Disperser Tracks

I always wondered . . . is there a downhosltery? I don’t mean holstery filled with down; I mean, is there such a thing as downholstery? If not, where does the term upholstery come from? I ask because the etymology of the word makes little sense to me. “They” say it comes from tradesmen who used to hold up their product.  

Such are the things I ponder at odd times when not specifically committed to being just plain awesome. I ponder a lot.

Here we are in the seventh post, and I’m still enjoying these. For one, I like the unfettered nature of the creative process. Pretty much whatever I want . . . as long as it’s a photo, a cartoon, and a doodle.

As will be seen below, I’m still liking Topaz Studio and the Digital Frame plugin. I wish it had a few other options, but I can get pretty close to what I envision and do so with little effort. 

Today’s photo:

Project 313 007

I could get the name of the plant, but I’m too lazy. This one is in the parking lot where we currently live. The sun was hitting it in a peculiar way and I liked the contrast (slightly enhanced here for effect). 

I may have to modify the signature a bit to have it fall solely on the matting and thus enhancing the illusion of a framed print. 

I thought this would have been a decent joke for a few days ago, but since I just came across it, here you go . . . 

As a small update, I’m editing both of my novels; Hybrid and Gin’s War. When I finish, I plan to make a focused push to get someone to at least read them (so far, agent rejections are based on reading a small sample). Failing that, I’ll plan to self-publish them (on the cheap).

I also really need to get back to writing short stories. Pretty much everything I have has been rejected in multiple places. I’m really not all that optimistic for reasons I’ve listed before, but I’ll keep trying. Again, at some point, I’ll self-publish those as well (also on the cheap). 

I also plan on taking a few courses on drawing and I might start reading again . . . but, honestly, I’m losing the drive; for the amount of time I spent reading last year, I have maybe two books I sort of liked but neither are books I would read again. That is a huge time investment for very little return.

Not only did I not enjoy a lot of what I read, but I didn’t think most of it was particularly well-executed. Now, granted, I’m reading mostly books that are published through Amazon, but that’s because a lot of what traditional publishers offer hold little interest for me. 

It seems, then, it makes more sense for me to write as opposed to read as much as I can. In part, I was reading to see what published books (with some sales success) look like. Color me unimpressed. Then again, it’s likely the same will be said about my books. 

Just a reminder: not complaining; not considering myself a victim; not thinking the universe has it in for me and my books. Just thinking aloud. 

And finally, a doodle . . . I’m not yet at the point where I’m tired of these . . . great for me because I enjoy making them, but it sucks for my readers who find these boring. What can I say?  Seriously, what can I say? 

And . . . that’s it

Some of these posts will likely be longer as the mood hits me, but most will be thus; short, uninteresting, bland, and relentless.

You can read about Project 313 HERE.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

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Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.

Finally, if you interpret anything on this blog as me asking or wanting pity, sympathy, or complaining about my life, or asking for help and advice, know you’re  likely missing my subtle mix of irony, sarcasm, and humor.

Six? That’s all I’ve done so far?! 

. . . I think this might have been a bad idea!

I kid, of course. Humor is one of them things that I occasionally do. Now, before someone asks “Really? When are you gonna start?” let me say that — like everything else in life — it’s difficult to agree on what’s funny. The opening to this post was meant to be funny . . . did you laugh? 

I think most people would rather read something funny than a serious dissection of what is or isn’t funny. Unfortunately, few people can call up “funny” at will, and I’m not one of them.

Mind, you, I try funny all the time, but only if it flows naturally out of me. You can’t force being funny and people pick up on forced humor. I’ve read a few blogs recently that try to employ humor. I thought only one managed to employ humor naturally and without effort. The others forced it, and it comes off sounding hollow. 

Really, I’m a situational funny man . . . I see, hear, or see something and I can usually find the oddness that often passes for humor. So, interactively, I can crack jokes almost non-stop . . . it’s what endears me to most people (not). 

Here’s the photo:

Project 313 006

That is a slice of a tree in front of a bunch of old shutters. That’s from the same shop where I snapped the photo of the turtle from a few posts ago. They have lots of neat stuff.  

Anyway, most people tolerate my goofy behavior because they prefer that side of me to the serious side. No one likes my serious side. 

Today’s cartoon is one of those you either find funny or . . . you’re Australian, possibly Brittish, or both.

Being neither of those things, I find this humorous but, like all humor, I can’t explain it to anyone else. 

Yes, it’s another Joe Martin cartoon. So far, He’s the only one who’s answered my request to use his cartoons. Yet another reason I think the man’s not only funny but has a crapload of class (at least when it comes to this matter), to boot.  

I have enough cartoons to do the whole project with just his comics and I might just do that. On the other hand, I’ve posted other cartoons here and there and the Internet is awash with all manner of cartoons. 

I’ve read a few “opinions” regarding copyright, fair use, and stuff. Realistically, I don’t think anyone will send me a DCA take-down notice because — as I said — cartoons are being shared left and right on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and FSM knows where else. Companies and authors would spend more money sending out notices than they’d save by keeping their material from being used. 

Well, I’m off to prep a few more photos and stuff for future posts, so let me wrap this up. 

Here’s the doodle . . . Yes, I’m still on the animated GIF doodle kick. I have a few other drawings I’ll eventually use, but these still hold my interest and attention.  

And . . . that’s it

Some of these posts will likely be longer as the mood hits me, but most will be thus; short, uninteresting, bland, and relentless.

You can read about Project 313 HERE.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.

Finally, if you interpret anything on this blog as me asking or wanting pity, sympathy, or complaining about my life, or asking for help and advice, know you’re  likely missing my subtle mix of irony, sarcasm, and humor.

Wow . . . five posts and I’ve barely hit my stride. 

I’m grateful and amazed and dang-near teary-eyed at the outpouring of positive comments and overwhelming response to this still-in-its-infancy effort. 

That’s what I want to say but — of course — I’m writing this before the second post goes live so I’ve no idea how anything will be received. 

Suffice it to say I’m still enthusiastic about this project even as I look to resuming other posting efforts like trip reports, food reports, flowers reports, and waves and stuff. 

And now, the photo:

Project 313 005

That’s the top of a coffee made using the Nespresso machine. It’s not a proper espresso or latte because I didn’t froth the cream. 

We’ve just recently started making . . . excuse me while I go make me one. 

Anyway, we’ve just recently started making some of our coffees using Nespresso and their coffees, no more than one or two a day. I have to say they are very, very good. Of course, that could be because we normally drink copious amounts of Kirkland coffee brewed on a Mr. Coffee drip machine. Mind you, it’s still good coffee — it’s Mr. Coffee coffee — but the flavor of the Nespresso offerings is better. That particular photo is from last week and that coffee is long passed but its brief existence has been immortalized on the Interweb. 

Here’s the joke:

I wanted to use a Far Side cartoon but I happened to check the Fair Use and copyright rules and Larson’s company is fairly adamant against the electronic reproduction of his work . . . which you’d never know from even a casual Interweb SEARCH. 

I like Larson, and I’m all for copyright rights being enforced (I don’t like my work copied without permission) but in this case, I think he’s wrong. An argument could be made his contribution has become part of the culture. I can understand not licensing his work to make money, or using his work for causes he might not agree with, or using his work in a manner that would taint it. 

Larson wrote a note about it but if a parent used the same logic as he does (he calls his cartoons “his kids”), kids would forever be locked up in the basement and never see the light of day after being born. 

Again, I’m conflicted about this . . . I’ll respect Larson’s wishes (and don’t want to get sued by his company) but I think he’s doing a huge disservice to his fans because he’s essentially turning all of the people who innocently share his work into criminals. 

Excuse me for saying this, but that’s a pretty dickish move. My opinion, of course, and I hold that opinion because he could release the work under Creative Commons, Attribution, No Derivatives, Non-Commercial License and retains all the rights, let his fans share the comics, and still have control over their misuse or plagiarism or exploitation. 

The irony is that all that bad stuff he doesn’t want to happen is still happening, only he chooses to lump the casual fan along with lowlifes who steal and illegally use his work. I mean, it’s like everything else; the only ones who will follow his wishes are people with scruples. Everyone else will go ahead and do whatever they want. The end result? I can’t share cartoons I love.

Like I said, I think that’s dickish, but it’s his work, his choice.

Here’s the doodle:

If you want to use it, just ask (unless your name is Gary Larson). I do like how the black lines end up looking against the black background (there’s a bit of glow that gets added to make them visible). 

And . . . that’s it

Some of these posts will likely be longer as the mood hits me, but most will be thus; short, uninteresting, bland, and relentless.

You can read about Project 313 HERE.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.

Finally, if you interpret anything on this blog as me asking or wanting pity, sympathy, or complaining about my life, or asking for help and advice, know you’re  likely missing my subtle mix of irony, sarcasm, and humor.

Now that people know I write these a few days ahead of time — and the illusion of daily brilliance is thus shattered — they’ll also understand why I don’t reference interactions from the previous posts (if, you know, such interactions occur). If it’s not clear, it’s because those interactions have yet to happen as I write this.

It’s like if I’m traveling into the future, skipping ahead a few days and missing whatever happens in the interim. For all I know, this post going live will see the world immersed in WW III thus making the next two posts a wasted effort as there won’t be anyone left alive to read them.  

That being the case, I’ll make this short as everyone, I’m sure, are too busy kissing their asses goodbye. Boy, wouldn’t that be a sight! Millions of people dislocating their backs to peck their own cheeks.

Besides, the last P313 offering was quite lengthy, so a break of sorts is in order.

The photo:

Project 313 004

That is a Koa wood. Interesting pattern. Snapped with my Note 8, processed in Topaz Studio. 

The joke (and one of the few reasons I can think of to have kids):

And, of course, the doodle . . . I call it “everybody wins!” 

And . . . that’s it

Some of these posts will likely be longer as the mood hits me, but most will be thus; short, uninteresting, bland, and relentless.

You can read about Project 313 HERE.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.

Finally, if you interpret anything on this blog as me asking or wanting pity, sympathy, or complaining about my life, or asking for help and advice, know you’re  likely missing my subtle mix of irony, sarcasm, and humor.

Some might wonder about yet another framed photo . . . well, I’m testing my bounds with the tool before going back to various photo presentation formats. For them curious and not having read earlier posts, the tool is Topaz Studio with the Digital Frame plugin.  

The photo:

Project 313 002

In part, I’m trying my hand at choosing patterns and colors that complement the subject matter. I have no formal training in art or colors so I’ve no idea if I’m breaking all manner of “rules” . . . all I know is that I stop when I hit a combination I like.  

Also, for right now, the photos are all phone photos (Samsung Note 8). Some might eventually show up in a post that puts them in context, explaining why I shot the photo in the first place. For now, they’re offered “as-is”.

The jokes . . . well, the first batch of jokes is likely to come from Willy ‘n Ethel and Mr. Boffo as Joe Martin is one of the few cartoonists who bothered to respond about me using his art on my blog. Plus, you know, those two strips rank way up there on my unofficial list of Best Cartoon Strips in the World. His site is HERE. You could do worse than visiting it. 

Over the years, there have been different spellings of Willy’s name (Willye, Willie) and it finally settled on Willy. I think Ethel also had a different spelling at one point, but I can’t confirm that.

Doodles . . . Right now, I’m on an animated doodle GIF kick, so that’s what you can expect for a few more posts. I’m still finding the limits of what can be done with these. They have a size limit as well as an inverse speed limit. For instance, I will run out of space sooner if I draw a slow long line than if I draw a bunch of lines very fast. Go figure. 

And . . . that’s it

Some of these posts will likely be longer as the mood hits me, but most will be thus; short, uninteresting, bland, and relentless.

You can read about Project 313 HERE.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.

Finally, if you interpret anything on this blog as me asking or wanting pity, sympathy, or complaining about my life, or asking for help and advice, know you’re  likely missing my subtle mix of irony, sarcasm, and humor.

Here we go; the first post of Project 313 . . . 

Hmm . . . I should say something profound and memorable to kick off this effort. Something so profound and inscrutable that Deepak Chopra himself would be in awe . . .

How about:

“We exist for the benefit and fulfillment of our imagination.” – Disperser (2018)

And now, the photo:

Project 313 – 001

That is a Koa wood bowl. Snapped with my Note 8, processed in Topaz Studio. 

As for the first joke, it’s probably one that many will look at and say “meh!” but I like it.

And finally, a doodle . . . I have the choice of many fine efforts, but this one was kind of a no-brainer . . . à propos because I’m tired and in need of sleep.  

And . . . that’s it

Some of these posts will likely be longer as the mood hits me, but most will be thus; short, uninteresting, bland, and relentless.

You can read about Project 313 HERE.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.

Finally, if you interpret anything on this blog as me asking or wanting pity, sympathy, or complaining about my life, or asking for help and advice, know you’re  likely missing my subtle mix of irony, sarcasm, and humor.