...But WTF!?

I received the Penny Arcade UFS card game as a gift and I just tried to play it with my wife. Let me set the stage: We are both reasonably intelligent individuals, who can dress ourselves and enjoy the dry, and sometimes, damp wit of Penny Arcade humor. We did not get rides to school on diminuitive transport, nor are helmets required for any of our outdoor excursions.

The rules are cryptic to say the least; cryptic being the same word I use to describe Ikea furniture instructions that have pages missing, or DVD manuals that are written in babelfish English. The terminology wanders all over the place. In some sections of the instructions a "speed" score is referenced, though no explanation is offered to how to apply it in game. There are numerous contradictions and a diagram of how to lay out your cards that seems to be in direct conflict with several ideas carried off in the rules.

The exception versus rule situation, reminiscent of contradictory content only available until now in ancient holy texts, and the fact that there is no scripted (transcribed or whatever) gameplay session in it, no adamantine example to base your play upon.

The frightening thing about it is when you go to the Sabertooth Games (the guys that produce this game) website, they don't even mention the Penny Arcade edition of it. It's as though they have a dirty little secret, in this game, some bastard child that could ruin their reputation as game producers or, at the very least, producers of intelligible instructional material for their own creations. I'm even overlooking the fact that on the site, the link to the UFS gaming system is a broken link which you have to find a way around on your own.

I am a little dismayed that Gabe (Mike Krahulic) and Tycho (Jerry Holkins) would attach their names and images to a gaming system that is so clearly still under development and not ready for public consumption. Fame does weird things to people I guess. Either that or they haven't had a chance to actually sit down and play it themselves yet. The third, and remote, possiblility that I am, in fact, a retard, notwithstanding, I really think that they need to stop selling it, promoting or at least need to make some easily accessible and applicable instructions to go with a game.

Please, if anyone has successfully played this game, works at Sabertooth or knows someone there, or even has instructions for the UFS system that doesn't seem like it might have been poorly translated from some unholy union of C++ and Spanish, let me know so I can hang my head and try again. I really want to like a game filled with such pretty pictures.

Just read a journal entry at Applegeeks.com that lead me to this article in the Onion.

Just thought you guys should know about it.

Okay, guys. This week, beginning on April 2, (2007, for you time traveler types) I'm accepting five, count 'em, five commissions. You can see all my rates on my commission info page, but I'll post them here too.

Sketches: $5 and up. This is for up to two characters. It's an additional $5 per character beyond that.

Inks: $15 and up. Same as above, an additional $5 to $10 per character depending on complexity.

Digital Greyscale: $20 and up, for two chars. Each extra character'll cost you an extra $10.

Digital Color: $25 and up. Two characters. More'll be another $10 a piece.

The reason it says, "and up," is because some people will obviously be asking for greater complexity than others and I don't want people getting a simple character line drawing for $5 and someone else getting a fully shaded masterwork for the same price. I always negotiate when I charge more than my base price before I finish. You'll know what you're paying well in advance of completion. Also, these prices reflect digital delivery. Shipping of a hard copy of whatever is extra but reasonable.

Caveat: I don't do a lot of hardcore art and I am not terribly interested in graphic man-man action. As always, my mind is open, and if you can intrigue me, I'll discuss it with you. If you want good work done quickly, I'm your guy.

Unrelated note: I am working on an idea for a card game. It's based around arguing (Imagine that. Me, taking enjoyment out of conflict.) and winning an argument. If you have ever participated in the creation of a new card game or are interested in helping me at some stage of my card game design, drop me a note or something. I need help to get through this. I'll need co-developers, possibly testers, maybe other contributing artists, writers, etc.

You REALLY need to see this.

In case you didn't get my journal post from the other night, I'm still curious to know if anybody wants to buy prints of any of my gallery stuff or if there is any idea I have left untouched that really should be a print.

Hey, a guy's gotta eat, right?

You know, I realise some of you watch my work pretty closely, here. Is there anything you guys'd like to see sold as prints?

You don't have to worry about waiting for me to find a way to market them. I can make these myself. If you want them, I can set up a price/size of print chart for the stuff. As of right now, I can only do paypal or check by mail, if that has any bearing on your decisions.

Just an idea. I see a lot of other artists offering them. Lemme know what you think.

...To speak of shirts and things.

I've gotten one of my designs accepted into the voting process by a little company named Fresh Attire. Now, it's down to you guys and what you think. If you vote my idea into existence, you can then purchase it from them. If not, it's back to the submission process for me.

VOTE FOR THE DESIGN HERE! Not only would I greatly appreciate your assistance (as well as that of anyone you know with internet access) in voting it in, but it would mean being able to actually buy the completed design on a t-shirt.

It's the original 5 color design for "Insomnia makes me pretty." If you wish to help, I'd appreciate it.

...apparently I'm not the only one thinkin' about this.

Look at this!

Anyone who is a fan of the series, I've changed my starting point is all.

Also, the former twelfth page, now number 15, is being redone. The flow of it was weird and left me in a strange place for the following page. It should be replaced in a few days.

Hope you all enjoy it.

Also, if you want to read it in proper order:

GO HERE!

Hey, if you remember this: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/422257/


You'd probably also be interested in this:
http://www.threepanelsoul.com/view......ate=2007-02-20

And yes, that is by Ian McConville and Matt Boyd of Mac Hall fame.

I saw 300 today.


I am in awe. I have never felt as connected with a movie as this. 300 has actually replaced the original Star Wars trilogy as my top movie of all time. It is visually stunning. It is incredibly well written, well acted and well designed. The only problem is: I left the theater when it was over and couldn't bring it with me.

See it. See it often. Live it, if possible.


I am going to start working out like a madman, now, so I can look like the Spartans, you know, plus some body hair 'cuz pyro don't wax for nobody.

That's all for now. I have to try to remember the movie.

I am trying to learn a bit about how to animate in flash. Anyone who has any tips or advice, considering I'm a COMPLETE FLASH N00B, Please let me know.

Thanks.

Okay. I'm working on Friday again and I'm actually telling a story instead of just a bunch of things that happen. I am interested in what you think here.

Do you like when I post my rough pencils first or would you rather I just post finished pages? I know some people really dig seeing the rough parts that come before the polish. I just want to know if it's irritating to see the unfinished pages or if you prefer them.

I think I'm sick. My daughter and I have come down with something and it is quite unpleasant. Lots of general symtoms and very little specific.

I am reworking the format a bit for Friday XIII and once I get a few pages done on that, I should start posting new stuff.

On an unrelated subject, I am looking for work. Not asking for help or anything, just feel like sharing. As I've mentioned before, I live in Montreal, which is in the Canadian province of Quebec. I am originally from the US which means that I like 80% of all North Americans, I could give half a shit about the French language. Unfortunately, the governing body of the province of Quebec thinks that the French language is the only reason people exist in Quebec; nay, the World. Due to this, it's almost impossible for someone of my linguistic bent (English, say it loud, say it proud) to find work here. The whole thing people like to fall back on in the States about how, "the Man," is apparently, "Keeping Me Down," is in full effect in this province. Albeit a much smaller man, with even more arbitrary goals and an ineffable, "je ne sais quois," that makes them much better at it.

I have been perusing and casually seeking work for roughly three quarters of a year and in earnest for about three weeks. The jobs are not forthcoming. I don't get it. I used to live in Chicago and had a driving problem (i.e. no car, no license, etc...) and because of it, I couldn't get a good job because the area I lived in was impossible to make any sort of meaningful commute in the time allotted. Er go: No job. I move here where almost half the population has no car and almost that number has no license and now, due to a bullshit political agenda to punish the users of the language of their imagined ancestral enemies, I can't get a job here, either. I am smart, relatively talented, punctual, helpful and a hard worker. Why can't I get a job? Is there a government plot in two nations to keep me unemployed?

The 1st player of this "game" starts with the topic "6 weird habits/things/hates about yourself" and people who get tagged MUST write a journal about their 6 weird habits/things/hates as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" on their User Page comments and tell them to read yours.

I refuse to tag people, though. I think pecking orders are one of humanity's downfalls.

1) I am a science minded guy who also happens to be a pagan mystic. I have room in my world for quantum physics and gods and spirits and demons.

2) I like big butts and I can not lie. You other brothers can't deny... Well that's not 100% true, but I do like a nicely rounded butt.

3) I love ice cream too much, but don't much care for chocolate ice cream.

4) My last name means "honorable" in German, but it isn't a German name.

5) I have a pet guinea pig named Archimedes.

6) I have difficulty staying focused until I count to six.

Here's my stand on the debate.

Everything is SO damned easy to do on a Mac, unless it's something that isn't and then it's almost impossible to do. Add to that the expense and it's really not worth it. iMacs are less expensive than mainstream macs but who wants to have that mutant martian thing on their desk? Why the art deco form factor?

PCs are much easier to riddle with viruses as most viruses deploy through .exe files. On top of that, Micro$oft releases untested, or minimally tested, software that is the operational equivalent to a landmine. The operating systems are relatively arbitrarily shackled to Windows or Linux, due to lack of competition. On the upside, almost all new games are released on PC LONG before they are for Mac. Also, you can build a usable, upgradable PC for about $400, including monitor, if you know anything about bargain hunting.

Either way, I'm buying a computing platform, not a lifestyle. I don't need aggressive marketing to make the decision for me. I have my wallet for that.

Maybe I'm not a computing hipster. Whatever. A big fat wad of cash always beats being cool.

Turns out, she wasn't American, she was Canadian, she was a girl and now I'm even more disgusted.

Canada has a smaller population. Canada's government puts more money into education, per capita. Canadians LOVE to talk about how stupid Americans are and one of her ass-hat friends decided to go off on me about how she could do what she wants. "She can spell however she wants."

There's the root of the problem. People who defend your right to be a moron are making the world stupid.



When the stupid people have taken over the Earth and me and Stephen Hawking and any other smart folks have moved to Mars, make sure you turn out the lights before you leave so these stupid fuckers can kill each other in the dark!

I was browsing DA tonight when I noticed a deviation that said something about how, "your just jelous," in the image. I ignored the bad spelling because, who knows? Maybe it was a typo. I commented, "I think you mean, 'you're.' 'Your,' is posessive." He responded, "Yeah......I care....."

I am angry. I am beyond angry. I know I may be stepping on some toes here, but it needs to be said. The entire world looks at the U.S. as stupid and not just because of Bush and his seemingly illiterate dumb-assitude. It's because of this, "Oh, it's not important," attitude the American people have about their official language. If you can't communicate properly in the language you were raised speaking and taught to speak, how the hell can anyone ever take you seriously as a human being? What does that say for a country that represents itself with citizens like that? No wonder, "intelligent design," is gaining ground as a scientific theory. People have forgotten what a blessing an education is. People have forgotten how lucky they are that they can afford an education all the way to the twelfth grade and are then given the option of higher learning. People overlook how lucky they are that they can choose their own destinies and are not slated to do the same job that their father did, or are not forbidden to learn how to read and write because of the race or gender they are born to.

What the fuck is wrong with my country-folk?

When did it become acceptable to appear retarded? When did it become chic and hip and cool to be uneducatable?

Next time I hear some motherfucker say something stupid and justify it by telling me he's, "keeping it real," I'm gonna break my foot off in his ass. The only thing that shit is keeping it is, "real stupid."

---

On a totally unrelated note, the prize commissions I just did are actually having a payoff. I am now working on an angel picture that will likely get published and net me some cash, and I wouldn't have taken it if I hadn't just done that angel pic for Wiegraf. I find wing feathers to be quite intimidating.

Either you get the reference or you don't.

I'm making music, people. That's why no art is coming up here.

Time for you folk to be heard. Should I post my music here?

I have no vocal track yet and I've yet to write my rhymes for the track I'm workin' on so it should be several days, at least, before I'm ready.

Anyone knows anything about makin music, lemme know.

On to a serious subject.

MUSIC

What is your favorite genre?

What is your favorite performer in that genre?

If there were a song written about you, what words would have to be in the chorus/refrain?

Do you make music?

What kind(s) do you do?

PurpleDragon hit me first with the note. PD wins the full color digital joy. However, I feel bad for all you guys who tried and came in so close to the wire, so here's what I'ma gonna do: Cassandrarising, TheGayHare, Draggo and Wiegraff, you guys all get inked commissions.

You can note me with your requests at your leisure.

I say again: Fuck!

Got four simultaneous notes when we hit.

I'll be making an announcement on how I'll proceed on this very soon.

I decided it'd be a better deal if I did away with the screencap thingy. So it's just the first one to notify me that they saw the 1000 views thingy.

...This is my last resort.


I don't normally get into emo shit. I find most of Papa Roach's "music" to be an affront to humanity. However, Last Resort is a good tune and it's stuck in my head today.

I've been on a very big nerdcore thing lately (MC Frontalot is pretty damn cool) and this morning I needed a break from hip-hop. I am actually thinking of trying to get into the digital music/home studio rapper thing for a while, now. Anyone know anything about making music from your home or anythin like that, gimme a yell.

On the contest thing, still waitin' for number 1000 (9000!!?) and I should be posting some art or a finished commission today, if not both.

So, I'm drawing up on 1000 pageviews.

What this means for me? I have no idea.

What this means for you? Contest time!

I've seen how FA likes to give people multiple hits on the same number of pageviews, so here's the deal:

The first person who sends me a screen cap (or link to it, if it's uploaded somewhere) of my pageviews at 1000 wins a free digital commision. Only the first. I have one winner only. I am pretty good at spotting photoshop or tampering with an image, so only the real deal, please.

There's your challenge.

See you there.

...by a recent journal entry by MifMaF. I have copied the majority of my post to that thread here.

I like physical and metaphysical conversations.

Anyone interested, feel free to comment.

Let me sum up my own quantifications of it.

1 dimensional = infinite line. Not possible in anything we'd recognize as reality. Depth or width are not possible.

2 dimensional = line to plane relationships. Existence having two axes. Also not possible in our idea of reality. With no third dimension, no observation possible.

3 dimensional = spacial. A third axis is added to the equation. There is now space and that means a place for an observer. However, observation is not possible, without a temporal element. No time means no observation.

4 dimensional = Space + linear time. That is a second coupling of dimensions that carries the other four forward or backward, infinitely (See above: 1 dimensional) Because of having momentum, an observer can mark the passage of time and remember it. There is only one possible outcome and an observer can register the space elements here but is limited by the singularity of temporal motion.

5 dimensional = Space + planar time. Same properties as 4 dimensional, except observer can see many possible outcomes, not just the inevitable blindness to future consequence. This would be the birthplace of conciousness for anything existing in this dimensional compounding. This is the bare minimum for being able to function as we do. Even though our awareness is largely stuck in linear time, planar time allows for "sideways thought" i.e: Might have beens. These are particularly strong in past tense.

6 dimensional = Space + spacial time. In this, all possible outcomes are possible, even probable. The likelihood of all possible venues splitting off of the main stream of observed or experienced events and later resolving (see Schroedinger's Cat) into one possiblilty or other supported by temporal superstructure is high.