Updates on Nothing

A few things crossed my mind, which I shall write about... Now.

First, thanks to Smursh for that... lovely review of what I think was The Mummy 3.  Essentially helpful since, really, who wants to see a third Mummy movie when Rachel Weisz isn't in it.  She made the previous movies barely tolerable.

Well, that and the fact that The Mummy Returns poached all sorts of scenes from not only its predecessor, but every movie in the universe, including ET.  (Don't know what I'm talking about?  Netflix it and find out.)

Secondly, in a gentle perusing of the last few months, something caught my eye, which I thought I would use to prod James with, and thus I commence with the blockquotes:

August 27, 2008

TIFH ( epilogue )

Originally this was going to be "Things I Hate" - I even started a new blog to have them all nicely by themselves. Going over the idea I've come to the conclusion that such an act is selfish and self-centered. Why have my own blog when I have this perfectly fine one? What am I trying to do, combat some website like ( 1000awesomethings.com ) ?? of course not.

That and then I would have to setup a new layout and make it look all pretty. Fuck, even the slugs board isn't pretty. Why waste my time trying to make a second website all fancy when this one isn't. Hrmph.

So I've decided to post it here. And I changed the name, it isn't "Things I Hate" now it is "Things I Fuckin' Hate" - Like the total name change? Nobody could have guessed that the first title was actually ever in use because the use of the word "Fuck" makes things edgy and indie. Don't jump to conclusions, that isn't what this first episode of TIFH is about - oh not by a long shot. This is just introductory text.

See, I intend to this either bi-weekly or monthly. Whichever. Maybe around payday (which is bi-weekly) - but I got to thinking about how Jeff always had THE MEGAPOST - and now he has the J2J comics, I never really had a recurring thing to post about (Remember Jimmoi's hotties of the frozen tundra? even he had something serial) - I may have had one at some point, but hell if I could remember what it was. Just me ranting on. I'm good at ranting on, which is why I believe I will be prime for this job as head TIFH writer.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo. What is it going to be about?

ill get to that.

 So far as I can tell, he hasn't "get to that" yet.  So James, with your fancy new camera that I helped you to pick out, via teleconference, GET TO THAT.  You and Jimmy and Zach-0 always had me out there, taking pictures of people or wheelchair-bound people (different category of people), from which you would derive humor.  So now it's your turn to do the same.

Third, jOe.  jOe, jOe, jOe... we haven't heard from you in awhile.  What's going on over at the Macauley Homestead?  Jimmy and I tried to visit you once or twice, but you weren't home or were working, or out raving with your new friends.  Not cool.  We are your friends from high school.  You don't abandon your friends from high school.  It's not right.  I know this because I've done that, and I still feel the guilt of doing so.  You don't want that guilt man, you just don't.  You should come visit the apartment, we'll all play Rockband, or Rockband 2.  Yes, 2!  Or LittleBigPlanet!  Yes, it is fun.  Yes it is both Little and Big at the same time.

I'll give a moment for your mind to finish being boggled.

Fourth, Andy.  Andy who probably doesn't read the board, since unlike some of you, I don't think I have his email address so I can't force posts down his throat.  But perhaps by means of osmosis or something equally scientific-sounding, he will get this message.  Don't be pissed at James anymore, it's a waste of time and resources.  You know he won't change.  He's James.  You have to weather him down with logic and reason, the way the wind and water weather down rocks.

Besides, you were pissed with me once before and during that time, you missed out on some quality stuff we were doing... I'm not really sure what, but it was quality.  QUALITY.  This year, you run the risk of missing out on some HOT SLUGS CAMPING ACTION.

(Where did your mind go with those caps?)

And fifth, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

SMURSH Reveuw Moveee: Thuh Mumee Twooomb of thuh Drahgun Mpurrurr

Mrrrfff helo i an SMURSH!!! lyke moveee tyme fer akshun addventyur en mayhamm gud mrrrofffff smursh luv brenndon phrayshur knot... mrrrfff in geigh weigh lyk mrrrr jimmee lyk sach mrrr hehehe

heheheh

mrrfF?

moveee wuz ozcar wurthee sthearts mrrrfff wit oldar brenndon phrayshur mrrrffff en wifve butt knot wifvee... smursh confooseed fur ahwile mrrrfff she muss bee sekon wifve mrrr he is uh playyer mrrhehehe lyke smursh mrrffff brenndon hawt

mrrrfff then ahshun lyke jimmee cuhms bakk frum thuh dedd mrrrrfff raze ahrmee two fihite mrrrfff ahshuns baad guyz xseppt won hawwttee mrrr smursh do herr al nite lawng mrrr hehehe smursh much stameena for shex mrrffff hfff hfff hfff smursh xcyted.

than smurshs peeple, yetees cuhm two saave brenndon phrayshur mrrrffff bammboo mfffff peetza mrrrff en thay fihite wit evel ahshun drahgun man broose leee en staab hem mrrrfff an brenndons sun nokks up ahshun gerl fer seaqwall

hawt smursh kneed to mrrffff preyevit tyme.

Mild Amount of Huh?

So... welcome Smursh to our board.  Feel free to post your thoughts whenever they might strike your fancy... you might want to make an attempt at clarity in your writing though.

Honestly, I suspect Jimmy or Zach-0 myself... but whatever.

In other thoughts...

I was thinking about something the other day, around Christmas and New Year that I hadn't really shaken from my head.  I got an IM/Phone Text from Andy wishing me a happy Christmas/New Year, which I thought was a nice gesture...

And then I was thinking some more... and I realized... this is what we've all devolved to... it used to be that holidays and such were moments where we took time out to spend time with or at least acknowledge the people we care about (or if you're James, "associate oneself with")... and even if we couldn't be there in person, we'd call or write or send a card with our photo next to a baby or dog or {insert family members}.

I'm not knocking Andy, by the way.  He at least sent out a timely text message to everyone on his phone.  It took me till 11p on Christmas day to send a text to James and Jimmy wishing them a Merry Christmas, so I'm pretty at fault here to.  And I don't deny that.

Hell if I remember if I wished them or anyone else a Happy New Year.

I guess, to get to the point of this thought-line... it occurs to me that I should really work at embracing those people I know/care about, and making a much more concerted effort to acknowledge and "celebrate" those connections - which I know sounds like a lot of "growing up" or "mid-life crisis" talk... but... well there you have it.

It probably comes down to not wanting to hit 55 years old and regret the way I played out my various friendships and connections... so maybe, in at least some regards, it's selfishly motivated.

We'll see if I can move away from texting via phone, and more to interactive conversations with the lot of you... and come summer, another Slugs Camping Trip is in order.

Mrr Inlist Two Fihite Evel Doktor Hellth

Mrrff... worr is cuhming mrrrff two Gram., Doktor Hellth muss bee stawped frum evel hrrfff plann rrfff dawwg bed hummptowne rrhhhhfff.  Eye kneed funnding fer lawyur kneed layzer sharc sitekik mrrrfff fihite agenst Doktor Hellth towpeeka mrrrfff drawp it lyk its hawwght. mrrrffksalkd?  monkee rashe.

Saave thuh Innocenctsz

Mwwrff... the smUrsh meeee.. Sitt on buss to getting arond for
saaveng thuh peeple of my freends.
I haft eyephonez for hieye tekk gaget likke baatman. Mrrrfff donkee
luv.
smUrsh trubbled mrrttt wit wurld dddiirrrff hellp it raze thuh wroof!
Oh persen kneed mrrhhh smUrsh hellp frum mujguger!!

I An SMURSH!!

Mrrffw... helo?  I save u for hellp twinkeys mrrff...

I kneed freendszs for saveing peeple.  Mrfff  Jeffph saes to right here and posst fer werk.

My mysapce is www.myspace.com/smursh  - luv me?!

69?  mrwfhfhehehe... hornee.

Catch-Up

So now there's another year behind us...

Okay, we should all do something again.  I haven't figured out what yet, but I enjoyed the camping over last summer, and I remember there was, at one time, some talk about doing camping during the winter.  (I suspect that James lost his nerve for camping in the cold, probably because of the sheer amount of snow we all ended up with.)

Anyway, this is just a prod, to see if anyone is interested in doing anything in the next few months... and I don't just mean hanging out at someone's place... but having some sort of... "event."

Just a thought.

2009

Happy New Year my fellow Slugs!

.Thought

Just as a quick aside...

I remember once living in Texas... a magical land of cowboys and... cowboys.  And during the winter, when we would get freezing rain and the roads would freeze and cars would go careening into each other and the oft-told story of an old woman slipping on her stairway would peter out through the school and workplaces...

And I remember thinking when I found out that my family was moving to Washington state that I would finally see snow and see an end to people too incompetent to handle snow and ice.

Well... I'm sure you can all see where this is going... so I'm not going to continue.

I'm just going to acknowledge that yes, I have a love-hate relationship with snow.

Spreadin' the Word

Due to random boredom at work - which I squarely lay the blame on the other centers affiliated with the Seattle center, as they never review things in a timely manner - I stumbled across this site called Photonovela, where people upload comics and pictures with captions.  And I looked through them and realized, hey, my comic should be featured here...

If nothing else, then to say that hey, I think my comic is just as good as yours... I mean, go look at the competition.  I think it inspires all of us to put up comics there that rule compared to their current meager offerings.

Here's the LINK: http://www.photonovela.com/index.php

Currently mine is the first on their home-page.  YES!  It is also the revised version of the first issue, in which I made some minor changes, including something James continuously bothered me about on page 9.

Too bad you can't rate comics.

If you know of other comic-hosting sites, please let me know.

For James, For Others

I was reading the paper and came across this bit of news that I figured at the least would affect James on some, possible sub-molecular level.

Betty Page, Queen of Pinups, Dies at 85

Given the historical and social-changes that were wrought as a result of Ms. Page, I can understand the relevance, even if I didn't follow her career with as much intent as James may have.

So there you go, news!  News on the board.

Boggling.

Time to Chase!

Months.  It has been months since the last comic, and some of you (i.e. James) have not let me forget that.  And I said that this is not the same as the "MEGApost," and it isn't.

So after months of diligent and hard work, and many, many distractions, I present to you all, a fun, super-sized edition of the James-2-James comics:

 

And there you have it.  Hopefully the next issue is a little quicker in coming, since I have more of the templates for the new characters built.  We shall see

PX.

While working on a Christmas gift for my mom, I ran across this picture from my archives.

I believe it's James, pre-job, high-school (round one), at the PX. I'm not sure where the blue lab-coat-like thing he's wearing comes from, or what he's doing with the straws, but I'm sure it was from one of those times when I went to pick him and Andy up and play games at the PX arcade. Long fuckin' time ago.

A Post in the Fleeting Moment of Subsided-Pain

I thought I'd take a moment to post while I can functionally look at a computer screen and hit keys in a way that produces viable sentences.

It won't last long, sadly.  I can already feel it coming back.

In any event... was there ever any follow-up to the idea of camping in the winter months?  I wouldn't be able to do it this month, but I could certainly see kicking off a January or February camping event.  Slugs style.

(I don't really know what that means.)

As my pain comes back, I'm reminded of the fact that we really do take this whole information-at-my-fingertips internet-thing for granted.  Yes, I'm aware that probably 80% (statistic made up, though containing a fitting level of irony) of the information on the internet is at least 50% (another made up stat) unfactual, but it is still somewhat relieving and somewhat cathartic that we literally can 'google' just about anything we need to know about quickly in a few moments.

Considering that even ten years ago it wasn't as easy or accessible, and twelve years ago at the best maybe James Andy Collins could do so, and probably only get information from a website that he created about how people in First Aid don't know 'what the shit they are talking about' (rough estimate of his vernacular circa 1996.

But progress and progression is hard to measure when you're walking along with the measurer and his tape measure.  (Sorry ladies, no female historians in this particular whatever-this-is story.)

In any event, I am off to test a theory of clove oil for severe, debilitating tooth pain.  Then maybe I'll whimsically research the merits of purchasing/owning a PS3.  MGS4?  LittleBigPlanet?  We'll see.

And a Happy Thanksgiving to All Slugs... Everywhere.

Yup.  My Thanksgiving Day happiness to you all.  Sorry that I couldn't see any of you - James, I had actually thought of stopping by, but I didn't get the chance to - and I've got a fucking sore throat, so it's probably for the best that I didn't.

However, Saturday or Sunday I might be free and may stop by the apartment to say hello.  Rockband?

And lastly, since I have nothing else of particular interest to blog about today (other than that I saw a few accidents both to and from Tacoma over the past two days, one looking like it was BRUTAL)... I have not posted a recent issue in the last few months.  BUT that is not because I haven't thought of Loose Slugs Comics... I've actually used the comics as a launching point for this:

Yeah.  Suck on that Stephen King.

I considered saying "Michael Crichton" but then realized that it might be too soon.  I got that for writing 50,000 words for my story (which is still not complete, but I did get the 50,000 words) entitled:  "James-2-James:  jOe Origins!"

The fruits of my labor will eventually be placed into the comics.  So there.  Still hard at work.

Turkeys everywhere rejoice, for your day of death is almost over!

STT:3

Hey, guess what... they added a new level to Hell.

It's where you are forced to watch Starship Troopers III, on a HiDef system.  Over and over again.  And again.

Why did ANYBODY pour money into this movie?

I'm pretty sure my vote doesn't count if I don't cast it. Figure it this way Jeff:

There is a V-8 motortrends awesome car engine of the year. It needs to be upgraded to either Hydronic-plus oil, or Turbotransflow oil. You know absolutely nothing on either of these oils - but you have the option to "vote" to decide which one should be used. You, not knowing anything about either - may actually do more harm than good by voting willy-nilly.

The obvious response to this is: "WELL RESEARCH THE TWO OILS TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION" - to which my obvious response is: "I DONT GIVE A FUCK WHAT OIL WE USE, THE ENGINE WILL STILL RUN".

I'm still peeved that we're not working on a 100% republic system with the advent of the internet, but noooo movies like MAN OF THE YEAR ( link ) have to call into question a computer's ability to A L P H A B E T I C A L L Y sort candidate names. YEAH NOBODY TESTS SOFTWARE OF COURSE NOT.

I encourage people NOT to vote. I'd rather have someone who did research and made an informed decision cast a vote than some fucker who decides "ITS MY RIGHT TO VOTE I HAVE A VOICE" - honestly I don't think everyone should have a voice. YOU DO NOT DESERVE THE RIGHT TO THINK FOR YOURSELF.

Everyone gets pissy when I say that. Remember, I advocated totalitarianism in highschool. Dictatorships get shit done. The rights of the many should be sacrificed for the whims of the few. And everyone goes: " you just want to be in control of everything!" - which is poppycock. Look at my education and placement in society. I'd be at the bottom, honey. And. It. Wouldn't. Bother. Me.

And lastly: I hope 'iamcrystal531' is a fake name you made up.
As if it isn't - i'm glad she didn't vote based off screen-name alone.

"My Vote Doesn't Count" Nonsense.

Now I'm sure that I will get someone who doesn't agree with this, and that's fine... differing opinions are what strengthen communities...

Wait, let me qualify that statement:  INTELLIGENT differing opinions strengthen communities.

I was talking to someone not more than a moment ago, and asked them if they voted.  Her response was:

iamcrystal531:  no

no time

doesn't really matter anyway

its a democratic state

presidents have not wone

won because of the popular vote

we all knwo that

stupid electorial system

I'm not going to the argue for or against the electorial system, because I think it has its pros and cons and that's a debate for a different occasion.

What I more take exception to is one, that the idea that any vote won't count, and that the popular vote doesn't count.

So to the first.
Yes, in a stream of millions of votes, one vote will not likely sway any election.  But, as is typical of our independent-single-server focused society, when you look at one vote out of millions, of course it doesn't matter.  But when you look at it in terms of larger groups, larger group dynamics, and statistics, then every vote does count, because you don't get from one to many in a single bound.  It is a quantitative process.

Secondly, when you take the "my vote doesn't count" theory and expand it outward, you run into the dangerous realm of complacency... a death knell for any democracy.  Indifference and complacency are interesting because they can only really crop up in a democracy, and they are two of the biggest factors in the destruction of democracy.  People who live in a totalitarian state (qualifed:  an oppressive, punishment totalitarian state without at least symbolic rights for the masses), usually become interested and unsettled and take action (eventually).  Then they win their "freedoms" and the complacency sets in.  Cyclical.

It's probably inevitable that the US will move toward a less democratic state.  Certainly if trends in complacency continue.  The speed at which that happens... well that's sadly in the hands of individuals referenced above.

To the second premise, that the popular vote doesn't count.  Okay, so technically maybe it doesn't count.  In the strictist of terms, we elect our president based off of the electoral college.  But the one thing that the popular vote can give a president is a "mandate"... a sort of unofficial boost of enthusiasm for the president-elect, at least if the popular vote win has a decent margin.  In effect, is says, "hey, we as the populace give you our blessings to undertake your agenda for the government".

Whether it seems like it or not, that's kind of important.  So much so that our last president claimed a mandate despite a small margin of victory.

In even less obvious terms, the popular vote is great for statisticians and government officials to understand the true way in which the country swings

So yeah, this is a rant, with a basic premise.  Go Fuckin' Vote.  It doesn't matter to me who you vote for... but if you ever want to bitch and moan about something political, then go fuckin' vote.  Even if you don't like ANY of the candidates, you have the option of a fuckin' write in.  So do that.

(If you do the write in, I suggest candidate jOe Macauley - so that I can be the puppet pulling the strings behind that administration.)

CAMPING FOR A WHOLE YEAR EXTRAVAGANZA

So I've been wanting to setup a "BIG CAMPING" event for some time, ever since me-bradbury-jeff-dt-jimmoi went up to that PERFECT place in the mountains (which is nowhere near as far away as I had made out in any sense). I wanted to plot it out for Dec 22 - the first day of winter, however being so close to christmas I doubted anyone would be interested.

Then I got to thinkin' - What about NEW YEARS EVE/NEW YEARS? With most place, people have NEW YEARS EVE off - which is Wednesday. Here's the deal : If you can request the 1st and 2nd off as well, that gives 31st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th - all for camping.

Problem with this is - because of the timeframe the long mountain road up to that place we went to last time won't be available, so I'm thinking of going to dash-point this time. Being that it is practically 2-3 months away, should be able to wade through whatever bullshit registration-reservation nonsense they can throw at me.

The only problem with this is that camping alone is boring. Is anyone else interested in such an excursion? I'll be sending out txt-notifications as well in an attempt at gauging if it would be successful or not - but its really something that could be fun because really - who goes camping for new years?

Long Road of No Posts

Yeah, it has been a little quiet.  Some of that is my fault, undoubtedly.  As it turns out, I've been a little busier than expected for the past few months.  Work, home stuff, and then having my wisdom teeth yanked out of my mouth while consciously sedated...

Here's an interesting revelation:  the sound of teeth being pulled from your face... it's probably very similar to the sound of ripping chicken meat off of the bone, only echoed in your head fifty times the normal sound.  It's at once terribly interesting and terribly scarring.  (At least, I bet it is if you are under the age of 12 - good thing most 12 year olds don't have that to do deal with.)

The nice thing is that the let me keep them.  I may have to post pictures of my teeth.  Then, if I ever disappear, a record can be used to identify my body against other John Doe's.

Otherly, I haven't had the time I wish I had to work on the comic... not that I haven't entirely worked on it (I've been working on many, many photoshop templates for it, just not the actual issues... but one SHOULD be coming by end of October, early November.  -  and fyi, Chris Farley is a bitch to find pictures of online.)

At least, throughout, I have managed to make more time to actually see some of you in person, if I haven't had the chance to post.  Jimmy, DT, Bonnie and James...  one of them, minus James since he wasn't there, should post their thoughts on Choke, since they have all read the book and seen the movie, and I have only read the first few chapters of Choke, but have seen the movie.  (I liked the movie, in short.)

jOe, you should come up and play games with us some time, or invite us down to your place.  You're always busy, and you bastard, you never sound excited to see us.  You and Dave could throw a party, a vast forest-centered bash.  We'd consider coming.  And we have a friend who loves the forests and the trees.  He has a spirit-like connection with them.

Well, that is all for now.  Congrats to jOe, for prompting me to post.