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| Intelligent Riddle (partisan joke) |
| 10.30.04 (11:53 am) [edit] |
Here's a fairly standard "substitute names for whoever you don't really care for" type of joke. So, if you're a fan of Kerry, just substitute accordingly.
anyways, it's good for a laugh. I figure everyone needs a good chuckle now and again.
======================
INTELLIGENT RIDDLE
John Kerry meets with the Queen of England. He asks her, "Your Majesty, how do you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips
you can give to me?"
"Well," says the Queen, "the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people."
Kerry frowns. "But how do I know the people around me are really intelligent?"
The Queen takes a sip of tea. "Oh, that's easy. You just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle." The Queen pushes a button on her intercom. "Please send Tony Blair in here, would you?"
Tony Blair walks into the room. "Yes, my Queen?" The Queen smiles. "Answer me this, please, Tony. Your mother and father have a child. It is not your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?"
Without pausing for a moment, Tony Blair answers, "That would be me."
"Yes! Very good," says the Queen.
Kerry goes back home to ask John Edwards, his running partner, the same question. "John, answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child. It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"
"I'm not sure," says John Edwards. "Let me get back to you on that one." Edwards goes to his advisors and asks every one, but none can give him an answer.
Finally, he ends up in the men's room and recognizes Colin Powell's shoes in the next stall. Edwards shouts, "Colin, can you answer this for me? Your mother and father have a child and it's not your
brother or your sister. Who is it?" Colin Powell yells back, "that's easy - it's me!"
Edwards smiles, and says, "Thanks!" Then, Edwards goes back to speak with Kerry. "Say, I did some research and I have the answer to that riddle. It's Colin Powell."
Kerry gets up, stomps over to John Edwards, and angrily yells into his face, "No, you idiot! It's Tony Blair!"
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| Ain't this interestin'? Russia and Iraq. |
| 10.28.04 (5:47 pm) [edit] |
(Warning: The following link is a news article from today's edition of the Washington post. It may challenge your way of thinking. The blog that follows contains analysis and sarcasm. Regardless, make absolutely sure you read the news article in the link. You'll have to register your reader stats with the washington post, but it's very worth while.)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20041028-122 637-6257r.htm" title="http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20041028-122 637-6257r.htm" target="_blank"http://www.washingtontimes.co...
another article from the Washington Post. I don't expect to see this one popping up on CNN or any other liberal news network, so you'll have to read it yourself.
Basically, it shows that Iraq did in fact have the WMDs. What happened was that Russia helped export these materials out to Syria a few weeks before the war.
The Russians stated that they were acting on a silent initiative to disarm Iraq before the U.S. invaded. Regarding the evidence found however: "Documents reviewed by the official included itineraries of military units involved in the truck shipments to Syria. The materials outlined in the documents included missile components, MiG jet parts, tank parts and chemicals used to make chemical weapons, the official said. "
Hmmm ... MiG jet parts ... wait, weren't those Russian jet parts? what are they doing in Iraq? oh wait, yeah, the whole food for oil program that Russia France and China were involved in that turned into the guns for oil program ... that kinda got skipped by CBS and CNN ... let's see, what else ...
"Regarding the explosives, the new Iraqi government reported that 194.7 metric tons of HMX, or high-melting-point explosive, and 141.2 metric tons of RDX, or rapid-detonation explosive, and 5.8 metric tons of PETN, or pentaerythritol tetranitrate, were missing. The material is used in nuclear weapons and also in making military "plastic" high explosive. "
Hmmm .... Sound like ingredients for WMDs to me ...
Unfortunately for the Bush campaign they can't show this in their ads. The whole "not only did Russia, France and China secretely take bribes from Iraq to stay out of the war, Russia stabbed us in the back and tried to hide the fact that Iraq had weapons!" That's pretty big shit, and the dumb swing staters would look unfavorably on it despite the fact it's true.
Going off on a tangent ... is everyone so blind in their hatred of the Republican party that they won't see this? You know, this kind of evidence actually validates the war on Iraq. That kind of makes all liberal claims about the war being "the wrong war at the wrong time" completely bogus.
Ah heck, who am I kidding. Some weiner's gonna feel offended and say some cop-out statement like "how was Kerry supposed to know that?" (which I already heard someone say, which of course, means I could say that Kerry's a nazi and I won't say otherwise unless I'm proven wrong. But that'd be stooping to their levels.)
Returning from tangent ... I mean, just think back over the past decade. For the first few years after Operation Desert Storm there's been countless incidents of UN inspectors unable to do their suprise inspections. They go knock on the door (without any military power or authority to go in by force and check themselves) and ask "can I see if you have any weapons pretty please?" The Iraqis say "No." 1 week goes by, the UN asks again and the Iraqis agree this time. Gasp! The sites clean! How did that happen?
I SWEAR!! That stuff was constantly on CNN for about a year after Operation Storm. But then I guess the people got more interested in OJ Simpson getting away with murder, the wonder-bra, or whatever else and then the incidents fell off the scope of prime-time news. (it's surprising at how many massacres, political uprisings, and genocides completely fall short of that scope)
Anyways, that's happened for years. And as soon as the initial reports couldn't find bunkers of WMDs after the War on Iraq has ended everyone believes "well, if it isn't there now, it must have never been there!" ... please
wow.
going back off tangent with a voice of bitterness ... I almost wish that the terrorists would blast the living shit out of this country just so I could laugh from hell and flip off all the idiots who don't believe terrorism exists saying "I told you so!"
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| And they voted ... |
| 10.26.04 (5:56 pm) [edit] |
AND THEN THEY VOTED.
(this is an e-mail I recieved. I edited it to be nuetral. Just a something to make you worse about the biggest internal threat that plagues the U.S. That and get a few chuckles. Obviously its false, so take it for what its worth.)
In an election like the one we're having now, it is incomprehensible to me that there could possibly be someone who is yet "undecided", or how the debates or last-minute ads could change the minds of "swing" voters. If people are too stupid or lazy to make themselves aware of what liberal or conservative is, or left or right or socialistic is, then they deserve whoever they get. Trouble is, the rest of us have no more voting clout than they do.
--------------------
While looking at a house, my brother asked the real estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, "Does the sun rise in the north?"
When another person jumped in and explained that the sun rises in the east (and has for some time), she shook her head and said, "Oh, I don't keep up with that stuff."
And then she voted.
===============
I used to work in technical support for a 24x7 call center. One day I got a call from an InDUHvidual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, "The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." He responded, "Is that Eastern or Pacific time?" Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, "Pacific.."
And then he voted.
============
So my colleague and I were eating our lunch in our cafeteria when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the shore. She drove down in a convertible, but "didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was moving."
And then she voted.
================
I was in a high school advanced physics class and the teacher was talking about a new military weapon that uses sonic waves on the battlefield to burst enemy soldier's chests. One InDUHvidual in the class spoke up and said, "Well that's stupid! Why don't they just wear headphones?"
And a few years later, he voted.
=============
My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car. It's designed to cut through a seatbelt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk.
And then she voted.
=================
My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought two cases. The cashier multiplied two times 10% and gave us a 20% discount.
And then they all voted.
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I was hanging out with a friend of mine when we saw a woman walk by us with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, "Wouldn't the chain rip out every time she turned her head?" I had to explain to her that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned.
And then she voted.
===============
I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because they were trained professionals and I was in good hands. "Now," she asked me, "has your plane arrived yet?"
And then she voted.
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| Alien Hominid Pre-orders now available!! |
| 10.25.04 (1:26 am) [edit] |
GASP!!
Alien Hominid is now accepting pre-orders!
WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! !!!!!!!!
For those of you not in the know, there's an awesome independent game coming out called "Alien Homind"
http://www.alienhominid.com" title="http://www.alienhominid.com" target="_blank"http://www.alienhominid.com
It's an amazing looking flash based game on the Game Cube and Playstation 2.
Here's a shorcut to the demo reel they have:
http://www.alienhominid.com/video.html" title="http://www.alienhominid.com/video.html" target="_blank"http://www.alienhominid.com/v...
long download but totally worth the wait.
oh, yeah, did I mention WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!
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| Target: Terror (sampling review) |
| 10.24.04 (4:05 pm) [edit] |
I recently sampled this game at the arcades. (I mean sample as in I only put a dollar's worth into the machine which equates to 2 credits).
Anyways, Target Terror is a game with the basic Area 51 formula. (an arcade light-gun shooter with video background and filmed elements jumping out and shooting you) The difference this time being that the video engine is EXTREMELY good. The enemies that you kill this time are filmed humans that have TV quality animation. In addition, these humans are filmed on a very high resolution.
Another cool thing about the villains is that the enemies are reactive to where you shoot them. I think this is extremely impressive since these are filmed actors who perform their death scenes from the same position quite seemlessly.
The other improvement is the backgrounds. The resolution is a lot higher to begin with, but they also have a few more destructable elements in them. Some of these destructables are actually 3d rendered, so that when you hit them they fly all over the place.
One interesting thing that they did (which I'm not entirely sure how they did it) is that when you shoot the villains blood flies and stains the walls. What's impressive is that when the camera moves to the next position, the blood follows the background prefectly. Interesting.
The gameplay? Well, it's the same as Area 51 with a few more upgrades. But heck, it's Area 51! what's not to like about that?
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| Communists for Kerry |
| 10.23.04 (6:47 pm) [edit] |
Just stumbled across this hilarious site.
http://www.communistsforkerry.com/" title="http://www.communistsforkerry.com/" target="_blank"http://www.communistsforkerry...
It's a severe parody site abour communists in support of Comrade Kerry.
Basically it makes fun of his daily screwups and how socialist he is.
Enjoy.
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| Kerry the Liar ... Part 2 (2nd hand news) |
| 10.20.04 (11:32 pm) [edit] |
Ok, a few weeks ago when the first pres. debate was on I called Kerry I liar. I determined this from his actions and tactics (counter-nonsquitor offensive, diversions, changing the subject at a pin drop, etc.)
I got a couple of rebuttals for saying that Kerry was a liar.
Anyways, I tracked down a something y'all could see. Just think of this as backing for my thoughts.
// edit -- the goobers at washington post are making you register to read it. It's free, and the read's worth your while. sorry for the inconvenience //
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3416 7-2004Oct14.html" title="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3416 7-2004Oct14.html" target="_blank"http://www.washingtonpost.com...
There's no hoax on this one. And it's comin' from a liberal newspaper. (And I believe Washington post has a little bit more credibility than the CBS News with Dan Rather).
So, read that.
Anyways, just another quick comment I caught from the news. (another example of the Kerry participants trying to use any ugly insults they can).
Apparently Mrs. Kerry apologized today for some comments she made against Laura Bush a couple of days ago. She said that Mrs. Bush was unfit to be the first Lady because she had never held a job before. (as you probably know, Mrs. Kerry is a multi-millionaire).
Well, my own opinions say that if that were true, it might actually make her more qualified ...
Anyways, it isn't actually true. The first lady held a couple jobs, one of which was a public school teacher. Go figure ...
Again, I'm thinking that they're just TRYING to sling mud at the Bush administration because Bush is attacking Kerry's actual track record in congress. (not to mention those unsponsered vets who are attacking his war track record, to which Dan Rather tried to create some false documents.)
(oh, off tangent ... but have you noticed the anti-bush rock songs coming out? You know, Green Day's "American Idiot" and Sum 41's "We're all to blame"? Did you notice that when compared musically to their other songs, these ones really suck? Just wondering ...)
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| Metallica's Tale |
| 10.17.04 (12:11 pm) [edit] |
ta-da!!!
here's the last round-robin story for a little while.
Enjoy.
------------------------- ------------------------- --------------
"Where are we?" shouted Micky.
"I dunno" whispered Batman.
Jack the ripper was still sound asleep.
Two eyes glistened in the dark, unnoticed, watching, waiting.
"I honestly think that we are doomed," insightfully sang Twinkie the Kid.
"ATTACK!" screamed Metallica.
It was awful, just horrible. The cream filling splattered all over the walls in a gory fashion.
Too bad grandma was there in the midst of it all, she just wanted to take a midnight walk. "WUAAAAGH!!" Walking is fun with some oompas butt only when da punks are not craving creamy filling. All of the sudden a loud screaching sound came out of the dark corner of the alley. It was an alien ... giving birth to a yak!
"I knew it!" screamed batman as he killed the last member of Metallica with a Giant axe.
That's when Jack the Ripper awoke. The yak and Jack began cooking the remains with Arm & Hammer, a trap? ...
"We've got problems," said Batman to Grandma who was key to killing Metallica. "We lost Twinkie and a green fluid is spewing out where Mickey lost his ear." Mickey was howling wildly in pain as his precious green fluid sprayed out like Old Faithful.
Grandma looked back at Batman with tears in her eyes as she said, "I broke my depends."
With that Batman said, "That's all I can stands and I can't stands no more." He then smote off her noggen with a swift swing of his spatula. As the head rolled down the ever so slanted alley, Tiny Tim looked up with an angry tear in his eye.
But Tim wouldn't find revenge that day, grandma's head was full of explosives. This interrupted Jack and Yak's cooking. "Uh oh," said Mickey, now used to his spewing fluid. The explosion knocked out one of the two buildings that walled the alley.
Everyone tried to leave. As they ran towards the newly cleared path, a ravid ardvark emerged from the dust and devoured forty and two of them. Tasty was the treat for him.
Umm ... Grandma and the yak were the only survivors. They immediately engaged in mortal combat. The battle was long and arduous. For 61 days and 62 nights they battled.
"And that is where Cheeze came from," explained Grandpa to little Sally.
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| Shaun of the Dead |
| 10.16.04 (1:46 pm) [edit] |
Well, I saw this yesterday. It's an excellent tribute to Zombie movies everywhere.
Of course, I also give a healthy warning that this is not for the weak of stomache. There is quite a bit of general zombie gore with one scene that made my stomache turn (which is quite an accomplishment).
Anyways, it's a great movie. It's a tribute to the survival horror zombie thrillers. With the exception that the zombies are really stupid and immobile, and the survivors are a bunch of british gits.
If you're any sort of self-respecting zombie fan, you should see this.
Rated R for a bit of language and Zombie Gore (plus the one really disgusting 10 second gore scene).
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| democracy cycle |
| 10.15.04 (10:06 am) [edit] |
Here's another one I got in an e-mail. obviously take it with a grain of salt, there's a chance it's false.
However, the logic of the first half certainly does add up right. So, pay attention to that and chew on it.
(naturally, if you know the definates on whether or not the stats here are true or not; post a reply. Of course, I'd like to see some evidence to back it up, but yeah.)
------------------------- ------------
You may have heard this quote before, but it is certainly worth passing along again ...
At about the time our original 13 states adopted their new constitution, in the year 1787, Alexander Tyler (a Scottish history professor at The University of Edinborough) had this to say about "The Fall of The Athenian Republic" some 2,000 years prior.
"A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a
permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally
collapse due to loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship."
"The average age of the worlds greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
From Bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage."
Professor Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota, points out some interesting facts concerning the most recent Presidential election:
Population of counties won by:
Gore=127 million
Bush=143 million
Square miles of land won by:
Gore=580,000
Bush=2,427,000
States won by:
Gore=19
Bush=29
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by:
Gore=13.2
Bush=2.1
Professor Olson adds:
"In aggregate, the map of the territory Bush won was mostly the land owned by the tax-paying citizens of this great country.
Gore's territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned
tenements and living off government welfare..."
Olson believes the U.S. is now somewhere between the "complacency and "apathy" phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy; with some 40 percent of the nation's population already having reached the "governmental dependency" phase.
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| missed by two days |
| 10.15.04 (12:29 am) [edit] |
Well, I certainly hope that you can stand not getting your recommended dose of game reviews or weird stories from me, 'cause I got neither.
Here's why!
For some bizarre reason I could have sworn that yesterday was Friday. It was relaxing, rediculously slow at work, everything. As such, I spent money, went to a freinds house, stayed up until 2:00 AM drawing ...
Then I get woken up this morning at 6:00 AM to the news that I'm going to be late for my 7:00 class.
That stunk.
tomorrow will be better though. No school, I'm gonna call in sick, perfect.
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| Zippy's tale |
| 10.13.04 (9:16 am) [edit] |
Another absurd round robin story.
Enjoy.
------------------------- -------------------------
Zippy the Leprechaun was having a good day. That was until he got attacked by Zeus, the god of lightning. "Infidel!" bellowed the mighty Zeus, "Prepare to feel the sensation of you organs boiling!"
"But what did I do wrong?"
Zeus paused, "um ... I dunno."
They sat there for like 20 minutes. They just sat there, they didn't even say anything. Finally Zippy tooted, Zeus flinched, and the chance for Zippy's survival presneted itself. He fell asleep.
The opportunity was well spent, for Zeus channeled 130,405 volts through Zippy's body, killing him instantly. His daughter saw the whole thing, revenge swelled up in her head and an explosion in her lungs ripped apart her torso.
Zeus laughed mightily and floated on to his next victim.
THE ENDI
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| Jackie's tale |
| 10.11.04 (9:13 pm) [edit] |
Here's another round-robin story from me and my brother.
A word of fore-warning, this one is slightly more offensive that the others. And it certainly doesn't reflect our opinions, it's just mindless lunacy.
------------------------- ---------
"Holy SHIT!" Screamed Jackie.
Jackie was eating escargo. It all reminded her of her last true love. Everything from the better soaked invertibrates, to the french waiter being beaten by the russian chef, to the dead midgit's leg in her purse. But that's when all hell broke loose! "There she is!" scremaed Buddah! "Get 'er!"
Dozens of orange monkey men spilled out from the earth armed to the teeth with swiss army knives. It was too bad for Buddha that Jackie had paid them off, he wasn't expecting to be ripped to shreds that day. Jackie spun around in circles and transformed into her true identity: Tim!
Everyone else in the restaraunt were so surprised that they all burst into flames. Why? Because of the 1 billion Asians pissed off that Buddha was dead. The continent of Asia broke off from planet earth in protest. They became Poohlor, meteor of the asians. Their pagoda-death-rays were feared by all.
Meanwhile, magma was pouring out of the earth's surface where Asia used to be.
"How do we stop it?" screamed the naked man sitting next to the president. No one knew why he was there, or how he even got there, but they all knew that he had the Key to the Kitchen. The president bit a chunk out of his head. Everyone lightly chuckled. The naked man fell to the ground screaming in pain, and opened a portal to the center of the earth: Home of Dagnolan the Cold.
Too bad his brain matter fell out too quickly, the portal closed as he died.
"Dagnabit! That was our only hope!" screamed the president. They lightly chuckled again. Just then the president had a stellar idea. He just needed a flaming pelican in order for it to work.
That's when Poohlor was ready to strike. Theyhad big balls of doom. They fired thier balls at them. The balls came down and crushed several.
They lightly gibbed.
The prsident shat himself, everyone lightly chuckled. The president then gave his final order: Return Fire!
Poohlor came flying towards the earth. The state of Texas opened and the "Lone Star Cannon" came into position.
"And what happened next?" said Timmy, eager to hear the rest of the story. Mrs. Smith sighed about how cute timmy was and his interest in the story. With a smile on her face she looked into his innocent eyes and said: "Well, if I told you, your face would melt away and my organs would implode."
"So I will ... they all horribly died, all of the Asians!"
"Holy shit!" screamed Timmy. His face grew bright red and flames shot out his ears. The mother doubled over in pain. The father came in and screamed "Cheerios has lowered my cholesterol." He then shot out thousands of razor-sharp acidic cheerios.
He then calmly sat the remaineings of the corpses up in their chairs, calmly sat down and opened up the book. "But that wasn't the end of the story just yet!" Timmy looked up at his father with tears welling up in his hollow eye sockets.
"STOP CRYING DAMNIT!!!" the father shouted as he pulled out his shotgun and unloaded both barrels blasting Timmy's head clean off.
"Anyways ... going on ..."
Tim, who was previously known as Jackie, was busy making preperations while Poohlor was facing off with the Lone Star Cannon. Through a painful process involving cumbusticating platypi she started to sing:
Here we go down to Barney
Eating human fish.
Acknowledging the noble cattle dead.
Poo.
Poopers day.
Let's go kill them all!
That's when the giant robot burst out of her chest. "Go! Go destroy them all!" cried out Tim as her brain ran out of oxygen. AMERICA WAS NO MORE!
"Come out with your hands up you sick bastard!!" shouted Captain Amazing over the megaphone as the USSR Army surrounded dead Timmy's house. The robot came out blasting.
But just then, there was a low hum and the earth began to shake. Everyone got scared, even Captain Amazing. Thousands of alien ships landed and came out with a big gun.
"What the HELL is going on?" He shot the Captain before he could answer. Everyone present gibbd.
The father realized what happened: the story was reality. So laughing, he lit the book on fire. The world burned.
THE ENEDED!!!!
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| Street Fighter Annivesary Controllers |
| 10.10.04 (7:37 pm) [edit] |
As you may know, Capcom coordinated the release of special controllers to go along with the 15th aniversary of Street Fighter (gee, doesn't that make you feel old?).
I bought a couple of these things. I'm still debating which one I like best though: PS2 Dual Shock or the aforementioned controller.
I'll be talking about the new controller, but mostly in comparison to the Dual Shock.
First, the things that the new controller lacks is the twin analogs and the vibration function. Those are personal preferences that people will have about whether or not those options are viable to a fighter controller. Personally, I kinda like the vibration, so that's a downer for me. I can't really use the analogs in fighting games, but a couple of my freinds use those to pull off the 360 inputs. (stupid grapple jerks ... )
Second, the D-pad! It's modeled more or less off the old Sega Saturn D-pad (so I've been told). Anyways, it's hard to say whether I like the Anniversary Special Edition Control (ASEC for now on) or the Dual Shock better. In general, it's actually much easier to pull off the moves with the ASEC. However, the cross on the pad is significantly raised causing a considerable higher ammount of friction on the pad (read: more blisters). Another downside is that the ASEC is a bit more sensitive than the Dual Shock, this means that some of the more complex moves (like the Super Arts) can be a bit harder to pull off.
Basically, the d-pad on the ASEC acts like a combination between an analog and a normal d-pad. So, that's evens there.
Third, the 6 buttons at your thumb layout. on the ASEC there's 2 rows of three buttons at your disposal. Naturally, in the SF series, these occupy the 3 punches and the 3 kicks. For the most part this configuration works out rather well. However, sometimes combos can't be pulled off as smoothly in this configuration since your thumb has to move quite a bit farther to hit the extremes of the layout (as opposed to using both your thumb and index finger on the Dual Shock).
However, the buttons themselves function beautifully. There's the perfect resistance and everything. It's gorgeous.
Associated with this is the triggers. Personally, I think they're way too small and too close to the top. But that's just me.
So ... There you have it.
Currently they have Ken, Ryu, Akuma and Chun Li. (I own Ryu and Chun Li). I'm probably not going to get any more unless they release Rose and Rolento. But until then I'm happy.
So ...
In short, if you're a fighting games enthusiast, these are probably a good buy. But, then again, if you're an enthusiast you probably already own these.
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| Justifications for pursuing a online comics content ratings system |
| 10.07.04 (12:27 am) [edit] |
I've had an idea about pursuing the construction of a Voluntary Online Comics Ratings Association for some time. The idea is simply to have some form of advisory so that readers would be able to tell the content of a comic.
I ran this idea past a comic forum and I got a lot of demeaning responses telling me that instituting a ratings system was censorship, I was very naive in pursuing said action, and that I was somehow trying to inhibit the freedom of the internet. (in retrospect, I'm surprised that they didn't say I'd go to hell or send me mail bombs for even thinking about doing it)
personally, I don't see how those arguements hold any water. As such, I wrote a lengthy response, enjoy.
------------------
I hope I don't sound like I'm going on the offensive, but there's one thing I'm trying to figure out ...
I actually fail to see the DIRECT connection between an advisory warning and censorship. Sure, some higher up execs in the movie industry have screwed things over for the creators by dropping a last minute ratings cap; but with the abscence of higher-ups in the independent online comics industry I can't see that happening. And that's an inderict connection between the two objects anyways (the idiot higher-up did the mistake, not the rating system).
If you wouldn't mind clearing up where a DIRECT connection lies, I'm all ears.
Going on ...
I'm well aware of the fact that there are differing standards throughout the planet. Howevere, in an undertaking such as this, there would have to be some point to start at. When I mentioned the defined standards, I was simply referring to having a defined starting point and guide for the content. I guess I accidently implied that the defined standards were THE GOLDEN SUPREME standards (which, of course they wouldn't be). So, my bad. What I meant to imply was that there would be A standard so that the various raters who would participate would have a more mechanical approach to the thing as opposed to plain arbitrary decision making.
Back to the whole censorship thing ...
Since this is actually based on the internet, I honestly can't see how any form of censorship could arise from the creation of a ratings system. Most service providers don't care about what's on their site (as long as it's not child porn). As such, I don't forsee the owners of various websites banning a comic that would get the equivilant of an "R" rating. If it had objectionable material that the provider didn't like, the provider would probably take care of the problem long before the rating label would get attached.
The only net publication I know of that has any sort of bearing on online comics (that being comixpedia) doesn't give a rat's butt about content. Thier articles even have nudity on occasion. I point this out in saying that they wouldn't prohibit or edit out a comic from their article simply because it got a "bad" rating.
Another point I guess I should have emphasized a bit more is that the whole thing is a voluntary effort. No money is involved at any point, and I'd be losing quite a bit of sleep managing the bloody thing. This means that a comic doesn't have to get rated if the creator doesn't wish for the comic to get rated.
Another safe-guard that I had planned for the system was that the ratings would be told to the creator first in private before relased on the internet. This allows for the implimentation of certain procedures in case an undesired rating is allotted to the comic. In the event that a comic gets a lower-than-desired rating, the comic owner has the option of upping the rating if he so desires (i.e. an action writer wants his action comic to get an "R" equivelant rating instead of the issued "PG" equivilant rating). In the other event that the formula assigns a higher than desired rating to the comic, the creator may wish to opt out. This would be done privately and without and hatred or anything of that nature.
In short, I think that due to the lack of restrictions found in the internet, it makes it a perfectly safe place to impliment a ratings system.
I'll hop back to that inderect connection example from earlier to prove my point. Since basically ALL comics are independent with no-one to report to (as in: no idiot higher-ups), there is literally no-one to answer to as far as keeping the ratings under a certain level (save the service provider; and they only care about legal issues involving porn and warez anyways).
(Of course, I have a whole gripe about people who claim editing a newpaper is censorship. I also think that just as every artist has a right to say whatever they want, ever publisher has a right to publish only what they want to. But I honestly doubt that this crowd would appreciate me going on about that.)
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| Pikmin 2 (impressions) |
| 10.04.04 (9:46 pm) [edit] |
I rented Pikmin 2 over the weekend. I put about some 20 hours into it. Really good game. Has everything that made the first one so good, plus it fixed all the problems. And it has multiplayer. yeah!
It's still got the peaceful charm that really set apart the first game, and that's a great unique thing. However, what has changed is the difficulty curve. Pikmin 2 is considerably more accessible and it doesn't penalize you for having to recoupe your pikmin like it did in the first edition. (as in, no 30 day time limit)
The multiplayer's pretty fun as well. It isn't the deepest thing out there, but you'll probably get a good hour or so out of it at a time.
So yeah, at least check it out if you can. Me? I'm gonna buy it sooner or later.
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| Sky Captain! and the world of tomorrow! |
| 10.03.04 (11:20 pm) [edit] |
This movie is the perfect tribute to all the classic 1950's Scifi camp fests! Buck Rogers can stand proud after seeing this.
Basically the movie is a scenario of "what if the crews who worked on those old classic movies had computers to aid in the special effects?" As such it has everything, both good and bad, that the old movies had. The goofy effects (one raygun shoots out electric o-rings), tesla coils, the cinematogriphic style, overhead shots of the glob, spinning newspapers, and giant robots that shoot lazers out of their eyes. The short of it is that the more you know about the old films, the more you'll like this one.
Again, the camera work and the musical score are both dead on with the old stuff.
Oh, and did I mention that there's giant robots that shoot lazers out of their eyes?
So ... go see it.
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| Ladykillers -- Good movie |
| 10.02.04 (6:43 pm) [edit] |
I saw Ladykillers yesterday. That was a very good movie.
First off, it's a Coen Brothers movie. What's not to like about that? Awesome directing and extremely intricate dialouge and plot lines.
Next, suprisingly enough Tom Hanks makes the show. Now, I'm not a rabid fan of Hanks nor am I a cult follower. But, Hanks doesn't act like he does in any of his other films. As such, he's very funny and entertaining.
Plus the ending is very poetic and worth the ride, so go see it.
It's rated R for some mild violence and a whole lot of swearing. (like 75 uses of the F word)
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| Inspiration |
| 10.02.04 (4:04 am) [edit] |
ok ... I frequent art forums.
One of them had a the title of a thread that read: "Brainstorm for a Manga Storyline." This is the content of his initial post:
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Well... it's official... My high school now has an Official Manga Club. We arent all about watching anime and manga though... we are about being the creators of it. We are loking to have some sort of free to all manga publication online within the next year... And I am officially heading the storyboard/writing department. Dunno why I was appointed to this position... Ive written a couple award winning plays in my time... But I dont exactly think up a storyline on a daily basis... So, I need ideas. Just give me brainstorming ideas to get me started... be my inspiration!
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It was printed in bright red capital letters on a white background. Very irritating. It had been sitting there for about 20 hours without a response. So, for some sick reason, I decided to write a response and got carried away. Enjoy:
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HansTheGreat wrote:
be my inspiration!
first, big bright red letters hurt my eyes. After looking at the computer screen for a while, that was the last thing I needed to see.
Second: this isn't how brainstorming works.
Usually, the person who initiates a brainstorm has a few ideas or general directions that he would like the brainstorm to go. (these ideas usually tend to be a bit more specific than, say, a comic.) Those people who voluntarily offer ideas to the storm will have some sort of understanding or agreement that they will recieve their proper credit for their services.
Now, that kind of situation usually requires an ammount of previously acquired trust. This would be a reason why it is reccommendable to only hold these brainstorming sessions between people of a business type agreement.
However, everyone's ideas are valueable. But they are most valueable to the people who created the ideas. Therefore, it would be in the best ineterest of the artist NOT to disclose his ideas in an open forum, unless a substantial goal was to be ascertained. All an amatuer artist really needs for a worthy prize is usually the honor of working with a respectable or skilled artisan.
That is where you could improve your skills ... Not to say that you aren't, but your presentation of the facts certainly could use a bit of the shoe-shine polish. If you convey the image that you are, indeed, a partner worthy of colaborataing with by means of your superior art skills, or your witty dialogue and poetic plot structures, people will surely flock to assist you in your desire to produce a web comic.
Now then, why don't you go ahead and demonstrate some of those superior skills of yours and woo us over to your cause.
Anyways, inspirations are taken from existing materials. What I mean to say by that is the excercise of enriching one's self with the digestion of a polethera of volumes of manga should enhance one's feel of the artistry of the craft. Sooner or later one will identify a particular artist (or multiple artists as may be the case) that have a certain something that the aspiring apprentice may find ... bitchin'.
It is by analysis of these bitchin' masters that one may more readily gain the skills needed for artistry. Soon the seeds are planted, fertilized, and then sprout into a new idea ready for further cultivation. This is the "inspiration" that most people seek after. Surely this earns people the greatest ammount of satisfaction possible, much more so than simply begging for someone else's idea.
But I digress, perhaps I should be more concise in my ramblings ...
Think of your own damn idea you lazy sod.
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| computer |
| 10.01.04 (10:49 pm) [edit] |
well, my computer crashed a couple of days ago.
and out of 38 gig, 4 was retrieved.
sad.
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