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Wow, that was a really gramatically-incorrectly-stated-long-as-h
And I just totally got hot and heavy with the " - " key. Oh well, this is what happens when it's past midnight.
Went to the academy of sciences today, it really is different from the old one that opened up in the 50's. The old one I went to was so big, intimate, roomy and I have a plethora of fun and happy memories looking at the animals in the long, dimly light hall where all the African animals were. And the aquarium was gigantic, you could literally get lost in it. Multiple stories, grand, classy and very educational while also fun.
The newer one is not at all up to par. Today was my third time going, and except for the planatarium (which really blew my mind, the old one was also amazing, just very different, you can tell what amazes different generations of people), the whole place is too small, and seems like you're in a big warehouse. Kind of like the CCA campus in San Francisco, would never go to college on that campus for the life of me.
Really dissipointing when something so close to you doesn't meet your expectations, but that's life.
Got a mouthguard yesterday and wore it for the first time last night (I'm a big tooth grinder/clencher), my teeth felt really wierd when I woke up. Blech.
Did a great page of Dent today, (more like tonight), got about 8-10 solid pages I'm proud of, not worrying about whether or not I want to publish them right now, but I like them.
Man, that cookie was great. Pride weekend is tomorrow, looking forward to a crazy, eventful weekend!
- Mood:
chipper
This is "the dynamic duo" as Alex calls it, we do make quite the team. That's me to the left, Alex on the right. Together, we kick complete comic tail.
Went to a club lastnight, it was really fun dancing until I slipped on some spilled beer and landed right on my ass. Plus, my camera got kinda screwed up from the fall, and I hope I can get it fixed soon. The party was really nice, but it's always disgusting when somebody barfs and nobody cleans it up, somehow or another, there was no puke on the floor, (glad I didn't slip on that!) who knows why. The DJs were great, but people need to dance more instead of having a competition of how many cigarettes they can smoke in an hour outside of the club.
I was going to hang with a person who was "more than a friend", but they called me at the last minute and said they couldn't. So, I had coffee with a friend instead, knowing the two of us, we ended up talking about religion and modern books. Fun times indeed.
Plus, I found the Beyonce Remix of "Crazy in Love" that I loved in 6th grade, and am amazed that I actually found it. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BKCMJ0/ref=d
- Mood:
calm - Music:DJ tiesto
Went to the DMV this morning and registered to vote, I feel like I've passed society's "legal right of passage", it feels really awesome actually.
Talked with the teacher yesterday (Alex Shapiro), who I proctor for at JCAS, and we concluded that print and paper is being taken over by computer screens and "scroll downs." This needs to stop! Records, tapes and cassettes are being taken over by kind-good-CDs and crappy MP3s, VHS is becoming obsolete (DVD's never work either, whenever I watch one, it always skips, bullshit.) And even basic social interactions such as dating, intimacy and relationships have been twisted and turned into phrases such as "is this official?" and "we are officially in a relationship"; this is way to scareily accurate to Facebook realtionship statuses.
Isn't ambiguity part of the fun in life? Whatever happened to just enjoying each day and not worrying about what's set in stone and what's not. I guess everyone just wants control of everything, which, is not that great of a thing to have. Society is too full of labels, people labeling themselves and someone who goes without labels, and someone labeling themselves as someone who doesn't even think about labels. We all need to chill out and let ourselves Be.
I know this has been said millions of times, but I feel that people in this day and age are starting to forget this and viewing life as a series of cut and dry, "click here to confirm or ignore" situations. Life's not like that. It's better than that.
So enjoy it.
- Mood:
bouncy
I recently got a job as a proctor working at the Junior Center for Arts and Sciences in Oakland. So, basically: I get to assist 10-12 year olds in drawing comics! How amazingly cool is that? Very fucking cool. Indeed. The kids totally rock and I've almost memorized all 15 of their names. When I'm not handing out art supplies or spending time with them, I'm either reading a handful of zines I grabbed out of my huge library I've accumulated over the years (read some especially good ones today), and/or I draw in my sketchbook and enjoy the toxic fumes of sharpies (that was not meant to be sarcasm.)
Junior year is done, and I celebrated the first day of summer by going on down to Zebra and getting my ear pierced, anyone who tells you it doesn't hurt is a huge liar. Getting a needle stuck through your ear lobe is not the worst pain I've ever felt, but it certainly isn't painless. And cleaning it is a pain, but I'm not down with getting an infected ear, so I grin and bear it.
Started listening to more punk and indie music these days, put on some Dead Kennedys while I filed a huge pile of change into little money rolls to drop off at the bank after work tomorrow. Been taking a break from the loud, bass thumping techno music I've been enjoying in the Bay Area's wonderful nightclubs and abandoned warehouses, don't want to O.D. on the rave scene.
Dent is going quite well, had some crazy experiences these past few months, I don't want to share all of them on this blog yet, rather save them when people get to read the new issue. Found this great old trumpet case which my zines fit in perfectly, decided to sit on a corner and sell zines out of the case on the street. And now that I'm 18, I can get a permanent vendors license so cops won't harass/attempt to arrest me. Done some great pages.
Been working in the city, hanging in the Mission District lots. Also, helping my neighbor with her garden and chickens. I've forgotten how much I like gardening.
Well, stay tuned cause I'm going to posting more on this blog, for real now. Don't really know what's come over me, but I've decided to roll with it.
Gonna eat some thai food with my mom and watch "Mean Creek", it's an excellent movie, I'll review it in a future post.
- Mood: accomplished
- Music:Radio Dept.
Some pics of the main room, filled with thousands of people.
The Happy Hardcore/House Room
It was such a fun night. I was pumped, going nuts with my friends while sucking on lollypops and guzzling down water (I'm a sober raver, but it was hot as hell in the Cow Palace when you're surrounded by 20,000+ people!)
Plus, Deadmau5's set was incredible!!
A night to remember by far.
- Mood:
exhausted - Music:Deadmau5
Well, I'm alive, got through finals in one piece, both mentally and physically. Here are a few really cool things that are going down...
-SPEAK! issue one has officially been released! I might possibly be selling it at WonderCon, so look for it at my table. It looks great, here's a copy of the cover. Artwork done by Ryan McDonald.
So I'm thrilled that SPEAK! is going so well and am really glad that we got so much good work. It was really awesome working with my peers. We will more than likely have another issue coming out soon!
-Dent #9 is in the making. I'm putting in some of the work I did over the summer afterall and am creating some new work. I think this issue might be a stretch for me, and will be a lot different from Dent #8. Unlike Dent #8, Dent #9 will be more personal and focus more on a variety of "teen stuff." If that makes any sense. But yeah, it coming along!
-I am going to be at Wondercon, map will be posted soon! Check their website for more info!
- Mood: exhausted
Here's what I posted on my site, other than what's below, I've been doing quite well. Getting schoolwork done, zine making, hitting up some raves. It's been all good!
<P> <B> <U>12/26/08, 8:11AM</U> Don't worry! I'm not dead!!</U></B> </P>
<P> Hello everyone.</P>
<P> I'm well aware that this site has not been updated in almost half a year, and it's true. It hasn't. A combination of junior year, other zine-related projects etc. have made it such where it's hard to update this guy. But, I will, and will get on that. </P>
<P> To everyone out there, don't worry, <I>Dent</I> is not dead. At all. I've had a creative block recently and it was hard to get through it. Basically, what happened is that I wrote a bunch of stuff over the summer and was ready to assemble <I>Dent #9</I>, but then I realized that everything I had written was completely lame and not representative of me or Dent. So, I ended up putting almost 40-45 pages of work aside and am now working on some new material. However, not all is lost, I recently looked through some old work I had written and realized that with some tweaking and rewording, I could put together something really good. So please, do not worry, <I>Dent</I> is coming! </P>
<P> And, secondly, I'd like to thank EVERYONE who came out to San Francisco to see me at Zine Fest 2008. Your amazing support is greatly appreciated and the sales there were the best I had had at any convention period. So, thanks, you guys rock. </P>
<P> Speaking of Comic Conventions, I will be exhibiting at WonderCon 2009. As always, I will be in the artist's alley section and my booth number is AA43. I'll post directions to my table with a map very soon, and don't worry, by soon I mean in the next couple of weeks, not years! </P>
<P> I've been working on a couple of other zine-related projects. One of them being, <I>Uncool Content</I> (I'm holding up the issues that I've created in the picture to the left), a small mini series that I'll be selling for about 50 cents at WonderCon. It's a different outlet to express what I'm feeling, collages, poetry and stuff like that. So far, I've got two issue in the making. And they are very very cool. I think you guys will like them a lot. </P>
<P> The second zine I've been working on is <I>SPEAK!</I>(cover for issue #1 on left). I've created a zine at Berkeley Independent study, the school I attend and have created the first issue of an entirely student-run zine. I'm actually assembling the first issue over this break and will release it early January. It's my first official group zine I have done with people, and I'm pleased with all the work I've gotten (the work that people submitted is so cool, it's really rad!) So, that's also what's been keeping me occupied. </P>
<P>There have been other things that I've been experiencing. Spending time in classrooms, art classes, warehouses filled with glowstickers and DJs...and much more. All of these types of things will go into <I>Dent #9</I>. </P>
<P> And lastly, Happy Holidays! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and I wish everyone a safe and good New Year! Please don't die by driving drunk, cause that would really suck.</P>
<P> Until then, I'm still producing, and I apologize if this site has been dead for a while.</P>
<P>-Joseph Cotsirilos </P>
<P>12/26/08</P>
- Mood: accomplished
http://superuseless.wordpress.com/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/demo/#url=ht
http://momscancer.blogspot.com/ (I ran into Brian Fies on a plane to Comic Con and we talked about comics, really nice guy. Awesome too.)
http://www.theleagueofsapphistry.com/wo
I also recommend people check out Superuseless, it's a great zine!
Speaking to 5th graders was amazing. It felt so great speaking to them about comics and zine making, and since I love working with kids, it was a double bonus.
Spent some time in Mexico, great oceans, great scene, weak coffee, but that's okay. Went to a rave with a friend a few nights ago in San Francisco, had a lot of fun. I might post some pictures sometime.
- Mood: accomplished
Since I love working with kids, it was an excellent oppertunity. I'll write more about it later.
"7/24/08, 8:11AM Black Coffee & Zines
Hello everyone.
First of all, I'm sorry if I haven't updated this site in a while. With the end of sophomore year in highschool being particularly stressfull and other various things, I've had no time. But, I have some time this morning, so I will give you all the scoop on whats new.
First, I'd like to thank everyone who was so supportive at the Zine Fest 2008 in San Francisco, I did surprisingly well selling all issues of Dent, so everyone who bought an issue or signed up for the newsletter or who was just plain awesome, thank you.
Second, Dent #8 is not sold out anymore! I recently ran off a 50 issue second printing for Zine fest and have probably about 20-something left. I also did a second printing of Dent #7 and Dent #6, so needless to say, all issues of Dent are available to buy!
I've been working on some new material for an upcoming Dent #9, lately the pieces I've been writing have been much more honest and personal, but I've been writing a diversity of work both artistically and literally. I hope to assemble something by November or so, to give myself a LOT of pages to work with.
So, that's it for now. Again, thanks to everyone who attended Zine Fest and if you have any questions or comments about anything, feel free to e-mail me!
-Joseph Cotsirilos
7/24/08"
So, that's to give you a basic idea. I've been reading a lot of great zines that I got from Zine Fest 08, a really nice guy wrote me up in his blog (http://www.theleagueofsapphistry.com/w
Basically, zine fest rocked! The people there were one of the best crowds I've ever had, they were so supportive and friendly, even if they didn't buy any of my zines. What was nice about zine fest oppose to other past conventions is that it was really just a community of people who like to write and sell/trade zines. It was an awesome convention. If any of you guys wanna check out any new comics, check out "Laterborn", "Tessas Braces" and "Kiss and Tell." They were the guys (and women) sitting accross from me and they rocked!!
Been taking a film class at CCA, I did this short film about the violence in today's American society. Been going through a techno phase, drinking black coffee, writing zines, reading zines.
Gonna try to make some more buttons soon, maybe even include some new ones!! ;)
- Mood: accomplished
And....
Dent #8, the remaining issues can be bought at Isotope Books, the very fine comic store in San Francisco. Here's the address...
Isotope, The Comic Lounge
326 Fell St. (@ Gough)
San Francisco, CA 94102
It's a really nice place to hang out and read comics, there's all sorts of couches and the music's quite interesting. It's a REALLY cool place, I highly suggest you check it out. When I was there, Justin Hall came in and started talking to the guy who runs the place, James Sime. Great place, great selection of comics, flat out great overall.
When I was at Isotope, I bought a couple of books...
-Little Things, A Biography in Slices by Jeffery Brown (excellent, a quick read, very meaningful, I always love this guy's stuff)
-Queen Of Trash (hilarious, considering I've met the Queen of Trash)
and...
-Zombie Dope Fiends Take Over the World (wonderful small press comic, wonderful gorry twisted-but-aslo-funny goodness!)
Spring break is absolute HEAVEN! Being away from school is wonderful, I'm sure we all want regular spring breaks, at least I know I do.
So, that's it, I'd like to thank everyone who've been so supportive over the years. The fact that I sold out of an issue in a month really makes me excited and I couldn't have done it without you guys's help. So...
Thank you so much.
-Joseph Cotsirilos
4/4/08
- Mood: excited
2349 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
Also, the Marine Protest comic I wrote got published in my highschool newspaper!! Here's what I wrote on the homepage...
"That's right, Dent #8 can now be bought in Pegasus books on Shattuck avenue!! And Dent #8 can also be bought in Comic Relief, also on Shattuck. For a list of locations of where to buy issues of Dent,...
Also, the excerpt from the Dent #8 about the marine protest was just recently published in The Berkeley High Jacket, my school newspaper. I'm surprised, they published it uncensored (I thought they were gonna put black bars over some of the language, but they didn't!)
Dent #8 is selling like crazy, I only have 27 issues left so if you wanna buy any, come look at the... of the site for zines, comix, buttons and more. Right now, I am currently Sold out of the following products: Dent #7, "Jon" button, and the Red Girl01 button. And I only have 9 issues left of Dent #6, which might sell out very soon.
First day of March, hope it's a good month."
For more info, go to my site.
- Mood:
productive
Comic Relief
2026 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94707
PICK IT UP!!
- Mood: excited
"Well, all three days have sure added up to a wonderful experience! I SOLD OUT COMPLETELY of Dent #7 and the "Jon" buttons. And I'm down to only 9 copies of Dent #6, 2 buttons of "Red Girl 01", 3 buttons of "Red Girl 02" and 6 of "Dentcomics.com" buttons! So, altogether, stock got sold very fast and very well.
Met some great people at the convention. If you haven't already, I highly suggest you check out work by Keith Knight, Ryan Claytor, "Crying Macho Man" and Danny Burbuol. All four of them are excellent cartoonists and very nice people as well. The atmosphere in the convention hall was great, and there was some jaw-dropping costumes which I unfortunately didn't get on my camera, but they'll be engrained and/or scared on my memory for life.
Dent #8 is still not in any stores, but I'm planning to start giving it around to stores soon. I'll make sure to let everyone know via the newsletter when they can buy issues.
Hope everybody had a great con!"
And thanks to everyone who signed up for the newsletter!
- Mood:
crazy
Second day at WonderCon and doing fantastic! Here are the products that have just recently sold out...
"Jon", the button featuring the main character in Dent #8
is COMPLETELY SOLD OUT!!!
Dent #7, "Composure Through Composition" is entirely SOLD OUT!!!
- Mood:
hyper
Since I'm exaughsted from the day, I'll post what I posted on my website.
"Dent #8 has been officially released today at the WonderCon comic convention 2008. I've already sold some copies. Dent #8 will not be in stores until next week, right now it is exclusively available at WonderCon so get on over there! For info of where I am specifically, click here. (My booth in AA44.)
So far, I've done well. The convention feel is always nice and the people are great. I'm exaughsted and need to rest for the big day tommorow.
I updated the store section, you can now buy www.dentcomics.com/store-buttons and more.html But hurry, I'm ALMOST SOLD OUT OF THEM!! So, come check it out."
So, the day is great. Feel free to come by and check out the scene..jpg)
Me holding up Dent #8.
- Mood: excited
- Music:Miles Davis
Hey guys
First of all, Happy New Years! 2008 is gonna be a cool year!
Updated the Dent website, feel free to visit it. (www.dentcomics.com) Below is some art that was recently put on the site.
"Happiness in Unexpected Places"
18" x 24"
Charcoal on paper
Dent #8 is going just great. Have 5 to 2 pages left (more like two, I think I am gonna include that 3-page short afterall.) So that's good, I'm trying to finish the art this break and I think I'll be able to.
Hope everybody's having a great holiday season!
- Mood: accomplished
- Music:Tegan and Sara
I've gotten done 16 pages, so there's only 8 more to go (or 5 if I decide to include this three-page short, I'm still thinking about it), so the art production is really good.
My ears are kinda ringing from a late night concert yesterday, the bands kinda sucked but since I was wearing earplugs I didn't lose too much hearing so it's all good.
MERRY CHRISTMAS IN ADVANCE EVERYONE!
- Mood: accomplished
- Music:Funky Buss & The U-Turns
So far, I've gotten pages 1-12 of Dent #8 done. And, if I may add, the website is completely updated with new artwork and what not. So feel free to check it out.
I'll write more later, but as it is, homework has been shoving my head under water! But I was able to get two whole pages done this weekend, which is good. So, Dent #8 is coming along well.
- Mood: exhausted
- Music:Pink Floyd
