My Little CrockPot of News and Thoughts

A Bleep on the Vast Timeline of Mondays: "Mr. Lloyd was a Good Crossing Guard" ... Here's a fun Flash site that Don introduced me to last week. Don't let the drunk fall down (hint: keep your mouse on him) ... Lili posted this over at the FWAK Blog. It's an exciting Spumco site. ... This a site that I discovered a while back. It's called Fontifier and they allow you to create your own font for a mere $9. What fun! ... Kean Soo is a Comic Artist living in Toronto. He has a number of comics on his site, but his newest is my favorite. It's meant to be read while listening to Iron & Wine's Passing Afternoon. Click the play button at the top of the page, listen, read and try not to cry, you big baby. ... There's new stuff posted over at the Pencil Haus Blog. Don posted a lot of good stuff... we're still waiting on Stephen...

I made it with my fists and a broken stick: "Don Quixote, You're a Fine Looking Fellow" ... There's some new work up at the Pencil Haus Blog. We've had some trouble getting everyone set up as a member of the sketch group. Hopefully we'll get everything settled soon. ... Cartoon Brew posted a link to this the other day. The National Film Board of Canada is releasing the complete works of animation hotshot Norman McLaren. I really can't wait for this. I'm really excited... really, really excited... I can't sleep at night... ... I'm looking forward to this weekend. I'm not sure what Amanda and I are doing, but hopefully I'll have some time to paint, draw and improve my skills.

On this day, I made this: "Whatever Happened to Dango Dobbs?" There's also a larger, high res version of today's image here. ... Back a really long time ago, in the oh so ancient year of 2003, Will Ferrell, Comedian to the Gods, Jester of the people, spoke at Harvard's annual Class Day. You can see a video of the event by simply clicking here. Beware, it's sixteen minutes in length. I find myself struggling with the wait for microwave popcorn... this is a much longer wait... like five or six bags of popcorn... but with less sodium (plus)and no buttery joy (con). ... More is here! ... Today two co workers and myself decided to start a sketch blog called Pencil Haus. There's not much there now, but hopefully it will get added to everyday and grow by leaps and bounds.

Just another weekend in Texas: "What's the Weather like Up North?" ... More fun character designs from Eddie and Lili. This time they're sharing some work they did for a new series that will be airing on Cartoon Network called Krypto. Though the designs for the show are nice, I prefer Fwak's stuff better. They have more personality. I'd love to see those designs animated. Thanks for posting the designs Eddie and Lili! ... Joe Murray, creator of Rocko's Modern Life (one of my favorite series ever), will have a new series called Camp Lazlo airing on Cartoon Network beginning in July of 2005. ... Animated News posted a link for the new website of Dreamworks' upcoming animated film Madagascar. ... Tony Bancroft has a new studio called Toonacious. Looks pretty cool.

A pretty picture made for you by me: "Welcome to Plaidington Acres" ... Here's an intresting survey by Chris Robinson that asks indie animators how they get the funding to make their films. ... Dylan Cole is a talented matte painter that makes me sick. His work is that good. ... "Pascal" is a frequent on the AWN message boards. A while back he posted a link to his website. He works a lot with Flash and does some nice stuff with it. ... Apocalypse Nuts is a new Flash game that is in the works. Take a look at the trailer on "The Game" page. It's fun. ... Stephen introduced me to this new gaming forum that is just starting to get up off the ground. Though I'm not a huge gamer myself, they have a nice selection of categories and threads that would appeal to anyone... anyone but boring people. ... Eddie and Lili over @ the FWAK Blog have a bit of news and a character design for a new concept they are currently trying to develop called Boy Lobster (working title). I visit their blog daily for little jewels like this. The work that this due creates (I'd rank them right up there with Rogers & Hammerstein and Bert & Ernie)is fun, plain and simple. I'm a fan.

I've added the ability to comment on the blog. If you feel the need to say a few words, please, feel free to do so. If you're going to slander me, be warned: I will hunt you down and smack you in the mouth. ... On a lighter, happier note, those robe sporting music makers, The Polyphonic Spree have created a new site interactive site called The Quest for the Rest. Check it out. It's kinda cool.

Today I had a dream. This is what it was: "Alphabet Soup" ... Ultimate Disney has a few screen shots of menu screens and deleted scenes from the upcoming Home on the Range DVD. ... Ain't It Cool News has an image from the upcoming Burton project The Corpse Bride... I can't wait to see this one! ... I've decided to spend the day outdoors tomorrow. Monday I'll be sporting a fresh new sunburn.

Not much going on today. ... The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly has a large feature on stop mo master Ray Harryhausen. They also have an insert advertisement for Animal Planet's Croc Week featuring a horrid comic starring Steve Irwin. I thumbed through it and then had to go brush my teeth to get the nasty vomit taste out of my mouth.

Tony, my roommate in college, long ago introduced to a an Electronica due known as Royksopp. Time passed and I forgot about them. Flash forward to this morning. Stephen, during a discussion about music and other such lively nonsense, brought up Royksopp up. Not only that, he directed me to a couple of links to watch their videos. Poor Leno was one, Remind Me was the other. Leno is a nice song and an interesting video to watch, but Remind Me is the jewel of the two. Watch and discuss them with friends and family. Form your own educated opinions about the videos and the band; you'll make Stephen smile. ... For what it's worth, it was announced today that Samurai Jack creator, Genndy Tartakovsky is set to write and direct a new live action Astroboy film. I've never seen Astroboy, but I know it's an anime classic. Out to be interesting to see what fans think about this and the film (when it comes out).

Half way through the work week and this is all I have to show for it: "Squares Can Be Fun!" ... Today is a follow up to yesterday's post of artists links. Remember, like highways and interstates, some of these sites may be littered with images and content that may make you feel funny in your tummy (naked people, faceless robots, talking animals, etc.). Unfortunately, these sites are personal portfolio sites and no one from the Department of Transportation will be stopping by with their shovels to clean up. Enjoy! Jeff Soto Glen Barr Karen Oxman Seonna Hong Jonathan Weiner Ray Ceasar Tin Man Alley Gallery Merry Karnowsky Gallery Lineage Gallery ...ok. That's it.

Amanda, my gal pal (a.k.a my wife) is out of town for the week. In her absence I have an abundance of time, which I'm filling with drawing and painting. It's fun! Maybe I'll post some later in the week... ... I'm not sure if I've posted some of these links before. Odds are, I have. If so, put on your fake smile and pretend to enjoy them for the first time: Eyvind Earle Tim Biskup Gary Baseman Rockin Jellybean Gavin Dell Juxtapoz Magazine