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Cryptid calendar redux
Posted 14 years agoI've been wanting to do a cryptozoology calendar for years now, and I think this year I'm finally going to do it.
Here are my thoughts so far:
1. In order to narrow it down, I am considering only doing N. American cryptids.
2. I want to avoid just covering the classics - Bigfoot, lake monsters, Thunderbird, el chupacabras - but I don't feel I can leave them out entirely. I've considered doing a less well known version, for example the Sarasota skunk ape or the Wisconsin dog-man instead of the classic Sasquatch, or Underwater Wildcat Mishu-pishu instead of the usual Loch Ness type plesiosaur lake monster.
3. I'd like to have exmples of native creatures like the aforementioned Mishu-pishu, shunka warak'in and so on, "fearsome critters" from tall tales, things no one really believes in like the Jersey Devil, snalligaster and Goat Man, and vaguely scientific, sorta believable things like Bigfoot. I'll probably leave out UFO alien things like the Dover demons, or supernatural things like ghosts. I also want to do at least one man-eating plant, which will likely be the Mexican snake tree, because plants are almost completely ignored.
Some of the ones I'm considering are the waheela/shunka warak'in, the ahklut (which I've already drawn once), the piasa "bird" (really more of a manticore dragon), the snalligaster, Goat Man, the Mexican snake tree, the Wampus cat, the cactus cat, the hodag, the squonk, the Jersey Devil (again, I've painted him before), batsquatch, the Lee County lizard man, and the Beast of Bray Road.
Any input is appreciated!
2.21 Updated sketch-a-thon list:
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
Here are my thoughts so far:
1. In order to narrow it down, I am considering only doing N. American cryptids.
2. I want to avoid just covering the classics - Bigfoot, lake monsters, Thunderbird, el chupacabras - but I don't feel I can leave them out entirely. I've considered doing a less well known version, for example the Sarasota skunk ape or the Wisconsin dog-man instead of the classic Sasquatch, or Underwater Wildcat Mishu-pishu instead of the usual Loch Ness type plesiosaur lake monster.
3. I'd like to have exmples of native creatures like the aforementioned Mishu-pishu, shunka warak'in and so on, "fearsome critters" from tall tales, things no one really believes in like the Jersey Devil, snalligaster and Goat Man, and vaguely scientific, sorta believable things like Bigfoot. I'll probably leave out UFO alien things like the Dover demons, or supernatural things like ghosts. I also want to do at least one man-eating plant, which will likely be the Mexican snake tree, because plants are almost completely ignored.
Some of the ones I'm considering are the waheela/shunka warak'in, the ahklut (which I've already drawn once), the piasa "bird" (really more of a manticore dragon), the snalligaster, Goat Man, the Mexican snake tree, the Wampus cat, the cactus cat, the hodag, the squonk, the Jersey Devil (again, I've painted him before), batsquatch, the Lee County lizard man, and the Beast of Bray Road.
Any input is appreciated!
2.21 Updated sketch-a-thon list:
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
*cough*
Posted 14 years agoHey folks,
If you've wondered where I've been, I've been laid out by acute bronchitis and since I have no health insurance, I've been toughing it out. Or rather, moping around the house coughing up chunks of mucus and feeling extremely sorry for myself in the brief periods of lucidity between fever-nightmares. I've also been voiceless due to laryngitis for an epic five days, which I'm sure is a relief to everyone in the general vicinity. I did manage to drag myself into work for a few days last week and was so disgusting and plague-ridden that my boss sent me home rather than have me scare off the customers.
Good times!
Anyways, the flow of art should resume shortly.
If you've wondered where I've been, I've been laid out by acute bronchitis and since I have no health insurance, I've been toughing it out. Or rather, moping around the house coughing up chunks of mucus and feeling extremely sorry for myself in the brief periods of lucidity between fever-nightmares. I've also been voiceless due to laryngitis for an epic five days, which I'm sure is a relief to everyone in the general vicinity. I did manage to drag myself into work for a few days last week and was so disgusting and plague-ridden that my boss sent me home rather than have me scare off the customers.
Good times!
Anyways, the flow of art should resume shortly.
Meatloaf
Posted 14 years agoMom is out of surgery and doing fine; I'm starting a cold or something but feeling better otherwise. Stress, it kills ya.
No arts tonight because of nurse duty, but I'll share my recipe for Perfect Meatloaf for my fellow carnivores. Even if you can't cook you can make this, I swear.
Stuff you need:
1 package of ground beef (get the 94% lean kind)
1 egg
olive oil
unseasoned bread crumbs OR smashed up unsalted crackers
BBQ sauce (I use Hunt's original or A-1)
various spices and additives
a couple of slices of white bread
Preheat the oven to 350f. Defrost the meat by either submerging the still-wrapped package in cold water or in the microwave by nuking it for a few minutes at a time, scraping the melted meat off into a big mixing bowl, and then continuing to nuke the meatsicle.
Beat the raw egg and mix it with a few capfuls of olive oil and a generous squirt of barbeque sauce. Squish it into the meat and mix it up well (pretend it's clay!), then add in the bread crumbs or smashed up crackers and keep mixing. Now you get to be creative. You can just go with salt and pepper, or you can add all sorts of fun stuff like rosemary, bacon bits, olives, garlic powder, marinara sauce, some dried onion soup mix, tomato sauce, grated carrots, asparagus, dry ranch dressing mix, finely chopped mushrooms, hot pepper sauce . . . not ALL of this stuff at once, but whatever you like according to your tastes. It's hard to ruin meatloaf.
Shape the mess you just made into a loaf shape. Line your pan with foil, and then a layer of white bread to soak up the drippings (you don't eat this, but you can give it to your dog or something). Cook for an hour.
Peel some white or sweet/vidalia onions and chop them into rings.
Wash off some button mushrooms, snap off and throw out the stems, and slice the caps into about 4 pieces. Put them into a frying pan coated with olive oil and a little butter and cook them on medium heat until the mushrooms are browned and the onions are soft. Top the meatloaf with them and you're good to go.
You're welcome.
No arts tonight because of nurse duty, but I'll share my recipe for Perfect Meatloaf for my fellow carnivores. Even if you can't cook you can make this, I swear.
Stuff you need:
1 package of ground beef (get the 94% lean kind)
1 egg
olive oil
unseasoned bread crumbs OR smashed up unsalted crackers
BBQ sauce (I use Hunt's original or A-1)
various spices and additives
a couple of slices of white bread
Preheat the oven to 350f. Defrost the meat by either submerging the still-wrapped package in cold water or in the microwave by nuking it for a few minutes at a time, scraping the melted meat off into a big mixing bowl, and then continuing to nuke the meatsicle.
Beat the raw egg and mix it with a few capfuls of olive oil and a generous squirt of barbeque sauce. Squish it into the meat and mix it up well (pretend it's clay!), then add in the bread crumbs or smashed up crackers and keep mixing. Now you get to be creative. You can just go with salt and pepper, or you can add all sorts of fun stuff like rosemary, bacon bits, olives, garlic powder, marinara sauce, some dried onion soup mix, tomato sauce, grated carrots, asparagus, dry ranch dressing mix, finely chopped mushrooms, hot pepper sauce . . . not ALL of this stuff at once, but whatever you like according to your tastes. It's hard to ruin meatloaf.
Shape the mess you just made into a loaf shape. Line your pan with foil, and then a layer of white bread to soak up the drippings (you don't eat this, but you can give it to your dog or something). Cook for an hour.
Peel some white or sweet/vidalia onions and chop them into rings.
Wash off some button mushrooms, snap off and throw out the stems, and slice the caps into about 4 pieces. Put them into a frying pan coated with olive oil and a little butter and cook them on medium heat until the mushrooms are browned and the onions are soft. Top the meatloaf with them and you're good to go.
You're welcome.
Shat on by Snowzilla
Posted 14 years agoExicitng day yesterday - we got slammed with that particular kind of wet, sticky snow that brings down power lines and is awful to drive in. I was at work, of course, and realizing the bus would likely never show up, I offered to stay and help close if the manager on duty, the only other person there, would give me a ride home. Three and a half inches fell in about 2 hours, and it was blowing blizzard-style.
The manager said a long, complicated, fervent prayer while we waited for her car to warm up, I don't believe in that, of course, but I *do* believe in the magic feather effect, so if she thought asking god to send angels to keep us from skidding off the road would help her, I was perfectly happy to bow my head and sit quietly. It was a predictably godawful drive - took almost 4o minutes to go a few miles and I began to feel bad having asked her to go out of her way, so I had her let me off near my house so she could go on home, and I walked the rest of the way.
You know those jokes about walking uphill in the snow? Not so funny when you have to do it, and walking into the wind, of course, so I looked like I'd done a face plant into frosting by the time I got home. In that short stretch I saw two cars skid into each other (mild bumps, no one hurt) and I almost got hit crossing the street when an ambulance started to slide back down the hill! Lost power a few times when I got home, too.
And now I'm at my parents house as mom is going into surgery for what should be the last time tomorrow, and I'm tasked with making sure my brother doesn't burn down the house, keeping her retarddog from peeing everywhere, cooking dinner, etc. Fun times.
Also I'm having a bit of personal meltdown so I might be out of touch for a few days, just fyi in case anyone cares.
The manager said a long, complicated, fervent prayer while we waited for her car to warm up, I don't believe in that, of course, but I *do* believe in the magic feather effect, so if she thought asking god to send angels to keep us from skidding off the road would help her, I was perfectly happy to bow my head and sit quietly. It was a predictably godawful drive - took almost 4o minutes to go a few miles and I began to feel bad having asked her to go out of her way, so I had her let me off near my house so she could go on home, and I walked the rest of the way.
You know those jokes about walking uphill in the snow? Not so funny when you have to do it, and walking into the wind, of course, so I looked like I'd done a face plant into frosting by the time I got home. In that short stretch I saw two cars skid into each other (mild bumps, no one hurt) and I almost got hit crossing the street when an ambulance started to slide back down the hill! Lost power a few times when I got home, too.
And now I'm at my parents house as mom is going into surgery for what should be the last time tomorrow, and I'm tasked with making sure my brother doesn't burn down the house, keeping her retarddog from peeing everywhere, cooking dinner, etc. Fun times.
Also I'm having a bit of personal meltdown so I might be out of touch for a few days, just fyi in case anyone cares.
January was full of eels and hovecrafts
Posted 15 years agoI haven't written a journal in weeks. It's not that there hasn't been stuff going on, but I've been so busy. This is what's happening:
Finished the cover for "Ratha's Creature" by
Rathacat.
This is a book I've loved since I was a kid, and the last publisher's artist was very good, so it was very stressful trying to come up with something worthy of it. I'm pretty happy with it, and the reactions seem to be very positive so far.
Had a short story published in "Different Worlds, Different Skins vol.2".
I don't write as much as I used to, or want to (and that makes me sad) so it was nice to be reassured I haven't become *too* rusty. It's a longer, better edited version of the murder mystery starring a genetically engineered K9 cop, which is pretty damn silly, but fun to write. Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Different-Wor.....334&sr=8-1
I haven't read any of the other stories in it because my sisters swiped my copy to read, then left it at my parents' house, but I'm sure they're also swell.
I'm going to give lessons on how to make stuffed anthro critters at plush-class.livejournal.com, probably starting next month. There isn't anything there yet, but feel free to add it; I'll keep mentioning it here. This is going to be basic, basic, basic, we're going to begin at the absolute no-nothing beginning so even if you've never done anything artsy-crafty you'll be able to follow along just fine.
Also this thing: http://us.akinator.com/#
IS MAGIC. Seriously. I thought I would stump it and every damn time it guessed right. Creepy.
1.22.11 Updated sketch-a-thon list:
Murrahnithahn-i-ia Demonwolf Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash Isabella_Price Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J Moatsquirrel Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara Asiri Arctfox Kasar
No, I ain't doing these any more! Sorry . . . still open for commishes, though. And the music still rocks, so check it out! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
Finished the cover for "Ratha's Creature" by
Rathacat.This is a book I've loved since I was a kid, and the last publisher's artist was very good, so it was very stressful trying to come up with something worthy of it. I'm pretty happy with it, and the reactions seem to be very positive so far.
Had a short story published in "Different Worlds, Different Skins vol.2".
I don't write as much as I used to, or want to (and that makes me sad) so it was nice to be reassured I haven't become *too* rusty. It's a longer, better edited version of the murder mystery starring a genetically engineered K9 cop, which is pretty damn silly, but fun to write. Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Different-Wor.....334&sr=8-1
I haven't read any of the other stories in it because my sisters swiped my copy to read, then left it at my parents' house, but I'm sure they're also swell.
I'm going to give lessons on how to make stuffed anthro critters at plush-class.livejournal.com, probably starting next month. There isn't anything there yet, but feel free to add it; I'll keep mentioning it here. This is going to be basic, basic, basic, we're going to begin at the absolute no-nothing beginning so even if you've never done anything artsy-crafty you'll be able to follow along just fine.
Also this thing: http://us.akinator.com/#
IS MAGIC. Seriously. I thought I would stump it and every damn time it guessed right. Creepy.
1.22.11 Updated sketch-a-thon list:
Murrahnithahn-i-ia Demonwolf Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash Isabella_Price Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J Moatsquirrel Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara Asiri Arctfox Kasar
No, I ain't doing these any more! Sorry . . . still open for commishes, though. And the music still rocks, so check it out! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
Sketch queue
Posted 15 years agoNot that anyone cares, but I've been busy with the new job and the latest book cover, so the sketches have slowed down a bit. They'll get done, though, no worries.
1.22.11 Updated sketch-a-thon list:
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Mixnmatch
Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash
Isabella_Price
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara
Asiri
Arctfox
Kasar
No, I ain't doing these any more! Sorry . . . still open for commishes, though. And the music still rocks, so check it out! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
1.22.11 Updated sketch-a-thon list:
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Mixnmatch
Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash
Isabella_Price
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara
Asiri
Arctfox
Kasar
No, I ain't doing these any more! Sorry . . . still open for commishes, though. And the music still rocks, so check it out! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
Draw more, draw less, draw better
Posted 15 years agoI don't particularly want to do the critique meme that's going around, but if anyone wants to take the opportunity go for it. Keep in mind people telling me to draw less werewolves will likely be disappointed.
Best news ever, or worst?
Posted 15 years agohttp://www.dreadcentral.com/news/41.....ristmas-sequel
So . . . a sequel to Nightmare Before Xmas?
I know, I know, it's a trendy thing to like right now, but I'm one of those old geezers who's loved it since it first came out and no amount of squealing Hot Topic-wearing fangirls can shame me into not liking it, so there.
I dunno, as much as I'm filled with dread that a sequel would be inferior, and as much as the movie is a perfect entity as it stands, there is a very excited (even greedy) part of me that is going batshit with joy at the thought of more.
So . . . a sequel to Nightmare Before Xmas?
I know, I know, it's a trendy thing to like right now, but I'm one of those old geezers who's loved it since it first came out and no amount of squealing Hot Topic-wearing fangirls can shame me into not liking it, so there.
I dunno, as much as I'm filled with dread that a sequel would be inferior, and as much as the movie is a perfect entity as it stands, there is a very excited (even greedy) part of me that is going batshit with joy at the thought of more.
Strident Sketch-a-Thon queue UPDATE
Posted 15 years agoApparently FA devoured the comments in the last journal, so if you gave me a ref in the comments, note me instead.
These are the people I have references for. If you shouted and don't see your name here, you didn't send me a reference! No reffie, no sketchie.
Also note, these aren't in any particular order. I'm drawing them in whatever order I feel inspired.
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Cero_I
Mixnmatch
ShadowRavenX
Eros_the-Sinful
Khisa
Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash
Semni
Lonesome_Wolfe
Isabella_Price
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara
Asiri
Velux
Arctfox
ArpegiusWolf
NachT_SS
Klover_z
Listen to what you're promoting here! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
These are the people I have references for. If you shouted and don't see your name here, you didn't send me a reference! No reffie, no sketchie.
Also note, these aren't in any particular order. I'm drawing them in whatever order I feel inspired.
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Cero_I
Mixnmatch
ShadowRavenX
Eros_the-Sinful
Khisa
Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash
Semni
Lonesome_Wolfe
Isabella_Price
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara
Asiri
Velux
Arctfox
ArpegiusWolf
NachT_SS
Klover_z
Listen to what you're promoting here! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
Strident Sketch-a-Thon queue
Posted 15 years agoThese are the people I have references for. If you shouted and don't see your name here, you didn't send me a reference! No reffie, no sketchie.
Also note, these aren't in any particular order. I'm drawing them in whatever order I feel inspired.
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Cero_I
Mixnmatch
ShadowRavenX
Eros_the-Sinful
Khisa
Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash
Semni
Lonesome_Wolfe
Isabella_Price
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara
Asiri
Velux
Arctfox
ArpegiusWolf
NachT_SS
Klover_z
Listen to what you're promoting here! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
Also note, these aren't in any particular order. I'm drawing them in whatever order I feel inspired.
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Demonwolf
Cero_I
Mixnmatch
ShadowRavenX
Eros_the-Sinful
Khisa
Summoner-of-Tales
Kriscrash
Semni
Lonesome_Wolfe
Isabella_Price
Mirabelle0
Dr_Nathaniel_J
Moatsquirrel
Lady_Moonpelt
Tiomara
Asiri
Velux
Arctfox
ArpegiusWolf
NachT_SS
Klover_z
Listen to what you're promoting here! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
Everyone's Favorite Topic
Posted 15 years agoOK folks, tell me which Xmas songs make you want to take an ice pick to the forebrain. Fellow retail wage slaves have been listening to the same dang songs since before turkey day. Air your grievances.
Here's my list:
The Madonna version of Santa Baby where she sounds like Betty Boop. I love the Eartha Kitt version, which is playful and sardonic, but the Madonna one is pure auditory torture.
Do They Know it's Christmas by a bunch of fat, rich British guys. It's not the drippy sentiment - that condemns most all xmas songs - it's the FACTUAL ERRORS which are as follows:
1. "Do they know it's Christmas?" No, because THEY'RE NOT ALL CHRISTIAN. They don't care.
2. "There's no snow in Africa" Hello, ever hear of the snows of Kilimanjaro? Not all of Africa is veldt, it's a big fucking continent with a lot of climate variance.
3. If it were snowing, that would be really fucking weird because it's SUMMER there.
Sleigh Ride. If I have to hear those cursed chestnuts pop pop pop one more time, I'm going to go on a killing spree.
There's also the Christmas Shoes, but I actually don't mind this one so much because I enjoy listening to my sister's frothing, venom-dripping rant about how much she loathes this song whenever it comes on the radio. And this is the gal who listens to bluegrass music on purpose.
Here's my list:
The Madonna version of Santa Baby where she sounds like Betty Boop. I love the Eartha Kitt version, which is playful and sardonic, but the Madonna one is pure auditory torture.
Do They Know it's Christmas by a bunch of fat, rich British guys. It's not the drippy sentiment - that condemns most all xmas songs - it's the FACTUAL ERRORS which are as follows:
1. "Do they know it's Christmas?" No, because THEY'RE NOT ALL CHRISTIAN. They don't care.
2. "There's no snow in Africa" Hello, ever hear of the snows of Kilimanjaro? Not all of Africa is veldt, it's a big fucking continent with a lot of climate variance.
3. If it were snowing, that would be really fucking weird because it's SUMMER there.
Sleigh Ride. If I have to hear those cursed chestnuts pop pop pop one more time, I'm going to go on a killing spree.
There's also the Christmas Shoes, but I actually don't mind this one so much because I enjoy listening to my sister's frothing, venom-dripping rant about how much she loathes this song whenever it comes on the radio. And this is the gal who listens to bluegrass music on purpose.
Mascot
Posted 15 years ago
darkartfurs is running a mascot contest that ends on the 31st - just a head's up if you're interested. Also, FA has been extremely hard to log into the past few days, so people who are noting me for Sketch-a-Thon stuff should probably send a copy to Skeldrake on DA just to be certain I can access it.
Head's up: Sketch-a-Thon
Posted 15 years agoI'm having a good hard think about whether to remain here or not. Since there are people owed commission and sketch-a-thon art, I don't want to bampf. For a band-aid solution, I've created a new DA account to deal just with the furry stuff: http://skeldrake.deviantart.com/
. . . until I decide what I'm going to do. I'm a little too angry to think straight (and also running a slight fever) so nothing has been set in stone. Keep checking back here if you care, my luvs. :)
You can also reach me at tatterfoal.livejournal.com, and read long boring posts about my boring life, if all the paint has dried.
. . . until I decide what I'm going to do. I'm a little too angry to think straight (and also running a slight fever) so nothing has been set in stone. Keep checking back here if you care, my luvs. :)
You can also reach me at tatterfoal.livejournal.com, and read long boring posts about my boring life, if all the paint has dried.
Whuh?
Posted 15 years agoSeriously, I pull a long shift at work, come home, and all of a sudden there are a million journals tap dancing around some kind of drama, people making very sure everyone knows they're above the drama by not being specific (but referring to it anyways).
WHAT DID I MISS?
WHAT DID I MISS?
Free sketch? Oh yes, but there's a catch.
Posted 15 years agoGot a Facebook page? Want a sketch?
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?e.....30&index=1
Rammstein is looking for opening bands for the S. Africa tour. Leave a message on their wall that says STRIDENT!!!!! and send me a screengrab or something so I know who you are.
Who is Strident? My best guy's band! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
They are quite amazingly awesome and face-melty, and I'd like to tip the odds in their favor. I've always wanted an army of evil minions to do my bidding, and I'm not above bribes. Let's see how this works.
Note me screengrabs/requests. I'll post a list later to keep track of y'all.
EDIT These are the folks who noted me, but didn't include a ref . . . if I don't know what to draw for you, you may just get a tyrannosaur in a fedora or something.
Mixnmatch
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?e.....30&index=1
Rammstein is looking for opening bands for the S. Africa tour. Leave a message on their wall that says STRIDENT!!!!! and send me a screengrab or something so I know who you are.
Who is Strident? My best guy's band! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strident/8921914983
They are quite amazingly awesome and face-melty, and I'd like to tip the odds in their favor. I've always wanted an army of evil minions to do my bidding, and I'm not above bribes. Let's see how this works.
Note me screengrabs/requests. I'll post a list later to keep track of y'all.
EDIT These are the folks who noted me, but didn't include a ref . . . if I don't know what to draw for you, you may just get a tyrannosaur in a fedora or something.
Mixnmatch
Murrahnithahn-i-ia
This is pretty impressive
Posted 15 years agoSomeone taught a lion to play the keytar!
Also, why is Skwisgaar on drums?!?
In other news, SNOW DAY!
Also, why is Skwisgaar on drums?!?
In other news, SNOW DAY!
Castle Waiting
Posted 15 years agoOk, there's a lot of people who watch this, at least a few who read the journals. Does anyone else read it?!?
I just burned through the second bound volume. I want to have deep meaningful discussions concerning it.
I just burned through the second bound volume. I want to have deep meaningful discussions concerning it.
Tagged
Posted 15 years ago . . . by 
balitiger23 who requested Gryn.
Nothing like a meme to kill time while waiting for a computer to grind through some batch photo processing.
1.) What's the name of your character?
Peregryne Stillmeadow, aka Gryn.
2.) Tell us about your character.
Gryn is a sylvan satyr who grew up during the big human/aelvian war (although there were a lot of satyrs on the ‘human’ side). He started out as a kid, carrying messages, and eventually worked as a spy, scout, and saboteur. His homeland was destroyed during the war, and after it was over he was left bitter and adrift. He scraped by as a so-called wilderness scout, actually operating a sort of underground railroad escorting folks out of the human territories, through the monster-infested wilderness into the wild lands to the west, something he did not for any emotional reason except the love of profit. Until his entire world crashed down around him - friends killed, home burned to the ground with all his money and possessions inside - and he found himself saddled with a pair of very unusual clients.
3.) How did you make your character up?
It was a long long long and probably very boring process of evolution. It's like starting with a vague, fuzzy image and adjusting the focus.
4.) Is it easy drawing your character?
Christ, NO. He's piebald, it's impossible to draw the pale spots the same way twice, and so I usually tend to simplify them. Sometimes I kick myself for doing it, although there is an in-story thematic reason for him to look that way. And I can't remember which eye is blue and which is hazel without looking at a cheat sheet.
5.) When did you make your character up?
A couple of years ago, he grew out of some ideas I was tossing around to set in Caranoctia and kind of show off its major points of interest.
6.) What inspiration(s) brought your character to life?
I can't think of many direct ones. Vincent Rubio in Eric Garcia's "Anonymous Rex" series might be one, and Sam Rockwell has played a couple of characters that gave me someone to mentally picture/hear when writing.
7.) Is your character dear to you? If so, how come?
Most of my characters are. When you live in someone's head so deeply and for so long, you can't help but love them a little. And of course any author's characters are aspects of themselves, and we're all egomaniacs.
8.) If you were forced to compare your character to another, who would you compare him/her/it to?
Out of my characters, probably Sheridan Vernet from the vampire/werewolf universe. Vernet has a lot more arrogance (and style), and he is irredeemably vicious while Gryn is just disillusioned and depressed, however both of them are forced out of their comfort zone and find themselves caring for a person they would normally never have given a second thought about, and grow as a 'person' as a result. Gryn finally shucks off his emotional armor and becomes more like the person he would have been without the trauma in his past; Vernet is more like an affectionate, half-domesticated wildcat that will rub up on you one minute but gouge you with its claws at a whim.
9.) Is your character related to you in any way? Personality? Problems? Traits?
We're both cynical, and stubborn, and do a lot of grousing about things we can't change. We both tend to get obsessed with money, because without a safety net we feel secure. We're homebodies at heart. We're both kind of funny looking. We both found lurve in unexpected places long after having given up. We're both extremely fierce and completely unreasonable when the people we love are threatened.
10.) If your character came to life, what would you do?
Be very surprised? Seeing as how satyrs don't exist. I think we'd get along well, if it were the more mature Gryn from the end of the book. We would have an interesting conversation over dinner.
11.) Is your character a hero or a villain? How do you see them as?
I guess heroic, but yeah, I don't like to write purely good/evil characters. He starts the book as an unpleasant person - morose, sarcastic, cold - but he has a sucky past so his assholish attitude is understandable. He matures through the story, finds love, family, a home and a goal in life, which is swell for him, but other people in the world might not see it as heroic. His love, and child, are members of a species bred to be assassins during the war; Caranoctia is already infested with leftover monsters, and Gryn, in protecting his family, is fostering a race of carnivores which don't really belong in the ecology of that world, and might someday pose a real threat to other peoples. He knows that, and it's a tough choice for him to make. Is it the right choice? Who can say . . .
12.) Is your character a part of any particular story you made up?
Oh yes, he has a very detailed plotline. Obsessive detail, it's my forte.
13.) What song/movie/book/play do you think of when you imagine your character?
I usually come across a theme song for characters, but I haven't for Caranoctia, I think because it takes place in a world that's so different no songs really seem relevant. For the city parts I'd score it with early Tom Waits, for the wilderness something driving, epic, loopy and exciting, power metal or a Danny Elfman score, for the tender scenes . . . I dunno - I don't listen to romantic music!
14.) Would your character do well if him/her/it had his/her/its own book or film?
I'd like to think so, but that's probably wishful thinking.
15.) Make up your own question.
No, I suck at that. Also, I don't tag people, if you wanna do it, do it.
balitiger23 who requested Gryn.Nothing like a meme to kill time while waiting for a computer to grind through some batch photo processing.
1.) What's the name of your character?
Peregryne Stillmeadow, aka Gryn.
2.) Tell us about your character.
Gryn is a sylvan satyr who grew up during the big human/aelvian war (although there were a lot of satyrs on the ‘human’ side). He started out as a kid, carrying messages, and eventually worked as a spy, scout, and saboteur. His homeland was destroyed during the war, and after it was over he was left bitter and adrift. He scraped by as a so-called wilderness scout, actually operating a sort of underground railroad escorting folks out of the human territories, through the monster-infested wilderness into the wild lands to the west, something he did not for any emotional reason except the love of profit. Until his entire world crashed down around him - friends killed, home burned to the ground with all his money and possessions inside - and he found himself saddled with a pair of very unusual clients.
3.) How did you make your character up?
It was a long long long and probably very boring process of evolution. It's like starting with a vague, fuzzy image and adjusting the focus.
4.) Is it easy drawing your character?
Christ, NO. He's piebald, it's impossible to draw the pale spots the same way twice, and so I usually tend to simplify them. Sometimes I kick myself for doing it, although there is an in-story thematic reason for him to look that way. And I can't remember which eye is blue and which is hazel without looking at a cheat sheet.
5.) When did you make your character up?
A couple of years ago, he grew out of some ideas I was tossing around to set in Caranoctia and kind of show off its major points of interest.
6.) What inspiration(s) brought your character to life?
I can't think of many direct ones. Vincent Rubio in Eric Garcia's "Anonymous Rex" series might be one, and Sam Rockwell has played a couple of characters that gave me someone to mentally picture/hear when writing.
7.) Is your character dear to you? If so, how come?
Most of my characters are. When you live in someone's head so deeply and for so long, you can't help but love them a little. And of course any author's characters are aspects of themselves, and we're all egomaniacs.
8.) If you were forced to compare your character to another, who would you compare him/her/it to?
Out of my characters, probably Sheridan Vernet from the vampire/werewolf universe. Vernet has a lot more arrogance (and style), and he is irredeemably vicious while Gryn is just disillusioned and depressed, however both of them are forced out of their comfort zone and find themselves caring for a person they would normally never have given a second thought about, and grow as a 'person' as a result. Gryn finally shucks off his emotional armor and becomes more like the person he would have been without the trauma in his past; Vernet is more like an affectionate, half-domesticated wildcat that will rub up on you one minute but gouge you with its claws at a whim.
9.) Is your character related to you in any way? Personality? Problems? Traits?
We're both cynical, and stubborn, and do a lot of grousing about things we can't change. We both tend to get obsessed with money, because without a safety net we feel secure. We're homebodies at heart. We're both kind of funny looking. We both found lurve in unexpected places long after having given up. We're both extremely fierce and completely unreasonable when the people we love are threatened.
10.) If your character came to life, what would you do?
Be very surprised? Seeing as how satyrs don't exist. I think we'd get along well, if it were the more mature Gryn from the end of the book. We would have an interesting conversation over dinner.
11.) Is your character a hero or a villain? How do you see them as?
I guess heroic, but yeah, I don't like to write purely good/evil characters. He starts the book as an unpleasant person - morose, sarcastic, cold - but he has a sucky past so his assholish attitude is understandable. He matures through the story, finds love, family, a home and a goal in life, which is swell for him, but other people in the world might not see it as heroic. His love, and child, are members of a species bred to be assassins during the war; Caranoctia is already infested with leftover monsters, and Gryn, in protecting his family, is fostering a race of carnivores which don't really belong in the ecology of that world, and might someday pose a real threat to other peoples. He knows that, and it's a tough choice for him to make. Is it the right choice? Who can say . . .
12.) Is your character a part of any particular story you made up?
Oh yes, he has a very detailed plotline. Obsessive detail, it's my forte.
13.) What song/movie/book/play do you think of when you imagine your character?
I usually come across a theme song for characters, but I haven't for Caranoctia, I think because it takes place in a world that's so different no songs really seem relevant. For the city parts I'd score it with early Tom Waits, for the wilderness something driving, epic, loopy and exciting, power metal or a Danny Elfman score, for the tender scenes . . . I dunno - I don't listen to romantic music!
14.) Would your character do well if him/her/it had his/her/its own book or film?
I'd like to think so, but that's probably wishful thinking.
15.) Make up your own question.
No, I suck at that. Also, I don't tag people, if you wanna do it, do it.
Disappoint
Posted 15 years agoThis is a surprise-buttsex-my-childhood whiny nerd post. You have been warned.
I think just about everyone, even people who've never seen it, can agree Back to the Future is one of the greatest movies ever made. Even with all the time travel paradoxes and goofs and stupid stuff that if you think too hard about it, it'll break your brain. I've been in love with it for 25 years, so I get slightly possessive. I heard they were making a video game of it, and thought that could be a lot of fun. Then I see this.
http://thedailywh.at/post/208298265.....#disqus_thread
Not to be all Complainy McBitchypants here, and I've admitted I'm not much of a video-game player. But am I wrong in thinking those graphics look really good for 1997? Kind of Goldeneye on the N64? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is actually good, and it looks bad cause I'm not used to games. Or this is a trailer and it'll look better when it's done. Maybe it's on purpose, Marty goes into the future and all of a sudden they get awesome, and back into the past and you play pong on an oscilloscope.
EDIT: Apparently that's as good as it gets . . . welp, like I said, I know nothing about games.
What really burns me is that is NOT Michael J. Fox, and not Crispin Glover by a loooooooong stretch. Shit, *I* can do a better Glover impression than that, or hire this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGlqKP_b-Cc
OR ACTUALLY HIRE THE REAL ACTORS. Ya know? Mr. Fox is bad off, but he's not dead yet and he still sounds pretty much the same. And Mr. Glover has made up with with Zemeckis for being screwed out of his paycheck, and has been doing a lot of VA work to fund his own movies, so yeah. Crap in a hat.
I know it sounds like I'm getting way too worked up; I'm not, really, not sitting here with froth dripping onto the keyboard as I type. Like i said, I don't play games. I'll never play this one. It just makes me kind of sad that here's an opportunity, and it could have been so much better.
I think just about everyone, even people who've never seen it, can agree Back to the Future is one of the greatest movies ever made. Even with all the time travel paradoxes and goofs and stupid stuff that if you think too hard about it, it'll break your brain. I've been in love with it for 25 years, so I get slightly possessive. I heard they were making a video game of it, and thought that could be a lot of fun. Then I see this.
http://thedailywh.at/post/208298265.....#disqus_thread
Not to be all Complainy McBitchypants here, and I've admitted I'm not much of a video-game player. But am I wrong in thinking those graphics look really good for 1997? Kind of Goldeneye on the N64? Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is actually good, and it looks bad cause I'm not used to games. Or this is a trailer and it'll look better when it's done. Maybe it's on purpose, Marty goes into the future and all of a sudden they get awesome, and back into the past and you play pong on an oscilloscope.
EDIT: Apparently that's as good as it gets . . . welp, like I said, I know nothing about games.
What really burns me is that is NOT Michael J. Fox, and not Crispin Glover by a loooooooong stretch. Shit, *I* can do a better Glover impression than that, or hire this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGlqKP_b-Cc
OR ACTUALLY HIRE THE REAL ACTORS. Ya know? Mr. Fox is bad off, but he's not dead yet and he still sounds pretty much the same. And Mr. Glover has made up with with Zemeckis for being screwed out of his paycheck, and has been doing a lot of VA work to fund his own movies, so yeah. Crap in a hat.
I know it sounds like I'm getting way too worked up; I'm not, really, not sitting here with froth dripping onto the keyboard as I type. Like i said, I don't play games. I'll never play this one. It just makes me kind of sad that here's an opportunity, and it could have been so much better.
Aliens on Earth (edit: nope)
Posted 15 years agohttp://gizmodo.com/5704158/nasa-finds-new-life
There aren't words to describe how incredible this is, if it is true. Basically, EVERY life form we knew of before was related, we all descend from the same original replicating molecule. These things are possibly the result of a distinct biogenesis, not related to anything else on Earth . . . or possibly it came from somewhere else.
EDIT: Nevermind, now that the announcement is out they're saying this is a critter who evolved from normal, non-arsenic using bacteria.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-e.....nment-11886943
There aren't words to describe how incredible this is, if it is true. Basically, EVERY life form we knew of before was related, we all descend from the same original replicating molecule. These things are possibly the result of a distinct biogenesis, not related to anything else on Earth . . . or possibly it came from somewhere else.
EDIT: Nevermind, now that the announcement is out they're saying this is a critter who evolved from normal, non-arsenic using bacteria.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-e.....nment-11886943
No child on the planet will get the joke
Posted 15 years agoAnd that is beautiful.
Yes, that's Harlan Ellison playing himself on Scooby Doo. Dammit, maybe I'm going to have to start watching this. And Jeffrey Combs as "H. P. Hatecraft" . . . and they're dissing fans.
LOVE IT.
Yes, that's Harlan Ellison playing himself on Scooby Doo. Dammit, maybe I'm going to have to start watching this. And Jeffrey Combs as "H. P. Hatecraft" . . . and they're dissing fans.
LOVE IT.
RIP
Posted 15 years agoLeslie Nielsen. Sis just called me with the news (she didn't realize I was already in bed). So now I'm up, and sad. Gonna go watch "Forbidden Planet", maybe - good times. *sigh*
Orangina, at it again
Posted 15 years agohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlKDu_XtG_I
Also, thanks, young folks, for the video game help! Now get off my lawn.
Also, thanks, young folks, for the video game help! Now get off my lawn.
Help me, younger generation with video game knowledge!
Posted 15 years agoMy much-younger brother wants stuff for his Wii for xmas. I know nothing about any game system newer than the N64 (my interest in games ended after Tetris). Two questions.
First one is easy. He wants someone else to be able to play with him. What do I need to buy - remote, nunchuck, or both?
Second is an essay question. Recommend me a game or two. He seems to prefer the games where you can just run around doing whatever you want as opposed to the ones with a strict storyline you have to follow. He also likes Mario.
First one is easy. He wants someone else to be able to play with him. What do I need to buy - remote, nunchuck, or both?
Second is an essay question. Recommend me a game or two. He seems to prefer the games where you can just run around doing whatever you want as opposed to the ones with a strict storyline you have to follow. He also likes Mario.
xmas came early
Posted 15 years agoYou know what I'm talking about . . . although it's sad it took capitalism and not moral rectitude to prompt policy change.
