On Thanksgiving

Need I reminds you that if you're reading something on this blog on this kind of day, I must reminds you that you're not doing it right? Today is a holiday. One of the most "family"est related holiday ever, even over Christmas. Today is a day you spend with friends and loved ones.

Christmas may be special, but Thanksgiving is the best. I mean that truely. Today is that day where everyone sits around the table and while stuff their faces with unbelievable amounts of food, shares stories, catches up, complements, open up, and relax. It's simply a meal that brings the family together. After all, "the quickest way to a mans heart is through their stomach". Man, in this case, being the general species.

Christmas has an objective, a special agenda if you will. "Better to give then receive", mostly interrupted as material goods. Thanksgiving is mostly about experience. You have more to offer, more to learn on thanksgiving dinner then over Christmas gifts and meals.

So get off the computer, go to the table, and ask for the gravy.

~Happy Thanksgiving from Homebrew Cafe to you. Here's to an overlooked holiday

On Hiatus

Hiatus is a simple little word, yet it kinda bugs me. I'm an artist, a comic artist to be specific. Some people may argue the point that being a "Comic Artist" isn't the same as being a "True Artist", and although, yes there are some various differences, I would kindly like to you to shove it. I'm not a comic artist for the money. Far from it. I just draw comics to draw a story. Show a little imagination.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yes, Hiatus. Hiatus, in my mind, is just a fancy word to say hold or suspended. So why am I blogging on this word? Well, the comic artist thing had partly to do with. I write, sketch, ink, and (in the future) color comics. This may sound like a laid back job if I was getting paid. Truth be told, I wouldn't mind a buck or two. However, this is a selfless, penniless job. What's the point of me doing it then? The audience.

I'm working on this comic merely for the fact that people will read it. May it be two or two-hundred, It doesn't matter to me. But Hiatus is not something I enjoy calling on myself. The comic posting was too fast the first month and a half and was therefore one of the reasons I needed to suspend the comic for a while. I all "drawn" out, if you will. Get some time, get some steam, and I'll be back and posting at a much healthier two comics a week. Hopefully nothing like this will happen again though.

For more information on my Hiatus status or to read the comic visit the comic website at [Deviant Art] or [Comic Genesis]

Thanks for reading.

On Being Broke

This author has come to realize one general truth: "Being broke sucks". Now, they say "The best thing's in life are free", but I humbly disagree. True, it does not cost to draw, but for that matter neither does playing with a game on a console*. It's the materials that cost, however. Although, yes, it is cheaper to buy a pencil and paper, you're imagination is your limit. With gaming, it cost a little more with a little less brainpower. Now you could throw away both these ideas and play with a ball... but that too would cost a little pocket money. Your best bet: Go play with a rock.

Now, a solution to this problem of being broke is simple. However, following up with it is not. If you are reading this in weeks of its publishing date, We are in a recession. If you read this in some time in the future, lucky or unlucky you. Now, in this economical recession, there are few things going on. Right now, people may be loosing their jobs. Perfectly good mediocre people too. Why? Because the employers can't afford to pay them. Currently, big name company's are laying people off so the plushy C.E.O.'s who live comfortable lives with family and friends can continue to do so. The middle class and below are the ones suffering.

But for the unfortunate people like me are not as lucky. See, in my situation, I have currently been looking for a job since Junior year of high school. I have not been lucky. I have not even been called except for one occasion. It just so happened, I was living in the basement of a friends house when I got the call for an interview**. My roommate just so happened to work that day and so I got a ride from him. However, due to a misunderstanding on his behalf, I was 30 minutes late to the interview. needless to say, I didn't get a callback or a callback number. Lucky me.

So here I sit, filling out applications that are now online. I don't mind the new age ushering in a new way for employment. I don't like filling out applications online. Call me paranoid, but in the new age where identity thief is one of the most common threats, I just don't feel safe even with the security certificate. Hacks and cracks are little something's I'm familiar with. I prefer to hand in a hand written applications.

So I sit here, Waiting weeks on end for a call, a single call, on my cell. After playing games, starting up a webcomic, and chatting with trolls and newbs alike, I wish I had a job. Something to break this mediocre repeating life. In the mean time, I will write. In the mean time, I will draw. In the mean time, I will game. In the mean time...


(*Save for a few games that require that you pay-to-play)
(**I'd like to point out, before I go on, I never had money for car insurance until my 18th birthday. I owned a motorcycle which I still can't ride because you need a car license for a motorcycle license. This is for another time however)

On "Halo: Waypoint"

Bungie.net or HBO (Halo Bungie Org) has come out with a rather cool way to track your progress in their space odyssey series, "Halo". To Gold Xbox Live Members (People who pay for exclusive content and online gameplay) from November 5-26, were given the option to download this new applications for their Xbox 360. So what does this program do? Quiet simply, It takes the 3 games from the Xbox 360 platform and combines them to give you awards. Allow me to explain in detail.

Last fall, Nov. 18 2008, to be exact, Xbox released their NXE (New Xbox Experience) which included some new features like video marketplace streaming and game marketplace streaming. Along with this, they also released avatars that you could form, shape, and dress little under a year later, Xbox dashboard updates again. With this update they lay down the framework on first generation Xbox so it can support the upcoming Twitter/Facebook/Last.fm update to follow. They also added Avatar Marketplace so you can buy name brands and games from online for your avatar such as Adidas and Bioshock. They also added "Awards" that you could only get from games. The very first game to present these awards was 'Splosion Man, an Xbox Live Arcade Game.

"What does all this have to do with Halo: Waypoint?" you may be asking. Some of you are already concluding what it is. Allow me to continue. Before Halo 3: ODST was released, rumors had be flying around that Bungie was going to add Avatar awards in ODST. Of course they did, however it was not finished in time to ship with the disk. This is where Halo Waypoint comes into play. Along with being a progress report for "Halo Wars", "Halo 3", and "Halo 3: ODST", This game unlocks awards rather then achievements. You can have a range of things for both male and female avatars. Stuff from full body outfits to even the monitor from Halo 3. You know, the one that's buddies with Master Chief up until you decide to activate Installation 04.

Now you may be thinking "I've got all the achievements for the Halo Series. Should I download Waypoint just for the avatar stuff?" Hell no! You should also down Waypoint for the news updates. I know a majority of people don't read RSS feeds (Their lose in my opinion) but with this, they don't have to. Sure news feed varies and are totally different but I'm still watching it. They have information on all things Halo. This includes the books from "The Fall of Reach" to "The Cole Protocol" and "Halo: Legends". I'm not even going to doubt that "Halo Waypoint" will also feature new awards and milestones for the upcoming "Halo: Reach" to be released Fall 2010.

This entire review is totally subjective. I'd rather hear what you think of Waypoint. I'll be looking around for reviews. Tell me what you think :3

Download requires Gold Membership (Silver Released Nov. 26), Internet Connection, Xbox 360, New Xbox Experience
(Optional Requirements: Retail Game "Halo 3", Retail Game "Halo Wars", Retail Game "Halo 3: ODST")
Download Halo Waypoint Here:[Halo Waypoint]