InConJunction XXIX - Science Fiction, Fantasy, and just a dash of Paganism

I'm mentioned in this article!  Go read it and have a virtual InConjunction experience.

My wife and I got our Tupperware business started! If you need some new kitchenware, please head over to our site and have a look. I suggest taking a look at our featured items first.

One thing I'm looking forward to getting myself is the Keepers Set. This is in the Spanish catalog only, or, of course, online. These are special storage containers for avacados, chilis, garlic, and onions, and they're shaped like the actual foods. I love avacados, but they tend to go bad too fast, so I think this is a great set.

You can find a lot more there. And, if you'd like some new Tupperware but don't have the money, consider doing an online or catalog party via our site. Depending on how much your guests purchase, you can earn free and useful items. Also, consider that we Americans throw out around 40% of the produce we purchase. Tupperware will help you keep your fruits and veggies (not to mention meat, sugar, and more) fresh for much longer, saving you money in the long run.

Okay, sales pitch over! Please check out our site to see how we can help you.

(Our demo set and some pieces we ordered just came in today, so I'm going to check those out. I plan to use the Quick Chef to make dinner. That's a favorite among men, and it's in our featured pieces as well. That's the "product" link to the left.)

Iraq War...

We are finally beginning to leave Iraq.

That is such cool news. :)

I stopped listening to Michael Jackson when it was alleged he had inappropriate behavior with young boys.

However, he was certainly a legend, and had some terrific music. I think my favorite of his songs is "Black or White." Great song, great dancing, great message.

I've been wanting to start my own comic strip for a long time. The problem is, even though I can draw, I have virtually no experience with this!

I found a great section on About.Com with help. If this is something you've been interested in learning more about, here! I found a site for us.


Drawing Cartoons and Comics - Cartooning and Comic Art

This shows exactly why I ended up first self-publishing, then quitting writing all together. Trying to break in made me miserable, and feel like a complete loser.

They say you need a thick hide to be a writer. That's true, but you also need delusions of grandeur. I do not mean that as an insult to any of my writer friends, and I'm proud of those who have broken in and been accepted by major publishers. This is just a reality check.


78 Reasons Why Your Book May Never Be Published and 14 Reasons Why It Just Might by Pat Walsh | PopMatters Book Review

Holy crap. The things you learn online, huh?


Press Release | PETA Killed 95 Percent of Adoptable Pets in its Care During 2008

I identify most with Sam Beckett from Quantum Leap. I feel like I'm jumping from life situation to life situation, doing things that ultimately improve the lives of those around me, but not for myself so much.

Been there, done that, got a plethora of tee-shirts.

TOO funny.

I don't know what any fairy tales were as children.

Why Health Advice on 'Oprah' Could Make You Sick | Newsweek Health | Newsweek.com

Bravo, Newsweek. This needed to be said.

I got my latest Poser figure rigged in about two days.

The last one took forever! I almost gave up a few times too, because I find the Poser rigging process so counter intuitive. Persistence paid off, though. Despite a few new problems, I was able to get my Yotaur nicely set up.

There are a few more steps before he's ready to zip up and sell to other artists on Renderosity. I need to give him some facial morphs and maybe a few body morphs, plus create his jaw and eyes. I actually have something cool I want to try that, if it works well, should make his eyes stand out. I'd also like to create at least two props for him.

C'est tout pour le moment.

English is my native language. I studied French in college and, by the time I graduated with my BA in Language Studies, my French was "near native in fluency and comprehension." It's slid since then, and I would love to brush up on it. Ideally, it would be great to go to France with my family for an extended time where I could use it daily.

I understand some Spanish, enough to often get the gist of a conversation taking place near me or on television, but I've never gained any fluency in it.

Four of my Space Rabbits have sold on Renderosity!

So yeah, it doesn't make me rich or anything, but I'm encouraged that people are finding him and liking him enough to buy. I hope to see him in some of their art work, too.

It's also encouraged me to do some more with my Yotaur creature as well. This time, I'll include more in the set. I'm planning on doing three textures, probably more morphs, more poses, and even a few props. I'm actually about half way through the first texture now and am happy with how it's coming along.

In other modeling news... I've been watching two videos I got for a total of $30 over at Gnomonology, on modeling the female form in zBrush. The modeler, Zack Petroc, is just brilliant. That's the level of work I aspire to. There are really a lot of good role models in this profession.

Keep an eye on this journal. I'll be sharing more Yotaur pictures in the near future.

I got a Google alert for my name today, in which someone tweeted that they "found a great book by Jonathan Fesmire" on Podiobooks.Com. He's talking about my novel, Children of Rhatlan, which is available there as an audio book.

That was nice. It also reminded me that people may have forgotten that I have a book there that they can enjoy for free.

So, enjoy!

So, I got my Flamblinker creature approved and on the Renderosity Market Place, as I've mentioned before.

What I had forgotten is how cool people can be over there. I've gotten some awesome comments on the first two pictures I posted of the guy, and one of my YouTube friends contacted me with some seller tips. There are no sales yet, but I think it's just a matter of time.

This is on my brand new vendor account, too, not even on the previous account I had been using since 2002!

Meanwhile, I've started on my next creature. I've just about finished the basemesh and the UVs. I'll post development images later.

That's just about it for the moment. I'm enjoying my summer, but I already miss my classes! At least I can model to my heart's content.

Fesmire is one of the rarest last names in the country. So the answer is "No. Absolutely no." I don't think there even is another Jonathan Fesmire.

After weeks of creating my first alien model and rigging it for Poser, I've gotten it uploaded and approved on Renderosity! I must have done everything right, because it got accepted without 'Rosity asking for any revisions, and in only two days. This was a really awesome surprise to wake up after getting to sleep in. (I actually got two nice surprises. My wife brought me a vente mocha from Starbucks, and then I found out about the Flamblinker after I got to my computer.)

It's selling for $11.95, and you can check it out in the Renderosity market place: Flamblinker: The Space Rabbit.

I've branded my personal store there "Jonny Lee's Creature Shop." My middle name is "Lee," and I thought that had a nice ring to it.

Here's a promo image:



Now, to work on my next creature model!

I know a lot of songs by heart. But I'll talk about one in particular that took me several days to learn.

That song is Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive." This fantastic tune is the theme song to the video game "Portal."

I'm not sure why it took me several days to memorize, except that specific words here and there are different from my own way of speaking, but perfect for the song.

Anyway, here's a cool video of Coulton himself playing it.