(Unrelated to comics or illustration – I’m just a big Terry Gross fan)

It looks like NPR is rebroadcasting Terry Gross’ legendary 2002 interview with KISS, band-leader, Gene Simmons. Simmons’ insecure antics in the interview became stuff of public radio legend and it’s only been available as a transcript until now.

From Wikipedia:

A February 4, 2002, interview with rock star Gene Simmons, who at one point said, “If you want to welcome me with open arms, I’m afraid you’re also going to have to welcome me with open legs,” to which Gross replied, “That’s a really obnoxious thing to say.” This occurred after Gross made two factual mistakes (involving his given last name & the use of fishnet stockings) which Simmons commented on by saying “Better research needed. Fire your research person.” Unlike most Fresh Air guests, Simmons refused to grant permission for the interview to be made available online.

Bigger sizes on Flickr.

A line drawing of some buildings down the street. Inspired by Stephane Kardos’ stuff. Shaded in PS.

Click here for the full size.

I did this really late last night. I’ve been reading some of Lewis Trondheim’s journal comics and they’re filled with all the fun detritus of his life.

The CBC has listed Drawn! as one of the best Canadian art blogs.

Writer, Matthew McKinnon, calls Drawn!, “a public service in the name of beauty.”

I must have stared at the article for a good ten minutes – not so much gawking at the text as the attached Jillian Tamaki illustration.

Drawn! has been nominated for a Bloggie!

We’re nominated in the Best New Weblog category which – considering the number of new weblogs last year – is a pretty astounding feat.

Please take a minute and cast your radio-button vote where it counts.

(Oh yeah, and don’t forget to vote in the Canadian federal elections today, also).

I just noticed this site has turned two!

It seems like yesterday I was posting photos of my foot and making fun of bloggers. I remember reading and loving Kevin‘s blog and thinking it might be worth having a stab at doing my own.

Excuse a bit of self-indulgence. I’ve scanned the archives and quickly come up with my 15 favourite posts. Enjoy.

1. Ojingogo

2. Teachers’ Day – My Korean kindergarten class describes me and doesn’t hold any punches.

3. Boswell on Blogging – Relevant thoughts from the Scottish biographer of Samuel Johnson

4. The CUFA iPod Dock – I often had a lot of time on my hands in Korea.

5. Bomb & Cradle: Christmas in Vietnam – Photos from my week in Saigon.

6. Sammy Harkham’s Black Death – This comic was a direct influence on Ojingogo.

7. Rethinking Vegetarianism – I was a vegetarian for three years. Here’s why I stopped.

8. Sinusitis=Hell

9. Benjamin Franklin on Open Source – I actually sent this to Lawrence Lessig – and he replied to thank me!

10. Purikura Fun! – Photos of your comingupforair.net hosts in a purikura booth in suburban Osaka.

11. Back – A painting done in Open Canvas.

12. Earthquakes in Japan – Awesome photos from Van.

13. First Year Anniversary Post – All the header images from the first year.

14. Trans-Siberian Journals: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 – Solitary ramblings from the longest train journey on earth.
15. Rop Top! Take No Gop! – A sketch-duel between Karl and I… to the death!

Some exciting stuff coming up over the next year. I hope to have Ojingogo published as a trade paperback. And I’ll have my comics published on real-live paper (not just internet screens) in several up-coming anthologies.

Thanks for reading…

Pakistan is celebrating the 59th anniversary of its independence.

I attended the celebrations in the Park Ex area of Montreal this past Sunday.

Rain puts a halt to the Roger’s Cup quarter finals in Montreal Friday night.

Agassi was leading the set 6-3 over Gaudio. I could have wept.