Recorded live from the inaugural MaxFunConEast, International Waters 11 sees Canada and the USA finally face off against each other.

Special guest Michael Ian Black dropped in, with Stop Podcasting Yourself’s Dave Shumka and Graham Clark squaring up against America’s Carol Kolb and Jordan Morris.

Thanks to Alex Adan, Brennan Bullock, Tina McElmoyl, Rebecca O’Malley Donna Vakalis and Kurt Andersen. Written by Sarah Morgan, Jordan Morris, Rob Lim and Colin Anderson. Hosted by Jesse Thorn.

Come and find us on Facebook for more photos and Alice's animated Gif.

And if you weren't at MaxFunCon East, register now for MaxFunCon West at Lake Arrowhead in May.

• Our own Graham Clark, co-host of Stop Podcasting Yourself, has launched my favorite web series of 2012 to-date: “Graham Clark Wilderness Man”. This is must-see internet.
• Eugene Mirman has announced that his first hour-long standup special, Eugene Mirman: An Evening of Comedy in a Fake Underground Laboratory will premiere on Comedy Central at midnight on Dec. 14th. Rumors are suggesting that it will include a theremin. If you’re in NYC, he’ll also be hosting a free simultaneous watching event / celebration at Bell House in Brooklyn.
• The State Department recently invited party-rocker Andrew WK to perform at the US Embassy in Manama. He quickly announced on his own website that he would be a “cultural ambassador” who would unite the human race “with love and partying.” But, sadly, it was not to be. The State Department, shortly after reviewing his “entire body of work” rescinded the invitation. Andrew tweeted later that he believed the trip had been cancelled solely "because I'm too party."
• Louis CK will release his fourth HBO special in early 2013. It will be filmed at one of the stops on his current tour. Good news for you folks without cable: he will eventually make it available as a $5 download from his website.

  

• Your long wait is over: here is Brandon Bird’s T-mas Card for 2012. Fa la la la la, Fool!
• Saddest comedy news of this holiday season: Wyatt Cenac is leaving the Daily Show. His last appearance will be on December 13th - the show’s last edition for this year.
• Happiest news: Both Key and Peele and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell have been renewed for another season.
• Bonus news: Hodgman on both 30 Rock AND the Daily Show this evening. Stay in. Make popcorn.

Graham Clark of MaxFun's Stop Podcasting Yourself has just released his online-only stand-up comedy special. Recorded at Vancouver's Waldorf Hotel last month, Graham's is the first in a series of local stand-up specials. Oh, also it's hilarious.

Download it at thestandupcomedians.com. It's just five bucks!

Our own Graham Clark of Stop Podcasting Yourself is also an accomplished artist who creates charming paintings using his beard as a brush. The subject matter is lively, fun and diverse ranging from a portrait of Don Rickles to two robots playing leapfrog. He has painted and sold more then 50 pieces and donates all of the proceeds to charity.

That's all terrific, but, let's best honest: you've lost countless hours of sleep wondering how he does it, right? Now, finally, you can watch his beard in action!

Video bonus: Graham discusses his painterly technique with an attractive blonde lady wearing a v-neck garbage bag.

On Thursday, September 22nd, the Little Mountain Gallery in Vancouver will host the opening reception for an exhibit of beard paintings created by our own Graham Clark of Stop Podcasting Yourself. What is a beard painting? Well, as the name suggests, it's a work created by the application of paint to canvass using facial hair. Although Graham has been creating paintings this way for some time, it's his first show exhibiting this methodology and the money from any painting sold will go to a charity of the purchaser's choice.

After the opening, the exhibit will run until September 27th. You can find all of the details, including the time and location, here.

This week, highlights from our annual creativity and comedy conference, MaxFunCon. Join us for some excerpts of illuminating talks:

• Thoughts on getting started in public media, the role of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and more from On the Media's Brooke Gladstone. Her book The Influencing Machine is out now.
• A conversation between John Hodgman and Lee Unkrich, director of the acclaimed film Toy Story 3, on making a final sequel to a beloved series. (You can also listen to our past interview with Lee on The Sound here.)

Plus, top-notch comedy from:

• Stop Podcasting Yourself's Graham Clark
• MaxFun favorite Maria Bamford
• UK comedy darling Josie Long
• Our pal Greg Behrendt
• And to close, some musings from veteran road comic Jerry O'Hearn.
  

Our buddy Graham Clark, from Stop Podcasting Yourself, has a tremendous selection of paintings he has masterfully created with his beard. They are currently being auctioned, and SEVERAL OF THE AUCTIONS END TODAY. All proceeds go towards his friend's cancer fight.