Hey all, hope (again, for those who celebrated...seriously, do I have any foreign readers?) you had a pleasant Thanksgiving weekend. I was debating putting up a TG-themed comic, and (obviously) I decided to, since I had 4 comics already done.

Hopefully I can take some time tomorrow and make some updates. Definitely want to try and get some more comics done, at least. Also got to think up of a new poll. =P

Also, now we know the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow. Still no word just yet on whether or not it can carry coconuts.

posted by Tim at 1:34 AM

Caught Justice League this weekend..."Secret Society". If you didn't see it, that means Injustice Guild, Take 2. Why is this new Society so much cooler than the other one? Not only does it include Sinestro, but also Clayface! Wheee! Clayface was always one of my most favorite characters from the entire "Animated Series" that WB has put out. So...yeah.
posted by Tim at 1:48 AM

I have just leveled up in the geek sense.

I have discovered there is a "Final Fantasy" channel on Radio @ AOL. It's basically just playing the soundtracks of the Final Fantasy games...at least the ones that offer soundtracks. You know, the ones where all the FF fanboys get their collective panties all in a knot over?

I have listened to it. And I like it. Maybe not enough to become a full-fledged FF otaku or something, but as I have previously mentioned, I generally like video game music.
posted by Tim at 2:48 AM

I just got through watching the first hour of a PBS NOVA special about string theory, and will probably watch the second two after I type this. I watched this... on the Internet. That's the first point I wanted to make...it's absolutely amazing that I can watch a 3-hour documentary, in its entirety, online. The Internet is a depository of a great number of things.

The second point is the subject matter itself. If you couldn't already tell by some of the subject matter of the comic, I find some of physics just fascinating...or at least the science-fictiony kind of stuff. A lot of it is still too mathematical and over my head to really get into it. The hour I just watched gives an overview of the events leading up to string theory, such as Einstein's General Relativity and the quest for a GUT and the like. This stuff I've actually heard before, so it was easy enough to follow along (which is to say, if you haven't heard this, you can watch it only if you can pay close attention). But my "defining moment" came toward the end of the hour, where they basically said "How can we explain bot general relativity and quantum mechanics? Well, string theory...these little vibrating bands of energy that make up every particle". And I was like, "Wait, what?". From 60 to 0 in 1.5 seconds. I was following along quite nicely until they got to the point. Well, I've still got two-thirds to get through. Who know, there's a good chance some of this'll end up somewhere in the comic, in some distant future....
posted by Tim at 2:02 AM

Wanted to get some stuff out of my brain about my Halloween strip, especially about the TV costume I picked for Bill.

(1) Aren't empty cardboard boxes magical? It seems like as a kid, you could play for hours in a box. [Side note: OK, my dirty mind is making naughty comments about that last sentence, but I won't go there.] We moved a couple times when I was a kid, so it seemed like there was an ample supply of cardboard boxes around, especially ones big enough for you to fit in with a bit of room on all sides. Not like too small where you couldn't fit or feel claustraphobic, and not huge like refridgerator boxes (though those are fun too), but just cozy enough. Oh, the things you could pretend it was..well, vehicles mostly...or perhaps a robot.

(2) The Inspector Gadget movie. So many little things sacrificed...some good, mostly bad. OK, I'll give them a regular Brain the dog (as opposed to anthropomorphic), and a Penny that isn't the real brains behind the operation. But, Dr. Claw was not some dumbass with a real claw for a hand...part of the mystique was that all you saw of him was his metal gauntlet hand. I think they corrected this problem in the sequel, but as I've never seen that (and I hope I never have to), and since it's direct-to-video (starring direct-to-video mainstay French Stewart), I'm not entirely sure about that. Oh, and the Gadgetmobile is just a mini-van that turns into a police cruiser - not a God-damn talking purple convertible pimp-mobile.
I don't know, it is pathetic of me to admit I've seen the Inspector Gadget movie? But, in my defense, it's not like I actually paid money to see it (it was on the university free cable movie channel).
posted by Tim at 1:32 AM

Went to go see The Matrix Revolutions. Didn't want to be the last one to see it. Overall, I liked the movie, much like how I like the overall trilogy. The movie had its good and bad points (careful, there may be spoilers ahead):

Good: Definitely NOT as talky as Reloaded. Which is good, it's a tad more action driven, without having to think about the ideas they're trying to cram into your brain.

Bad: However, the script does suffer (I think much like the previous two) from too much vague dialogue. To paraphrase 75% of the conversations of all three movies:
"What do I do now?"
"You know what you have to do."
"Yeah, you're right." *goes and does it*
The thing I like about some movies is trying to figure out the puzzle on your own. There's some point, just before the climax of the movie, where your brain clicks and you understand everything that goes on, which then leads to the final resolution. The Matrix movies don't seem to have that; they give you plenty - maybe too much - to think about, leaving you confused, and the only way you know what they're going to do next is during the next scene when they're actually doing it.

Good: No weird unnecessarily-and-uncomfortably-long rave/orgy scene. There is, however, a brief S&M/bacchinalia kind of party going on inside the Matrix, proving that programs know how to have a better time than humans.

Bad: The ending. I'm not saying it's a bad ending...it's just that it ended the only way it could end. And that's both expected and...disappointing. I just kinda felt, "Oh, well, that's it then." We can't have the humans win; that issue was brought up at the end of Reloaded. And we obviously can't have the machines win. So, of course, we're left the the only other alternative.

Good: Trinity doing her "trademark" flying-crane kick thing on one of Frenchy's goons. I'm not saying that because I like the kick for any special reason; I'm saying that because she seemed to use it in a cameo "Hey, that's from the first movie!" kind of way.

Bad: The script (returning to this point) also suffers from a bit of cliche dialogue. You can almost say the line right along with them. Things like "There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to go ahead and say it," and "You did it!" "No, we did it." I hope the Wachowskis don't fall into the Lucas trap.

Good: Persephone (Monica Belluci) in a skin-tight, red leather dress showing off ample cleavage.

Bad: Not nearly enough screentime with Persephone in a skin-tight, red leather dress showing off ample cleavage. I don't care if she talked or not.

Good: Great special effects, as always. Especially the final fight between Neo and Smith. Plus the sentinals-forming-a-face thing at Machine City. Also delightfully unexpected was Neo giving Smith a bullet-time punch to the face (you know, using bullet-time to show something besides bullets).

Bad: One of the problems I had with Reloaded was the "Burly Brawl" scene, with some of the bodies, and occasionally Neo, looking a little too artifical to keep the suspension of disbelief intact. Well, it seemed like they fixed that problem here in Revolutions. The problem is, they fixed it by having virtually every fight scene shot with some kind of strobe effect going on, be it lightning or electrical sparks or machine-gun fire or whatever. The fight scenes are busy enough, but part of the whole point for me is to be able to see what the hell is going on.

But, like I said, overall, a thumbs-up from me. If you're a fan of the series like I am, you'll enjoy it. If you're a die-hard rabid fanatic of the series...well, I'm not going to tell anyone how to think of the movie, but had I been more rabid about it, I probably would've left the theater a bit disappointed.

posted by Tim at 1:29 AM

Also wanted to mention a quick little funny story about Saturday...

While watching the game, our offense made a pass play, but it ended up being recalled as an incomplete pass. I thought to myself, "Well, they'll show the instant replay, and we can double-check and see that it really was incomplete." (Not that I expect them to overturn the decision, being college football.) Then I thought, "OK, dumbass...you're watching the game here LIVE...there IS no instant replay!" And no, the stadium doesn't have a sophiticated Jumbo-tron that could actually play video like that. So I felt like an idiot for a few moments.
posted by Tim at 1:34 AM

Weekend! Whoooo!

And I've got one more day! Despite the lack of pay, I really do like the instant-3-day weekends I occasionally get. I mean, I really wouldn't gloat about it, but I guess such is the life of an hourly-salary product-based factory position type worker thing. Sitting here now really makes me think to the earlier post I made about permanent 3-day weekends, and that it really should be enforced.

So, Halloween...hope everyone had a good one. Mine wasn't as exciting as I would've hoped, but ended up getting a "good" rating overall. As for the kiddies, I was really surprised that we didn't get as many trick-or-treaters as I'm used to. And, living almost all my life in isolated, cul-de-sac kind of neighborhoods, I'm used to a LOT of kids. Like, preparing for 200 for the night kind of a lot of kids. Of the kids who did make it, there were an awful lot of princesses for the night. And a surprising number of Wizard of Oz Dorothys...well, 4 or 5 (including one of the parents), but that's a lot for one night. Third place I think goes to your generic white face goth/vampire/dead person.

Also a first this year was a neighborhood Halloween block party, up at the end of our cul-de-sac street. There's been one around Labor Day down the street at the large open public space we have, but this was the first Halloween one. I threw together a Green Lantern costume (consisting of my GL t-shirt over black pants). ONE person recognized it, so I was vindicated! =D The conversation (the jist of it, anyway):
Him: "Wait, you're the Green Lantern, aren't you?"
Me: "*chuckling* Yeah."
Him: "I'm only now noticing. C'mon, where's the power ring?"
Me: *shows him the craptacular power ring I threw together about an hour before the party*
Him: "Yes! *gives me a high five*"
It's funny...given the right social situation, and I get several compliments about my GL t-shirt. But still no Gl movie...what's up with that?! I'll admit, GL's been getting a little better TV coverage...well, mostly on Justice League, but it counts! Not that I'm a GL expert, or fanboy, or anything....I guess I've become fascinated by GL and am eager to see him/her/it/them in action. Because I'm not a comic geek in any sense...everything I've learned, I've learned from TV, movies and the Internet.

(mini side rant)
Movies Hollywood Really Needs to Consider Making:
Green Lantern - my message to DC/Warner Bros.: Sure, everyone loves Batman and Superman, but you guys have already done those franchises. You're got a HUGE library of characters. And you've got the technology now, a GL movie could totally kick. Look at Marvel - they've already got 4 major franchises going, plus at least 3 more coming within the next few years. The time is right. PS to both of you: Nicholas Cage should NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR ANY STARRING ROLE IN ANY MAJOR FRANCHISE. Well, first he was gonna be Superman, and that's just wrong. Now I hear he's gonna be Night Rider, which...well, if he's just gonna be a flaming skull, it might not be so bad. But still no.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - as far as I know, now closer than ever to being a reality. Crossing my fingers.
Alternate Delusions - well, a man can dream, right? lol
(end side rant)

Today, I went of to my alma mater for the football game against Northeastern. My sister goes to NU, so she was gonna come with me, but she's been slowly evolving into a typical college party animal (that is to say, always hanging out with friends - I HOPE she's not doing the "stereotypical" thing =P), so she didn't end up getting a ride home or to the game, so I went by my little lonesome. UMass kicked butt, 28 to 24 (whoo!). Before I left, the last I heard was that Delaware was behind, but as I found out a little while ago, UDel came roaring back in the 4th quarter to win. Which means both UMass and UDel are undefeated and tied for first in the A-10. Which means their matchup in two weeks is going to be very interesting...hopefully we'll (at least) still be undefeated then.

Delaware's kind of sweet and sour for me. Sour in that their football team has really done well the last few years, which is of course bad since I want UMass to win...win it all like in '98, baby! I was there in Chattanooga...I have proof! But, it so happens the director of their marching band is a former member/drum major of the UMass band, and still writes our (look at me, saying "our" like I'm still a part of it) drill, and is therefore quite close, and we consider the Blue Hen Band as a kind of sister band to us. Aww how sweet! lol Plus, our director grew up in that area, so it's almost like homecoming for him. So it's a big trip in a couple weeks...which reminds me, I think the game will be on TV so I can watch it! Neat-o! hehe Plus, right now UDel and UMass are ranked nationally #2 and #4, respectively (I-AA), which adds another delicious layer to it all.

And being back on campus, with all the familiar (and unfamiliar - ie. new buildings) sights, and seeing the, uh, "student body", if ya know what I mean, and I think ya do, wink wink nudge nudge say no more...

It's getting progressively weirder for me, because there are fewer and fewer people I know when I go back (feh, like I knew so many when I was there)...I'm becoming more and more of an "alumnus" with each year. Yet I still feel like I'm a college kid.

Damn, I miss college.


Sorry to bore you all with talk of college football and shtuff like that. But it's my blog, dammit! Deal! hehe

posted by Tim at 1:21 AM