Whatever. Let’s see what you guys can do to rock the iTunes rankings for these podcasts.

Rate, review, and subscribe to these podcasts in iTunes (look them up or use the links below) and their placement on iTunes should become more prominent. Because, you know what? It’s hard to fight in a world run by the wonderful Ira Glass.

So, the Better Strangers podcast for one. And the Mustache Rangers podcast for two.

Come on, thousands of readers. I know you can make it happen.

Also, you know. Tell some more folks about Blank It. Why not, right?

Also also, decide what you guys want to be called. Minions? Naw. Something though.

• Better Strangers (podcast)
• Feeding Objects (tumblr)
• Your Notness (tumblr)
• Hardest Working Lazy Guy (blog)

And those are only the new ones. Sheesh.

THIS IS TEMPORARY! Relax! Thing will settle (i.e. babies) and time will be restored to its rightful place. We’ll be back to two comics a week soon enough.

Thank you for bearing with us. We’d rather put out a quality project at a manageable pace than a shoddy product at a speedy pace. If twice a week can be called “speedy.” Look, we’re getting away from the topic at hand.

Maybe this will tide you over for this Thursday.

Thanks everyone. We will not abandon you! The adventures continue!

Okay, enough pleasantries. Blank It really benefits from word of mouth. So please, if you have the time and the gumption, spread the word. IM, TXT, message boards, Facebook, Twitter, hand shakes. Whatever.

Tell friends and strangers about Blank It. We’ll be eternally grateful. That’s right. Eternally. And eternity is a long long time. Don’t you want gratefulness for eternity? Feels pretty good.

So we will be working hard on the comic, getting ahead, and but mainly trying this and that to see what works for a new production schedule. Also, maybe babies will start sleeping through the night. That’d be nice.

Mark your calendars for the beginning of January. That’s when new Blank It strips will return.

We thank your for your support and understanding. We wouldn’t even be making this strip if it weren’t for our wonderful fans. So thank you again. And thank you.

Number two. My other creative side project, the Mustache Rangers, are starting a live weekly improv show at the newly opened HUGE Improv Theater in Uptown Minneapolis. It is 8pm on Thursdays, and is the low low price of 5 bucks.

If you live in the area, bring yourself, your wives, your husbands, your friends, your coworkers, and anyone else you know. Seriously. That is a long list of people to bring. But a show doesn’t continue if people don’t come to see it.

So help make this new show a success, and check out all the other wonderful show that are going on at HUGE Improv Theater. It’s a fantastic time for humor in the Twin Cities.

But beyond that, the City Pages put out their annual comics issue. And guess who has a strip in it!

You don’t have to guess. It’s us. It’s like a free bonus strip for the week! Enjoy!

And, before you ask, no. It isn’t canonical. I think you’re reading too much into things.

We will also have them available for purchase at the Minneapolis Indie Expo on August 21st.

Not the end.

Chapter two of Blank It will be coming in about a month.

Until then, we have a little intermission comic planned for you folks.

Stay tuned.

Also, here is what Lem looks like, close up.

There is a scavenger hunt-style social media game called Least Dangerous Game that I am putting on once a month. It involves Twitter, learning about the area you live in, puzzle solving, and meeting new people. It’s a good old time and it is back after a two year hiatus.

There are prizes for winners and good times for all. Prizes lined up so far for this month’s game are from AT&T Wirless, HUGE Improv Theater, and local musician Adam Svec.

So check it out at LeastDangerousGame.com and sign up to play. It’ll be fun!

Anywho. Two things. One, my other creative endeavor. I have a podcast called the Mustache Rangers which is a mix of Buck Rogers and Curb Your Enthusiasm. It has been going for a little over 3 years and we have 145 episodes in the bank. You should check it out. Especially THIS EPISODE. It’s our best one yet. Subscribe, rate, and review it on iTunes. And tell all your friends.

Secondly, we still have shirts, koozies, and original artwork for sale. And we’d be happy to send it to you! Check out the store and support the comic. And, of course. Tell all your friends. About the comic. You can tell them about t-shirts too. That’d be fine. But a little weird.

Herm, as he was known by the students, was the drama teacher at Cooper. For four years, my life pretty much revolved around being taught by and being directed by him. He had a gigantic impact on my life, and I wouldn’t be the same person I am today without him.

Sadly, he passed way last night in a motorcycle accident. I’ve spent the day exploring all the different aspects of my life that he influenced, and was surprised to remember that it went as far as to influence the creation of comics.

It’s certainly sad news, but Herm was a much loved teacher. He left an impression on all of his students and has shaped a lot of lives. He has left quite a legacy, and that’s really the best any of us can hope for in life. I’m very happy for what he has accomplished in so many.

And it’s never a bad time to bring up the 2k Challenge or whatever it’s called. As soon as we hit a consistent 2,000 unique readers per new comic day, we’ll bump up our production from two comics a week to three. So there’s your incentive to tell your friends, and everyone on the internet, about Blank It.

If telling the world about Blank It isn’t enough for you, don’t forget to contribute to the BlankItWiki. I’m sure there’s a lot left to be written about that fox.

Thanks again for reading the strip. We appreciate it greatly.

The price of entry is $70, so if you’re not already going, don’t pay $70 just to see me. But if you’re already on your way, stop by one of the panels and say “hi.” I will be wearing a fake mustache during one of them. Do not be alarmed.

Help fill in the history of Blank It, and discover things you may not have noticed before. Much like the strip, it’s currently a blank slate waiting to be filled in. So hop to it already. The confused masses are waiting for your insight and theories.

The RSS feed for Blank It is RIGHT HERE for your ease of use.

What’s that? You don’t have an RSS reader? Well, they’re free and super easy to use. I non-recommend Google and highly recommend Netvibes as your RSS reader. It is great and I use it all day every day.

Now you can get news, blog updates, and comic updates all in one place. How easy is that?

Here is the reasoning behind my last statement. You have come to the Blank It site to read this, so you have obviously made some mild connection with it in your mind. Hopefully it’s a happy and pleasant connection. And since Blank It is a comic and you are reading it, you must also like comics in general.

If my reasoning is off, I apologize. To myself. For being illogical. Everyone else can just deal.

Second, another glowing review for Blank It from Coyote Trax’s Webcomics Critique. The glowing kind of reviews are our favorite, but we may be biased. Actually, get rid of that “may” part. Hmmm, no. Now we sound Rastafarian. Then switch out “may be” with “are.” There. That works better.

Panel 1
(Camera pulls out from previous day’s strip. It is laid out next to the previous strips, all against a white background.)

Panel 2
(Camera continues to pull out to reveal that all the strips are written on one grain of rice!)

Panel 3
(Camera pulls all the way out. Lemmo is holding a tiny brush and the piece of rice!)
Lemmo: I DID IT! I PUT X COMICS ON ONE PIECE OF RICE!

Panel 4
(Guy pokes his head through the door of the room. Just some guy. Who cares?)
Guy: SORRY, SOME OTHER DUDE JUST PUT X+1 COMICS ON A PIECE OF RICE. NICE TRY.
Lemmo: (sad)

THE END

Pretty good, huh?

We discuss influences, how we started out, and.l..I don’t know why I’m explaining something you should be reading anyway. Get over there. Stop being lazy. The interview can be found right here.

The review holds enough interest for seasoned fans and newcomers alike. It provides a great introduction to the strip along with some strong analysis. I’m a fan of when people say nice things about me too.

Also, you should totally rent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Or see it live. Whatever.

We have made it to a new year, and what does that mean? More comics. Lem and I have worked out the plot for the next six months (six months???), and we’re ready to keep moving forward with this crazy illustrated adventure.

Want to hear some interesting behind the scenes stuff? While Lem was on his honeymoon in September, I decided to try and freak him out by emailing a crazy rambling paragraph describing this bug that is going to crash into the shovel beam. Well, we’ve finally reached the end of that insane paragraph. And it turned out pretty great. It makes me think that I should try to freak out Lem more often. Maybe if I put spiders in his hair.

Anywho, happy 2009 to you, whatever it means to you. Stick with us and continue to spread the word. We’re happy to have you along for the ride.

But here we are, six months later and up to our necks in adventure. And readers! We’re happy to have everyone who has made Blank It a part of their comic reading schedule. At least, I am happy about you. I assume Lem is happy about your presence too, but I’m not about to put words in to the mouth of the non-comic version of Lem.

There are a lot of adventures to come, so stick around and bring your friends. We’re not going anywhere. The real us. The fake comic us are going all over the place. Actually, now I’m jealous of them. Nothing like writing a blog post to bring me down. I hope you’re all happy.

The actual question may be a little flawed, especially for story driven comics that don’t necessarily try to bring the knee slappers every day. But it is a nifty site anyways. You should give it a look. And, you know, also vote Blank It as funny while you’re there. You know, if you think it is.

Q: Will Thursday’s strip deal with Thanksgiving?
A: No!

Q: Will there be a new strip up on Thanksgiving?
A: Yes!

Q: What makes it special then?
A: Because every strip is special. Like when a parent with two daughters and one son jokes that “you’re my favorite son.”

Q: Why did you make me sad?
A: I can’t make you sad. Only you can make yourself sad. Also, Lem and I are not slagging off on Thursday. Doesn’t that make you happy? Or, rather, doesn’t that make you make yourself happy?

We (hooray) are, roughly, at the halfway point of our “2,000 daily readers” goal. Only 1,000 more daily readers before we start publishing Blank It three days a week. That’s 50% more nonsense per week! If that isn’t incentive, I don’t know what is. Actually, I do know what other incentives would be. But they are illegal. I’m just saying, I’m not a dummy who can’t think of other incentives.

There, a short and beautiful post. Marvel at the meandering conciseness!

For one, we went to Fallcon and met a lot of comic fans and creators. It was a great time. I know I should be listing a lot of names of people we met and their websites, but this is an off the cuff post. I would need to go back to my records for anything so in depth. At any rate, thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth. Meeting smiling faces was nice.

Secondly, Lem and I participated in the Teen Read Week at the St. Paul public library. By “participate,” I mean we were on a panel with a handful of comic artists and writers. Lem took charge. I clammed up. It was weird. Overall, it was nice to talk to teens interested in creating comics. Or talk at them. It was a panel, after all. Everyone on the panel was…I keep saying “nice” and “great.” Everyone on the panel was super to meet. Meh, that’ll work for now.

What is our next event? Dunno. I guess we’ll continue to work hard making a comic for the internet. There is some crazy stuff coming up. Continue to spread the word of Blank It to your friends and family. And feel free to email us. We’re happy to chat.

Yesterday I wrote Lem an email with details on where our story and characters are going next. It’s contains nothing we’ve ever discussed, it was oddly specific, and you would assume I was on drugs if you were reading it. But you know what? I’m way too paranoid to take drugs. Stop assuming.

I’m pretty excited about where everything is going. But you might ask yourself, where do you keep all your drugs? Listen, there are no drugs. Here, I will detail my thinking process and where I come up with my ideas.

Really, there isn’t much detail. Most ideas clear from the mist of my brain while in the shower or driving. In the shower, all washing suddenly stops. My eyes kind of clear out and I stare blankly at the floor until the idea grows some defined edges. While driving, a CD needs to be playing. I can’t have a DJ yacking when something is taking shape. It also helps to be leaving work. My suffocating creativity likes to kick it into high gear after the cubical is left behind.

There is your (un)interesting peak behind the magic. I’ve seen so many hands cut off in the shower, it isn’t funny.

Maybe it’s a little funny.

So here is this post, for those of you who hate clicking on the top navigation bar. You can find the forums by clicking on any of the forum links I have put in this post. Phorum. I mean, forum. For who? For U! M.

To travel through the archives of a webcomic, you need a “next” button and a “previous” button. That way, you can travel back one strip if you missed it, or travel forward from a point with ease.

What you do not need is a button to the very first strip ever made prominently displayed on every single page. You don’t need it! How many times in your life have you clicked that “first comic” arrow on purpose? It should only be once! So, why is it wasting space on every single page of your site?

I know we’re fighting convention here. And I know it’s confusing. We’re up against a decade of bad design here. On the Blank It front page, in big friendly letters to the right of the “previous” button, we have a link that says “Lost? Click here to start from the beginning.” And that’s it. It isn’t there on every page of the archives. It’s right there on the landing page, for your convenience.

And if you really really really need to get to the beginning from another page, there’s a small “first comic” link in the left hand gutter on every page.

But you don’t need a “first comic” button right next to your “previous” button on every page. Who decided this? Where are they now? Rolling in their button money, I bet. Just a tool of the button conspiracy.

So let’s change it up. Let’s get rid of these extra buttons that nobody needs. We can do it together! Webcomic artists, this is a movement. Let’s join together and finally eliminate these lumbering dinosaurs of navigation.

You can follow me at http://www.twitter.com/aric and Lem at http://www.twitter.com/lemmo.

In more webTooPoyntOh business, there is a Facebook page for Blank It. There isn’t really a good way to link it, so just click here if you’re on Faced Books.

And while Facebook sucks, MySpace is a horrible monster pit of monsters. Don’t even bother looking for us there. Monsters, I tell you!

But, you know what? It doesn’t matter anymore. They both go to the same place! So you don’t have to look like a big fat jerk by saying, “Actually, it’s Blank It, not blanket.” And then your buddy would say, “Both of those things sounds the same to me, and now we are no longer friends.”

We don’t want to end friendships.

Feeling a little bit of longing for the San Diego Comic-Con. Not that I ever profited from it. Planes and hotels cost money, and I never made shirts to sell. It is just a fantastic place to meet people. And that’s coming from someone who is almost a shut-in!

I remembered the other day that I can write with a pen and paper instead of the computer. That was a little freeing. Still feel a little stupid, but that’s par for the course.

Is that enough writing? Can I go now?

Don’t worry. This cramped Airstream (what are all these Mason jars filled with anyway?) isn’t going anywhere. Lem and I are safe and sound in Minnesota. There will be no mountainous antics for us. Unless you consider the mountain of rage building inside of me because of all these Mason jars. Seriously, Pew! What is all this? I can barely move my feet without spilling this liquid or that.

In other news, the plastic forks on my desk outnumber the plastic spoons by one. The spoons could still win the battle, if they are strong willed and come up with a unique plan of attack.

I ran out of interesting things to say two paragraphs back. So let’s stop this right now, shall we?

In other news, I am entirely successful in not entirely killing my desk plant. Half of it has given up the ghost, but the rest is spreading healthfully towards the humming tubes of light in the ceiling. It is a horrible sort of life, but it could be worse. It could be self aware. But let us not get in to consciousness. At least, that’s what the chemicals in my brain are telling me not to get in to.

There you go, internet! I have written on a blog!

I perform in an improv group called the Mustache Rangers. We perform a 1920s sci-fi radio drama parody about adventuring through space. But it isn’t just improv. There is a podcast that is up to (giggle) 69 episodes. So there is that for you to enjoy.

But really, I’m just trying to get to the fact that this week contains the Twin Cities Improv Festival! Yes, the Mustache Rangers are performing, but many great acts from around the country will be setting down in the Twin Cities for a lot of comedy.

So if you live in Minnesota, check out the Twin Cities Improv Festival website for groups, times, and tickets.

Also, I love you. That is all.

And to continue in this vein of honesty, I will not remember your birthday. That doesn’t mean it isn’t important! I don’t mean to imply that you don’t give me joy. It’s something I have a problem with. And I know you’ll get upset with me, even thought I’ve stated this openly from the beginning. As long as we both understand each other, we’ll be good. We’ll make this work.

Also, I probably won’t remember your name. And if I see you at a party, I’ll struggle to think of where I remember you from and end up avoiding you because I won’t remember. And it is nothing that you’ve done. Don’t feel bad. And if you do feel bad, remember that I’ll feel much worse when I banish myself to a bathroom stall to cry and eat my pigs in a blanket alone.

So, to sum things up, the site had some problems but now it doesn’t.

Well, as long as you’re here, you might as well read the comic that Lemmo drew and I made words for. Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Aric, there aren’t many words.” I’ll have you know that pauses are words too. In fact, pauses can contain an infinite amount of words. So I wrote an infinite amount of words for this comic strip. How about that?

So we have one strip up. Woo! Pop the champaign cork and watch your eyes. On Thursday, we will double the amount of strips we have up! And next Thursday it will be doubled again! Then it gets much harder to double things. But rest assured, things will be double!

Stick around a while, leave some comments, visit the forums, subscribe to the RSS feed, and do whatever it is that comic readers do. But whatever you do, don’t take our comic strip and remove one of the characters. It has been done.