July 19, 2007 (12:43 PM CST)
This will be my last entry of this comic. I had fun with it, but I'm going to end it now. I noticed my last posting was in April with the VA Tech thing, and I've just been too busy since then. Doing what, you ask?
Well, for starters, I graduated. I'm no longer a "physics student", I'm a "Physicist". I still am working at the physics clinc at UTA, and am proctoring a few tests this summer semister. I'm now going to get a bachelor's degree in Ecconomics (should take about a year and a half), since I've decided that even scientists need to know SOMETHING of business in this sucky society of ours (yes, instead of devoting ourselves fully to the enrichment of mankind through knowledge, we need to learn how to patent things and ballance books so we don't end up being autided by the IRS. -sigh-), and ecconomics is the business degree that I'm most suited to (with the added benefit of me already having all but a year and a half's work done for it.) Also, it would be nice to have a few "easy" semesters to reover my GPA. Okay, 2.9xx isn't BAD, but it's not GOOD either. It's annoying too, because it's SOOO CLOSE to being good. Then maybe I can get scholarships and get into graduate school easier. The other sucky thing is I only have 45 hours before out of state tuition kicks in, and that I simply cannot afford...but the degree is going to take me 45 hours, no room to spare. The lady says it only takes 30 hours to get a second degree...ha! Stupid beurocrats that don't actually LOOK at how things REALLY work. Reminds me of a line from a game I'm playing, Disgaea 2. We're given a jury summons and then sent to another place with it (after being sent to the balif to pick it up in the first place), and the main character, Adell, comments "Why does it feel like we're just being sent all over the place?" The female lead responds, "That's Beurocracy for you." Too true. -_-;
Oh well, and my dreams of music and drawing will have to remain hobbies, as is my writing and webcomicing. Oh yeah, I'm joining History of the World V on Alturas (which might be slow enough I won't have too much trouble, but give me something to lay with. ^_^), and I'm considering FINALLY getting some use out of those old rules I wrote up for that mecha game, though with a thorough overhall. Not even sure I'll do it yet, but it should be an interesting and detailed rule set by the time I'm done with it.
Not sure what else there is to say. Ben got married last month (congrats, buddy!), Adam last Thanksgiving, Jeremiah the summer before, and Rachel & Ray the year before. John and Clif aren't married yet, though Clif probably will be eventually. So I'm single, not dating, and no prospects for marriage anytime soon...but I'm willing to go for it now if it comes up. See, I never wanted to get married until I had the ability to support myself and another person. After all, I'd like for my future mate to not have to work at all unless she wants to. Well, I've got a physics degree and will get certified to teach, I think. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to teach at all, but it's something that I can always fall back on. I mean, seriously, with the teacher shortage and all, and especially because I can easily teach physics, mathematics, basic biology, basic geology, and basic chemistry, if I ever decide to teach, I should be able to get a job anywhere in the US if all else fails. Given, I'd be unorthodox and probably get fired within a week, but still. The kids would love me. ^_^ First day of class I'd make ice cream using liquid nitrogen. Then, while they're chillin' and eating the stuff, I can explain how it works. I can make a cryo-cannon or potato gun and explain how those work. I can use pendulums, basketballs, anything and everything, and then explain how they work. After all, to me, that's the way to teach. Show people something cool and then tell them how it does what it does. Give the knowledge some MEANING. Yes there are equations, but they mean shomething, they aren't disembodied, ethereal entities that one can never understand and should just memorieze the formulas and not even try. That's not science. That's public education bastardized science, but that's not the science that I know and love, so that's not what I'd teach.
As I said, I'd be fired in under a week. ^_^;
Well, what else? Nothing significant yet, though I am getting braver and more couragous/overcoming my shyness all the time. I can test for my blue belt this month, but probably will wait until next month (I don't think I'm ready yet.) I've also been swiming 1.5 to 3 hours a day for most days these last two weeks (after the month-long rain finally ended.) I'm even getting a light tank. Been taking Wes with me, so...and between that and my martial arts, my body's starting to look pretty good. Chiefly, my chest and arms seem to be getting a little development when I attribute to the swiming (my legs, especially my calves, are already pretty well built from my Taekwando kicking.) Both are also good aerobic excercises, and with decent eating and drinking lots of water, are helping my midsection to tone up somewhat nicely (and swiming is good for that, too, anyway due to the motions involved.) All in all, I'm fairly happy with how my character and body are developing. If nothing else, it's about time...even if I am somewhat unsatisfied with my mental development as of late, but that's unimportant right now. I think right now, character, physique, and cultural development are good things for me to work on, specially in my downtime this summer while I'm not taking classes and have a job that allows me to swim in the sun and attend all my martial arts classes.
Well, other than all that, I can't think of anything in particular else to say right now, so...I guess I'll just stop here. ^_^ Have a good day, all.
-Matt
April 18, 2007 (11:48 PM CST)(Apr 19, 12:48 AM EST) Well...copy from my myspace/lj of the same thing...I can't really think of anything else to say. Peace.
I'd like to say that this isn't a thing for me, usually I could care less about these blogs and wouldn't put anything serious or of great concern here, but...for some reason this has bothered me a lot. Kinda like 9-11, something I had no direct connection to, knew no one involved, hurt, or killed in, and yet, still deaply disturbing to my core. I guess I should be looking at it differently; I mean, after all, if it had no impact on me at all, at any level, THEN I should be concerned, right? Still...it's also the foreboding sense that I had that bothers me too...I'm not sure what to make of it.
Monday morning's events in Virginia were aweful. Initially, I had no idea what to make of it. Now, after having had a day and a half to think about it...I still don't know what to think about it. Does it suggest an evaluation of gun control? Does it underscore the need for personal defense training? Does it speak to the darkness that can come from a heart burdened with sadness beyond dispair? People in the 'States and around the world have already started using this event as a debate point for or against gun control, but I won'd address that right now, it's far too close to the event to use it in such a calous way. Maybe it says something about how "safe" we are in our free society, on college campuses, and so on. I really don't know. In all honesty, I'd rather it leave my mind, I have other things that I need to concentrate on.
If nothing else, this does underscore the power of Humanity to come together in times of adversity and tragedy...the true power of the Human spirit. When things go bad, lots of people have this innate need to assign blame, to have somebody, ANYBODY, as a scapegoat. Basically, as long as someone suffers or pays for it, such people are happy. But what good does that do? The dead are dead, the wounded are wounded, and there are family, friends, students, and townspeople that will never be the same. The damage is done. In the end, all that matters is that people are hurting, and that other people are comming together so that these people don't have to face their pain all alone. Right now, nothing else matters. In days and weeks to come, people can propose changes and do all the Monday morning quarterbacking they want...and this WILL be happening, don't doubt it...but right now, that's not important.
This also serves as a painful example of what happens when a person in pain and dispair is left to it...alone. Few people in this world may be loners for life and maintain their sanity. We're all in this together, we gotta look out for each other, ya know? If you have a quiet friend, try to be a true friend to them, sometimes it takes only one person...in fact, more often than not, one person in the right place with the right heart can make all the difference in the world. But maybe I'm just being...
The thoughts and prayers of a nation are with these people feeling so much pain, and mine are added to that already monumental list. How it plays out across the nation, what comes of it, and so on...that only time will tell. Shall we once again sacrifice freedom for elusive pseduo-safety? Should we become a police state...or a truly free state, to prevent it? Such questions will be asked, and likely foolish people will make decisions of folly...but right now...none of that matters. We can worry about tomorrow as it comes. First we must face the dawn of a new day, bringing us out of the darness of the night. Then, once we can see the events of the night in the new day's light with the healing dews spreading across the land, then we can face the new day...
P.S. I gotta remember to ask Master Johnson about gun/knife defense, and possibly a basic throw. Gee, wonder if I'll remember...
P.P.S. Gah...and why IS this bothering me so much? But then again, would I truly prefer to be so callous that it not affect me or my mind at all...?
Later...and to the fallen, farewell, wherever you go, wherever you are, making it a brighter place for being there as we are dimmed by your passing. Farewell
-Matt
April 2, 2007 (10:17 PM CST)
New update. Uhm, not really much to say...was it funny, was it not? I'll leave that to you. Busy week, two tests, Thermo and Comp Physics homework, Biology lab report, Bio test, and E&M test all this week. Least I got my belt test done and now I have a green belt, yay! ^_^
Later folks.
-Matt
March 29, 2007 (3:46 PM CST)
In the Physics clinic (slow day), don't have my books/homework, but I think I'll work on my Comp. Physics homework. Just updating real quick.
Later
-Matt
March 28, 2007 (9:12 PM CST)
Uhm, updating...right. ^_^ Well, been busy. 16 + 2 hours of classes, Biology (freshman level, for science majors[has lab]), Intro to Astrophysics(sophemore level), Computational Physics (programing, sophemore level), Advanced Electricity and Magnetism (senior level...hate this class. ^_^; I don't like E&M anyway, hard for me to wrap my head around...), Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics (senior level, I like this one, which is odd as I usually dislike statistics...) ALSO, martial arts, my Taekwando...I'm testing on Friday for my green (third, excluding the automatic white) belt. Think I can do it, I know all the stuff, just could use some polish. Also added swiming 30 minutes every evening at the indoor pool before I come home to my schedual. I'm also trying to work out in the gym with some light weight, moderate repititions once or twice a week...haven't yet this week, but eh, been busy. Oh yeah, and I'm now working 10 hours in the physics clinic tutoring since Dr. Black's been out...which reminds me, I REALLY need to give him a call...but I also don't want to be a bother. But yeah, I should be getting in good shape. ^_^
Well, later people that don't read this anyway! ^_^
-Matt
Febuary 11, 2007 (11:41 PM CST)
Okay, I'm about to crash, but just updated the comic with...well, with one I made several days ago and just now managed to get up... ^_^; I'd make another right now, but I was going to go to bed an hour ago. My head is swiming...like super hyper. Honestly, why am I thinking of running for political office? I mean, that's the most retarded thing. And what's more, I'd tell people straight how I plan to behave and act, and I'd tell them how I might not always vote like they'd want if it would violate my conscience and stuff like that...the truth, basically. Who would ever vote for me? What office shall I run for? I'm thinking Texas House, then US House in the next election. That'd put me at just a month past turning 26, then again, just a month past 28. It's by far the stupidiest, most unrealistic "not gonna happen" think I've ever thought in my life! Well...maybe not the MOST, but some of the weirder ones have actually happened. ^_^
To be honest, I'm not really sure why the thought is in my head, maybe cause of talking with poeple about our current stuff and all the stuff going on...and I'm actually starting to form views. But not like my past, "They're all stupid, lacking wisdom..." and "Well, this issue is really too complicated for me with my underdeveloped intellect and non-existent wisdom." Now I'm starting to think of clear things I could stand for, how I'd stand on stuff like the environment, global warming, abortion, gun control, Iraq, and a host of other stuff. Yikes! Someone shoot me, please! :p Fine, if all you have is a camera, then shoot me with it, maybe the flash will knock some sense back into me. ^_^
Maybe it's partly due, also, to the fact that I have no idea what I'm going to do after I get my degree in May, and maybe also partly due to the fact that I beleive this nation is in need of...something. Some change. Besides which, if ever there was a political climate for us to go back to having more than two serious political parties, now is that time. And if ever there was a time where people of conscience and wisdom were needed to run things, now is THAT time too. But I have no money to finance anything...guess I can get started working on that too. Gee, if only I had some useful marketable asset. Making sprite comics for free isn't really much of an asset. ^_^; Well...I'll figure it all out eventually. At the very least, I'd be a "common Joe" candidate, not a politician, not a lawyer, but an actual scientist (degreed, even!), and possibly also a philosopher. And again, I'd have one thing going for me, even if I still don't have much wisdom and have no leadership or administrative or political or public service experience, I DO have character, conscience, courage, and I will be straight and honest with people, tell them the truth, and do the darndest to do what I say I will do. And I won't take bribes. ^_^ I'll be like that Senator guy that lived in a little shack somewhere and gave all his money to needy people. ^_^ That was in a time where people actually practiced what they preached. Gee, I wonder what dirt and mud would be dug up on me to smear me if I ran...eh, whatever, I'm gonna crash. ^_^
Night everyone! ^_^
-Matt
December 13, 2006 (1:15 AM CST)
Hm, well, here starts a new comic. Middle of finals week...got one in about ten hours from now, so I'm going to sleep. Oh yeah, two weekends ago I got to write a little...forgot how much I missed it, though this one's kinda dark. Last Friday, my last great grandparent, my mother's mother's mother, passed away. Went to see her husband, as she'd put it, and her motehr that died when she was six, and whoever else is already gone that she wanted to see again...she really wanted to see her husband again. Anyway...enough of that. Ooh, been thinking of a fun idea, though it wouldn't sell, but it'd be fun to play around with. A physics CCG...well, chemistry too. Like Hydrogen (H) would be an ultra common, Gold (Au...I think...) would be more rare, there'd be "field" cards (electric field, magnetic field, gravitational field), and you'd be able to use energy cards for bonding or ionizing things to form more complex compounds and elements. ^_^
Okay, so yeah, no one would ever buy it, but that wouldn't be the point, the point would be to have fun and use my imagination and knowledge to play around with the idea. Who knows, might be a fun way for some people to learn about stuff while...haha! Yeah, couldn't keep a straight face on that one. ^_^; But it might be fun just to toy with the idea. And I still need to work more on my ether-like idea... -shrug-
Night everyone! ^_^
-Matt
October 10, 2006 (9:44 PM CST)
Gosh...I'm exhausted...soooo sleepy. Think I'll go to sleep. Oh! But I've been thinkin', I'm finally ready to write again! I have an idea for a story too. It's gonna be a semi-short story, probably long enough to make a short movie of or something, but not longer (as opposed to all my past attempts which were openended novel-type stories.) I can do this! I know I can! It's been years, but I know I can, and better than ever cause I've grown and experienced so much since then!
...butcha know, right now I'm busy (got a test in the morning and a paper for Thursday.) But man! I really am ready to do this! I gotta get some free time and start writing again. I'm sooo ready at last! -yawn- But first, I think sleep...then studying some more... ^_^;
-Matt
March 6, 2006 (11:48 AM CST, in Physics Clinic, we open at 12 noon)
Well, been a while since my last update. Grandmother died like the day or two after my last post (my last day at work was given as berevement, that's how close it was.) So...guess I called that one, huh? Uncle Doug passed away last month on a Friday...was it two or three weeks ago? I acted in Grampa's stead, staying with Gramma and driving her around and stuff. But yeah...
Anyway, still not doing any writing, but I think I'm getting closer to it. Trying to get some music practice in, not doing all that well at that either but I am starting to carry the mouthpiece with me and blow on it when I get the time to try and get my armacure (not sure on the spelling, but basically the mouth muscles) worked up enough to actually play well when I get to where I can do that. Let's see, what else...? Been practicing my martial arts, getting some things down. I've got one kick I can do well, two I can kinda do, and a punch I can do well, and a new one now. Also how to break out of three holds with a variation on dealing with one of them. Trying to do some more running too, and did a drawing (somewhat abstract, though I could see some sci-fi aplications) last night too. Also listening to more music and love the weather, specially around sunset. 60-70s with a light wind is GREAT! Still haven't gotten to talk to Musalack, but I think I figured out how a fan works last night (and a fan-windmill too), and I think Jacob explained clicky-pens to me (something else I've been wondering about for a while.) The way I see it, I'm a physics student, I should be able to figure this kinda stuff out. So yeah, really happy I figured that one out.
Well, I've got an Astro test tomorrow I need to study for, and my Linear Algebra (Matricies) and Differential Equasions (not partial diff eqs) class ALSO has a test tomorrow night, but that's matricies, that's easy stuff, for me at least. I should do great on it. Also got to talk to Clif the other night (Sat) before I left and after Jeremiah had gone home. Just about life and stuff, but...I felt better. Oh, and got the Narnia soundtrack, the music is increddible (though as I said on my LJ, I knew that within five minutes into the movie. ^_^ The main theme they played when they were on the train and brought up the title.) Anyway, work time, so later. ^_^
-Matt
January 8, 2006 (9:44 PM CST)
Well, got my classes registered for and stuff. Posted up a comic to perhaps finally get an end to the frozen comic. Overall, it wasn't a bad run, but I just never have time to make the comics or much inspiration, invention, or imagination. School does that to you. Sometimes so does life. My grandmother is finally reaching the end of the road, so...well, I guess what happens happens.
I guess I'm ready to move on to the next semester and keep going with school and life and such. Not sure what to say, really. Life goes on. I want to get back into writing and have been doing more reading, and I'll see what I can do with school and all that. I came out okay in school, wanna come out better next semester. The sad thing is my overall GPA is like 3.6, but at my current college, which ignores my first two and a half years of work, they say I have a 2.9. -sigh- Life is tough. Tomorrow is my last day at work here, and I still feel iffy in the stomach, but...I dunno. Anyway, that's it.
-Matt
May 1, 2005 (12:21 PM CST)
What, no comic? Well, yeah, I've been busy with school and...miscelaneous other things. I think I've effectively set into motion the events that will change my major and maybe set up my summer job, dunno yet. Right now I'm washing clothes. When I move them to the drier, I'll go take a shower. When the get out of the driar, I'll head back to my apartment. Then I'll study for my Aero test tomorrow and Thermo the day after that, then I guess the rest of the week will be rest and review for finals that start the week after that. I probably won't be coming back home next weekend (something I'm sure Mikey will be down about), but after that, I'll be home all summer, more or less, so he'll be a happy puppy. ^_^
Dunno what all I'll be doing or how hard these finals will be, but I've pushed myself this far this semister, I can push a little more to try and pull some Bs in these courses. I'm not sure it's possible in some of them (I've had a bad combination of instructors who aren't really good at teaching + textbooks that...well, don't explain things well. I can deal with one or the other, but both causes problems.) Still, I will do my best, and if there's one thing my past has taught me, it's that my best kicks butt!
-Matt
March 25, 2005 (1:23 PM CST)
Well, been too long since the last update. Anyways, here we have more fighting. The shockwave effect didn't turn out anything like I wanted. I was thinking of having it expand into an explosion, but I couldn't do that right and needed that last frame. In retrospect, I should have just made it two small cressents on either side, but I guess it gets the point across. In the future, I think my explosive bursts of energy will look better.
-Matt
March 6, 2005 (2:11 AM CST)
Not much banter for the dialogue, but I like the fighting animations. You will be seeing more of those... ; ) Oh yes, and backgrouns make the comic nice, eh? But I need to either use smaller sprites (though those were hard to see so...) more likely just use a soomed in section of the background. We'll see. There should also have been a *clang* or *clash* on the fifth frame...eh...
-Matt
March 4, 2005 (11:01 PM CST)
...yeah, but the .gif file looked worse. Maybe cause I converted my .bmp into a 24 bit...maybe if I shift it back down a notch...but I needed the extra color pallet...I'll figure something out, but yeah, the .gif was worse.
-Matt
March 1, 2005 (4:16 PM CST)
That effect didn't work ANYTHING like I wanted it too, but oh well. Not much to say right now, gotta study for a test I do NOT wanna take. -sign- Well, I'll do the best I can, as always, and hope for the best. No regrets. If I've truly done my best, I have nothing to regret.
-Matt
Feb 26, 2005 (1:44 PM CST)
So this ties up the loose end. It both drew the attention of the dark robot and caused the insurgence that called the two heroes into this dimension. On the bright side, this means there isn't a dimensional split and millions upon billions of beings in that dimension suffereing a horrible fate. ^_^ Needless to say, the time/space vortex took off with our hero/es, so that's that. Which means I need to finish off that other sprite, I think. Maybe I'll start writing my new story today too, who knows. It's been forever since I've written, I really am in the mood again and getting amped about doing it. Oh yes, and the title of this second comic for today is, fittingly, a semi-quote from the opening of Chrono Cross.
-Matt
Feb 25, 2005 (2:09 AM CST)
Well, here I am, at it again with a mega-supersized comic for the finale of the MM series of Comic2. I think I'm finally gonna finish with the Megaman set of sprites. I've decided that to make a truly unique webspritecomic, I need to start using my own set, something other people haven't used. But I don't have the means to rip new sprites or make them all on my own, so I think I'll continue my modifications on some CT sprites. But this next line of comic won't be folwing any other (the previous one was loosly based on the Bob and George world, or at least it's physics and general character personalities). This next one may or may not take place in the CT world, those are just some of the sprites I may use.
I haven't thought up a story yet, but then, I generally make up whatever I'm working on (music, drawings, writings, line of reasoing, and comics) as I go anyway. So we'll see if I can come up with something interesting and exciting. I'm already amped cause of how sweet the modified Frog/Glenn sprites look. ^_^ Here's hoping I can keep up with this one. I may make less frequient updates than the daily ones I made with Comic2 a while back, but I dunno, depends on how much time I have. Right now, I am a college student at UTA in Arlington, Tx taking Differential Equasions, Dynamics, Intro to Aero, Thermodynamics, and Circuit Analysis. I don't even have a job right now (and I REALLY do need the money...) and my time's limited as it is. But I'll figure it out and work full time over the summer anyway. ^_^ It would be much simplier if someone would give me a scholarship, even if my GPA has slipped down to 3.6...
-Matt
Dec 31, 2004 (9:40 PM CST)
Well, almost a new year. It's been a while since I was here, but I am once again updating this site some. I've started by finishing uploading my archived stories, although I haven't finished adding all the < p >'s to them all yet, so some are a bit icky to read, but I'll get to that. Anyway, as I hear fireworks outside and the Return of the King...or maybe Two Towers, not sure...soundtrack inside, I look back at the year and say, "Ya know, it could've been worse." So with that thought, back to updating. Oh, and don't feel too bad about be being here on a computer tonight, I'm gonna visit/party/whatever with my cousins tomorrow night for our new years. See, we all know new years starts on the 2nd, everyone else just does it the wrong night...or somethin' like that... :p
-Matt
May 23, 2004
Okay, I know, I missed yesterday, sorry. I actually went to bed...well, not LONG after midnight, then I got up early to help a pal of mine who locked his keys in his car. After that, I weed-eated (meh, not EXACTLY a word, but this is why we have living languages...) the front yard, then went to work for 9 hours. When I got home I was wiped and didn't even think about it. Maybe today's special effect will make up for that...okay, so it won't, but it was still a cool effect, wasn't it? I was going to try for an x slash, but ended up with this and decided I liked it better. X slashes should be saved for the good guys' special attacks, after all. ; )
-Matt
May 16, 2004
Well, made a few slight changes. As you may or may not notice, the most current comic strip is now placed up on this page above this stuff here. That way as we go on and on, you won't have to scroll down the next page to see the latest strip. Yay! So that's about it for now.
-Matt
May 14, 2004
Hullo and welcome to...this, my newest, grandest, and current experiments (one of those, anyway). I've had this page for a while just using it for linking music and images for a message board I post at, but I figure I might as well try learning some HTML, I mean, why not? I'm an intelligent young enough fellow. Sides, how hard can it be, right? ; )
So anyway, I've been making my own sprite comics and wanted to put them in an organized manor here, I mean, why not? : ) Sides, it'll give me some practice. Considering no one will ever probably see this site, does it really matter? As I said, an experiment. Anyway, if you somehow accidently got here, uhm...welcome. : ) Should you feel the need to try and e-mail me (haha! Yeah right!), the e-mail address to try is: mts1172000@yahoo.com
Anyway, whatever, here it is and now I get to load up the page and see what it looks like. ; )
-Matt