Paper Cuts

First, the sad news: Thursday saw the last issue of All Access, the weekly art and entertainment tabloid that has been the home for my comic strip, Those Funky Idiots, for the last few years. The magazine is moving from the page to the screen to become an online entity. It’s disappointing to see the old format go, but it’s understandable in these harsh economic times for newspapers (and practically everyone else!). However, the new site for AA looks pretty sharp and promising.

Now, the good news: Despite this change, Those Funky Idiots will continue to run every Thursday in the Life section of The Star Press and will appear on the All Access site as well! Exciting news for me and hopefully for you as well! Of course, none of this would be possible without the guidance and generosity of Michelle Kinsey, the editor of All Access and reporter extraordinaire. Thanks for everything, Michelle!

For those who saw the last issue of AA, you probably noticed there was no Idiots within its pages and that was all my fault. I never did turn in a new strip for that week and I’m currently kicking myself for doing that because it would have been nice to have the Idiots go down with the ship! However, it’s even nicer to know the strip will continue to run well into the future!

The Days of The Week

Sunday: Since I had to film some stuff for Grove Lake, I get up early. While getting ready, I listened to Weekend Edition. One of my favorite singers, Emmylou Harris, was on the show, singing some songs from her new Songbird box set. As she sang, I actually tear up. God, I love that woman!...For the reshoot, I had to dig around some garbage for an establishing shot. I picked up soda cans, plastic bottles, and a corn husk out of a working trash can. I was only there for a few minutes and then we were done. The film crew got the footage they needed and I got garbage hands...I then went to the post office downtown to mail some bills. After grabbing a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, I drove home. Out of the blue, I came up with a good idea for a comic strip. I decide to use the idea for this week's strip for All Access...I watched some of North by Northwest while I ate my grilled cheese. Cary Grant discovers George Caplin has dandruff...I took a nap. I wanted to go to Bob's Comic Castle so it had to be a short nap. It lasted five hours...Fully rested and newly hungered, I get up and order a pizza. I eat while watching the season premiere of The Simpsons. Despite an opening that featured a glimpse of Springfield after the big movie, the episode wasn't that great. Sorry, Spider-Pig! The new episode of King of The Hill seemed a little off for some reason though I liked it better than The Simpsons...I go online for some photo reference for the new strip. No e-mail. No new content at my favorite sites. Must you disappoint me, Interwebs?...Time to stop writing. Metalocalypse is on.

Monday: Got up around 2:30pm to start the new day. It's time to go back to work...I spent nine hours at Touchy Feely Fotos and nothing I did is worth mentioning. Typical...I did find time to buy three Prismacolor markers. When it comes to markers, Prismacolor isn't my first choice (That would be Tria, of course!), but they are cheap and they get the job done...Got to work on a strip!

Tuesday: Spent the wee small hours of the morning working on this week's strip for All Access. It turns out to be pretty good and I'm pleased with it. I think it's going into the syndication package (You know the one I've been dragging out for the last decade?)...I'm on the road after seven to make a color copy of the strip (Reduced 64% from the original) for the paper. While I'm out, I also get some chocolate milk and a couple donuts I don't really need. I was almost tempted to grab a bagel, but I passed...Dropped off the comic strip at the newspaper and soon I'm in bed. It's a little after nine and I need to get some sleep!...The alarm goes off at 2:30pm, but I don't get up until three. Lousy job!...By the way, my dad is on strike...At work, I talk to Jenny and the Sesame Street movie, Follow That Bird, pops up in our conversation which reminds me you got to say yes when life says no.

Wednesday: I don't want to get up, but I do. I don't want to shave so I don't. Today should be Thursday...Driving into work, I do a halfway decent Dr. Phil. I don't know if that's an accomplishment or not...Somebody leaves Touchy Feely Fotos in an ambulance. I'm leaving the building when I notice a small crowd gathering to watch an unidentified person hop onto a stretcher. When stuff likes this happens, people come out of the woodworks to gawk...That's all I got.

Access Denied

I have never really thought of myself as being controversial. I'm simply too bland and cowardly for that type of action. However, occasionally something happens that makes me wonder if I'm closer to the edge than I think. Last week I submitted this strip to All Access for publication and it never ran. I guess it wasn't considered suitable for a general audience. To be honest, I knew there was a chance it wouldn't get printed when I handed it in, but I was hoping it would slip in without getting noticed. However, it did so last week's All Access was Idiots free.

Having a strip not getting accepted means I don't get paid for it, but it also makes me feel slightly edgy and dangerous like a little league Aaron McGruder. I can only expect my street cred to rise.