April 20, 2009
Look at all the Pretties!
Lately I've been addicted to Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade items. There's a lot of cool art and pretty shiny things. My favorite feature is the "Pounce" where the site randomly generates a list of stores that are either waiting for a first sale, or just completed a first sale. It's a neat way to discover something new!
April 15, 2009
Garage Kits, Part 5
It's been a while since my last Garage Kit update! I left off on painting...
The key to hand painting is thinning the paint. I use water, some prefer windex or pledge. Dilute the paint to a consistency like milk, where it should flow easily from the brush. Thin paint means you leave less visible brushstrokes. This also means you have to be patient and use multiple layers, waiting for each layer to dry before the next.
First, I mix the desired color:
Here's the first coat. It looks awful, as the diluted paint has bad coverage and is very anemic:
Four coats later, the color builds:
The final coat (about 10 total on this piece) is rich and finally achieves the desired hue:
I repeat this layering method on all the parts, using thin, even coats. You can also blend colors and layer various shades as the paint builds up. This is definitely my favorite part, as you get to mix different colors and slowly see the kit come alive!
The key to hand painting is thinning the paint. I use water, some prefer windex or pledge. Dilute the paint to a consistency like milk, where it should flow easily from the brush. Thin paint means you leave less visible brushstrokes. This also means you have to be patient and use multiple layers, waiting for each layer to dry before the next.
First, I mix the desired color:
Here's the first coat. It looks awful, as the diluted paint has bad coverage and is very anemic:
Four coats later, the color builds:
The final coat (about 10 total on this piece) is rich and finally achieves the desired hue:
I repeat this layering method on all the parts, using thin, even coats. You can also blend colors and layer various shades as the paint builds up. This is definitely my favorite part, as you get to mix different colors and slowly see the kit come alive!
April 14, 2009
Nickelodeon Makes a Cartoon I Like?!
I enjoy quite a few "kid" shows, like The Powerpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, a couple others. The common thread is that these shows are great for children, but also provide enjoyable entertainment for adults too. They have what I call the "Pixar Touch" - through clever storytelling, compelling characters, creative worlds, beautiful animation, or combinations thereof, they manage to appeal to both young audiences and their parents. Another common thread: these tend to be Cartoon Network productions.
Recently we've been addicted to Avatar: The Last Airbender, which surprised me, as I have never liked any other Nick animations. They seem a little too childish, like Spongebob and Dora. But Avatar has a maturity about it, a focus on story and characters that has really grabbed me. It's not only gorgeous to watch, but fun, heart warming, intriguing, and innovative.
The series is technically finished (we've been catching up on Netflix) so no new episodes are airing. But it seemed pretty successful for the network, so I hope that means more shows in the same vein!
Recently we've been addicted to Avatar: The Last Airbender, which surprised me, as I have never liked any other Nick animations. They seem a little too childish, like Spongebob and Dora. But Avatar has a maturity about it, a focus on story and characters that has really grabbed me. It's not only gorgeous to watch, but fun, heart warming, intriguing, and innovative.
The series is technically finished (we've been catching up on Netflix) so no new episodes are airing. But it seemed pretty successful for the network, so I hope that means more shows in the same vein!
April 4, 2009
Wine Charms
Seven dollars and fifteen minutes later...
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Granted, they don't have "charms" but I have yet to locate the perfect ones (preferably in pewter). Until then, I think these are pretty snazzy as is. Plus, I have enough material to make like 50 more!
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Granted, they don't have "charms" but I have yet to locate the perfect ones (preferably in pewter). Until then, I think these are pretty snazzy as is. Plus, I have enough material to make like 50 more!
April 3, 2009
Veggies!
Partly because I've bought into Michael Pollan's philosophy and partly because it never hurts to eat healthier, we've purchased a share at Honey Brook Organic Farm. The farm is an hour away, but they offer pick-up conveniently located 10 min from us. The price is really reasonable: $624 for six months, averaging a bushel of produce each week. I actually think it beats supermarket organic prices, especially if you consider the added benefit of freshness and knowing where your food came from.
The whole Community Support Agriculture movement fascinates me. In a nutshell, you become a "shareholder" of the farm. You pay up front in the winter, when they need money to purchase seed, equipment, etc. Then the harvest is apportioned among those who paid. It does come with caveats: you only receive what grows in the area (alas, no avocados or bananas, but luckily NJ is great for tomatoes, eggplant, and berries) and you're subject to weather, disease, and all the other fun things that ruin crops. But overall, it seems like a sound investment.
The shares start arriving in May. I'm excited to see how this goes!
The whole Community Support Agriculture movement fascinates me. In a nutshell, you become a "shareholder" of the farm. You pay up front in the winter, when they need money to purchase seed, equipment, etc. Then the harvest is apportioned among those who paid. It does come with caveats: you only receive what grows in the area (alas, no avocados or bananas, but luckily NJ is great for tomatoes, eggplant, and berries) and you're subject to weather, disease, and all the other fun things that ruin crops. But overall, it seems like a sound investment.
The shares start arriving in May. I'm excited to see how this goes!
March 28, 2009
I've Been Working on the Railroad...
Actually, no. But I have been working my ass off. A side effect of being in a countercyclical business. Sure, I picked this line of work knowing the tougher the economy gets, the more hours I'd have to put in. But I didn't know it would get quite this crazy. It doesn't help that the wedding planning is happening now too!
Before I head back to work, I must say: all that news you hear about bank "stress" tests, viability, and oversight? Well, that's me, working 90 hour weeks, to provide all the extra data, modeling, reporting, and paperwork for various doomsday and audit scenarios. So thanks, American taxpayers! You want to tax my bonus at 90% (which I don't think will become law, but you've made your feelings clear) while requiring me to comply with additional regulation (which, by the way, you will never see, because the problem with our regulatory system isn't that we don't have enough - it's that there's no central repository where the public can hold anyone accountable). I understand that you're pissed, but it sucks that your anger means I have to work weekends!
Before I head back to work, I must say: all that news you hear about bank "stress" tests, viability, and oversight? Well, that's me, working 90 hour weeks, to provide all the extra data, modeling, reporting, and paperwork for various doomsday and audit scenarios. So thanks, American taxpayers! You want to tax my bonus at 90% (which I don't think will become law, but you've made your feelings clear) while requiring me to comply with additional regulation (which, by the way, you will never see, because the problem with our regulatory system isn't that we don't have enough - it's that there's no central repository where the public can hold anyone accountable). I understand that you're pissed, but it sucks that your anger means I have to work weekends!
March 17, 2009
After Watchmen
As part of their "After Watchmen" promo, DC has compiled a list of 20 must-read titles (that they publish, of course) to draw in readers who enjoyed Watchmen either as a movie or graphic novel.
1) All-Star Superman Volume 1
2) Batman: Arkham Asylum
3) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
4) Batman: The Killing Joke
5) Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days
6) Fables Volume 1: Legends in Exile
7) Identity Crisis
8) Joker
9) Kingdom Come
10) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1
11) Planetary Book 1: All over the world and other stories
12) Preacher Volume 1: Gone to Texas
13) Ronin
14) Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 1
15) The Sandman Volume 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
16) Superman: Red Son
17) Transmetropolitan Volume 1: Back on the street
18) WE3
19) Y: The Last Man Book 1: Unmanned
20) V For Vendetta
This is a kick ass list. I was not expecting such fantastic selection from a mainstream publisher! Having read each of these, I attest to the high caliber of storytelling they contain. It also gives me hope that DC is willing to push creator based material, especially those from their Vertigo imprint, which focuses on original characters in self contained worlds that aren't necessarily tied to the DC universe.
The books they've chosen represent some of the best achievements in comics to date, showcasing that perfect blend of literature and visual art. Just a few edits are needed in my opinion:
* Replace Batman: Arkham Asylum with 100 Bullets
Arkham Asylum is dark, violent and gritty, but you already get that in other Batman titles. It's the weakest Batman story on the list. 100 Bullets is just as dark, much more violent, and infinitely more gritty.
* Replace Identity Crisis with Batman: The Long Halloween
Sure, Identity Crisis is superhero mystery done in a relevant fashion. So is The Long Halloween, with better writing and deeper insight into the mythos.
* Replace The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Astro City
While League is neat because of its high brow references and cheeky twist on the superhero team, Astro City is far superior in both story and world. It reinvents superheros in a startlingly humanistic way.
Three more Vertigo titles that deserve recognition:
* Hellblazer: I have a huge crush on John Constantine. Something about mages with a tortured past. And please don't think Keanu Reeves - that portrayal was nothing like the wise cracking, chain smoking blonde brit we all know and love.
* The Books of Magic: Boy wizard learns the ways of magic while growing up. Before Harry Potter and far more mature in both scope and writing.
* Northlanders: Because sometimes you want to see Vikings smash things in a well executed manner. Complete with vulgar language, badass characters, and obligatory rape and pillage.
1) All-Star Superman Volume 1
2) Batman: Arkham Asylum
3) Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
4) Batman: The Killing Joke
5) Ex Machina: The First Hundred Days
6) Fables Volume 1: Legends in Exile
7) Identity Crisis
8) Joker
9) Kingdom Come
10) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume 1
11) Planetary Book 1: All over the world and other stories
12) Preacher Volume 1: Gone to Texas
13) Ronin
14) Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 1
15) The Sandman Volume 1: Preludes & Nocturnes
16) Superman: Red Son
17) Transmetropolitan Volume 1: Back on the street
18) WE3
19) Y: The Last Man Book 1: Unmanned
20) V For Vendetta
This is a kick ass list. I was not expecting such fantastic selection from a mainstream publisher! Having read each of these, I attest to the high caliber of storytelling they contain. It also gives me hope that DC is willing to push creator based material, especially those from their Vertigo imprint, which focuses on original characters in self contained worlds that aren't necessarily tied to the DC universe.
The books they've chosen represent some of the best achievements in comics to date, showcasing that perfect blend of literature and visual art. Just a few edits are needed in my opinion:
* Replace Batman: Arkham Asylum with 100 Bullets
Arkham Asylum is dark, violent and gritty, but you already get that in other Batman titles. It's the weakest Batman story on the list. 100 Bullets is just as dark, much more violent, and infinitely more gritty.
* Replace Identity Crisis with Batman: The Long Halloween
Sure, Identity Crisis is superhero mystery done in a relevant fashion. So is The Long Halloween, with better writing and deeper insight into the mythos.
* Replace The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Astro City
While League is neat because of its high brow references and cheeky twist on the superhero team, Astro City is far superior in both story and world. It reinvents superheros in a startlingly humanistic way.
Three more Vertigo titles that deserve recognition:
* Hellblazer: I have a huge crush on John Constantine. Something about mages with a tortured past. And please don't think Keanu Reeves - that portrayal was nothing like the wise cracking, chain smoking blonde brit we all know and love.
* The Books of Magic: Boy wizard learns the ways of magic while growing up. Before Harry Potter and far more mature in both scope and writing.
* Northlanders: Because sometimes you want to see Vikings smash things in a well executed manner. Complete with vulgar language, badass characters, and obligatory rape and pillage.
March 14, 2009
Signs of Spring!
Despite the SNOW last week, the crocuses are peeping out. In another few days, the deer and rabbits will have devoured them all. Circle of life, I suppose!
March 13, 2009
Another One Bites the Dust...
Earlier this year, a local alt-rock station turned into a top 40 channel.
Now 92.3 K-Rock joins the club. They just became yet another top 40 hits station.
At least K-Rock still has an online streaming presence playing their old repertoire. But that doesn't help those of us stuck in the car commuting each day. Honestly, how many stations playing the same songs do we need? This is a sad state of affairs :(
Now 92.3 K-Rock joins the club. They just became yet another top 40 hits station.
At least K-Rock still has an online streaming presence playing their old repertoire. But that doesn't help those of us stuck in the car commuting each day. Honestly, how many stations playing the same songs do we need? This is a sad state of affairs :(
March 6, 2009
Vindication!
At last, proof that doodling during meetings is actually productive!
I'm always drawing stuff during meetings. The more complex the sketch, the more bored I was -- but apparently I was also retaining information. Woohoo!
I'm always drawing stuff during meetings. The more complex the sketch, the more bored I was -- but apparently I was also retaining information. Woohoo!
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