In the Cup 2.0

In the Cup has migrated. Don't worry, we're bringing the marmots with us.

International Marmot Day!

I officially declare today the first annual International Marmot Day, a celebration of all things marmot. So get out there and hug a marmot, or let a marmot steal your soul, or do an interpretive dance about marmots (if you choose this option, please film and put on youtube). Celebrate the marmot way of life; bask in the sun, eat grasses and berries, go back in your hole for another two weeks if you see your shadow, scratch your mites and fleas, bite oldschool, use your cute fluffiness to detract from your workings as a minion of the Dark Lord (Sauron, Satan, Voldemort, any other relevant dark lord).
They're swarming like things that swarm!

Quote of yesterday

"So the question is: is the mean of the standard deviations a valid statistic to use with... Is that a marmot?"

- Greg (my supervisor) getting distracted by my cubicle decorations
(and yes it was a marmot, on a card Steve made me)

News from marmot central

I got in to grad school! I'm not entirely sure what to make of this yet. I think I'm excited, but I'm also kind of flustered because now I actually have to do this. Before it was always a hypothetical thing that was only hypothetically scary. I's gonna be edumacated hehe. So... if I disappear for 2 years starting this fall, it's not my fault and you've been forewarned.

Just what the doctor ordered

I've noticed a serious lack of marmots in the Cup lately, so I thought I'd remedy that. Here's your weekly dose of marmots!

Merry marmot to all, and to all a good night!

A king is born....

What you see above illustrates my own little character creation process. It's kind of funny, you can see my idea of "The Marmot King" slowly taking shape. I used some ideas from Frank Cho's Liberty Meadows for this one, I like it though. My first draft is more life-like and slowly I add the cartoonish elements.

Anyways, I hope to draw some sketches for "The Great Paladini," and "Mr.Watanabe." They will cooperate with "The Marmot King" for the sole purpose of world domination. I really wanted to get "The Marmot King" down. I'm sure you can all guess, my favorite is the drawing on the right. After I drew it, I had a thought...maybe I'll put the guy in a dress shirt and tie. Could be fun.

I am Marmot!

Aaaaah!!! The marmots are everywhere. Oh, wait, they’re my minions. Hehe never mind. Last night Ulric told me about the best quest ever. You get to be a marmot / have marmot minions and send them to do your bidding.

Quest Objectives:
Use the Kodohide Drum at the Marmot Den. While controlling the Marmot, poison the three kegs in the Bloodmaul Camp. When that is completed, return to Rexxar at Thunderlord Stronhold in the Blade’s Edge Mountains.

Here’s me sitting in the Marmot Den.

And molesting a marmot a little bit… Shhhh… it likes it.

And my marmot minion setting off to poison ogres. How cute.


When you’re a marmot, you get to throw acorns to distract people and stealth and army crawl along the floor. Seriously, best quest EVAR.

*poke poke*

Come on guys. Somebody post something. Aren't there stories about new jobs and pictures of peed pants that need to be shared? You all know what happens if I get upset...Look, now they're giant attack marmots. Better watch out!

Have You Seen this Man? PART 2

This japanese, pirate, former yakuza, bike riding, booze drinking, mad man is wanted in connection to Mr Watanabe. It is suspected that he was the middle man for Mr Watanabe and the Japan branch of the Marmot Yakuza. He's seen here disguised as his hero Captain Jacked Sparrow. His whereabouts are unknown but he was last seen in the Saitama Prefecture city of Kawaguichi. The intelligence gained from apprehending this man would be invaluable; if seen approach with caution and carry large quantities of alcohol to subdue him. One lead will help us take down Mr Watanabe, previous intel is below.

he strikes again beware
update sighting

Ode to the Platypus Brigade!

When I was young I met a man named Lorigga
How old he was nobody could figure
You may have heard told
Of Goliath the bold
But in my eye Lorrigga is bigger

Lorigga introduced me to Defmoose
He was happy and free like a young goose
He was world renown
For his gentle kind soul
But in traffic the obscenities were flung loose

Defmoose introduced me to Cyrusse
Her wisdom as ancient as the Osirus
She became my sensei
In all manner of war play
And her deeds will be recorded on papyrus

Cyrusse brought me to SpontaneousWhat.
An appropriate name for that crazy nut
He used to be Detujon
But he told me that John is gone
The marmots got him first “those damn sluts!”

The 5 of us were feared and admired
For our prowess and our inner fires
Of games of skill we never tired
Fantasy worlds would continue to inspire
5 even stronger than those of the Shire
They are all 2^nd best until we retire!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Flores!

Don't worry, we invited the marmots to your party...

He strikes again! (beware of the orange box...)

It is official. Mr. Watanabe has been seen in the L.A. area. Using one of his many guises he was able to infiltrate into one of our agents homes. He claimed to be an old friend and he swore many times that he was not a bot. After that were are not sure what exactly transpired but the agents computer was completely destroyed. After awaking from his coma our agent had this to say. "He comes baring gifts........dont let him on your computer...........do not believe his lies.........beware the orange box......." He is currently undergoing psychiatric help. The marmots win again people. How long can this go on?

UPDATE: Sighting

The aforementioned wanted man was reported to be seen at roughly noon today conspiring with the Yakuza and marmots on a remote island off of Chile...

One witness supplied evidence...

Have you seen this man?

Have you seen this man? Wanted Dead or Alive. Last seen in the 510 area but we are expecting him to resurface near L.A. Hes currently using the alias Okabatu but he has also gone under the title Thops, Lorigga, and Mr. Watanabe. He is very cunning. He may even have under gone plastic surgery to disguise himself. It is said that these days instead of a Mexican he now appears to be Caucasian due to skin bleaching. He may or not be armed with a baseball bat or a labtop set to self destruct if anyone else tries to log onto it. It is said that he may be tied to the Japanese but its much more probable that hes working for the marmots. If you have any information that may lead to his capture please forward to Blackcrow immediately. He can not be trusted. He is a bot. You know what I mean. Here is the last photo taken of him while he was supposedly on vacation in Africa.

Marmots WIN!!!!!

Well, there was some cheating, a recount, and some demonstrations. We even had to defend against tasers....But the controversial results are in and I'm sad to report the Marmots won...

4 to 3...but really 4 to 2....

What I learned today: Dual wield

Today after work Ray the janitor taught my friend Lisa and me Arnis, Filipino stick fighting. It's a martial art where you learn to use two bamboo sticks or your hands to deflect bladed weapons (I assume it's also good training for using bladed weapons). There are lots of progressions of strikes and defenses that you go through, and I guess eventually you can duel with people. So yeah, I'm now level 10 and I can dual wield sticks. Fear me. Actually I totally suck and I'm going to hit myself in the head with a stick sooner or later, but it's fun.

(now I just need to teach the marmots.... what? I didn't say anything. I don't know what you're talking about)

They're swarming like things that swarm

More than you ever wanted to know about marmots, but sadly, no suggestions about preventing them from taking your soul. Sorry Dan.

Dan... It's coming for your soul.. Too.

Presidential runner Dennis Kucinich recently made comments that the US needs to re-establish an old disbanded UFO research group. Apparently it's got all sorts of Air Force guys asking for the same thing.

I touched a UFO: ex-air force pilot

Former pilots and officials call for new U.S. UFO probe

;) @ Steve

Don't worry Dan, I'm sure they'll treat your soul with the utmost respect...but they're still coming for it...

Who will get Dan's soul first? The Marmots or the UFOs? We need a poll!

EDIT:
Wanted to add this news video, comes from the Divine Cosmos website, which serves as the website for someone I have deep spiritual respect for.

Dan... It's coming for your soul...

Hello and good morning everybody. >^_^<