Just a little pretentious?

I had a thought: Is it wrong to look down on someone else for the way in which they enjoy a piece of media? The knee-jerk answer is "Yes, you pretentious jerk," but I'd like to explore it a bit. Maybe I just love to hear myself write.

I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and dog-gonnit, people like me

Okay, so I guess I can stop feeling sorry for myself. I've pretty well gotten back on track academically, aside from a pending makeup test and some programming assignments I have to finish up. I seem to be on schedule to graduate in May, provided I pass my classes this semester. If I don't, I might just choose to take a break in the spring, but right now things are looking pretty good.

My only real problem at this point is my apparent inability to get that webcomic off the ground. I downloaded the software, I have scripts planned out, but I never seem to get around to drawing anything. Maybe if I'm lucky I'll make it happen this week, but I get the feeling I won't be ready to launch the website by the end of the year. So, that has me a little bummed.

Anyway, that's about it for now. I'll check in with more info whenever. Peace and love, you crazy kids.

Another Lazy Update

What can I say? I have a lot of respect for Zach Weiner. He really has some powerful insights once in a while. Go read his comic if you're not already.

Re: Life (Updates)

Strap in, because for once I have a lot to talk about.

Well, I finally did it. I shaved off my beard. So, I now get to look even younger than I did before. Ladies, the next move is yours.

Also, it appears that I don't suck at drawing quite as much as I thought. I'm getting better with practice, so my idea about doing a webcomic is actually coming closer to reality. I have a deviantart profile set up as a base of operations for now, at least until I decide on a place to host the strips. You can see a couple early sketches there now. I'll update here and elsewhere when my bastard brainchild finds a home.

And I'm back to working with Home Delivered Meals, if I didn't mention that already. I was supposed to be signed up for 3 mornings a week, but I keep getting asked to fill in, and I can't really say no because I need the money. Two hours and change baking in the morning sun can really take a lot out of me, so I don't like doing a lot of days in a row. Counting today, this weekend and next week, I'll have 6 days in a row. I know it seems like I shouldn't complain about such a short job, but I have to do a lot of running around town in those two to three hours, not to mention dealing with the occasional person who's less than happy to see you. And did I mention, Schenectady sucks. I'm covering someone's route this weekend, so that's two straight days right in the thick of it. My normal weekday route through the Niskayuna area isn't too bad (aside from that one guy who seems to be the bane of every other driver's existence). Maybe I'm just a wimp. Meh.

Oh, and incredibly, I still haven't gotten tired of TinierMe. I don't know why, but I like it. I've met some cool people, and I like collecting different clothes and crap, and playing the occasional games. If you care, my name on there is Tycoonius, and I accept pretty much all friend requests. To me, rejecting a friend request is insulting. Adding them as a friend and then quietly deleting them later is so much sneakier, and doesn't give me a guilt trip.

On the gaming front, I'm still married to my Wii. I still haven't tried to finish Muramasa yet, but I think I'll get to it eventually. In the meanwhile, the Hollywood Video near my house went out of business and I raided their collection before they closed. 3 games for about $30; not bad. Manhunt 2, I've been glued to that for a while now. I don't play every day, but often enough to say I'm really into it. The other two are de Blob, which is fun but just reeks of communist propaganda, and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. If the first game didn't cement it in you mind, this game confirms that NiGHTS is in fact the most androgynous character ever conceived. His/her voice actor is one of those female actors who usually does voices for young boys because she has a bit of masculinity in her tone. It's impossible to tell whether NiGHTS is intended to be a guy, a girl, or neither. Weirdness. On the bright side, Reala is still a bad-ass.

Here's another thing I remembered recently: you know that idea I had about a sport that would basically simulate a fighting game? Well, since discovering the wonder that is Nerf weapons, I'm starting to think this could really work. Come on, who wouldn't want to whack their friend with a nerf sword? And it would be good for anyone who has ever considered LARPing for the fights but was turned off by the dorky costumes. I really think this could catch on. I'm going to try to put a group together at SUNY IT in the fall, but if anyone wants to try this out before then, you know where to find me.

And guess what? George Thorogood and the Destroyers, whose show I attended last year, are coming back to Albany this August, and I roped the whole family into going with me. That should be fun. Now, I just wish I could get Nickelback/3 Days Grace/Buckcherry tickets... We'll see I guess.

Also, fuck you Facebook. Fuck you and your addictive apps and your viral invites. I swear, I will quit altogether one of these days, but for now Castle Age keeps pulling me back in.

And speaking of online games, BvS has had a ton of updates (McMasters got me hooked on mahjong), with more on the way. I'm still playing daily and loving it all. If you like simple browser-based games at all and/or consider yourself an anime fan (ie. if you either love or hate Naruto), give it a look. If you sign up, enter my guy's name in the referral field for some bonus stamina (It won't help me at this point; I've already got all the referral items).



I think that's about it for now. Peace and love, you crazy kids.

Re: xkcd

This one went over my head. :/ I guess I could just google Locke and Demosthenes, but... meh.

Still not dead yet

Just so you know. School starts in about a week. I'll probably blog about that. Also, started work on my webcomic, though I'm still struggling with the fact that I can't draw my way out of a paper bag, yet am too much of a perfectionist to trust the project with anyone else. More on this later, plus, could the breakfast cereal you've been eating to get more fiber actually kill you? Find out tonight at 11.

This shit is hilarious to me

Anyone else read Last Blood? What about the comments? Oh, you must. They're a riot. And not just when Jon Pander is being himself.

A discussion emerged today so ridiculous, it bears sharing with others. Here's what you need to know: Jon explains how Mac (the character in the comic) will probably smack the zombie in the head with a golf ball so hard that it explodes. Systemz chooses to explain why this is impossible. Several WTF moments ensue. Start reading here:
http://lastblood.keenspot.com/main/2009/02/26/page-14-fore/#comment-93482

I never can understand why trollish types online always ignore my feeble attempts at being the voice of reason. Well, whatever.

FVZA Will Kick Twilight's Pansy Ass

Outside of videogames and webcomics, I haven't experienced much decent zombie fiction in the last few years. And vampires... well, we know what's been happening to that once-proud horror niche. But finally, it looks like we'll be going back to the roots of what made us all fall in love with zombies and vampires in the first place.

I don't know about you, but I've visited FVZA.org on and off for a couple years. It was a fun resource when I was first getting into this stuff (before I purchased my own copy of the Zombie Survival Guide), but as the site saw a decrease in updates and I got caught up in other things, I had kind of forgotten about it.

Now, I hear the fantastic news that the FVZA concept is being made into a comic, and from what writer David Hine is saying about the project, I can barely stop salivating at the prospect.

David Hine interview with Newsarama, along with new artwork samples from the series:

True fans of horror like me are sickened by what Twilight has done to vampires' reputations, and thank God somebody in the biz is looking to set things right. Regarding the romanticizing of vampires, Hines said:

"Vampires usually exert a fascination and are often romanticized but I wanted to take the romance out of their existence. These are not sexy, seductive vampires in the manner of Twilight. Our vampires are truly monstrous and unattractive. Their hair falls out, their bodies become twisted and cadaverous and they have no interest in sex. We’re going to be following a young couple, who are into the goth fantasy of vampirism. One of the tragic elements of the story is to see how the constant joyless pursuit of blood gradually destroys their love for one another."

I'm officially psyched. The first comic book in the series is slated for release in October. I guess until then I'll have to keep getting my zombie fix from the usual suspects.

Lazy Update #5ish

Another Lazy Update

Randall Munroe is still a god.

Intellectual Humor

I just had to share this.