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11/01/2003 - Continued Happy Halloween. And welcome to yet another month of your life. I'm still breathing. Hrm.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031101)
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11/03/2003 - So, I've always been a fan of What's Up Doc?, mainly because Barbara Streisand is simply amazing. And recently I've watched Funny Girl and last night watched, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, after which, I realized that I had only even seen her in What's Up Doc? (and, of course, The Muppet Show.) And so I started thinking about her, I was racking my brains for any sexy/nutty powerful woman on screen who has matched her. Emma Thomson comes to mind, plus a few others, but more because they are so solidly good as actresses. Barbara, however, is a nut, she's a loser, and yet manages to be one of the most powerful and amazing performers I've seen. If you need convincing, see "Funny Girl", her debut in which she plays Fanny Brice. And prepare to have to retrieve your socks after they've been knocked off. Of course, if her nose and accent bug you, well, some people don't like Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, or Janis Joplin either. Not good or bad taste, just different. Hm.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031103)
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11/05/2003 - So just an update, my new job is going pretty well. I actually don't mind being a court-runner, which is a hell of an improvement over any job I've had in about a billion years (if ever). I've totally lost any confidence I ever had (used to have a fair lot, actually) in any job situation. Kinda' difficult to operate under those emotions, but I do seem pretty good at what I do, and I seem to be able to figure out the rest, so all's pretty okay.
So a lot's happening artistically on my end, even though y'all'd never know it. Working on several projects, a comic I may begin releasing New-Years-ish, though not sure (though, it's come a long way, and something will be happneing with it soon.) Little Dee, of course. And I've been very pleased with Bruno. I know I'm beating a dead horse with this whole stripping thing, but from the start i kinda' planned it this way, show it, not talk too much about it, let it sink in for a good long while, become an accepted part of her life, and then begin to discuss it. Seemed the only way to give any somewhat objective view a fair shake about the whole deal. Oh, plsu I'm thrilled that her therapist finally sounds almost (sometimes) like a therpist.
Anyhow. Yeah. Blah blah blah. All my-head stuff. I've just been kinda' proud of my work lately, since my August break. Even last week, when i was stressed and could hardly hold my crap together, I think Bruno just ended up being much more amusing than deep and held together ebtter than i could have imagined.
And now, in the sprit of keeping my crap together, I am off to bed.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031105)
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11/08/2003 - For those of you who are appreciators of Bill Mudron's work (Anne Frank v. The Moon Nazis, and the awaited Pan), this weekend, through Sunday, he has an auction up for pages from Anne Frank HERE.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031108)
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11/10/2003 - Had a strangely unproductive weekend, although as I look at it, it could only ever be described as unproductive against my own standards. Why does this not surprise me.
An unlike everyone else in the world, I haven't seen Matrix Revolutions, so I can't pan it like everyone else. :sigh:
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031110)
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11/12/2003 - I wanted to mess with my web page a bit, but I'm stumped as far as executing what i want to do, and I thought I'd ask y'all to see if any of you know.
First off, you should know, I write all my own html in simpletext, which means it can't be too complicated (and also explains a lot, eh?)
Essentially I want to create a table or box in which i can put text that both scrolls left to right as well as up and down. I have found two solutions.
The first is to create a fake select box. The only problem is that it scrolls up and down, but it does not scroll left and right, and thus lines can get pretty long.
The other option is Frames, but I'm not sure I want to go down that road. Although if i did, are there any good arguments against doing so? I'm guessing every browser supports it at this point.
Anyhow, if anyone has any thoughts on all this, it'd be helpful. Books and searching the internet is not being so helpful.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031112)
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11/13/2003 - First off, my apologies for yesterday's strip not up. It was there, I just did the html wrong. I actually checked it in the morning, and I saw that the html had updated (my post was up), but I forgot that the strip I was looking at was from two days ago. I do need a bit more sleep. But yeah, both are there today.
Secondly, thanks to all who helped out with ideas for my html woes. And again, I went with the simplest of all possible solutions, whether the best or not.
The run-down is this: Frames, too many people think they're evil, and I tend to agree. A CSS box seems a bit too complex for me to care to learn right now. iframes, which may very well be the same thing (I'm only fuzzy in my total understanding of all this), are as well a tad complex and don't seem compatible with a lot of systems.
So, I am using a simple text-area box, something I wish I had thought of (Doh!). And you'll find on the left what I used it for.
I got a few people writing about that they were afraid I'd kill my design, and complicate a perfect thing and how scrollies are evil and all that. Well, I tend to agree, but I think this works for this purpose. I wanted a small area listing movies and books which I've seen/read recently. You don't have to scroll down if you keep up-to-date on it, and you only have to scroll right to see the author, when I finished reading it, and a few words I have to say about it.
And half of why I'm even doing it is for me, I like to remember things. And it's s simple and useful way. I think it's a fine idea.
Oh, for easier reading, you can just put your cursor in the box, do "select all" and cut and paste into a text editor. Easy enough if you wish.
Oh, it doesn't seem to work on Netscape 4.7, if anyone has any ideas as to why, feel free to shoot them my way. I tried a few things, may try a few more.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031113)
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11/14/2003 - You know, Bruno, her universe, the whole pacing, the story, the art. It's really frikkin' weird compared to anything I've ever read. What an odd realization. Even odder that it feels like a realization. To me. The Auther. And all that.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031114)
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11/14/2003 - Hey Seattle and Vancouver, on Susan's reccomendation, Bethanne and I went to a reading by Daphne Goettlieb (along with Hal Sirowitz), and it was quite interesting. Very sharp and biting social commentary to frenzily read poetry. I admit, I feel geeky (if not dirty), and I quite liked it.
Anyhow, She's reading at Elliot Bay Books and Cafe Deux Soleils Saturdy and Monday respectively. If this sounds interesting, then you should definitely go. (more info on her page).
As more a teaser than anything, one of her works to whet your whistle. (again, more poetry to be found on her page).
The Frightening Truth About Desire
it's on but
i don't know
whether i want
to be
her, fuck her
or borrow
her clothes.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031114)
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11/01/2003 - Funny, today was. it was. I actually wrote this strip a week or so ago, and I think I worked on the punchline a bit this weekend (time and events more and more blurry as writing bruno becomes more and more quilt-like), and yet this morning, as I walked to work, for the first time since I arrived in Olympia, I truly longed for Portland. Especially the holiday lights while walking home from work around Pioneer Square and Broadway. I mean, I've missed it here and there about this and that, but this was the first longing. The first time Portlandish Nostalgia drug me out inna' the street and beat the crap outta' me. It felt peaceful and sad.
Anyhow.....
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031118)
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11/19/2003 - News: Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court said that Gays are guaranteed the right to marry under the Massachusetts constitution. This is so good. Now the legislature can only block it by amending the constitution. And though 37 states ban recognizig other state's gay marriages, court cases from these states would likely finally have to be heard by the federal courts. This thrills me, both because homosexuals should thave the right to marry just like anyone else, but because I believe so strongly in the seperation of church and state.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031119)
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11/20/2003 - Yeah-yeah. I don't want to talk about it.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031120)
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Heifer Fundraiser
Okay, so this holiday season I'm trying something different. I'm working full-time, and though I'm frantic as far as finding time, my money situation is somewhat stablilized.
And so I'm doing a fund raiser for charity. The Charity I chose is Heifer International. Their basic principle is that rather than giving relief in form of "milk", do it in "cows" (give a man a fish, and he's fed today, teach 'im to fish, and he's fed for a lifetime.) So yeah,they seem to do good work. And plus, Susan Sarandon digs it. :)
Anyhow, how this all started was that I needed some legal work done this summer, and my attorney, Peter Alessandria, graciously said that, in lieu of paying him, I should give $100 to charity. And this got me to thinking (aside from, "jeeze my attorney is the cat's meow"), that maybe I could do something more with this. And so it sparked this concept.
So, firstly, you can donate to this through paypal or the Moodycow Store. All of this money (outside of bank fees) will go to the fund. (If this inspires you to give directly to Heifer International, email me and tell me how much, so we can add it to the tally)
Secondly, between now and New Years, I'm selling holiday cards for $10 for a set of 12 (I've already bought a $10 set for myself, as has Bethanne), the cards are blank inside and come with envelopes. The cost of printing and envelopes and shipping is just under $3, so all the rest (my labor here is totally free) goes to the fund.
Thirdly, between now and New Years, every order for Bruno books from the Moodycow Store will include a blank card (with envelope), and I will donate one dollar from the order to the fund.
Fourthly, I was auctioning... but now it's over, so I did auction off the drawing for the card on ebay, and every penny (excluding again, ebay fees and postage) will go in the fund.
Also, of note. Being a lifelong vegetarian, and although I don't oppose eating meat, I'm hoping to go for a animal used more for it's milk, wool, eggs, etcetera, rather than for the meat. Something like a goat or a llama. Maybe even a water buffalo.
Anyhow, that's my big idea. I hope you consider chipping in (and/or telling someone you know to participate). And I hope this all goes well. And I want to thank Bethanne for helping me photocopy and chop and fold the cards, as well as helping me formulate all this and give me supportive hugs and such.
My best, -Christopher
Oh, and here's the picture for sale and on the cards:
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031123)
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11/26/2003
Well, a few things are drifting through my head. And first, as could only be expected, is candy corn.
I had a couple of Europeans ask me "WTF" is candy corn? Well, being that corn is a plant native to the Americas, and since it is just a ghastly sugary lump, i can understand why this may never had crossed your candy store counters. Well, folks, here it is:
The web only seems to tell me what they originally were made of, that being sugar, water, corn syrup, and some marshmallow. I know artificial colors must be in there, plus other stuff. Companies seem to love putting other stuff in. They're kinda' waxy, or chewy, or something. Addictively sweet, but after a handful, you are so done, you're writhing.
So... my job. Well, you know how two days ago I said "I'm working full-time, and though I'm frantic as far as finding time, my money situation is somewhat stablilized."? Well, I certainly have plenty of time now. I was a temp-to-hire at the title company, and even though they liked my work, the housing market slowed down very suddenly, and they let the three most recent temp-to-hires go. One was me. Oye-vey. But don't worry, I have enough saved to get through December, so hopefully I'll find something before then.
The Bruno/Heifer drive has been going really well. Almost $400 at this point. I feel great that I've had this avenue for organizing this. Of having all of you, you who have done this. And yeah, I've busted my butt, I've donated money mysef (as well as this bieng largely income I could have garnered for msyelf), but just think, it's going to people who really need it more than me. That, my friends, is a good thing. That is worth it.
On related topic, I did originally think that Heifer International was a secular organization, and I did receive a few questions/comments regarding that, as well as asking if the money went directly to the animal chosen, or simply into a pot. i contacted them, and they replied with this:
Heifer International was founded in 1944 by Church of the Brethren educator Dan West. His vision of a worldwide program to end hunger and poverty was born of his Christian faith. From the beginning, this vision has encompassed all spiritual paths and all people who understood that to serve God, we serve our brothers and sisters. Today, Heifer is comprised people of many faiths working together around the world to realize its vision.
We do not ask for any faith statement from project partners. We are at present working with Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Animists, Communists and Christians (Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant). Almost all staff in the 49 countries where we have programs are native to the country being served. Their religious beliefs vary widely, but they share our commitment of helping hungry people to help themselves.
Gifts for animals, such as llamas or bees, are pooled and used in whichever llama or bee project needs them most. If all the llama or bee projects are fully funded, we will than use the money to fund another category. We do this to ensure that all the animal projects are fully funded as opposed to some having excess funds not being used and some not being funded.
Sheila Wright
I think they seem to be a pretty good organization, and I am satisfied with these answers. I think religion throughout time has been a huge force in helping the needy, it's been a motivator for so many good things on this planet, and I think that's great; I only become wary of aid which comes with religious strings attached. And I'm glad they don't seem to do that, although I'm sure, guessing from their reply, that it happens sometimes on a case-by-case basis.
Anyhow, I'll be spending a lot of time now digging in on getting the Little Dee ready to self-syndicate, again assuming that the few syndicates which I haven't heard from, that I likely won't.
(link: http://www.brunostrip.com/notes/200311.html#20031126)
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