Toren Atkinson’s Absolute Blog

I usually avoid entries that are just links. Normally that irks me. But I don’t have time for anything of substance right now. However, I think you will really enjoy this:

From: PHIL MAHONEY
Subject: Found
I finally had a chance to check out http://www.foundmagazine.com. Wow. Fascinating, mysterious and hilarious. I love the names that were given to some of the pictures. I just about lost it when I saw “The Molting”:
http://www.foundmagazine.com/photos/themolting.html
Phil

It occurred to me that a very clever title for my last entry should have been “Meme’s the Word.” Too little too late.

I’m still having trouble with “meta”, but I think I am finally beginning to grasp the definition of “meme.” It’s taken a while. When everyone’s blog has those “which Sesame Street character am I?” – that’s a meme.

Here’s another. Unlike the “which pointless inaccurate time-wasting narrow-banded online pop culture personality test am I”, this one I actually like:

Post a memory of me in the comments. It can be anything you want. Then, of course, post this to your journal and see what people remember of you.

Hot in the City Tonight
Tonight!
It has begun. It is starting to get hot in the apartment. Elf needs drapes, badly. I think I may nail up some of the blankets I got from I got from the Chrishold Moving Day Giveaway Extravaganza. Although, on further consideration, those are afghans. Regardless, methinks the fans come out of storage tomorrow. Be warned, gamers, movie-watchers and other visitors, dress lightly and carry a big stick.

Weapons of Minor Destruction
I won this axe on eBay. In hindsight I paid $5 more than it’s worth to me including shipping but on the other hand, it’s a nice looking axe. I’ll be adding this to my collection of medieval weapons that I used for art reference. Recently I got a flail as well. The only real hard part about drawing an axe is the counter-flange on the opposite end of the blade. Drawing an axe like this is much more difficult than drawing a double-headed axe. Either way it’s nice to have an actual metal, life-size prop when working so you can get the reflections juuuuuuust right.

Emails of Interest II: The Spammening

Hey,
I just checked out your site, your illustrations are amazing. I was just wondering if you would mind if i used some of your illustrations as references for 3d-models. I am still a novice when it comes to CG. Most of my attempted work is made for games and are very low on the polygonal scale. My personal website is: http://www.villaingames.com i know its not very functional right now but is is being revamped. You can see some of my past 3d model work on the forums of http://www.darkbasic.com my forum name is wbarrett 26. I would be using your illustrations to make some characters for a game. If i post any work on the forums i will of course place your website as the reference source, and always cite you in the credits of any work. Thank you.
-Billy

I stopped by Rogers on the way home tonight and noticed that Bowling for Columbine is now in the 7-day release section. Strike while the iron’s cold, I always say. Anybody want to watch it if I rent it?

As a public service, here is what’s playing at Tinseltown this week:

Showtimes are for Apr 23, 2004 to Apr 29, 2004

Bon Voyage PG 114 mins (Gérard Depardieu WWII comedy-drama)
Fri-Thu: 12:15 2:45 5:20 7:55 10:25

Dawn of the Dead 18A 100 mins (critically declaimed remake of zombie classic)
Fri-Thu: 8:00 10:20

Good Bye Lenin! 14A 121 mins (winner of the Best European Film prize at the 2003 Berlin Film Fest)
Fri-Tue: 1:20 4:40 7:30 10:10
Wed: 1:20 4:40 10:10
Thu: 1:20 10:10

Man on Fire 14A 146 mins (Denzel Washington action thriller)
Fri-Thu: 12:30 1:00 3:45 4:30 7:10 7:40 10:15

The Corporation PG 165 mins (I’ve seen it and would happily see it again)
Fri-Tue: 12:25 3:55 7:00 10:05
Wed: 12:25 3:55 10:05
Thu: 10:05

The Delicate Art of Parking PG (Want to see it)
Fri-Wed: 1:05 3:30 5:35 7:50 9:55
Thu: 1:05 5:35 7:50 9:55

The Ladykillers 14A 104 mins (Saw it. see below)
Fri-Thu: 12:05 2:30 4:55 7:20 9:45

The Punisher 18A 124 mins (Even though I have a few issues of the comic book, I have little interest in seeing it on the screen)
Fri-Thu: 1:10 2:15 4:25 5:00 7:15 7:45 10:00 10:30

Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion PG 104 mins (Ten years in the making, this award-winning feature-length documentary was filmed during nine remarkable journeys throughout Tibet, India and Nepal. Cry of the Snow Lion brings audiences to the long-forbidden “rooftop of the world” with an unprecedented richness of imagery… from rarely-seen rituals in remote monasteries, to horse races with Khamba warriors; from brothels and slums in the holy city of Lhasa, to magnificent Himalayan peaks still traveled by nomadic yak caravans. The dark secrets of Tibet’s recent past are powerfully chronicled through personal stories and interviews, and a collection of undercover and archival images never before assembled in one film.)
Fri-Thu: 12:10 2:40 5:05 7:25 9:50

Walking Tall 14A 87 mins (The Rock and Johnny Knoxville [Jackass] go vigilante in yet another remake. Note the run time)
Fri-Thu: 9:40

An atypical Saturday

11:00 tape Justice League
11:30 shower
11:45 go out looking for garage sales
12:30 return with 6 used audio cassettes* and 4 duotangs with transparent plastic cover**. Play Heretic
1:30 Janet calls to see if I can come out and play
2:45 Walk to Maini & 26th, walk past more garage sales. Play with fuzzy caterpillar.
3:30 Meet Janet & Brian at this fantastic house on 26th where Angus Bungay is showing his sculptures.
4:00 Liberty Bakery for baked goods
4:30 Stop ice cream man outside Douglas Park & make more sugary purchases
5:00 Grab tennis rackets from home, go and wait for a court to free up.
5:15 Play tennis with Janet & Brian
6:00 Heretic
7:30 Pick up discount Easter chocolate at Shoppers Drug Mart
7:45 Bus to Yvonne’s for fun desserts party
12:30 leave party
1:30 get home, realize I’ve forgotten to tape Superfriends. Play Heretic.
2:30 Bed (comics/cartoons to lull me)

Weird Emails Department, AKA Where do they come from, and why do they keep sending them to me?

Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 20:31:14 EDT
Subject: I have a question
I dont know if Mr. Mignola reads this but i’m a writer and I have a few great ideas and I don’t know how my work to be noticed enough for somthin big but if you do get to read this and you can help me please email me back.
your fan Chris.

Do you know how hard it is to try to find a book online that you had as a kid that was sort of an encyclopedia of monsters that the author made up, but you can’t remember the title or the author, or any of the names of the monsters? Very. The best I can do is recall that it was paperback, in black and white, and that one of the monsters leaned on things. Also that I got the book wet once so the pages got water-damaged – very helpful for online searches. I remember putting it up on a shelf in elementary school in Calgary, which is pretty good because I don’t remember much from my childhood in Calgary.

Stewie is in Montreal. What to do tonight?

The Ladykillers had some weak spots, but also some strong spots. Overall, entertaining. 7/10. I recommend it for the strong spots alone. And like all Coen brothers films, a great soundtrack.

I’ve looked in 3 different stores for Professor Wormbog and the Zipperump-a-Zoo. No luck so far. Don’t suggest Crapters because I won’t do it.

I forgot that origami is this weekend. Anybody want to go? Saturday from 2pm until 5pm.

No Powell River for me this week.

A little active gaming, a little inactive gaming.

I did play tennis, thankyou James. I’m trying out the smash serves that you see in pro tennis. None of them were successful (i.e. – were “in”) except one – and that one was wildly successful. Yvonne and I are going to play next week, weather permitting.

Then tonight we played D&D. It was inventory night, in which I made everyone tell me the magic items they had and where they got them. Still a few mystery potions and some items unaccounted for (Aili has her character sheet and wasn’t present!).

I might be going to Powell River tomorrow to visit Anghold. If so I’ll be away for 3 days. Sunday I’m running a very special game of Spaceship Zero at my place, so I’ve got to be back for that!

I had a dream that super-villains teamed up with the Justice League and Darkseid to stop the end of the world. Then I dreamt that I was trying to get this huge bat-moth out of the bathroom so I could take a shower.

I hope James finds the time to play tennis today. How dare dogs get in the way of our fun? HOW DARE DOGS?