NEW WINTERFEST CELEBRATION!!!
Patrons voted for a more winter-themed selection than an overt Christmas character this year, but it was a fun one to make. Vote on TWC to take a look!
VOTE TO DECK HALLS AND YULE TIDES!!!
As for this comic…
Hot on the heels of some minor tech problems last week, I encountered MAJOR tech problems this week when my computer decided to stop working in a few critical capacities. Foremost among these capacities was the ability to communicate with my printer/scanner. I figured out a workaround after a few days involving USB sticks and the like, but it was only after a few days of sweaty palms and lost sleep.
It’s at this point that I need to reveal a dark secret about the comic: I’ve been making this comic on the same computer for the past eleven years or so. It’s a hearty Dell laptop that has been incredibly reliable, and that reliability has lulled me into complacency. Sadly, the system is so old, and the operating system so out of date, that it’s becoming hard to perform basic tasks.
I need a new computer, but that means also moving to a much newer version of my software (which costs hundreds), and probably a new printer/scanner combo, and just thinking about all of that is giving me heart palpitations. It’s not really the money that stresses me out, though I guess it’s partially the money. It’s more that I hate change and worry about a serious breakdown in comic production. However, it’s a jump I’ll need to make soon. This computer is sending me gentle signals that its window of usefulness is closing fast. I need to get a new system before that window closes altogether.
Oh, he is deader than dead. Like so totally beyond dead.
Not sure he can be killed. Maimed, perhaps.
certain indecisive elements will be removed. this will help clarify his thinking.
1: the Devil’s gonna get the Bob Barker treatment. and 2: I’m sorry your computer’s on its last legs. hopefully you’ll figure something out soon.
It took a minute for me to decipher the Bob Barker treatment. But I got it eventually. And yeah, I’ll hopefully get the computer scenario figured out over the next little while.
Can you tell me?
I feel for you regarding new computer nerves.
I recently purchased a new computer, and I’m currently running the new and old side by side as I slowly move stuff across and download programs.
As for comic. All Satan has to do is imagine taking the clothes off, that will end confusion.
That’s what I ideally need to do: get a new rig, but have the old rig there as a backup while I figure it out. But in order to make that happen, I need to take action and get a new rig before the old one completely fails.
I have no confusion on this whatsoever. Satan just keeps losing it — he deserved to be kicked by the board. Which reminds me, who is running the show now? Puck would do one hell of a job. Phoebe is too nice — wait — Daphne!
The Cabal is running the evil show. Corporate raiders run it all. Just like real life.
Oh, on the computer front, have you upgraded the hard drive to SSD? Have you put in some more RAM? My computer that I am using at this very moment is 17-years-old, running Windows 11 (that was a bit tricky) and I am hoping for it to last a little longer. My battery died years ago but the laptop keeps trucking on!
No, I haven’t upgraded anything. And still on Windows 8.1, which is a big problem. The system tried to upgrade to Windows 9 or 10 at some point, but it completely broke everything and I had to revert to an earlier image.
It’s been a good computer, but I think it’s beyond upgrading.
I think you’re gonna need a bigger potato.
My Microsoft Surface 7.0 (predates 2020) is running quite smoothly and has not been as control freaky as Microsoft’s OS has been to the DELL I bought as a computer for work during COVID 2020.
I have entertained the notion of going to a newer SURFACE, but there is not a compelling reason to do so – so far.
I’ve actually purchased three newer laptops in the past two years, just not for me. Everyone in my household has a newer, better laptop than me. I just need to get with the program.
So if, or when, your current setup “joins the bleedin’ choir invisible” you will at least have a selection of systems for a temporary replacement.
You’ll just have to mug your kids in a dark alley to get it.
Well, in a pinch, I could, but I’d hate to steal theirs. My son is a programmer and his machine is quite the setup. He’d be lost without it.
You ask a man anything, you asked his ‘peculiar portion’ the same question. This is not a secret.
At least he’s got one.
not for very much longer if the look on tracee´s face is anything to go by….
Indeed.
Maybe this explains why Danny Zucko acted like a ‘dangling doohickey’ in “Grease” for so much of the show….
I don’t recall using that term, but I like it!
I got creative with my editing. The word in question was triggering some bots.
Ah. I understand.
I don’t understand Tracee’s confusion.
Surely she knows that if you are talking to a guy, then on some level you are actually talking to his ‘professional cast member’ and probably his stomach as well. Guys are always hungry and horny.
So are you doing the censorship, or is it WordPress.
It looks like some comments are getting replacement colourful euphemisms for male anatomy.
Seeing as you used the specific term in the comic I cant see you having a problem with the term.
There were about ten comments that my spam filter caught because of the p word. I went in and amended them to contain colorful euphemisms. You might think this is hypocritical because the actual comic contains that word. And it IS hypocritical. But when Google scans a site and sees certain words (like that one) pop up in text many times on the same page, it flags it. Then the ad revenue is halted and I get a minor slap on the wrist.
Just trying to appease the digital overlords.
I see, not a problem. Just the usual American corporate BDD then.
Ook, ook, can I have “wedding tackle” as my euphemism if it comes up again?
Indeed you can.
We know who does the thinking for him…
Most men would find a potato sack sexy.
It depends on the general cut of the sack. And who’s wearing it.
At least now she’s not dressed like his daughter!!
I’m not quite sure he’s processed that symmetry.
Tracee dressed a little trashier than Phoebe. Or maybe that was just how I framed it in my mind.
Puck’s expression screams “Are we done yet?” to me.
Satan better not have that Britney Spears video “Hit Me Baby One More Time” playing in his head (or his ‘potent potato’).
Re: computer. For the past three years, I have had success with both a Lenovo PC and laptop. Granted, they are actual “workstations” with professional graphics cards (meant for developers/AutoCAD, etc) for working 16-hours a day, but they have been tanks and they get frequent BIOS and firmware updates.
For example, right now on Lenovo’s Canadian site I see a ThinkPad P16s (I7, Win 11 Pro, nVidea RTX A500, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, 16″ WQUXGA monitor) for $2219.00CAD – 55%-off.
A different direction could be with a Microsoft Surface tablet. I don’t know what art tablet you use, but the entire Surface can do that too.
With two Scottish girls under the same roof, it was inevitable that they’d synchronize on some level.
Two? I don’t think we know of Tracee’s family history. Colin is Scottish, probably. But Tracee’s last name is ‘Topaz’, and I’m not convinced that’s really her last name.
Sorry EG, I didn’t mean to spam you with my last post.
I have no affiliation with that company other than the products I have, which is why I mentioned it. As an IT guy, sometimes I get a -little- excited about things like that.
You weren’t. All is good. It’s always good to hear from enthusiastic people who know more than me about this.
And now I see why that comment disappeared – it was for editing that word that Google doesn’t like.
“Potent Potato” indeed…
I got creative with my euphemisms. Google recognizes the more typical ones.
I’m still using a 15 years old Windows Vista laptop. I’ve upgrade it to SSD but otherwise it is untouched, having been a top spec machine when new: 16.4″ 1920×1080 display, CD/DVD/blu ray writer built in, 4GB RAM (a lot then), 802.11n wifi, gigabit ethernet, express card slot, SD card reader. I wouldn’t mind except modern laptops are just tablets with a keyboard attached, whereas I want all the built in peripherals that make my existing one a real computer.
You sound like a man who knows what he wants. You’re ahead of me on that front.
Yeah but my problem is literally no-one sells a laptop like that any more. My decision is do I get a desktop/tower instead with all the peripherals built in, or do I get a laptop with a load of annoying external USB peripherals?
I don’t have the physical room for a tower. So I know the choice I’d make.
> a much newer version of my software (which costs hundreds)
You can run it on any old Windows version on a virtual machine. virtualbox.org e.g. is free, does the job. I’m using it to run an old but very good laser printer in a Win XP virtual machine, a friend runs his 20yo custom accounting software on Win XP, too. You can disconnect virtual machines from the local network and internet, so there’s no problem with viruses, updates/upgrades aren’t needed anymore. (which you might not get anymore, anyway) USB connections to peripherals are (well, mostly) not a problem. I can help if needed. Marek
Interesting. I’m no longer technologically inclined enough to make that sort of thing a reality, though I could perhaps learn. Honestly, though, I really should get a new version of the software because the version that I have, while solid, has many issues. And it’s not as expensive as something like Adobe’s suite, so at least I can be thankful for that.
There are military-grade weapons systems that are cheaper than Adobe.
…also, my ‘charging churro’ is pleading the fifth.
His ‘terrific trombone’ is spoken for. And WHAT was that you were saying as you were thrown out?
I miss my old ‘puter. It was a Toshiba running Vista. But the motherboard died. :(.
My current machine was a 10 and when I upgraded, I started having rebooting problems. I’ll try to come to grips with it over my vacation.
His what?
Never mind. I get it.
We have combined the looks of a librarian, a cheerleader, a soccer mom, and a stripper.
…Now that I think of it, it IS pretty confusing.
Too many looks. Like too many cooks.
re: the alt text.
Ain’t that the truth! And a majority of our problems come from taking it’s advice too!
It speaks so loudly. And so convincingly.
Yeah, Tyler is confused. Not because of Tracee and her new outfit. Because he is Daphne’s boyfriend, hangs out with Puck and Colin, their friends, associates . . . get used to being confused kid, you’re gonna experience it all the time!
Yes. These are perilous times for the boy.
My condolences on the impending loss of your lap’s top. As the saying goes, may its memory be a blessing. And transferrable.
—
As for Ty’s answer to the question in Panel 4, frequently a young man’s honest answer would be, “There’s no confusion because everything even marginally female is hot” … but he’s literally grown up around Puck wearing The Puck Look so unless he’s developed an Oedipal variant fixation. I don’t think this is that kind of story, and it would be dangerous around Daphne anyway.
—
Speaking of danger, answering a question from you GF by asking another guy for validation is an automatic Critical Failure on the Social Relations Save Table. Satan may learn the meaning of “It’ll be a cold day in h3ll….”
Poor Tyler. We feel for him. Satan not so much. He deserves whatever suffering is coming his way.
They chime in, AND they use a lot of one’s blood to do so.
Of course, some of the announcements are at random so that just adds more confusion.
Good thing I don’t have to wear anything that shocks me when I’m aroused.. it’d be like being tazed in the balls, except painful.
Ouch.
She just hasn’t made it *her* yet. Tie it in a crop top, unbutton the top and lose the cardigan. You’re a minimalist, Traci. He likes that.
You suggest she go full Britney Spears. I see where you’re headed.
*I* rather she didn’t but if she wants him to look… Ya, that would probably be the play.
My advice is to get a new computer BEFORE your old one bricks.
That way you can learn on your new one and have the old one as a fall back just in case.
If it goes to the Great Processor In The Sky, first, you’ll be SOL.
That is good advice.
Smart guys know enough to reply “ You look WONDERFUL dear” to THAT question, no matter what she’s wearing.
Satan is not smart. Quite the opposite, actually.
No he is not- but by cheesing off Tracee, he’s in line with his alleged mission to make humans unhappy.