Blog du Wren

FC 120 - Vandalism at Its Finest

Canada doesn't have intellectual property rights, right?* If so, I might be in trouble with this week's comic. I'm afraid that I stole it...I think. You tell me.

Here's the story: while out on a bike ride yesterday through Toronto*, I came across bit of graffiti. I immediately assumed it was a pun and appropriately groaned. Then I started thinking about it; that concrete wall isn't a gateway. Perhaps the artist wasn't intending to make a pun but instead just social commentary. It was only when this doubt found its way into my head that I decided it was okay to comicize it.

If Maiden Canada decides to prosecute me for this crime of intellectual property rights, I figure I'll be long gone. After another day or two in Toronto and a couple days in Montreal, I'll be back where the people are decent* and we only sue about issues involving coffee being too hot or not hot enough.

Anyhoo, Happy Friday!*

Thursday October 14 2010

File under: comic

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Musee Mecanique

On a post long, long ago, former* BdW reader Jenelle suggested that if i was ever in San Francisco, I should check out the Musee Mecanique. Well, since I found myself in SF with lots of time to kill, I did just that and boy was I glad I did.

Imagine a room chocked full of row after of old-timey arcade machines. Love testers, strength testers, laughing creepy dolls, elaborate scenes where everything moves when you drop in your quarter, player pianos, s, stereographic slideshows, and on and on. There are a few nods to modernity, like some classic video games*, skee ball, air hockey, penny smashers galore, and one "game" where you grab onto these two metal posts and it progressively shocks you more and more until you let go. The more shock you can stand, the more points you get. Oy.

Located at Fisherman's Wharf, the Musee Mecanique is quite a treat. Admission is free, with the only money you spend being on playing the various games and novelties. The attendant, at least when I was there, cruised around on roller skates and was glad to show off his skillz at the various obscure games.

Tuesday October 12 2010

File under: travel

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I Heart Craigslist Rideshare

I, for one, love craigslist rideshare. While it isn't always the most convienent way to travel, necessarily the most comfortable, or the surest travel bet in the book, the environmental perks, the cost savings, and the interesting people I meet make it my #1 choice for flexible travel.

To those of you who haven't experienced a ride via craigslist before, let me share a few tidbits fro my most recent ride. I caught a ride from Portland to Sacramento. While the train ride would have been 18 hours and $100, it only took us 9 hours and I paid $35. Not bad. The best party, however, was the peolple. Folks who are inclined to take a chance on a stranger are typically more interesting than most. In our [2-door honda civic], I met 3 good, interesting people; a hiker just coming off 4.5 months on the trail*, a world traveler who, conveniently, recently traveled to my next hopeful destination, and a no-traditional-job/lifestyle-for-me-thank-you-very-much free spirit. The great conversations made the miles just fly by.

The catch of the whole thing, however, is that I wasn't going to Sacramento. I had to cobble together transport from Sacramento into the Bay area, a task more expensive and difficult than you might think. But thanks to a couple helpful good people, I made it in time for juggle club at the Vulcan.

All in all, chalk it up as another positive craigslist rideshare experience!

Saturday October 9 2010

File under: travel, transportation

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FC 119 - Lets Talk Plurals

Stop right there! Don't click on that panel yet! I must first add this disclaimer*: this comic isn't to present judgement. Sure stereotypes are played off of here, but it isn't meant to be mean. I say this esp. because I don't want Ma to drop the hammer for my portrayal of librarians, which some might find negative. Just as a murder of crows doesn't indicate that crows actually murder, I don't mean to imply anything at all about librarians.

But speaking of Ma, guess where the idea for this comic came from. Go ahead, guess. That's right. The shush of librarians was all her. She had another clever one about acedmics or something, but I forgot it, so I had to come up with the others. All in all, pretty dang witty, I'd say.

But boy was this comic hard to draw. It was like drawing 4 comics in one. Luckily I cut and paste one part, so that saved some time. But hopefully it is worth it. If it makes you laugh a little, it was. Happy Friday!

Friday October 8 2010

File under: comic

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Oysterfest 2010

Jule, Katy, Kat, and Alex pose as geoduck harvesters

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending Oysterfest* in Shelton, WA. What is Oysterfest? In short, it's a county fair-like atmosphere where everything is focused on oysters (and other food from the sea). In addition to the amazing food booths, there was live music, cooking demonstrations, requisite jugglers*, and the west coast oyster shucking championship.

The list of food we consumed is pretty epic, and I just have to share.

Grilled oysters (with garlic butter)
Bacon-wrapped oysters
Oyster curry on rice
Clam linguini
Clam steamers
Shrimp/crab cocktail
Oysters shooters (free, as they were the results of the oyster shucking contest)
Tempura fried coconut shrimp
Clam chowder
Five-alarm chili
Rootbeer float
Elephant ear
Raspberry pie ala mode
Some other dessert that is just escaping me

Yes we really ate all that. Yum! There was much more that we didn't get around to trying. There's always next year, though. If any (or all) of this sounds appetizing, you might want to make your way to Oysterfest next year.

Wednesday October 6 2010

File under: food

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Youngest. Juggler. Evar.

Sunday October 3 2010

File under: video, juggling

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FC 118 - Playing Games

This is my second bird related comic that greatly depends on accurately portraying the type of bird*. I've had this one on the list for a while, but just recently have felt ambitious enough to try to tackle it. It is my sincere hope that you can tell the difference between the ducks and the goose. Only then do you even have a chance of thinking it is funny.

Oh, and a word about the "punch line". I couldn't come up with one that I really liked, but instead settled on 2. I stuck a little snippet of javascript in to hopefully randomly decide which one you get. Chances are, however, the code will probably just break everything (RSS, etc.)

If you've got a better punch line, by all means, let me hear it. Or if you prefer one over the other, let me know so I'll know which to include in my book*. You all are my editors. Let's make this comic better together!

Friday October 1 2010

File under: comic

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The Amazing Race

People often ask me what goes on at juggling festivals. "Juggling...duh!" I helpfully reply. But it is often so much more, esp. in the case of Lopez Jugglefest. The non-juggling shenanigans are often pretty epic. To that end, as promised in that earlier post, here's footage of the Epic Footrace of 2010. (I think there was only one club related injury reported*.)

Tuesday September 28 2010

File under: juggling, video

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Crosswords Creation Continues

Nobody thinks of the team it takes to make a crossword. Learn more about what it takes by watching this video, Garson Hampfield, Crossword Inker

Although it's been a while since I've posted about my crosswords, I'm still cranking them out. I haven't gotten around to submitting any more for publication, but it is on my list for this fall: clean one or two up real purty, and send them away*. I can almost see that "professional crossword creator" business card now.

If you want to have a go at my latest creation Scram!, I'd love to know what you think. Or catch up on any you've missed on the games page. Like all of them, if you are going to print, be sure to follow the "printable" link at the bottom of the page.

If you're not a crossword puzzle doer (as I know most of you aren't), you still might get a laugh out of this video. If you are a cruciverbalist, then you should really watch it! A mockumentary to rival the best. Enjoy!

Sunday September 26 2010

File under: games

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FC 117 - Knot What Ewe Think

YEAH!!! Friday Comics are back!!! Okay, so maybe it is just me that is super excited. But these last two weeks without comics has been like an eternity. Or at least has felt like 15 days. My excuse is a simple one: I was working. But I'm over that now. I'm back to having time to pour in my baby, the blog.

But work was good. It made my back a bit stronger, my wallet a bit thicker, and my conscience a bit clearer about my chosen lifestyle. And I got to help out a friend, learn a skill that I soon plan to apply, and do a daily commute by public transportation. Good to do. Good to be done.

But enough about work. You didn't come here to hear about work. You came to read a comic. Oh, and I was going to say a quick something about the comic: the idea, more or less, comes from Luke, fellow hax0r, juggler, and general good guy. (And for those of you keeping score at home, yes that is the same baby-backpack wearing Luke from last post. Chopping babies in half, endangering babies' lives: yep, Father of the Year.)

Anyhoo, I'm excited Friday Comics are back. Maybe this time around I will have the foresight to do up a couple extras for those weeks when I'm tight on time. But probably not.

Thursday September 23 2010

File under: comic

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