First, some background:
I have been using my 3GS since it was released in 2009. It was my first smartphone. I have come to realize that there is never going to be another product that will have the same wow factor for me as what I experienced when I first started using the iPhone 3GS. The iPad 2 came close, however, especially when I started using it to sketch and actually produce some really high-quality artwork on it. When the 4S dropped last year, I could have upgraded, but chose not to for a couple reasons: my 3GS was still performing reasonably well, and I wasn't initially all that impressed with the 4S. My wife did upgrade, and I was floored by the camera and Siri. I remember texting her while thinking to myself, "I should just be talking to my phone, but here I am thumb-typing." I had decided, however, to stick it out until the next iPhone, and I stuck to my guns. Over the course of the next year, my 3GS rapidly decreased in functionality. It became slower and slower, and when the iPhone five was announced a few weeks ago, I knew I was going to upgrade.
I stayed up until midnight on launch day, and ordered it that first hour, thus ensuring that I would have my brand spanking new iPhone five the very first day it was available. I can honestly say that I have not been "wowed" like this since I first opened my iPhone 3GS. It is super slim, super light, responsive, clicky, fast, and a delight to use. All my apps work amazingly fast, and my pictures look great, and load times and download speeds are I phenomenal improvement over my old 3GS. By waiting an extra generation before upgrading my phone, I increased the probability that I would be impressed with the iPhone 5. I am so glad that I did.
The iPhone five is also a beautiful little piece of technology. I ordered the white and silver version, and after a week in my pocket with no case it still looks flawless. The screen quality is also flawless. This is my first "retina" display, and I am floored by how pretty and clear everything looks. There is even noticeably less glare and more information on the screen whenever I look at it (excepting those apps that have not made the transition to the 16:9 aspect ratio), and web surfing in landscape is fantastic. The larger screen allows everything to be a little bit bigger, including the keyboard, which is important for a guy like me with large hands and thumbs.
As far as the phone itself is concerned I could not be happier. Call quality has been great. I have not dropped a call all week. The external speakers seem like they've been improved dramatically ; the speaker function on the phone is much louder and clearer. Speaking of speakers, the new ear pods are a dramatic improvement over the rather pathetic Apple earbuds of precious generations. As a phone and as a music player, the iPhone 5 performs far beyond my old 3GS.
iOS 6 is also an improvement, even considering that Apple Maps is not nearly as comprehensive as Google Maps. Facebook integration is great, shared photo streams means I don't have to worry about emailing my wife every time I take a picture of our daughter, and turn-by-turn navigation is a godsend. I do miss all of the detail Google maps has, but the ability to have my directions from one point to another spoken to me is totally worth it. Yelp integration into the maps app is quite useful and helpful.
The only frustrations I have had regarding my new iPhone were that UPS didn't deliver my phone until after 9:30 PM on Friday night, and that, for whatever reason, my SIM card was crappy and needed to be replaced before I could make or receive calls. After 4 hours on the phone with 5 service people at AT&T, someone finally told me to go to the store and get a new SIM. I waited in line for a few minutes, got it, and I've been thrilled ever since.
So far, I have been unaffected by all the various "-gates" the tech blogs keep referencing in their transparent attempts to create some kind of news controversy and get a few more hits. So far, Apple Maps hasn't lead me off any bridges or into a park when I wanted to go to the airport. "Scratchgate?" Please. People trying to keep something they use dozens of times every day in pristine condition strike me as somewhat delusional and petty. I scratched the back of my iPad within days of receiving it. This did not reduce my enjoyment of the device even an iota. Most of the scratches on the plastic back of my 3GS came from the case I used for 2 years, and for all the times I dropped it, it never stopped working. Chips and dings just added character in my opinion. I expect that at some time in the future, I will scratch my iPhone, but that hasn't happened yet, and when it does, I'll probably say the same thing I said when I spilled a box of gooey, hot, Krispy Kreme donuts all over the floor of the first brand new car I ever owned: "Shit. Oh well. One less thing to worry about."
Have I left anything out? Oh yeah! The new connector! "Lightning." I can no longer plug my iPhone into the Bose sound dock my wife surprised me with for Christmas back before AirPlay was so ubiquitous. Well, that's okay, because I still have my old phone and it is still loaded with my music, podcasts, and Pandora. Now I still have access to my phone when I'm listening. The "Lightning" connector works wonderfully. Plugs in every time. No fumbling around in the dark, no squinting to decipher which side is up (I'm talking about you, Kindle... Thank God I only have to plug you in every month or so), and no more pocket lint in my iPhone's charge port!
I am totally satisfied with my iPhone 5 and would recommend it to anyone who is eligible for an upgrade. I'll have to see if it holds up as well as the 3GS did. Much can change in three years. I'm pulling for Microsoft to come from behind and give us a viable third option with what I believe is, in its bones, the best mobile operating system available; I just need to see a stronger ecosystem first. For right now, Apple is the best there is at what they do, and what they do best is very, very pretty.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
DC's New 52: A few thoughts after 9 months
First, I want to make clear that I don't read very many comics. I read Action Comics, Justice League, Superman, and Wonder Woman. That's it. I keep up with them by browsing at my local shops, but I don't actually invest any time or money into any of the Batman books, second-tier characters like Hawkman and Aquaman, or the more fantastic stuff like Swamp Thing or I, Vampire. I read Action Comics because it's Superman and I trust Grant Morrison to write an awesome Superman comic book. Morrison gets Superman. I read Justice League because I trust Geoff Johns and Jim Lee. These guys know their craft. I read Wonder Woman because I was curious about what Brian Azzarello would do with the character and I have been wonderfully pleased with what I've found. I've stopped reading Superman because I can't stand the turn the writing has taken since George Perez left. I promised myself in the late 90s that if Dan Jurgens was involved in a comic book, I was not going to buy it. As you can see, my personal experience with the New 52 is actually pretty limited.
You are probably asking, "Why do you think your opinion counts?" The answer to that is, "I know it doesn't." My money counts. And DC got me to spend money on comic books again with the New 52. Period. But my dollars are not the ones DC should have been chasing. The purported goal of "The New 52" was to attract the mythical "new reader" to comic books. Unfortunately, they have failed to do this. According to DC's own statistics, something around 97% of the people who are buying DC comics right now are people who already buy comics. I am not the "new reader." I was a lapsed reader, and I will probably lapse again if the writing for characters I care about continues to degrade. But DC knew they had my money. Many "lapsed" readers like me were just waiting for a good "jumping on" point. The New 52 offered us that. What DC has failed to do is get the new money. DC has failed to attract new readers to the medium. In retrospect, this should come as no surprise.
The New 52 isn't really "new" at all. All the same characters are being written by all the same writers and drawn by all the same artists. Let's be honest, some of those artists were never all that good (Rob Liefield, Dan Jurgens), some have lost a step (Jim Lee), while others are doing stellar work (Rags Morales, Cliff Chang). The same can be said for the writers. Some still can't write (Dan Jurgens), some are doing work consistent with their past excellence (Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison), and others are surprisingly good (George Perez, Brian Azzarello). There are a few (Judd Winick in particular) who are just plain offensive (but at least he can write decent dialogue, which is more than can be said for Jurgens). But this is no different now than it was before. The New 52 isn't doing anything new. It is the same stuff. It is simply another reboot. Nothing special. Nothing new.
If DC really wanted the "new reader" they should have thrown some money into doing something new. How about real fantasy comics? Fantasy is huge right now. It's booming on television, in books, video games, and comics. Why didn't DC take some of that talent and put it behind a new fantasy line of comic books? How about western, crime, political thriller and horror? What about straight-up galaxy-spanning sci-fi? Don't license anything. Create something new.
Finally, if DC really wanted to snag "the new reader," they should have focused on girls. Romance, relationship, drama, and even girl-action comics might attract someone new. Your average tween or young adult female is not going to find anything compelling about super-hero comics which still objectify and over-sexualize women while simultaneously playing into the power-fantasies of adolescent males. Females are over half of the population. There are more women graduating college than men. Women's pay is catching up to men's (though it still has a way to go). By ignoring females of all ages, DC is ignoring "the new reader."
The New 52 isn't really new at all. It's the same artists, the same writers, the same characters, and consequently, the same readers.
You are probably asking, "Why do you think your opinion counts?" The answer to that is, "I know it doesn't." My money counts. And DC got me to spend money on comic books again with the New 52. Period. But my dollars are not the ones DC should have been chasing. The purported goal of "The New 52" was to attract the mythical "new reader" to comic books. Unfortunately, they have failed to do this. According to DC's own statistics, something around 97% of the people who are buying DC comics right now are people who already buy comics. I am not the "new reader." I was a lapsed reader, and I will probably lapse again if the writing for characters I care about continues to degrade. But DC knew they had my money. Many "lapsed" readers like me were just waiting for a good "jumping on" point. The New 52 offered us that. What DC has failed to do is get the new money. DC has failed to attract new readers to the medium. In retrospect, this should come as no surprise.
The New 52 isn't really "new" at all. All the same characters are being written by all the same writers and drawn by all the same artists. Let's be honest, some of those artists were never all that good (Rob Liefield, Dan Jurgens), some have lost a step (Jim Lee), while others are doing stellar work (Rags Morales, Cliff Chang). The same can be said for the writers. Some still can't write (Dan Jurgens), some are doing work consistent with their past excellence (Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison), and others are surprisingly good (George Perez, Brian Azzarello). There are a few (Judd Winick in particular) who are just plain offensive (but at least he can write decent dialogue, which is more than can be said for Jurgens). But this is no different now than it was before. The New 52 isn't doing anything new. It is the same stuff. It is simply another reboot. Nothing special. Nothing new.
If DC really wanted the "new reader" they should have thrown some money into doing something new. How about real fantasy comics? Fantasy is huge right now. It's booming on television, in books, video games, and comics. Why didn't DC take some of that talent and put it behind a new fantasy line of comic books? How about western, crime, political thriller and horror? What about straight-up galaxy-spanning sci-fi? Don't license anything. Create something new.
Finally, if DC really wanted to snag "the new reader," they should have focused on girls. Romance, relationship, drama, and even girl-action comics might attract someone new. Your average tween or young adult female is not going to find anything compelling about super-hero comics which still objectify and over-sexualize women while simultaneously playing into the power-fantasies of adolescent males. Females are over half of the population. There are more women graduating college than men. Women's pay is catching up to men's (though it still has a way to go). By ignoring females of all ages, DC is ignoring "the new reader."
The New 52 isn't really new at all. It's the same artists, the same writers, the same characters, and consequently, the same readers.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Blogger Mobile App
I'm trying out the Blogger app on my iPhone right now. I like being able to manage the posts a little better, but the app isn't switching to landscape orientation when I turn my phone around. I have large and unwieldy thumbs. Consequently, I prefer the larger keyboard.
I'm also disappointed that there isn't an app for the iPad. That seems a little silly. Of rather blog on my iPad than on my iPhone any day. I might not use the app again.
On the upside, adding pictures looks like it is easier on the phone than on the desktop. I could even take a picture of my cool new Superman ear buds and post it straight away!
For a less-than-part-time blogger like myself, this little app should suit me just fine.
I'm also disappointed that there isn't an app for the iPad. That seems a little silly. Of rather blog on my iPad than on my iPhone any day. I might not use the app again.
On the upside, adding pictures looks like it is easier on the phone than on the desktop. I could even take a picture of my cool new Superman ear buds and post it straight away!
For a less-than-part-time blogger like myself, this little app should suit me just fine.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Here's another one, Jim.
Now, I don't illustrate comics for a living, but if I did, I think I could come up with a few designs that aren't just plain offensive. How, 'bout it Jim?
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Was that so hard Jim Lee?
I drew this in about 30 minutes after getting irritated by the complexity, irresponsibility, and skin exhibited by the redesigned Supergirl in DC Comics's "new 52".
There has been a lot of well-deserved disgust heaped upon the creators at DC Comics since their highly publicized reboot of their entire lineup, especially regarding the rather unenlightened portrayals of their female heroes. I'll grant that their new Supergirl is a slight improvement over the midriff-baring, miniskirt-wearing jailbait design of the recent past, but that isn't saying much. Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern are completely covered from the neck down. Why wouldn't the same standard apply to Supergirl, Starfire, and Wonder Woman?
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Books are Long!
So, on my first pass getting the story for my children't book down in print, I estimated that the book would end up being about 20 pages long. Curious, I went to some of Vivian's best books and discovered that the ones she enjoys the most, and the ones I like and am most drawn to, are about 25-35 pages long. So now I am working on lengthening my book without it becoming too wordy. This is good. It means I can go overboard with the illustration a bit if I want. I'm trying to tell the story in pictures as much as I can and use text to fill in the blanks.
Now, I'm not trying to compare my planned book to any of the classics we have on Vivian's bookshelf, but if I notice that the kind of book I am working on is generally longer than what I had planned, I think it is a good idea to find a way to add more illustration to the book to increase its length and tell a better story.
I also may be limiting myself too much. Just because I am basing my book on Roscoe, a real-life bulldog, doesn't mean I'm writing his biography. If something helps to convey the story that didn't necessarily happen to him and me, isn't it legitimate. I'm not doing journalism here. I'm telling a story based on the life of my dog. I'll have to keep a critical eye on the story (thank goodness I have a critic or two living with me) and make sure everything rings true.
I started thumbnails for the book today, and I've got what I think are some good ideas. Conveying emotion through a bulldog's face is going to be more difficult than one might think without the character becoming too cartoony. I'm trying different ways to communicate anxiety, contentment, happiness, playfullness, confusion, and fear without turning Roscoe into the bulldog from old "Tom & Jerry" cartoons. Thankfully, I've figured out how to reliably draw a cute bulldog puppy. Is cute enough for a good story? Probably not.
Now, I'm not trying to compare my planned book to any of the classics we have on Vivian's bookshelf, but if I notice that the kind of book I am working on is generally longer than what I had planned, I think it is a good idea to find a way to add more illustration to the book to increase its length and tell a better story.
I also may be limiting myself too much. Just because I am basing my book on Roscoe, a real-life bulldog, doesn't mean I'm writing his biography. If something helps to convey the story that didn't necessarily happen to him and me, isn't it legitimate. I'm not doing journalism here. I'm telling a story based on the life of my dog. I'll have to keep a critical eye on the story (thank goodness I have a critic or two living with me) and make sure everything rings true.
I started thumbnails for the book today, and I've got what I think are some good ideas. Conveying emotion through a bulldog's face is going to be more difficult than one might think without the character becoming too cartoony. I'm trying different ways to communicate anxiety, contentment, happiness, playfullness, confusion, and fear without turning Roscoe into the bulldog from old "Tom & Jerry" cartoons. Thankfully, I've figured out how to reliably draw a cute bulldog puppy. Is cute enough for a good story? Probably not.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
The Protagonist
Here he is, the star of the children's book I began working on this week: Roscoe! He went to doggy heaven a year ago this week, and working on this story now seems appropriate. I got all emotional just working out the story this afternoon. I'm going to tell his story. I have plenty of memories to mine for material.Of course, I wouldn't dream of writing a children's book without illustrating it myself. I'm spending my time working on story and teaching myself how to draw bulldogs in various degrees of anthropomorphism until I find one that I like best. It's tons of fun!
I'd like to thank all my friends who sent me photos of Roscoe to work with. Mom, Nancy, and Danni so far. And a special cyber shout-out to my sister-in-law who posted a short animal-drawing tutorial over at the site which hosts her online comic. You should check it out (especially if you are a fan of Final Fantasy 7 and enjoy fanfic). Here's the link for the tutorial, and here's the link for her comic!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme
I'm beginning work on a children's book and one of the questions I ran into as I began was whether or not to tell the story in rhyme like a poem. Initially I thought that it would be too much trouble and would require a heck of a lot of work. Won't it just be simpler to tell the story in prose? Isn't it easier to be economical with words when you don't have to search for the right ones to fulfill the requirements of rhythm, meter, and rhyme?
As I examined some of my favorite children's books, however, I found that the ones I loved included both styles, but those which achieved a tone similar to the one I hope to strike tended to be prose. However, this is just a tendency and is not true 100% of the time.
To see what happened, I wrote out the same story in both styles. I was correct when I assumed that writing in verse was more time consuming, but it wasn't as difficult as I had feared. Of course, I can't say that it was very good either. It was actually quite easy to see when I was forcing a word, phrase or verse. At some points my attempt screamed, "ROUND HOLE! SQUARE PEG!" With practice and work, I'm sure I could find better ways to say the same things. Everyone revises, right? No one gets it perfect on the first try.
When I re-wrote the same story in prose, however, I actually used more words, not fewer. Prose allowed me to express things more clearly in a manner I thought would benefit the story. On the other hand, I found I could eliminate whole sentences with the right drawing. Substituting a picture for a paragraph was easier for me when I hadn't taken the time to worry about whether the paragraph had the correct rhyme scheme or meter. By writing in prose, I could express the emotions and feelings of the characters first, and then, after composing a drawing that told those emotions, I could eliminate the prose altogether.
So what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know what kinds of children's stories you enjoyed the most. What do you think are the pros and cons of prose and verse?
As I examined some of my favorite children's books, however, I found that the ones I loved included both styles, but those which achieved a tone similar to the one I hope to strike tended to be prose. However, this is just a tendency and is not true 100% of the time.
To see what happened, I wrote out the same story in both styles. I was correct when I assumed that writing in verse was more time consuming, but it wasn't as difficult as I had feared. Of course, I can't say that it was very good either. It was actually quite easy to see when I was forcing a word, phrase or verse. At some points my attempt screamed, "ROUND HOLE! SQUARE PEG!" With practice and work, I'm sure I could find better ways to say the same things. Everyone revises, right? No one gets it perfect on the first try.
When I re-wrote the same story in prose, however, I actually used more words, not fewer. Prose allowed me to express things more clearly in a manner I thought would benefit the story. On the other hand, I found I could eliminate whole sentences with the right drawing. Substituting a picture for a paragraph was easier for me when I hadn't taken the time to worry about whether the paragraph had the correct rhyme scheme or meter. By writing in prose, I could express the emotions and feelings of the characters first, and then, after composing a drawing that told those emotions, I could eliminate the prose altogether.
So what do you think? Leave a comment and let me know what kinds of children's stories you enjoyed the most. What do you think are the pros and cons of prose and verse?
Monday, February 07, 2011
Favorite Tweets During the Super Bowl
phoneguy94 Anthony C
christina aguilera = awful. Just replay the Whitney Houston one from 1991 every year. Can't top that one.
Lord_Voldemort7 The Dark Lord
Did Christina Aguilera just screw up America's National Anthem? Wow, and I thought it was bad when I screwed up trying to kill that baby...
enderFP enderFP
Coin toss CEREMONY? Just throw the damned coin already. Good lord, this is a sport, not a damn state dinner.
JayB2B JayB2B
Christina's back in the green room being told that probably no one noticed. #epicfail
dcurbandad dcurbandad
John Madden is sexting? #superbowl
karynbosnak Karyn Bosnak
Oh, Cammie feeding A-Rod is just so sweet. I wonder if she wipes his ass too.
dcurbandad dcurbandad
Rapists never win #BigBen
ShelbyKnox ShelbyKnox
Worst about #GoDaddy commercials: Danica Patrick is a damn good race car driver & to her sponsor, she's just boobs. #femsuperbowl
DaddyFiles Aaron Gouveia
The Budweiser Tiny Dancer ad was among the dumbest I've ever seen. Anyone with half a brain would give that a #fail.
DaddyFiles Aaron Gouveia
Atta boy Scotty! RT @WCAX_Fleish Meanwhile in the luxury box Camron Diaz is holding A Rod's hand as she takes him to the potty
DougBenson Doug Benson
Somebody just scored. #SuperBowlUpdate
KeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann
Enjoy the Aguilera lyrics-optional version of The Anthem before the NFL makes them take it down http://bit.ly/dOhjGY #superbowl
melisalw Melisa
I hope John Travolta comes out to dance at some point.
dcurbandad dcurbandad
My daughter just asked to turn off the TV. I know this half time show sucks
dcurbandad dcurbandad
Usher to save the day!!!!!
darthvader Darth Vader
That half time show did more to crush the morale of the rebellion in 30 minutes than I ever did.
BenWard Ben Ward
And so, in 2011, the #superbowl half time show proved once and for all that Twitter was the greatest tool ever invented for disaster relief.
RT @anastasiakeeley: Oh for christ sake Mini. F*** you. #femsuperbowl [edited by Z - keeping it family friendly!]
RT @anastasiakeeley: Nothing like an Eminem endorsement to make it even more certain that I'll never drive a #Chrysler. #femsuperbowl
TheJackB TheJackB
It is not a Superbowl party unless your daughter throws up all over herself and the carpet
Lord_Voldemort7 The Dark Lord
Only event of the night worth mentioning: Darth Vader car commercial. That's it kids... come to the dark side.
ChloeAngyal Chloe Angyal
So, out of interest, are men offended when commercials depict them as d***-ruled sex-obsessed idiots? [edited by Z]
darthvader Darth Vader
LACES OUT!
KeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann
Well, it was entertaining anyway, and who can argue with a #Superbowl win by a team that exists thanks to NFL Socialism!
DaveTelep Dave Telep
Now driving a Volkswagen, drinking a Pepsi Max and wearing Sketchers with Kenny G CD blasting!
phoneguy94 Anthony C
going to bed? no way! It's time for #Glee now. Can't wait to go to work tomorrow.
JoeQuesada JoeQuesada
On the heels of Green Bay's dramatic victory, not to be outdone, Brett Favre has text pics of his penis to thousands of his closest friends.
SpinyNorman Brian
It's ok Pittsburgh fans...there's always Baseball seaso...oh...wait...sorry... #superbowl #steelers #pittsburgh
GoodMenProject The Good Men Project
We Make the A**holes. (but the Superbowl shows them how to lose.) - http://bit.ly/eoxCUk
[edited by Z]
Monday, November 22, 2010
My Favorite Tweets This Weekend!
Tron! Omg just saw the extended sneak peek in 3-D. Felt like I was watching Star Wars again for first time... http://yfrog.com/69n9bfj
I'm just about to collapse from exhaustion. Just have to position my face above the Z key... There. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Worker Fired in War-Hero Dog’s Death http://nyti.ms/cs98Ks
The Phantom Dentist #boringprequels
The Empire Gets a Snack #boringprequels (via @matt_henson)
BLACKfiveone Real Name = Taurus
#BoringPrequels X-Men Origins: Wolverine
kathlne Katie Nicholson
Is not doing anything Christmas related until Friday.
BloggerFather BloggerFather
RT @BlogMamaAndrea: Best thing at German festival. Reindeer. http://twitpic.com/38lk9a // You mean they're not mythical sky_bluesky Sky Bluesky
Note to selfish people: family restrooms are for FAMILIES.A single woman does not need to use a family restroom, ever. #awhellno
SAY YOU! SAY DRUNK HULK! SAY IT FOR ALWAY! THAT WAY SHOULD BE! SAY YOU! SAY DRUNK HULK! SAY IT TOGETHER! NATURAL!
When twitter, youtube and facebook finally merge, we'll call it "youtwitface"
Harry Potter was incredibly disappointing. The most exciting part of the movie was the couple behind us having sex.
tysdaddy Brian
Ha! RT @shariv67 My husband complains that I over share on Twitter. Clearly, his hemorrhoids are just making him cranky.
Hey ESPN, are you kidding me with this Brett Favre tribute bulls***? Why not stroke his tiny d*** just a little more?!
What we gonna do today brain?
jimhigley Bobblehead Dad
RT @AlkiApparelSG: Driving in the car w/ my 2-yr. old son and "Don't Fear the Reaper" came on. I said More Cow Bell. He didn't laugh.
Nothing empties dorms or wakes children like burnt popcorn
realdadshangout Real Dad
quite nipply outside
You know you are a #SAHD if you have ever used a screwdriver to separate frozen sausages. #DadsTalking
Almost all of my old Conans are viewable at http://marcmaron.com fyi.
My piece over at @GoodMenProject about the time I got a 36-pack of condoms for Xmas- from my mom! http://bit.ly/a3EyDe
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Superman: Earth One
On the other hand, J. Michael Straczynski (JMS) is definitely one of the very best writers in comics today. Read his work on Silver Surfer: Requiem, and the first story-lines of Thor's current incarnation that he wrote back in 2007 and one comes to the conclusion that this is a guy who has a unique voice, something to say, and he knows how to write a compelling superhero story.
Then there was some of the promotional artwork that DC released over the year. This image from artist Shane Davis was enough to get me all excited.Finally, the format is relatively untapped in comics. Instead of telling the story in monthly periodicals, the Earth One project tells it in one long-form book. Normally, when you pick up a graphic novel, you are buying four to six monthly installments that have been collected into one edition. This means that each story is really four to six little stories, each with their own plot arc within a larger plot arc. In other words, you can count on a cliffhanger every 22 pages. I definitely wanted to see what JMS would do when freed from the 22-page per chapter restrictions in traditional comics. The longer format alone might not have convinced me, but combined with the writer and the artist, I was determined to get this book and pre-ordered it on Amazon.
I am happy to report that I was not disappointed. JMS has written an interpretation on Clark Kent and his decision to become Superman which is deep, introspective, and resonant. The tone is defined by the fact that this is the youngest Superman anyone has ever presented to us. Clark is 20 years old when he arrives in Metropolis. His plan is to get a job in the big city and fit in - something which has eluded him for most of his life. This is what he wants to do, but through the use of flashbacks to his youth with his ma and pa, we discover that this is not what his parents think he should do. In this version, the Kents are the ones who see Clark's purpose most clearly, and encourage him to be who he is supposed to be. He comes around eventually, and reveals himself to the world when the alien Tyrell invades the earth, and threatens its complete destruction if the last surviving Kryptonian refuses to surrender. Big surprise here: Superman saves the day, defeats the genocidal alien invader, and is revealed to the world in the process. Finally, Clark Kent, now complete with glasses and "mild-mannered" persona, arrives at the Daily Planet with the world's first exclusive interview with Superman.
From what I've read in interviews with the people at DC Comics, Superman: Earth One will be an ongoing series; sort of a comic book version of the Harry Potter and Twilight book series. I could not be happier. The long format worked wonderfully. JMS gave us an interesting new take on Superman, and left all sorts of unanswered questions, while delivering a complete story. The artwork was spot-on. Shane Davis needs to be given credit for the most realistic version of Metropolis that I've ever seen. I'm not necessarily a fan of a smaller, younger Superman, but I can't fault Davis for his the execution.
The fact that DC has had to crank out a second and third printing of Superman: Earth One is completely justified by this book. It is great. I recently read that DC was pulling JMS off of his writing duties on the monthly Superman comic book to begin working on the follow-up immediately. That is great news. I can't wait.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Reusable Coffee Cup Sleeves
I stopped by one of the local Starbucks here in the District this morning and noticed that they were selling little felt coffee cup sleeves for $3.95/ea. In an attempt to be "green," Starbucks is trying to get us to buy something completely stupid and unnecessary. Don't get me wrong. I consider myself an environmentalist. Thanks to my awesome "man-bag" and a few high-quality reusable shopping bags, I rarely need the plastic bags they charge us $0.05 for here in DC. I am pro-reusable anything.
But I am opposed to the creation of a product, manufactured who knows where creating who knows how much carbon, which, under the guise of being "green" is anything but! Think about it. The little cardboard sleeves Starbucks has had for years are reusable. All you have to do is take them off your cup before you toss it and put it in your wallet or jeans pocket or use it as a bookmark or something.
To be honest, this never occurred to me before, but the very presence of a "reusable" sleeve got me thinking. So now you get this rant. Rest assured, I'll never buy a "reusable" coffee cup sleeve. I have decided instead, to start reusing the old cardboard ones instead.
Have you seen any other ridiculous examples of "green" marketing? Maybe you know of something else that we are expected to use once then throw away which is actually reusable? Share!
How to Be A Stay-At-Home-Dad: Step 3
Get Organized!
Guys, I don't know about you, but when it comes to household management, I was never very intentional or organized about it as a young man. In college we didn't clean anything until the smell became unbearable or our female friends and acquaintances stopped visiting. After college, I only vacuumed and dusted to keep my roommate/landlord just happy enough not to throw me and my dog out on our asses. Even when my spouse an I moved in together, I was not what one would call "pro-active" about my responsibilities around the apartment. (I vacuumed and mopped pretty regularly, but you absolutely must do that when you, the love of your life and your English bulldog are living, sleeping, and eating all in the same room.) When you are a SAHD, however, there is no question: you must have a system. This system must incorporate every responsibility you and your partner decide is yours. Whatever system you use must be effective.
It took me way too long to learn this. During the first 5 months of our daughter's life, I should have been practicing. My spouse and I were both at home while she was studying and there was time to figure it out. But, being the knuckle-head that I am, I didn't realize how much more difficult it was going to be once my spouse was going to work every day and I was basically stuck at home with an infant, a bulldog, and a lot to get done one way or another.
So I started with a list. "Things to do EVERY DAY." It included stuff like, "empty the diaper pail," "walk the dog," and "feed the baby." Was it a little ridiculous? Of course. But I kept adding to it as I discovered there were other things I had to do as the homemaker. "Make dinner," "do one load of laundry," and "vacuum" for example. There was a problem, though. The list was never quite right. Some of the things on the list actually didn't need to be done every day. Other things needed to be done more frequently. My self-made system wasn't very flexible. I had even listed tasks according to when I should do them each day. The inflexibility in my system drove me nuts. But I stuck with it until recently.
I should say, that when you are organized, and you get everything done that you were supposed to do life is good. You feel great about yourself. Your partner feels great about you. You can look everyone in the eye with confidence and self-respect because you know you are awesome. When you abandon organization; when you miss something or forget something, even something as simple as picking up the dry-cleaning so your partner has her/his favorite shirt for the meeting on Tuesday, you feel miserable. You start doubting yourself as a father and as a partner. That doubt infects your relationships with your partner and your children. Simply put: it's not good.
I recently posted about the Get-it-done Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More. This is the system I use these days (more or less). It has helped a lot. It is flexible, realistic, and purpose-driven. The application of "productivity tools" from a business perspective into my "job" as a SAHD has been a real help.
If you are going to be a SAHD, you need to start getting organized now. Don't leave it until you are overwhelmed by the seemingly endless responsibilities of being the primary care-giver for one or more children. Get it under control now, and learn to leave room for things to go crazy if they need to. Learn to be organized enough that you can deal with the unexpected when it happens.
So what do you think? Do you use a system to stay organized? Are you naturally organized? Or are you someone who is more laid back about what gets done and when? Are there any good books or podcasts about personal organization you might recommend? Let's help each other out and share whatever tips we have for what works for us.
Guys, I don't know about you, but when it comes to household management, I was never very intentional or organized about it as a young man. In college we didn't clean anything until the smell became unbearable or our female friends and acquaintances stopped visiting. After college, I only vacuumed and dusted to keep my roommate/landlord just happy enough not to throw me and my dog out on our asses. Even when my spouse an I moved in together, I was not what one would call "pro-active" about my responsibilities around the apartment. (I vacuumed and mopped pretty regularly, but you absolutely must do that when you, the love of your life and your English bulldog are living, sleeping, and eating all in the same room.) When you are a SAHD, however, there is no question: you must have a system. This system must incorporate every responsibility you and your partner decide is yours. Whatever system you use must be effective.It took me way too long to learn this. During the first 5 months of our daughter's life, I should have been practicing. My spouse and I were both at home while she was studying and there was time to figure it out. But, being the knuckle-head that I am, I didn't realize how much more difficult it was going to be once my spouse was going to work every day and I was basically stuck at home with an infant, a bulldog, and a lot to get done one way or another.
So I started with a list. "Things to do EVERY DAY." It included stuff like, "empty the diaper pail," "walk the dog," and "feed the baby." Was it a little ridiculous? Of course. But I kept adding to it as I discovered there were other things I had to do as the homemaker. "Make dinner," "do one load of laundry," and "vacuum" for example. There was a problem, though. The list was never quite right. Some of the things on the list actually didn't need to be done every day. Other things needed to be done more frequently. My self-made system wasn't very flexible. I had even listed tasks according to when I should do them each day. The inflexibility in my system drove me nuts. But I stuck with it until recently.
I should say, that when you are organized, and you get everything done that you were supposed to do life is good. You feel great about yourself. Your partner feels great about you. You can look everyone in the eye with confidence and self-respect because you know you are awesome. When you abandon organization; when you miss something or forget something, even something as simple as picking up the dry-cleaning so your partner has her/his favorite shirt for the meeting on Tuesday, you feel miserable. You start doubting yourself as a father and as a partner. That doubt infects your relationships with your partner and your children. Simply put: it's not good.
I recently posted about the Get-it-done Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More. This is the system I use these days (more or less). It has helped a lot. It is flexible, realistic, and purpose-driven. The application of "productivity tools" from a business perspective into my "job" as a SAHD has been a real help.
If you are going to be a SAHD, you need to start getting organized now. Don't leave it until you are overwhelmed by the seemingly endless responsibilities of being the primary care-giver for one or more children. Get it under control now, and learn to leave room for things to go crazy if they need to. Learn to be organized enough that you can deal with the unexpected when it happens.
So what do you think? Do you use a system to stay organized? Are you naturally organized? Or are you someone who is more laid back about what gets done and when? Are there any good books or podcasts about personal organization you might recommend? Let's help each other out and share whatever tips we have for what works for us.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Creep: Drawing From My Distant Past #8
This monster character was inspired by Spawn, the Incredible Hulk, and Doomsday. He was a huge, deadly, silent, homeless demon who befriended inner-city kids and kept them safe from the deadly circumstances in which they lived.
I drew him first sometime in 1993 on the same day and on the page immediately following the character I posted last week. I am disappointed that I cannot find that sketchbook. I remember I had committed to putting one new character on each page. I was inspired at the time by Erik Larsen, who was notorious for creating an incredible number of useless characters and actually using them in comic books like Spider-man, The Savage Dragon, and Wolverine. I was amazed that such a popular comics writer and artist just made up some of the stupidest characters ever and had no shame about putting them in whatever comic book he was writing or illustrating at the time. Much like Larsen, I took visual cues from more than one popular character and put them into a new one.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Memory Inventory: Bless This House
Between July of 2000 and July 2005, I worked as a youth minister and pastoral associate with a small Catholic Church and mission community in Northern Virginia. Over the five years I was there, I met a lot of wonderful people, and some of them gave me presents, usually around Christmas and end of the school year. One of these gifts falls into the category of "stuff I carry around with me wherever I go and don't really know why."
This small plate, dish, or whatever has literally served over the years as a "catch-all." I kept it on top of a small shelf and daily emptied the contents of my pockets onto it. However, in our last two dwellings, I relegated it to the crate of stuff I move from place to place hoping that the irritation of its very presence will be lessened by its itinerant character. [This crate and its contents are the inspiration behind my project to inventory the memories brought to mind by things in this apartment that I have not been able to leave behind.]
In absolute honesty, I cannot remember the person or occasion that brought this piece of steel into my life. I vaguely remember the mother of one of the participants in our summer program presenting me with a gift at the end of the program. I remember not expecting it. I remember opening it and thinking, "What the heck am I going to do with this?" I remember thinking, "I don't even have a house." In fact, for the past 6-8 years (I estimate I received this in August of 2003, give or take a year) I only lived in a house for 3 of them (if you count the 2 years we spent on the third floor of a row-house in New Haven, CT). What I do remember is parents' gratitude every year that I did that summer program. It went through ups and downs, but the parents and the kids really appreciated it. As cynical as I have become about youth ministry, I can't deny that there is something special about offering children a safe place to have fun, and to be an adult whose company they enjoy and with whom they enjoy their summer afternoons.
I don't really miss youth ministry. But I do miss the kids and their parents. This little plate calls those sentiments to mind. That is a blessing to me. I'm going to take it to Goodwill and hopefully it can be a blessing to someone else too.
This small plate, dish, or whatever has literally served over the years as a "catch-all." I kept it on top of a small shelf and daily emptied the contents of my pockets onto it. However, in our last two dwellings, I relegated it to the crate of stuff I move from place to place hoping that the irritation of its very presence will be lessened by its itinerant character. [This crate and its contents are the inspiration behind my project to inventory the memories brought to mind by things in this apartment that I have not been able to leave behind.] In absolute honesty, I cannot remember the person or occasion that brought this piece of steel into my life. I vaguely remember the mother of one of the participants in our summer program presenting me with a gift at the end of the program. I remember not expecting it. I remember opening it and thinking, "What the heck am I going to do with this?" I remember thinking, "I don't even have a house." In fact, for the past 6-8 years (I estimate I received this in August of 2003, give or take a year) I only lived in a house for 3 of them (if you count the 2 years we spent on the third floor of a row-house in New Haven, CT). What I do remember is parents' gratitude every year that I did that summer program. It went through ups and downs, but the parents and the kids really appreciated it. As cynical as I have become about youth ministry, I can't deny that there is something special about offering children a safe place to have fun, and to be an adult whose company they enjoy and with whom they enjoy their summer afternoons.
I don't really miss youth ministry. But I do miss the kids and their parents. This little plate calls those sentiments to mind. That is a blessing to me. I'm going to take it to Goodwill and hopefully it can be a blessing to someone else too.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Dental Experiment
Yesterday I called a dentist to schedule appointments for me and my daughter. I was flying blind; I just picked one that was in a nearby building and called. Finding a dentist in our network using the online locator was as far as I took the research. I figured that experiential research would be more effective.
I scheduled my appointment for today and my daughter's for next week. That way, I will be the guinea pig, and neither my daughter nor my wife will be subjected to a dental experience that I don't find satisfactory.
There is one problem with this, however: I HAVE TO GO TO THE DENTIST TODAY!
I hate the going to the dentist! I never felt this way as a kid, but as an adult, my own procrastinatory habits caused me to put it off and put it off. As you know, the longer you put it off, the worse it is when you go. So when I finally went to the dentist for the first time since. High school back in 2004, the hygienist, sighed, said, "bear with me," grabbed her metal-scraping-pointy-things, and proceeded with the bloody, painful work.
From that point to now, my procrastination is bolstered by that extremely painful experience. I promised myself that I'd floss every day, that I'd go to the dentist every six months, that I'd never let it happen again. But it has happened again. I left my job and had no insurance for a while. When I got a job in CT in 2006, the procrastination began again. I didn't go to the dentist again until fall of 2007, when I was about to lose my I insurance again. The experience was horrifically similar.
And now, it is 2010, and I have no one to blame but myself for the misery I am about to endure (how Catholic is that?). But I'll take my medicine just to make sure that my punkin's first dental experience doesn't traumatize her too much. Who knows? Maybe I'll get an appointment for six months from now like I'm supposed to. Maybe I'll floss a little more too!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Drawing from My Recent Past #2
In the summer of 2007, I had just finished paying off my last credit card (and haven't carried a balance since!) and, with my wife out of town summering with law firms here and there, I have a few extra dollars in my pocket for the first time in a while. I actually got back into comic books for a (very) short time. I was smarter about it than I was my youth: This time I only bought stuff I knew I was going to enjoy. So I got back into the classic characters. Here are the "big three" of DC Comics.
I'm actually pretty proud of this one. I actually thought about the composition and the look I wanted to give it. There are a couple anatomical anomalies: Superman's head is way too small; Wonder Woman's breasts are sitting too high on a rib-cage that is too short.
About a month later, I would discover that I was a daddy, so I stopped spending the $15/week on comic books and eventually even gave almost my entire collection to the local Goodwill, though I kept a few gems. These days, I wait until the collected editions come out and get only the ones that are well-reviewed.
About a month later, I would discover that I was a daddy, so I stopped spending the $15/week on comic books and eventually even gave almost my entire collection to the local Goodwill, though I kept a few gems. These days, I wait until the collected editions come out and get only the ones that are well-reviewed.
Favorite Tweets of the Weekend
thraeryn Tim Thraeryn
If you can read this, I hope you're happy. If you're NOT happy, I hope it changes quickly. <3
Here's your weekend reading. You're welcome. "The glorious return of the high five" - http://j.mp/dccjRt
Which one of you assholes gave my 4yo cymbals?
Patrick J. Ryan, SJ: Confessions of a five-minute atheist http://fb.me/JJfHmqfi
CHOOSING BETWEEN TWO RIGIDLY DEFINED GENDERS: LIKE TRYING TO PAINT PORTRAIT WITH ONLY MAUVE OR TEAL. HULK SMASH BINARY!
Fatherhood Friday Tips and Advice – Portland Dad http://goo.gl/fb/eSPjy #dadstalking
I want to move to New York.
News study: teens are waiting longer to have sex but still taking risks. http://tinyurl.com/3936vcd Parents, talk to your kids! #parenting
OutNumberedisMe Jason Mayo
My lizard had a normal bowel movement today and I did too. Our male version of menstrual synchrony.
Was pretty sure I had a squirrel in the car. After 10 minutes of trying to get it out, I realized it was just an empty taco bag. Sad.
Taxi driver just told me there was no such place as airport Hilton, and showed me the list of airports his GPS had given him to prove it.
Taxidriver drove me to a bank and said "the Machine says here" Me: points to high building with big red Hilton sign on top. "Maybe there?"
From this day forward, the term "jackwagon" will be my preferred insult of choice.
Congratulations, #pacquiao! Boxing legend and a GoodMan in our book.
CoupleDumb CoupleDumb
10 Holiday Survival Tips http://coupledumb.com/2010/11/14/tis-the-season/5276 #HolidayCards.
TheJackB TheJackB
Junior high memories: Some Wounds Take Longer To Heal http://ht.ly/39xZs
HuffingtonPost Huffington Post
WATCH: George W. Bush & Kanye West Reconcile On 'Weekend Update' http://huff.to/d7lFxr
msmagazine Ms. Magazine
RT @mehilalala: "Do you think #Masculinity is in crisis?" Via @Salon: How did #men get less manly? http://ow.ly/39yqw
Out Of The Closet ... In The Pulpit Of A Megachurch http://n.pr/9UddLW
A Call to Arms (And Abs, Quads, Calves, and Shoulders) http://jezebel.com/5689226/
GoodMenProject The Good Men Project
But “is that manly enough?” http://amplify.com/u/f835 | What do you think?
darthvader Darth Vader
For those of you who asked, all I want for Sithmas is my two legs back.
ConanOBrien Conan O'Brien
My favorite thing about November? Limited Edition Turkey M&M’s.
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