KITCHEN TABLE COMICS

Douchebag (1.27.12)

2012-01-28T07:05:00.001-05:00

(Click comic to ENLARGE)

I have a theory:

If you're a good parent, if you're doing it right, you spend about 85% of your time feeling guilty. It means you always feel like you're failing your kids in some way, like you could always be doing better. It means you worry - constantly - about their physical well-being, their mental health, their happiness. It means you care.

I don't think anyone can truly understand this until they have their own children.

Bedtime Boo Boo (1.26.12)

2012-01-27T06:45:00.000-05:00

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Teenage Anarchist (1.25.12)

2012-01-26T06:50:00.000-05:00

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"I Was A Teenage Anarchist" is off Against Me!'s 2010 album, White Crosses (video after the break).

I'm proud to say that Jack and Eli's favorite bands are The Black Keys, Against Me!, Frank Turner, Yellow Ostrich, Good Old War, Jeremy Messersmith, and Foster The People. The closest thing they like to "kids' music" is the soundtrack to Cars and a super-rad hip-hop album by The Dino-5, a group comprised of Chali 2Na, Prince Paul, and members of The Roots, Digable Planets, and De La Soul (but even I really like that album).

Three Things (1.24.12)

2012-01-25T06:48:00.000-05:00

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Impressive (1.23.12)

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

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Seriously. Really, really big.

Emily commented last night that a lot of my comics take place in the bathroom. In my defense, it's just a natural environment for comedy, especially with young children around. Sorry, though... and you're welcome.

Long Knives Drawn (1.21.12)/How To Treat Head Lice (1.22.12)

2012-01-23T06:55:00.001-05:00

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Ah, little victories, like dropping a steak knife and having it land, point downward, right in the dishwasher instead of, say, the top of my foot. The joy was short-lived, however, because as you can see...

(Click comic to ENLARGE)

...Jack brought home head lice from school. Ewww! I discovered it after I gave Jack and Eli haircuts on Saturday morning and, since Emily was out of town all weekend for a funeral, the boys and I were housebound, vacuuming and combing and cleaning. This whole family is drained, physically and emotionally. I guess it could be worse... we could be either the Ravens or the 49ers.

Drawn (1.20.12)

2012-01-21T07:48:00.000-05:00

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I've penciled whole comics and erased them completely, just because they haven't looked quite right. I'm trying not to be such a perfectionist with my newer stuff (to "embrace the wobble," so to speak) but I still get frustrated at times. It's the blessing and the curse of making a daily journal comic: you get four panels a day and then you move on.

Bedtime Stories (1.19.12)

2012-01-20T07:00:00.001-05:00

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I'm currently reading Life Itself, the latest memoir by Roger Ebert, and a stack of New Yorker magazines that piled up in the past two months or so. I read a lot more in 2011 but this year I've been spending a lot of my free-time drawing, instead of reading. It's okay, though; besides a couple of library books I have to plow through soon, my stack of books aren't going anywhere.

What are you reading right now? When do you read the most? Have you read anything wonderful lately?

Dull (1.18.12)

2012-01-19T06:44:00.001-05:00

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But it's a brand new day... I went for a long run this morning, took a nice hot shower, ate a Clementine, and things are looking up. I hope you have a great day today, too.

Punk Rock Girl (1.17.12)

2012-01-18T08:25:00.001-05:00

(Click comic to ENLARGE)

For those of you keeping track at home, the song Teagan was rocking out to was "My Dreams About Not Sleeping Until 3 PM" off of Latterman's Turn Up The Punk, We'll Be Singing.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://deepelmdigital.com/track/my-dreams-about-not-sleeping-until-3pm"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;My Dreams About Not Sleeping Until 3pm by Latterman&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

I had to break up my morning with a little bit of punk because I've been playing the new EP from The Black Atlantic nearly constantly (details on that - and more free music - after the break). Unfortunately, I'll have to start censoring what I listen to when Teagan's around because she's beginning to repeat words. "Dis" is how she says "this" and it makes my life so much easier now that she can communicate to me what she wants.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://deepelmdigital.com/album/turn-up-the-punk-well-be-singing"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Turn Up The Punk, We'll Be Singing by Latterman&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

I've discovered so many great bands (Greenland Is Melting, Yellow Ostrich, Born In A Cent, etc.) and musicians (Jeremy Messersmith, Joshua LeMasters, John Donovan, etc.) on Bandcamp but easily one of the most incredible is The Black Atlantic, a Dutch indie-folk quartet reminiscent of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver. They just released a new EP entitled Darkling, I Listen and, somehow, it's even more lush and complex than their debut LP, Reverence For Fallen Trees. I've been playing it multiple times a day.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://blackatlantic.bandcamp.com/album/darkling-i-listen"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Darkling, I Listen by The Black Atlantic&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;

Another recommendation is missing, the newest release from yellowbirddd, the musical alter ego of Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter, Liam McCormack. I've always liked his music but missing represents a wonderful distillation of his sound: he's more focused, tighter lyrically, and (dare I say) poppier, in a Matt Nathanson kind of way, which is not a bad thing. It's an excellent record.

Lastly, I get a lot of music off of NoiseTrade, too. Besides posting awesome stuff by artists such as Marc Broussard and Josh Ritter, they also have new albums like Jessie Baylin's Pleasure Center EP. Baylin just released her newest record, Little Spark, yesterday and, along with the EP, her sound has departed a bit from the jazzy alt-country of her last album, Firesight. She's got kind of a Dusty Springfield-ish thing going on, courtesy of her move to Nashville, her marriage to the drummer from Kings Of Leon, and her musical partnership with Richard Swift. It's a beaut.

If you can wear out MP3s, those are the albums I've been workin' over lately.

Efl Giy (1.16.12)

2012-01-17T06:57:00.000-05:00

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They say the best thing you can do to help develop your child's mental abilities and creativity is to encourage a love of reading. Respectfully, I'd like to add that it's just as important to help them be artistic; give them art supplies, have lots of scrap paper around, put a whiteboard in their playroom, teach them about comics... They're quiet, engaged, and they come up with some pretty wacky (and funny) shit.

(All artwork by Jackson Graupman)

L: "Dinosaurs & A Volcano" ~ C: "Efl Giy" Character Sheet (cell phone upload) ~ R: "Astronaut In Our Solar System"

Hoodie Shopping (1.14.12)/A Penguin Fact (1.15.12)

2012-01-16T07:13:00.000-05:00

We were house-sitting this weekend so I couldn't post yesterday but that means there's two comics today, alright?

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If you don't know, this is a callback to one of my journal comics from earlier this month... I hate clothes shopping but Emily made me go into Marshalls (it was right across the mall from our library's annual used book sale, where I got some very cool stuff), and it wasn't a terrible experience. Great endorsement, right?

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If you've got a few minutes, there's a fascinating YouTube clip from National Geographic about the many difficulties that penguins must overcome in order to feed their young (the actual regurgitation - you pervert - is at 4:42).

Kitchen Table Comics: entertaining and informative!

Snowfall (1.13.12)

2012-01-14T07:14:00.000-05:00

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Softly falling snow, some good music (R.I.P. Mr. Smith), and fresh chocolate and peanut butter chip waffles (details after the break). Does it get any better than that? The answer is... no. No, it does not. Have a great weekend!

I need dessert every night; I can't help it. I love sweets (it's one of the reasons I run so much, which sort of violates the big "eat to run, don't run to eat" edict but... whatever) so I'm always on the look out for delicious and healthy-ish recipes. I've been warming these waffles up in the oven for a few minutes and topping them with some low-fat vanilla ice cream and they're awesome! Enjoy:

Chocolate And Peanut Butter Chip Mini-Waffles

1 large egg

1 cup whole wheat flour (NOTE: We've been using all-natural ingredients lately because Emily's really into that but you can use whatever type you want)

Almost 1 cup milk (NOTE: Technically, it's 7/8 cup - because this is a half batch of a recipe I have - but just eyeball it... a little less than a full cup)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 tablespoon pure cane sugar (or packed brown sugar)

2 teaspoons baking powder

sprinkle of salt

small handful each of chocolate chips and peanut butter chips

Mix all the ingredients together and pour 1/4 cup of batter onto a preheated waffle iron. Makes about 15 mini-waffles and, if you're keeping track, 2 waffles are worth 5 Weight Watchers PointsPlus points (but, trust me, you'll probably need just one waffle... they're really not that mini).

And, some cooking music:

Evil Laugh Practice (1.12.12)

2012-01-13T06:50:00.000-05:00

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As he explained it, he was playing with a toy, didn't realize there was a boy standing next to him, and, when Eli turned, he accidentally smacked his classmate with the toy. He was very insistent that his teachers "didn't put me in time-out."

He's also really good at evil laughs.

The Meter Reader (1.11.12)

2012-01-12T06:54:00.000-05:00

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I was flabbergasted (and - rightfully - pretty pissed). Apparently, Eli was watching his PBS cartoons after lunch and, while I was folding laundry in the other room, saw the meter reader come walking up the driveway, Without ringing the doorbell or anything (I didn't hear him knock, either; I was listening to No Fuego but not very loudly), he thought it was appropriate to walk inside my house?! I let him read the basement meter, escorted him out, locked the door (which will have to stay dead bolted for a while now), and had a serious talk with Eli about not opening the door to strangers. Then, I called the power company and filed a complaint with their field supervisor regarding the professionalism of their meter reader. Asshole.

Night Day (1.10.12)

2012-01-11T06:54:00.002-05:00

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I have no idea why a team of U.S. Marshals were there and I never saw anything about it on the news. All I know is that I saw a bunch of unmarked cars, they were peering into windows on the first floor, and I think a few of them were wearing bulletproof vests. I assume some sort of violent Breaking Bad-style drug bust was about to go down. I thought it best to just keep running.

My Body Is Weird (1.9.12)

2012-01-10T06:08:00.000-05:00

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Alternate title: "My Body Is Gross."

Out Of Proportion (1.8.12)

2012-01-09T06:45:00.000-05:00

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Did everyone have a good weekend? Did you watch some football games? Did you eat some good food? Did you rock out to some tunes (more on that after the break)? I hope so because that's what I did this weekend... and, of course, I drew comics.

So, did you want some free music?

TV Girl, a.k.a. Trung Ngo and Brad Petering, are an awesome indie-pop duo that I discovered on a great compilation of new artists featured on NPR's "World Cafe." I've been listening to their EP, "Benny And The Jetts," pretty much incessantly for the past couple of days.

Sanctuary (1.7.12)

2012-01-08T07:35:00.000-05:00

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If you don't have kids then you just don't know. Don't believe me? Louis C.K. does a hilarious bit about this very same thing... and he's famous! US Weekly is right: celebrities are just like us.

Who Doesn't?! (1.6.12)

2012-01-07T07:46:00.000-05:00

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Man, that kid is funny. You can't make this stuff up.

So, yeah, I won a whole bunch of cool Greenland Is Melting merch; if you don't know them, they're a rad punk/bluegrass band out of Florida (free music after the break). Thanks again to Rocket Fuel Podcast and Jeff who, besides being crazy generous, is also a doting father and an all-around helluva nice guy.

Our Hearts Are Gold, Our Grass Is Blue is Greenland Is Melting's debut full length album from 2009:

Conflicted (1.5.12)

2012-01-06T07:09:00.000-05:00

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I drew about half of this comic and then, feeling self-conscious, I tore it up. Later, however, feeling inspired by the vulnerability and raw honesty in Jason Bradshaw's Boredom Pays comics, I redrew it. It feels good to put yourself "out there" and trust that everything will be okay.

Everything will be okay.

But Only At Lunch (1.4.12)

2012-01-05T06:53:00.000-05:00

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My Favorite Stuff Of 2011 (1.3.12)

2012-01-04T07:09:00.000-05:00

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Before you start thinking I'm some weirdo (too late?), those were the six categories in the podcast. Speaking of which, if you're not listening to Mike Dawson' and Alex Robinson's The Ink Panthers podcast, you're missing out; it's very funny and informative. So, what were your favorite things from the past year?

Oh, and if you're interested, my full(ish) lists are after the break.

Albums

1. Mansions Dig Up The Dead ("Seven Years")

2. Frank Turner England Keep My Bones ("If Ever I Stray")
3. Yellow Ostrich The Mistress ("WHALE")
4. Scorpios Scorpios ("Moonshiner")
5. Tom Waits Bad As Me ("Satisfied")
6. Bon Iver Bon Iver, Bon Iver ("Holocene")
7. The Decemberists The King Is Dead ("This Is Why We Fight")
8. Wilco The Whole Love ("Art Of Almost")
9. I Am The Avalanche Avalanche United ("Brooklyn Dodgers")
10. The Horrible Crowes Elsie ("Behold The Hurricane")

TV Shows
1. Breaking Bad
2. How I Met Your Mother (reruns)
3. Portlandia ("Put A Bird On It")

NOTE: I also really like The Walking Dead, Dexter, and Sons Of Anarchy but I haven't watched the new seasons since we got rid of cable. Oh, I really like White Collar lately, too.

Movies
1. Drive (TRAILER)
2. The Muppets (TRAILER)
3. Captain America: The First Avenger (TRAILER)
4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (TRAILER)
5. Bridesmaids (TRAILER)

Books
1. Unbroken: A World War II Story Of Survival, Resilience, And Redemption Laura Hillenbrand
2. In The Long Run: A Father, A Son, And Unintentional Lessons In Happiness Jim Axelrod
3. Wildwood Colin Meloy (TRAILER)
4. Bright's Passage Josh Ritter
5. Bossypants Tina Fey

Comics
1. Anya's Ghost Vera Brosgol
2. Scenes From An Impending Marriage Adrian Tomine
3. Daybreak Brian Ralph

NOTE: I didn't read many new comics this year but I really want to check out Craig Thompson's Habibi, Chester Brown's Paying For It, Mike Dawson's Troop 142, and Anders Nilsen's Big Questions.

Dead Bad Guys
1. Osama Bin Laden
2. Kim Jong-il
3. Muammar Gaddafi

Choices (1.2.12)

2012-01-03T06:35:00.000-05:00

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Is it just me or is Toys 'R' Us, like, waaaay more depressing than I remembering it being when I was a kid?

Put A Bird On It (1.1.12)

2012-01-02T16:04:00.000-05:00

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I don't have cable so I missed out on Portlandia when it originally aired on IFC but it's really funny and I like it. If you have Netflix you can stream all six episodes of the first and only season (so far). Happy New Year!!