Is something missing?

[ZOMBIE USER 8511]

OK. Either we're missing the VR aura around Jack today, or I've missed a strip or two and Jack is back home. I'm guessing the former. Of course, our illustrious creator has been a bit green around the edges himself lately.

[ZOMBIE USER 6611]

OK. Either we're missing the VR aura around Jack today, or I've missed a strip or two and Jack is back home. I'm guessing the former. Of course, our illustrious creator has been a bit green around the edges himself lately.

Indeed. I've gotten the impression that he was feeling aurable.

[Kellogg]

Jenny joined him in VR.

The VR Aura is rather like the equivalent of the "H" on Rimmer's head in Red Dwarf, which let people know that he's just a projection.

It appears mainly when one person is in a natural setting, communicating
with another person in VR. So, when Jenny is at Beth & Barb's house,
Jack shows up with the aura in place, to show that he isn't actually
physically present.

When she joins him in VR, reminders that this isn't a physical reality are distracting, so the aura is turned off.

If that sounds odd, here's something odder still:
When Napoleon XIV is telling Jack about his wetware and better than
life programs, we're seeing Napoleon XIV's reality. Thus, since he's
in VR, and Jack is just standing there next to him, Napoleon has
effectively cropped Jack's head so that he can talk at him. So, in
the VR world, Jack has an aura, but Napoleon does not. (Nov 27th).

So, basically, when someone is a projection and the other is not,
the projection will have the aura. If they're Both projections, then
neither will have an aura.

Scott (Am I making sence? I'm tired, and my editing and expository skills are all pancake.) Kellogg

[ZOMBIE USER 6611]

It appears mainly when one person is in a natural setting, communicating with another person in VR. So, when Jenny is at Beth & Barb's house, Jack shows up with the aura in place, to show that he isn't actually physically present.

Mako and I were discussing this last night, and that was the conclusion we reached.

Your explanation was just fine!

[Hortmage]

Personally, I think he's just making this up as he goes along...

Nice comeback, Scott! You think fast on your hind paws!

And whilst I'm thinking on it....

I have always liked how expressive the characters' body language is. Scott usually makes good use of tails and ears to express more than the dialogue will. Wednesday's strip was an excellent example of this -- Jack is absolutely freaked out about Jenny putting herself in danger, and Jenny is absolutely determined to help him out. More so, she appears calm and prepared to face anything.

My straw gardener's hat is off to you, Scott!

[Kellogg]

I have always liked how expressive the characters' body language is. Scott usually makes good use of tails and ears to express more than the dialogue will. Wednesday's strip was an excellent example of this -- Jack is absolutely freaked out about Jenny putting herself in danger, and Jenny is absolutely determined to help him out. More so, she appears calm and prepared to face anything.

Well, she is the same lady who flies into hurricanes to pull out people
she doesn't even know. This time it's a little closer to home.

(Maybe she's bucking to make Level Head's list of noble ladies? )

My straw gardener's hat is off to you, Scott!

Thanks.

It's kind of weird actually getting complimented on my art.

Scott

[ZOMBIE USER 10915]

Kellogg

It's kind of weird actually getting complimented on my art.

You shouldn't even kid about that, you are a great artist!

Got one question though.

How can someone be tackled and nuzzled when they are only a VR image?

[ZOMBIE USER 10915]

Ok, my question can be disregarded, I found the answer in another thread.

Although I'm still jealous, wouldn't mind being pounced by a cute fox myself, even if it's only VR.

[Docabsinthe]

Although I'm still jealous, wouldn't mind being pounced by a cute fox myself, even if it's only VR. [icon_wink.gif]

Agreed. Nothing against Jenny (except that she'd make me feel soooo dumb) but I've got a thing for Sheila and Tammy myself. And Artica oh yeah, Articaaa... What was I saying? Oh yeah, vixens, that was it. Those are really sexy vixens but Liska from Mynarski forest, now there is a personality! A bit of a quirky scary personality but fun. Vixen pounce wohoo! -doc

[Kellogg]

Agreed. Nothing against Jenny (except that she'd make me feel soooo dumb) but I've got a thing for Sheila and Tammy myself. And Artica oh yeah, Articaaa... What was I saying? Oh yeah, vixens, that was it. Those are really sexy vixens but Liska from Mynarski forest, now there is a personality! A bit of a quirky scary personality but fun. Vixen pounce wohoo! -doc

Don't worry, Doc, Jenny's not one to show off much.
The mark of a good alpha is that they don't make others
feel bad.

Frankly, I think she'd be quite intimidated by any vixen with
super powers and stuff.

And, of course, Jenny does have an Aunt Liska up in Canada...
But it's only a distant relation to Skippy's pal. After all, I don't see
Liska having kits any time soon...

Scott

[Baxtrr]

Jenny joined him in VR.

The VR Aura is rather like the equivalent of the "H" on Rimmer's head in Red Dwarf, which let people know that he's just a projection.

It appears mainly when one person is in a natural setting, communicating
with another person in VR. So, when Jenny is at Beth & Barb's house,
Jack shows up with the aura in place, to show that he isn't actually
physically present.

When she joins him in VR, reminders that this isn't a physical reality are distracting, so the aura is turned off.

I can't WAIT for her to see him in his mane!

bax

[ZOMBIE USER 10915]

Kellogg

But it's only a distant relation to Skippy's pal. After all, I don't see
Liska having kits any time soon...

*shudders at the thought of little Liskas running around*

[ZOMBIE USER 6611]

Well, she is the same lady who flies into hurricanes to pull out people she doesn't even know. This time it's a little closer to home.
(Maybe she's bucking to make Level Head's list of noble ladies? )

Interesting. Your comment did cause me to stop and think. I will ponder this.

It's kind of weird actually getting complimented on my art.

You continue to progress, to improve, to add techniques and skills

[Legene]

[quote="Kellogg]It's kind of weird actually getting complimented on my art. [/quote]

You will have to get used to it. I loved the strip back when the writing did the heavy lifting, but the art is as good nowadays. I think the shift to color made a big difference.

Anyway, you've always had an eye for detail. That is a rather familiar color scheme for consoles in the section of the control tower we see, isn't it? Tell me I got one of the in-jokes and make a horse-woof happy. We're an endangered species, if it helps.

[Kellogg]

It's kind of weird actually getting complimented on my art.

You continue to progress, to improve, to add techniques and skills—and confidence. Not so much of that last in verbal discussion, but it shows in the way you draw.

Thank you all. To a certain extent I'm probably more defensive about
my artwork out of habit. It took a while to get where I am, and I've
still far to go. I hear Bill Holbrook, Mark Stanley, Max Blackrabbit,
The Gneech and others disparaging their own artwork while I've been
aspiring to theirs.

[You make excellent use of ears as semaphores of emotional state.

I'm lucky compared to The Gneech, in that foxes have bigger ears
than Tigers do.

Incidentally, virtual reality in this situation will be a bit tricky. Because of the distance, even a direct fiber optic link will set up a delay time of about 50 milliseconds each way, assuming best distances between Texas and Great Britain. Packet switching time will add to this.

It doesn't seem like a lot, but this time lag is enough to have a very disconcerting effect on visual feedback.

For better or worse, sometimes our heroes are as slow on the uptake as
the cartoonist is. 50 milliseconds is a fairly trivial delay compared to
what most ISPs call "The Last Mile" where they refer to telephone lines
of dial up modem users. In this case it's not so much the Last Mile
as it is the Last Centimeter as information filters through their hard
headed skulls.

You will have to get used to it. I loved the strip back when the writing did the heavy lifting, but the art is as good nowadays. I think the shift to color made a big difference.

Thanks!

Anyway, you've always had an eye for detail. That is a rather familiar color scheme for consoles in the section of the control tower we see, isn't it? Tell me I got one of the in-jokes and make a horse-woof happy. We're an endangered species, if it helps.

(Do you give a Horse-Wuff a milkbone or an apple? I've no idea...?)

Yup! I have a weakness for Matt Jeffries immitations. Red and black
control panels just plain look good. There are very few science fiction
set designs that look nearly as interesting, functional and elegant as
the old Enterprise bridge.

Dan Cougar should be pleased with some of the readouts I hope.
I put in the Great Circle route from Corpus Christi International to
London Heathrow in there. (Corpus Christi is about as close as you
can get to where Kenedy Spaceport is on the Gulf Coast). It's also
the site where the buildings inspired the look of Bali Hai Aviation that
Den rendered recently. (Which reminds me, I need to update
his gallery page!)

However, one ancient Science Fiction reference (which I didn't expect
anyone to get, except possibly Gene Catlow, if he even reads the strip)
was the countdown. Before the Twilight Zone came into existence there
was a radio drama called "X Minus One". If you like the original
Twilight Zone, you'd probably like "X Minus One". They're very similar.
Science fiction short stories done for radio. Good writers, good voice
actors, good stories, with a mix of serious to silly, just like the Twilight
Zone.

http://members.aol.com/jimfnshr/radio/x_minus_one.html

Scott

[Quill]

*deleted*

[Quill]

(Do you give a Horse-Wuff a milkbone or an apple? I've no idea...?)

Shrimp. See Enterprise: The First Adventure by Vonda N. McIntyre. Okay, not quite the same cross, but I'd bet it would work.

[Legene]

(Do you give a Horse-Wuff a milkbone or an apple? I've no idea...?)

I'm not certain myself. One of each is probably best, just in case. Although I think Barbara Woodhouse recommends nachos.

Yup! I have a weakness for Matt Jeffries immitations. Red and black
control panels just plain look good. There are very few science fiction
set designs that look nearly as interesting, functional and elegant as
the old Enterprise bridge.

Gotta love that classic 23rd-century styling.

However, one ancient Science Fiction reference (which I didn't expect
anyone to get, except possibly Gene Catlow, if he even reads the strip)
was the countdown. Before the Twilight Zone came into existence there
was a radio drama called "X Minus One".
.
.
.
http://members.aol.com/jimfnshr/radio/x_minus_one.html

Sounded kinda sorta familiar, but I couldn't place it. Now that you mentioned it, I'm sure I've listened to it at some point. On the web, not the original broadcast.

I had similart suspicions about the flight being Pan-Am (a tip of the hat to 2001?) and it took Google to give me the Forbiden Planet reference to the registration number. *horsewoofiepout* I need to pay more attention to classic sci-fi.