Farsong Blog-o-Matic

As per the usual, I have signed up for more classes. This happens every quarter, and the tradition has been to note the classes in this format:

Summer Quarter 2008:

• Pre-Calc II — Math 106-01 — M-F, 8:30-9:35 Kingston Hall 330

Fall Quarter 2008:

• Programming Principles I — CSCD 210-01 — M-F, 9:00-9:50 Computer Science and Engineering Building 227
• CSCD 210-01 lab — W, 8:00-9:50 CEB 207 (and I’ll have to get up early)

• Calculus I — Math 161-04 — M-F, 12:00-12:50 TBA (though, I’m assuming Kingston

• Intercultural Communication — CMST 340-01 — M, W, F, 13:00-14:20 Communications Bldg 225 (this one fulfils an “intercultural understanding” GUR thinger; it's also all the way across campus from Kingston hall; however, this is not any worse than my Kingston–CEB trek; moreover, this is merely three times per week, not daily, as it is now. I walk quickly, too.)

The amusing thing is the bureaucracy involved in getting registered. I had to go and talk with my advisor because there was a hold on my account. Evidently, the school thought I was a “First–year student” (the PC term for “Freshman” now–a–days). Both my advisor and I thought that this was a load of bollocks, mostly because I have enough credits to be a senior, being a transfer student who is clearly not in his first year of college (also: being one who fairly clearly has the classes for the next couple years mapped out).


And that, as they say, is that, mattress man.


Edit: Note, the song title is not DIVE 12" (“twelve–inch”); if it were, I’d have used a foot mark, followed by a closing quote. As it is, there is only a closing-quote. Artists’ names have plain formatting, album titles are italicised, and song titles are set off in quotes. Proper typographer’s quotes I might add. Because I’m retentive about formatting like that. There’s not enough proper formatting on the interbutt.

I didn't realise how long it would actually take to draw/ink/scan six-and-a-half-pages of comics.

This would have taken entirely less time if I had a faster scanner and faster hardware to render the pages. However, I like the way that my scanner works, and how it works with SANE. I do, however, need a new Wacom tablet.


It seems that my style has been influenced by:

Bryan Lee O'Malley
Ryan Estrada: ryanestrada
Mark Smith & Paul Maybury
Mitch Clem: rainofbastards
Calvin


I should probably also mention that this is my first all-nighter ever. Never made it all the way through before, and I can't stop now that it's after 5. That's <2 h sleep, and I can't do that.

Classnotes:

• Oh, hai. Now we’re talking about Euclid
o Also, Greatest Common Divisor (denominator?)
o I CAN HAS DENOMINATOR
• PROMPT "Enter two integers greater that zero: "
• remainder = 0
• GET num1, num2
• While num2 > 0
o remainder = num1 % num2
o num1 = num2
o num2 = remainder
• end while
• PUT "The GCF is " +num1
• I CAN HAS GCF


In class, searching for wireless networks (the school-provided wireless routers were acting sketchy), I stumbled across one called “OpenSource” which was, ironically enough, protected with WEP WPA encryption.

( Wireless routers, blah blah )

It went over swimmingly.



I think the fact of the matter was that it was so strikingly different and far less esoteric than the designs that the others did. They all did simple shapes; a drawing really is so much more personal. The somewhat-subtle shading-gradients were commented on favourably. The image is far more striking in colour, though, than the grayscale I printed it in for the assignment. Seriously, my entire thought was “¿What better logo than one's own face?” and it's completely true. Simple and iconic, with heavy lines.

( Sketch of the above )


I feel that art of any kind should be able to stand on its own; that it should be clear enough to convey the intended message without need for commentary. In some ways, the commentary also takes away from the feeling, mood, and magic of the piece. It’s a tactful withholding of information, exactly like this example: I know who the daily flyer guy is this year. I mention this off-handedly, and the freshmen are amazed, and ask who he is. I say that I can’t tell, because telling would diminish the magic of anonymity. In addition, they still wouldn’t know who he was anyway, as he would be simply a name to them; they don’t know him.

The term I like to summarize this concept in is “Submitted Without Comment.”


Things I like/ am pleased with right now:
• Rice Pudding
• Green Tea (as ever!)
• Bluetooth (specifically, my new headphones)
• X-Acto knives
• Vector Graphics


Also, I need to build this, for my camera. It improves stability when using a camcorder for handheld shots. Plus, it's pretty cool. It's based off the design of the actual FIG RIG by Manfrotto.