Friday, 17 December 2010

Sheath’mups

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Cottage 13 Cloud Logo Version 2

A while back I posted an early draft of a T-shirt design for the shop.
The original drawing.
Andrew opted to redo it after mulling it over for a while.
The sketch.
The finished vector drawing.
And the final design on a shirt. It sits down on the bottom left. Little more subtle than the usual front and center option, and I really like it that way.

Bibliophilia: One Bad Day – Steve Rolston

Rolston was the artist on first few arcs of Queen & Country, and I liked his sparse, bold style. This certainly isn’t the greatest comic ever, but I enjoyed it. Set in Toronto as well.

Friday, 3 December 2010

Bibliophilia: The Farfarers by Farley Mowat

The Farfarers: Before the Norse – Farley Mowat
Mowat posits the theory that Iceland, Greenland and Canada were discovered long before the Norse. The Albans, a culture who predate the Celts or the Picts, driven ever further north by successive waves of invasions, up into the islands off Scotland. When Viking raids begin striking at the British Isles they have nowhere left to flee. Being seafarers who had been chasing “valuta” or ivory for centuries they were already well aware of Iceland and Greenland as rich hunting grounds. Fleeing there, they settled Iceland. When the Vikings found them they of course did what they were wont to do - murder, pillage, rape and enslave. So they fled West again, this time to Greenland. When the Vikings found them there, they fled West once again, this time to Canada.

It is all very speculative of course, and many “proper” historians scoff at his notions. He stretches the evidence further than he likely should, and his work includes passages of overt fiction. But I have to say I found it a very engrossing narrative. History is written by the victors as they say, so it is not entirely inconceivable that it is different than it has been written.

Fascinating read if you have any interest in British history, seafaring, exploration and alternative views of history.

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

Bibliophilia: Fragile Things & American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders – Neil Gaiman
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
It’s Gaiman, so it was bound to be good, and this one delivered. Loved the premise – do the gods from other parts of the world, have the same power in the US as they did in their homelands?

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Bibliophilia: Mitch Rapp Series – Vince Flynn

These are essentially super hero books - a very politically incorrect super hero. Liberals will be aghast as he fucks up terrorists. Admittedly they’re fluffy, but I really like them as mindless escapism. 

But why do the covers have to be so appallingly bad? Given the caliber of work presented in things like Spectrum, these are just insipid. I realize the target audience is pretty much made up of conservative, white males, but please, can these be made to look just a smidgen more exciting than a report from the federal accounting office? 

Thursday, 14 October 2010

Bibliophilia: Isaac Bell Series – Clive Cussler with Justin Scott

They are quite formulaic, but I guess I really like the formula. Dashing detective who utilizes what is at the time very new technology to help battle fiends from the underworld who at first appear to be from the underclass but turn out not to be. Trains feature prominently.

Saturday, 2 October 2010

S.o.t.D. - Need You Tonight – INXS

Need You Tonight – INXS

Can’t say I was ever a big fan, but undeniably this was an album of really finely crafted pop.

Friday, 1 October 2010

S.o.t.D. - Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon – Marilyn Manson

Arma-Goddamn-Motherfuckin-Geddon – Marilyn Manson

Not sure how I feel about Brian. He’s clearly a bright guy. But I find a lot of what he does kind of contrived, and more style than substance. This I like though. Almost has a bit of a swing feel to it.