Mug Design #1 - Mr Caffeine for President

Everyone else is getting ready for 2016, so why not Mr. Caffeine?



(c) 1988, 2013 The Animating Apothecary



Coming soon from cafepress....maybe too soon...
In the meantime...
See the first volume of sketches at http://www.lulu.com/shop/jim-middleton/uncle-stans-profusely-illustrated-world-no-1/paperback/product-20701680.html

A blast from 1974

Ev Nienhouse was among the finest instructors to stimulate a frontal cortex - and in the 1970s, when the concept of college video production was something other folks did, he and Gary Nash created a series of instructional tapes that were meant to run in tandem with the Morrison and Boyd textbook in use at Ferris State College.  With laboratory work being somewhat dry (or somewhat explosive, depending on the reagents used), they enlisted some student help to create 'commercials' for the course.  Here is one, back when we all had more hair, and it was mostly one color....

Strange - and possibly TRUE!

See the whole first volume! http://www.lulu.com/shop/jim-middleton/uncle-stans-profusely-illustrated-world-no-1/paperback/product-20701680.html

James B. Turner, WGADOSA (1927-2013)

From the Big Rapids Pioneer:
BIG RAPIDS James Bevier Turner, 85, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, supported by his family's presence and gentle care. Jim was born on May 26, 1927, in Flint, the second son of William H. and Geneva Postal Turner, who preceded him in death. His older brother, William Postal Turner, passed away in 1949.  

James Turner, WGADOSA

In 1948, after serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and continuing his studies in pharmacy, Jim married Helen Joan Moore; together they had two children, Nancy E. (Ed Andres) Turner, of Traverse City, and James J. (Denise Sloan) Turner, of Lansing.

In 1988, he married the former Wanda V. Johnson and enjoyed that nearly 25-year union until his death. They enjoyed many years together and especially enjoyed spending time each summer at Sturgeon Bay. Surviving are his wife, Wanda; his two children, Nancy and James; and two grandchildren, Erin (Ben Scott) Sloan-Turner, of Macomb, Ill., and Patrick Sloan-Turner, of Burbank, Calif.

He will be remembered by two beloved local families, Curtis Erb and his son, Jaden, and Lois and George Helbert, as well as Wanda Johnson family living in Virginia, North Carolina and Ohio. Among others are the cronies who were regulars with him on the golf course, those who fly-fished with him on the Au Sable and the guys who swapped lies at the early morning gatherings at Currie's.

Under the mentorship of his maternal grandfather, Jim became captivated with fly-fishing at a very early age. He learned all about fly-fishing, including how to tie his own flies, thanks to his beloved grandfather. As well, he was introduced to golf at age 8; that avocation became another passion for life. He was especially proud of winning the club championship in 1980 at the (former) Meceola Golf and Country Club where he was a member since 1961.

Jim also had a love of music, inheriting that love from his mother who taught piano in the West Michigan area for decades. He especially loved to sing, starting as a member of the boy's choir at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids with his older brother and then continued singing throughout much of his life, most recently under the direction of Bill Donahue in various locations around the area. He also was a very fine cook, especially enjoying preparing breakfast for his grandchildren and wife Wanda.

Jim was an active volunteer in the area as well, chairing the Survivor's Walk for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life in Mecosta County for 10 years. Additionally, he enjoyed being involved with the Meals on Wheels delivery in Big Rapids; he not only delivered nutritious meals but also provided an essential connection to the outside world and a social respite for those who received the meals.

Professionally, Jim was singularly involved in the practice and teaching of pharmacy and administration of the student academic affairs function at Ferris State University. He graduated from the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in 1949. He then practiced as a pharmacist in Alpena, Hastings and Cadillac before purchasing the former Fairman Drug Store in Big Rapids in 1960. He operated the store as Turner Pharmacy until 1975, when the store was sold but still functioned as the Turner Pharmacy. Shortly thereafter, he joined the faculty of the College of Pharmacy at Ferris State University as a teacher of pharmacy practice. He quickly moved into administration in the area of student academic affairs, retiring in 1994 as Associate Dean of Student Academic Affairs. He was awarded the Clark A. Andreson Alumni Recognition Award shortly after his retirement.

During his career at Ferris, Jim was a member of the American Pharmacists Association, Michigan Pharmacists Association and the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. He also met and collaborated with his cohorts in student academic affairs across the nation on a regular basis. He continued his education, earning a Master of Science degree from Central Michigan University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.

Cremation has taken place. In lieu of a traditional funeral, the family will greet friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on March 2, 2013, at the Holiday Inn to celebrate Jim's life.

Memorial contributions may be made to the James B. Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund for the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy. Alternatively, Jim asked that memorial contributions be made to the Mecosta County Habitat for Humanity, Women's Information Services (WISE), the Big Rapids Community Library or the Mecosta County Senior Center (Meals on Wheels and/or Medical Transportation). Hospice of Michigan also is suggested by his family.   (end of Pioneer article)

That's the official line. When growing up in Big Rapids, the Turner Pharmacy was the alternative to the old Martz and Shapley's on the main street, and both places smelled of Robitussin and witch hazel.  Later, as I found myself awash in the often frustrating curriculum of pharmacy at Ferris, Jim Turner was one of those too-rare bright spots in the education sphere there.  His sense of humor was dry and deliciously scewed - and with little provocation he could launch into a Great Carsoni routine or extrapolate from dialogue by Bob and Ray.  He related to me his shock on learning, during his last minute decision to get a retirement physical ("Hey, it was still on the college insurance at that point."), that prostate cancer was a new visitor in his life.  Certainly his bright outlook gave him more time than any physician could have predicted.  "Guess all I have to do now is grow a beard," he said of his retirement in that conversation.  And while his photo above is how many saw him for the past several years, here is the image I recall when thinking of one James B. Turner, The World's Greatest Associate Dean of Student Affairs:  

First Compilation - Uncle Stan's Profusely Illustrated World #1

 OK, it's lulu press, but it's finally done.  Another three expected in the series before the scanner fries....

(c) 2013 The Animating Apothecary

36 pages, black and white illustrations at Lulu Press
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/UncleStan

Here's the cover for the second set of sketches, assembly complete at at LULU:

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/UncleStan

Happy Valentine's Day!

Testing the limits of Der Blogspot's server - a 6 minute video!

Silent Love, ca 1993, rebuilt and completely not color corrected for the 21st Century!

Gibberish - a KAFI 2005 moment

Created for random insertion throughout the Kalamazoo Animation Festival Internationale in 2005.  Never used.  Probably a good thing....

Created in Flash, rendered into a *.mov format from the Flash *.mov format using Quicktime Pro.

HbA1c sketches

In theory, this shows the cause and effect of blending hemoglobin with glucose - creating glycosylated hemoglobin, and with that the monitoring of HbA1c for diabetes therapy 'adherence' (formerly 'compliance', but that term must have sounded too voluntary to marketers...).

1998 The Animating Apothecary

First Commercial Artwork - 1978-79

For the Michigan Pharmacists Association, ca 1978.  Payment - ten big simoleons for each one!



February 1979 Cover Illustration





December 1978 Cover illustration





Interior article illustration - "Winning with ACES" - February 1979



Bad Pun Department

More fooling around with Photoshop:



(c) 2006 The Animating Apothecary

lulu press link:  http://ar.gy/3UB9

W. C. Fields Forever

From the 1993 Calendar.  Colored in 2013.  Some things just take time, ya know?

(c) 1992 The Animating Apothecary

See the whole first volume! http://www.lulu.com/shop/jim-middleton/uncle-stans-profusely-illustrated-world-no-1/paperback/product-20701680.html

Winning the Lottery - American Style

From a pre-1990 calendar...finally got around to colorizing it.  Lovin' that Photoshop!

(c) 1989 The Animating Apothecary

See the whole first volume! http://www.lulu.com/shop/jim-middleton/uncle-stans-profusely-illustrated-world-no-1/paperback/product-20701680.html

Flawed Animated GIF - version 1, then 2, and finally 3

Yep, those mislabeled layers can be pretty darned pesky.....

Pesky, pesky layers.....

So let's try version 2:

And version 3 (interlaced and smoothed colors via Flash CS4):

...ok...have to remember THAT one!

In spite of popular demand - the 2013 Late Edition Calendar!

Cover of the out of print 2013 edition, in full expensive Technicolor (TM).  OK, not really.  Just in color. 

(c) 2013, The Animating Apothecary

Coming Soon to a Checkout Counter Near YOU!

From the 1994 Calendar:


(c) 1993 The Animating Apothecary



lulu press link:  http://ar.gy/3UB9

Confessions by Pharmacists!

From the 2004 calendar

(c) 2003 The Animating Apothecary

See the whole first volume! http://www.lulu.com/shop/jim-middleton/uncle-stans-profusely-illustrated-world-no-1/paperback/product-20701680.html

Benzodiazepine Use, State of Michigan: 2008 vs 2011

While we wait for the posting of the 2012 data this February, here is a rough estimate of benzodiazepine use in the State of Michigan, comparing 2008 with 2011.
I compiled information on the most popular three - alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and clonazepam (Klonopin)
The drugs represent total doses of all strengths in their respective category, regardless of dosage form.  Like I said, it's a rough estimate:

Benzodiazepine Use, State of Michigan
2008 vs 2011
(Source: MAPS online data, www.michigan.gov/lara

) 2011 totals 140,980,138      47,443,216      50,635,373
(doses)       alprazolam       lorazepam      clonazepam
per capita
consumption    14                     4                        5

2008 totals 142,127,310      94,886,436      101,270,751
(doses)       alprazolam       lorazepam      clonazepam
per capita
consumption    14                     9                       19

(Based on 2010 census, State of Michigan population: 9,883,635)

NOTE: Unlike data on narcotic/opiate use, this MAPS information is not yet subdivided into specific zip codes.
When that information becomes available (promised soon), I'll be able to break things to some specific cities and villages in Der Mittenstadt!

Old Apple Storage Building in Battle Creek ca 1840s

It stood alongside the site of the old mill race near downtown Battle Creek (the canal has since been filled in).  When constructed, it was on the southernmost part of the town, facing the mill pond and dams built by the city's founder, Sands McCamly.  It was a tour site for schoolchildren through the 1960s, demonstrating that the walls' thickness could store and preserve apples throughout the year without modern refrigeration techniques.
On Memorial Day, 2011, when tornado-force winds tore through the Surreal City, the building's top was blown off.  The rest of the structure was demolished in record time.
I just happened to have shot some video of the building in 2008.  It took me until now to find it!
And so it goes....

Experimental Video Snippets - Posting #100

Using a Panasonic Lumix video function with Sony Vegas and some ancient cylinder recordings....
Hypno Kitty:

And then some Solar Powered Plastique Animaux:

And, finally, some local Winteriness here in Nippishnessville, Michigan (and not a groundhog in sight):