 Anybody know a good road bike?
posted by Dante on 4.4.2004 - 11:24 pm
I went shopping for road bikes today, and it really can be a boggling experience. Carbon-fiber, steel, alumininum, titanium ... possibly a blend of 2 or more. After that decision, you at least know what the frame is made of, now you're like 5% done with the decision. What size and shape do you need for the frame? And then you start talking about components. Anyone who's shopped for road bikes knows the progression from sora, tiagra, 105, ultegra, dura-ace. And again, there can be a blend of any of those 5 types in each of like 5 places on the bike. Wheels, pedals, saddle, the customizations are incredible. I am sure a novice computer user would feel the same way when they were shopping for their first custom-built computer, but really folks. When it comes to a bike, where does it all end?
With 2 advils and a nap. I'll go back next weekend when the headache dies down. I'll let everyone know what decision is made. If someone has advice, I'm all ears.
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 fun with spherical optics
posted by Christopher on 4.5.2004 - 8:45 am
i have to say i really enjoyed drawing this week's installment. i put a lot more effort into the lighting and effects than i did into drawing backgrounds, and i'm happy with the result. backgrounds (like those seen in strip 25) eat up the majority of production time on a strip... each object has to be sketched, inked, colored and shaded - all the way down to the 8-pixel-tall pyramid vial of who-knows-what. detailed backgrounds are necessary in some cases, but i'm finding that it doesn't need to happen in every panel, and that's allowing me time to put efforts elsewhere.
i'm really happy with this one as a whole. i like the way esmeralda came out (especially the hair), and i had a lot of fun with fabric folds. dante an i even went to the local spiritual bookstore (read: hippie-mart :) to have a look at crystal balls to see how the optics work. i think i got reasonably close in panel 4. overall, i think this is one of the better ones, and another milestone in the evolution of the art of the strip. yay!
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this guy is a genius
posted by Christopher on 4.5.2004 - 9:09 am
dennis hope sells property on the moon. and he seems to legally be allowed to do this because of deprecated clauses in the constitution that deal with staking claims, and the fact that nobody has ever complained about him. he actually claimed the entire moon for himself, (and mars and venus as well) and registered it in a couple of countries, and he's been selling acres of it (apparently over 2 million of them) for $20 since 1980.
it's really hard to tell if this guy truly believes that he's selling actual chunks of celestial bodies. the interviews i've read suggests he either does, or is a good actor. the beautiful part is this: whether or not he believes it, and whether or not the people who buy from him believe it, he's already made at least four hundred million dollars off the venture with very little overhead. and... it's likely that his great grandchildren will have passed on before anyone comes back seeking retribution if nobody honors his claims. even so, who the hell is going to sue over $20US? (this isn't even taking into consideration that $20 will barely get you a pack of gum by the time we're colonizing the moon)
it's cheap, it's a cute gift, and who knows, maybe it'll hold water in a few hundred years. either way, this guy can't lose.
The Lunar Embassy can be found here if you're interested.
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