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BIG RED A PRESS NEWS

The latest breaking news from the BRAP bullpen since June 2009.
(Or the closest thing you'll see to a blog coming out of our ranks.)

MAY 21, 2013

       MR. J. HAS MORE WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED FOR THE SUMMER THAN YOU CAN SHAKE A STICK (OR ANY INANIMATE OBJECT YOU CHOOSE) AT.  THE FIRST TWO ARE AT AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WILL INVOLVE TWO LECTURES ABOUT THE BASIC USES OF ADOBE PHOTOSHOP AND WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY JUNE 26th AND WEDNESDAY JULY 10th BOTH FROM 3:00 TO 4:30 DOWN IN THE ANDROSCOGGIN ROOM.  TO BE A PART OF ONE OF THOSE, CONTACT DONNA WALLACE (THE NEW TEEN LIBRARIAN THERE) AT 333-6640 X 4.  THE NEXT ONE WILL BE WITH HIS OLD PAL, SALLY HOLT AT THE RAYMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY AND WILL BE ON SUNDAY, JULY 28TH FROM 2:00-4:00 AND AN OVERVIEW OF HOW TO MAKE COMICS IS  ON THE MENU.  FOR MORE INFO ON HOW TO BE A PART OF THAT, CHECK BACK IN A FEW WEEKS, AND WE'LL POST A PHONE NUMBER (I DON'T HAVE IT YET).  OTHER THAN THAT, NOT MUCH IS GOING ON OVER THE SUMMER.
         ALTHOUGH I DON'T NORMALLY GET TOO PERSONAL WITH THESE MESSAGES, I FIND MYSELF IN THE POSITION THAT IT IS NECESSARY.  A FRIEND FROM MY HIGH SCHOOL DAYS CONTACTED ME RECENTLY, SOMEONE I HADN'T SEEN IN TWENTY-FIVE PLUS YEARS.  WELL, I MANAGED TO LOSE HIS E-MAIL ADDRESS.  MR. J IS STILL GETTING USED TO HIS NEW SERVER, AND SOMEWHERE IN THE WORKS IT GOT EATEN.  SO, JIM, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, PLEASE SEND ME ANOTHER E-MAIL OR A LETTER OR SOMETHING THAT CAN BEEN IDENTIFIED ALL THE WAY FROM FLORIDA.  I DIDN'T BRUSH YOU OFF, I'M JUST TECHNOLOGICALLY IMPAIR SOMETIMES.  BETTER, STILL, SEND ME AN ADDRESS AND I WILL SEND YOU A COPY OF MY FIRST TWO ISSUES, GRATIS.  SORRY ABOUT THIS.
          AND, AS LONG AS WE'RE PRYING INTO MR. J'S PERSONAL STUFF, THIS IS AS GOOD A PLACE AS ANY TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON HIS SHOULDER ISSUE.  IT HAS BEEN A BIT ROCKY AT TIMES, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE SHOULDER IS FINALLY ON THE MEND.  THE PHYSICAL THERAPY IS COMING ALONG, BICYCLING OUTSIDE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERING IT ANYMORE, AND HE BUILT HIS FIRST SEMI-LARGE PROJECT (A BOOK SHELF) SINCE THE INJURY.  WHO KNOWS, BY THE NEXT UPDATE, HE MAY ACTUALLY BE DOING REAL PUSH-UPS AGAIN.  USING THESE LITTLE WEENIE WEIGHTS IS GETTING REALLY OLD.

APRIL 25, 2013

        THERE WAS A MINOR SNAFU THE DAY OF THE PREMIERE, AND IT WAS ALL MR. JORDAN'S FAULT.  PICTURES WERE TAKEN WITH TWO DIFFERENT CAMERAS ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT, ONE WIELDED BY JENNIFER BABINEAU BELONGING TO THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THE OTHER BY KAREN HENDERSON BELONGING TO THE AUBURN CLC.  AND, EVEN THOUGH HE HAD TWO THUMB DRIVES WHICH COULD HAVE GONE WITH BOTH CAMERAS TO HOLD THE IMAGES FOR QUICK RETRIEVAL, MR. J., WRAPPED UP IN THE HEADINESS OF THE MOMENT, FORGOT ENTIRELY.  HE TRIED TO RECOVER THE FUMBLE THE NEXT DAY, ONLY TO LEARN THAT MS. MERIN WAS GONE FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK.  CONSEQUENTLY, UNTIL THE PICTURES ARE SECURED, THE IMAGES UP ON HIS WEBSITE WILL HAVE TO WAIT.  EVERYONE SAY THANK YOU TO MR. J.  THANK YOU, MR. J.
          TO REDEEM HIMSELF A LITTLE, MR. J. WASN'T LAX DURING THE DOWN TIME WITH THE PICTURES.  HE SPENT THE SEVERAL DAYS WORKING ON THE MARVEL GRAPHIC NOVEL SECTION OF THE MMMO.  THE COVERS FOR ALL SEVENTY-SEVEN BOOKS ARE THERE, AND THE LISTING FOR THE HANDFUL OF THE BOOKS THAT HE HAS IN HIS COLLECTION.  SO, WHILE YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE PICTURES WHY NOT SASHAY OVER TO THE MERRY MARVEL MARCHING ORDER AND CHECK IT OUT.

APRIL 22, 2013

          AFTER NEARLY FOUR MONTHS OF GRUELING POST-PRODUCTION WORK, MR. J HAS FINALLY ALMOST PUT THE APL PRESENTS #5 PROJECT TO BED.  THE CLEAN-UP AND TONE AND PATTERN ADDING FOR THE PRINCIPAL ARTWORK IS DONE; THE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-ODD PICTURES TAKEN BY JENNIFER AND KAREN HAVE BEEN SORTED; AND THE WHOLE CONFUSING MESS COLATED AND LAID OUT IN A REASONABLE FASHION.  NOW, AFTER SOME UNFORESEEN TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES (NAMELY A COLOR PRINTER GOING SNAP AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME), THE BOOK HAS BEEN PRINTED BY HIS FRIENDS AT OFFICEMAX IN AUBURN AND THE PREMIERE SET FOR WEDNESDAY THE 23rd AT THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY.  THERE WILL BE PIZZA AND SOME PRETTY AMAZING PRIZES, AND HOPEFULLY A PRESENCE BY THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS THIS TIME.  TO READ MORE ABOUT THE EVENT, THE WORKSHOP THAT PRODUCED THE BOOK, OR TO SIMPLY READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE MAG BY TEENS FOR TEENS WHICH IS IN ITS SIXTH YEAR, CLICK THE APPROPRIATE LINK BELOW:

READ ABOUT THE PREMIERE     READ ABOUT THE WORKSHOP     READ THE BOOK

          ON A SLIGHTLY MORE PERSONAL NOTE, MR. J., DURING THE COURSE OF THE WORKSHOP, CONTINUED HIS QUEST FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HIS STILL AILING SHOULDER.  GOING TO HIS SIXTH DOCTOR FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THIS TIME DR. LISA KHOURY, AN ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR WHO SPECIALIZES IN SPORTS MEDICINE (STILL NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THAT MEANS)  HE RECEIVED THE DIAGNOSIS OF TENDONITIS IN ONE OF THE BICEP  TENDONS (THERE ARE TWO, THUS THE NAME).  SHE GAVE HIM A CORTISONE SHOT IN THE OUCHY SPOT, GAVE HIM A WIDDOW BAND-AID, AND SENT HIM ON HIS WAY.  OTHER THAN THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF THE CORTISONE (REALLY BIZARRE ONES THIS TIME), BY THAT EVENING, THE OUCHY PLACE HAD GONE AWAY.  AFTER FIVE OTHER DOCTORS, AN SEMI-SERIOUS OPERATION, AND RESTARTING PHYSICAL THERAPY UMPTEEN DOZEN TIMES, A SINGLE SHOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE DID THE TRICK.  THE ONLY DRAWBACK IS THAT THE SHOT MIGHT NOT LAST AND THE OUCHY PLACE MAY COME BACK.  THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO HAVE THAT TENDON CUT (OUCH IS RIGHT), SO LET'S HOPE, FOR MR. J'S SAKE THAT THE SHOT CONTINUES TO WORK.  TWO MORE VISITS LATER, AND IT'S STILL GOOD.  THANKS DR. K. FOR MAKING THE EFFORT TO GET THE DIAGNOSIS RIGHT.

JANUARY 3, 2013

      AFTER A YEAR'S HIATUS (THANKS TO MR. J'S SHOULDER OPERATION), WE'RE BACK ON LINE FOR ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF APL PRESENTS.  MR. J WAS CONTACTED BY LUCI MERIN, THE HEAD OF THE AUBURN CLC BEFORE THE HOLIDAY BREAK AND SESSION NUMBER FIVE WAS SET IN STONE.  THE REASON WE WAITED THE SEVERAL WEEKS TO REPORT IT WAS THAT WE WERE SLATED TO DO A PRELIMINARY MEETING AT AUBURN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE PROGRAM SIGN UP.  YOU CAN READ AND SEE THE RESULTS OF THAT CLAMBAKE OVER AT THE WORKSHOP SECTION.  MR. J GOT TO TALK TO THE PERSPECTIVE VICTIMS AND TO WARN THEM OF THE HORRORS THEY WOULD BE FACING IF THEY SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM, BUT THE ACTUAL WORKSHOP DOESN'T START UNTIL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY ON THE 8TH, AND IS SLATED TO GO TWICE A WEEK FOR THE NEXT SIX WEEKS.  THAT MEANS WE SHOULD HAVE THE PREMIER PARTY SOME TIME IN THE LATER SPRING.  WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.  
      IN OTHER BRAP NEWS, WE JUST POSTED THE "TOMB OF DRACULA" BOOKS UP ON THE MMMO SECTION OF THE WEBSITE.  IT'S THE FIRST STUFF WE'VE PUT UP SINCE LATE LAST SUMMER, AND WILL PROBABLY BE THE LAST UNTIL AFTER THE ABOVE MENTIONED WORKSHOP IS FINISHED.  LAST TIME AROUND, IT TOOK ABOUT 500 HOURS OF POST PRODUCTION WORK TO FINISH IT, AND MR.J DID IT IN ABOUT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.  WITH 50 HOUR WEEKS, HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPARE TIME TO SWEAT, MUCH LESS COLLATE STUFF ABOUT TORGO, RACHEL VAN HELSING OR HAROLD H. HAROLD.  WE'LL SEE, LATER THIS SPRING OR EARLY SUMMER IF WE CAN'T GET INTO ONE OF THE BIGGIE TITLES, LIKE THE INCREDIBLE HULK OR CAPTAIN AMERICA OR AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.  

AUGUST 22, 2012

     AFTER MUCH RUNNINGS AND JUMPINGS, THE OFFICIAL LISTING FOR THE LATEST INSTALLMENT IN THE APL PRESENTS FAMILY HAS NOW BEEN POSTED.  THE WORKSHOP ITSELF WAS ON THE FIRST OF AUGUST AT AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND WE DID THE WHOLE THING IN ONE SHOT.  FROM THE STUDENTS WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR TO THEM HAVING A FINISHED, BOUND, CUT COPY OF THE BOOK THEY HELPED CREATE SIX HOURS LATER.  TO BE QUITE FRANK, I WASN'T SURE WE COULD PULL IT OFF.  ON TOP OF THE OBVIOUS PITFALLS AND POTENTIAL BLUNDERS FROM ATTEMPTING A WORKSHOP LIKE THAT WITH UNTRAINED ATTENDEES (ALTHOUGH TWO WERE THANKFULLY REPEAT OFFENDERS FROM OTHER SHOWS), WE HAD THE ADDED BONUS OF PERFORMING A DIFFICULT PROGRAM AT BEST WITH AN UNTRIED SUPPORT STAFF.  AS I SAID IN AN EARLIER LISTING, OUR GOOD FRIEND SALLY HOLT, THE LADY WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH SO MANY OF OUR WORKSHOPS IN THE PAST, WAS NO LONGER WITH APL, SO WE HAD MARTY GAGNON AND SHAWN LEVESQUE, WHO WERE NEW TO THE SANDBOX, BACKING US UP.  THE EVENT WENT AS WELL AS COULD BE EXPECTED; WE DID GET THE BOOKS DONE BEFORE THE PARENTS BEGAN TO SHOW, BUT WE RAN INTO A FEW WRINKLES DURING THE POST PRODUCTION, MAINLY WITH THE TRANSFER OF THE PHOTOS TAKEN AT THE EVENT.  AFTER SOME MINOR LOSS OF HAIR ON MR. J'S PART, THEY ALL EVENTUALLY GOT IRONED OUT.  TO SEE THE RESULTS, SOMETIMES KNOWN AS APL PRESENTS SUPER SPECIAL #1, OF THE WORKSHOP, CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE EVENT, READ THE COMIC, AND SEE THE ELUSIVE PICTURES.

     A NOTE ON THE BOOK.  WE HAVE BEEN ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF WE CREATED THE BOOK IN BLACK AND WHITE FOR ANY PARTICULAR ARTISTIC REASON.  WE WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER THAT WE USED IT TO UNDERSCORE THE THEME OF THE STORY, TO EMPHASIZE THE OPPOSITES EVENTUALLY WORKING TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE, BUT THE REAL DECIDING FACTOR IN THE MATTER WAS THE FACT THAT THE PHOTOCOPIER AT APL WOULDN'T HANDLE THE 11 x 17 SIZE PAPER IN COLOR.  NOT BEING IN A POSITION TO RUN A COUPLE OF DOORS DOWN AND HAVE THE COVERS PRINTED UP AT OFFICE MAX AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST, WE HAD TO MAKE DO WITH BLACK AND WHITE.  LET THE CRITICS STEW OVER THAT A FEW YEARS FROM NOW.

     A SIDE NOTE.  STILL WAITING ON THE SHOULDER TO HEAL FULLY.  WE'RE APPROACHING THE SEVEN MONTH MARK SINCE THE SURGERY, AND CRANKY ISN'T THE WORD FOR MR. J'S DISPOSITION OVER IT.  HIS MOOD HAS LEAPED OVER THE FENCE INTO A FULL BLOWN SNIT.

JUNE 30, 2012

     FINALLY, FOLLOWING OUR GALA 8TH ANNIVERSARY, AFTER MONTHS OF LABORIOUS PREPARATION, WE CAN ANNOUNCE THE REVAMP OF THE WEBSITE, ALTHOUGH, HAVING LOGGED ON, YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.  ALTHOUGH IT HAS AN ALL NEW AND EXCITING LOOK, ALL YOUR FAVORITES ARE STILL AVAILABLE PLUS A LOAD OF NEW FEATURES, MOST NOTABLY THE MMMO, THE COMPLETE CHRONOLOGY OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE (IN PROGRESS) AND THE REPOSTING OF THE BACK ISSUES OF THE PARVERIAN TALES (SEE LINKS OT THE LEFT).  ON TOP OF THIS WE'VE SCATTERED EASTER EGGS ALL OVER THE SITE FOR ADDED ENJOYMENT AND INSIGHT.  AND DON'T BE LULLED INTO AVOIDING THE OLD SECTIONS JUST 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE.  THERE ARE LOTS OF NEW THINGS TO SEE AND A LOT OF NEW ART EVEN IN THE OLD PARTS OF TOWN.  IT'S TAKEN A VERY LONG TIME AND A BOAT LOAD OF WORK TO GET IT TO THE PRESENT STATE, AND WE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.  OTHERWISE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RESERVE A SUITE FOR MR. JORDAN AT THE LOCAL NUT HATCH.  JUST KIDDING.  HE'S HAD A STANDING RESERVATION THERE FOR YEARS.  :)

JUNE 1, 2012

     SAD NEWS FOR THE TEENS IN AUBURN WHEN NEWS CAME TO US THAT SALLY HOLT, THE TEEN LIBRARIAN THERE, WAS CASHING IN HER CHIPS ON THE 9TH OF THE MONTH.  WE'RE NOT SURE HOW THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE GOINGS ON FOR TEEN PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE (INCLUDING THE WORKSHOP SCHEDULED FOR THE FIRST OF AUGUST BY MR. JORDAN), BUT WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AS INFO COMES ALONG.  IN ANY CASE, GOOD LUCK SALLY IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE MORE ABOUT THAT TO PRINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.  WINK WINK, NUDGE NUDGE.

MAY 25, 2012

     MORE GOOD NEWS IN THE WORLD OF MR. JORDAN.  THE RECOVERY FROM THE SURGERY IS TAKING A GREAT DEAL LONGER THAN ANTICIPATED.  THE CAUSATION AND FINAL RESULTS OF WHICH ARE STILL UP IN THE AIR, BUT WE WILL KEEP YOU FILLED IN AS IT HAPPENS.  MR. JORDAN IS BEING A TROOPER, BUT IS GETTING MIGHTY CRANKY WITH ANOTHER SEASON OF HIS FAVORITE SPORT OF BICYCLING LOOKING LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE SCRUBBED.

     BETTER STILL, WORD HAS COME DOWN THAT THE COMIC SERIES WORKSHOPS MIGHT BE CANCELLED DUE TO BUDGET CONCERNS FROM AUBURN MIDDLE SCHOOL'S EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMMING.  IN SIMPLER TERMS, THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL HAVE THE MONEY IN THE BUDGET THANKS TO LETHAL CUTS FROM ON HIGH TO SPONSOR THE PROGRAM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.  THIS ISN'T A DEFINITE KILL, BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR ISSUE FIVE OF APL PRESENTS.

     ON THE UP SIDE, THE DOWN TIME WITH HIS SHOULDER HAS ALLOWED MR. JORDAN THE FREEDOM TO DO A LOT OF THE DRUDGERY FOR THE REVAMP OF THE WEBSITE (ALBEIT USING HIS LEFT HAND FOR THE MOUSE-OOG!).  HE HAS SCANNED IN AND PULLED OFF THE NET IMAGES FOR THE 1960'S PORTION OF A LITTLE THING WE LIKE TO CALL THE MMMO.  AFTER HE POLISHES THE IMAGES A BIT, WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE FINAL PRODUCT.  YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO PUT DROP CLOTHS ON THE CEILING 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA' BLOW YOUR MIND.    

JANUARY 10, 2012

     SORRY TO REPORT THAT THE APL WORKSHOP IS OFF FOR THIS YEAR.  THE SURGERY TO REPAIR THE DETACHED MUSCLE IN MY SHOULDER HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE END OF THE MONTH AND THE RECOUP TIME WILL CARRY ME INTO THE END OF APRIL, LEAVING VERY LITTLE TIME TO DO A SIX PLUS WEEK PROGRAM MUCH LESS ALL THE POST-PRODUCTION WORK.  BUT DON'T FRET, TALKS ARE UNDER WAY TO POSSIBLY DO A DOUBLE SHOT (THE FALL AND SPRING) OF THIS COMING SCHOOL YEAR.  ALSO, SALLY AT APL DEFINITELY WANTS ME TO BE DOING A WORKSHOP THERE OVER THE SUMMER.  WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AS TO HOW ALL THAT WORKS OUT IN FUTURE INSTALLMENTS.

OCTOBER 12, 2011

     TALKS HAVE STARTED AGAIN FOR THIS THIS YEAR'S INSTALLMENT (OR RATHER THE COMING YEAR'S) OF APL PRESENTS AND BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUING AND WORSENING ISSUE WITH MY SHOULDER, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WILL BE AN ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR.  IT'S BAD ENOUGH NOW THAT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE ARM ABOVE THE SHOULDER, AND THAT WOULD MAKE WORKING AT THE BOARD MURDER.  WORSE YET, AS ITS USE DECAYS, I'M NOT CERTAIN WHETHER I'D BE ABLE TO DO EVEN THE REDUCED POST PRODUCTION WORK PROPOSED.  I'VE SWITCHED DOCTORS (DON'T ASK), AND HOPEFULLY, THIS TIME AROUND SOMEONE WILL KNOW WHAT'S WRONG AND CAN FIX IT.  BEING WITHOUT THE USE OF MY DOMINANT ARM IS GETTING REALLY OLD.
     NOT MUCH ELSE GOING ON IN THE REALM OF BRAP OTHER THAN THE SLOW PROGRESSION OF MMMO.  BECAUSE OF THE ARM, I HAVE TO TAKE A LOT OF BREAKS FROM THE COMPUTER, BUT IT IS PROGRESSING.  I'VE GOT THE FANTASTIC FOUR AND X-MEN DONE FOR THE 70'S AND I'M GOING TO BE STARTING ON MARVEL TEAM-UP AS SOON AS I'M DONE WITH THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN.  WHILE SCANNING IN THE COVERS, I'M FINDING OUT  THAT SOME OF MY BOOKS AREN'T AS CRISP AS I THOUGHT THEY WERE, AND THAT HURTS.

AUGUST 30, 2011

     BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY IN RESPONSE TO THE LETTER SENT FROM THE APL PRESENTS #4 STAFF LAST SPRING.  IT WASN'T FROM THE FIRST LADY HERSELF, BUT IT CAME FROM HER STAFF AT THE WHITE HOUSE!!!  HOW COOL IS THAT???  IT'S NOT EXACTLY A PHOTO OF ME SHAKING HANDS WITH THE PRESIDENT OR ANYTHING, BUT IT STILL MAKES ME SMILE.  I'LL POST IT WHEN I GET THE CHANCE, PROBABLY ON THE HOME PAGE.
     I'VE STARTED WORK ON THE 70'S FOR MMMO, AND I'LL SOON START SCANNING IN IMAGES OF THE COVERS.  I'M ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF REBUILDING THE ENTIRE WEBSITE (TO INCLUDE THE CHRONOLOGY WHEN IT'S DONE) ON THE NEW COMPUTER WITH THE EAGERLY ANTICIPATED HIGH SPEED CONNECTION IN MIND.  I DON'T KNOW IF SOCKS WILL BE BLOWN OFF, BUT IT SHOULD BE A LOT MORE STREAMLINED THAN THE CURRENT VERSION.  KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR IT, HOPEFULLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR (WHEN MY CONTRACT WITH THE OLD SERVICE EXPIRES).  

JUNE 2, 2011

     THE PREMIERE CAME OFF ON SCHEDULE, BUT NOT WITHOUT A HITCH.  A WATER LEAK OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND PUT US IN THE MAGGIE TRAFTON ROOM INSTEAD OF THE SLATED LARGER ANDROSCOGGIN ROOM, WHICH WASN'T TOO MUCH OF A PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT WE WERE EXPECTING A LOT MORE PEOPLE THIS YEAR AND THE DO-DAD FOR THE SLIDE SHOW WAS DOWN THERE.  SOME DYNAMIC EFFORTS HOWEVER, AND WE MUDDLED THROUGH AND KEPT MURPHY FROM WRECKING THE AFFAIR.  GLAD TO SEE NOT ONLY THE CURRENT STAFF BUT A LOT OF THE PAST ALUMNI FROM ALL THREE PAST ISSUES, INCLUDING JAKE AND JASMINE FROM #1.  I WILL BE POSTING PHOTOS AS SOON AS WE GET THEM WHICH SHOULD BE PRETTY LICKETY- SPLIT, SO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEM ON THE WORKSHOP PAGE.
     ON A LOW NOTE, NO ONE FROM THE PRESS SHOWED UP.  NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THE KIDS WERE DISAPPOINTED THAT THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENT WASN'T NEWS WORTHY ENOUGH TO PRINT.  SWELL.

MAY 28, 2011

     THE NEW INSTALLMENT OF APL PRESENTS IS DONE FINALLY.  AFTER ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED HOURS (THAT'S RIGHT, IN JUST OVER TWO AND A HALF WEEKS) ITS FINALLY DONE AND PRINTED (THANKS NIK AND SHAYNA AT THE AUBURN OFFICE MAX!!!) AND IS PRESSING TO SET THE CREASE.  THE PREMIERE IS ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR THE 31ST IN THE ANDROSCOGGIN ROOM AND WE'VE INVITED THE ALUMNI IN FOR THE EVENT, KIND OF A REUNION OF THE PAST STAFF MEMBERS.  WE'VE ALSO INVITED THE PRESS (THE LOCAL PAPERS) BUT WE DIDN'T GET A VERY POSITIVE OR PROMISING RESPONSE FROM EITHER PERSON CONTACTED.  BESIDES THE PIZZA AND PRIZES AND GUESTS AS PER NORMAL, WE'RE GOING TO DO A SLIDE SHOW THIS YEAR SO EVERYONE CAN SEE THE PAGES UP ON THE BIG SCREEN.  THE BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THIS WEBSITE, AND WILL BE POSTED THE DAY OF THE PREMIERE.  NO WORD BACK FROM MRS. OBAMA OR HER STAFF.

MARCH 17, 2011

     WE'VE HAD THE DEADLINE MEETING A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AT THE AUBURN MIDDLE SCHOOL LIBRARY AND EVERYONE TURNED SOMETHING IN.  ONLY MIGUEL DIDN'T TURN IN HIS PAGES (NOT WORRIES, IT HAPPENS) BUT HE DID TURN IN HIS CHARACTER SHEET AND A CARICATURE OF THE PRESIDENT DESTINED FOR THE SPLASH PAGE.  NOW BEGINS THE LONG HAUL TO GET THE BOOK DONE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.  IT SHOULDN'T BE TOO BAD THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE SHOOTING FOR THE END OF MAY RATHER THAN THE FIRST OF JUNE FOR THE PREMIERE.
     THE NEW COMPUTER IS UP AND ROLLING AND READY FOR THE WORKLOAD.  ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE INITIAL CONFRONTATION WITH THE NEW SYSTEM WAS A BIT DICEY, I THINK I WILL LEARN TO LOVE WINDOWS 7.  PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF LITTLE THINGS LIKE, WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT I COULDN'T FIND THE INSTALLATION DISC FOR MY SCANNER/PRINTER, I FOUND OUT THAT I DIDN'T NEED IT WITH THIS OPERATING SYSTEM.  JUST PLUG IT IN AND ZOOM.  HAPPY DAYS.  IT MEANS THAT I WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO START ADDING IMAGES TO THE MMMO WEBSITE AND THAT I WILL EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO GET THE HIGH SPEED HOOK UP THAT I'VE BEEN LACKING ALL THESE YEARS.  IT'S NICE WHEN CHANGES ARE IMPROVEMENTS.
     ON A PERSONAL NOTE, THE SHOULDER ISN'T BETTER AND I'M BEING SENT TO AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON TO DEAL WITH THE INJURY.  LUCKILY, IT ONLY REALLY HURTS WHEN I PUT PRESSURE OR WEIGHT ON THE ARM, SO USING A MOUSE AT THIS POINT ISN'T A PROBLEM.  HOPEFULLY, I WILL BE ON THE MEND SOON.

JANUARY 25, 2011

        MOTHER NATURE HASN'T BEEN TOO BAD, BUT HAS MURPHY BEEN WORKING OVER TIME.  WE'VE ALREADY MISSED A COUPLE OF SESSIONS FOR THE NEW WORKSHOP SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO CARRY INTO OVER TIME.  I KIND OF EXPECTED A SNOW DAY OR TWO, BUT NOT FIRE TRUCKS.  OOG.  ANYWAY, THIS BATCH OF STUDENTS (WITH ONLY DAMIAN RETURNING AS THIS INSTALLMENT'S REPEAT OFFENDER) GOT RIGHT TO WORK AND WE ALREADY HAVE THE MAIN PLOT DOWN AND MOST EVERYONE'S GOT A CHARACTER IN THE WORKS.  AGAIN THIS YEAR (LIKE IN #2) THE KIDS HAVE INCLUDED THE PRESIDENT IN THE STORY TO AWARD KUDOS TO THEIR CHARACTERS AT THE END. I'M PREPARING ANOTHER LETTER TO THE WHITE HOUSE INFORMING THEM OF THE UPCOMING PUBLICATION (WITH A SIGNED PICTURE FROM THE KIDS), BUT, ON ADVISEMENT, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS IT TO THE FIRST LADY RATHER THAN MR. OBAMA THIS TIME AROUND, WHERE WE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING BACK BEFORE.  HOPEFULLY WE GET SOME RESPONSE, IF ONLY A FORM LETTER OR SOMETHING.  FINGERS CROSSED.
     ON A SIDE NOTE, MISS BONNIE RETURNED FOR THIS YEAR'S INSTALLMENT, AND HAVING THE VETERAN ON BOARD MADE UP FOR THE FACT THAT WE LOST THE ANDROSCOGGIN ROOM FROM LAST YEAR AND ENDED UP IN THE DUNGEON AS WE HAD IN ISSUE ONE.  LUCKILY THERE WERE ONLY EIGHT STUDENTS THIS TIME AROUND.
     ON A HIGH NOTE, I PURCHASED MY NEW COMPUTER.  AN HP PAVILION TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE (IT HAS A PRE-PENTIUM PROCESSOR!!!) AND IT IS ABOUT A ZILLION TIMES FASTER WITH AN EMBARRASSINGLY LARGER AMOUNT OF MEMORY.  ONCE I GET PHOTOSHOP INSTALLED, I PLAN TO DO THE NEW BOOK COMPLETELY ON THE NEW SYSTEM.  HOPEFULLY, WITH THE ADDED SPEED AND CAPABILITIES, IT SHOULD SPEED UP THE PROCESS.
     ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE, BECAUSE OF THE GOD-AWFUL AMOUNTS OF SNOW WE'VE BEEN GETTING IN EACH SNOW FALL, I'VE HURT MY RIGHT SHOULDER AGAIN, AND THIS TIME AROUND IT ISN'T HEALING ON ITS OWN.  I'VE SEEN MY DOCTOR ABOUT IT, AND SHE THINKS IT MIGHT BE TORN, BUT I'M RESTING IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO SEE IF IT WILL HEAL ON ITS OWN.  SHOULD PROVE REALLY INTERESTING USING THE MOUSE FOR THE UPCOMING POST PRODUCTION WORK.  OW.  

DECEMBER 20, 2010

    THE WORD HAS COME DOWN FROM THE CLC MOUNTAIN AND WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF APL PRESENTS!!!!  IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE AT APL AGAIN AND TO START THE SECOND WEEK IN JANUARY.  WE STARTED EARLIER THIS YEAR TO GIVE ME A LITTLE MORE TIME TO COMPLETE THE POST PRODUCTION WORK BEFORE THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.  LETS HOPE THAT MOTHER NATURE COOPERATES.

OCTOBER 17, 2010

     NOT MUCH GOING ON FOR THE FALL, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TALKS BETWEEN MYSELF, SALLY AT APL, AND THE NEW HEAD OF AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR THE CLC AT AUBURN MIDDLE, ROB SCHULZ, CONCERNING ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF APL PRESENTS THIS SPRING.  NOTHING HAS BEEN SET IN STONE YET, BUT IT DOES LOOK PROMISING.
     AS TO THE MARVEL CHRONOLOGY, (NOW DUBBED THE MIGHTY MARVEL MARCHING ORDER-OR MMMO FOR SHORT) IS PROCEEDING SLOWLY, AS WAS EXPECTED.  I'M NEARLY DONE WITH THE 1960'S, OR AT LEAST AS FAR AS I HAVE BOOKS TO COMPLETE IT, AND I SHOULD BE STARTING ON THE 70'S SOMETIME IN THE COMING YEAR.  ON A MORE SOMBER NOTE, I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT ABOUT MY REQUEST TO GET PERMISSION FOR USING IMAGES AND SUCH IN MMMO, SO, AS SOON AS I GET MY NEW COMPUTER SOME TIME THIS SPRING, I PLAN TO START SCANNING IN COVERS FOR WHAT I'VE ALREADY FINISHED.  I'LL JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE TO PROMINENTLY MENTION THAT ALL THE NAMES AND IMAGES AND SUCH ARE COPYRIGHTED AND TRADEMARKED BY MARVEL TO AVOID POTENTIAL PROSECUTION.  HOO-HA!

AUGUST 15, 2010

    SOME BIGGISH NEWS ON THE BRAP HOME FRONT.  OUR EVER ASSIDUOUS MR. JORDAN IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF REBOOTING THE PARVERIAN TALES.  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?  YOU MIGHT ASK.  IT MEANS THAT OUR POOR RESIDENT ARTIST IS GOING BACK AND COLORING THE ORIGINAL PT 8 PART STORY ARC, "THE CULMINATION".  THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH TO THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE ORIGINAL B/W FORMAT, BUT TO THOSE WHO ARE, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER ALL THE HIDEOUSLY DETAILED LINE WORK THAT WENT INTO THE ART.  WELL, EVERY BIT OF THAT HAS TO BE ERASED BEFORE HE CAN BEGIN ADDING COLOR, THUS THE "POOR" ADJECTIVE.  IN ANY CASE, WHEN HE HAS ENOUGH AHEAD, WE'RE GOING TO START RELEASING THE REVISED PAGES A WEEK AT A TIME, PROBABLY STARTING LATER THIS FALL.  SO KEEP A SHARP EYE OUT AT THE BOTTOM OF OUR INDEX PAGE, WHERE EVEN NOW YOU CAN SEE THE RETINTED COVER.
    WHY RECOLOR THE COVER?  YOU MIGHT ASK.  (INQUISITIVE LITTLE THING AREN'T YOU)  MR. JORDAN WAS NEVER HAPPY WITH THE WAY THE FIRST COVER WAS COLORED.  THIS WAS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF BIG RED A PRESS, AND OUR RESIDENT ARTIST WASN'T SO VERSED ON PHOTOSHOP AS HE IS TODAY, SO, WHEN THE FIRST BOOK WAS PRINTED, HE HAD HAND COLORED THE THING WITH FELT TIP MARKERS.  THE FINAL PRODUCT WASN'T BAD, BUT LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED.  SO, BEING THE PERFECTIONIST THAT HE IS, IN THE PROCESS OF RENOVATING THE FIRST ISSUE, HE WENT THE EXTRA YARDAGE, DUG OUT THE ORIGINAL B/W ART, CLEANED IT UP, AND LOVINGLY COLORED IT THE WAY IT DESERVED TO BE COLORED.  HOPEFULLY THE FINAL RESULT MERITS THE SEVERAL DAYS SPENT ON THE ENDEAVOR.
    ON A SLIGHTLY MORE PERSONAL NOTE, SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, HOPEFULLY IN TODAY'S EDITION, THE LEWISTON SUN JOURNAL IS SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING A STORY ABOUT OUR MR. JORDAN.  IT IS TO BE WRITTEN BY STAFFER DAN HARTILL, AND THE PHOTOS ARE BY STAFFER RUSS DILLINGHAM.  WE'LL TRY TO PUT A LINK UP TO THE ARTICLE SOME TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

JUNE 2, 2010

    ANOTHER THREE MONTHS HAVE PASSED, BUT WHAT A QUARTER IT HAS BEEN.  THE FINAL POLISHING OF APL PRESENTS #3 IS DONE AND A PREMIERE DATE HAS BEEN SET.  ACTUALLY, IT'S TODAY, BUT WE'LL WRITE MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT INSTALLMENT, WHICH WILL BE SOONER ON THE TAIL OF THIS ONE THAT THIS TO THE LAST.  BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT, CHECK OUT THE BOOK THAT THE AMAZING AND TALENTED STUDENTS FROM THE AUBURN MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODUCED (WITH SOME EDITORIAL HELP BY OUR MR. JORDAN).  CLICK HERE TO READ THE BOOK OR, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR VERY OWN COPY, EITHER CONTACT US THROUGH THIS WEBSITE OR CONTACT SALLY HOLT AT THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY AT (207) 333-6640 x4 WHILE LIMITED SUPPLIES LAST. 
    THE STORY TAKES PLACE IN AUSTRALIA AND FEATURES  VARIOUS LANDMARKS ALL ACROSS THE ISLAND AS THE HEROES CHASE DOWN THE VILLAIN WHO HAS ROBBED THE TOONWORLD NATIONAL BANK OF A SINGLE PENNY.  NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE STORY IS LESS THAN SERIOUS, AND THE JOKES AT THE END COME FAST AND FURIOUS.  IMAGINE WHAT THE CREATORS WILL BE DOING WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS.  WOW.
    ONE LAST POINT, KIND OF A TECHNICAL MATTER WHICH DOESN'T AFFECT READING THIS WEBSITE IN THE LEAST, BUT WE'RE GONNA MENTION IT ANYHOW.  RECENTLY, OUR WEB HOSTING SERVICE STOPPED SUPPORTING OUR ARCHAIC SOFTWARE AGAIN.  OY.  SO , AFTER A MAD SCRAMBLE AND SEVERAL CALLS TO THEIR SUPPORT LINE AND MY COMPUTER GURU, DENNIS GREEN, LATER, WE'RE NOW EMPLOYING COREFTP TO MANUALLY UPLOAD NEW INFO TO THIS SITE.  TOLD YOU IS WAS TECHNICAL.
    ps.  NO WORD FROM MARVEL YET.

MARCH 15, 2010

    WOW, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I'VE HAD ANY REAL NEWS TO REPORT AND BEEN EVEN LONGER SINCE I UPDATED THIS PAGE.  BUT LAZINESS AND A REALLY BORING LIFE ASIDE, WE GOT SOME BIG NEWS TO REPORT.  STARTING ON MARCH 1st, MR. JORDAN HAS STARTED THE SERIES OF WORKSHOPS, THROUGH AUBURN MIDDLE SCHOOL, AUBURN COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER, AND AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY, TO PRODUCE THE THIRD ISSUE OF APL PRESENTS!!!  THAT'S RIGHT, FOR THE THIRD YEAR RUNNING, THE YOUNG ARTISTS FROM AMS WILL COMBINE THEIR WRITING AND ARTISTIC TALENTS TO PRODUCE ISSUE THREE OF ONE OF THE MOST IMAGINATIVE COMICS EVER PRODUCED.  WE'VE GOT TWO ALUMNI FROM LAST YEARS OUTING (NICOLE AND REBECCA), AND THE COMPLETED PRODUCT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JUNE.  SO KEEP AN EYE OUT IN THE LOCAL PAPERS (LEWISTON SUN JOURNAL AND THE TWIN CITY TIMES) FOR ARTICLES PERTAINING TO THE PROJECT.  THE STORY IS ALREADY SHAPING UP TO BE AMAZING AND VERY FUNNY, BUT THE ONLY HINT I'LL GIVE IS THAT IT WILL TAKE PLACE IN AUSTRALIA.  ANYTHING MORE WOULD BE TELLIN'.

    AND WHERE IT'S BEEN SO LONG, ANOTHER PIECE OF NEWS SHOULD BE NOTED HERE.  ON A PROJECT ASIDE FROM BIG RED A PRESS, MR. JORDAN IS IN THE PROCESS OF COMPILING A CHRONOLOGY OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE FROM 1961-1996.  THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH ON THE SURFACE, BUT THAT IS A LISTING OF PRETTY MUCH EVERY BOOK MARVEL COMICS PRODUCED BETWEEN FANTASTIC FOUR #1 AND THE ONSLAUGHT, OR LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF ENTRIES, WITH AN ADDED BONUS OF A FULLY CROSS REFERENCED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF EVERY CHARACTER, PLACE, AND THING THAT HAS APPEARED IN THOSE BOOKS.   IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT COMICS, YOU'LL HAVE GUESSED JUST HOW HUGE THAT WOULD BE.  ANYWAY, IT'S NOT OPEN FOR GENERAL CONSUMPTION YET, BUT I'M IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO OBTAIN THE GLAD HAND FROM MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT, WHICH HAS BEEN MADE THAT MUCH MORE INTERESTING NOW THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED ACCEPTING OPEN SUBMISSIONS.  ANYWAY, HOPEFULLY SOON I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO REPORT IN THAT DIRECTION, EVEN IF IT'S JUST NOT BEING SUED FOR USING THEIR CHARACTER NAMES AND SUCH.  FINGERS CROSSED.

    ON A SLIGHTLY MORE PERSONAL NOTE, MR. JORDAN HAS STARTED WEARING EYE GLASSES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS LIFE.  OKAY, SO IT WASN'T EXACTLY EARTH SHATTERING, BUT IT WAS PRETTY IMPORTANT TO US.

AUGUST 27, 2009

    WE'VE GOT PICTURES!!!!!  THE FIRST OF THE PHOTOS FOR THE JULY 14th WORKSHOP IN KENNEBUNK HAVE BEEN POSTED.  MY CONNECTION THERE HAD GONE ON EXTENDED VACATION, BUT SHE'S BACK NOW AND ALREADY SENT ME THE FIRST OF THE PICTURES SHE TOOK.  THERE WAS A MINOR SNAG, HOWEVER.  THE CAMERA USED HAD EVIDENTLY BEEN SET UP FOR SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC BECAUSE THE ONLY COLORS THAT CAME THROUGH WERE THE YELLOWS AND GREENS AND IT SHOT LITTLE VIDEO CLIPS RATHER THAN SINGLE IMAGES.  THE CRAFTY TECH PEOPLE AT KENNEBUNK FREE LIBRARY MANAGED TO EXTRACT A FEW STILLS (THANK GOODNESS ONE WAS THE GROUP PHOTO) AND THEY HOPE TO PULL SOME MORE VIABLES AND SEND THEM TO ME.  SO CHECK BACK SOME TIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WE WILL, WITH SOME LUCK, HAVE SOME MORE PICS OF THE YOUNG ARTISTS.  THANKS FOR COMING THROUGH SUZANNE.

AUGUST 10, 2009

    THE PICTURES ARE NOW UP FOR THE WORKSHOP ON JULY 21st.  SALLY JUST GOT THE LAST OF THE PERMISSION SLIPS FROM THE PARENTS, AND WHAM ZOOM THE PICTURES SHE AND NIYATA TOOK ARE POSTED.  STILL NOTHING FROM SUZANNE FOR THE WORKSHOP IN KENNUBUNK A MONTH AGO.  NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT WE'LL TRY TO HAVE THEM UP SOON.
    AS TO THE REBOOT OF THE PARVERIAN TALES, WE NOW HAVE A WORKING SCRIPT FOR ISSUE ONE, AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE MAY HAVE A WAY AROUND MR. JORDAN'S INKING DILEMMA.  HIS FRIEND, AND COMPUTER GURU, DENNIS GREEN, RECENTLY SHOWED HIM A NEAT WAY OTHER ARTISTS HAVE USED ADOBE PHOTOSHOP TO GIVE A PENCILED DRAWING THE APPEARANCE OF AN INKED DRAWING USING ALL KINDS OF MULTIPLY TOOLS AND STUFF.  HAVEN'T TRIED IT YET, BUT IT MIGHT BE THE ANSWER WE'RE LOOKING FOR.  FINGERS CROSSED.

JULY 21, 2009

    YUP, JUST A WEEK LATER AND ALREADY ANOTHER WORKSHOP UNDER OUR BELT, THANKS TO SALLY HOLT AT THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY AND THEIR SUMMER TEEN PROGRAMS.  THIS WAS A NEW ONE, SUGGESTED BY GRANDMASTER SALLY, CALLED:  "IT'S JUST AN EXPRESSION" AND FEATURED A BUNCH OF FUN EXERCISES DESIGNED TO TEACH THE STUDENTS THE BASICS OF DRAWING FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.  AND STUDENTS, WE HAD A FULL HOUSE, SEVENTEEN VERY TALENTED YOUNG FOLKS.  TO GET MORE INFO OR TO SEE THE PICTURES THAT WAS TOOK, CLICK HERE.

JULY 14, 2009

    MIKE JORDAN (THAT'S ME) JUST FINISHED A "MASTERWORKS THEATER" WORKSHOP WAY DOWN IN KENNEBUNK (THAT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE TOWN WHERE PRESIDENT BUSH SR. HAS A HOUSE UP HERE) AT THE KENNEBUNK FREE LIBRARY AS ONE OF THEIR TEEN PROGRAMS.  SUZANNE O'HARA (THE TEEN SERVICES LIBRARIAN) WAS OUR HOST, AND WE HAD NINE VERY TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.  TO READ MORE ABOUT THE EVENT OR TO SEE THE PHOTOS MS. O'HARA TOOK AND THE CREATIONS THE STUDENTS PRODUCED, CLICK HERE.

JULY 10, 2009

    WELL, IT'S BEEN A VERY HAIRY COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT THE NEW WEBSITE IS REALLY STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.  THE PARVERIAN TALES PAGE IS UP,  INCLUDING THE SPIFFY REVAMP OF THE ENCYCLOPEDIA, BUT NO PAGES AS OF YET.  MORE ABOUT BOTH OF THESE IN THE FOLLOWING.
    THE REASON BEHIND THE NEW WEBSITE IS THAT WE HAD TO CHANGE WEB HOSTING COMPANIES.  NOTHING REALLY HIDEOUS OR NASTY HAPPENED ON EITHER SIDE; JUST THEY STOPPED SUPPORTING THE SOFTWARE WE USE TO PUBLISH OUR WEBSITE.  NOT REALLY A REASON TO SWITCH, UNLESS YOU FACTOR IN THE AGE OF OUR COMPUTERS HERE (STICKS AND BARK) WHICH MEANS THAT WE'RE LIMITED IN WHAT SOFTWARE WE CAN USE, AND, HECK, WE'RE JUST USED TO USING FRONTPAGE AROUND HERE AND AREN'T ABOUT TO TRADE UP.  SO WE MADE A BIONIC SWITCH TO A NEW COMPANY (YOU KNOW, ONE THAT'S  BIGGER, FASTER, CHEAPER), WHICH IS GREAT, BUT WE DON'T RECOMMEND THE PROCESS TO TRANSFER YOUR DOMAIN NAME FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, NOR DO WE HIGHLY RELISH RE-UPLOADING THE HUGE SITE VIA DIAL-UP (TOLD YOU WE WERE PRETTY LOW TECH AROUND HERE).  SO, TO MAKE THE SWITCH EASIER, WE MADE A WORKING SKELETON OF THE ORIGINAL SITE TO GET IT UP AND VISIBLE, AND WE'VE BEEN SLOWLY BUT DILIGENTLY WORKING TO GET THE REST BACK UP TO CODE.  ALSO, BEING THE CREATIVE JERKS WE ARE, WE'RE TAKING THE TIME TO TWEAK AND POLISH ALL THE STUFF TO MAKE IT A BIT MORE USER FRIENDLY AND A BIT MORE APPETIZING.
    AS TO NO PAGES BEING POSTED YET, REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE SAYING ABOUT BEING CREATIVE JERKS....WELL, OUR MR. JORDAN, THE CREATOR OF THE PARVERIAN TALES, HAS HOPPED ON THE REVAMPING BAND WAGON WITH BOTH FEET AND HAS DECIDED TO REBOOT THE WHOLE SERIES.  HE SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO EXPAND THE STORY TO INCLUDE PARTS OF THE PLOT THAT HAD TO BE CUT OUT FOR SPACE, AND FLESH OUT SOME OF THE SCENES THAT WERE KIND OF CRAMPED IN THE ORIGINAL.  THIS, HOWEVER, COULD TAKE SOME DOING WHEREAS MR. JORDAN WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH NERVE DAMAGE IN HIS HANDS (WHICH EXPLAINS THE LACK OF OUTPUT IN THE PAST YEAR), BUT HE ASSURES US THAT THE HIGH LEVELS OF QUALITY YOU'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM BIG RED A PRESS WILL BE MAINTAINED--IF HE CAN FIGURE A WAY AROUND THE INKING PART.  IN ANY CASE, WE HOPE TO HAVE THE WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS OF THE BOOK ROLLING-WELL-WEEKLY SOMETIME AFTER THE END OF SUMMER.

JUNE 25, 2009

    BACK ON JUNE 9th, WE HAD THE PREMIERE OF THE SECOND APL PRESENTS COMIC.  THAT'S THE FINAL PRODUCT OF THE WORKSHOP WHERE THE YOUNG STUDENTS WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE THEIR OWN BOOK.  ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH, OUR FRIENDS AT THE TWIN CITY TIMES (THE TWIN CITIES BEING LEWISTON AND AUBURN RIGHT HERE IN GOOD OLD MAINE) RAN THE PICTURE AND ARTICLE SENT TO THEM BY SALLY HOLT (THE TEEN LIBRARIAN AT THE AUBURN PUBLIC LIBRARY--THUS APL), BUT WE'RE STILL EXPECTING THE ONE FROM THE LEWISTON SUN JOURNAL.

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