My Yearly Gift To You

It's a little something I do for my pals in lieu of Christmas Cards....and something I thought I would share with my readers.

It's a 2012 Calendar, made with several photos via Flickr via Big Huge Labs, and quite honestly, I like doing this as a nice thank-you gesture. Please feel free to download and enjoy.

Gordon Dymowski - 2012 Calendar

Your SCREENWIPE Moment of Zen

I originally became aware of Charlie Brooker's BBC Show Screenwipe through Warren at Radio Free Skaro. Mr. Brooker takes a sharp, satirical view of modern media, and every year, I make it a point to watch his output. I find it extremely helpful.

In an effort to help you gain a similar amount of insight, I have found his 2011 in review special via YouTube. Watch it before it's pulled.

You're welcome.

Blog THIS, Pal: 2011 in Review

It's a little task that I always try to do right on the first of the year - take a look at the blog, randomly choose a quote from a post in each month, and make a list of the "best" posts of the year.

(I think I stole the idea from Mike Sterling, who is too busy, well, hanging out and writing "fake" Twitter posts. He's an online "big shot", so I don't think he'll mind if I steal one of his ideas).

So please, feel free to visit each post, and thanks to the Link Within Widget, you can explore all the great (and not so great) posts on this blog. Think of this as your "procrastination station"

January - I haven't come to praise Wizard Magazine, but to bury it.

(Note: in light of recent events, this particular selection seems almost prescient)

February - You may be tempted to download this via bitTorrent - don't 

March - Thieves may steal, but artists "borrow" as the old cliche says, but Rob Granito did neither. He lied.

April - ...every essay demonstrates a love of Doctor Who without going overboard (Or, to paraphrase another blogger, they're into Doctor Who without being into being into Doctor Who). 

May - It's not an "instant classic", but it's a pretty solid effort. And much, much better than "Fear Her".

June - By the way, Jeff, Nicholas Cage called - he wants his questionable choice in acting roles back.
July - Maybe living in a city like Chicago - with a history of a romantic view of crime and corruption - have me intrigued and draw me towards books that deal with complexity and the mysteries of existence. 

August - You would think that some intrepid past producer of classic Doctor Who would have had the insight that Steven Moffatt had: place a cowboy hat on the Doctor, and play with Western-style conventions. 

September - That's the power of being a podcaster - I don't get to call him only "Luoma"; he and I are on a first name basis. That, my friends, is the power of Zone 4)

October - Every once in awhile, Marvel does something in its comics that actually surprises me with not only how good it is, but how much I like it. 


November - ...my life in Chicago was slowly, but surely, beginning to resemble my past life in St. Louis. For the better.


December - You're taking on a huge task; getting those small moments of time for yourself is invaluable - trust me.

This year, heading in, is looking pretty good. Looking forward to seeing how things play out.

My Final Post of 2011

As you can guess by my lack of blogging activity, things have kept me busy - Mom in hospital (although thankfully, not as long as this time last year); adjusting to freelance work (it's great, but I need to sharpen my time management skills); and basically just keeping myself busy and out of trouble.

(Aside to Roger - unfortunately, my efforts for Bogie/Serling Day are falling on deaf ears, which is a shame, because I honestly believe that atheists, agnostics, and not-at-all-religious people deserve their own non-sectarian holiday in December. However, Roger, you will be glad to hear that I started seeing someone....so far, we've drank coffee and seen The Muppets; although two dates is too early to tell, things are looking pretty cool, and aside from my Comic Related list, may be one of the better gifts I received this Christmas)

But one of the best highlights of recent years (as suggested by the screenshot) has been my "graphic" debut in the Zone 4 webcomic. Part of my free time is spent working on the Zone 4 podcast and the new "Transmissions from Zone 4" live on TMV Cafe, Tuesdays at 7 pm CST. (And by "live" I mean "we assemble various pieces and broadcast"). Whoverse is in the air indefinitely - mostly because our crack production staff is out of town, and Phil and I need to touch base after the first of the year (better known as "tomorrow") to see where we want to go with the show.

However, I've also been maintaining a regular presence on the Chicago Now Job Stalker blog - thankfully, my posts have had a slightly different slant on job seeking, but I have a need to start making some serious decisions - seek a full time job, or work freelance towards building my own business? Assemble notes and possibly take the leap into *gasp* writing full time? Maybe even write comics? For now, I'm making a small effort, and attempting to find out all sorts of various and sundry bits of information....but 2012 might prove to be a banner year.

In many ways, it's the first time I'm actually looking forward to the New Year. Heck, I'll be spending it at a comics shop, which seems all too apt.

See you next year!