Would you buy them? Let us know!

 Indie Artist/Creator Signing

WHAT: Indie Artist/Creator Signing at Emerald Knight Comics & Games

WHO: Brian Buccellatto (Co-writer of “Flash”, along with his self-published book Foster)

Fanboy Comics (“Something Animal”)

Joey Esposito (“Footprints”)

Brian McCarthy (“Brimstone”)

Paul J. Salamoff (“DISCORD” and “Tales of Discord”)

Tommy Saxe (“Living Dogs”)

Kris White (“The Thirty Six”)

And more to come…

WHEN: Sunday, April 22nd (1-3pm) 

WHERE: Emerald Knights Comics & Games

4116 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505-2121

(818) 588-3631

TALES OF DISCORD: IRDIAN - Cover

Now that we’ve got the business taken care of, let’s get into how I conceived the idea for TALES OF DISCORD: IRIDIAN and why I chose it as the inaugural issue for the series.

I wanted to start the series with Iridian’s story for a number of reasons. The first being that, if you are familiar with DISCORD, a part of Iridian’s skull and brain was fused onto Chromatic’s when the Xyreem reassembled him.

The ramifications of this are only hinted at in the graphic novel when Warren feels compelled to seek out Iridian’s girlfriend Theresa after he’s pushed away by Moire’. He barely knows Theresa, but nonetheless he’s drawn to her.

This is going to have greater implications in the upcoming sequel to DISCORD and I felt that I wanted to explore it even more to give the reader more of an understanding of what Warren’s going through.

TALES OF DISCORD: IRDIAN - Page 3

TALES OF DISCORD: IRIDIAN is structured as a flashback, but a flashback from Warren’s POV which immediately should clue in the reader that things are not what they seem. Why is Warren having dreams about Iridian’s younger days and are these dreams or in fact memories?

Another thing readers will immediately realize as they read this first prequel is that these are not your typical origin stories. As a matter of fact they are not origin stories at all. The TALES OF DISCORD series is meant to give you personal insight into the lives of the members of Team War Hammer, not to just discover how they became heroes and/or joined the team.

TALES OF DISCORD: IRIDIAN - Page 8

Iridian’s tale deals with issues of abuse and her sexuality. These are obviously heady themes to tackle in a superhero comic, but DISCORD has always attempted to push the boundaries and redefine heroic storytelling.

Not being a woman, nor gay, it was certainly challenging to tell Iridian’s story. I wanted to make sure that I was being sensitive while still telling a compelling tale of a woman who comes out not only as a hero but as a lesbian as well.

In this issue, we discover how she meets her current lover Theresa Dean and how they become important to one another. Their relationship is a key element in the sequel to DISCORD and if the reader doesn’t feel for them and their true love for one another than the events of DISCORD – PART 2 won’t have the impact that I’m planning.

When I finished writing the script I was very pleased with the story I crafted, but I was still concerned that it could be misconstrued as exploitive. Let’s be honest here: You have two women (one a sexy superhero) in a sexual relationship. Certainly, fodder for male fantasy.

So, I decided to send it to a prominent comic book publisher who is gay for his opinion on the story.

I was relived when he not only liked it, but felt it was very respectful and sensitive to the gay community. He also went on to say that once the issue is completed he wants to submit it to an organization that supports gays in comics because he feels this would be a comic they would want to know about.

TALES OF DISCORD: IRDIAN - Page 13

The thing that really makes this first issue work though is Diego Molano’s fantastic artwork. I couldn’t be happier with the look he chose for the comic and how it really brings Iridian’s struggles to life in a true and emotional way.

I’m excited for comic fans to read this comic and continue on the journey with me throughout the entire TALES OF DISCORD series and beyond.

NEXT TIME: I will reveal cover for the next issue TALES OF DISCORD.

I think it’s preposterous, now that I have a smartphone with a touchscreen, to say nothing of Skype and other VoIP solutions, to have to listen to a serial voice tree of options. “Wait, was number 3 what I wanted? Maybe it was 5, what was that again? Oh crap… nothing on this menu sounds like what I want…” And thus do we fail to connect to the right place, frustrating both the caller and the eventual recipient.

With a video display attached to the phone, the least we could do is present the options in parallel on that screen. Shouldn’t take too much bandwidth to send this as a blip at the beginning of every menu; each phone client would require some kind of application or hook that intercepts the blip, displays the menu (which the user can scan back and forth as needed), and turns the user selection back into a phone signal. And if the user isn’t calling with an enhanced client… fine, they’re stuck with the traditional voice reading.

Better yet, the entire tree of potential choices could be communicated at the beginning of the call, the user could walk it at their leisure to find the path that seems optimal for them (perhaps with projected answer times at each end node), and then skip right to the end node where they’ll be connected. And that tree and preferred choice could be cached for the next call, where it would be compared to the tree at that time (avoiding the “our menu has changed” sentence that always makes me wonder “since when?”) and usually re-used.

That would make for a lot “smarter” phone.

If someone isn’t already working to bolt this on to the existing phone system, I hope it’s because they’re targeting something like this in the next phone technologies, which won’t be analog. Maybe there, we’ll have a nice multimedia intro when calling, not just voice or text. You could even have little games to play, or information to start filling out, forums to check, etc. while waiting. To turn this inside out, perhaps in the future, contacting support will begin with the support website and only get to the audio/video call once it has been determined who you are and what you want, and the person taking your case is available to talk to – in the meantime you’re not sitting there listening to hold music, you’re potentially making progress toward your solution on your own, or at least amusing yourself.

** PREMIERE WEEKEND **

“menEERvanmanen”

Introdans Ensemble for the Youth

(all pictures by Hans Gerritsen)

After a 3 months rehearsal period in our studios in Introdans, it is now time to bring the pieces to the stage.

In 3 days we put all the ballets in the right lights and placement and last friday we had our general rehearsal. In the middle of an empty auditorium sits the master himself.

Hans van Manen.

This program is dedicated to him. Introdans is celebrating it’s 40 years anniversary  and Hans van Manen is becoming 80. All the choreographies in this program “menEERvanmanen” (which means: “ode to sir van Manen”) are his. He’s famous all over the world and many balletcompanies still perform his works. His style is characterised by a clear structure and a deceptive simplicity, he has acquired the nickname The mondriaan of Dance. And when you think that all his pieces are old or old-fashioned. Your wrong. Just recently he created a new ballet for Het National! 80 and still going strong! Respect.

His eyes see everything. During the general he’s checking if everything, the dancing, lightning, music, is exactly how he wants it. Everything has to be perfect.

After the run he enters the stage, he’s very pleased with the dancing. Just one thing needs to be adapted; the speed of a part of the music. It was too fast. After getting our last corrections we all go home with a positive feeling to get some rest before premiere night.

I go home to make my toitoitoi! In my mind I have a black cake with a layer of chocolate and jam in between and red and green marzipan on top. This because I am dancing a duet called “Black Cake” and in another ballet we wear green and red leotards.

To make the cake black I bought a black icing color, and it worked really well! I inserted just a few drops and the whole batter turned black. So, it’s NOT burned it’s just black :)

 • cake recipe •

1,5 cups of butter (room temperature)
3 cups of sugar
6 eggs (room temperature)
4,5 cups of sifted self-rising flour
1,5 cup of whole milk (room temperature)
seeds of a vanilla been (or vanilla extract)

 Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Grease and flour a big baking tray.

Using a mixer, cream butter until fluffy. Add sugar and continue to cream for about 7 minutes. Add eggs one at a time. Beat well after each egg is added. Add flour and milk (alternating to creamed mixture), beginning and ending with flour. Add vanilla  seeds to mix; until just mixed. Last; add whatever color you’d like your cake to have :).

Poor the batter equally into your cake pan.

Bake for 25 – 35 minutes (depending on your oven and the size of your baking tray/cake pan) until done.

Cool 10-15 minutes. Remove the cake carefully from the tray or pan. Cool completely on wire racks.

Once cooled, you are ready to assemble your cake the way you like.

READY  TO  GOOOOO:

1. Polish Pieces (world premiere 1995, NDT)

2. Black cake (world premiere 1989, NDT)

3. Sticky piece (world premiere 2003, Introdans)

4. In the Future (world premiere 1986, Scapino Ballet)

5. Squares (world premiere 1969, NDT)

Final bow with a personal touch;

We had a lot of fun, it went well and mr van Manen was very happy!

Another premiere done… Time flies. Looking forward to start touring around NL with this program! Find our schedule here.

**Thank you mr. van Manen**

Back Field in July
© Jenn Ressmann

So now what?

My life. It had gotten too too complicated.

But, I love my life. And, I want to hold onto what’s important. What I will look back on and be proud of. Happy with.

To keep dear what is important and cherish what I love, something had to change. Something had to give.

In my grief last week – I had an epiphany. I find these are usually what are most fulfilling in life. Sudden, intuitive perceptions. They come on quick – sometimes just a flash, an opportunity. They make sense. Like a clearing. The path is right there – ohhh, of course! You have to be open to them. Listen to what you “hear” from the universe. Awareness. Pay attention and your Intuition can help guide your life in a positive way.

I had turned a corner. The path laid right out in front of me – I just had to follow it. Everything else can fall away and I won’t feel bad about it. Weird. Because the other path I took before was like I was in the trees and brush trying to hack away at finding the trail. It never ever came easily. Ever. It was always a struggle. The exhaustion from always wondering. I’m tired of feeling that way.

And, while I have really enjoyed the art I have made up until this point, I really didn’t know what the hell I was making it for other than the fun of it. It never felt really serious. Ever. Even when I was working commercially – in an office, in a studio, as a freelancer. It was always about the fun of it.

And, sorry, for me – that’s not enough. It has to be significant or what’s the point? I can find fun anywhere (hiking, biking, swimming, boating, spending time with friends, movies, reading, etc) – what I need is for my work to be important.

From this point in my journey, I’ve decided to do a 180 in my art. To make art around my life instead of pushing art into the cracks and crevasses of what’s leftover. I certainly feel more peaceful.

I hope you will enjoy the turn in my journey.  My art will revolve in my life. It will complete it instead of compete with it.

I hope you are living a full life. Doing the things you love. Being with whom you love.

xo Jenn

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KOAN Sound: Website    Soundcloud    Facebook

Gemini: Website    Soundcloud    Facebook

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KOAN Sound – Funk Blaster EP (I highly recommend “Meanwhile, In the Future”)

Gemini - Graduation EP (Check out “H.A.T.D.” and “Graduation”)

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KOAN Sound – “Funk Blaster” Music Video

by xkcd

When it comes to space, the first thing most people think of is NASA. Or Russia and the European Space Agency, or even more recently, countries like China and Japan. In the public eye, Canada has tended to be a bit farther down on the list. There is the Canadian Space Agency, but it is better known for developing space and satellite technologies, not awe-inspiring launches to the Moon or other planets, which naturally tend to get the most attention.

Canada has its own astronauts, too, but they go into orbit on the Space Shuttle or Russian rockets. Canada’s role in space should not, however, be underestimated. It was, for example, the first country to have a domestic communications satellite in geostationary orbit, Anik A1, in 1972. There is also the well-known Canadarm used on the Space Shuttle and Canadarm2 on the International Space Station, as well as the space robot Dextre on the ISS. Canada has also contributed technology to various robotic planetary missions as well.

But even in these times of budget constraints, new ventures are being planned, including a mission to place two video cameras on the International Space Station late next year, via a Russian mission.

The cameras will provide near real-time video broadcasting continuously in high-definition. The cameras are being developed by Urthecast, a Vancouver-based firm, which is investing $10 million in the project.

Like their American counterparts now, the investment and development of space technology is coming increasingly from the private sector instead of the government. In 1996, the Canadian government contributed 32% to domestic space revenue; in 2010, it was only 18% and it is estimated to drop again over the next three years.

Because of smaller budgets, the CSA focuses on assisting with larger missions from other countries instead of developing its own launch vehicles. According to Mark Burbidge, head of industrial policy at the CSA, the Canadian Space Agency doesn’t have the money for such projects. “That got our astronauts up there,” he says, referring to the Canadarm.

Another area that Canada may be able to contribute to is space tourism, a prime example of private companies becoming involved in the space business. Companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic and Bigelow Airspace are changing the way that people will go into near-orbit and low-Earth orbit. No dependence solely on government dollars to finance their objectives such as tourist space flights, small orbiting hotels or launching commercial satellites.

At this stage, government funding is still often required, especially for smaller firms, but the future looks promising. Space companies are becoming gradually less reliant on the government for revenue growth. The investment return tends to be primarily a scientific one, according to Dr. Jean de Lafontaine, founder of space services company NGC Aerospace in Quebec, making space tourism more of an ideal option for private companies.

This would seem to be an optimum arrangement, allowing companies to compete in orbital missions and tourism, while government agencies like NASA, ESA, etc. are better able to invest in larger-scale planetary missions and other costly space projects (noting however that some commercial companies also have their eyes on the Moon and Mars).

Canada may not have its own rockets or grandiose space missions, not yet anyway, but it will continue to make important contributions to space exploration. And as a Canadian, I am very pleased about that!

Source: Universe Today

I was one of those people who never knew his real parents which at my age now (15) makes me sad and puts a hole in me as if there is this huge part of my life missing that I can’t talk to about with anyone without constantly being afraid of what they might think of me and how they would react. My Parents that adopted me into their family don’t talk much with my about those kind of things. They keep telling me the same story over and over that my real parents left me when I was young and they didn’t know any other details about it but I know that their hiding something from my because they wouldn’t let me see my own birth records. I am now at the age of 15 where I want to keep doing what I have for the past 15 years being happy with my family but that doesn’t seem realistic to me anymore. I would hear the world I love you or That was a great job or any kind of complement when i was young but now i don’t even hear the words I love you from my parents my friends Do things without me and when I ask them if they want to do something they don’t want to come. Its like my life is falling appart bit by bit.

I have struggled all my life doing things by my own because thats how I feel i never got help from anyone always doing things my self and alone but now i feel broken there’s just too much going on that i can’t do myself

On the flip side, I took a sick day yesterday and spent the day painting.  It made me think of going to one of those art retreats in France.  I saw it on House Hunters.  Maybe I should look into that until September!