Happy Friday, one and all!  The weekend is upon us, and, here in Michigan, we are supposed to jump back into the 80's.  Not the decade (despite my wishes), but the temperatures.

It will be a far cry from the 55 degree days/ 35 degree nights we've been having.  (You doubt me?!?  Folks, it was many a Halloween as a youngster that I trick-or-treated in the snow!)

Good thing this weekend is supposed to be nice.  I have about 7,000 to do this weekend.  If I'm lucky, I'll get to five.

It has been a long night, and bed beckons.  See you all on Monday!!!

Do you know that my favorite number is 27?  It is.  Why?  A thousand years ago (or 20+), on a family vacation, my father was playing one of his Southern Gospel tapes in the car.  As happens on long trips, sometimes we would replace words in songs with sound-alikes.  You know, like that old CCR song, Bad Moon Rising, where everyone replaces "There's a bad moon on the rise," with, "There's a bathroom on the right"?  Yeah, that kind of thing.

Well, there was one song that we replaced the chorus with the following line:  "Nine times three, nine times three, that's 27, nine times three."  I'd love to tell you what the actual lyrics are, but for the life of me, I can't remember.  I would guess that "three" probably replaced "free," but I don't know for sure.

(If anyone happens to accidently recognize this as kinda sounding like the words to some song, feel free to chime in.)

Anyway, from that, 27 became my favorite number.  Because I had a catchy little tune for it.

Alrighty, folks, I'll see you on Friday!

Okay, yeah, I know that a couple of panels look very similar to previous panels.  They are.  Not exact copies, but I definitely looked to the past when I did them.

See, a brilliant man by the name of Wally Wood once said, "Never draw what you can copy. Never copy what you can trace. And never trace what you can cut out and paste down."  Well, I know it may be a bit of a cop out, that I could have found some fancy new way to draw two of these panels... but I knew that what I had drawn before worked, so I went ahead and just copied what I previously did.  It isn't the first time I've borrowed heavily from a previous panel, and it won't be the last.

I did pay some penance by whipping out a little perspective drawing there in that middle panel.  Fancy, huh?

Anyway, I'm kinda whipped, so I'm just gonna post this.  I'll see you all on Wednesday!

25 strips in!  Woo hoo!

I hope that everyone can cope with the "slow burn" characterization I'm getting into.  I have a very good reason.

See, a few years ago, I wrote a story, and I had a friend read it.  It had a kind of twist in it.  And, stupidly, I realized later, I revealed the twist in the first five pages.

And, my friend was massively happy to point it out to me.

So, what I'm trying to do is slowly bring in details.  It was important (at least in my mind) to have this initial phone call with Conrad.  It lays groundwork for the future, and, hopefully, leaves you a little curious.

But, hey, I'm in this for the long haul.   I gotta save some stuff for the distance, you know?  Not just for you, the reader, but also for me, the guy grinding these strips out three days a week!

Alright, I gotta go!  It is the weekend!!!

So, it seems that in the grand (or not so) tradition of Smallville, the CW is once again mining comic properties for ideas to develop into angst-y teen dramas.  The newest?

The Graysons.

Yep.  You may recognize that last name.  It belongs to Bruce Wayne's ward, Dick Grayson.  Well, the series will evidently be taking a look at the pre-Robin days of Dick Grayson.  Wait, I'm sorry.  In the show, they will call him "D.J."

Yeah.

You know, when I heard about Smallville, I had my doubts.  After several years, my doubts are confirmed about 5 out of every 6 episodes of that show.  Somehow, my doubts about The Graysons are even stronger.  Buckle up, people.  We are in for a mediocre-to-horrible ride.

Good Monday to all of you!  You know, a while back, I talked about securing a Batman cowl for my gargantuan noggin.  Not kidding - I think it is about 26 1/2 inches.  Only one other person in my graduating class in high school had a larger head.  I know, because out graduation caps had to be specially made with the assistance of circus tent manufacturers.

I kid.  About the circus tent part.  The size of our heads is a fact.

Anyway, moving forward in my effort to create an inappropriate costume for a man of my size, I have finally secured a cape.  Yep.  I now have a cowl, a cape, and the basic bodysuit pieces.  I will probably be making a belt, and I have to find some sort of trunks to go over the suit.  I have some boots, nothing fancy, but they will probably work.

It is all coming together.  Soon, I will don this ridiculous garb and be the laughing stock of the neighborhood.  I believe my family has already disowned me, anticipating the need that will arise.

Oh, well!  See you all on Wednesday!

Yesterday was my one year anniversary since I opened my shop MaJenta Designs.  Its hard to believe its been only 1 year though!  People are impressed that I have sold over 200 items, created wedding favors out of my chiyogami tins for atleast 5 weddings, as well as have many of my items sold in cute boutiques such as OAK Boston and Gallery Up in addition to other stores in Australia!

I also have been featured quite a lot in the last few days as well!  Here are some treasuries and blogs I've been lucky enough to be selected for!

Again, apologies for posting this in the evening.

You ever have those days when you think that the Devil has declared you public enemy #1?  You know, the ones where you go through some major spiritual assault?  Yeah.  I've been feeling it lately.

Still, I have to say the yoke is easy and the burden is light.  I honestly don't know how people that don't have a personal relationship with Jesus make it through the rough times.  Yeah, some may say that sounds like a crutch... but, don't folks who are soul sick with sin, those who are being beaten down with every step, don't we need a crutch?  He is the great physician, after all.  Seems like a "crutch" can help us out on occasion.

See you all Monday!

He writes:

Yes, even though the call actually worked, I'm going with the LSU offense's play call that scored the touchdown to win the game. I'll admit that Lee was hot, but when you're already in field goal range, down by one with just over a minute left, asking a redshirt freshman qb, who had already thrown one ill-advised pass, to throw an out route against Auburn's defense was just ridiculous. In most cases, against any SEC defense, an out route between 5-10 yards towards the sideline is like begging to be picked off. Auburn's db didn't make the transition in time, and LSU got the victory because of it, but to make that call is just ridiculous. It's karma...it'll end up biting them sooner than later. Law of averages.

Of course, if Nick Saban had made that call, methinks it might not have been boneheaded at all....Anyway, head over to his site to see what I wrote for my bonehead call.

Welcome back, faithful Crimson Crewmembers!  (That's right - I just declared a name for you readers, or, dare I say, fans!)

In today's strip, I've introduced just another thing that the Crimson Scarab has that I don't - a cell phone!  Seriously.  I don't own one.  Call me old fashioned, but when I'm out and about, I like to be thought of as "unavailable."  I used to have a cell phone when I worked about 45 minutes from home.  Driving dark country roads in the middle of the night made it necessary.  Now, though, I work about 10 minutes from home.  Not much of a need for wasting the forty bucks a month. 

Even with the land line, I don't talk on the phone that much.  In an average year, I talk on the phone maybe 20 times.  In a year.  Yep, not a phone guy.  Email?  Wow, I LOVE email.  I can email a lot.  I don't get much response, but it doesn't stop me.  The phone, though... not my favorite of inventions.

I'm quirky that way.  Anyway, the cell phone in a strip - yeah, I had to purposefully aim against making it red.  Seemed overkill.  And, when I decided not to go red, it took me much longer than it should have to decide on the final color - blue.  I'm kinda ashamed at the amount of time I wasted on that decision.

Oh, well.

See you all on Friday!

You know, it just isn't right.  There is no way I should be having as much fun doing this as I am. 

I'm thrilled to be adding more depth to the world of the Scarab.  Part of that is the gradual introduction of the supporting cast.  As much fun as I've had playing around with Dave, I'm really looking forward to revealing more about Conrad.  Not that he will necessarily be appearing anytime soon... I just like being able to put in some foreshadowing.

I really am excited about all the things that are coming down the pike.  Characters that I've been familiar with for a while will finally be seen by everyone.  I'm amped about it!

Alright, I gotta get some sleep.  I'll see all of you on Wednesday!

We are proud to report that our campus media is alive and well. The Transylvanian, the oldest literary and arts journal west of the Alleghenies, has been publishing since 1892. The Crimson annually documents the past year of student life. For campus news and views, we have the Rambler. For music and talk, we have WTLX, the radio station, which is still going strong after its inception in the fall of 2006.

The dedicated students and faculty of campus media know that it is often a daily struggle to keep a student-run and operated publication going. The Crimson, the Rambler, and the Transylvanian have all experienced periods of weak participation. In some cases, weak participation severely undermines our student publications’ ability to serve the Transy community. If you have the time and the interest, consider becoming involved in campus media.

We realize that the typical Transy student has an endless list of activities to fit into a clown car of a school, work and social schedule. We sympathize, but you’re still not off the hook. If you cannot be a full-time member of WTLX or one of the student publications, find smaller ways to support your campus media. Let the photographers take your yearbook picture—it is a quick and painless (yes, photo-phobes, painless) way to support the Crimson. Better yet, buy a copy of this year’s yearbook! Support the Rambler by picking up an issue every week, writing a guest column or sending a letter to the editor about anything that angers, delights, bores or excites you. If you write a poem, short story or create artwork for pleasure or one of your classes, the Transylvanian encourages you to consider submitting. Finally, support WTLX by listening regularly, and when you do, make sure to send in your song requests.

We urge the administration to continue its support of student publications. This year, the administration provided the Crimson, the Rambler and the Transylvanian with a new space in which to work, as well as new equipment. We hope the administration continues to provide the student publications with everything it needs. For the Translyvanian, WTLX and the Crimson, the administration should also consider giving a quarter credit per semester for students involved. Student publications play a vital role on our campus, and they require a significant time commitment from those involved. This change might give students the incentive they need to get involved and to stay involved.

Campus media itself should also remember the importance of publicity, even at a university this small. Many may be unaware of the existence of the Crimson, the Rambler, the Transylvanian or WTLX, so it is important to publicize all promotional events and publication dates.

Transy has much to be proud of when it comes to its campus media. Our various student publications create a living record of our time here that will remain long after we graduate. Support those who are part of that record keeping, and consider becoming a record keeper yourself!

Thank goodness it is Friday! In the immortal words of Loverboy, everybody's working for the weekend. That is the attitude of a Friday. Monday? Well, that is better expressed in the philosophy of one Huey Lewis, who uttered the all-too-true line, "I'm takin' what their givin', 'cuz I'm workin' for a livin'."

At nearly the 20 strip mark, I'm thinking it really is getting to be time for me to put up a real website. The blog is fine, but I keep thinking that it is a cop out now. I just had the less than enjoyable experience of having that blow up in my face right before I started the strip, and, I'll admit, I'm a bit gunshy.

I'm going to start working toward the actual website. I'm not announcing it going up tomorrow, but eventually it will be time to put the strip into a more dedicated website with a few simple bells... maybe a whistle or two.

Alright, faithful readers, I'll catch you on Monday!  Have a blessed weekend!

I forgot to post the completed piece after I had shown the sketch!  This is "Glory"  it's a 5x6 inch acrylic on stretched canvas.  You can find it for sale in my etsy store:  http://joycebrandonarts.etsy.com

18 strips in. The six week mark. I'm just completely giddy over that!

So, anyway, it looks like Tobey Maguire will be starring in the next two Spider-Man movies.  I wish I could be more excited about that, but Spider-Man 3 really stunk, and I was kinda hoping they'd just move on with a new cast and director.  I do still think that Tobey Maguire was a great choice to play Peter Parker, but the third film felt like the entire cast was pretty much just phoning it in.

The next two movies will be filmed at the same time, which likely means a more cohesive and epic sorta storyline, that will bridge between the two films.  Could be something special in that.  I hope.

Okay, folks, see ya on Friday!

Some exciting news to report though. First off, we paid for our next exclusive color last week or so and now we're just waiting to announce it. Its going to be an awesome package for an awesome reissue. It will be a LP + 7" set (it was never released as such so that is not going to be a useful clue) and our color is supposed to be clear. That's all you get to know for now. :) Second, we have nearly finalized our order from the Bloodhound Gang to carry most of the vinyl they have for sale at their online store. I love the BHG but tracking down their vinyl is far too hard. I hope to have preorders up sometime this week. Third, we are currently in the talks with Reel Big Fish to carry their "Monkeys" double LP picture disc that has only been available from their online store and on tour. These are pricey sets, but they come from France and there are currently no plans to make more. Hopefully that will pan out and we'll be able to sell them for less than the $30 they are charging right now.

Okay, time for the stock updates, in no particular order:

Coming Soon:

Alkaline Trio - Crimson 

Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning (2xLP) 

New to the store:

Briggs, The - Come All You Madmen

Crime In Stereo - The Troubled Stateside

Dropkick Murphys - Blackout

Dropkick Murphys - Sing Loud, Sing Proud

Ghost Mice - Europe (Brown)

Preorders:

Blatz/Filth - Shit Split 

De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead (180 Gram) 

Def Leppard - Pyromania 

Dylan, Bob - Tell Tale Signs Vol. 8 (8xLP) 

Eagles - Hotel California (180 Gram)

Genghis Tron - Board Up The House Remixes Vol. 1 

Restocks:

Against Me! - As The Eternal Cowboy 

Mars Volta - Bedlam In Goliath (2xLP - Red / Black w/ bonus 7") 

Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come

Rx Bandits - The Resignation (White)

Howdy folks! I gotta tell you - I'm really, really starting to hate drawing that Teirdot Potatoes poster! I may have to start just cutting and pasting it from strip to strip!

Eh, maybe not. I don't really hate it. It is a simple fact that if I'm going to have a series of strips in the same environment, I'm going to run into this. Its okay. I'll deal.

I think I've finally figured out exactly why I have been blessed with the job of a night auditor at a hotel. I go in, and I'm all by my lonesome - staff-wise, anyway. I have eight hours to complete my duties. Now, I suppose if I didn't do my job, soon enough, I'd hear about it, but I know what I have to do, and I do it. Without my even realizing it, this job that God has provided for me has given me a skill (or at least honed the skill) of being a self-starter.

As much as I complain about my job at times (and, I do), I have to admit that the resolve I have to complete my duties with no one standing over me throughout the night has come in very handy with this webcomic. Very quickly, the idea of NOT doing the strip each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday has become foreign to me. Less than six weeks in, and I really can't see myself just blowing off the strip without an amazingly good reason.

So, thank you, Lord, for a blessing I never knew I needed, but You did.

See you all on Wednesday!

The Holy One so wants to open our minds to reason with Him. It seems to me that His heart must break at the sight of sin in the hearts and lives of His people. I pray that I will never forget that He is the Holy One of Israel.

“Reason” seems to be a forgotten thing with the people of my day. They are more concerned with emotions, feelings, amusements, comforts, entertainment. Anything that requires thought is a nuisance that we can live without in the minds of some of my people.

It is, however, time for God’s people to begin thinking of their spiritual plight. Reason is a good thing. God is telling us to think, to reason with Him. The idea is to see His way of things. It is good, if we are going to walk with God, be godly, that we think His thoughts and not our own.

O, how our sins must be like scarlet to Him. How He longs to forgive and cleanse us, and to make us as white as snow. He desires, longs, to make what is crimson, to be as wool. He is a gracious God. He is the Holy One.

The Holy One desires what is best for His people. He has promised the good of the land to all who are willing and obedient. If we refuse and go our own way there only awaits destruction.

HEAR, O HEAR, THE WORD OF THE LORD -

 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:  But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." Isaiah 1:18-20 (KJV)

Sorry about how late in the evening I ended up posting this strip.  Not being able to get it posted this morning really Just sapped the momentum from me.  It has confirmed in my mind the need to get a little bit ahead in the strip.  Had I already had this strip cleaned up in Photoshop, colored, and saved, I could have just posted it really quick this morning.  I've definitely got to work toward that.  It shouldn't be all that difficult.  I have a plan that I think will work well, so there shouldn't be a problem due to weather again after this week.

I saw the movie Enchanted this evening.  I didn't really want to, but I had it on Netflix, thinking my sister would like it.  Well, it sat at the house for two weeks, until finally, tonight, I popped it in.  It was pretty good.  I'm not gushing over it, but if you haven't seen it, check it out.  There are even some pretty funny parts.  The apartment cleaning scene tops them all.  I won't go into it any further than that.  If you've seen the movie, you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't... you'll see.

I'll see you all Monday!

Welcome to Adventures In Word Balloons!!! I never thought I'd do so many connecting word balloons in one strip. I hope it isn't too confusing to all of you. It reads okay to me, but I know what I was meaning to do, so that skews my view.

I have actually completed re-lettering the first three strips. I did not do it by hand, because trying to fit my hand-lettering into the space I had wasn't working. I printed out the lettering, then I attached it to the originals. If I have time this coming weekend, I'll try to get them scanned in and posted. In doing the work, I also noticed that I drew the Battlin' Batter's costume incorrectly in several spots, so I adjusted that as well.

Now, I must discuss the end of civilization as we know it.  The architect of this?  The Fox television network.  First, they brought us The Moment of Truth, a show where people revealed the most horrible secrets about themselves in front of their friends, family, and (apparently) millions of viewers, for paltry sums of money.  People ruined their lives, and the viewers tuned in.  That was the end of common sense.  Fox has now followed that up with the end of creativity.

Last night, flipping through the channels, I stopped for an excruciating five minutes and witnessed the death of creativity.  Yes, I speak of Hole in the Wall.  For those of you blessed enough to have missed this travesty, here it is in a nutshell:  there is a moving wall with an odd shaped hole in it, and people stand in front of a pool and try to contortion their bodies to pass through the hole as the wall goes by them.

Yes, people, this made it to network television.

And, there is NOTHING more to the game.  Seriously.  That's it.  Fit through the hole, or you end up breaking the wall or falling into the pool.  This show was 30 minutes long, in "prime time."  Like I said - I lasted five minutes.

Fox, in what way will you work to end humanity next?!?

(By the way... if you want to see Hole in the Wall, there is an episode available to watch online.  I'm not linking to it.  I will not further serve to give this show a false sense of popularity.  Find it yourself if you are so inclined.)

I'm whipped, so it is off to bed for me. See you all on Friday!

Before I even started doing the Crimson Scarab webcomic, I had been thinking about it for a long time. It was a good thing, because I know a lot about the "world" of the Scarab than if I was just flying by the seat of my pants. The sad thing is, I don't know if I'll ever find a reason to include some of the things I know about that world.

I went to a panel on writing led by Marv Wolfman a few years ago, and he talked about how he knew things about the Teen Titans that people would probably never get to find out about. It is because he had their entire world designed in his head. He knows each of the characters' secrets. It allowed him to write them better, even if he never got to tell the secrets.

Why do I bring this up? The Teirdot Potatoes. I have an entire story in my head built around this sports franchise, and, try as I might, I can't imagine I'll ever have reason to put any of it into this strip. At the same time, I don't feel like I should share it all right now, just in case. So, I'll have to be satisfied with just dropping in the occasional reference, content in the fact that I know these things, and that having a deep understanding of this world will help me to write it better.

See you on Wednesday!

With the reinvention of the 1780 Cafe in the newly finished Thomson Hall, the spot it previously held has been transformed into a new Student Publications Office. The space now offers headquarters for the Crimson, the Transylvanian, and the Rambler.

The room in the basement of Clay Hall, previously a frequent stop for students pulling all-nighters, barely resembles its former self. All the café’s kitchen equipment has been removed, and the chairs and furniture have been rearranged into a more productive office environment, including the addition of several desks and computers. There are even hopes of adding more seating and a conference table.

"We are so happy, so grateful," said Terri McLean, adviser to the Rambler, who now bases herself entirely in the new office. "We love this spot. It’s in the heart of campus, in the residential area. It’s a place where the staff of all the publications can hang out or work on stories."

This change occurred alongside other administrative efforts to revive Transylvania’s publications, such as bringing in McLean to ensure the Rambler’s continuation.

Lori-Lyn Hurley, the adviser to the Crimson, said, "I think it will make the student publications groups a little more visible on campus."

"It demonstrates how serious the administration is that a good newspaper is part of the experience of being at Transy," McLean said.

The Rambler staff has been working in the new office frequently over the past week, and many appreciate the new premises.

The previous Publications Office was a small room in Rosenthal Commons.

"It’s got way more room," said Alyssa McComas, last year’s editor of the Transylvanian, when she saw the space. "It’s a lot better than before."

"Before the office was a hair bigger than a closet. It was not conducive to putting out a newspaper," said McLean.