http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:CaffeinatedFrog&section=today deviantART RSS for by:CaffeinatedFrog en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:40:09 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/26724816/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/26724816/ Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:44:55 PDT

I said I'd review Watchmen. I lied. But instead, I have a story of racism, satire and the human condition.
And really, really cool special effects. With aliens. Hoyeah.

District 9, from the actual filming angle, is a mixture of documentary, handheld rattle and roll, and your usual movie camera. The different styles worked together seamlessly to my eye (and hamster-like brain), while the news clips and interviews built up both the characters and their world. Which, just to say, is one where a space craft halted inexplicably over Johannesburg in the 80's, hung around doing a disturbing amount of nothing, then was cut open to reveal a starving, sickly population of aliens. These clawed, tentacled, mandibled, antennaed and unusually upholstered (segmented exoskeleton, yes plz) creatures are then "rescued" by the good folks at MNU, a not-at-all sinister global corporation. The prawns, as they're soon dubbed, are placed in a refugee camp (that title one) that gradually, as tensions build between the aliens and surrounding human population, becomes a squalid walled in ghetto, lorded over by Nigerian gangs who exploit the aliens, selling them meat and catfood (their favorite) in return for weapons of incredible power - that, to the frustration of the human race, are biologically tuned to only work in the hands of the prawns. Hoho, gotcha. Now cough up the Whiskas.
In the present day we're introduced to Wikus van der Merwe, (say it Vickus) an MNU cog who's eager, somewhat naive and, typical of this reality, a condescending racist jerkoff in concern to the local crustaceans. His father in law and employer at MNU has given him the job of leading the movement to relocate the prawns to District 10, a "newer, bigger, better" camp farther from the city. However, an accident in District 9 will tear Wikus' world to pieces and lead him to question everything he thinks he knows about the nonhumans - and himself.
Wikus is played by first time actor Sharlto Copley. I didn't know that until afterward, and it was a heck of a surprise - Wikus' journey is incredible to watch, both because of the emotional and physical intensity. Though the character we meet at the beginning of the movie is certainly contemptible at points, he's still sympathetic if only because of his ignorance and the terrible betrayal it leads to. The aliens themselves are really incredible - close up shots of bizarre golden eyes and fidgeting tentacles don't usually make for much, but here there's some very moving personality. Gore, alien guns and some grisly prosthetic work make up the remainder of movie magic. There were no obviously weird moments where the effects looked out of place, which is pretty impressive considering how much there was; this went a long way towards creating a believable reality, so much so that when we see Wikus trying to get signatures from bipedal seafood it's satire rather than just a joke. There are scenes like that, displaying a razor-sharp sense of hypocrisy and ironic giggle-making, and then there's ones that honestly disturb. The obvious message is there, but it's not being beaten in. The film is a story with a statement, rather than the other way around.

Overall - Buying it. Like the supreme special feature version. And that's coming from a starving student.
Gripe - Apparently not built off a set script, which could explain a slightly trimmed feeling - as if some extra developmental moments were snipped onto the cutting room floor.
Best Bit - Toughie. It made me love aliens again.*


*For the first time since Jar Jar Binks... it makes you feel so used.. *tear*


I will start updating this gallery eventually - right now life is INSANE, because, holy crap, in something like two weeks I'm actually going to university. That does not excuse the past... four months? But the quiet shall be broken, soon. Ish.
Thanks for reading, if you sat through it! Hope you enjoy the movie anyway .

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/23770822/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/23770822/ Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:14:14 PDT
I will now attempt to summarize the gaping void that has been the last few months of artlessness in three bullets. Go.

1) I made a portfolio. It went to a university. A phone call back would be nice, sometime in April.

2) Our school has an art teacher, for reals. He's an actual artist as in he makes money, and is also an awesome guy. Pretty much the glorious shining sun of enlightenment to my eager knowledge-seeking brain-garden.

3) Spent St. Patty's evening with my best bud, soaking my hideously blistered feet in the tub whilst drinking Bailey's on some pebbles to numb the pain. A good night, besides the rupturing. Oh sweet leprechauns jigging on toadstools, the rupturing.

NEXT TIME - WATCHMEN. WATCH THEM.

*skimhalfsweetcinnamondolceplz.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/13911277/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/13911277/ Sat, 28 Jul 2007 08:06:10 PDT OR, You Can Buy Anything In Gatwick

ALSO, Now I Know Who Dies And Am NOT Happy About It

Well. Italy was cool (in a way that means it was very very hot, and what the HECK is with our travel plans? Can't we ever manage to go somewhere that's NOT having a massive heat wave for the first time in years?!?). Fun stuffs:

-Fudding pigeons in St. Mark's Square (and not getting shat on)

-Teaching a grade twelve American girl (gonna be a surgeon, according to her mummy) how to open a scampi

-Walking Palatine Hill with Ian from Glasgow

-Totally burning feet on astroturf while playing soccer in three languages by the sea (JE PARLER EN FRANCAIS!!!!!*)

-Being in field of MASSIVE Tuscan sunflowers

There were a lot more, right, but whatevar etc. As an honorable mention, hearing my German uncle describe "de froots und de wedgetables" was pretty great.

Rome sits around 37 degrees plus, so we conked out to read in the afternoon - I found a Jack the Ripper book, and it was okay. Blamed it all on a poor dead guy named Walter Sickert. But he did some wicked art, and looking through those other British School guys like Leighton and Edwin Landseer totally appeals to my inner uberartdork. Artwise I've been feeling really shaky and gross for months now (explaining big fat lack of new stuff) and I'm hoping checking out some of this stuff (and a couple new ideas that could work with it) will help right me out! Hopefully. Until later, folks!


<sub>*btw in case is not obvious, AH CARNT SHPEEK FRINCH**

**or shmitalian</sub>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In more sombre news, mon petit lapin has passed on. He joins his gay lover in a tastefully decorated San Franciscan loft, and will be missed for his gimlet eyes, soft neck hair, and those sharp and pointy teeths.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/12661668/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/12661668/ Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:47:31 PDT
Somewhere around Spring Break, I: Drew a wulf. Was not so great, so turned the page. Drew a girl. Also not so great. Dumped sketching.

Later (But still around SB): Decided to learn to draw wolves right. Drew two. Second one bit better, was encouraged, drew paws. Paws were pretty gross, so drew a guy. Guy was pretty gross too, so drew another wolf - third wolf not so hot as second one, so dumped sketching.

Later again: Filled page with guys. Added pleasingly plumpy Asian grandmother character, because brother was watching the God-smacking American Dragon. Realized was major stereotype (and ugful, can't draw nice old ladies), so stopped and drew girl. Could not draw an Asian face, so stopped. Guy faces were sick anyhow.

After Spring Break: Page of wolves, and ferret because friend with natural-hair-toque owns one and has strange dreams about it. Wolves look a) like foxes, b) kind of okay, or c) stoned. A little scribbly one was nice.

Also then: Watched Ghost and the Darkness , drew lions. Lions actually not all that bad - but pushed luck and tried to draw more. First ones still okay though. On way back from grandparents saw insanely cool cloud thing, drew in the dark but still fun. Otherwise, page totally blank! *paper wasting glee*

At home: Tried to draw guys. Did not finish face of one, but the other looked depressish. Turned page. Drew girl, was very gross, drew another one. Erased lips endlessly, before dumping sketching.
Later, jawline, unfinished guy, two very unhappy arms.

Blank page of mystery.

Last... week's: Halfy page of people. One old man, not so great. One girl, looks like she has a very unpleasant personality or has smelled something really disgusting. Drew guy either crying into hands or with extremely bad headache (that may be making him cry into his hands), but did not finish.

Art P: Blew brain artery thinking about what to do for art project. So drew goats (can't draw goats, btw) shepherdess girl, and shepherdess girl being dead/eaten. Considered counseling, but like student help teacher too much. So drew lion-things instead - one and a halfish. Were weird.

Persons: Was watching Criminal Minds, and drew the blond agent girl to get out of unable-to-draw-own-gender funk. Actually worked - though she looks like a twelve year old with boobs. Half-drew some more girls, and guy, and tried for that Hannibal Rising actor - none too good. Also drew disembodied smile - left it there when got irritated and hormonal.

Uglee: Weird geometrical hands - uck. Wolf - okay until eyes. Guys - still pretty gross. One arm not so bad, but face clinched failage. Turned page and tried to get Hannibal Rising kid's spidery body down, but did not. Also scribbled dog - was okay. Next page = face, half-assed wolf.

Next page: Tried to draw people kissing (was trying not to be pervy and sitting around watching couples). Pretty sick.

Friend: Drew pally undercover as Mexican Oddjob. Turned page when got home, drew girl faces that were bad, then bad girl bodies to go with. And page of guys. Pretty much all were disgusting - one not so bad. Drew monster, and monster hand - much love. Also drew guy hands that were fun and funklyful. Next page, more monsters! Couple of wolves, not so good. But monsters bigger, so could safely ignore. Moseyed through sketchbook, drew hood eating person (it was HUGE), girl that's probably the best I've ever ever done, and not so good girl and hand. And a guy in a Hazmat suit holding a kid over a bucket with tongs. It was Science class.

Easter Afterglow: Brother got Avatar DVDs for Easter, so tried to draw Avatar poses. Uck. Dropped down to just violence, and drew guy getting elbowed in chest - actually liked a lot until I got to the guy doing the elbowing. Love died, so drew guy getting kicked in face. Gratuitous blood spray. Then turned page and drew animal skulls, then Irish Elk skull. More skull animals on next page. And next page, plus dove for Mexican Oddjob friend. Then strange women, but not so bad. Next page was guys and bird skull wearing something. Was very fun, and totally got me Zenified.

Now you know.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/11765709/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/11765709/ Sat, 10 Feb 2007 21:11:47 PST FLEE!!!

First: I actually do have stuff to upload. Really. Really really.

Second: Oh, holy wows, the first Blacksad is fantastic too. I couldn't even pretend that I'm worthy of it. People like me don't dare review things like that. *worships*

Third: Spirited Away is incredible. Hayao Miyazaki is proof that anime can be real art, and now I have a buddy to watch his movies with! LEIK OMG AFF!!*

Fourth: Those Hannibal Rising trailers both make me want to throw up into my skull behind my eyes, just so I don't have to watch them, and see it really bad. Wonder how that works.

Last, I swear: For anyone who knows of my rabbit, (the one who cannot die, for his hatred of all other living things sustains him) he is soon to be eight years old. That's three years longer than that maximum they told my dad, which, according to my new vet who DIDN'T KILL MY DOG, makes him very, very old. And he just got his teeth clipped, which makes them extra sharp, and he's apparently grown a little, pointy, "supernumerary"** tooth. If he was an action figure, he would be the Commando Dwarfie, Model 8, With Supernumerary Combat Tooth Accessory, Die-Cast Doom Fangs and 6 Trillion Points of Violent Articulation. Warning: Is not intended for small children. Has been known to cause a bloody death hazard. $12.99 plus tax, coming to a store near you!

I'll go draw something now. If you're still reading, I'm very, very sorry for any damage your brain may have suffered. I don't know much first aid, so the only way I can help you now is to stuff paper tissues up your nose to keep your butchered brain from leaking down through it. GO AND SEE A DOCTOR!!

*Anime Friends Forevar. Now we do the super-secret handshake.
**I'm guessing this means it has super math skills. This could be wrong. Just maybe.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/11335429/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/11335429/ Sat, 06 Jan 2007 10:05:08 PST
JARRING AND FREAKISH TOPIC CHANGE, HO!

The rats are actually using their wheel now, which makes it not a waste (yay!). I've been trying to get pictures of them, but am worried about the flash... without flash, it's blurry, with flash, they could get eye damage or something. And one of them is already OCD, so that would not be helpful to her situation. But they are wonderful and I will hold them and pet them and hug them and squeeze them and I shall name them George and love them foreeever.

If nobody else knows what that's from... it will be very sad. I'll cry a little inside.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/11034343/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/11034343/ Mon, 11 Dec 2006 22:13:08 PST
Surprise surprise: David Thewlis is actually a very good actor-probably best known for being the 'stached Lupin in Prisoner of Azkaban, which, in my mind, colored him a faint, but unmistakable (and unpleasant) shade of vomit. But he plays a very good so-scared-he-may-just-spontaeously-combust-
scrawny-and-unintimidating-guy. Very witsome too, that Douglas-for I'm speakin' of the 1996 movie of The Island of Dr. Moreau, which is probably popularly viewed as absolute video trash. But I like it, and without the brain-busting abyss of satellite programming, I'd never have seen it. Amazing what you can find when there's nothing else on. But Val Kilmer kills a bunny and that's not okay. Marlon Brando is very weird, but that's totally fine because he's Marlon Brando. And David Thewlis=moustacheless cool.

The ramble is now over. More Christmas artses to come. And Prestige. And Douglas, 'cos he'd be fun. And probably some drorings of my lovelies, Izzy and Elliott, who are Christmas rats born on Thanksgiving (Canayjun) and are mine which is AWSHUM.

The .25 of a ramble is now over. Time for rodent-frog bonding. Shalom for nows.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/10598710/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/10598710/ Thu, 02 Nov 2006 22:08:21 PST
New developments that you will not care about in my life:

1) One of my bestest buddies is a mad klepto, and steals my pens compulsively, only to give them back twenty seconds later after first taking them apart and removing important bits. He then proceeds to snatch the remains repeatedly until he has enough parts removed to reassemble the pen on his desk. Then he returns them. He may be a wee bit mad, but that's okay.

2) Apparently another of my male friends finds the idea of me torturing someone via electric shock fingers to the head quite hilarious. But when he does it, he uses a British accent, while I can only do it in a Scottish one. Apparently this is also funny. it is not only funny because he is a boy, because my female friends laugh themselves silly over it too. All my efforts to understand this phenomena have met with failure. More research is required.

3) Christian Bale is pure awesomeness, and doesn't even look that funny with a twirly moustache and goatee. Hugh Jackman is also cool. The Prestige is, besides a teensy-weensy-massively-huge-plot-hole-of-doom, totally sweet. And better than the book.

Don't say I didn't warn you. In the way of drawinks, more Grimm illos to come. Prestige fanart being considered.

Until next time, it's back to the drawing board.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/10352073/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/10352073/ Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:59:11 PDT
Sorry for the lack of responses recently! I'm gonna start on it pronto. And in the way of deviations, there should be something coming soon. Hopefully very, very soon. *cackles evilly*

And so the ultra-short return journal ends. :mwahahaha:

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9902605/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9902605/ Wed, 30 Aug 2006 00:09:17 PDT

On to the bulk of the journ-el. Jademacalla, I do hope you can find it in your (according to Mr. Don, tomato-sized) heart to forgive me for how outrageously late I am with the review of Portfolio, which I promised many moons ago. I wish I wasn't such a loser, really I do, and I should have done this earlier. You deserve better, and I suck. First off: If your name ever shows up next to "Directed by" on a theatre poster, the film and several backup copies will be showing up on my bill as "Preordered Movie Magic". And I'll take notes from the director's commentary. And the extra interviews. Of course, it may be just as likely that you're the next face on the cover of Secret Rulers of the World magazine, for with your mastery of both stock photography and wonderfully sarcastic film-making truly anything is possible. Portfolio should be at the top of everyone's internet favourites-at least, if they have a pulse and love to laugh. Those other sorts don't matter (Death tends to dampen your sense of humour, I'm thinking.). Regardless of how the dearly departed think of your work, I'm sure that the living public get a huge kick out of it. Quite honestly, there are a thousand-and-one-and-their-brother's far less interesting, cool, fresh, innovative and enjoyable ways to learn about the many faces of art than from your show. You're a fantastic host, with equal (and complimenting) parts clever humour and creative genius. The insight you bring to your topic is just further proof of how great an artist you are. The only problem that I can see is that they just aren't long enough. I can't wait for the next installment!

Jademacalla, for your great services to the art community, we salute you. Then we stand and cheer!

For anyone who managed to somehow avoid the brilliance, here is a link to the definitive art blog that is Portfolio: [link] ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9479818/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9479818/ Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:12:51 PDT
First off, Germany is an uber-fantasmic country. Deer tastes scrummy. Everything that can be made with mushrooms is (*drools happily*), pretzels are spelled with a b and no t, and gelato is fantabulously tasty. And them castley things are just about the coolest. ICH LIEBE DEUTSCHLAND!

Secondly, I shall soon foist upon my poor, abused devwatchers a collection of FO-tos of things. German things. Some Austrian things. A couple of Swiss things.

Thirdly. Am embarking on a joyous foray into animation with a man who truly knows his gumbo. The fruits of these labours may be rearing their monstrous heads sometime in the future.

Fifthly, I do not like the number four. So there. PS the Thirdly, these animations will be, for the most part, centered on the theme of animal conservation and the World Wildlife Federation and may even be entered (squee!) in this big Canadian youth film festival. But regardless of whether these will be displayed here, conceptual scribblings will.

Sixthly, find the trailer for The Prestige. Do it. Now. Watch. Drink in. Savour. Now, wait four months for it to come into theatres.

Seventhly. Mourn Peter Benchley. I was unaware that this literary master had, this last February, passed away. The sharks of the world are probably still grieving. We have lost an amazing member of our species.

This journal is as wretchedly scant as the preferred prey of Ripper (Jack the) because I have so many bizaddled things bouncing within the grey matter that I am finding it utterly impossible to complete a single, coherent brainwave without falling off my mental surfboard. But, be sure, they shall come later. Run while you still can.

*I bonked my head. Fellow Spongebobbers may recognize this one. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9229236/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9229236/ Fri, 30 Jun 2006 07:43:50 PDT Music: Irish fiddlers Kevin Burke and Ged Foley

Howdy there, folks. I'm fleeing the country. From the 1st of July to the 23rd, I'm going to be embarking on the GGE (Great German Excursion), so I will not be updating and unable to respond to any glorious new deviations from those I'm watching. So, if you read this, my lack of commenting and favage is explained. Prepare to be inundated with photos when I return.

GER! MAN! EE!

GER! MAN! EE!

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Katie, pick something you want a picture of! Otherwise you'll end up with a shot of the Frankfurt Beer Museum, or a collection of sausages from 1802. Garlic sausages. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9172765/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/9172765/ Sat, 24 Jun 2006 20:37:34 PDT

First off, there must be at LEAST 6 or 7 new characters, ranging from minor (and the point of general anonymity) to medium-major (and still clinging to that sub-existent presence). Thaaaaat's.... A problem. At least for me. Because regardless of whether they fly, clap their hands and make big noise, or run really fast and have tons of tattoos, these pop-up newbies get almost NO personality. At all. For example: Callisto. She's the tatoo one. And all we EVER get to really know about her is that she doesn't like normal folks very much. Beeg shocker. She's not terribly interesting, in other words. The furry one is Beast: Played by Kelsey Grammar, he's a bigger name and a bigger, bluer character, yet only gets a tad more in the way of characterization. Yeah, he'd rather not shed on the couch, but he doesn't seem to be in a hurry to do anything about it. And something about him being "Minister of Mutant Affairs", a jazzy little title that may even show up on his pens or coffee mugs or something. Our next novice X-man seemed to show up EVERYWHERE in the advertisements; he had a chunk of TV trailer all to himself, for the love a' cheese! Yet, in the movie, his presence is virtually all of ten minutes. "Angel", (I'm sure you can guess his power) in fact, gets no official codename at all. They just call him Warren (About twice. In two hours that's not quite enough.). And he even starts it off! Remember how those other Xmen movies have those crazed, special effects laden credits at the beginning? Well, what we're seeing this time jumps off of a rather brilliant springboard scene in -I wouldn't a guessed it- a bathroom. And in this bathroom, a twelve or something aged Warren Worthington the third (they're creative, them rich families) is making a last ditch, incredibly painful effort to rid himself of a pair of rather astounding, feathered features as his rather perturbed daddy (the second Warren) forces his way in, as parents tend to do at bad moments. Whoever the kid was, all seven minutes of his acting was fantastic. See the film, see this scene, revel in the brilliance. DOO IIIIT!!!! The movie at large is spent watching old characters trying to be new (Storm... you're still not impressive, really.) and new characters trying to work with what teensy-weensy scrap of dialogue they can. Some of the old farts are still their good old farty selves, with Wolverine being the same cigar-smokin' butt-kicker we all want for an uncle (or maybe that's just me...) and Magneto still whupping the collective behinds of humanity at large. He throws trucks like tuna cans and plays with national landmarks like a three year old with blocks, and I wish my family had some weird quirk that gave me him for a grandad. Mystique joins him in the whuppage master category, and has an awesome scene of threatening people with death while in the body of a seven year old girl. And the President. And an interrogator. And her own scaly blue awesomeness, which is probably still a very awkward costume (aka virtually nothing) to wear in public, or at least on set. But she does it, darn, she does it in style. Juggernaut, another newbie who happens to be played by Vinnie Jones, (HUZZAH FOR ENGLAND!) is another virtually unknown character, but makes up for it with funny (and British-ness, which contributes to the funny.). As the trailer shows us, Phoenix (aka Jean Grey) is back with a vengeance, (Duh, she's not dead! The girl has MAD TELE-WHATSIT SKILLZ!!!) and spends the movie looking quite coolly evil, destroying random objects, and creating some rather gruesome death scenes. Who’s death? Munch on this special effects laden delight and find out. And if, halfway through, you haven’t tasted the new ingredients yet, don’t worry; you probably swallowed them whole and unnoticed.

If you read this much, you may have died of thirst, starvation, an exploded kidney, or mind-rotting boredom, so then there's no point in asking you to please not charge me with aggravated assault of your brain. However, I will send my sincerest condolences to your next of kin. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8944329/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8944329/ Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:00:59 PDT Music: "The Fallen", Franz Ferdinand

For one thing, them Mayans sure knew how to party. I mean, bloodletting until you had religious hallucinations! Hoo-weee, good times. Gooood times.

And the rut continues. IckARCK. But... the WACOM cometh!!! *head explodes with joy*

...*cleans up exploded head bits* YEAAAAaaaaahhhh. Wacom. I'm still wondering what hit me. On the dog illos; coming quick-fast. If all goes well... meanwhile, I must don the cape of "Research Girl" and skidaddle back to that almighty, monstrous beast known as the internet.


Writer's block is a modern manifestation of Beelzebub. GAH! ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8565408/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8565408/ Sun, 23 Apr 2006 20:45:42 PDT If I had dust allergies, this gallery would kill me. But, believe it or not, there IS a reason for the lack of updates! Part of it is that it was just end of term, which means cram-time for schoolwork; the rest is regarding a hesitant project in the works. Get comfy if you’re sticking around…

If you’ve taken a look-see through my mouldering gallery, you may have noticed a rather recurrent pair of characters, namely a funny lookin’ redhead and a fairly unpleasant reptile. My descriptions being what they are, and these characters being as neglected as they are, you may be wondering as to who exactly "Dr. Curtis Connors" and "The Lizard" are. In fact, for all intents and purposes, they're the same thing. That probably doesn't help explain much in the way of WHO they are as people (...or, maybe more correctly, who they are as person and lizard), but THAT'S what this idea of mine is all about... namely, to explore them as the comic book characters they are by making a comic myself. Now, I don't know how much time this would take to be fully realized (the script's already in progress, and so far it looks to be rather a lengthy thing) but I'm feelin' pretty gung-ho at the prospect; now I need to know if anyone would actually be even the tiniest bit interested. So, I beg you to come forwards and present any opinion you have as you will, because I'd really like the feedback.

In the meantime (is this 'un long or whaaat??), a mini-series is on the way; this group of drawings will be a very wannabe Guarnido/Blacksad style selection of anthropromorphic dogs in verious time periods and occupations, listed below and hopefully coming soon:

-Alaskan Malamute, Northern Breeds*
-Rough Collie, Herding Dogs
-Irish Water Spaniel, Gun Dogs
-Mastiff, Guardian Dogs
-Welsh Terrier, Terriers
-Bloodhound, Scenthounds
-Tibetan Spaniel, Companion Dogs
and a New Guinea Singing Dog representing Sighthounds and Pariahs.

*These dog categories are the ones used in the amazing Dog Bible, which I am fortunate enough to own. Every dog owner, lover, and enthusiast should hunt this literary wonder down!

...So, after what has to be THE longest of my journal entries ever, I shall de-materialize back to my gigantic tomes of research. But just before I do, I once again plead for a comment regarding your view on the comic project. If you are kind enough to do so, you have my sincerest, greatest thanks! ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8199022/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8199022/ Sat, 18 Mar 2006 15:22:30 PST
HI-SPEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDD!!!!! INNNNTEEEEEERRRRRNETTTTTT!!!!!! WOOH,WOOH,WOOH, WOOH!



Ideas are stored up to my ears, so I'd better go sketch my tiny amphibious brain out. Review for Howl's Moving Castle may be forthcoming. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8072110/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8072110/ Sun, 05 Mar 2006 07:54:28 PST Music: "A Hazy Shade of Winter", Simon & Garfunkel

One week left until spring break, oh yesyesyes! But that means a week of tests, so all those sketch ideas I have backlogged up to my ears probably won't see realization and the blinding light of the scanner for a couple of days, and take even longer to shuffle along to feel the brutal lash of Photoshop. For the most part, these are follow-up on The Plan, which was put into action on the 12th of February and as yet remains unoffically unfinished. If that made sense. So, future uploads (hopefully, if my sadist of a muse allows) are thus:

-STILL need to draw a female.

-Let's shove some expression charts in there.

-Various characters in their respected costumes, because folds are my second hugest inability.

-Color, experimenting with hued shadows.

I'll scuttle away to my proverbial and literal drawing boards now. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8003902/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8003902/ Sat, 25 Feb 2006 22:34:21 PST Music: "My King" by Tyler McPhedrain

Many apoloaghies for the two journals in a day, but if I wait then I'll forget the movie, it being Transporter 2. So, on we go!

First off: Insanely impossible action, ahoy! Drop anchors and cast off, we're going out to The Sea Where Physics Do Not Dwell. Seriously. Time, space, logic, they do not reign here. We have guys jumping up onto the hoods of colliding cars, death by fire hose (no, I'm not kidding you) and jet skis flying onto highways. Don't ask. See it for yourself. Secondly: Jason Statham, also known as "Handsome Rob" of Italian Job fame, is very good at being coolly fatal. And English. He even has those funny little backless chaffeur gloves, so that's all good fun. Biggest problem I had with this movie, besides the hilarious unreality of the fight/chase scenes, was that the big showdown between Statham and the nearly-naked, trigger-happy, stiletto wearing Lola (who could have been a stripper with a pair of guns or a strangely trained assassin, we'll never know) was probably the most anti-climactic fifty seconds of film I've ever seen. Seriously, it was that short. Almost dwarvish, for you Tolkien fans. And, yay! Two British actors in one movie?? That's just spoiling us anglophiles*. Jason Flemyng makes an appearance, who, to some of you, will be vaguely remembered as that Jekyll guy from LXG, who talks to shiny, reflective surfaces because his crazed alter-ego lives in them. Yeah, that guy. Who does not appear to have any eyebrows, but, on closer inspection, proves to have (contrary to his red hair) a pair of very blonde ones. Mhm. Him. He shows up as a Siberian chemist named Dmitri, because everyone in Russia is named Dmitri. Or Ivan. And that's good for me, because Russian accents can, with no warning, send me into hysterical giggle fits. They have also, from an early age, inspired me to quote lines from the movie while attempting said accent; this results in the kind of indulgent amusement that friends and relatives posess, before progressing, after 16 or so random repetitions of "Open de freezer, Mik-hail!" while I putter about my business, into a snarling irritability that only those who know you well are capable of. You'd be angry too if you heard some weird kid yelling stuff about freezers while in the shower. For some reason, it tends to bother people... Who knows. But, overall, a cool movie, interesting plot ideas, but stunts that leave you laughing rather than wowing. Nice, violent action fodder for those slow weekends.

*Anglophile: An admirer of England and all things English. Not something sick and weird. Really.

And it's snowing! WHOOOOO!!!!!! I LOVE YOU CANADA!!!!!! ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8001013/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/8001013/ Sat, 25 Feb 2006 16:20:16 PST Music: "Beautiful Redeemer", Luke Neilsen, alternating with the Monkees' "Daydream"

Ooooh, I'm still sorry about that last one. That was unnescessary. On to the topic of the day/hour/relative time frame...

Who here knows of a comic series called Blacksad? These are illustrated by one Juanjo Guarnido, one o' them Disney folks who worked on Tarzan, as the lead animator of the jaguar Sabor, I believe. This series has gathered quite a lot of prestige in Europe from what I've seen, taking home several visual and literary awards for its various publications, and is originally published in French. And it looks FANTASTIC. Two volumes (Sketch Files and #2) are currently shipping to me "in 3-9 business days". They may be reviewed, but check out the darned stuff already!!! THESE MEN ARE GENIUSES!!!! [link]

The page is in Spanish, so "Galeria" on the navigation bar would be the one to click for some of Guarnido's truly excellent artwork. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7975716/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7975716/ Wed, 22 Feb 2006 20:46:05 PST
THE ÜBER BLACK BELT HAS RETURNED!!!!!!! THE APOCALYPSE IS NIGH!!!!
And so it begins anew. We may not survive.

Well, besides that, I get to gross you out! Stop reading now, if you are slightly squeamish. In fact, stop reading totally, because I currently have the most disgusting bruise in the history of bruises that I have had. It's the size of my closed fist, and I have big, man-like musician hands for a fourteen year old girl, which is funny, because I've only ever played a couple years of saxophone and piano, and I'm not NEARLY what you'd call a musician... But beside the point. Largish bruise, on my bad knee, and it is swollen and going purply blue black and other psychedelic bruise colors, and filled with fluid and squishy when poked. So EW. Sorry for that. I warned you! I said, stop reading now, and I hope you aren't reading this, because that would mean you didn't listen and read that disgusting section up there. I'll stop now. Sorry. Sorry sorry sorry. Sorry. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7947898/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7947898/ Sun, 19 Feb 2006 22:18:30 PST Listening To: A recap of Canada's horrendous daily losses. Thank God my own isn't the only country I root for, or the Olympics would be very disappointing indeed...

FIREWALL!!!! That movie was great. Harrison Ford may be "getting on in years" or whatever people might be worried about, but he's still got whatever he always had. His acting, his fight scenes, they're all done with that same Harrison intensity that never goes over the top, which is very refreshing in a world of elongated Darth Vader No's, sans dramatic fall to the knees ('cause he's got none, folks! How sad is that?). And Paul Bettany is just Paul Bettany, aka Doctor Stephen Maturin from Master and Commander, so that's a very good thing. His voice borders on glacial, and is perpetually calm and impassive, as is his expression (which he has marvelous control over); and that's pretty impressive during lines like: "Liam, take the boy downstairs and break his knee." His poker face must be a winner. He's like a Bond bad guy, right down to the lilty British accent. And it's kind of cool to see a villain who always wears gloves (which makes sense, really) and chortles at the Flintstones. Not one of those things you see every day, but it's the little touches that make this movie what it is. And what it is would have to be excellent entertainment. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7917871/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7917871/ Thu, 16 Feb 2006 16:15:37 PST Music: "For Crying Out Loud", Meatloaf

Part 2 of The Plan is complete... Now I just have to learn how to draw girls, but this seems unlikely to happen at the moment, because my fingers are organizing a picket line at the thought. And my environmentalist friend will probably, in an organic and nature-friendly way, kill me. "THE TREES!!!! CAN'T YOU HEAR THEM SCREAMING????" *slices my throat open with 100% recycled manilla tag*

...She made me promise, three months ago, that I would rig myself up a recycling bin; but as of yet this has not become a reality. And don't look at me like that, environmentalists are just as capable of great and brutal violence as the rest of the population is. If not more so.

And OZMG! 800 pageviews! These digital trapdoors are good at their job (ie, dragging the poor and unsuspecting into my evil, conniving, paper-cut clutches). My deep and sincere condolences for any severe optical injuries or cerebral assaults you may have recieved in your time here. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7871937/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7871937/ Sun, 12 Feb 2006 08:57:31 PST Music: "Love is all Around", Wet Wet Wet
Caffeine Levels: 2; There's no milk to make tea. *whimpers*

MMmmmm, long weekeeeeeeeeend. Which meaaaansss... I should stop adding extra letters to words. And that I need something to do. So, today... today The Plan is put into action. By the conclusion of The Plan, I hope to have more stuff to color. Because coloring is fun, even if you are very bad (like me), but you can make things glow. And glow is good. So, The Plan is...

1. At SOME point, even if it's a small part of the pic, DRAW A FEMALE. Dangnabbit, the age of being unable to draw my own gender has lasted for too long!

2. A full body shot of "The Beast of the Red Death" because I want to draw claws and winter_music wants to see wings. THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY.

3. Maybe some character sheets for said beastie. For he is fun and skully.

4. Coloring for said pics. This will probably take a while...

So, ON WITH THE PLAN!!!!!!!! You should have ran while you had the chance. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7845414/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7845414/ Thu, 09 Feb 2006 10:12:02 PST Music: Dancing with Myself, Billy Idol
Breakfast: Chocolate muffin, such a healthy way to start the day.

First off, many thanks for anybody who offered an opinion on my last journal! It was greatly appreciated.

Mwahaaa.... No more exams!!! And two extra days of freedom, which means... well, nothing, really. But some foul, possibly radioactive waste may be finding its way into your deviation inbox, courtesy of a deranged amphibian with a caffeine-imbalance. I apologise in advance. Get the lead-impregnated suits ready! Funny word, impregnated... A suit can't be pregnant...
And we get shots! Pass around the vaccine cocktails everybody. I've officially repossessed 3/4 of my mother's ankle socks. Time to celebrate!

New Discovery: Ingesting even trace elements of soy before taekwondo results in very bad things, and this is especially true when the Instructor*, Sean the Second Disciple, wishes to impress the Most Holy Master, Jonathan**. And when the Instructor wisheth thus, he shall smiteth thou with the holy knuckle push-ups and many wind-sprints, until thou hast realised thy folly in partaking of the bean-milk.

*I find it helps to consider them as being akin to minor deities. The kind of deity demanding sacrifices of blood, sweat, stomach contents...
**Who is the Grand Poobah Instructor, the Mighty Owner, the Guy In Charge. And Ten-Billionth Degree Black Belt, Who Shall Smiteth All Who Oppose Him With A Most Powerful Push-Kick of Enlightenment to the Head. Amen. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7822863/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7822863/ Mon, 06 Feb 2006 20:03:53 PST Music: More Butler Phantomness! I am truly hopeless.
Drinking:

Gutentag, there! Maybe you could offer me an opinion on this:

"...and their eyes, filled with dread of Erik, showed them, before they disappeared, high up above them, an immense night-bird that stared at them with its blazing eyes and seemed to cling to the string of Apollo's lyre."

That was an excerpt from Leroux's Phantom of the Opera. Now, does the phrase "night-bird", used in that poetic, similie sort of way, seem like it's referring to something dark/sinister in general, a nocturnal or shadowy bird (ie owl, raven, crow, maybe buzzard), or a bat? And yes, I realize that a bat is not a bird in any way. But it flies at night, and the phrase seems to be more meant to create an image than nitpick with the facts. So, what would a night-bird be, in your mind? I'm very curious to see the answers to this, so if you'd like to add a comment about it, that would be greatly appreciated!

Hope you don't mind me picking your b- BRAIN. Hope you don't mind me picking your BRAIN... Oorgh. That's not at all pleasant... ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7783101/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7783101/ Thu, 02 Feb 2006 16:44:04 PST Music: The Music of the Night, Gerard Butler version.
And don't look at me like that! Gerry Butler is l'autre Fantôme. Mwhaahaahaaha... *melts*

O____o. Sorry... but for some reason I've been going totally spare to watch the 2004 movie again. And more sorries for the rant reviews... Went a little loopy, there. :whew: ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7775285/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7775285/ Wed, 01 Feb 2006 20:18:38 PST [link] ) has made the mistake of encouraging me! Thank you muchly, by the way

So ANOTHER REVIEW!!!! *evil cackle* Today's victim, bagged, tagged, and shipped off to the freezer is the Marvel Ages #6, "Face-to-Face with The Lizard". Which is one of those titles that should have been left back in the early Marvel days, where it belonged. Urk. The tacky is blinding. Like those darned alliterate names, ie Peter Parker, Matthew Murdock, Curtis Connors, Bruce Banner... JEEZ! Stop it already! But this is, as you may have guessed, a remake of the Lizard's origin; And I'm a diehard Lizard fan. See, the math is all there. On seeing this, all nicely wrapped in plastic with cardboard backing, my little fan girl burst into life with a vengeance. The cover, for one thing, is AMAZING. Mark Brooks, known to deviants as diablo2003 ( [link] ), is truly a pro among pros. So, three bucks later, I rush home all hyperventilate-y to read this thing. After all, this is the ORIGIN. I’m expecting totally wicked awesome EVERYTHING, like a full page spread’s worth of violent Lizard mutation-ness, and a DISTINCT lack of purple slacks/ villainous take-over-the-world plots/or lisping speech. Oh boy, was I in for a shock. The cover is misleading. MARK BROOKS DOES NOT DRAW THIS COMIC. Jonboy Meyers does. Just the first page tells you that. Now, his work isn't as bad, as, say, that anime mess from the team-up collection, but it's trying really hard. Someone once mentioned that Meyers has this default expression for all his characters, something like a sideways V for a mouth. I looked through it, and the count for this look so far is 21. In a 22 page comic book. HOMG. Not a good sign. But the fun is just about to start! Similiar to Daimon Scott's work on Spectacular Spider-man, this stuff occasionally made me set the book down for a break. Ohman. And as soon as the panel becomes a full character shot, Meyers takes the chance to sacrifice detail on the altar of lazy. Facial expressions are given up to a wide-open mouth that covers half the face (AGGGHH!!!!!), and hands recieve no definiton whatsoever (AGGGHHH!!!x2). Peter Parker... just doesn't have the something he usually does. Doc Connors looks distinctly similiar (especially around the swooshed back hair) to a stereotypical Indiana Jones style German feller. Which isn't neccesarily a bad thing... but kind of strange, considering that "Connors" just screams Irish roots. Screams it like a baby! The Lizard's look is kind of odd (Two toes???!) but otherwise, no complaints, seeing as they skipped out on the purple pants in exchange for jeans, and I can't help but like how the artist does the ripped cloth. His Lizard, besides the afore-mentioned oddness, looks quite physically powerful; hooj arms, hands, shoulders, etc. The face kind of loses it, though; not exactly the 4-inch plus vicious fangs I'd hoped for. The pupil-less eyes serve to dehumanize him nicely, but the whole talking thing wrecks it. More rant on that soon.The dialogue repeats itself frequently, which is a bit of a pain. AND DEAR LORD ON HIGH, HE SPEAKS!!!! What is the point of having a guy turn into a large and very unreasonable lizard just so that he can say some totally unnecessary lines???? WHAT??? EXPLAIN IT TO ME!!!! At least he doesn't add five s's to every word he can, but that has no chance of redeeming the writer. Here's an example: "Meet my pets, Spider-man! Soon all the creatures of the swamp will be under my control!"
FIVE OF FIVE ON THE FORK-O-METER!!!! FIVE!!! AAAAAAAAARRRRGHHH!!!! *froths at mouth*

...Sorry... lost it there.... Ahem. Well, on to the rating.
Art: 2.5/5 Like the last one, but worse. So much worse.
Story: 2/5 HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?????? More importantly, how did they ALLOW it to???
Overall: 2/5 Marvel is dead to me. *goes to weep in the corner*

This was so uncool. Doc Con... ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7755962/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7755962/ Mon, 30 Jan 2006 20:45:12 PST
Okay. Some comic buffs out there might have heard of/own the semi-infamous/already banished to the abyss of oblivion Spectacular Spider-man "The Lizard's Tale" Arc (Numbers 11-13). And apparently it's been considered so ABJECTLY DREADFUL that it has recieved the greatest punishment available for a comic book; it has been counted out of continuity. Now, that's a little unfair. Just a little. The art is a little off at times, but still cool at others. The story, though it mutates into a monster itself, has to be given merit for a relatively decent premise at the outset. But none of this is enough to redeem this three issue streak to the level of, say, anything near what Bendis could do with the character (if he ever bothers too.... ). Problem Uno: WHERE DID RAMOS GO???? Someone once referred to his work as looking like that of "a five year old on speed." In my humble and teenaged opinion, that is a load. A HUGE load. But for this arc, Humberto Ramos has been replaced with Daimon Scott, a guy who usually does Batgirl. Or something. And, well, the results are... kind of... eh. And I sure can't talk about this m'self, but he can't keep his characters on model worth a dime. One frame can be amazing and perfect, looking totally normal; the next, POW! And the easily confused reader (me) is left in a terrible mess. This deadly cycle happens every 5-6 frames (ie, the little boxy/vaguely rectangular thingers). So out of a thirty or so page comic book, that makes six to ten truly EXCELLENT frames, while the rest fall between Hmmm and AHHH!!!!. That said, cut the man some slack; he's got a great, dynamic look and style. The covers are a good example of that. And now on to the actual story! God, this is long. Stop reading. Now. Please.
Paul Jenkins is writer for the three. His penchant for dialogue falters slightly here, but jumps back on its feet occasionally. The plot starts out pretty cool, but this ends up being part of its predatory nature; lulls the reader into a false sense of security before POUNCING onto a fairly tired storyline (ie, oh crap, the good ol' doctor has no willpower/can't control his more reptilian self). That is very uncool, pardon my puberty. Then it jumps into new territory! And the fans, they cry out for vengeance. In three freakin' issues he manages to turn one of the staple, classic Stan Lee & Steve Ditko (aka the Dream Team) characters into some kind of cheap, nonsensical crock. There is NO GOOD WAY to have done that. BLASPHEMY!!!! SACRILEGE!!!! Not as bad as the manga, though. NOTHING is that bad. But Jenkins has, nontheless, done something very, very wrong. The ending is just as pointless and unreasonable and unlike the good doctor (who is supposed to be INTELLIGENT!!!!) as this arc becomes. Connors is so out of character by the end of this that it's not even funny. And when this is coming from someone at the age where "Lake Titicaca" can cause a 15-minute giggle fit, that seems pretty bad.

Art: 3/5 stars Okay, but at times terrifying in its wackiness. Very dynamic, otherwise.
Story: 2/5 stars The dialogue saves it from a lower grade for character butchery. Shame, shame.
Overall: 3/5 stars Well... let's just hope it doesn't happen again.

Whooo... sorry about all that! Congratulations, if you read the whole thing... though you may also want to visit a shrink, to see what had possessed you to do so! ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7664955/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7664955/ Sat, 21 Jan 2006 08:55:44 PST
So let's have a yay for Cillian Murphy, one of the best villains ever He shines again in Red Eye.

This movie was just as awesome as I'd hoped it would be (as a diehard Cillian fan) but the main girl really annoyed me. What kind of moron taunts a guy that she's stabbed twice, is a professional assassin, and happens to be holding a 12 inch knife just the other side of a very flimsy door? WHAT KIND??!!! Jeez! The action was fun; a couple things went boom but a lot more things went squish/damage-to-deep-tissue-sound. Cillian, as said before, was excellent, as he was tailor made for being the crazy bad guy; voice, demeanour, everything. Saying that, I loved this movie except for the ending and the stupid girl, so it goes in the same spot as Collateral; the conclusion was uncool, so that part can be safely ignored, because the rest is terribly great. Urgh. Hollywood.

And, courtesy of an early morning mind:
AHHHAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!LOOKITLOOKITLOOKIT!!!!: [link]

Livejournal is king of the icons. Period. GO THERE, and searcheth for thy perfect display pic! ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7611873/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7611873/ Sun, 15 Jan 2006 14:51:35 PST
You see, the birthday girl is a total CSI nut; so she assigned each of us a person from the show to dress up as for the party. She was Gil, and practised his bowlegged little walk for weeks... it was hilarious. The one I got was "Doc", the morgue guy with one leg who walks with a crutch. Oh so witty, Erin, aha, you kill me. But I'm an uber-geek, so I figured it would be a fun thing to make; So, my costume (which I walked to her house in, about a half hour jaunt) was a white, full-body painter's suit spattered with "blood". All over. Sleeves, chest, even some on the legs. With "Las Vegas Crime Labs" in big, black letters on my back, "CSI" on each shoulder and on the nonexistant front pocket, and likewise reddened surgeon's gloves and mask. Not to mention that the suit was GIGANTIC, and the smallest size you can get; I was swimming in this thing. My eight year old brother could have snuck in and snagged a piggy-back ride and I wouldn't have noticed. Oh yeah, fun fun fun. And, magically, everybody disappeared from the street except for elderly couples and mothers with babies. At least my other friend was with me, but her costume was pretty tame; a flashlight in her belt loop, and a briefcase. My nerdhood has risen to stratospheric levels.

And 500 pageviews, whee! Thanks a ton for getting lost here! I knew that wormhole was worth the investment. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7478237/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7478237/ Sun, 01 Jan 2006 11:49:42 PST

Hope you all have a good one ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7448523/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7448523/ Thu, 29 Dec 2005 12:52:35 PST In search of the Ultimate origin of the Lizard (the guy I keep drawing) I discovered, much to my dismay, that it had been relegated to an itsy-bitsy mini series called Ultimate Marvel Team-up. This was worrisome. After all, the Lizard was the fifth villain or so to be introduced in the original series, and is one of Spider-man's big baddies; why wasn't he in the main Ultimate line? Was it just so much crap that they couldn't get it in? Has Bendis (Oh please no) lost his touch and used an old and tired out storyline? But after receiving the Volume 2 of the collection for Christmas, I discovered that my fears were groundless. The review of the whole book follows... beware mindless manga/anime hate.

1st Comic: OHGODNO. I could not FORCE myself to read the whole thing through. Urgh. Nyah. Bllhaggh. The story seems to be making fun of itself (and not in a funny way...) and the art just adds to the joke. Uck. The Fantastic Four have never been so uncool. Well, actually...

2nd: Bwahahaaaaa.... The Lizard. Oh yes. At last. John Totleben is the best artist in this book. This was everything I was hoping for and then some. One important change in the character: he's a drunk! A total alcoholic. Which kind of makes sense, if you think about it. And Connors is spelt with an "e"... why? And, interestingly enough, the font used for the lizard's "voice" and Connors' voice when he's... inebriated... is exactly the same. Subtle message perhaps?

3rd: SPEAK NOT OF IT!!!! Spider-man has been manga-fied!!!! ARRRGHHH!!!! HISSSSS!!!! SACRILEGE!!! WHERE ARE THE QUALITY CONTROLS??? WHY IS THIS SHAMELESS CHARACTER BUTCHERY ALLOWED??? WHO IS THEIR SUPERVISING EDITOR???!!! UUUUURrrrrrghhhhhh....

Last: Well... it's kind of... scratchy. It's like a messier and less cool Mignola, but not, because no one but Mignola can draw like Mignola. The story is odd. A bit warped. But it definitely beats out the other two crap-fests.

Rant over. Sorry
And, for those responsible for these horredous desecrations, ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7429921/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7429921/ Tue, 27 Dec 2005 09:38:22 PST

So, coming soon! An original character... well, someone else has probably done this before, but you could say that about everything. But any resemblances to real or fictional persons/things, living or dead, is completely unintentional etc etc, the whole nine yards of disclaimer. Which I'm sure there are.

Katie... Have you smacked me one lately? Because I just had another nosebleed. Not as long as that one on the baseball diamond, thank God. No, I haven't forgotten yet...
"What's wrong?"
"I told her to put her hand on her face *cackle of the devil* and I HIT HER!!! BWAHAHAHAHAAA!!!"
"Hey everyone, Kirsten's BLEEDING!"

Aha, aha, aha. Very funny. You couldn't tell a sarcastic hand gesture if it kicked you in the behind. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7396871/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7396871/ Fri, 23 Dec 2005 21:55:22 PST
Tis' the time for seasonal cheer, which abounds like a little boundy thing, and latches onto our internal organs like a nasty parasite with hook-laden jaws.... only more pleasant. So best wishes from a very chilly frog, and enjoy your holiday! Eat, drink, and be very, very merry!

~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7361739/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7361739/ Tue, 20 Dec 2005 08:28:32 PST Music:Pride by Simon Collins

Well... we HAD snow. Now it's gone, and we are left with crappy, rain-soaked weather and a drainage ditch for a park. Ugh. But we had snow!
There's probably going to be a bit of a devdump in the next couple of days, because I was at my grandparents' house and have to do more than one thing at once.... so I watched more European football in the last weekend than I have in my entire life.

I should be wearing my Liverpool reds. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7331395/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7331395/ Fri, 16 Dec 2005 20:01:07 PST That means more drawing, more reading, and no algebra; a perfect holiday. We might even get more SNOW!!!!!!
Katie, do you know when you'll be around again?
I miss the added insanity ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7295252/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7295252/ Mon, 12 Dec 2005 19:20:59 PST I had a dentist visit. Now I can't feel half my face. Two needles of anesthesia. TWO FREAKIN' NEEDLES!!!!!! Sure, freeze a couple teeth. No problem. Two and half hours later, I still have no feeling in my left jaw. Needless to say, I am a tad peeved. Trying to drink is fun though.

You don't really appreciate a tongue until it's flopping around your mouth like a dead mackerel.

Quote of the Day: "Kelly, the drugs are GREAT." -Kurtis, the older, calmer, serious brother, to his sister a day after getting his wisdom teeth pulled ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7260299/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7260299/ Thu, 08 Dec 2005 22:02:12 PST
Well, the coughing is down to a dull roar for now....So yay!

NCIS has given me a new actor to watch out for....So yay!

I rediscovered those pages from that comic book, and printed them out for reference....So yay!

...and a new ballpoint dev! YAY!

There be the Four Yays. The positivity/enthusiasm has now regressed to the average level. Whew

And on to bed. *Proceeds to fall up stairs*

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7224228/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7224228/ Sun, 04 Dec 2005 20:58:28 PST Mood:
Drink: Milk...cooohoohohoholld.
How Feral I've Gone: 8.5 of 10.

I have a sore throat. And I am limpy again.

Ow. It hurts.

HUUURUUUURRRUURURURURRRRRRRRTS. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7156411/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7156411/ Sun, 27 Nov 2005 09:00:14 PST Music: "Evil", Interpol
Drinking: Nothing, but some tea would be a clever move.
Future Breakfast: Muuuufffffffffiiiiinnnnnn. Caaaaapppuccchhiinno.....Muffin.

A bunch of my friends are major CSI fans, so we formulated a plot to destroy the evil Nickstache. I figured that we should sneak into his trailer and shave it off in his sleep, so he would stop reminding me (for some really weird reason) of Hitler. Then Erin suggested that we just knock him out with chloroform, drag him somewhere (like behind a dumpster) then snip that nasty, disfiguring facial hair right off. It might have seemed obvious, but in my twisted brain the two combined to produce: "Chloroform him, then do it in his sleep!"

Oh, crap. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7082560/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7082560/ Fri, 18 Nov 2005 16:54:47 PST Music: "Slow Hands", Interpol
Current universal force not on my side: Proportion. Evil, evil proportion.

Well... now that my nerves have been thoroughly shredded by a math test I really did know about, I'm going to spend aimless amounts of time screencapping a spot from "Valiant" for a project I'm doing on animation in Info-tech. The brain-melt begins...Now. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7025402/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/7025402/ Sat, 12 Nov 2005 08:48:49 PST Music:"Even the Losers" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Curse cameras. Sure, we have a nice one, a nice, old one, but when we actually need it, it's not there. It's at HOME. In the hall cupboard. Instead of in my eager hands as two WW2 era planes did a flyby maybe TWENTY FEET ABOVE MY HEAD!!! GAH!

A bomber and a fighter! Right there!!!! Yeah... well... we had to leave the actual Remembrance Day ceremony a bit early, because my dog doesn't like the bagpipes. And the evil music teacher from my elementary school wasn't singing anything, which is very, very good, because she was absolutely tone deaf. And a hag. But the PLANES!!!!


The next time I'm in an elevator, I will:STARE, grinning at another passenger for a while, then announce: "I have new socks on." ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6988520/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6988520/ Tue, 08 Nov 2005 08:21:47 PST [link] As both a design and a character, he's been improved twenty zillion times over, not to mention that he's a totally different person now...But it's the whole look and mentality that really snagged me. I'll be wandering off on a Spider-man tangent, yay If you're a deranged Spidey lover like me, the Hobgoblin collection should be your next pick. Seriously. But I'm planning some more House pics, they're just...taking....a while...*shifty eyes*

Heh heh heh... A new freaky semi-villain to draw. Eeeexxxcellent. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6974724/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6974724/ Sun, 06 Nov 2005 19:02:17 PST
Okay, technically a comic book, but that's not the point... I just need some gosh-darned LITERATURE (Comics do count...really they do...*hides from literary historians*). And lucky lucky me, I rediscovered Ultimate Spider-man and was instantly posessed to buy the Hobgoblin story arc, all nice and collected in one of those cool little mini-anthologies. Drawing fuel.Yes, I am aware that I'm an absolute flaming NERD. Oh well... I miss my comics.


Katie, that movie was in German as far as I could tell, but it was basically just counting. Ein, zwei, drei, vier, funf, (with the funky umlaut) etc etc etc. But yeah, point is, sounds German to me...the kid who can barely count to ten...Ask someone smarter.
]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6900265/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6900265/ Sat, 29 Oct 2005 18:29:00 PDT Next year, I'll start my outfit early; The Black Knight, complete with bloody sword! Too old for trick-or-treat, you say? At least I dress up for the free candy!

So have a happy, freaky, candy-coated Halloween. ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6807840/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6807840/ Wed, 19 Oct 2005 09:03:58 PDT Music: Seperate Ways, Journey
Relative Sanity: Declining...

The twitching commences.

Oh well... Still sick! AGH! I'm thinking of doing a sort of character design sheet for some of the House MD characters, but any input would really help. If anyone stopping by (Yeah, the chances of that are how low?) has any poses or anything they'd like to see *cough*me try at and fail at very badly*cough* on the sheets, please add a comment, and I'll work at it!
(That being about all I can do....)

Teeeeeeeeeaaaa..... ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6799123/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6799123/ Tue, 18 Oct 2005 08:30:08 PDT Music:Barcelona Nights by Ottmar Leibert
Brain function: -2

I am losing my MIND. Kingsley is nowhere to be found, and therefore cannot console me. Probably wiping his dirty cat paws on my bed! Then he's going to step on my sheet music, leaving nasty brown cat-prints everywhere! Bleh.

I hope there's a new House on tonight. Otherwise I might have to twitch uncontrollably...

"Boogy, oggy, oogy."
-Dr.House ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6789976/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6789976/ Mon, 17 Oct 2005 08:19:14 PDT
1. Well, there was no school anyway, thanks to a strike!
2. Which means.... No homework!
3. Therefore... more time to do what I want.
4. Like...sleep...and watch House!
5. And talk to winter_music, who is home-schooled...
6. And, best of all in my weird little mind, draw until my fingers organize a picket line!

It's a masochistic tendency. Like taekwondo, or epee for girls.

]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6396582/ http://CaffeinatedFrog.deviantart.com/journal/6396582/ Fri, 02 Sep 2005 11:23:03 PDT Thank you, goodbye, have a nice day.
Sincerely so, Frog ]]> ~CaffeinatedFrog