September 12, 2007 by Collin
Yes!
And no!
I’m done with Blogger, but I’m not done blogging.
If you would like to continue to follow along and keep up with what’s happening in my life, click over to my brand new and ever changing site at www.fizzleandpop.com. There’s a blog there, and more.
The only thing missing is my archive.
Category Adrift | Tags: | 4 Comments
August 23, 2007 by Collin
Bioshock for the XBox 360. I’ve only been able to play it twice since getting it what with Real Life™ and all, but the only reason this wouldn’t be my GOTM would be if it were to end in an hour. I don’t think that’s likely. So there you are.
Last night I fought two Big Daddies and lost track of the time. They are a bitch to kill. Stayed up too late. I’m sleepy. So. Little Sisters. Harvest them or cure them? I’m curing them this time around. I figure I’ll harvest them next time I play through the game and see what happens. Because I know I’ll be playing through again. The last game I felt this driven to play to completion was “The Darkness,” and before that it was “Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.” This is a beautiful game, it controls well, and it’s from the people that created “System Shock 1 & 2.” The only beef I have so far is the physics are occasionally wonky. If you have a 360 and enjoy fps games with a bit of an edge, get it.
Setting a splicer on fire and then electrocuting him when he jumps in the water is fun, but using telekinesis to bludgeon a splicer to death with a nearby corpse is even more fun.
…
So, I haven’t posted in awhile. Technically there’s one post on my Vox site that didn’t made it over here. It was short though, so here it is:
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Woot’s Shirt Derby : Results
Aug 10, 2007
None of my three designs this week that I actually put time and thought into came close to my one, half-assed, last minute design last week. The best scoring one wasn’t even a tenth of the final winning vote total.
The hot dog was the highest with 47, followed by the bones with 34 and brining up the rear is the penguin with a measly 24 votes.
I’ve decided that I have no idea what people want. For the next derby, whatever the topic I’m making a zombie fit. Fuck it.
——
Wouldn’t you know it? The following derby theme was “Superhero” which I didn’t participate in because of ‘Marvel Zombies.’ The first two weeks of the derby were filled with people accusing other people of stealing ideas. No way was I going to touch it. But last Friday the theme was Maps, so I drew up this design:
and posted it on Friday around 1 pm. By 5 pm I was in second place with close to 100 votes. However the original design didn’t have the title on the shirt and after a few comments from people who didn’t feel people seeing them in the shirt would “get it” – and Derek agreeing – I realized I had to do a design tweak. I made the change, resubmitted it and lost all my votes. By Friday night, however I was back up to 2nd place and remained there through the weekend. On Monday morning I started slipping behind, and now it looks like I’ll be finishing in sixth. But I did get over 300 votes, so yay zombies! We’ll see what next week brings.
Category Adrift | Tags: | 4 Comments
August 8, 2007 by Collin
Found in the tubes: Automatic Candle Snuffer
I don’t know which baffles me more: the idea of anyone needing an automatic candle snuffer, or the first two “illustrations” that accompany the patent. So you don’t have to follow the link, and so I can fill up some space, here they are with their explanation text:
FIGURE 1
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical prior art candle holder. Candles may be used to provide light as well as atmosphere or mood. While it is possible to blow a candle flame out, it is not generally desirable to do so, as it may interrupt a romantic atmosphere and hinder the mood.
FIGURE 2
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in use. The device of the present invention includes a glass housing having a digital timer device attached thereto. While the timer is running it magnetizes a plate on the timer that holds the lid in the open position. When the designated time has expired, the magnetic field is terminated and the lid swings closed, sealing the housing from the oxygen supply.
My notes and observations:
(Fig. 1)
(Fig. 2)
The “invention”
Category Adrift | Tags: | 6 Comments
August 7, 2007 by Collin
Well, four really, but I’m only calling attention to three. I’m not that fond of the fourth. Neither is anyone else, judging by the votes. The theme this week is “Heat.” The limitations mainly are to stay within six colors, avoid gradients, and no “Woot” related shirts.
This was my first entry. It didn’t quite turn out as well as I hoped. Nobody to blame but myself. Moving on…
The second entry so far is doing better than the first. Still not blazing up the ranks, but what can I do? Suck less I guess.
My last entry. Too early to tell how this one will do. I only saw two other penguin related designs after I got this idea, and the one closest in concept is nowhere close to the same in execution. It’s also above 130 votes, whereas mines… not.
I said it before, but I really mean it this time. They need to not allow voting until after the submission deadline. In spite of what they think, I do believe that some people vote for the lead designs just so they can back a “winner.” Allow submissions through noon on Tuesday and voting from then until noon on Thursday. But whatever. It’s not my contest.
Category Adrift | Tags: | 3 Comments
August 3, 2007 by Collin
I just put up a new design for a tote bag at my Cafe Press store:
It’s $14.99 and you can get to it by following this link or clicking the picture.
I had a companion piece that would have been with it as well, however it was flagged for looking too much like Mickey Mouse, I guess. And yes, it does a bit:
However I’m not passing it off as “he-who-shall-not-be-named,” I never even mentioned the “D” word, and I think it’s different enough to be safe from lawsuit. They disagree, I’m not a lawyer and there we are. I do understand. It’s hard to be willing to stand up to a gigantic corporation that has managed to extend the copyright laws 11 times to keep their flagship icon from falling into the public domain. Never mind that it was that same public domain that they raped to build their empire. (For more on this, I recommend going here.) Maybe I’ll make a skull bunny.
I do have another design in the works that will look quite different. No, not a skull bunny. I’ll let you know when it’s up.
The whole reason I’m doing designs for tote bags right now is because I’m tired of bringing my stuff to work in plastic grocery bags. I figured, if I’m going to buy a tote bag, I may as well get one that has my art on it. The reason I’ve chosen to do skulls is because I like ‘em. While this design appeals to me, it’s not quite what I’m after. The main reason it’s gone up is because Heather likes it and wants it. If at least three more people want it that’ll pay for my store for a month. Wheee!
Have a great weekend.
Category Merchandise | Tags: | 2 Comments
August 3, 2007 by Collin
Category Adrift | Tags: | 2 Comments
August 2, 2007 by Collin
At least I think so. Probably because it’s not just me and Derek yammering. Check it out:
— Stuff —
As a side note, the crazy number of hits I’d been getting for awhile now have apparently regained sanity and shrugged out of the wrap-around jackets. I’m back to around 30 hits a day. So… I post more and I get less traffic. Sure. Why not?
My Woot shirt is holding steady at 55 votes. 602 votes more and I could be in the lead, provided the current lead design didn’t get more votes. Bah-fooey. Maybe next time.
I had a dream that Derek might appreciate. I was going on a road trip the next day and I and a couple of guys I don’t know were packing up a car I’ve never seen in preparation. We had a dog that I don’t own in a box in the front seat and a cat somewhere else in the car. One of the guys was putting a bird in a can and was about to wedge it in with the dog when I suggested that we shouldn’t put the bird in the car just yet. The cat would be able to get him. The guy pointed out the bird was in a can, but I said the cat was pretty smart. Then the dog escaped from his box and was running loose. We were trying to catch him because we didn’t want him to get into traffic, whereupon reality shifted and all dogs looked exactly like like people, only with wild hair, wide eyes and big smiles. That meant we were chasing this dog/guy around the yard as he flailed his arms about and woofed. I thought to myself, “It’s a good thing all dogs look like this guy, or people watching might think we are trying to catch a retarded guy.” I finally caught him by leaning out with my arms extended and said, “C’mere! Gimme a hug!” and he did. So I guess my subconscious for the evening had decided that cats were smart enough to de-can birds and dogs are retarded.
I can’t imagine why I’m losing visitors.
Happy hump day! Go get’cha some!
Category Adrift | Tags: | 2 Comments
July 31, 2007 by Collin
Back around October of 2003, I agreed to try to make a video of a song by Mark Maynard’s band Monkey Power Trio. Lacking enough knowledge in animation programs it was doomed to failure. I had access to Flash; I just didn’t know how to use it. I still don’t, however I’m in the process of learning. No promises, but I may be able to finish the video sometime this year.
I bring this up because the theme for Illustration Friday, this week, coincides with the name of the song: “Someday we’ll reach the moon.”
This is a composite of the Flash interface and a few of the elements that I illustrated before realizing I had no idea what to do next. The concept behind the video was, it would look like one of those toys that you push a button on and the music plays while the shapes move behind a textured screen. Even though this isn’t a brand-new illustration, it IS the first time I’ve shown it to anyone who wasn’t involved in the creation process, or close to me.
If you would like to listen to the song, head here: The Monkey Power Trio’s 1999 album ‘Chasing Monsters With Our Love’.
Someday I’ll finish that animation. Someday. Someday.
I really think the idea behind the Monkey Power Trio is awesome. They are a group of friends who get together once a year, play music for a few hours and then turn it into an actual vinyl LP. They don’t practice together at any other point during the year, and yes, it shows. Yet they still manage turn turn out some interesting songs. They plan to do this every year until they die. All of their music is also available at their site as free MP3s.
—
About the Shirt.Woot Derby… Maybe next time, and then only if they revamp how voting is done. As it is now voting is shown in real-time; the more votes an image has, the larger its icon is; “New Hotness” pretty much reflects the top five images because that’s all anyone seems to be voting on; the lead image is already up to 422 votes; it’s pointless to enter after the first day. Unless they change the rules, the only strategy I can think of to have a chance of winning is to do up a bunch of random designs ahead of time and then hope I can make one fit the topic on Friday at noon. The currently winning design wasn’t the first design submitted, but I know it was there within 4 hours of start time. And in the forum, the creator said it was a design he made years ago in high school.
I’ll keep you informed.
Ah, heck, I made a design anyway. Voting be damned. Still, I do hope they fix it so it’s less discouraging.
If you are a customer of Woot (meaning you’ve bought anything from them) and would like to see this design made into a shirt, click on the picture to be taken to where you can vote. You’ll need to be logged in, however.
Category Projects | Tags: illustration friday | 2 Comments
July 27, 2007 by Collin
But you already knew that didn’t you? Look at you, sitting there all smug in your daily knowledge. Well bask in it for now pal, because some day, perhaps soon, you’re going to find yourself unaware of what day it is, and then who’ll be smug? That’s right. Me. I will be. Because I’ll know the day that you don’t on the day that you do… don’t… know. The day. Okay, fine. It’ll be a Tuesday following a holiday. I just can’t keep things from you.
Enough of that. My kick-ass zombie book arrived today. It was pricey after the conversion from British pounds to “real money,” but I think it was worth it. If he makes more I’ll buy them. I’m stupid like that. If you don’t know what book I’m talking about click here.
I was also interested in checking out the quality of work they do at lulu.com. I must say, not bad at all. The paper seems to be good quality, the inks are nice and sharp and the cover is shiny. Looking at the binding on-edge, it looks sturdy. Better than some other books I’ve purchased lately. I’m thinking once again about putting together a book of my own. If I did, would you buy it? I’ll possibly return to an idea for a “kids book” that’s not really for kids. Hmmm.
Oh, and Woot.com has started up a shirt-of-the-day site that runs similar to their item-of-the-day main site. They’ve also started a contest of sorts that runs kinda like Illustration Friday, only you can win money if you rock hard enough. They suggest a topic on Friday at noon and you have until noon on Wednesday to submit an idea. However if you wait that long you will not likely win. Voting closes on Thursday at noon and the winning shirt goes on sale Friday. Only people who have purchased something from Woot are allowed to vote to keep people from stuffing the ballot. Full rules are here. The winner gets $200 plus $2 per shirt that sells after the first day. The fist topic is “one.” I need an idea… just one idea… hmmmmm…. ONE FREAKIN’ IDEA! heh. I’ll let you know if I have anything by Monday. Derek’s already working on his.
Speaking of Illustration Friday, this week’s topic is “Moon”. I’m pretty sure I can swing that one. So you have that to look forward to next week.
Enjoy your weekend! Get out, live a little. Do one thing that you never thought you would ever do and then tell me about it on Monday.
Category Adrift | Tags: | 3 Comments
July 27, 2007 by Collin
This didn’t come up in my household recently; it was mentioned in an episode #4 of ‘Man & Wife’. Scoop left the toilet seat up once and his daughter fell in. Shanda and his daughter were both angry at him for quite some time over that. That story got me thinking about my own “battle of the toilet seat” from early in my teenage years.
My dad remarried when I was 15, and his new wife had a daughter one year younger than me. My dad and I moved into their house, and the daughter and I shared a common bathroom. Up until this point I had never had to share a bathroom with a female. I soon learned all about skivvies and whatnot left over the curtain rack, the wide variety of primping materials scattered around the sink, not to use her blow dryer and to be very careful around the curling iron. I also learned that women aren’t too keen on you leaving the toilet seat up after having a wizz. In the typical teenage boy way, I pretty much ignored her complaints until one day when she had one dunk in the ti-d-bol too many. There were screams and death threats that day. Her mom was on her side, and my dad suggested that I make an effort to be more mindful thereafter. So I learned to reflexively put the seat down whenever I was done with the bathroom and it’s stuck to this day.
However…
Here’s the question I have. If it’s “not that hard” to learn to put the toilet seat down when you finish, and “any moron can do it,” then why the fuck is so hard to learn to look at the seat before you start? It seems to me that’s a skill that everyone should develop, just in case you find yourself in a situation where… oh, I don’t know… someone else left the seat up? I do know this, in all the years that I shared a bathroom with just guys, I only fell in the freakin’ toilet one time, and that was because I was tired and my eyes were on the fuzzy side. It woke me up quick and reinforced the notion to look before you squat.
So guys, learn to put the seat down when you’re done. It’s the polite thing to do.
But ladies, learn to look where you’re planting your butt, just in case.
Category Adrift | Tags: | 5 Comments
