Hosting Issues

A project goes through many iterations when execution, and my CMWP comic idea has morphed to something else. Don’t worry, there will still be plenty of Meg for you to see. However, instead of a big comic book (such as a 20-ish page issue that I was originally planning), I’ve changed it to be several, shorter ‘strips’, of 4-8 panels each, with each ‘strip’ taking up 1-page, or double-page. That also means I’ll be writing several, shorter stories on Meg, which is great, because I can explore that curiously silly dog a lot more.

Another reason for my doing so, is due to considerations in distribution: namely, how I’m going to disseminate the final products on the Internet.

TUMBLR:

My first, obvious choice, was Tumblr. Apart from being a network already sprawling with an audience – younger people who love animals, and are savvy to the style of story-telling, while not too young to not get the medium of comic itself –  who’d most likely be the best recipients of the project, Tumblr also provides an interesting format of consumption in terms of images.

Furthermore, Tumblr offers an unique form of image display: Photoset. As you can see, the photoset layout has given me an automatic comic gutter, meaning I can feasibly simply create the panels, size them appropriately to the dimensions of each photoset panel as required, and upload them. It cuts out the need for me to make a template with gutters for my comic.

Image taken from cynicalidealist on Tumblr.

The photoset layout also means each individual image can be viewed separately, which is an interesting workabout to achieve the panel-by-panel view that would stop large comics being unreadable on small portable devices.

MEDIUM:

The other choice for me, was Medium. WordPress was never really a choice, however I am exploring the possibilities of hosting comics on WordPress.

Medium offers a very simple model of creating and reading. There is no fiddling with various themes and HTML – it s your page, and your feed. You tag your work, you submit it to a collection of similar topics, and others read it and/or share it. This appeals to me, because the one shortcoming of Tumblr is this: Themes. While most of the audience will consume the comic via the Dashboard – a completely differently themed layout, much like a Facebook news feed – the fact is, any external audience who follows a permalink will be coming to the page that sits within my actual blog – my themed blog. Therefore, the way that my blog theme displays the work is paramount when it comes to a medium as important as comics.

Medium will cut all of that hassle out for me.

This is a web comic on Medium – unfortunately you’d have to click on the hyperlink, because I can’t in good conscience steal the Frogman’s comic and put it on here!

The simple layout means that I do lose the natural gutters of the Tumblr photoset, but instead I get a fantastic, fluid reading experience, uncluttered by anything else except for my username and comic title up the very top, and a recommended further section at the bottom.

COMPARISON:

The two sites bring me to this consideration:

Gutters.

I am incredibly interested in gutters (the white spaces between panels) in comics, because that’s what separates a COMIC from a SERIES OF IMAGES, at least for me. Looking at a lot of print comics post 90s, however, it’s obvious that the actual white strip itself is not paramount in defining a comic as such – but a relationship between panels is.

Tumblr would give me this in ample readiness – it’s there, and all I have to do is to make sure my panels will sit in each spot perfectly.

Medum, on the other hand, gives me the freedom of simplicity – I can always manually create gutters for each strip on my computer, OR I can create a comic that doesn’t require gutters at all.

This is something which I can only really decide on after experimenting on both mediums (ha). Furthermore, I do want to look at what WordPress can offer me in terms of image hosting.

Issues to consider for further along: viewing on portable devices.

There is no App for Medium, however the streamlined reading style seen on browsers carries over beautifully on mobile browsers. Having said that, it doesn’t let you select and zoom in on each individual ‘panel’ when on mobile.

The App for Tumblr, on the other hand, is temperamental at best, especially with displaying images in Dashboard. The actual blog page itself (ie, my themed blog), is accessed through the browser anyway, and depending on the theme I choose, it could either take me to a full-HTML website (completely unreadable on a mobile device), or a vertical, mobile version, which is still extremely cluttered with buttons and links that are separate to the theme of the blog.

Right now, I’m definitely leaning towards Medium more. With more exploration and testing, I’m sure that I’ll find an answer soon.

Alex.

P.S. I started using sub headings!

The Irony Of IRL And Otherwise

In real life (IRL) I can’t juggle for crap. No, really, I’ve tried. I’m in the juggling club at Uni, but I (Jen and I…we) haven’t been going forever.

But here, online, I’m juggling a Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, WordPress, a 365 on Tumblr and now a FORMSPRING!

Yes, is it shameful that I, once again, linked each site AGAIN!?

The reason I got the Formspring (and there is a reason, because Tumblr already came with an ask function, and obviously you’re more than welcome to comment on my blog here, and Twitter is more of a you read what’s going on sort of thing) is so that you can comment on my Project365, because I was silly enough to set it up in such a way that it’s hard for you to comment on it unless you have Tumblr and follow my 365. So now, when you ask me a question on Formspring, you can either just ask me a question normally (and ignore the fact that Tumblr has an actual ask component, as stated before) and I will answer it and it will appear on Tumblr only, OR you can comment on my Project 365 and I will answer it, and I MIGHT post it on both Facebook and Tumblr (the parent Tumblr) but most likely only Tumblr. Because of this, I might remove the Anonymous function on my Tumblr Ask, but not likely.

Oh man, my head hurts from all of this.

Actually, writing, this I realize that I could’ve easily just had people comment on my 365 just on my Tumblr Ask, but but but but noooooooooooo. Formspring can be connected to Facebook separately. Tumblr would have to connect to Facebook for everything, and I spam people way too much with my Twitter connected to Facebook.

Which brings me to the point: I realize that, despite the links and advertisements, my WordPress is the least connected page of all the others. I mean, yes, these posts appear on my Facebook page, but that’s it. Whereas my Tweets appear both here and Facebook, my Tumblr will now be connected to my Formspring and sometimes Facebook, my…AHHH I THINK MY HEAD IS ABOUT TO EXPLO-

Let’s see how this goes. If this gets too difficult, I might abandon my Formspring, and have people comment on my 365 through Tumblr Ask.

And to think Dani told me to get a Flickr.

That’s Dani’s Project 365. I’m about to link that permanently to my page.

Seriously I think my head is going to explode. It’s good I picked today to do this, because I have an actual day off today (as opposed to last week, when my extremely many days off are packed with work).

AHH for the last time, I will wipe my brains off my couch.

Alex.

Gary Oak Was The Nice Guy All Along!

I saw this post on Tumblr today that made me re-think a large part of my childhood.

(If you’re not a Pokemon fan, chances are you’re not gonna get this post…I mean you’re gonna get it, you just won’t find this amusing)

Gary Oak Was The Nice Guy All Along!

Warning: the article may cause some readers to be upset, as it contains the death of a Pokemon. This basically outlines the scenario of the first series (Kanto region) but emphasizes a detail that, in our haste to Catch ‘Em All, we missed. It made me feel horrible!

In similar news, I decided to start FireRed again, on my laptop, with the VBA emulator. I remember that I’d gotten as far as Lavender Town the previous time that I’d played FireRed emulated, but I’d lost the files. I started at lunch time today, and, at nearly 5pm, I am close to finishing Brock off. I feel pretty good about that, but then again I’d more or less memorized what I need to know and do up to this point.

…Oh and I have a walkthrough [hides from disapproving readers].

I also should PROBABLY get back to the Pokemon Diamond I’m halfway through on my NDS. But I’ve left it for so long (the last time I played it was before my 17th birthday and I’m turning 19 in 3 months) I’d forgotten what I was trying to achieve.

Anyway, apart from that, everything’s pretty peachy. Uni is back tomorrow (let’s hear you say “FUCK NO”) but to my delight, weather is starting to cool down.

Oh! OH! I just realized I’d never written about shopping on Friday!

On Friday Jen and I went shopping together. She was up for a binge trip anyway, so indeed in the first 20 minutes, she’d bought a bow hair clip and a batwing Dangerfield jacket. We went to Harbour Town, and I got a pair of Adidas sneakers (or, as Katherine calls them, “kicks”). Went into Forever New (a shop that Meghan talks about all the time) and Jen got another bow headband (we looked at a bunch of weird ass ones first, though. One looked like a bird flew into your head, and died there).

Went back to Melb Central, and went to Myers with Josh to look at more clothes. FOUND NOTHING! Shattered.

Came home exhausted, and had Katherine tell me that at Valleygirl there was a sale. Oh and I didn’t find Factorie…because it was upstairs at Harbor Town.

Okay! Sorry, Jen, for not writing about my awesome day out with you!

Well, now I shall go upload my 365 for today.

Alex.

Project 365 – 2

Okay, my excuse is that all good things started twice.

I have decided to restart my 365, starting today, the 10th of April 2010. Because the previous 9 days were sort of a confused bunch, and, to be honest, I took some on the wrong days.

I decided to start it today, because I’d just gotten a haircut (the previous haircut was getting really long and, in Josh’s words “mullet” like).

I have decided to hell with the calendar concept. I don’t have the time for that (yeah, I’m that lazy) so basically, I will take 1 picture each day, and post them up individually on my 365 page with a small description on the bottom of what happened that day.

If I happen to write about that day here, on my WordPress, I will link the picture to here (and perhaps, if I can be bothered, post the 365 picture here as well). Not every picture will have an accompanying WordPress post, because some days are just plain boring. But every picture WILL have an accompanying caption on the Tumblr page.

I hope I don’t have to start for the 3rd time haha.

Alex.

P.S. Group dynamics have had an interesting bashing this week. And I’m not just talking about my Uni group.

P.P.S. Mani, I just had the Two-Face conversation with you. I wish you luck!

Project 365

I don’t remember if I mentioned it here, but here’s a quick overview of Project 365:

Taken off my Tumblr…of course. I just remembered I’d blogged about it there (I only want to write official stuff on here. And since now this is official…)

I’ve had this laptop for about half a month now, but I’ve decided to start on an interesting day. Thus, I shall start my project on April 1st.

I will display it as a weekly thing. Calendar layout. I don’t know WHERE I’ll display it – I might just make a new page on here first, or put it on Deviant Art, or, dare I say, get a Flickr.

So, let’s hope I can keep this up!

Alex.

P.S. I have added a category: Project 365. That will include maybe a short story about the picture, and what it stands for. I also want to be able to link each photo to the corresponding day here, but I don’t know how I’d do that. Mani, you read this, can you suggest anything?

This City Is On Fire Tonight

[Good Life – OneRepublic]

Thanks to Katherine who showed me that song! I finally got around to making that video montage for Sorrento today.

It was quite amusing going through the photos that I took, as well as the other girls, and having memories be revived. It also astounds me that around this time last year I went to Sale. ONE YEAR ALREADY! Yet Jen and I still make the same jokes.

I was contemplating whether or not to post the video on here but I thought perhaps that wouldn’t be wise. So search it up on youtube, or even better it’s on Facebook, not that just anyone can see it.

Jenny (from now on whenever I mention a Jenny it’s Jenny Z, unless specified otherwise. Jen is still Jen, a different person. Note to self: make friends with different names) introduced me to/pushed me to actually go on Lamebook and I’m pretty much hooked reading the stupidity of other people. I’d reblogged on Tumblr quite a lot of the good ones I’ve found (my Tumblr link is on the side of the page “SmellsLikeAwesome”) but go check it out for yourselves. My personal favorite category are the TypOHs.

I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time at home from now because of my mom (personal family issues, nothing to be too concerned about), but I look forward to maybe going to the mass IKEA hide and seek on Saturday.

On another note: TV shows are back! Just today, I’ve caught up on the latest episodes of HIMYM, House and NCIS, with TBBT, FlashForward and Lie To Me soon to follow, I think. And update: no jobs yet. I’ll keep trying but I’m getting kind of annoyed and depressed.

Take care,

Alex.

You Said Move On, Where Do I Go?

[Thinking Of You – Katy Perry]

Well, since I (somehow) capped myself, this will be my last post until I uncap (except for Christmas). I put some effort into making this post interesting, okay?

This is mostly for Katherine’s benefit.

One day when we were on MSN I complained to her, “Katherine, you never stalk me anymore. When we first met/got back in touch, you’d stalk me three times a day, at the least. Sometimes you’d drop by and stalk me unexpectedly, just to let me know you still feel that stalk-spark. But now you only stalk when I ask you, and even then I don’t feel like your heart is in the stalking. It’s like you lack the passion you once had for stalking me.”

Katherine replied, “But honey (she didn’t say honey, but for the purpose of this very thinly veiled double entendre she did) I don’t need to stalk you to let you know I still love you. Can’t you just know by me simply giving you a quick hi on MSN?”

“It’s not the same!” I cried, “You used to stalk me so passionately that you knew everything about me. I would look into your eyes and ask you the name of my 3rd grade teacher and you’d be able to reciprocate. But now, now you barely remember my password!”

“Dammit woman! (Again, she didn’t say woman. Why did I make her out to be the guy in this…anyway) Don’t you get I’m trying? I come home everyday exhausted from a long hard day of legitimate information gathering, and I just want to put my feet up, sit back and watch some Bones (oh yes, I noticed what I did there). I love you, baby, but I just need some time to myself. I can’t stalk you all the time.”

“Time to yourself? Oh don’t be coy with me, I know EXACTLY what you get up to!”

“What…what are you talking about sweetie? (She doesn’t call me sweetie either. She’s not a womanizer. She could be if she tried…and had a dick. The point is…)”

“I know about those tumblrs and deviantarts! I know that you spend your ‘free time’ stalking all those pretty girls on those sites instead of me! Do you think I haven’t noticed? What, am I not arty enough for you? I can be arty! I can be anything you want! Here I’ll string some apples onto trees, sit in an awkward yet erotically suggestive pose, and have you take pictures. Do you want that? I can do that! What can I do to make you want to stalk me again?!”

“You don’t understand, baby. It’s not the same.”

“I get it. No, I understand. I’ll just leave. Maybe I’ll delete everything of mine so you won’t ever get to stalk me again.”

“No, baby don’t be like that. Come back. Hey? Baby? Alex? Alex?!

…AAAAAAAALEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEX!!!!!!!!!!”

(I HAD to put a Streetcar reference you in there, you understand.)

The intensely capitalized utterance appeared on my screen just as I moved my mouse cursor towards the close button. Hesitating, I tapped out, “Oh I do love you Stan-I mean, Katherine. I do. But how can I trust you again?”

“I’ll show you,” came the reply. I waited anxiously, not knowing what form of stalking Katherine will bestow upon me. Suddenly a red icon appeared on my Facebook page, and I saw that Katherine had “posted something on my wall”. My heart skipped a beat, half in excitement, half in anticipatory terror. What did she post?

“Hey sup how r u? I see u were playing bejeweled! Kwlzz~~”

And my world became complete once again.

Alex.

Disclaimer: Katherine never ever talks like that. In fact, I am willing to bet a very small amount of money that when she reads what I wrote, she will actually run away crying. She doesn’t type like a tool.

What she does do is stalk people on deviantart and tumblr. That part was true, and was written for her benefit.

I do not own Streetcar Named Desire, Tumblr, DeviantArt, Facebook or Bones in any way. Aha, now you can’t sue me.

And I’m very sorry, Katherine, for that thing about the dick…. ._.

Welcome To The Real World, She Said To Me

[No Such Thing – John Mayer]

Today Katherine came to my place and we had an epic time. I made her eat a lot.

I won’t post too much because not that much happened. We watched Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

Also, I got a Tumblr! It has an artsy fartsy name: “Daunting Understandings” which was actually generated by the Random Phrase Generator. So not that deep.

There is a chance I want to change my Tumblr title soon so I’m going to warn Katherine because she…took a long time trying to fix my heading for me. She’s going to pretty much kill me.

Okay I’m off to basically link other stuff to it as well.

This means that I will mostly blog pictures and videos there, because it’s easier there, and I will blog just texts and stuff that happens here. So keep coming here, and keep going there.

Alex.

/edit. Yeah I changed Daunting Understandings to smellslikeawesome

Do You Like My Stupid Hair?

[First Date – Blink 182]

Well, you may have noticed that I have yet again, again, again, again, I lost count, again, changed the theme of my blog. But this time I neglected to get one with a header image. In fact, I’m thinking (and pretty much am doing) of getting a Tumblr, so I can be more arty farty and whatnot, and post pictures up there. Well it was either Tumblr or Blogspot. Actually seeing as I haven’t applied for a new one yet, someone tell me what they think I should do.

There are cons and pros of each, of course. The con of getting a Blogspot would be spending hours and hours trying to make it look good, like Katherine did for her blog, and in the end you can’t comment. Boo. The pro is that it’s not Tumblr, and Tumblr confuses the crap out of me, what with reposting and all that junky stuff.

The pros of Tumblr is that 1) it would be easier to keep track of Meghan and Mai’s stuff, and 2) from what I did manage to gather it is easier to post different types of stuff, like quotes, texts, photos etc. The con of it is again, it’s Tumblr, and Tumblr confuses the crap out of me.

Either way, I’m still going to maintain my WordPress. I’ll be nuts not to. WordPress is the best one for massive chunks of writing like I do, and I have so many memories here anyway, I won’t abandon it. I will somehow find a way to link to my Tumblr/Blogspot when/if I get it.

Also, I am having a dilemma in choosing a suitable URL for my new site. Defluffe is SO 2008. I’m stuck with it now, here, but fresh start to a new blog.

Finally, I changed my Twitter account to ileapforyou. It’s PROBABLY not the best name, but I got annoyed thinking of names. Someone tell me off and suggest a new one.

Alright, take care, everyone, and keep the comments coming in for the many suggestions I know you have.

Alex.