How Lance Armstrong Evaded Drug Tests

How Lance Armstrong Avoided Drug Tests

In the fall of 2012 when the story broke about how Lance Armstrong’s teammate admitted to doping, I was dumbstruck. I thought, “Wow, those cyclists tricked us for years.” Then wondering how they did this, my thoughts turned comical and quickly absurd.

Scary Stories for Monsters

Scary Stories for Monsters

This was an assignment I did in a Cartooning for Fun and Profit class with Neal Yamamoto (SMC Continuing Education). I’ve learned the difficult way that you need to sometimes have reserve cartoons to publish. But it is better to do new ones.

Favorite Avatar: The Last Airbender Episodes

Team Avatar Sketches

Around October 2012 I discovered the Avatar: The Last Airbender dvd’s at the library. I was quickly hooked and since I finished watching seasons 1-3 (and am even rewatching them), I am ranking my favorite episodes. The criteria include character development, plot, artwork, action, music, acting (not in that order and some of those aspects are better in certain episodes than others).

10 Lake Laogai (Season 2, Episode 17)

9  The Storm (Season 1, Episode 12)

8 Zuko Alone (Season 2, Episode 7)

7 Bitter Work (Season 2, Episode 9)

6 The King of Omashu (Season 1, Episode 5)

5 The Blind Bandit (action and humor; Season 2, Episode 6)

4 The Cave of Two Lovers (music, humor, and beginning of romance; Season 2, Episode 2)

3 The Blue Spirit (Zuko’s story; Season 1, Episode 13)

2 The Firebending Masters (action and art; Season 3, Episode 13)

1 Tales of Ba Sing Se (Tale of Iroh – special mention for Soldier Boy song; Tale of Momo – special mention for street performance music; Season 2, Episode 15)

Best Acting: Mako as Uncle Iroh (seasons 1 & 2)

Honorable Mention: Music for Momo (throughout) and music played in The Swamp (Season 2, Episode 4) for the swamp water benders when they are chasing Appa and Momo  (composed by Jeremy Zuckerman & Benjamin Wynn).

Best Non-speaking Sidekick: Appa (played by Dee Bradley Baker)

Honorable Mention: Choreography for The Headband (dance choreography between Aang and Katara; Season 3, Episode 2)

It is somewhat evident that I feel the writing was best in season 2. The story was still compelling in season 3 but the characters felt full-bodied in season 2.

Mayan Apocalypse 2

Mayan Apocalypse and Tulips

California Condor Man

California Condor Man (endangered super hero)

Elephant Art History Cartoon

The big tuskers liked to rest their trunks on their tusks.

Pablo preferred to make funny faces with his tusks.

Panda Toddler Photos

Little Yellow Back (top) likes to hug and sleep

Little Yellow Back (top) is not aggressive about eating bamboo. But she will take a bite if it is waved around her nose.

Giant pandas at Bifengxia Research Center (China)