This week I picked up a whole slough (slew?) of Powers (vol 3-6, I already had 1 & 2) graphic novels at Pulp Fiction. RX Comics (also on Main St) sells graphic novels (and new comics) at the price in Canadian that it says on the book in US (So, if the book is listed at $19 Cdn and $13 US, you pay $13 Cdn) which is usually a really good deal, but the price at Pulp was even better, so I scooped them up, bringing in bags full of books every day hoping that the Powers GNs would still be there – and they were. RX is a decent comic store, if cluttered, but they have the annoying habit of having Chatty Jacks blocking the “counter” and they don’t generate proper receipts (if I’m going to create a comic book, you can bet your mutie genes that I’ll be writing these off).
Buycycle
Stop me if youve heard this one. So last month my bikes back tire went all wobbly on me, to the point where I couldnt ride it. I took it in to Cyclepath and they fixed it on the spot in about 15 minutes. They had to point out to me that a bunch of my spokes were broken. For some made-up reason they charged me an extra $40 to replace a piece of hardware on the wheel because mine was too old and not compatible with their tools to properly get the wheel on and off. So I ended up paying $70 and change to get the rear tire replace. Now, about a month later, my wheel is rubbing against the prongs which is causing me much dismay. I am trying to go over in my head exactly what I am going to say to try to get this repaired at minimal extra cost.
Me: Do you guys have any kind of warranty on parts or labour?
Them: icy stare
Me: Because I brought this in last week and its already broken again.
Them: You did it.
Well I havent been taking it off road or anything. Why would I not have any problems for over a year, and then suddenly it breaks again 4 weeks after you guys fix it?
Well it broke 4 weeks ago, didnt it?
You know what I mean, (you extortionists).
Did you buy the cheapest wheel possible?
Yes. Are you implying that I should have expected to come back in a month because of it?
Its your fault.
Well maybe Ill just take my business to the Bike Doctor.
Were all owned by Coke so do whatever you want, you know-nothing-about-bikes nerd.
Ouch.
$40 for us to unlock the door and let you out.
Though in fairness they did give me a free plastic cap for my air tube nozzle thing. (truly I am a know-nothing-about-bikes nerd). Speaking of nerd, I ran a playtest of the World Wildlife Federation of Justice game that Im running at H.P. Lovecrafts Birthday Party (Aug 25-27 at the Marpole Curling Club!) and even though it went almost two hours over the estimated time, it was a lot of fun. All of the players seemed to enjoy it and one of them was even heard to say I would kill small children to play that again. I wont reveal any of the details because I know people who are going to play it will be reading this blog. But after HPLBDP anything goes.
ps – I drew Velocelot, speedster and arch-nemesis to Go-Rilla, and will try to post the pic tonight.
Abu
This is a pretty profound article on what was going on at Abu Gharaib, if you’re interested.
http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_4785
I’m kind of amazed it’s available for everyone to see.
Sorry for the lack of real posts. I’ll make amends later. Don’t forget that this Saturday is Zombiewalk, for you Vancouverites.
A Tiny Smidge More on Morals and Atheism
Ann Coulter is perplexed and mystified that democrats arent up in arms about being called godless. Well, Ann, I cant speak for others but I would consider that a complement. I dont believe in Santa Claus or pixies either. Shocking! But the sceptical conservative is a rare breed, and heres an interesting article by one of them
I have heard it said in the last six years that what makes conservatives superior to liberals is their religious faithas if morality is impossible without religion and everything is indeed permitted, as the cliché has it. I wonder whether religious conservatives can spot the atheists among them by their deeds or, for that matter, by their political positions. I very much doubt it. Skeptical conservatives do not look into the abyss when they make ethical choices. Their moral sense is as secure as a believers. They do not need God or the Christian Bible to discover the golden rule and see themselves in others.
Read Heather Mac Donalds full article at http://www.amconmag.com/2006/2006_08_28/article14.html
Viscous Rumours
Recently Ive been thinking about hanging up my Vancouver Gaming Guild pooh bah hat, after V-Con. Its just too work-intensive and though I love gaming, Im frankly tired of organizing conventions. It takes a lot of time and energy and commitment, and I figure 6 years of that is nothing to sneeze at. Would anyone pick up my responsibilities, such as they are? I dont know. I think everything is in place for the system to continue. Certainly the message boards arent going anywhere and weve got a good ongoing relationship with the Marpole Curling Club and the various game stores in town to continue events. I would still go to events and whatnot, but I want to focus my time, energy and commitment to new personal projects.
Speaking of which, I learned last week that Chester Brown got a Canada Council grant for his Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography. While my comic wouldnt be about a historical Canadian personality, at least I know that its possible to get a grant for a comic. Ive been browsing a number of sites for lists of Canadian animals (for World Wildlife Federation of Justice characters). Still havent come up with any gripping ideas for beavers or moose, though Datalynx and The Great Wolverini could apply. Maybe I can find a Haida co-writer for some extra sellout action (though even in Power Enterprise I did have a Kwakiutl eco-terrorist shaman). Did you know that Canada is home to the rubber boa, the hoary marmot, and the bushtit? Some of them, like the nighthawk and the screech owl, write themselves.
Kodos!!!
It's a Little Meteor
Last night I went out with Lani, Selina, and some other people I met for the first time (except for Jules) to see the Perseid meteor shower. First we went to the beach where I continued my current kids book art job while dogs kicked sand in my face (the bullies) and I skipped stones across the ocean. All the way across. Then we went for gelato at Bellagios where our cold treat came in a miniature cooler with miniature shovels that made us seem like we were giants digging into tubs and tubs worth of ice cream.
A bit of losing at Pictionary, a bit of waiting around for people, and we were soon driving up to Squamish fruitlessly as there was way too much cloud cover and moon illumination for us to see any meteors, so we just went to the beach again and tried to hit a dock with rocks.
By 4am, we decided we were hungry. And, as Lani put it, you can’t pass The Naam at 4am when you’re hungry and not go in. I had the best mean I’ve had in a very long time – we split cheesed fries with miso gravy, pita and humous a la something yummy, and three kinds of desert (cheesecake, pecan pie, ginger caramel chocolate cake). So satisfying!
And here for the readers of my blog who have no interest in how I spent the last 24 hours, here’s a link to some awesome Star Trek Inspiration Posters. My favourites are NOMAD and TANTALUS
I Hates Meeses to Pieces
My new optical mouse ‘jumps’ every once in a while to the corner of the screen. Is this a habit of all optical mouses or is mine defective? It’s very frustrating and makes it impossible to do anything in Photoslop.
Signed, Frustrated and unable to do anything in Photoshop
If You Like Vampire Squid Like I Like Vampire Squid
These little guys are killer diller – little figurines of deep sea horrors like the gulper eel, viperfish, angler, and the flapjack octopus. Sweet sweetness that I may have to resort to eBay scrounging to get.
I Only Have Eyes For You
I just filled out a transplant donor registration form. Ill send it in regardless, but I really want a message to be able to accompany it, to be given to a person should their life be saved by my organs. It would read something like this:
Hello, I just saved your life. Since youve been given a second chance, I think its fair to say that you owe me one. And since Im dead, here is my last request: Dont muck up the planet. Recycle, take the bus, dont eat Chilean sea bass all that crap. You know the drill. Now do it!
But of course they wont give my list of demands to the patient. On the back of the card is the FAQ which assures the public that this is not a Monty Pythonesque operation where theyll come into your home and pull your organs out of your live body. Check it:
Q: If I am in an accident and the hospital knows that I want to be a donor, the doctors will not try to save my life. A: The medical team that treats patients is separate from the transplant team. The BC Transplant Society is not notified until all lifesaving efforts have failed and death has been determined. Registering for organ donation will not affect the kind of medical care you receive.
Q: I might want to donate one organ but I do not want to donate everything. A: You may specify which organs you want to donate or not donate at all. Your decision will be respected.
Because Im saving my pancreas for a special occasion.