Everyone thank Alert Reader Michael for inquiring about a 2009 holiday card. Thanks to his prodding of my feeble brainmeats, it has been forged and awaits downloading and printing to fulfill its purpose. Sorry for them being so late in the season, but they do make great gift tags, too, right?

Speaking of the holidays, I noticed a couple of oddities when out looking over deals sites. As a sure sign that our technological advances are misplaced (and that money and taste don't necessarily go together), I've come across these wall-mounted gel-fueled fireplaces a couple of times. Granted, were I still working in a cubicle, I'd probably get one for the ol' office, provided I had a written guarantee it wouldn't set off the sprinklers. And really, if we've finally made fire you can hang on the wall, where are my torch sconces?

Also, there's "Tony Hawk: Ride." For those unfamiliar with this item, it's a video game that simulates skateboarding via a skateboard that interfaces with your game console. This game has also taken a royal drubbing on almost every review site, the critics pointing out its overly sensitive sensors (that can be set off by pants cuffs or nearby furniture), difficult gameplay, lackluster locations, and a pretty high price point of $120. One deals site I look at can give an impromptu chart of the game's decline into bargain-bin territory in very short order, falling to as low as $70 in under a week.

But speaking of games, many sequels had trailers come out on the intertubes, including "The Force Unleashed 2." I liked the previous installment because (1) it had a good story, (2) force lightning, (3) tossing stormtroopers, (4) and force-lightning stormtroopers and tossing their bodies into other stormtroopers. So while another chapter in this troubled young man's life is welcome, I would like to see fewer quicktime events. For those unfamiliar, the game would give you a major opponent, like a Jedi master. To defeat him, you'd do the usual action-game stuff of running around, using your light saber and force powers to do damage, sometimes playing some kind of timing game with a background obstacle (say, dodging a giant plant-monster's swinging tentacles). But when you got near the end of the fight, the game turned into "Dragon's Lair" where you had to press the right buttons at the right times to execute a series of moves that have nothing to do with the controls up to this point. The idea, I assume, was to give a dramatic send-off to your foes, but if you screw up, your enemy gets some health back and you have to wear them down all over again. Also, like a lot of games that give you some kind of "choice," in this case to be on the Light Side or the Dark Side, the sequel has to pick a decision for you to continue the story. I'm kind of reminded of the old "Clue" movie on video tape that came with three endings. I'd be highly amused of "Force Unleashed 2" started off with "it could have happened this way..."

Now I have to get back to clearing space for the Christmas tree (and hucking an aquarium. Look for it cheap on Craigslist soon) which, for some reason, involves moving a piano. While I interact with tinsel, here's some other shiny objects:

- Have you ever wondered what a live-action Simpsons opener would look like in Estonia? We have some good news for you...
- I might actually watch Wimbledon if it adopted a similar theme.
- Attention TV show makers: enough with the 'enhance the image' stuff. You can't pick a face out of a pixel, so just stop it.
- Though I'm sure this game was for Halloween, here's Roly-Poly Monsters. Use your bombs to destroy every roundish creature on the screen in puzzling ways.
- There's something wrong with advertising in America if we're missing out on cereal commercials like this.
- As was pointed out in the comments last entry by Loswick, there's a new Simon's Cat episode! Sadly, it's only first part of a 2-parter, but still...
- The blogger behind "Serial MMOgamy" has had her Lord of the Rings Online account suspended for quite vague reasons, indeed. I haven't seen customer service that heartless since trying to convince a Texas utility that I lived in another state and didn't owe them money.
- C'thulhu loves his Mr. Potato Head. Perhaps a noggin of hollow plastic is the only one he can be himself with and not drive it to madness...
- Arcanorum awaits! Pilot your medieval helicopter with smashy-arm, swinging it around to destroy all who oppose you!

Sometimes, as an artist, we do art that we just really don't care for. Today's daily practice (12/15) for me is one of those pieces.


(Click for full-sized image)

Just shy of an hour. ArtRage, with minor filtering/tweaking in Photoshop. I didn't like it 15 minutes into it, but rather than succumbing to my urge to scrap it, I brought it to this point. Didn't even bother thinking about the creature should have to accessorize it other than the minor tattooing. There reason it wasn't taken further was do to my being done with it.

The dailies from the 4 or so days previous (a couple of which have had WIP versions posted via Twitpic) are all things that I like, which I plan on spending a bit of time finishing. Not this one, though.

Still, I thought I should share, if nothing else than to give others insight to how my brain works at times.

X-Posted to Artimancer.com

That's right. I'm going to put you to good use. YOU CAN BE A PART OF MY ART.

As an artist, much of the time music is heavily played while I'm working on a piece of artwork. Different music can induce different moods, which in turn can be reflected in said artwork. I have a number of good Pandora stations for this, but there's a certain type of music that I'm lacking.

Some of you may have seen this "trailer" recently uploaded to YouTube:



This is an example of exactly the kind of music I'm looking for.

Sure, there's a list of a handful of the artists/songs (though the last may be a soundtrack?) that they sampled from the trailer:

AudioMachine - Akkadian Empire
Groove Addicts - Zero Hour
Audio Network - Mars
AudioMachine - Lachrimae (VadoskiN DNB mix)
Wild Rumpus Music - Blame It on the Falling Sky 2.0
John Murphy - The Last House On The Left SCORE

However, that's just the tip of the iceberg. I want epic, energetic, combat music. Instrumental, with perhaps a splash of intense choral vocals. Something that, when you close your eyes, your imagination is ripped wide, your body starting to pulse with subtle waves of adrenaline. Again, the video above is a good reference for the type of music I'm looking for.

Here's what I need from you:

Artist/Composer - Song

There is no limit to the amount of suggestions.

I'm going to take all of the info I'm given, and feed it into seeding a new Pandora station, for playing when working on certain pieces of artwork. Potentially, they may get played while gaming as well, but the art is the important part.

In turn, I'll present this to you, via Pandora station URL. I'll likely also list what songs work for me, versus what songs don't, so as to further refine the station, and to give you a better, more expansive idea of what I'm looking for.

Go. Go forth and bring me your lists. Actively shape and contribute to my creativity.

X-Posted to Artimancer.com

Normally, I don't lead off with a video, especially not a 10 minute one, but it was just too funny and hit too close to home to pass up. This clip is from what appears to be a graduation-type setting, with a student addressing his peers, giving them the very sound advice about not being an individual. I think we can all look back at some of the things we've done and relate... painfully. Replace his dating anecdote with one about "Doctor Who" or "Star Trek," and that could be me up there (well, apart from the being skinny bit). Anyway, this kid, if he's the author of the piece, should have a his own HBO comedy special before he graduates college, or there is no justice.

I may have hit a "road block" in my love for zombie video games. I picked up "Zombie Driver" today (for research, of course) and tried it out. It's basically a top-down driving game where you're given missions to complete using a variety of armed and armored cars in a zombie-infested urban setting. Most of the time, you're just plowing through them with your accelerator to the floor. Anyway, as I'm probably not the greatest at aiming a moving vehicle steered with a mouse and keyboard when I only have a vague idea of where my target is before it flies into view (a bit more of a forward view would have been appreciated), I have to do a lot of u-turns and donuts to swing around and give any remaining zombies a vehicular love-tap. About at level 4, I realized I was about to lose my dinner unless I got some Dramamine. I think I'll table this one for a while, perhaps trying it in windowed mode or something. Which is a shame, because it was almost like playing "Spy Hunter" with a bit more freedom, better graphics, and guilt-free destruction of bipedal targets. :)

I'll also have to find out if the tactics of zombie attack science hold up during gameplay.

And speaking of zombies, the hit novel "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" is headed to the silver screen starring Natalie Portman. I'll be interested in seeing how they set the tone, if they'll try to keep the flavor of the literary "adaptation" intact or if we'll get a "Shaun of the Dead" wink-and-nod at the audience. I wouldn't mind it if the actors played it straight, m'self, as I've always found characters taking their roles very seriously while surrounded by otherworldly strangeness amusing.

I also wanted to let everyone know that me and the elves (relatives) are getting orders out as fast as possible, and after visiting the post office today, I decided I'd speak up a little in defense of the postal workers out there. It was a long, long line today at the ol' PO, and there was grousing from those assembled. However, as a veteran of the post office queue, and allowing that the workers are human and prone to flaws as we all are, I'd like to make a few observations:

1. If you're stuffing things in a box and taping it up at the counter, you're part of the reason why the line isn't moving.
2. If you don't have the proper forms or have them filled out when you get to the counter, and you take the time to fill them out there, you're part of the reason why the line isn't moving.
3. If you ask to see every kind of stamp they have so you can color coordinate them with whatever it is you're mailing, you're part of the reason why the line isn't moving..
4. If you have no idea how you want to ship your parcel or letter and ask to have all of your options recited and explained to you, you're part of the reason why the line isn't moving.
5. If you want your mail to get somewhere on a "guaranteed" date and they can't guarantee it by the method you're shipping it, asking them to repeat the estimated time it will take to get there won't make it a sure thing, even after the third repetition. Also, you're now part of the reason why the line isn't moving.

The same phenomena are probably encountered at UPS and FedEx counters, too. When added to the usual stresses of the holidays, I'm sure it's making for happy-fun thoughts towards one's fellow human beings and what you'd like to do to their tires. :)

So while we wait for whatever's going on up there with the guy trying to ship what looks like a vacuum cleaner tied to a snow tire, let's look at other topics:

- This is a long way around Abby's barn for a gag, but here goes. For those not in the UK, there's a chat show host named Jonathan Ross (I understand he's one of those love 'im/hate 'im sort of people). He should at least be given props for having the bravery to wear an orange suit and being a bit of a comic book geek. In addition to him, fans of Doctor Demento musical selections are probably familiar with the 80's novelty hit 'Shaddap You Face' by Joe Dolce. Take those two things, add Samuel L. Jackson, and you get this. Whew!
- More people need to do TV intros for their pets. Here's Macgyver Cat.
- Finally, a game: Rise of the Tower has you outfitting your corporate building with all kinds of cannons, lasers, and other upgrades to fend off your competitor's tanks, planes, and other methods of commercial competition.
- Though it could be considered a tad blasphemous, here's Rowan Atkinson playing a vicar as he teaches about the miracles of Jesus.
- The winners of the Infocom Game Look-Alike Contest 15th Annual Interactive Fiction Contest have been announced. I kid them with the "Infocom" stuff; I owe, at the very least, my typing skills to "Zork" and its descendants.
- Random Good Stuff has an extensive holiday gift "catalogue" of rather unique items, as well as lists from years past.
- Here's a sweet Flickr photo set of the Staffordshire Hoard, a trove of ancient Anglo-Saxon gold found by a hobbyist with a metal detector.
- And we close with a pretty unique game called Starlight. Simply rotate the field of stars until they form a picture. An amusing time-waster, indeed.

Link via ethrosdemon - what may in fact be the most sexist bullshit ad copy of all time.

...I wish they had Dockers in Australia so I could refuse to buy from them. ;)

( This may contain music or other linkage of interest. Content changes with each new post. Behind cut for those who wish to skip the Twitterfication... )

Where'd the snow go? I know wishing for a blizzard would probably earn a lot of enmity from the states to the north of me, but a friend of mine e-mailed from Wisconsin to ask if Kansas City had a force-field around it or something, as all of the snow we were supposed to get (about half a foot, good for sledding) just seemed to skirt the city limits. We wound up with a paltry 2 inches. I know some folks in Iowa and New England, among other places, would probably love to trade places, but since the wife is still at home on leave with our son, she was hoping to still get that "snow day" thrill of school being called off. Ah, well, at least it wasn't an ice storm this time...

A lack of inclement weather meant we got to put up our infamous Stargate Wreath on the house. For those who've never seen it before, it was constructed from a PVC ring with deadfall from a winter ice-based attack on Kansas City that knocked out power to our home for about two weeks. It seemed an appropriate way of marking the event as well as showing the trees that we're not above displaying their limbs as defiant trophies in the hopes they'll leave the power lines alone next time. :)

I enjoyed the "Pirates of the Carribean" series of movies. Even the worst of the lot (which might include the next installment) is, at least, mindless entertainment with Johnny Depp reminding us what pirates would be like if they'd invented rock music and heavy substance abuse. So why does the trailer for 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' make me think it's going to be less than good? Probably Nic Cage. I remember liking him him films, especially in "Raising Arizona," but somewhere along the line he started a downward spiral for me, culminating in "Ghost Rider." While he can't be blamed for the entire film, he appears to think the end result was good and warrants a sequel with him and his toupee as Johnny Blaze. So I'm having a little trouble taking him seriously as a sorcerer, I guess. I also can't help seeing this and thinking, "they're taking Andre Linoge from Stephen King's 'Storm of the Century' and turning his training the boy he stole into a sit-com." Still, I hope to be wrong, though I still never want to see Cage with a flaming skull for a head anytime soon...

Though all is not bleak in movie-land. This trailer for 'I Sell the Dead' looks like low-budget fun, especially since it has Angus Scrimm as a guest star. At first it looked like an attempt to beat 'Burke and Hare' to theaters, but the second they mentioned undead... okay, I'm in.

And here's something that made me go "hmmm," and I wonder if it's a sign I'm getting old and not knowing what "all the kids" are up to these days: Ping-pong balls. In two local convenience stores, they're selling ping-pong balls. One store sells 'em by the bag, the other in a fake plastic barrel they keep by the register. Figuring that, like most things sold in convenience stores that seem ordinary, they're probably purchased for something other than their original intent (especially as they don't sell paddles. Why I don't have a detective show on the USA network is beyond me). Anyway, the only thing I could think of was a market that plays Beer Pong, but that seems too simple. Is it even more nefarious? Will we have congressional bans on hollow plastic spheres for the sake of our youth? Or am I just missing out on the sheer fun of purchasing a humble ping-pong ball?

While I await what's probably an obvious answer, here's some stuff to distract you from how clueless I probably am:

- First, papercraft, of a sort. Here's a font, that when cut out, has the fold-lines needed to make 3D letters.
- If it's got zombies, it's got to be worth a few minutes: Infectionator has you setting off a zombie infestation with a 60 second (un)life span. Strategically start your infestation where you can get the minimum number of required victims by the end of the time limit.
- Enjoy robots? And concept art? Then here's the art-blog, Nuthin' but Mech.
- Some kids discover hard rock in their teens. A select few are apparently born with it running through their veins.
- I never saw any of the "Jackass" films, but when Return of the Jedi, knowing it was about people injuring themselves in inadvisable ways is enough.
- The next time you're facing (or trying to create for fiction) a confidence trickster, here's a list of seven psychological principles they use against us. The article contains a link to a PDF of the study this summary is based on. Now no using this knowledge for evil, kids...
- Here's a puzzle platformer that starts out deceptively simple: Continuity gives you multiple "screens" you have to shuffle around like those numbered slide-puzzles to allow your avatar to retrieve a key and unlock the door to the next level.
- I've not gotten a chance to attend a Star Wars "Celebration" convention, but I wonder if they'd let me buy swag with these?
- And a few full-length holiday classics for you, if you've got a few hours to kill: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and the rather disturbing Mexican holiday film (complete with wind-up reindeer), Santa Claus. Did I mention these are the "Mystery Science Theater 3000" versions? :)

Uhm. Yeah.

So here's a WIP of the current piece I'm working on for my daily exercise.

45min into the piece, most of which has been randomly fucking around w/filters & brushes. I'm totally out of my comfort zone with this...


(Twitpic link, click image for full-sized version)

I seem to be onto something here-- it's a good thing this is digital, otherwise I'd be scared as fuck of touching it any further.

X-Posted from Artimancer.com

The last 5 days were put on hold to prioritize a charity piece for short notice. While I won't be able to disclose the specific children's charity that it's for, I'll at least be able post the picture and give a description once the intended recipient has it given to him. The Mysta Remake/Remodel got backburnered so that I could get that priority done, but I'll probably finish it up later this week, and post it here with progression details.

Moving along...

I dove back into dailies yesterday. No progression with this one, I've got a different lengthy post I'm working on for later today. Without further ado, here's yesterday's daily:



Just under 3hrs. Initial background and creature painted loosely in ArtRage, without any base linework used. Then 'ported it to Photoshop, working around a dozen or so layers of varied filter, opacity, and selective erasing on the creature. Brought in foreground and background cloudiness. Rendered in the wreckage in the background with a couple of my custom brushes. Gave the eyes a touch of bioluminescence. Signed the bugger and called it done.

X-posted from Artimancer.com

( This may contain music or other linkage of interest. Content changes with each new post. Behind cut for those who wish to skip the Twitterfication... )

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The Doctor Who animated episode, "Dreamland" aired (in various forms) recently, and can be seen on YouTube for the moment (this page has embedded parts one and two). Story aside, I want to find who greenlit this animation technique. They may have been pressed for time or wanting to save a few quid on the budget, but it looked like test footage for "Shrek" by way of the Playstation 2, and it became quite distracting at times. David Tennant sounded more animated than his avatar, thankfully, so his performance was a pleasure to hear. I understand that this episode sort of violates what passes for Who-canon (apparently Area 51 has been mentioned before), but I've pretty much resigned myself to the idea that the oft-alluded-to "Time War" can be used as an explanation for the inclusion or exclusion of any past or future events. But anyway, I really hope the next time they do one of these animated shows that I don't feel like I should have a controller in my hand.

Other BritTV that may be of interest (and it, too, is on YouTube for the moment) is the second episode of the oft-hilarious quiz show, "Q.I." They had a fifth panelist on this time, who was none other than John Hodgman. Sadly, he didn't get to shine as much as I'd hoped (though perhaps some of the cut footage will be aired if they make "extra large" episodes of this series as they did with last season's shows), but that was made up for by the return of Bill Bailey. I thought he'd sworn off TV shows to pursue other career opportunities, but I'm glad he's back.

We interrupt this post to let you know those merciless bargain-hunter temptationalists are holding yet another Woot-Off. And Kids.Woot is having one as well. Now I'll have to wear out another F5 key...

But back to other worthwhile uses of time: "Borderlands," the video game. I finished the main mission as the Siren, and... it's weird, but the game, while fun, has a lot of warts showing that seem more like things that were overlooked rather than bad decisions. On the graphics front (and this could just be a glitch in my PC's graphics card, I'll admit), there appear to be no water effects when you drive through standing liquids (it doesn't wick up and make mist from your tires). Also, when using weapons that cause your enemies to catch fire, their bodies vanish, but bits of them (helmets, shields, the odd weapon) will float in the air until the fire dissipates, as if dying by fire turns your victim invisible before he goes up like flash paper. And is it me, or is almost everyone wearing a mask or breather so there were fewer mouths to animate? The few we do see (outside of cut scenes) are pretty bad, especially Helena Pierce. The dialogue in the game also has a few quirks. Most of the things the baddies say when they don't see you is the same stuff they say when they do see you, so it's rather hard to tell if you've been detected. Also (again with Helena), it seems that they didn't record any fitting words for major NPCs to default to once you'd finished the primary goal. Still, points to the game for letting you continue to play after finishing the main mish, and I hope the stuff I've listed are just problems that were fixed by a patch somewhere, and I've just missed it.

And just to show that I'm not the only one in my household who likes to shill for things they run across, my lovely wife would like everyone to know she digs the new "Mint Crunch" Moon Pies. Quoth my spouse, "they taste a lot like mint Girl Scout cookies." Other than by ordering them directly from the Moon Pie website, the only place we know where they are is at a "Love's" truck stop near Booneville, MO. This means the ball is now in the Girl Scout's court, and we await their response to this challenge. :)

Now, our usual closing number:

- Two things reminded me of science fiction this week. The first was the passing of the man credited with writing "The Hokey Pokey," which brought up memories of how at least one alien race reacted to it.
- The second was the publication of the Bible in a literally microscopic format, which made me recall the physical description of the Orange Catholic Bible from the novel, "Dune."
- I love the internet. It has brought me slow-mo footage of detonating tacos.
- This Christmas, you can ask for not just one, but two types of Batman utility belt replicas. Sadly, both are not designed to be worn, which is probably for the best as my waistline is more geared towards wearing a replica pair of pants from the Penguin...
- Forget the Osprey flying vehicle, we're practically at the point of inventing 'Transformers.' Make that thing have a "wearable battle armor" mode and put a few guns on it, and we'll have the start of something interesting...
- Perfect Balance 2 is a Tetris-y game of trying to arrange an array of shapes into a stable pile. There's also a bonus to be had, if you can add spherical diamonds to your stack at the end of each level.
- December belongs to C'thulhu, at least at Tor dot com.
- Add "Star Wars" to things that could be improved by the use of zombies.
- Finally, for too long have cute, cartoon penguins been plaguing... other penguins with guns. In Penguin Massacre (a bit o' blood warning), you play a well-armed penguin with upgradable firearms defending his ice-wall from a relentlessly adorable and marketable onslaught of fellow flightless waterfowl.

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( This may contain music or other linkage of interest. Content changes with each new post. Behind cut for those who wish to skip the Twitterfication... )

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I can see why people might be upset at Stargate Universe. It's dragging, at least in the areas most of us liked about the whole SG setting: old cool stuff left behind by a dead civilization that could heal, kill, or [DATA EXPUNGED] you. It was like Indiana Jones with extraterrestrials, except it didn't suck. Anyway, SGU is devoting at least half of the recent shows to handling the whole "we're away from Earth, maybe forever, so we have to settle how things are run" deal. While this is less than satisfying on a sci-fi level, I think it's making me think they should have done something similar with "Star Trek: Voyager."

"Voyager" did have a few shows dealing with the Federation crew vs. the Maquis, but they came to a level of cooperation and camaraderie almost automatically. Granted, this Trek happened before "Lost"-type plots were in vogue outside of "Babylon-5" (or when a show knew it was being canceled), but I think an opportunity was missed. Plus, as was seen in the most recent SGU episode, a shifting power structure allows formerly forbidden acts to happen under new management (and, conveniently, discredit said management, if needed).

The SGU installment did end on a very nice "holy crap" moment. This was one of the best yet, at least from a dramatic point of view.

I also caught the opening episode of BBC4's teen-superpower (not "hero," by any means) show, "Misfits." The first episode is currently on YouTube (warnin': We gots yer cussin' an' adult-type si'uations 'ere, guv'nah) for the time being, if you want to take it for a spin. While overall not a bad show premise (I'm going to see if I can't track down the other episodes before a final thumbs up or down), it did hit a sci-fi pet peeve of mine: Telepathy. Specifically, telepathy with a dog... that could "think" in slang-ridden English. So as someone who has been known to portray telepathy in comics, here's several points concerning what I think makes for more believable mind-reading (and these are just off the top of my head, so if I offend any real telepaths, I apologize):

1. The human mind is incredibly complex, and it's a pretty safe bet that no two are alike. We're all a fairly unique collection of experiences, languages, emotional responses and chemical reactions at any given moment. We do have similar structures (language centers, reward systems, etc.), but even if one could "hear" another brain, it should be quite hard to pick out an actual "spoken" thought, even if it's pretty prominent. For a TV show, I'd at least have a bunch of background "noise" as the reading is attempted, if one wants the audience to hear.

2. If the mind speaks another language or belongs to a different species, I hope you brought a phrase book. I'd say other than emotions (assuming a similar frame of reference, like what the target knowingly finds offensive) or non-language perceptions (feeling a drive to move a limb, hunger, etc.), actual "reading" of someone who speaks a different language or isn't of your genome should be pretty darn difficult, especially for someone who just got their powers yesterday.

3. If you're a telepath, your mouth is superfluous. As in recent episodes of "Heroes," I don't get why telepathic people will say out loud what they can just think-speak to those they're in contact with (i.e. Parkman and the mind of Sylar). This is too often played for comedic effect, making the telepath seem like they're talking to themselves, but it's gotten old and predictable. Make them distracted, sure, but the whole "old lady staring at the person apparently talking to nobody" is a dead horse well beaten.

4. For continuity purposes (as well as to have a source for story explanations) you might want to define how mind-reading works for your character. If you can read someone's mind, the information has to arrive by some mechanism (unless you're using magic, and then all bets are off). Every brain could be constantly sending out thought-waves that telepaths can read, the telepath has some kind of "thought-radar," or there's a combination of the two. You could also use my favorite macguffin: quantum-level gobbledegook (i.e. information cannot be created or destroyed, so "telepathy" is just the ability to "read" the universe).

And these are just some of the base concepts that I dig when telepathy comes into play. This is also more of a general starting point. If, as in "Babylon-5," you've got a Psi Corps or something that has almost military-style TP training, someone able to clearly pull out what a crowded room had for breakfast, what movie they last saw, and their least favorite yoga position isn't out of the question. And though some may question the discussion of an, at best, speculative means of communication, we can say it's time well spent by calling it a "writing exercise." :)

While I go exercise my writing on designing planet Argos (more on that later), here's some other items of note:

- In a perfect future with jetpacks and space stations, we'd have these special glasses, but they'd be animated and have a riffing A.I. that entertains you as you endure bad movies.
- This is just a weird item: Michael Jackson helped compose the music for the 'Sonic 3' video game.
- Here's another one: Scientists accidentally discover a near-perfect shade of blue.
- This is just a weird game: Dale & Peakot is a side-scroller where you collect eggs with the help of your shotgun and your magic chicken.
- Mark Coleran has an online portfolio of all of the computer and tech interfaces he's designed for movies.
- I had no idea that startled cats could 'hover' to safety.
- I also had no idea that Cookie Monster could sing along with the German metal group Rammstein. Now that's a must-have toy.
- From the 'why couldn't I have thought of this and made a t-shirt out of it' files, we have this Lovecraftian ditty from an IRC chatlog.
- BBC One has created a holiday-themed identification video featuring the Doctor and a new way to fly the TARDIS.
- And we end with tower defense strategy in Creeper World. Defend Odin City from "the creeper," activate the rift totems, and let the city escape to safety. You also have movable units, which is a plus.

Art posts are on hold until tomorrow or Sunday, while I work on a few time-sensitive projects and x-post recent art-related entries from here to my website.

Thank you for your patience. You may now resume your textual orgies.

( This may contain music or other linkage of interest. Content changes with each new post. Behind cut for those who wish to skip the Twitterfication... )

( This may contain music or other linkage of interest. Content changes with each new post. Behind cut for those who wish to skip the Twitterfication... )

A few posts ago, I shared a trailer for a rather dull-looking bus simulation game. I think I've found something I'd want to play even less: Archie's Riverdale Run (scroll down for the trailer). "Archie" is one of those intellectual properties that has almost become a parody of itself, hard to see in any light other than ironic (at least for me). As a humorous look at hip 'n' happenin' teens, it's about as relevant to modern-day youth as "Richie Rich" is to students of economic theory. In fact, the only other attention I've seen paid to the comic comes from the blog MightyGodKing who has long made the case that Betty Cooper is freakin' nuts and will probably (language warning) someday do something that would make Hannibal Lecter pause. I still see the "Archie Digests" for sale in grocery stores, so somebody must still be out there buying them, but the last time I read the comic had to be... well, let's just say it probably was some time before Mario made the leap from arcades to home consoles. I also watched the short lived late-60's TV show in re-runs, though I can't recall a single storyline.

So anyway, I'm rather puzzled by the development of what looks like a pretty dull game. I'm not saying you need explosions and mayhem (though in Riverdale, that might be ironically funny) to have a good time, but running around doing chores and collecting flowers/hamburgers/love notes isn't exactly going to make me run to Best Buy. I do have to hand it to them, though: By not trying to stereotypically "update" the Archie brand (other than by losing his bow tie somewhere along the way), they may have created a better product. I mean, imagine Arch and Jughead in gangsta or hipster outfits, driving around in a beat-up Ford Fiesta.

Another media decision I don't get is the upcoming movie based on the game, 'Battleship.' I say "based on," because after reading the description, it doesn't sound like securing the IP for the classic grid-based guessing game was required. It sounds as if someone licensed "Dungeons & Dragons" in order to make "Reign of Fire." I do realize that the "Battleship" brand is what's allowing this film to be made, but... it just seems so unnecessary. If you told me there was a movie called "Navy vs. Aliens," I'd probably be just as intrigued. I also can't see this as being a huge move for Milton-Bradley, as even if someone winds up digging this film, the old pegs-n-plastic game is most likely not going to fly off the shelves. Maybe an Xbox Live version with clips from the movie and significant mechanics changes, but I think even the electronic tabletop version has seen its best days.

If it does turn out to be a decent movie, I propose that studios place the names of random products, games, toys, etc. into a hat and draw them whenever they're stuck for an idea. They then proceed to produce said film as if the owner of that product had hired them to do so, changing the name, of course... unless they can secure a sponsorship deal afterwords. :)

I've received several pleas to postpone any deconstruction of my suitcase full of vacuum tubes until I can find someone who can tell me if they're of value or not. I shall endeavor to seek wise counsel on this from local businesses and/or antique shops specializing in electronic devices. I did do some searches on what others have done with these tubes, and I came across a few interesting items, including a lightning bug, two galleries of miniature sculptures inside vacuum tubes (gallery one contains "fine art marble statue" style nekkidness, if that's an issue, and can be seen here, and gallery two is here), and some simple yet attractive jewelry.

Well, my Marvel script has been accepted. It's an 11-page tale that I don't think I can say too much about (I haven't asked how specific I can be) at the moment, except that it'll appear online before it appears in print. When I have more details about this "strange" story, I'll let everyone in on it. :)

Until then, here are other links to things strange as well as (hopefully) interesting:

- Most ads I have to watch in order to get to the trailer I want to see or the flash game I want to play are burdens that must be endured. However, I saw a rather clever one that I actually wanted to share.
- R.I.F.T. is a fun platformer where you, a robot, must navigate puzzling side-scrolling levels to feed cake to an overweight blob of a "master." It's kind of dark, if that's supposed to be us in the future...
- How cool would it be to clean out an old building and discover a two-lane bowling alley dating from the days of prohibition?
- In honor of my sister, the uber-librarian, I offer up this list of fail-ridden conversations with used booksellers.
- A walking blood-n-gore warning on this zombie rally photo collection. There are some fairly clever slogans, at least for the undead.
- And LoLcats have become so pervasive, it takes a pretty good matching of caption to photo to crack a smile these days, but this one did the trick.
- I think I might need to take up coin collecting, at least with denominations featuring Time Lords.
- Here's a challenging solitaire game, Tripeaks Reserve. Start by selecting a card from the bottom row, then attempt to clear the cards in the field above by selecting ones that are one higher or lower than the card in the discard pile.
- Continuing last post's holiday ornament links, here's 11 'geeky' selections for your tree.
- Reminiscent of a previously-posted gravity-gun game, Tank Defence has you protecting a central goal while shooting/propelling enemy forces into each other and the walls (be sure to click "new game" to begin, the opening screen is an interactive time-waster).