Category: Blogposts

Posts not connected to a comic… sometimes information, sometimes just ranting, it’s a bit of a gamble when you read these.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #4176

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Bruce

4176I know the world is divided into three camps: the luddites, the non-Apple users, and the Apple users.  Those who dislike Apple have their reasons.  Those who love Apple have their reasons.  Luddites? They can’t read this so who cares.

My first computer ever- was an Apple II+ It had a cassette tape drive and a whopping 48k of memory.  We’d play things like Beneath Apple Manor- an adventure game in which you traveled through a dungeon taking on monsters and gathering treasure.  You were a white, flashing square.  The monsters were a colored square. You used the keyboard to move and fight.  It was a computer, and I learned a few things from it.  Most importantly- I learned I hated the way it worked. Yes, I hated working on a computer.

Once I was introduced to the Mac I saw how simple an interface could be and there was no going back.  Intuitive, and it just worked.  I’ve been a Mac owner since 1984.  I know people can list off thousands of reasons to not buy anything from Apple.  Don’t waste your time on me- I’m part of the cult, I have drunk the Kool-Aid. There’s no saving me now, just move on. Heck, I had a Newton that should tell you how far gone I am.  I like what I like, and like simplicity.

Oh, and one more thing… Here’s to whatever Apple is announcing today, it might not be Earth shattering, but I’m guessing it will be, in some small way game changing.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #4023

Posted on September 8, 2015 by Bruce

4023More than meets the eye?!? Allow me a brief (or long winded, I haven’t decided yet) trip into nostalgia land. I hate saying “When I was a kid” because I feel that somewhere in that hides “Get off my lawn!” That said when I was kid toys were toys and cartoons were cartoons. We didn’t have any of your fancy Cartoon Networks, or Nickelodeons. We had Saturday morning cartoons. Yes, we could only watch cartoons on Saturdays. Fine, local stations usually showed cartoons in the afternoon after school let out- around the time they now have lurid talk shows. I prefer cartoons and the sometime classic movie. That said some cartoons were tied into a toy line (Hot Wheels comes to mind) but besides that, as far as I recall there wasn’t much overlap. As I grew older (please note: I didn’t say “grew up”) cartoons became more and more tied to cartoons, with the cartoons being just 30 minute commercials. G.I. Joe shrank, but he got his own show. No more boot lockers filled with clothes and accessories.  No more dating Barbie. My little brothers were growing up during the height of this. I remember fondly my baby brother pulling a stick from the back of his shirt, holding it above his head, and shouting “By the power of Greyskull!” Besides He-Man another biggie was Transformers. I never really understood the appeal. I liked some of the anime coming out of Japan that had transforming planes fighting alien invaders, but Transformers just seemed a little silly.
As I look back, I still don’t see the appeal, but that’s me. If collecting transforming robots makes you happy- go right ahead. Just don’t tease me about my comic books, or my phaser, or my action figures, or my LEGO, or…

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #5556

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Bruce

5556You knew it had to happen some time… MINIon Elvis. I swear this one has been on my list since the start, but since I have a failing memory and rarely write down my ideas I really can’t say.  It was hard to choose which Elvis I would draw – young Elvis, or the Las Vegas era Elvis.  I chose the latter because of peanut butter and banana sandwiches.  Thank you, thank you very much.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1218

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Bruce

1218When news of Disney’s purchase of Lucasfilm first came out I remember drawing Obi Wan with mouse ears saying “I feel a great disturbance in the Force” I probably wasn’t the first one to come up with it, but I thought it was clever. Since that time we’ve seen what happens when the full might of Mouse is a part of something… They bought Marvel Comics & we end up with a bunch of good superhero movies. They bought Star Wars & we end up with the same feeling I had when I was waiting for Empire or Return… As Han Solo said in the trailer “Chewie were home.”

This doesn’t mean that I’m not scared. I waited in line to see Phantom Menace and was disappointed, with each prequel. Someone online recut all three films into one, and people said it was actually good. J J Abrams rebooted Star Trek and while some disliked the whole alternate timeline bit, it made some sense to be able to ditch all that continuity and return to the core. But if the Death Star goes into a wormhole to emerge at the beginning of Star Wars… I’m out.

This really isn’t about Star Wars, its about Disney’s influence over pop culture… While it causes kids to sing “Let it go!” for months, is it really that bad?  Sue and I used to go to Disneyworld pretty much annually.  My first Lilly Fellowship involved spending close to a month at Disneyworld learning the art of animation.  We attended the first Mickey & MINI and few more after that. Anytime we felt down, we’d pick up the phone and call 1-407-WDISNEY and make reservations. Disney does it right, more importantly treats you right, and as long as you go with the expectation that things will most likely be overpriced, you can enjoy yourself.  We slowed down on Disney trips when we came to the realization that you could fly to Europe for the cost of a Disney vacation.  Does that mean we’ll never go back?  No way.  When the Star Wars Land opens I’ll be there, staying at whatever hotel they build close to the park, basking in the atmosphere created by Imagineers to help me forget the troubles I have in the real world and enter a galaxy far, far away…

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0301

Posted on September 3, 2015 by Bruce

0301I’ve gone fast (for me), usually on a race track. I have discovered that after a certain speed, I don’t feel like I’m completely in control and I slow down to where I feel comfortable. There’s a point where I’d suggest turning interstates into autobahns where there is no speed limit. Darwin will prevail. Then again, that might be the first step to turning thing into something like “Along the Scenic Route” by Harlan Ellison, so maybe not.

I recall finally getting to drive (a few feet) on the Bonneville Salt Flats, it wasn’t fast, but the pictures were nice.

MINI Takes The States 2012- the somewhat damp salt flats.
MINI Takes The States 2012- the somewhat damp salt flats.

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1946

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Bruce

1946Besides the Lunch Lady Comic Series which my students love, almost everyone complains about school lunches. I don’t really remember school lunches until I was in 4th grade and they served what seemed like cardboard with ketchup and cheese and called it pizza. As I teacher I see the balancing act in the cafeteria of trying to meet Federal guidelines, and creating something that kids would eat. They try, but kids, are kids- most don’t want to try anything new, so chicken nuggets win out.

 

A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0831

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Bruce

0831Many of my friends camp- be that with a tent, or a camper of various sophistication. Funny, for growing up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, my version of “camping” is a lot more primitive. I started in Boy Scouts when I was in fourth grade and was an Eagle Scout with various honors before I graduated from junior high school. It didn’t hurt that my dad was scoutmaster, and my mom was advancement chair. It seemed that the meetings to approve advancement fell on the exact days I needed them to… imagine that.
That said, my idea of camping consists of hiking around 7 miles, pitching a tent, and hanging out for a day. Hiking back and stopping off (smelling bad) at a McDonalds on the way home. I learned that a nice frozen New York Strip will thaw out appropriately at the top of your backpack after about a seven mile hike, and be ready for grilling. I know, freeze dried almost anything, tastes like nothing meant to be ingested. I’ve canoed and climbed, been lost in High Sierras, and tackled the gurgly monster. I’m a member of the Royal Order of the Moose, and Order of the Arrow. I have my Seven League Boot for hiking over 100 miles. I had a really great time gaining these experiences with dear old Troop 274, which now allow me to say “I’m staying at the lodge” when friends suggest camping. 🙂
Happy trail mix day, because without trail mix most people on the trail would die. Although growing up I was finicky, so my trail mix could not have nuts… Yes, I was a wimp.