Feeling funky

The end of another episode (the 15th) over at http://itscharacterdevelopment.blogspot.com/
A new one stats tomorrow.

Meanwhile I've been writing further CD episodes (finished the layout for the 34th) as well as writing something new (a revenge fantasy story that's a little different).

Now if I could just get out of this dark funk ...

Sigh

Some days it's hard to keep working on something when you have no idea how it is being received.

Pointless milestone

Over at the Character Development blog you can find the one hundredth page posted. Woo hoo! etc.

And yes, technically there are less than 100 pages, since every 7th page is a title page that (generally) repeats apart from the title words.

But "woo hoo" none-the-less.

Words of equal value?

More Character Development pages over at the other blog.

I posted a link on Facebook today, but I'll post the rant about it here.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908//vp/40246873#40246873
The media no longer seems to have any ability to differentiate between sources. If somebody, anybody, says something it can be used as 'news', no matter how disprovable, how idiotic, or how ill-imformed the statement is.

An example of this is contained in the link about. I witnessed another example recently when a UK reporting of a gun shoot in East London was focused around the quote "getting a gun here is as easy as buying candy from the corner shop".

This quote was used by the in-studio presenter before the clip. Then restated by the on-the-scene reporter, then restated in voice-over yet again before finally being said on camera by the source. The source was a wannabe hip-hop dude who looked like a stoned extra in an Ali G sketch.

There was no evidence for the statement. No research was done. The source was unreliable. The quote really made no sense. Yet it had been chosen by the 'news' as the focus for the report on a fatal shooting. Why? It was sensational. It was good TV. That and it fitted in with an editor's own views/fears on the subject.

It was everything that is wrong with the current media.

The news media is (in general) divided into commentators, who can have opinions, and presenters and journalists, who are not allowed to have opinions. There may be good reasons for this, especially given the trend to pretty boys and girls as presenters and journalists who quite possibly have no opinions worth listening to "Is my hair okay?").

News presenters are no longer allowed to voice their own views, that would be opinion and editorial which is bad. If you are a news reporter, as opposed to a commentator, you MUST let others give the opinions. You MUST be balanced, even if that balance means letting someone state something that is incorrect, wrong, or stupid.

But just because news presenters can't tell us what they are thinking (lest the gods of fair and balanced journalism strike them down) that doesn't stop them from getting as many quotes as they want and selecting one that fits their now hidden agenda.

Any source will do. A doctor or a homeopath? It doesn't matter. A police spokesperson or a random stoned guy on the street? They are of the same value to the media,

Virtually sweaty

There's a new page available at the Character Development blog.

One of the oddest little online games I'm addicted to is a Football 'roleplaying' game. The RP elements are minimal, but you do get to guide the development of your character in terms of their stats. You also get to play the games in real-time, on a virtual pitch, with other players.

I have two characters. They started out in New Zealand, but were soon snapped up by East European sides. So twice a week now I get to conference call on Skype with the players for a Romanian virtual soccer team.

There's a lot of chat in ... well, I'm guessing Romanian ... that I don't understand, but we communicate well enough to organize an effective off-side trap.

The other day my wife sneezed nearby and several accented voices said "Bless You".

My wee daughter was watching me play once and loudly announced that "This game is boring!" Peels of laughter from Romainia, Brazil and Scotland could be heard (It is a international squad).

The world really is getting t be a smaller place.

Now excuse me, I have to virtually run my arse off defending one side of a virtual football pitch.

Finish the sentence ...

Over at the Character Development blog there's a sentence that needs finishing.

Update

Another page of Character Development is up (click here).

Had a good writing day, despite the madness going on around me, and polished off episodes 29 and 30. Started writing 31 as well, but I wasn't happy with it and will scrap it and start again.

Meanwhile there's a couple of stories fighting to come out of my head, and I'll have to give in to them soon or they'll tunnel out of my skull.

New episode over at other blog

There's a new episode starting today at the Character Development blog.

I'll post the link to the new daily page from this blog, but no longer the image. (Yes, I'm forcing you to another blog if you want to read the comic, entirely for rankings considerations. I'm a horrible person.)

Instead I'll post random thoughts, rants, and some other comic pages when I get the time.

Character Development THIRTEEN (7 of 7)

Click on the image to see a bigger version.

Always read the fine print.

A new episode starts tomorrow, but only on the Character Development blog (http://goo.gl/YACg). I'd rather you were reading it there so the visitor stats help the various ranking sites it's linked to.

However this blog will still have updates, and a new episode of Dark Bay starting soon.

Character Development THIRTEEN (6 of 7)

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The Bard's night of debauchery.

Character Development THIRTEEN (5 of 7)

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It's the little things you miss when you're away from home. Like drunken debauchery at your favourite sleazy watering-hole.

Once this episode finishes I'll stop posting the daily pages of CD on this site, and direct you over to http://itscharacterdevelopment.blogspot.com for them. That way I can start putting some other things up on this blog.

Character Development THIRTEEN (4 of 7)

I've said it before ...

I like old jokes.

Character Development THIRTEEN (3 of 7)

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Some days I just don't have anything to add.

Character Development THIRTEEN (2 of 7)

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A bar in a dungeon. Not the most original of concepts, I'll admit ... but I do have an origin for it on the next page.

Character Development THIRTEEN (1 of 7)

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Drinking games ... it's amazing how often alcohol features in roleplaying. Buying a round to gain information from the locals. Plying someone with wine to loosen their purse strings. But it doesn't always work out for the best ...

Character Development TWELVE (7 of 7)

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Reading (and hence writing) are often overlooked skills, in the comics world as well as the roleplaying.

Character Development TWELVE (6 of 7)

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Awash with story ideas ... overflowing with prose ... but short on time. Sigh.

Character Development TWELVE (5 of 7)

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I was trying to get some 'emotion' into the faces of the Playmobil by using angles. Since they have fixed expressions it's a little difficult to 'read' their feelings.

Character Development TWELVE (4 of 7)

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Can't think of anything to say today. Maybe it's because I shaved my beard off for Movember?