I’m looking for a few good comics.
I mean that in two ways.
First is easy. Link me to your favorite webcomics that you never miss a day reading. As I’ve said in the past, certain things have transpired to drop my webcomics reading down to only a few regulars (goats, PA, Achewood, sometimes Mall Monkeys, Ghastly’s Ghastly Comic (which is totally worksafe, by the way, and if you don’t believe that, maybe it’s time to find a job at a porn company) or Joy of Tech). Going to the con and not having a clue about any mainstream comics (because I was never interested much in mainstream comics) OR many online comics was a sort of downer for me. Consequently, leading up to the con and following it, I’m trying to pick up webcomics reading again. (Now I’ve got the Morning Improv, Creatures in my Head, Something Positive, PvP, Diesel Sweeties, and … and…) And that’s where your help comes in. Let me know what I should be reading.
I’m thinking of starting to read some of the MT/serializer comics again (such as Pup and True Loves); their interface is much improved since I last used it, though still bandwith-hogging. But I don’t know which other ones to try until you tell me. Because trying them takes a long time on dial-up. I’m also willing today to give Keen a new chance, so feel free to link me to Keen comics, if you love them.
Now the second thing, the one that’s less easy.
I’m looking to put together a “Premium” section of Modern Evil, which will be in addition to all the currently updating and existing content on Modern Evil. That is, all the blogs will remain free, the comics archives, the poetry, the reviews, all will remain free, and I don’t see any reason why they all won’t keep getting updated at the rate they are now (sporadically, ::wink::). In addition, there will be all new, hopefully exciting content. I’m personally planning on doing a regular comic (regular on a calendar, not regular like ‘normal’) either three or five days a week. I’m also planning on making my re-written novel available in PDF format in the Premium section. Edison tells me he’ll be able to get one New Comic out every month (in which you can find out how he finally got back to me). The completed ‘Mouse’ Project (still looking for artists!) will be Premium content. I’m in talks with other creators at this time about other forms of content (collected and/or epic poetry, short stories, long fiction, and yes, more comics) that may also be included in the “Premium” section of Modern Evil.
And that’s where I need some help. See, I plan to use BitPass to charge micropayments (sub one dollar payments, potentially as low as a penny) for access to the “Premium” content. Which means that the people who create Premium content will actually be able to earn a little money for their efforts. No pay schedule as yet has been finalized, so don’t ask. (unless you’re applying, re:) I’m looking to have not less than three regularly updating comics in the Premium section, preferably three I’m not directly involved in the creation of. Which means that if you’re interested in doing an online comic, are already doing an online comic and want to join the Modern Evil community, or know someone who might be interested in doing a regularly updating online comic for Modern Evil’s upcoming “Premium” section, email me: teel@modernevil.com
Now, I’m not looking (yet) to expand the site to Keen or MT proportions, hosting dozens of comics and looking to build a ‘media empire’. So if you don’t already have examples of your work available online, you’ll need to send me something to show me what your work looks like, plus a synopsis of what you plan to do. I want to select the best few comics (probably not more than 5, likely fewer) of quality and demeanor that fit in with Modern Evil (look around; the bar isn’t too high, just high enough). I am planning on launching the “Premium” section of Modern Evil on or around September 1st, so that’s the deadline for this round of submissions. Keep in mind that if you submit your idea on August 31st at 11:59PM and I love it, it probably won’t make the launch, though it will likely be added sooner or later.
Oh, and I’m not just looking for comics, and I’m not just looking for “Premium” content. I’m already in talks with an existing online comics creator about mirroring his comic on Modern Evil for free, and would be glad to discuss hosting new and interesting comics by authors who have no interest in money. Plus, as you can see if you look around Modern Evil, it isn’t just comics. I will also be accepting submissions for all other media; Poetry, Reviews, Art, Fiction, Music, Written Columns, whatever, for both the regular and the “Premium” sections of the site, through September 1st.
Tell your friends, and link about it on your site, even if you aren’t interested. Unless you hate me. Then, link about it twice.
Again, to submit your comic or other idea, send an email to teel@modernevil.com with a description of your ideas. If you’re submitting a comic, be sure to include links to examples of your work online, as well as brief descriptions of your characters, settings, and planned/existing storylines. No matter what you’re submitting, include information about how frequently you plan to update, ie: seven days a week, MWF, weekly, monthly, annually, centennially, etc… Quantity will be considered alongside quality, and may effect the number of submissions accepted. Adult content will be considered, and will undergo close scrutiny for general entertainment value.
So, first today, while it was still raining, I went out and pulled some weeds. There’s a particular type of weed my grandfather is allergic to, so (unless other weeds are in the way of my getting to the weeds I am after) I am seeking out and only pulling these weeds. To save time and effort, and to try to get all of this type of weed removed before they go to seed. Or even blossom, really. Anyway, pictured at right is a leaf from one of these plants, with it’s distinctive five-point leaves. I tried to get a good image of the bud of one that was about to bloom, but it came out blurry. Anyway, while I do not seem to be allergic to this plant, I have been pulling it for several days and my hands are quite unhappy with the activity. So, I wanted to ask any burgeoning horticulturalists out there if they happened to know what the name of this particular plant species is. So that I can have a name for the object of my attentions. A link to a website with a photo and description would be neat, too, if you could find one. I just don’t know where to start.
Next up is a picture of a snake I accidentally ran over with the lawnmower. An hour or so after the rain let up, the grass seemed dry enough to mow, so I proceeded to mow. Which took a while. Just before I was done, I accidentally ran over the snake, pictured at left. I noticed it after I passed over it with the lawn mower and before I stepped on it. I immediately shut off the lawn mower and crouched down for a closer look. The snake was moving a bit at first, but then wiggled slower and slower and twisted itself up slower and slower and stopped. For a while, I thought it might be dead. There was a spot of red on its face, and as it was slowing down, I saw that red blossom out into a copious amount of blood (well, to scale, it seemed copious; it was probably only a couple of drops). After the snake was still for a moment or two, I reached down and grabbed it just behind its head and picked it up to take a closer look. I immediately knew it was still alive. I supported the rest of its body with my left hand, and it sure held on pretty good, twisting up around my hand. It had both its eyes, it could open and close its mouth, and it could stick out its tongue pretty good. It seemed to have stopped bleeding profusely, too. I set it down, it wriggled around some more, into the configuration you see, and stopped again. I photographed it. I tried to offer it live bugs to eat, and I guess I selected the wrong sort of bugs, because it turned and slithered away. I tried a different kind o fbug, and I guess that one was wholly offensive, because it slither away quite fast indeed, right under the house, which I hope is where it lives, rather than where it went to die. Anyway, same thing applies. I don’t know much about snakes, but maybe you do. Tell me what kind of snake that was, and whether you think it’ll be fine. Silly thing probably just shouldn’t have stuck it’s head up under the mower; the rest of it’s body was totally unharmed. (As far as I could tell under close inspection.) Again, a link to a webpage with a photo and description of this type of snake would be appreciated. Thanks.
Finally, we move on from a weed and a snake to a chicken. I don’t have much to say about this chicken, except that yes, they are giving away free chickens. They used to give out free kittens from that same cage, and they went like hotcakes. If you know how and are interested in slaughtering and preparing a live chicken for food (or if for some reason you want a fully grown chicken for a pet) it’s available right here in Pine at the Old Settler’s Shops, 3972 N. Highway 87. If you don’t see the chicken on the porch, ask Gary or Becky in the 1882 log cabin; last time I was at their place they had quite a few chickens. Some were polydactyl. Now, I don’t care what kind of chicken this is, but if you can give some sort of understanding about people who, when visiting a small town in the Rim Country, and an antiques/collectibles store in that small town, one would take home a live chicken, I would be grateful.
Second, earlier today I helped my grandfather a little with moving a very heavy thing, pictured on the right. If it seems a little blurry, it is because it is a paint shaker in the act of shaking that can of paint. Look at the design of this thing. At the various colors of peeling paint. At the layers of built up grease and grime that give it character. Appreciate the way they don’t make things anymore.
Enjoy the photo on the left. There’s been