A Cautionary Tale

December 31st, 2009 | by Adam

I knew better.

That’s what kills me. I knew I should always backup all of my work on the webcomic.

Today, my computer got a nasty virus. I mean nasty. My good friend, Kevin – who fixes computers for a living – couldn’t get rid of the sucker. He took my stillborn fetus of a computer home tonight to do some major surgery on it. He was kind enough to help me figure out how to make tomorrow’s post (12/31) using my little netbook. Thank god I had a spare computer!

But I knew I should be backing up my work. Backing up on CD’s, on an external hard drive, on a online service like DropBox. I planned to plunk down some Christmas dough on such things but I waited too long and paid the price. Unless Kevin can salvage my work, I got a world of work to redo . I draw the strips on paper so I didn’t lose them but I’ll still have to scan them in again so I have all the TIFF files for print plus a lot of other little things.

So, to all you other webcartoonists: Back up your work. I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir on this one but it can’t be stressed enough. Back it up to several sources. Leave nothing to chance. And for god sakes, don’t surf the web on your work computer. Buy yourself a second computer to play around on. Let your work computer be a sanctuary, a ship that sails to as few ports as possible.

In closing, I just want to thank my good friend, Kevin, who bailed me out of a jam. I wouldn’t be able to post a strip tonight if it weren’t for him.

4 Comments

Thanks for Your Help

December 23rd, 2009 | by Adam

Just wanted to formally thank all of you who commented and emailed me on the look of the website. You guys pretty much confirmed what I thought as well: the website should reflect the simplistic style of the strip.

I’ve wanted to be a cartoonist all my life but I always assumed I’d get into newspapers. It’s only in the past couple of years that I’ve redirected my efforts to the web so I’m a bit more behind all this CSS, HTML nonsense that I’m sure most of you out there have a firm grasp of. I like to think I know just enough to be dangerous – and I do mean dangerous. I once attempted to change the color to the calendar and accidentally locked myself, and everyone else, out of my website.

I’m glad most of you like the simple look. I do too. And more little changes will be coming (custom menu bar, custom navigation buttons, etc) but I think the overall look won’t change for a while.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

2 Comments

I need your help

December 20th, 2009 | by Adam

I’m just not happy with the look of my website.

I mean, it looks “fine” but I don’t want my website to look just “fine”. Problem is, I don’t know what it should look like. So I’m looking to you, fair reader, to help me out. I mean, let’s face it, it’s more important that the web page is aesthetically pleasing to you guys.

I’d appreciate any thoughts you guys have on the look of the site. Fire away!

4 Comments

Why I like Parks & Recreation more than The Office

December 13th, 2009 | by Adam

I know, I know. Blasphemy you say. The Office came first and Parks & Recreation is just copying their style (although both shows are copying England’s original version of The Office). And you’ll say that Amy Poehler is just a female version of Steve Carell’s character. And many of you will also say that Park’s Mark and Ann love story could never hold a candle to The Office’s Jim and Pam love story.

But hear me out.

I started watching Parks ever since it debuted and have enjoyed every episode. I’ve been feeling this unbalanced sense of affection for Parks & Rec for a while now but couldn’t figure out why this show endeared me. I finally figured it out: Parks & Recreation has more funny characters.

Let’s break it down. As far as consistently, funny characters, The Office has Michael and Dwight. That’s it. Oh sure, the other characters have a funny line here and there but none of them are as reliably funny as those two. Parks & Recreation has Leslie, Tom, Ron, Andy and April. That’s five characters who can easily deliver laughs. Five well defined characters who are very different from each other and are funny in their own right. I’d watch a whole episode that just followed any of those characters. Would you really want to watch a whole episode that featured just Oscar, Kelly or Toby? Even Jim and Pam (main characters mind you) are comedic duds by themselves  who need more interesting characters to bounce off of.

Plus, The Office has heartbreaking episodes that, while carrying a dramatic punch, are uncomfortable to watch. To be sure, Parks has sappy moments as well but they’re never overwhelming. I know some of you prefer some sad drama in your comedies (usually the same folks who love Scrubs) but not me. It’s easy to provoke a reaction by tugging at heartstrings. It’s comedy that’s tough. That’s why I have more respect for shows and movies that go for the laughs.  And that’s why Parks & Recreation is just a notch above The Office in my book.

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Header changes coming

December 7th, 2009 | by Adam

It’s been a while since I made a blog post so I thought I’d make one tonight…even though I have nothing to talk about.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I’m planning on finally making some changes to my website’s header. After receiving several suggestions to stick my little bug character next to my logo, I’ve decided to give it a shot. I’m also going to add a strip of color running horizontally along the header portion as well (leaning to green unless someone has a better suggestion).

I’ve been racking my brains, trying to figure out what the site should look like. It’s tricky to find that balance between interesting design and cluttered mess. I’ve also come to the conclusion that my website should be simple, reflecting the simplistic art style of my comic.

I got the entire week off from my real job so I’m planning to make these changes by Friday.

Okay guys, put your hands in the middle. On three. One – two – three. Goooooo Webcomics!!!

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