Anyone out there?

If anyone is out there, and wondering where I've gone, the answer is ... I've gone away.

I might reinstate this blog at some point, but I don't think I will in the immediate future.

In general news, I'm moving to Newfoundland with my family to start a PhD in September, and that will probably occupy my time and attention for the foreseeable future. Just thought you might want to know.

You can find me on twitter @paulsmoffett or friend me on facebook if you want to know what's up in my life, or you can read my on-topic comics blog over at http://introtocomics.blogspot.com

The difference between Superman and Batman

via Every. Issue. Ever.

10 Ways Smallville could become good

1. Give up on Clark and Lana. Give up forever. Repeat after me: nobody is invested in this relationship.
2. Have Clark fall in love with Lois. LOIS.
3. Unrequited. UNREQUITED!
4. Make Clark wear glasses. All the time.
5. More people telling Clark: “You're Super. Man.”
6. Put Ma back on the farm.
7. Is it too late to start 5 years earlier?
8. Flights.
9. Tights.
10. Just end already.

Well hi there.

It's been a while. But I'm still here, and all is well. Mostly.

Life with full time school, a full time daughter, and a job working with youth ministry at the church that can be as full time as I let it is being a little difficult to juggle.

Fortunately, I've known how to juggle since I was 14 years old.

The only side project I've really been giving any attention to lately is Thpam (which if you haven't you should definitely check out, updates on Fridays). I've even been letting Weirdos of Winnipeg slip.

But here's what's going on with me as a scholar:

I'm taking two courses this term, one on Critical Theory, focused on Identity Theory, in which I'm hoping to write a major paper on theories of secret identities, and my other class is a film course on Modernism in the Media, focusing mostly on reporter films from the 30s. I'm kinda hoping to write a paper on the Fleicher Superman cartoons (after all, Clark Kent is a reporter).

I'm trying to organize my thoughts and start real work on a thesis--which is tricky to say the least. But (among other things) I'm making an Amazon wishlist of biliographical sources, which I'll link to soon. Then if you are interested, you can see what kind of books I'm using to write my thesis. Once I start actually writing it, that is.

THPAM!

Today my brother James and I launched our brand new webcomic! Check it out!

THPAM!

A Christmas Post

Christmas isn't about giving. It's about receiving.

I've heard many a sermon, not to mention a Christmas Special, about the season of giving. Charles Dickens may be the one who really popularized the idea of Christmas as the season of giving. I heard an (otherwise fairly good) sermon on Sunday that ended by saying: "If we know that giving makes us happier at Christmastime, we should know that we can be happier all year by giving."

I also heard a study on CBC radio that said there is now scientific evidence that giving makes the giver happier. We give, and it makes us feel good.

But Christmas isn't the season of giving. It's the season of getting.

Have you ever gotten a present from someone you didn't know very well, or didn't like very much? A present that was so much better than what you'd gotten them that you didn't really know how to react? Did it make you grateful, or embarrassed? How do you respond when someone you didn't get anything for gives you the best present of the year?

Christmas is about that kind of receiving. On Christmas we remember that we have received from God, not only all of creation, and not only our own life, not only the promise of peace on earth and goodwill among people, but the gift of the incarnation--God With Us. As we remember the birth of Christ we remember also the life, the teaching, the death, the resurrection. God has given us a gift beyond measure, so far beyond our ability to reciprocate that we must be only receivers, not givers.

Merry Christmas
Thanks be to God

How to Write A Major Paper: The Paul Method

1. Read the assignment instructions carefully
2. Re-read the instructions
3. Have you written anything else for this professor? If so, read the comments from that paper.
4. Choose your topic
5. Choose an appropriate number of sources. Make sure you use some current sources. Check JSTOR or some other academic database for online access to current journals.
6. You need a break. Watch TV, or even better, download an episode of your favourite TV show onto your computer
7. Make an outline
8. You need a break. Go for a walk
9. That outline doesn't look any good. Rewrite it
10. Re-read the assignment instructions
11. Write your first paragraph
12. That looks great! You're on a roll!
13. Update your facebook status to tell everybody about your great success so far at writing this paper
14. That first paragraph sucks. Rewrite it
15. You need a break. Surf the internet for awhile
16. Write steadily for 20 minutes
17. You're doing great! This is an easy paper to write!
18. How many pages?
19. Three! Awesome! That's practically done!
20. Wait. How long does this paper have to be again?
21. Re-read the assignment instructions
22. THAT long!?!?
    
23. Panic
24. You need a break. Go buy some junk food, and eat it while staring at a blank page
25. Write a paragraph
26. That paragraph sucks. Delete it.
27. Update your facebook status to show that your previous enthusiasm is waning
28. Re-read one of your sources
29. Stare at a blank screen
30. You need a break. Watch another episode of True Blood
31. Okay. Focus.
32. Man, it's late. You'd better get to bed
33. Next day: re-read what you have so far
34. Update your facebook status
35. Write for 20 solid minutes
36. Wow! You're amazing!
37. Update your facebook status
38. You've earned a break. Surf the net for awhile
39. Update your facebook status
40. Re-read the assignment instructions
41. Re-read what you have so far
42. Check the time
43. CRAP! The paper is due first thing tomorrow, and you're only halfway done!
44. Panic
45. Update your facebook status
46. Write steadily for 20 minutes
47. Re-read what you have so far
48. ... I guess it makes sense if you move THAT part over HERE
49. Now just add a conclusion
50. Conclusion...
51. Stare at your paper
52. Update your facebook status
53. Re-state your introduction
54. Go to bed
55. Wake up
56. Shoot! You need a bibliography!
57. Panic
    
58. Assemble and write your bibliography
59. Print your paper, and hand it in
60. Update your facebook status