We are getting closer to the release of the first issue of the RfL Adventures. It is a blast producing this series. It is fun like in the old days.

The way the issues will be laid out will be in chapters telling the main story of Eban and SJ’s adventures. In between chapters we will have short stories set at a school  in the dimension of Crawford Valley. Since nothing in Eban and SJ’s world is normal, you can’t expect the schools to be any different.

As a gift to you I am giving you this filler chapter from the first issue. This story is co-written by Alisa Humphrey. She came up with the idea of the naked mole rat and things went from there.

I hope you enjoy this. You can catch the panels here in the post or download the color or black and white .pdf  at the end of the post.

Keep an eye out for the first issue. This will take Eban ans SJ to places not explored in the Animated Adventures. The guys take a step into darkness as SJ’s past is revealed and the crew has to scramble to save him. He will of course still be a wise cracking weirdo, but we finally see a  bit deeper.

Cheers!

The .pdf versions are below for downloading or viewing.

Color .pdf

Black and White .pdf

Or you can click on the pics to view full size right here.

My main software tools for animation and new Manga are Reallusion’s iClone, Crazy Talk, Crazy Talk Animator, and 3DXchange. For audio I use Audacity and Ableton Live.

For video, I have traditionally used Sony Vegas. I am looking into new options right now so I do not currently have a go to program for this.

For all of my project management and script writing I use Celtix. That software ROCKS! For note taking and documentation I use Google Docs and Springpad. I like to use utilities with a cloud aspect so that I can access my work fro almost any device.

For storage on the go and syncing files between my computers and devices I use DropBox.

For graphics I use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks.

To format and produce my Manga series I use Comipo. Comipo is a progrm with graphics collections for those with no artistic talent to be able to produce Manga. I use this differently. I produce all off my art in my Reallusion programs as I have all of my already designed characters in there. I use Comipo’s easy to use formatting to put my art together into book form. I love taking programs and using them in new ways that they were not originally designed to be used.

Well, that is about it. I of course will pull out other programs from time to time, but this forms the core of my creative tools, software wise.

In the near future I may post how I use the above tools. Also, I may post about the hardware I se to create my media.

Cheers!

i like the idea of re purposing tools I already have and know how to use to create something unique. By going this way I save myself from having to draw out every element for every panel. I already have my characters created so I figured this would be a prudent  way to use them. Also, when I do get to animating the stories I will have one hell of a good road map.

I hope you like the panels. There is no story here, just a couple of tests to see how this will all fit together.

Cheers!

Test panel for RfL Adventures

Another change is the semi-retirement of RfL Indie Music Blast. I know, the show has been in semi-retirement for a while now. This is just the official acknowledgement. The indie music scene has slipped as a passion of mine. This lead to the shows not being as fun to produce. Audio is not dead here, it is just changing.

I will be adding a show to our productions to take the place of the Indie Music Blast. This show will focus a bit on music, but not breaking new artists. I will post soon about all the reasons I have shifted on this point, but for now let me just say the new show will be more focused on RfL, current events, and a couple of great songs thrown into the mix. Look for this next year. No name as of yet.

As for animation. With my boxing, I just don’t have the time. I will again, just not now. This is why i am shifting to Manga. We have stories, and this is a way to get them out. A bonus is that when we do get back to animation, the comics will act as a script and story board all in one, thus making the animating easier and quicker.

We will be focusing on three titles. One is RfL Adventures. This will be the further stories of Eban and SJ. We will work a few of the Animated Adventure stories in while pushing the storyline in new directions. This will be fun and a bit adult in nature.

The second title is to be determined and will be for the youngsters. Thank my new godchildren for this. I want to put something out that is for them, and all other young folk out there. This is directed straight at the kids.

The third title is the Purity Coalition. This is a story I have been working on for a while and is pretty big in reach. This is an epic tale of a future/past gone wrong. I will be testing my abilities with this but I do think it will be a good read. If we don’t take big chances, we do not get big rewards, right?

To put a visual to this change, here is an early take on Eban and SJ’s new appearance. This is not the completed look, but you can see the direction. They are going Steampunk/Sci-fy. i hope you like it.

Keep looking here for more news on the future projects at RfL.

Cheers!

I still have a lot of stories ready to go so I started looking at ways to get these stories out with less of a time drain. I am working on putting the stories out graphically. Below is a sample of the direction I am going. I am now trying out two manga programs and will get started once I figure out which one I like the best. This should be fun.

An upside is since i have the stories done in graphic form, if I get the time to do the animations the stories are all story boarded and ready to go.

Pretty neat.

Cheers!

So, be sure to check out next the show next week. We will be presenting a Coffee House episode for your enjoyment.

Also, stay on alert for more news on the new season of the Animated Adventures Machinima series. A long time in the making, but worth the wait.

Cheers,

Eban

Those familiar with the series, and Lester, know that can’t be a good thing.

I  can work with people anywhere in the world. All I ask is that you be able to supply a good quality recording and performance and that you have fun with the role. Anyone interested, drop me a line right here or leave a comment.

Cheers,

Eban

While waiting for the next episode, be sure to check out our show archives. We have a lot to offer. RfL has been going since 2005, 2004 actually, but it was not called Reaching for Lucidity at the time. That is a lot of shows. 417 to be near exact.

Also, you can check out our animated adventures as well.

I have also started a new blog called Eban Crawford dot Com, Everything Eban That Fits Nowhere Else. Check that out as well.

So, be back here Saturday evening, we will miss you otherwise, seriously.

Cheers,

Eban

**PS** Episode 419 will be Monday or Tuesday and will be Blues and or Groove Rock. Stay tuned.

We are going to do some of that RfL strangeness where things don’t always line up. The next episode, #417, is going to be a Wednesday Coffee House, but on either Friday night or Saturday. We love mixing things up here.

We will have some of the best, chilled out, tunes available. That is what the Coffee House is all about.

Hope to catch you with the next show!

Cheers,

Eban

Because of the trip, the Christmas Special of the Indie Music Blast will be recorded on Tuesday the 22nd and wll be released Tuesday evening or Wednesday. I will then shoot for a Juggernaut on Friday.

I am posting this while on the way to Maryland. Don’t worry, Effie is driving right now. Everyone have a great weekend, we sure will.

Cheers,
Eban

That is the two options that you will now have at airports that have the new, high radiation, full body scanners.

Violated for purchasing a means of transportation. When did flying go form a consumer service to a guilty until proven innocent experiment in giving up your personal rights?

Here is what was said by one extremely smart official.

David Castelveter of the Air Transport Association said the industry is concerned about the privacy of its passengers, but safety takes priority.

“[The] decisions are made by the TSA. We simply comply with their recommendations and mandates,” he told WND. “They have established these new security measures.”

That sounds a lot like, “We were just following orders.” Guess how many historical atrocities have been committed with those words.

Check out the site “We Won’t Fly” t0 see and participate in a backlash against these silly encroachments in our freedoms.  Also check out Nudeoscope.com for more information.

It is time to take a stand. things are out of control at our airports. The funny thing is, this really does not make a big difference in our security. It is window dressing that will have you or your family violated for the hell of it.

Seriously bad.

 

**Edit** A more complete list of websites and resources can be found at World Net Daily. Check it out. Also there, you can read about some of the situations folks have already gone through, including getting handcuffed for questioning the procedures.

It is coming down pretty good here this afternoon. So much so I am going to have to reschedule today’s RfL until later this week.

I am shooting for Wednesday, but due to my work I may have to get it out next weekend. This show will be featuring Chad Barnard’s group, Janus 4-14. Chad is “me” in the pioneering “Me and the Bean” podcast.

The lightning is moving in so I guess I should go.

Cheers

The early 90′s was a great time for music. A moment in time where good, adventurous music was being released across many genres. Rock was good. R&B was good. Rap was good. New Age was peaking. Pop was epic. And to top it all off, although the music known as alternative had started it’s slide from being truly alternative to being marketing drivel, the mix of true indie and the pre-fab corporate stuff was really shaking up the scene.

Add into this that culture itself was in a transition. Transitioning to what we had no idea at the time, but transitioning was the fun part. It mattered not where we ended up.

Back then, tattoos and piercings still were a sign of rebellion. A real statement. I even lost a job due to tattoos and piercings. Today teenagers get tats and piercings before graduating school.  Every cause seemed so important.

——————-

It was the year 1993. That was a huge year for me. That was the year the Air Force tried to prosecute me for an accident  resulting from by a medical condition caused by my service. Although that ended up in my favor, it left me a bit jaded and wounded. That incident culminated in my most famous tattoo and peircing, which I have written about quite a lot. (Even got into a bit of web exposure, which is still out there somewhere. The naughty Santa)

Being out the Air Force and searching for meaning in anything led to that year being spectacular. Effie and I were alone in Colorado, broke, barely making it, and having the time of our life.

We attended every festival and event we could. It was free and since there was so much going on culturally at the time, we were exposing ourselves to everything. We were vegetarians, extremely liberal (yeah, that changed big time over the years, Libertarians are created, not born), and were exploring art, music, and our place in the culture.

One event the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. This was held in the streets just north of the recently opened upscale Cherry Creek Mall in Denver. It was an amazing festival, and that was the first year we attended.

That was a landmark event for us. The memory still stands out as a high point in our life. More so even than attending Lollapalooza festivals and more well known events. Even after our subsequent visits to the festival, 1993 stands out as the best.

Being into music, I had heard the song Possession a few times on the radio, but it was just another song to me. I did not know about any other music by Sarah McLachlan. I don’t know that I could have even named Sarah McLachlan as the artist. That was about to change big time.

——————-

Both of our cars, a Mitsubishi Montero and a Plymouth Colt, were down and we could not afford to fix them. This relegated us to the bus system. It was not a big stretch as even when the cars were working we took the bus often. It was hip in 1993 to try and save the planet. We arrived at Cherry Creek early to make a whole day out of the event. It was a day’s entertainment for only the cost a couple of vegetarian hot dogs at Paul’s Place in the mall.

I wish I knew the DJ, or whoever was in charge of the music that day. He did something really interesting, and usually not recommended. He put Sarah McLachlan’s new album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, on a continual loop for the whole day.

We started checking out the art and there was some really original stuff there. We had been to many street art festivals in our days. This one was different. The level of talent at this festival seemed higher  than any we had attended up until that point. Instead of just walking around, spending a day out as cheaply as possible, we started to explore the art. We spent a lot of time talking with the artists, even grilling some of them. We were expanding our horizons.

At first, the music did not register. I heard it, but it had not penetrated my psyche yet. The day was already becoming special. There was one artist there that created life realistic resin sculptures of himself, others, and his body parts. Another did amazing abstracts, which up until that time I considered kiddy art. It was this festival that lead to my eventual study of art and my becoming an artist myself.

After an hour or so, the music hit me like a bomb. We were probably on our third listen of the album by that time and I had started to pay attention. That album was enchanting. I realized that I was walking around the city in which I had lived since 1989, but it felt more like a fantasy land. The whole scene was becoming surreal.

After a few more hours and a cheap lunch we went right back into checking out the art. The best part of the day was about to begin. We went to the performance stage to watch the late Denny Dent do his thing.

His thing, by the way, is producing a celebrity painting in the space of one to three songs. He used up tp six brushes at a time as well as just his hands. It is quite a sight watching him go at the canvas with three brushes in each hand, then flinging the paint directly from the cans and slapping the canvas with his hands.

We watched him do Mick Jagger and John Lennon. It was a very energetic show. As with all great showmen, he saved the best for last.

I had seen his show closer on TV before this event, but Effie had not so I kept quiet. He started painting to the first of three Hendrix songs and continued through the second. At the end of the songs the music stopped and Denny took to the mic. The painting looked like a jumbled mess. He talked about being the best you could be and almost apologized for the canvas. Then Purple Haze started and Dent dropped to his knees as if praying. He sat there, his hands shaking, looking towards the sky as the song built up. Then, just as the main guitar line kicked in, Dent jumped up, rotated the canvas, and viola, it was done. He had painted the entire thing upside down.

The crowd roared. Very few seemed to know what was coming. Seeing Dent perform live was a real treat. Unfortunately, Dent suffered a heart attack a few years back and since then several imitators have sprung up in his absence. I can always say I saw Dent perform three different times. Each time, the Hendrix bit  brought a smile to my face.

After that, It was back to the art, and to Sarah. As the night sky started to replace the day, we started back to the bus stop. We had spent less than ten dollars and had one of the best, eye opening days we have ever had. Truly a magical day. It was that day I felt that anything was possible. I turned to Effie, and with no point of reference or idea how to make it happen, I proclaimed, “In one year I will have us living in Germany.” Guess how that turned out. Things did seem to click after that day.

——————-

The next day, even though we were still broke, and would be for at least another year or so, we headed out to our favorite indie music shop. It had to be indie. Unfortunately, the years have played havoc with my memory and I can no longer remember the name. At the time, we did have the distinction of being the customers that spent the most in one day at that store the day we switched from cassettes to CD’s. We had not always been broke.

We bought Fumbling Towards Ecstasy that day. Sarah McLachlan has been a major part of my life since. As major as an artist that I have never and probably never will meet can be. She has never put out a bad disk, and her most successful was the follow up to Fumbling, titled Surfacing. Still, that CD, that day, and that particular moment in time, the early 90′s, was just magical. Sarah McLachlan was, and still is, a major part of that.

She was a cultural changer. Few, no matter how popular, can really make that claim. I know that day would not have been the same without Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. Cheers to you Sarah!

 

Yesterday we went out and got all the fixings for two BBQ’s. We played with Mariella all day. Had steaks and corn on the grill. Tried out our new wireless outdoor speaker. Had some Apple pie. Watched a movie. To top it all off, Pat and I watched the UFC event.

We packed a lot into a day. Today we are grilling hot dogs and sliders. It should be a fun fourth.

I hope you have a great Fourth of July as well!

Cheers,
Eban

How is that for timing.

Needless to say, I have a lot to think about right now. Go figure.

Cheers,

Eban