Episode 521

Read the comic here.

"Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble" is actually a (deliberate in this case) misquote from Shakespeare's Macbeth. The real line is "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble." Here's the context for the interested.

The system error is a parody of the classic error "Abort, Retry, Fail"

Episode 520

Read the comic here.

Donut's humor falls flat because, as we all know, Castle is one of the HUGE themes as far as fans are concerned. Curtis scores a point in that many on-line LEGO communities look down on the Bionicle line, despite the ginormous fanbase it enjoys. They really are two seperate worlds most days.

By the way, I bet Curtis is a big fan of the long-vanished Western theme.

Of course, you have to start talking about LEGO Webcomic authors before you get *really* niche.

Episode 519

Read the comic here.

Pop Culture Links: Gumby, Victoria's Secret

BRICK SCIENCE - Final Grids Online

The Entry Grids have been finalized.

As expected, I received a few entries after the deadline. I've put them in the grid as non-competing models. (A nice break for those who entered on time; some of those late creations were quite nice.)

The final tally:
33 Class One Models
38 Class Two Models
32 Class Three Models
28 Class Four Models

That's a grand total of 131 MOCs! Once again the judges will have their work cut out for them.

BRICK SCIENCE - Contest is Closed!

Well, if you've been waiting to submit your entry to the BRICK SCIENCE contest, you've officially waited too long. The deadline for entries passed quietly this morning.

Well, not "quietly" - I was on-line and watching and had four entries arrive in the last 30 seconds. Talk about cutting it close...

Anyway, I'll try and get the grids updated by tonight. Judgment Spreadsheets will be mailed out shortly after that. I hope to announce the winners by September 30th.

Episode 518

Read the comic here.

So long, Alton. You were a great Guest Star.

Guest Starring at S-Team...me! (Sort of)

Ian warned me about this, but I didn't want to wreck his reveal by acknowledging it too soon. The "Mysterious Guide" character appearing recently in S-team is indeed meant to be a quasi-cameo of yours truly.

Ian and I have a long history of sharing characters with each other, but this is certainly a first for me...

Now, why I'm apparently dead and dressed in tacky white, that's another question entirely. Something you're not telling me, Ian?
(Ian says I'm NOT dead, just Meta.)

Episode 517

Read the comic here.

This incarnation of Donut doesn't handle stress very well, does he?

Episode 516

Read the comic here.

Sometimes it just takes a fresh perspective to see the answer to your problems.

Episode 515

Read the comic here.

Ah, Real Genius. For when you just don't feel like writing a joke of your own.

Episode 514

Read the comic here.

Today's joke is a variation of a term I use all the time in my day job working with computers. Of course, on that side of the fence the term is "Pebkac" - "Problem Exists Between Keyboard and Chair"

BRICK SCIENCE - Updated!

Just finished posting the latest batch of entries to the grids - if you've submitted something it should be in there.

I'd also like to point out that we lured in yet another celebrity in the LEGO community as an entrant. Too cool!

Episode 513

Read the comic here.

Alton Brown's hair is just about impossible to match in LEGO form - but the new hairpiece from the Agents line does an okay job. Maybe someday there'll be an ideal wig for him.

I'd be happier with more official LEGO faces with glasses, too, just in case someone is in the mood to grant wishes.

Crap in a hat

You know that cool Castle version of the LEGO advent calendar I was hoping to use this year?

Not going to be released in the US.

The fan community is trying to change this, but honestly, I don't see that happening.

Not getting the Wizard impulse set was bad enough. I was ready to buy six or seven of these.

Damn damn damn.

Episode 512

Read the comic here.

Yes, I've been building up to this all week. Sorry about that.

Episode 511

Read the comic here.

This strip changed while being photographed. The script called for the last two panels to be Donut and Whiskey just looking sadly off to the left, with Donut's head in his arms, crying, in the final panel. It was tragic, really. And sad.

So I went with the advertising malfunction instead.

BRICK SCIENCE - Updated

I've been a bit lax in reporting the updates to the entry grids, but they've been going up pretty regularly.

With just a week and half left to build, the grids continue to expand with some high quality entries. Right now there are a total of 66 models - with just under half of those in the Class 2 "Evil Scientist" category.

Exciting times!

Hell Freezes over: Also, MiniMizer Updated

It only took me the better part of a year, but I finally found a few minutes to put a few new parts into the Upgraded Mini-Mizer.

Recently I've received several requests for Joker and Robin parts, so I put those in there. Along with some simple Iron Man-ish armor.

Now that I've cracked the code open again I'll probably update this a few more times before I put it back on the shelf. If you want an item added, now's the time to ask.

Enjoy!

Episode 510

Read the comic here.

You really can't help but feel bad for Donut in this one.

Episode 509

Read the comic here.

I already gave you an Alton Brown wiki link, so here's his homepage and the Feasting on Asphalt wiki.

Comics delayed (slightly)

Brick House will be going up late today - sheer laziness...um...technical difficulties on this end.

Don't worry, you'll still get a full fix this week.

Episode 508

Read the comic here.

Yeah, like you need it: Labor Day Info

The sad thing? I still had to make today's strip about skipping today's strip.

Episode 507

Read the comic here.

Truthfully, I have no idea if Eddie Van Halen can cook or not. For all I know, he could be quite talented in the kitchen. Regardless, he's just not the chef our gang needs right now.

Today's Pop-Culture Links: Alton Brown

Episode 506

Read the comic here.

Perhaps Ted seems so wise because he's also channeling his role as Siddhartha. Sort of.

Episode 505

Read the comic here.

Long time readers will recognize the kitchen layout as the same one Donut had back in the Donut-Cave. (The only part of that set that I saved)

Episode 504

Read the comic here.

Today's Pop-Culture Link: Vikings and Spam

Episode 503

Read the comic here.

It's a fact that more folks see the strip than read this blog, so I figured my best chance of seeing some art was to put my plea into the strip itself.

The customized torso my L'Ego is wearing features a print of Rubber Stamp 1, art reproduced with permission.

Updates might be a little erratic this week - I'm on vacation.

Interview at LAMLRadio

A few days ago I joked in the blog about the old adage "Keep silent and be thought a fool, or open your mouth and remove all doubt."

When will I ever learn?

Yes, fast on the heels of that lovely interview with Jude, I was offered a chance to be a part of LAMLRadio's "A builder a day in August" event. I'm August 21st.

So, if you ever wondered how dorky I sound in real life (hint: a lot) you can now click on the image above and hear for yourself.

(LAML has been having a bit of site trouble lately, so just in case I've mirrored the podcast here.)

Brick SCIENCE - Update!

The entry grids have been steadily filling and the competition gets tougher day by day.

Take for example, TK1420's entry into the "Real or Mainstream Fictional Scientist" class, shown above, being held by the very scientist it depicts.

Oh yeah, this is gonna be good.

Episode 502

Read the comic here.

A "careful what you ask for" strip. I am glad I figured out a way around the "your/you're" spelling issue in panel three, though. Whiskey's joke works much better spoken, rather than written down.

"Tip your waitresses and try the veal" is a classic standup routine exit line. So of course Whiskey mangles that, too.

Episode 501

Read the comic here.

I guess I was wrong about Whiskey's urge to become a Fireman being a one-strip joke. Sometimes these characters just don't want to go the direction I push them in. (Whiskey in particular)

Pop Culture Links: Kick it up a Notch, 5-Alarm Chili

Episode 500

Read the comic here.

Okay. Maybe one last dig at For Better Or For Worse.

Episode 499

Read the comic here.

Fish and visitors stink after three days. - Benjamin Franklin

LEGO: Owlship V3

I finished my revamp of the Owlship. This time it's closer to scale with the comic version, with a bit more accurate styling.

I also found a solution for the window issue - lots and lots of robot arms from the Exo-Force line and dishes from Belville. It'll do until better parts come along.

Brickshelf Gallery here, when moderated. I've also updated the build review here at Reasonably Clever.

BRICK SCIENCE - Update!

Time for the first update to the BRICK SCIENCE contest!

The Entry Grids are beginning to show signs of life - and the pile-o-prizes arrived at my doorstep on Friday.

Looks like we're in for quite the competition!

Episode 498

Read the comic here.

Kent's broken in with "For Better or For Worse" news alerts in the past. With that strip "ending" (or going into reruns or hybrid-new or something) at the end of the month, I realized I was running out of time to snark on it.

So I wrote this whole arc where the gang gets lost on the way to the Frog Homeworld and ends up crashing and destroying the Lizanthony wedding - in the process adding Elizabeth Patterson to the cast as Whiskey's new love interest.

But then I thought better of it.

The "Whiskey as a fireman" is a one-day only joke. He'll be back in his normal outfit tomorrow.

Episode 497

Read the comic here.

Set the wayback machine for Episode 10 for the first hints of inter-frog hostility.

This is too cool.

I'm not (usually) one to brag, but this is just too awesome not to share.

I'm the subject of a very flattering interview by UK author Jude Calvert-Toulmin.
(Jude's site has some adult-oriented bits to it, so click with awareness. The interview itself is for all audiences.)

Episode 496

Read the comic here.

Quick link back to Episode 80.

Poor Scotch learns the hard lesson that it's better to be silent and be thought a fool - than to open your mouth and confirm the fact. Meanwhile, Cowboy Curtis does his best Vader impression.

New Contest - BRICK SCIENCE

Yes, it's time to announce the next Reasonably Clever contest!

The world is constantly being threatened by mad scientists and evil geniuses, bent on domination of planet Earth.
Our everyday livelihood is preserved only by the heroic actions of good and decent scientists and their gizmos (and occasional ineptitude).

Will you save mankind?

Doom it?

Or just sit back and make S'mores as the world burns?

A Reasonably Clever Contest of Skill, Creativity, and...SCIENCE!
Click for Details!

Episode 495

Read the comic here.

Donut clearly spent too much time with Pat.

Episode 494

Read the comic here.

Today's Pop Culture Link: Prince (The Artist Formerly Known As)
Quick Link back to Episode 234.