..And, he stumbles into the end zone! Whoops, looks like we have a flag on that play...

Here is some more artwork from "A Native Lad" I was called in in at the last minute to finish up a scene that had been abandoned by another artist. I composed the last panel from drawings I had done earlier and added in portraits of people I didn't already have on file. Each of the three caricatures in the triptych below, for example was drawn separately and eventually photoshopped in with all the rest.

I did my end-zone dance and sent them off to the author who emailed back the hope that they could be made to look a little happier. I'm afraid she has a point. Touchdown called back, first and ten, in overtime.

Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Go Back in History

In a surprise move, Sarah Hurst has requested that I do even more pages for her soon-to-be-published graphic novel version of Alaska History. What could I do? I said yes. Here are the two most recent. Two to go!

Alternative Therapy

Uncommon Wisdom #30

Coming Soon, Another 3 Minute Epic Blockbuster!

Ron Spatz, the director of Litsite Alaska has invited me to produce a number of features for this UAA site. I will be writing and creating shorts that will premiere there. This is the trailer for the first project, coming soon to Litsite! When the animation is posted, I'll announce it here and link, so you can see the whole thing.

Just Add Kraken

In these days of Avatar and Star Wars many of us grumpy malcontents long for intelligent stories with unforgettable dialog. OK, maybe not many. Some. A Few? OK, several of us at least. Well great news, craft fans! It's time to short-sell unobtanium futures, real writing is back! Where, you ask? "Clash of the Titans", which features the much quoted line "Release the kraken!"

Talk about natural writing with an ear for the way real people, or, in this case, immortal gods talk! Just try it yourself. "RELEASE the KRRRRRAKEN!" (For maximum effect roll that "r" for all you're worth.) This is the kind of searing, committed prose that stands with the best. This line will live with the great lines of all time and could spice up any movie. You doubt me? Try these famous scenes on for size:

THE KRAKEN of OZ

What makes a King out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the Sphinx the Seventh Wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the ape in ape-ricot? What have they got that I ain't got?"

"Release the kraken!"

MR. KRAKEN GOES to WASHINGTON

"Great principles don't get lost once they come to light. They're right here. You just have to see them again...You think I'm licked. You all think I'm licked. Well, I'm not licked. And I'm going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause, even if this room gets filled with lies like these; and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody will listen to me."

"Release the kraken!"

THE KNUTE KRAKEN STORY

None of you ever knew George Gipp. It was long before your time. But you all know what a tradition he is at Notre Dame. And the last thing he said to me: 'Rock,' he said, 'Sometime, when the team is up against it, and the breaks are beating the boys, tell 'em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper'"

"Release the kraken!"


KRAKEN HOUSE

"Over? Did you say 'over'? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!...What the f--k happened to the Delta I used to know? Where's the spirit? Where's the guts, huh? 'Ooh, we're afraid to go with you, Bluto, we might get in trouble.' Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I'm not gonna take this. Wormer, he's a dead man! Marmalard, dead! Niedermeyer..."

"Release the kraken!"

HENRY the KRAKEN

To-morrow is Saint Crispin's'. Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars and say: 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.' Old men forget yet all shall be forgot but he'll remember with advantages what feats he did that day. Then shall our names familiar in their mouths as household words: Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, be in their flowing cups freshly remembered. This story shall the good man teach his son. And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by from this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remember'd. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition. And gentlemen in England now a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here, and hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks that fought with us upon St. Crispin's Day."

"Release the kraken!"

TAXI KRAKEN

"You talkin'to me? You talking to ME?"

"Release the kraken!"

ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET KRAKEN

"Bond, James. Bond"

"Release the kraken!"

KRAKEN GUMP

"Life Is like a Box of Chocolates... You Never Know What You're Gonna Get!"

"The kraken just threw up."

Take heart, fans of the power of the word. Great writing is not dead in the popular movie mainstream. It's just in a persistent vegetative state.

.. and I'll Puff, and I'll Blow Yer House And Governor Down

New at the Frozen Grin Big Box: Questioning the Anoymous Questioners

Did you ever wonder who leaves those "Question Authority" tags around? Malcolm 10, noted non-existent graffiti artist did. After a little investigation he confirmed his suspicions that most were, like him, 15-year-olds with a can of spray paint and lots of unsupervised time. Still the sentiment appealed to him, and he decided to take it one step further, raising a question about the anonymous questioners. Questioners who had set themselves up along with everybody else who was telling him what to think and do.

If this is the kind of spirit you admire, you can proudly emblazon it across your chest, layering meaning as you layer clothing for the fickle temperatures of Spring. The Really Question Authority tee is now available at the Frozen Grin Big Box, along with many other frozen tchotchkes at your one-stop-for-all-your-frozen-needs-store!

Que Sarah, Sarah

The Socialism That Dare Not Speak Its Name

The word "socialism" been thrown, or perhaps kicked about quite a bit lately. In the spirit of the times let's see if it will stick to that Yukon icon Don Young.

In defiance of his party leadership, Rep. Young submitted a boatload of Alaska earmarks for the new budget. Here's how he justified it in a story from Alaska Dispatch:

"...the choice to go rogue is simple; Alaskans asked for these projects, he said, and they are important to the state.
'I was elected to represent my people, not to represent the so-called leadership of the House'".

So Don, in seeing to the needs of Alaskans, will redistribute money from those with the ability to pay- U.S. taxpayers. This fits neatly with Marx's uncharacteristically brief and clear summary of his economic vision- "From each, according to his abilities, to each, according to his needs". The People's Republic of Alaska lives!