Thursday, September 29, 2011

It's All In The Eyes

The longer I gaze at it, the creepier it gets.  Back to a true doodle this week folks as it has been hellish making it this far.  Thursdays are the day where you feel the workweek pain the most, but thankfully Friday is right there to make it all better.

I bet you can't beat me in the staring contest.  Just try.

I completely forgot, guys! The new show, Avata- I mean Terra Nova was on earlier this week with a special two-hour first episode and we here at the Manor were able to catch it.  I found myself interested but at the same time cringing from time to time at the action/adventure show stereotypes being bandied about.  That being said there are a lot of redeeming qualities about this show, and I'm willing to give it more of a shot than NBC typically does.

There's not much time left to prepare for the manliest nerd activity this side of the Mississippi.  The East Wing of the Estate is being prepared for a day full of guests playing Magic: The Gathering and watching NFL football.  I'm hoping that the vast difference between the two will start a chain reaction of causality and rip the space-time continuum in two.

Hopefully you guys have something to look forward to as well.  If not, find something to enjoy and I'll see you on the other side of it.

Punch it, Chewie!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

What Do You Call Babysitting A Cat?

If there's a nook, she can find it.  If there's a cranny, she's already been there.  Once the opportunity has been presented, it is a guarantee that my cat will get into wherever she darn well pleases.  It has been on numerous occasions where a drawer will be partly open and I will go to close it.  I'll be met with resistance and hear a quiet meow from inside.

Luckily I'm prepared for this, because this is not the first time my cat has gotten behind the drawer.  That's right, she got in the drawer by pulling it open, but that wasn't enough.  The endgame was to sit behind the drawer in what can not be a comfortable position.  There is insanity, and there is chaos.  I believe she's a student of the latter.

I got my hands on the New 52!  I have to find Batman, but otherwise Green Lantern and the Justice League were both good titles.  I also picked up the new Captain America series, and it's looking to bring Steve Rogers back the right way, dealing with enemies from the past and bringing up the 'man out of his own time' plots again.

Anyways, have a good one and we'll meet back here in a few days!

Punch it, Chewie!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Corporate Exploration!

Tonight we bring yet another installment of my obsession with the idea of being in Outer Space.  With the current trend of privatizing ... everything, and with companies building luxury upper-atmosphere jets, it's only a matter of time before those contracts extend further outward.

Don't get me wrong, the money that corporations would use to fund these kinds of operations spends just as well as anyone else's, but my dislike is the inherent catch involved.  Ultimately the crew would either be in McDonald's space suits or filming commercials for Mentos millions of miles from Earth.  Not that there isn't already a certain amount of sponsorship involved with getting parts and pieces into space.  Just look at all the technology we buy late at night on QVC just because "it can write upside down" or "it will keep you warm in zero degrees."  There's a certain amount of distance between the two that allows me to be ignorant, and I'd enjoy having that bliss back.

Gaming news: I was able to play League of Legends: Dominion this afternoon!  There's some sort of 'limited beta', limited to the population of the earth, and I must say that I enjoyed the game.  The fast-paced, high kill-count game still pits two teams of five against one another, only in a capture-and-hold tower game, the team holding the majority taking life from the enemy team's base until it's completely gone and declare you victorious.  It should be just interesting enough to keep the Epoch Gaming boys playing until Guild Wars 2 drops onto the scene and steals a few weekends of our collective lives.

Enjoy the weekend, stay safe and make sure not to spam your spells.

Punch it, Chewie!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Crankin' Em Out

Luckily there are people other than me working for the big comic book companies, otherwise something similar to what's pictured to the left might occur in order to get the books done in time.  Seriously, these artists and writers have to keep up with an inhuman amount of work, and pressure from the rabid ubergeeks to do it in original yet canonical ways.

Seriously, I don't know how there isn't a Post-It Notes sponsored comic where everything fits in a 3x3 square and the hero just wins with one punch. Or is that Superman?

We've been watching a large amount of the show Eureka lately.  It pits the 'average joe' character as sheriff in a Mayberry-esque town, that just happens to be populated by the world's smartest scientists working at a government lab.  You can only imagine the time-bending gadgetry that ensues, and my Silent Partner brought up a good point.  In this town of geniuses, they always seem to find a way to not only make fun of the 'normal' sheriff for not knowing everything they do, but he also has to clean it all up when it blows up or spawns a dinosaur or whatever!  Someday I'm sure that'll be addressed, because the show seems to surprise you as it will constantly say what I'm thinking or wondering about.  Lots of fun.

Alright, I'll see you all later down the road.  Short update I know, and half-hearted comic, but done on purpose.

Punch it, Chewie!

Thursday, September 15, 2011

It's The Most Confusing Time Of The Year

Good (insert correct time greeting) to you all!  Tonight's comic comes sponsored by the Weather Channel. The Weather Channel: there to help when you have nothing else to talk about with your coworkers.

I'm going to put a few different recommendations in tonight's blog.  What helps me get through my day are comedy podcasts.  If they're not just making me laugh, they're talking to people, being a nerd, that I'm interested in.  I'll describe a few for you.

Doug Loves Movies: Doug Benson, famous for his love of pot and strong comedy, runs a movie trivia game with celebrities and comedians.  It's an interesting game in itself, but the guests he's able to convince to play are awesome.  Comedy Bang Bang: Scott Aukerman runs this as a pseudo radio show where the interview usually gives way to long-form improv conversations.  WMMR's Preston and Steve: Preston and Steve is a morning show based in Philadelphia, and they record and post their entire morning show as a podcast daily.  That's right, daily.  Once you listen to a few you'll start to understand why I'm hooked on this show.  Their conversations vary from interesting to bizarre and obscure and all the way back to hilarious.  Not your typical wacky zoo crew morning show, they know what they're doing and this podcast is amazing for traveling or long work sessions.

Alright that should just about do it.  Enjoy the weekend, good luck in all your Fantasy leagues unless you're playing against me, and I'll check back in with you all next time.

Punch it, Chewie!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Home Wizardry Kits

Being a homeowner, you have to start to think about property and your possessions in a different way.  Apartments are great for the low upkeep and inherent community that they can foster, but on the other side of that coin you're pressed right on top of all your neighbors and space is very limited.  One of the mental hurdles is beginning to think of securing your domicile, which I'm sure goes back all the way to caves and lenient hygiene practices.  In modern practice, if I could grow or purchase magical powers it is clear that I would never have to worry for the safety of me and mine.

The delinquent Mother Nature saw fit to let the displaced friends we know return to their homes without too large of an inconvenience even with the proximity to the river, in its attempt to move everything in their basements.  We here at the Manor were more than glad to have been able to use the East Wing to house them in their moments of need and are glad that nearly everyone we know has normalized after a very odd week.

Recently we got the chance to see the movie Hanna, regarding the homicidal youth with no social skills.  I wasn't expecting it to be nearly so... European in its tone.  Marketing definitely made it seem to be more of an action thriller, and the case can be made that it was but it didn't have that Hollywood taste to it.  Realizing that criticizing it as not being Western is not a fantastic argument, all I can really put my finger on is that it left me feeling disappointed for the majority of the picture.

It feel great to get back into the swing of things.  Here's to a dry(er) Autumn!

Punch it, Chewie!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Rain Delay

So for the first time since February I have to postpone my comic.  After rain poured down for several days, the nearby river decided that it would be awesome to flood.  The city then needs to be evacuated, so the Manor turns into a Bed & Breakfast, minus the monetary gain. 

We're more than happy to do it, but the needs of the many outweigh the needs of my few subscribers.  That being said, I'll be posting a brand spanking new comic hopefully tomorrow.

Stay tuned, stay dry, stay safe.  My thoughts are with you all.

Punch it, Chewie!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Waking Up With Chemicals

Lately I've had the pleasure of seeing more energy drink commercials.  Being the snake-oil salesmen of modern times, they push this stuff on you like you wouldn't be able to tie your shoes without it.

Not only do these ads keep the actual science to what they do smoke and mirrors, they usually spend most of their time comparing their product against the other poison being marketed around.  No offense meant to those who subscribe to their effectiveness, I just don't like frying my nerves to get through a normal day.

Keeping this post short and sweet (but not enough to give you that energy drink crash) so that I can relax a bit before a long day tomorrow.  Hopefully I won't have to become the world's largest hypocrite and slam one of these little fiends to make it through, right?

Punch it, Chewie!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

All I See Is Plaid

I like being one of the first to find something, be it music, movies, games, whatever.  What I have a hard time with is understanding the hipster mentality.  They, or the stereotypes we have to work from, seem to want to be there first but keep it secret.  How they think the things they love will stick around without widespread support we'll never know.

The real joke of it is that now being a hipster is mainstream.  So in effect they hate themselves to the point of negating all of their initial arguments.  It's a sweet poetry that makes me laugh as I share my favorite things with whoever will listen.

Also on the docket is making sure that people are prepped for the long weekend.  You're going to want to do some stretching, light calisthenics and maybe even resistance training to get ready for all the relaxing in store.  We here at the Ranch have a project or two but largely hope to just kick back and enjoy that extra day before craziness ensues full force.

I've heard Hulk Hogan often say "Be cool and eat fruit."  So do that for him.

Punch it, Chewie!