Luke

Another Reminder

2007-06-24T10:24:27Z

Hey friends! I am writing here to ask you once again to add the LJ user selfishsteam to your friends list! This is because I am discontinuing use of this journal and am switching solely to that one. Thing is, there are some of you whose entries I can't read because I am not your livejournal friend! And this makes me sad.

Info (in asterisk'd form):
*add selfishsteam to your friends
*cause that's my livejournal now
*and I won't be posting here no more

Yay! We did it together!

PS OH YEAH HERE'S A LINK SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE (I'M) MISSING

LINK AGAIN

Selfish Steam/kremovich consolidation and etc.

2007-06-15T20:22:04Z

This is me letting all you good friends know that I am merging my personal LJ into the Selfish Steam LJ to keep things simple. It's not like I post anything here or there that's of any interest anyway. What this means:

I am adding all my friends from this LJ into the Selfish Steam one. I'd appreciate if everyone here added selfishsteam to their friends list. Every week, and hopefully more often, I'll post Orcaskine to it and Baristocracy when I get it back up and running. If this bothers you or you don't want to read my comics, don't add me. But it would be rad if you did. I will eventually just get an LJ and RSS feed for the comics so I can stop posting them here and you can subscribe if you want. But in the mean time, I hope you'll enjoy what I post. It's just kind of silly having two of these.

In other comic-related news, I plan to have proper archives and a proper store and proper sites and update schedules and whatnot sometime soon. In short: I am classing up the joint.

I know I've made a lot of posts/promises about shirts and stickers and merch things that I never seem to be able to finish or come through on. I'm shooting myself in the foot with that, so I'm only going to make it public when it's DONE. So consider this me starting fresh, and I hope you guys will give me a second chance to be somewhat reputable. I want to keep you interested, cause if I can't keep my own friends as an audience, then I can't imagine ever having a true readership. For now I'm depending on you to help me make these projects worthwhile.

Thanks so much for the help and encouragement so far.

-Luke M

PS. Don't forget: add selfishsteam to your friends!

Orcaskine #57: A Real Classhole

2007-06-15T06:37:15Z

Last panel was colored with watercolor. What to we think?

Am I Way Behind on this?

2007-06-07T02:55:42Z

Because Brizoni said I need to:

More Michael Cera hilarity

You don't care, but...

2007-05-23T08:28:21Z

The Blazers got the first draft pick in the lottery today. NUMBER ONE. If ever there were a time to say 'holy sweet goddamn' this may be it.

Terrible use of my first LJ post in a couple weeks. Oh well. I'm more excited than I actually am.

I'm pulling for Durant.

Gosh dang it

2007-05-15T05:56:05Z

Dudes

I am sick. No Orcaskine tomorrow. No nothing.

Dang it.

I wonder if I should find some food? Oh so hungry...

My Desktop

2007-05-10T07:36:39Z

As per Mayzie's request:

Too many folders on my desktop/I really wish that they would just stop

Most of them are photo folders that just need to be filed away. The rest... can probably be deleted.

The photo is one I took in Boston at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (I think) and it's a sculpture on top of some bar that you drive under or something. Hard to explain, really.

Bognor

2007-05-03T04:37:46Z

Dudes and ladies, I have uploaded a couple new Bognor songs to the Virb. One of them also appears on the Myspace, but it may be easier to hit up the Virb. Either way, make me your friend cause I'm not a fan of sending band add requests. But I may do that anyway...

Someday there will be an album, but for now I'm happy just taking my time and hopefully playing shows. I really want to form a new rock band too. Something more... raw and electronic than previous endeavors. Don't know what that will sound like, but I have some ideas.

Let me know what you think of the 'new' stuff. Thanks!

Come to the Artistery this Saturday

2007-05-02T22:01:55Z

A bunch of rad bands are playing here on Saturday. They are rad people, also. Conlan of Stepping Stone fame is playing with his band Typhoon, whose members I think make up all the other bands who are playing. It's for a good cause, and it's great music.

You can get to most of their myspaces from this page.

Hope to see you there.

Oh yeah!

2007-04-27T01:11:28Z

Road trip to Olympia! One day and night only, but what a day and night it will be...

Death and Stickers

2007-04-23T06:45:08Z

First, I had a kitten the other day for half an hour or so:

It was extremely cute and named Flapjack, but it needed to go home so I took it there. Then, on Friday night, my roommate almost got killed by a drunk driver:

More photos on my Flickr.

Lastly, what are these?

Those are hand screened Baristocracy stickers! I know I haven't actually made a new comic in a month or two, but it is undergoing some reworking. It shall return!

Anyway, if you want to know more about these things, go ahead and ask! I DARE YOU.

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHH

2007-04-20T01:40:38Z

GOSH DANG IT.

Blonde Redhead is sold out. I really didn't think that would happen. I really didn't.

Guess I'm going to Rotture to see Carlos's band play? We'll see...

UPDATE! I am listening to Deer or the Doe right now, and they sound real good. Any 21+ers want to go along?

And for my last trick...

2007-04-19T07:29:07Z

My final post for the night, honest. Sorry, but this is what you get when no one wants to hang out with me: Four posts a day!

Since I got zero response on the sticker post, I'm doing it again. Aaron bought one, Rikki has signed a letter of intent to buy, and now you, too can have your very own personalized, hand-drawn, high-quality ORCASKINE STICKER!

They look so sad and empty! But they look SO GOOD! anyway, tell me what you want them to say and it will be yours for $2, with a dollar off for every 3 you buy!

There is a cat meowing outside! I haven't heard that yet here. Sounds kind of like a person though.

Aaaaaand goodnight.

From Me and Nyssa's convo just now:

2007-04-19T06:48:28Z

Nyssa
do you like blacks?

Luke
Oh man

Nyssa
they're bad

Not taken out of context at all. There was nothing about jelly beans, honest.

Something funny I found

2007-04-19T03:59:33Z

Headline from the 'strictly platonic' section of Craigslist:

"Looking for friendship first with no attached Chinese guy - w4m - 39"

How many of you guys' friendships have a Chinese guy attached? I am so sick of that happening with my friends. Finally I've found someone who shares my hatred of having Chinese guys attached to my friendships.

Seriously guys, I'm trying to find friends on the internet. Little help?

Meh, I guess it's worked before.

Come over

2007-04-19T01:55:41Z

I am predicting another boring lonely night, so I figured I'd try posting on here again, even though last time it didn't work at all. But this time there is a purpose kind of:

I'm going to be working on some projects like drawing stickers and designing things and websites here in the new Artistery studio/shop space, so if you have a project, come and work on it with me! I can give you help and vise versa. Or you can just hang out and listen to music and we can get food maybe? Or if anyone just loves painting rooms I have a bathroom that needs painting. Or failing all that, I'd just like to hang out with someone.

Seems no one likes to call me anymore for whatever reason, at least this week. Is there something going on that I don't know about? Or is everyone just busy and I should stop worrying? What's goin on?

I am bored, so if you're bored...

2007-04-17T04:14:05Z

Call me, cause I'll be up for too many more hours.

971-998-5742. Eating? Drawing? Whatev'ring? Okay!

Orca Stickers

2007-04-11T08:26:31Z

Since my domain name is expiring and I want to make my comics self-sustaining, I am offering hand-drawn customized Orcaskine stickers for $2! This will be an ongoing thing, but it would be nice to get 10 or so sent off this or next week so I can pay for the renewal.

Here are the rules:

1. Stickers are 4"x3.5" white vinyl (that means weatherproof and somewhat high quality).
2. There is a Moleskine-style border around the drawing, and it is the orca saying something.
3. You get to choose what the orca says! It can be literally anything. Actually, there may be some stuff I won't write, so be sensible. I guess racist/sexist/unnecessarily offensive things are over the line.
4. You get to choose what his eyebrow does! Or, you can let me choose if you want. Up to you!
5. They are $2 a piece, unless you buy 3, in which case it is $5 for all. This applies for every 3 you buy, so 6 are $10, 9 are $15, etc. You could make your own comic!

Comment here if you want one and then since I likely see you on a regular basis, we can arrange a tradeoff. If you are far away, you can send me some money and I can send you some stickers. selfishsteam@gmail.com is where we can talk about things.

Thanks guys!

PS. I really do like to respond to comments that you guys leave on here, so I will get around to y'all who commented last time. But... tomorrow! Goodnight.

Some more things

2007-04-03T22:20:36Z

1. As I just mentioned in my last post, my last day at Willamette Coffee House is tomorrow. Come visit maybe? I work from 6-1.

2. Did you guys know there was a Lego convention here over the weekend? Neither did I:

I went on my lunch break from work after a customer at the Paper Zone and said something about it. Somewhat disappointing, but I got some pieces and figures for coworkers. I made it with a half hour left.

3. By now I am sure we are all familiar with this:

It used to be the door to a closet. But we got the key last week to what used to be the construction office behind that closet. It was larger than expected, so now we have a Narnia:

And from the other direction:

So we're turning it into a new communal art studio/shop where we'll be able to do printing, painting, music and just whatever. Newest BFF Forever Deanna (not sure that's spelled right) AKA one of roommate Laura's two twin sisters (there are three in all) is all gung-ho about helping realize the room's potential. We're going to activate the hell out of the space.

4. Do you guys know what Saturday is? It's 4/7. But more than that, it's the 4/7 OF 4/7. If that doesn't blow your mind, I don't know what will. A party? Almost definitely.

5. Like I said, back to regular comic updating next week in addition to what should be some news about merch. Could it really happen? Who knows.

6. I hate to end the post on such a negative note, but have you noticed the powers-that-be at Myspace have somehow managed to make it even worse. Now when you log in, it doesn't take you to your homepage, it goes to a page of ads and 'featured profiles,' and that's after you skip the initial full page flash ad thing. On top of that, which is actually far far worse than what I just mentioned, is that all there is super gnarly image compression applied to every single photo. It's the worst image compression I've ever seen, and makes the entire site just look EVEN MORE TERRIBLE. I wish that more people would switch to virb, but it just isn't happening. And if you're someone who says "well my friends aren't on there" or "there aren't enough people" or whatever, then you are part of the problem. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SWITCH so I can delete my Myspace page for good. It's just awful.

The times, they are a-etc.

2007-04-03T20:00:08Z

I wrote and meant to post this yesterday from work, but the connection was bad:

Looks like I've been pretty lazy as of late with these here internets.

Actually, the life of Luke has been pretty turbulent. I haven't been updating Baristocracy at all for weeks, and Orcaskine has even been pretty late most days. The main reason for this is that I got another job and there has been no routine I can rely on for a while. That will change starting next week, so bear with me for a while longer and I'll get back to it.

The new job is at Palio espresso and dessert, in Ladd's Addition, at around 20th in between Division and Hawthorne. It's right by a big roundabout, and I've likely taken many of you there at some point. But now I work there on Saturday and Tuesday nights. It's a wonderful place, so come visit sometime. I get off around 11:30 those nights and will usually be available for late night outings, of the hanging OR making variety.

My last day at Willamette Coffee House is this Wednesday, April 4th (4/4/7). From 6 am-1 pm or so. Come see me off in rambunctious fashion. Also, this whole month is 4/7 you guys.

Everyone's been hanging out with me a bunch lately and it's great! Keep it up.

Last month's goals are almost all done, which means new music, comic merch and better/more living/creative space for my roommates and I. All 9 of us.

More info and bits of exciting (to me) news later.

Okay so

2007-03-18T17:24:18Z

Ignore my last entry I guess, as I just found out Jonny's show got cancelled. Plus my Corvallis friends are going to be too busy to really hang out, so I am going to postpone until there is a better excuse/people have more time. Sound good? Okay then!

Corvallis

2007-03-18T09:38:21Z

Hey I am coming to Corvallis tonight, should be in town around 7-8ish. My friend Jonny is playing a show somewhere, and that is the excuse I am using to come down. I am sure the folks that I know down there won't be able to make it to the show with me, but I'd still like to hang out with anyone that I can in this short period of time. I am thinking that will consist of Kelsey and Rikki. Also I need somewhere to sleep, but I think Kelsey's got that covered for me. We will see? It is an adventure, kind of!

Anyway, 971-998-5742 is my cell number, so call if you'll be available Sunday night/Monday morning (for like, coffee or breakfast or delicious pastries?) Or just whatever. It would be great to see you.

Pins and Stickers

2007-03-15T06:48:29Z

I think I have finished some more merch designs. A couple stickers, a couple pins:

White on brown vinyl, apprx. 5" by 2.5"

Black ink on white vinyl, apprx. 3" by 2.75"

One for the Starbuckites, one for all of us. These will look a lot better printed.

I have three pin designs left: One that says "You guys" and maybe one that says "Non parlo italiano."
The third design is actually also three, but they will be handstamped ones with a tea kettle, a teabag or a mug, with the letters 'ss' on them. If you don't know what that stands for, I am sorry. Has nothing to do with nazis though, honest.

Do these look good to everyone? Any suggestions/ideas? I know it's kind of ridiculous that I haven't even made one of these things a tangible product yet. I just want to get it right before I go nuts on making the stuff. So let me know!

Just wrong.

2007-03-12T05:19:53Z

First, this is a sign I saw in my friend's apartment building (interestingly enough, the same one Brieanne used to live in across from Safeway downtown):

This is a Choose Your Own Comedy:

Caption option #1:
Hey guys! This sign says 2006! That's not right. We gotta correct this! Guys? I guess I have no other choice but to take matters into my own hands. Good thing I have this pen handy. I'll just cross out the offending 6, and... voila! Man, if it weren't for me I swear nothing would get done arou... shit.

Caption option #2:
IF ANY OF YOU GUYS ARE TIME TRAVELERS, DON'T GO TO TO A YEAR AGO, WAIT NO TWO YEARS AGO, TO GET WATER HERE. FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS ANYWAY. THANKS!

Second, I just had to post the following due to the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Now, I hate the true.com ads that come on the myspace as much as everyone, probably even more. But this one takes the cake:

That's right. CORNER YOUR DREAM GIRL. DON'T LET HER ESCAPE. This is fine and natural and all IF YOU'RE A FUCKING MOUNTAIN LION. There are only two possible interpretations here, to think of True.com when A) You have a burning desire to feast on your true love's delicious, anorexic, malnourished flesh or B) you feel like engaging in some good clean old fashioned FORCED INTERCOURSE. Either way, THESE ARE NOT GOOD MESSAGES TO BE SENDING TO KIDS. OR ADULTS. JUST STOP IT TRUE.COM. STOP. IT.

The Final Countdown

2007-03-09T07:53:15Z

Actually, this is my post-week-off wrap-up. This is kind of to see what I accomplished of my stated goals and what I didn't. Don't feel like you have to be interested, cause there's no real reason you should be. But if you're into that kind of thing...

-Having 5 complete songs recorded
I got to 4, only without vocals or mixing. I didn't really expect to get 5 done, so I am really happy about what did get done. Recording 3 songs in their near entirety in one week sure beats getting the first one done over around 6 or 7 months. So now what: Do I finish another song and release a short record, or do I just use it as demo material? I am proud of what I've done, and I want to get stuff out there. I think I will go with the former.

-Finishing designs for 3 buttons for each comic and one for Selfish Steam
I got two done for Orcaskine, one more on the cusp, the Selfish Steam one, and one Baristocracy done, and two more on the cusp. Still nothing to sneeze at.

-Finishing 1 t-shirt design for each comic
Baristocracy design is done, Orcaskine the general idea is there, execution of idea is harder than you'd expect. Not sure how to approach it really, though it seems very simple.

-Launching a new Artistery website
Didn't even work on it. Not one bit. The basic site is there, but the nav needs to be made. And, all the other pages. Lots of work, but it's more of a collaboration so it relies on other people to be involved.

-Solidifying my internet presence a little more, content-wise and marketing-wise (Virb, Myspace, Flickr, LJ etc)
Meh, this will come in time.

-Hanging out all the time
Check, even though I got kind of depressed a couple nights cause I thought I didn't have any friends or something? I am the only one preventing me from hanging out with people.

-Making the Artistery a more hospitable place, and a good place to be in general (the hallway is complete; on to the living room!)
Didn't get to the living room. Made some initial plans for the kitchen though.

-Other stuff, too!
A couple unforeseen or unstated goals that got accomplished: Making a rad rad rad orca mural with Artbuddy(tm). Blogging the heck out of heck. Not putting any gas in my car for a week! Losing all my keys. Playing a ton of basketball. Riding my bike everyday and replacing a lot of car miles thusly.

-ALSO BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING MY FRIENDSHIPS
Heck of check on this one. Some things are just better now. Thanks friends! You are seriously the greatest.

Some stupid shit happened that got me down and wasted a few days. But that's okay! It was largely out of my control, and it won't matter in the long run, maybe.

Again, thanks to everybody for the encouragement, help and general optimism. Thanks to my Artistery roommates for actually being really rad in the end, after I got over myself. Thanks almost mostly to the weather. Good lord.

In conclusion, I am finding myself with yet another 3 days off (unplanned) which will leave me poor, poor poor in a couple weeks, but will also let me finish up these projects and put them into action. UP UP AND AWAY.