not- no, wait, there's still project "Artefact," but it's gone through so many reformations and maturations since then that a vast vast majority of the backstory and plot and everything is just- pardon me- an artifact) I realize now that I lacked the ability to execute upon any ideas.
My daily blogging has inspired- well, no, I shouldn't get into that, but... I'm focused, anyway, and, daily, and, adjective, and...
Let's just say I'm motivated, that's a good way of putting what I couldn't. Put out a post every day, motivated. Get things done. Some days are better than others, both quality- and productivity-wise. It's all a strengthening learning experience, though, even with the absolute crap that I display unapologetically to the world. Having that behind me, good, but in the public... It's nice to see evolution and all, but embarrassment caused by things you said when you were young and stupid, remaining there forever-- I don't know, man; it's tough.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Personalities
There's a difference between shyness and introversion. Also, depression is a mental illness; it doesn't simply mean "sad." It involves feelings of guilt and lack of interest in daily life. Sadness may or may not be a part of that.
Honestly.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Da Vinci Code, Verb
William Blake's gonna be the next guy they "Da Vinci Code." He invented his own set of mythology, just so he could make cryptic allusions to obscure bits of it in his poetry, as if it were Greek mythology instead of made-up bullcrap. Also, he drew stuff like this:
Like I said.
Monday, September 22, 2014
One Face... No... Two-Face! No... Five-Face?
There was a fifty percent change of Harvey Dent's transformation into Two-Face, right? Kind of the entire gist of it. When they first introduced the character as Harvey Kent, (yeah, Kent, probably Superman's long-lost cousin or something,) there was if I remember correctly a bit with a trick Batcoin that landed on its side instead of on either of its faces, so he agreed to have plastic surgery (and presumably plenty of psychotherapy) to help him become an upstanding citizen again. Not wanting to let such a compelling character go to waste (and really, what an awesome high concept idea ohmigosh) the DC team went through four different non-Harvey Dent Two-Faces.
There was the Two-Face copycat criminal who tried to frame Dent for his own crimes, but was foiled when the World's Greatest Detective realized that the Two-Face wounds were on the wrong side of his face. Two Two-Faces were actors recreating the iconic courtroom scene that led to his scarring (which of goes inevitably wrong with real acid,) both blissfully unaware of each other. One of those was itself rewritten and redrawn slightly with an exploding spotlight instead of a face full of acid in order to get published in a code-approved reprint comics collection. (It makes you wonder how many other actors went insane after trying to recreate the rise of Two-Face for television only to have it go wrong (is that role curse or something?) but then not go evil because their coins came up good side up when they decided whether to go through with it or not.) And finally (but chronologically the second of these four examples,) then there was one more time where the Two-Face was just a Two-Face impersonator. Who could have done it this time? Oh, yeah, it was the butler. The butler did it. (The Cape Crusader figured this one out when the impostor Two-Face used a coin with both sides scarred, which the real Two-Face would never do.)
So, that's four non-Harvey Two-Faces. It's kind of poetic and fitting of the character, though. Two different methods each of becoming two different copycat versions of Two-Face. Dent himself would have approved. Speaking of Dent, the role settled back to him. Of course it would return to him. You kidding? It was just meant to be. Take a gander yourself:
I really like this. An explosion when he's doing good causes him to permanently revert to being a villain. I guess the acid-free origin in Dark Knight still pay homage to this, with explosion. Still, aside from the kudos I must give them for correctly using the word "coincidence" instead of "irony" in the second panel, I've still got a few niggling doubts on this. Harvey Dent thinks to himself that he would have passed safe crackers right on by were he still Two-Face, but I think that there'd only be a 50% chance of that. Also, how did he get all the way home in that taxi with half of his face melted off like that? I guess it was a not uncommon seeing Two-Face around after so many recreations gone wrong. I sure hope that's the reason. Because that'd be pretty awesome.
There was the Two-Face copycat criminal who tried to frame Dent for his own crimes, but was foiled when the World's Greatest Detective realized that the Two-Face wounds were on the wrong side of his face. Two Two-Faces were actors recreating the iconic courtroom scene that led to his scarring (which of goes inevitably wrong with real acid,) both blissfully unaware of each other. One of those was itself rewritten and redrawn slightly with an exploding spotlight instead of a face full of acid in order to get published in a code-approved reprint comics collection. (It makes you wonder how many other actors went insane after trying to recreate the rise of Two-Face for television only to have it go wrong (is that role curse or something?) but then not go evil because their coins came up good side up when they decided whether to go through with it or not.) And finally (but chronologically the second of these four examples,) then there was one more time where the Two-Face was just a Two-Face impersonator. Who could have done it this time? Oh, yeah, it was the butler. The butler did it. (The Cape Crusader figured this one out when the impostor Two-Face used a coin with both sides scarred, which the real Two-Face would never do.)
So, that's four non-Harvey Two-Faces. It's kind of poetic and fitting of the character, though. Two different methods each of becoming two different copycat versions of Two-Face. Dent himself would have approved. Speaking of Dent, the role settled back to him. Of course it would return to him. You kidding? It was just meant to be. Take a gander yourself:
 |
| (Via http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2009/08/27/comic-book-legends-revealed-222/) That link has a whole bunch of other good info on the alternate Two-Faces, so check it out. |
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Correspondence 9/7/11 12:18 - 20:03
We discuss an admittedly kind of mediocre fantasy mystery premise. It's not much of a conversation, even, as we can't penetrate it, but, if I just say the idea here, I figure I won't actually have to write it.
Re: Nycaster Quote
From POMegranate to Persomem Sep 7, 2011 12:18 pm
How about a short story about alchemy, in which they find the unidentifiable remains of someone who managed to transmute lead into gold, but also takes away three protons (thus transforming the elements) from every single atom in the surrounding radius, including from the alchemist himself! (I'm not sure what would happen to any element under Beryllium, nor am I sure that this idea is even all that original; it depends on how it's handled, I guess.) Thoughts?
Re: Nycaster Quote
From Persomem to POMegranate Sep 7, 2011 12:41 pm
We'd have to get pretty into the science to find out, but it has potential.
Re: Nycaster Quote
From POMegranate to Persomem Sep 7, 2011 12:54 pm
Yeah, the chemical bonds and stuff. We'd have to find out the composition of the human body, (mostly carbon, so it'd become lithium) and suchn'such. Also, ever realize the first three letters of Nycaster are NYC?
Re: Nycaster Quote
From Persomem to POMegranate Sep 7, 2011 1:36 pm
I guess I didn't? I'm sure someone will weave significance into it.
Re: Nycaster Quote
From POMegranate to Persomem Sep 7, 2011 8:03 pm
Well, there's a new book about the periodic table that's supposed to be pretty good (The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean.)
Re: Nycaster Quote
From POMegranate to Persomem Sep 7, 2011 12:18 pm
How about a short story about alchemy, in which they find the unidentifiable remains of someone who managed to transmute lead into gold, but also takes away three protons (thus transforming the elements) from every single atom in the surrounding radius, including from the alchemist himself! (I'm not sure what would happen to any element under Beryllium, nor am I sure that this idea is even all that original; it depends on how it's handled, I guess.) Thoughts?
Re: Nycaster Quote
From Persomem to POMegranate Sep 7, 2011 12:41 pm
We'd have to get pretty into the science to find out, but it has potential.
Re: Nycaster Quote
From POMegranate to Persomem Sep 7, 2011 12:54 pm
Yeah, the chemical bonds and stuff. We'd have to find out the composition of the human body, (mostly carbon, so it'd become lithium) and suchn'such. Also, ever realize the first three letters of Nycaster are NYC?
Re: Nycaster Quote
From Persomem to POMegranate Sep 7, 2011 1:36 pm
I guess I didn't? I'm sure someone will weave significance into it.
Re: Nycaster Quote
From POMegranate to Persomem Sep 7, 2011 8:03 pm
Well, there's a new book about the periodic table that's supposed to be pretty good (The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean.)
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Thespis Strip Dated Sunday, September 19, 2010
 |
| Click to embiggen. |
Marvin: Wait, I don't get it. Is there any subtext I might have missed?
Collin: About what?
Marvin: Well, you know... Why are you suddenly, you know...
Collin: Not dumb no more?
Marvin: Yeah, um.. Something like that.
You don't seem to rely on the Editor's notes, anymore. It's almost as if you actually know this stuff.
Collin: Death chages [sic] a man.
Marvin: No, but really.
Alright, kid. You're smart, kid, you're smart.
Don't let it go to your head.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Yeah, You Knew It Was Inevitable
...Beuller? Beuller? Beuller? Beuller?
Man, Ben Stein's voice is hard to replicate in a written medium. That's more or less the only way it can be pulled off. For some reason, repeating Beuller's name will do that to you. It's just... naturally pronounced in his voice.
Uh- for those of you not in the know (...Beuller?) Talk Like a Pirate Day is now no longer Talk Like a Pirate Day but Talk Like Ben Stein Day. At least around here it is. And that means... Well, it doesn't mean much.
Man, Ben Stein's voice is hard to replicate in a written medium. That's more or less the only way it can be pulled off. For some reason, repeating Beuller's name will do that to you. It's just... naturally pronounced in his voice.
Uh- for those of you not in the know (...Beuller?) Talk Like a Pirate Day is now no longer Talk Like a Pirate Day but Talk Like Ben Stein Day. At least around here it is. And that means... Well, it doesn't mean much.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
...& Pay
Both the characters and actors are getting killed off. When a character gets killed, he is dead, and when an actor gets killed the show must go on and the character he played gets his actor replaced.
A character says, I am afraid.
Another character asks, Are you speaking as your character, or as your actor?
I'm speaking as... myself. I am afraid. Even if these are just lines I'm repeating that I read from a script, I am speaking honestly, because I honestly can't say that I'm not afraid. I don't think anyone can say that they're entirely fearless.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Play
Let's say you write a story. Let's say you write that story about yourself. And let's say that you write this story about how awesome you are at writing stories. So you write a story about you writing that story, and doing so brilliantly. As a twist ending, because you're so brilliant and all brilliant stories --especially stories written by you about how awesome you are at writing stories-- need a twist ending, it turns out all along that the story sucks.
You pretentious twit.
But, no, that's exactly the central dilemma (well, it's not really a dilemma, but it still takes characters a while to get over it) at the core of a play I'm working on. It's a murder mystery, but the murder isn't the mystery. It's not even the plot. The entire thing gets derailed by the fact that the entire thing is getting derailed, and so the question arises: is it better to stick to the premise, when the premise undoes itself like that?
The characters, you see, realize that they are in a play, for they are also playing their actors. They realize that the play isn't that good, but that it would be flawed to say "exactly, it's not supposed to be good!"
It is settled upon that just because you make yourself right doesn't mean you make yourself good, especially with that as the premise.
You pretentious twit.
But, no, that's exactly the central dilemma (well, it's not really a dilemma, but it still takes characters a while to get over it) at the core of a play I'm working on. It's a murder mystery, but the murder isn't the mystery. It's not even the plot. The entire thing gets derailed by the fact that the entire thing is getting derailed, and so the question arises: is it better to stick to the premise, when the premise undoes itself like that?
The characters, you see, realize that they are in a play, for they are also playing their actors. They realize that the play isn't that good, but that it would be flawed to say "exactly, it's not supposed to be good!"
It is settled upon that just because you make yourself right doesn't mean you make yourself good, especially with that as the premise.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Literary Fiction
David Lubar says you can tell the difference between literary fiction because your eyebrows are closer together when you get done reading it. While I do enjoy keeping s/f as hard as possible within its own system of science, making the experience as true to what could happen as possible, I am also fascinated by the boundary between fiction and reality, and I sometimes like playing with it. So I dig both.
It's not like those literary fictionists who do mostly literary fiction and then sojourn into science fiction, only with a disdain for it, just using the tropes of science fiction and then discarding the empty shells, not even bothering to check if they're saying anything new at all or if their idea is unoriginal, which is almost invariably is. I try to make it not, like so many lit-fic writers, about how clever it is that I'm saying whatever it is I'm saying, (which generally works only in satire.)
But I'm focused on how we say the things we say, which makes that line confusing. You know, style and substance. If I came straight out and discussed that, though, it would be missing the point of itself, since it's a rejection of writers who bring up clever ideas just to point out how clever they are (I'd insert a dig about Mamet here, but it's just too darn impossible to stay mad at the guy.) So they have to be incorporated and disguised into the storyline itself. Which is even more clever, you know. Once again, I'm still working on getting that implemented 100%, beginning with a clear goal in mind is good.
It's not like those literary fictionists who do mostly literary fiction and then sojourn into science fiction, only with a disdain for it, just using the tropes of science fiction and then discarding the empty shells, not even bothering to check if they're saying anything new at all or if their idea is unoriginal, which is almost invariably is. I try to make it not, like so many lit-fic writers, about how clever it is that I'm saying whatever it is I'm saying, (which generally works only in satire.)
But I'm focused on how we say the things we say, which makes that line confusing. You know, style and substance. If I came straight out and discussed that, though, it would be missing the point of itself, since it's a rejection of writers who bring up clever ideas just to point out how clever they are (I'd insert a dig about Mamet here, but it's just too darn impossible to stay mad at the guy.) So they have to be incorporated and disguised into the storyline itself. Which is even more clever, you know. Once again, I'm still working on getting that implemented 100%, beginning with a clear goal in mind is good.
Monday, September 15, 2014
"There is Nothing New in Art Except Talent."
Why try to be original? Rhetorically. I've gotten deep enough into the internet by now to know that (something something) originality, so it's more important to be good than to be strictly original. This is why things like Twilight, Eragon, and Avatar are so popular, I guess. Decried for being clichéd. Execution is the important thing.
There are a million excellent artists on the internet, and all of them are good, and the goodness of any artist doesn't displace that of another. They're all awesome, and they all deserve our attention, but we can't give them all our attention. So which ones, then? This is where originality comes in. Your skills can't set you apart, as much as I've hocked the values of professionalism in the past. That's only the half of it. The other half? Well, I've just told you, so...
(Note that I refer specifically to the excellent artists on the internet, more narrowly the amateur ones. Obviously professional artists have already proven themselves... professional.)
Garr see what I mean? Chekhov already beat me to the punch.
There are a million excellent artists on the internet, and all of them are good, and the goodness of any artist doesn't displace that of another. They're all awesome, and they all deserve our attention, but we can't give them all our attention. So which ones, then? This is where originality comes in. Your skills can't set you apart, as much as I've hocked the values of professionalism in the past. That's only the half of it. The other half? Well, I've just told you, so...
(Note that I refer specifically to the excellent artists on the internet, more narrowly the amateur ones. Obviously professional artists have already proven themselves... professional.)
Garr see what I mean? Chekhov already beat me to the punch.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Post THE NINE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVENTH, In Which I am Relentlessly Clever
Vocab fun: insular means relating to island. Use it in a sentence, eh? Okay, then.To apply this to an old phrase: "No man is insular." Get it? No man is an island.
It would be funny, that sentence weren't actually true. Insular also means removed physically or emotionally from others, or limited in outlook. Which actually describes a lot of men. In fact, yep, sums up the very idea of masculinity.
To apply this to a different old phrase, then, I guess. Many are insular, but few are an island.
It would be funny, that sentence weren't actually true. Insular also means removed physically or emotionally from others, or limited in outlook. Which actually describes a lot of men. In fact, yep, sums up the very idea of masculinity.
To apply this to a different old phrase, then, I guess. Many are insular, but few are an island.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Correspondence 4/9/11 10:57 - 4/15/11 1:05
Cailin reveals that though she has been established as "the bass guy," she has an utter lack of musical abilities, coupled with an "abysmal" rhythm. I sort of pioneer a way around that (on Wikipedia.) I offer to buy her an instrument, but Cailin would rather pay for her own, as her honor system prevents her from being made a charity case. Makes sense.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 9, 2011 10:57 am
I really should try and learn an instrument. I just don't have any to learn.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 9, 2011 5:03 pm
Besides the bass guitar?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 10, 2011 10:41 am
Depending on what I can get my hands on, I suppose so.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 11, 2011 6:36 pm
Once said instrument is obtained, (I just realized,) (as well as the glass chord-formy thing, which I hear also produces interesting sound,) all you really need is to know which frets to use to produce which chords. Also, how's your rhythm?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 11, 2011 7:29 pm
And if you want, you can write the tune for "Deliriance" if you want, because at the time I wrote it, I was afraid it sounded too much like one song but now I think it sounds exactly like another but I won't say which songs lest they taint your tune writing if you decide to do it. If you do that, I suppose you'd have to write the tune for one of your own songs on Felinity Femininity, which would really take priority over you writing the tune for one of my songs anyway, so I suppose you don't have to if you don't want or anything.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 12, 2011 6:52 pm
Abysmal?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 12, 2011 9:30 pm
Well, even better, then, I s'pose.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 14, 2011 2:01 pm
Doing the research (on Wikipedia) it looks like using the technique described is really easy. The thing with the bottleneck is called "sliding," and, while I can't find any mention of actually using drumsticks on the bass, it appears similar to the technique known as "slapping." When using the "sliding" technique, pressing against the frets just produces a buzzy noise, so it looks like you could just go with a fretless bass if you wanted. Bass Guitars are usually tuned to (from highest to lowest) G-D-A-E, but with open tuning, which means tuning the strings so you don't have to do anything fancy to make a chord, I'm thinking you should go with D-G-B-D.
What I'm getting at here is that it would take like literally like zero effort (other than the tuning, which should be fairly simple) to sould like the most amazing bassist in the world. Also, sticking the phrase (on Wikipedia) into a sentence is fun, and should be done more often.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 14, 2011 3:13 pm
Interesting! That certainly makes me want to try. The issue is, I don't have a base, and I can't imagine any are in my current price range of zero dollars. I need a job, but I think I'd pay for other things before I bought a bass, so there's that.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 14, 2011 3:41 pm
I has monies.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 15, 2011 1:05 am
I'd rather pay for it on my own. Always feel guilty otherwise.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 9, 2011 10:57 am
I really should try and learn an instrument. I just don't have any to learn.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 9, 2011 5:03 pm
Besides the bass guitar?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 10, 2011 10:41 am
Depending on what I can get my hands on, I suppose so.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 11, 2011 6:36 pm
Once said instrument is obtained, (I just realized,) (as well as the glass chord-formy thing, which I hear also produces interesting sound,) all you really need is to know which frets to use to produce which chords. Also, how's your rhythm?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 11, 2011 7:29 pm
And if you want, you can write the tune for "Deliriance" if you want, because at the time I wrote it, I was afraid it sounded too much like one song but now I think it sounds exactly like another but I won't say which songs lest they taint your tune writing if you decide to do it. If you do that, I suppose you'd have to write the tune for one of your own songs on Felinity Femininity, which would really take priority over you writing the tune for one of my songs anyway, so I suppose you don't have to if you don't want or anything.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 12, 2011 6:52 pm
Abysmal?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 12, 2011 9:30 pm
Well, even better, then, I s'pose.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 14, 2011 2:01 pm
Doing the research (on Wikipedia) it looks like using the technique described is really easy. The thing with the bottleneck is called "sliding," and, while I can't find any mention of actually using drumsticks on the bass, it appears similar to the technique known as "slapping." When using the "sliding" technique, pressing against the frets just produces a buzzy noise, so it looks like you could just go with a fretless bass if you wanted. Bass Guitars are usually tuned to (from highest to lowest) G-D-A-E, but with open tuning, which means tuning the strings so you don't have to do anything fancy to make a chord, I'm thinking you should go with D-G-B-D.
What I'm getting at here is that it would take like literally like zero effort (other than the tuning, which should be fairly simple) to sould like the most amazing bassist in the world. Also, sticking the phrase (on Wikipedia) into a sentence is fun, and should be done more often.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 14, 2011 3:13 pm
Interesting! That certainly makes me want to try. The issue is, I don't have a base, and I can't imagine any are in my current price range of zero dollars. I need a job, but I think I'd pay for other things before I bought a bass, so there's that.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 14, 2011 3:41 pm
I has monies.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 15, 2011 1:05 am
I'd rather pay for it on my own. Always feel guilty otherwise.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thespis Strip Dated Sunday, September 5, 2010
 |
| Click to embiggen. |
TRANSCRIPT:
Collin: Education! It's so great! So much great knowledge!
In fact, the "boy" in the name El Niño refers to baby Jesus, as the phenomenon was first reported around Christmastime by Peruvian fisherman in the late 1800s.
La Niña, El Niño's counterpart, (associated with colder-than-normal sea surface levels rather than warmer-than-normal ones) was discovered and named as recently as 1985.
ENSO, (El Niño-Southern Ocillation [sic]), while called simply "El Niño" in popular usage, actually refers to not only the El Niño-La Niña cycle, but also the cycle of Southern Ocillation, [sic] an ocillation [sic] in air pressure between the tropical Eastern & the Western Pacific Ocean waters.
Low atmospheric pressure tends to occur over warm and high pressure occurs over cold water, in part because deep convection over the warm water acts to transport air.
Also, Comrade Helicopter is the coolest band name ever.
NOTES:
Still misspelled "oscillation." In case anyone doesn't get it, the implication here is that the parallel universe from before, almost exactly one year ahead of "our" timeline. Remember, the first Sunday strip I drew was the night Adam drew his "Comrade Helicopter." How will this revelation fit into the future? We shall see (maybe.) Probably not though.
NOTES:
Still misspelled "oscillation." In case anyone doesn't get it, the implication here is that the parallel universe from before, almost exactly one year ahead of "our" timeline. Remember, the first Sunday strip I drew was the night Adam drew his "Comrade Helicopter." How will this revelation fit into the future? We shall see (maybe.) Probably not though.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
My Own Stylishness
My own art style, character design versus actual style. There's something, I'm not sure what, in my STYLE that makes you able to tell it's by me. Could it be in what I put in or leave out? I think it's more in my shapes and lines. Line pressure or something. Maybe. This is even doing someone else's character, you know? With my own brand of character design, there's certain traits as well.
My eyes tend to be very small. I've noticed that, and it's been pointed out to me, as well. I'm not sure if it's normal to draw eyes larger. Could it be the autism that's responsible for that? Lack of eye contact, lack of placing any special significance into eyes. A lot of cartoon characters have eyes that take up almost half of their faces. The Loony Tunes, for instance. Big old oval things. (It kind of helps with eye contact if I imagine the other person as a Friendship is Magic pony, with the eyes all big and pretty and sparkly. I don't always do that, so there's not much of a chance that I'm imagining you as say, Derpy, while I speak with you- but the chance is there.)
But, yeah, even when I'm doing someone else's character design style, there's still something there that's recognizable as my own style. It's unique, I guess, to me, so it could still be a strength instead of a weakness, but I'm not sure if it could be keeping me back from any new techniques.
I was reviewing old stuff, which isn't even recognizable as my style very much. But with more recent stuff- I was originally not a big fan of my style, but, hey, that's not bad. Do I think I'm very good? Cailin doesn't think she's that good, but everyone else thinks she is. Can all you see are your own mistakes? A wise man thinks himself to be a fool. Does that tie into it? I think I'm getting better but I can still tell that I drew it.
But some things are just inescapable.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Stylishness
Even in things like paintings, where the emphasis is less on line work, you can see the artist's own drawing style coming through in the composition. Even with the old masters, personal style is impossible to overcome. The perceived talent comes from the layouts, and the use of light and color. There's a lot of techniques to be learned in those fields, so even for a good artist it would take some work to become a master craftsman. Even if it's clearly in their style.
Style is not bad. I'm not saying chase after it. I'm saying ignore it. But, don't ignore it. But, ignore it.
I'm saying, you've already got your own style, so you don't need to chase after it. Unless you like wasting time. If you don't like your own style, don't think it's bad. Learn what you do well in it. You're not a big fan of your own voice or style, but you learn to accept it. Recognize your style as being uniquely you so it hopefully adds to your brilliance (brilliance sold separately, your results may vary.) See beyond it, if you pay enough attention to it, so you can see which parts are your mistakes and which parts aren't. Instead of ignoring it to see past it, you should pay attention to it. Study it carefully.
You see your own mistakes, sure. But if others see your style and think that it's pretty groovy, it won't be bad for you as long as you're good. They'll try to emulate it, some of your techniques or the style itself. It's your style and it may come off as bad to you but then it would be something that they couldn't do so it would be good. There must be some way to look beyond style. Handwriting is to drawing skills and how your voice sounds is to your singing voice. If that makes sense.
Style is not bad. I'm not saying chase after it. I'm saying ignore it. But, don't ignore it. But, ignore it.
I'm saying, you've already got your own style, so you don't need to chase after it. Unless you like wasting time. If you don't like your own style, don't think it's bad. Learn what you do well in it. You're not a big fan of your own voice or style, but you learn to accept it. Recognize your style as being uniquely you so it hopefully adds to your brilliance (brilliance sold separately, your results may vary.) See beyond it, if you pay enough attention to it, so you can see which parts are your mistakes and which parts aren't. Instead of ignoring it to see past it, you should pay attention to it. Study it carefully.
You see your own mistakes, sure. But if others see your style and think that it's pretty groovy, it won't be bad for you as long as you're good. They'll try to emulate it, some of your techniques or the style itself. It's your style and it may come off as bad to you but then it would be something that they couldn't do so it would be good. There must be some way to look beyond style. Handwriting is to drawing skills and how your voice sounds is to your singing voice. If that makes sense.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
WHEN THE SUN HITS IT JUST RIGHT…
…
She says he’s the Sun,
Around which revolve her world and moon and stars
She says he’s the one
She says it’s been a while, but she’s happy for the first
time
But I see her, in the mirror I see her
She makes up all those bruises and hides those scars
You know she’s lying when she says she’s fine
There’s a scent on the east wind
Carried over the mountains
She puts down her hair, lets it take flight
Learn to love what was once despised
Golden ringlets, diamond eyes
Buried treasure’s no treasure at all
Till the sun hits it just right.
She steps out onto the deck
In her slinky summer dress
Chiffon at its height
Lemon-yellow bright
Ultra-clingy, yet oh! so opaque
But when the sun hits it just right…
Step into the light.
Baby, baby.
Step into the light.
Uh-huh.
You know that I want it
Step into the, into the light, sugar…
In between the sunlight
And when it hits you
There’s eight minutes in which
Anything can go wrong
In between the sunlight
And when it hits you
There’s eight minutes in which
Anything can derail
When I had her
She was just a little girl
She asked why the sky is blue,
Turns black at night.
Say, there’s an atmosphere
And it surrounds the world
You know the air is clear
Till the sun hits it just right
Now I see her, a hater or a lover
Can she tell the difference anymore?
But you can’t get her to recognize
When you step into a dark room, you turn on the light
She orbits around him, doesn’t want another
’Cause when the Sun hits her, he hits it just right.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Correspondence 4/5/11 14:32 - 4/8/11 11:54
I give Cailin carte blanche on the idea for our next album, and we discuss the idea of whether Comrade Helicopter is a "concept" band and whether or not Felinity Femininity was a total Sophomore slump (it just might not be.)
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 5, 2011 2:32 pm
I was thinking, for the next album, you should do what I did for False Prophets of Greensboro.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 6, 2011 11:39 am
Which is?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 12:03 pm
Made it up.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 6, 2011 2:40 pm
Oh. Um, how do you feel about a "concept album"?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 3:01 pm
Awesome-lish.
(Remember, you can put songs you've already written on it, (if you feel they fit the concept, I suppose.))
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 6, 2011 3:42 pm
Though I don't know what concept we could do.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 7:31 pm
Yeah, I just think that all of our albums are more or less "concept"
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 8:18 pm
You know, in a sense,
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 7, 2011 12:07 am
Nothing terribly consistent, though.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 7, 2011 12:12 pm
Well, False Prophets of Greensboro has many lyrical resonances in it, from mentions to crime scenes and other subtle references like that, and Birds Cracking Foxy is sortly of talkier, more philosophical (and possibly even political) than we usually are.
I also think I would like to write the tune for Tell Me About Your Day. Because, if you look at it, Felinity Femininity is about us as a band, you know? It starts of with songs by you, then it goes into songs by me, some of which had tunes by the feed which I don't usually do, and then it goes into our first co-written song, and two more songs by you. While as the first was more isolated, you know?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 7, 2011 3:49 pm
Analyzing it that way, I have to agree. But I'd describe that and a "concept" album to be two different things. More like our growth as a band.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 7, 2011 5:40 pm
Well, loosely, but I just mean it's got a more or less of a theme.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 8, 2011 11:54 am
I don't really care when the next album gets done, as long as we're, like, legit.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 5, 2011 2:32 pm
I was thinking, for the next album, you should do what I did for False Prophets of Greensboro.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 6, 2011 11:39 am
Which is?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 12:03 pm
Made it up.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 6, 2011 2:40 pm
Oh. Um, how do you feel about a "concept album"?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 3:01 pm
Awesome-lish.
(Remember, you can put songs you've already written on it, (if you feel they fit the concept, I suppose.))
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 6, 2011 3:42 pm
Though I don't know what concept we could do.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 7:31 pm
Yeah, I just think that all of our albums are more or less "concept"
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 6, 2011 8:18 pm
You know, in a sense,
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 7, 2011 12:07 am
Nothing terribly consistent, though.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 7, 2011 12:12 pm
Well, False Prophets of Greensboro has many lyrical resonances in it, from mentions to crime scenes and other subtle references like that, and Birds Cracking Foxy is sortly of talkier, more philosophical (and possibly even political) than we usually are.
I also think I would like to write the tune for Tell Me About Your Day. Because, if you look at it, Felinity Femininity is about us as a band, you know? It starts of with songs by you, then it goes into songs by me, some of which had tunes by the feed which I don't usually do, and then it goes into our first co-written song, and two more songs by you. While as the first was more isolated, you know?
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From Persomem to POMegranate Apr 7, 2011 3:49 pm
Analyzing it that way, I have to agree. But I'd describe that and a "concept" album to be two different things. More like our growth as a band.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 7, 2011 5:40 pm
Well, loosely, but I just mean it's got a more or less of a theme.
Re: Comrade Helicopter
From POMegranate to Persomem Apr 8, 2011 11:54 am
I don't really care when the next album gets done, as long as we're, like, legit.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
What's Up with the Double Slash?
In Other//half. What IS up with that? Also, how do you pronounce that? "Other half" is fine. Except pronounced the way it kind of forces you to, with a slight pause there between the two words and the slight emphasis on the word "half." Alternatively, pronounce it as one word: "otherhalf." Or "other over over half." "Other double-slash half" sounds pretty cool, too.
But what's up with it? Why is there a double slash? Where is the influence coming from? What could have been the inspiration behind that? By any means far from a complete list, but:
But what's up with it? Why is there a double slash? Where is the influence coming from? What could have been the inspiration behind that? By any means far from a complete list, but:
- The (apparently unnecessary!) slashes used to separate the parts of a hierarchical system in URLs
- Dot hack
- Dodge
- Encoding into italics in the text formatting system Wikispaces uses (don't worry, you can escape the wikitext formatting by putting double backtick characters on either side of your text: Other``//``half to read Other//half instead of Otherhalf. Useful to know, right?)
- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and the Vertigo tour
- It looks cool.
 |
| u2.com |
I don't really know, in short. It's just nonsensical punctuation that appears far often than you'd expect. In Other//half, though, I don't know, it conveys a feeling of being "over over," Other over over half. Instead of separating them, it combines them, puts them into a group and makes them the same thing. Just like how other//halves work in this universe. They are combined, but separated by the exact same thing that combines them.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Correspondence 3/25/11 18:18 - 18:45
Comrade Helicopter stuff. We discuss why Cailin is "the bass guy."
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:18 pm
And as for CH-related stuff: you don't have bassist hands, so I think you should use one of those funny glass things that form chords or whatever for you.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:20 pm
How about a... Theremin?
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:21 pm
A bass theremin?
Re: 72 hour comic
From to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:22 pm
If such a thing exists. Why am I the Bass guy?
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:23 pm
'cos you're the one who doesn't know regular guitar.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:25 pm
This is true.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:26 pm
And you've got this crazy technique with the drumming, which fits better with the bass line, I suppose?
I don't even know what that sounds like, but yeah probably.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:27 pm
I don't think I've ever even touched a bass guitar though.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:30 pm
Which is why you have that glass thing to form the chords for you.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:32 pm
Hmm.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:33 pm
Do you have any songs or anything you could point meet to in which they use that drummy technique?
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:34 pm
I don't think so.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:35 pm
Then where'd you even get the idea?
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:40 pm
I think a band I like did it once?
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:44 pm
But you don't remember anything else. Alright. Well, if you could, right now, work on some interpretations on the CH wiki? Just if you want to right now, because I'm still on the Comrade Helicopter groove but don't know anything else to say.
(Except for man, I just listened to some Nick Cage and the Bad Seeds, and now I'm all depressed because I don't think we'll ever be nearly as good. But, you know, U2 started out not knowing any instruments, we won't be doing it professionally, and sometimes your soul just needs to scream.)
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:46 pm
And by Nick Cage I mean of course Nick Cave.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:18 pm
And as for CH-related stuff: you don't have bassist hands, so I think you should use one of those funny glass things that form chords or whatever for you.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:20 pm
How about a... Theremin?
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:21 pm
A bass theremin?
Re: 72 hour comic
From to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:22 pm
If such a thing exists. Why am I the Bass guy?
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:23 pm
'cos you're the one who doesn't know regular guitar.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:25 pm
This is true.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:26 pm
And you've got this crazy technique with the drumming, which fits better with the bass line, I suppose?
I don't even know what that sounds like, but yeah probably.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem Persomem to POMegranate POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:27 pm
I don't think I've ever even touched a bass guitar though.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate POMegranate to Persomem Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:30 pm
Which is why you have that glass thing to form the chords for you.
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:32 pm
Hmm.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:33 pm
Do you have any songs or anything you could point meet to in which they use that drummy technique?
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:34 pm
I don't think so.
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:35 pm
Then where'd you even get the idea?
Re: 72 hour comic
From Persomem to POMegranate Mar 25, 2011 6:40 pm
I think a band I like did it once?
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:44 pm
But you don't remember anything else. Alright. Well, if you could, right now, work on some interpretations on the CH wiki? Just if you want to right now, because I'm still on the Comrade Helicopter groove but don't know anything else to say.
(Except for man, I just listened to some Nick Cage and the Bad Seeds, and now I'm all depressed because I don't think we'll ever be nearly as good. But, you know, U2 started out not knowing any instruments, we won't be doing it professionally, and sometimes your soul just needs to scream.)
Re: 72 hour comic
From POMegranate to Persomem Mar 25, 2011 6:46 pm
And by Nick Cage I mean of course Nick Cave.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Garfield Minus Garfield, Plus Ponies III
Shaking things up even more.
Sunday format time!
...and I think that's enough of that.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Garfield Minus Garfield, Plus Ponies II
Shaking things up a bit. The original:
...and now:
or:
or even:
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Correspondence 11/20/10 2:30 - 11/28/10 16:25
In this round, Cailin shares a world building idea we'll expand upon in later discussions, and we both fire off some lesser ideas that we had, including my werewolf thing I shared here. A good time is had by all.
Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 20, 2010 2:30 am
How does this sound for one of those stories we'll get around to later:
In the future, cyborging and bio-augmentation are all the rage, and everyone in the world who can afford it is doing it, to the point that all of the developed world has undergone some such change. The story, however, would center on some character(s) in some third world country where humans are still as we know them, and their country is being moved in upon by everyone else.
And... that's all I got. More of a concept than a story idea.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 20, 2010 12:57 pm
Yeah, just the world and not the plot itself.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 21, 2010 1:36 am
Yeah. Could take place in the same world as parasite girl.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 21, 2010 9:53 am
Well, parasite girl is about genetic technology, and this is about cybernetic technology.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 21, 2010 3:25 pm
Well, both, actually. The latter story, I mean. In any case, it wouldn't make sense to co-exist, now that I think about it.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 21, 2010 4:31 pm
I suppose it would have both, yeah. But no, too different. How about the idea for the world where the nations go to war against each other by altering each other's timelines, would it fit into that? Probably not.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 24, 2010 3:39 pm
Also, if there were such thing as a "Bi sapien", what would it be?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 27, 2010 2:14 pm
I don't know, my first thought was like a two headed individual, but it could be a guy with a brain divided into two main sections, each being comparable to an average human's intelligence.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 27, 2010 4:01 pm
yeah, figured
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 27, 2010 4:07 pm
I don't know, just a play on "Homo sapien." And I've got an idea for a guy who takes on the memories of everyone he kills, and a guy who can see someone else's vision in the future whenever he closes his eyes, with the vision of vision beginning when he opens his eyes for that time. And a guy who can see back through to you if you look at a photograph of him.
And like a trilogy or something about werewolves:
Hic Cenocephali Nascuntur (here the dog-headed beings are born)
Cave Canem (beware of dog)
Homo Homini Lupus (man is wolf to man)
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 27, 2010 11:01 pm
I like all these ideas!
I came up with a comedy/magic realism bit about a law enforcement agency. It'd be kinda like Ghostbusters, I guess? They'd fight demons, and nobody would ever give a damn.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 27, 2010 11:32 pm
A good idea to be fleshed out.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 28, 2010 4:25 pm
Yeah, it certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 20, 2010 2:30 am
How does this sound for one of those stories we'll get around to later:
In the future, cyborging and bio-augmentation are all the rage, and everyone in the world who can afford it is doing it, to the point that all of the developed world has undergone some such change. The story, however, would center on some character(s) in some third world country where humans are still as we know them, and their country is being moved in upon by everyone else.
And... that's all I got. More of a concept than a story idea.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 20, 2010 12:57 pm
Yeah, just the world and not the plot itself.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 21, 2010 1:36 am
Yeah. Could take place in the same world as parasite girl.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 21, 2010 9:53 am
Well, parasite girl is about genetic technology, and this is about cybernetic technology.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 21, 2010 3:25 pm
Well, both, actually. The latter story, I mean. In any case, it wouldn't make sense to co-exist, now that I think about it.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 21, 2010 4:31 pm
I suppose it would have both, yeah. But no, too different. How about the idea for the world where the nations go to war against each other by altering each other's timelines, would it fit into that? Probably not.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 24, 2010 3:39 pm
Also, if there were such thing as a "Bi sapien", what would it be?
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 27, 2010 2:14 pm
I don't know, my first thought was like a two headed individual, but it could be a guy with a brain divided into two main sections, each being comparable to an average human's intelligence.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 27, 2010 4:01 pm
yeah, figured
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 27, 2010 4:07 pm
I don't know, just a play on "Homo sapien." And I've got an idea for a guy who takes on the memories of everyone he kills, and a guy who can see someone else's vision in the future whenever he closes his eyes, with the vision of vision beginning when he opens his eyes for that time. And a guy who can see back through to you if you look at a photograph of him.
And like a trilogy or something about werewolves:
Hic Cenocephali Nascuntur (here the dog-headed beings are born)
Cave Canem (beware of dog)
Homo Homini Lupus (man is wolf to man)
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 27, 2010 11:01 pm
I like all these ideas!
I came up with a comedy/magic realism bit about a law enforcement agency. It'd be kinda like Ghostbusters, I guess? They'd fight demons, and nobody would ever give a damn.
Re: Story Idea
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 27, 2010 11:32 pm
A good idea to be fleshed out.
Re: Story Idea
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 28, 2010 4:25 pm
Yeah, it certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
Monday, August 25, 2014
Pointless
Pointless is like Family Feud, only better in every conceivable way at all ever. If there's one show that needs a stateside adaptation, this is it. To demonstrate, 'ere's a group of people utterly failing. U2 Pointless:
I would have said, probably, Sweetest Thing, which was not pointless and so I guess I would not have received zero points for my answer. Though the way the other participants answered, I might as well have gotten negative points for that.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Thespis Strip Dated Sunday, August 22, 2010
 |
| Click to embiggen. |
Marvin: If summer isn't the greatest adventure, I don't know what is.
Collin: Reading.
SFX: CLIK
NOTES:
A special summer strip. The blacks here are just kind of gorgeous. Most of that is digital, but I did a lot of the inking on the page itself too.
Friday, August 22, 2014
Correspondence 11/5/10 20:08 - 11/10/10 16:18
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 5, 2010 8:08 pm
You know iTunes has this thing where you can be a content provider for them. I'm not sure if many people know about it or not, but just so you know, Comrade Helicopter have to opportunity to be, you know, legit, if you want to be at all.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 5, 2010 11:17 pm
Well, I kind of would, but, well, the instruments thing again...
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 5, 2010 11:19 pm
Yeah, how DOES an electric bass work?
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 5, 2010 11:21 pm
I figured: Funk (x1) and Electricity (x1), and I only have one of those.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 5, 2010 11:24 pm
Hm. How important is bassism?
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 10, 2010 3:53 pm
Pretty important, but it's easily mechanized.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 9, 2010 6:32 pm
But really, all you'd need do is learn like three chords, or even only two. And how to drum rhythmically with one hand. (Because, you know, you drum the bass. It's your thing.)
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 10, 2010 3:55 pm
Yeah actually, that does sound pretty easy.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 10, 2010 4:13 pm
I platonically love you sometimes, man.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 10, 2010 4:18 pm
I platonically love you sometimes too, man, too...
Bro.
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 5, 2010 8:08 pm
You know iTunes has this thing where you can be a content provider for them. I'm not sure if many people know about it or not, but just so you know, Comrade Helicopter have to opportunity to be, you know, legit, if you want to be at all.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 5, 2010 11:17 pm
Well, I kind of would, but, well, the instruments thing again...
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 5, 2010 11:19 pm
Yeah, how DOES an electric bass work?
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 5, 2010 11:21 pm
I figured: Funk (x1) and Electricity (x1), and I only have one of those.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 5, 2010 11:24 pm
Hm. How important is bassism?
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 10, 2010 3:53 pm
Pretty important, but it's easily mechanized.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 9, 2010 6:32 pm
But really, all you'd need do is learn like three chords, or even only two. And how to drum rhythmically with one hand. (Because, you know, you drum the bass. It's your thing.)
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 10, 2010 3:55 pm
Yeah actually, that does sound pretty easy.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From POMegranate to Persomem Nov 10, 2010 4:13 pm
I platonically love you sometimes, man.
Re: Theoretical Sequel Trilogy
From Persomem to POMegranate Nov 10, 2010 4:18 pm
I platonically love you sometimes too, man, too...
Bro.
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Redbox w/ Commentary, Deleted Scenes
I guess it's a good thing, that these are deleted, because of that. These pages were just uninspired. I'm glad I realized that in time.
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Redbox w/ Commentary, Page 24
After the panel of whiteness on page 23, we have an almost entirely black panel taking up the final page. In space, somewhat reminiscent of the final page of my first 24-hour comic, Scourge, pulling back from an earth in its final throes of life. This is like the last page of Scourge in more ways than one, as well, as there's a lot of exposition here as a sort of twist ending which I had to work backward from to figure out how much to reveal elsewhere.
The 6000-year-old Earth thing was deliberate on my part, and I believe present in the original dream as well. Sort of about faith. Once again, it's sort of a splash page, which I guess brings up the number of splash pages in this comic to four, or 24 if you count the borderless panels as meaning no panels (this of course counts the cover, as page 5 features a border between panels when we are first introduced to Africa.)
And the eye is led from box to box through the black after the end of the world, and then: the red of the Redbox, a final repetition of the theme of life.
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Redbox w/ Commentary, Page 23
I think this counts for one final splash page. There was the one with the Redbox being introduced, the one outside the school, and this one. The rule of three in full effect here, apparently.
In keeping with the Redbox theme of color only coming from light, this panel is in full color, with the idea of a very white, pure light. Everything is illuminated, as Jonathan Safran Foer would say (you know, Everything is Illuminated? It got turned into a movie with Elijah Wood.) Now that everything is illuminated, everything is colored. All the colors come from white, and metaphorically all the colors have been leading up to this. Being lit by the purest light of all. (I'm over-explaining it, aren't I? I'll just let it stand on its own.)
Monday, August 18, 2014
Redbox w/ Commentary, Page 22
And we're taken back to where we started off at, a technique known in the biz as "taking them back to where they started off at." The fog on this page isn't nearly as good as some of the fog elsewhere, but I suppose fog, while normally being pretty difficult, is exceptionally difficult when the edges of the panels are bleeding off out into space anyway.
I think this page must have been done near the end. Explains that and the sloppy chunkiness of the character model build where I'm looking at the not-quite-Golden-Arches french fry box. (Yup, I came in last place, obviously, since I stayed behind to gaze up at the moon. (Did you catch that?)) I was actively using a Sfar technique with Meghan's eyes in that last panel, how the pupils come slightly out from the eyeballs.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Redbox w/ Commentary, Page 21
I don't think any of this part (with kicking the PIFF snow or the snowangels) was part of my dream. It's just kind of an extrapolation of what would happen- you arrive at the destination filled with all this snow, you want to go out and kick it around, have fun in it.
This would be a good page to explain how the pages were done back to back, meaning on either side of the same sheet of paper. It doesn't really show up in real life, but it appears in the scans. I had to erase that digitally, which was tough on pages like this with lots of tiny little snowflakes. You can still see it if you look closely. I use this page to say that because this is the best erasing work I did in the entire comic, and it gets painfully obvious elsewhere. Not here, though. (Does doing that, digitally editing the picture after the 24 hours are completed, count as cheating? I just did it to get the closest experience to the physical comic as I could, so I don't think so.)
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