Things are going well here in Indianapolis, and while I have a few minutes on the computer for the first time, I thought I'd let you know that.
Wednesday 11 August 2004
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Michael would have been fourty yesterday. Saturday they dedicated the gaming room of the Game Depot the Michael Jackson Memorial Game Room. Our Paladium group played there that day in his honour. As I missed the session due to work, perhaps some day Wayne will post about it in his in-character journal.
I've been busy, as you can imagine. Yesterday my father treated me to AZ on the Rocks again. I developed some blisters, but I think I'm doing better at this rock climbing thing. Given time, I may actually be competent.
Sunday I lectored, and when I arrived at mass Father Milt told me that we were doing the short form. That's great, but the missilette and the lector workbook don't have a short form listed. Luckily, the Lectionary did and I was able to pull it off as if I had planned for that shorter reading. Father Milt also gave a short homily, unusual for him.
Wow, I had intended a full recap, but its late already. I've been researching stuff for next week's trip, reading the master timeline of the best World of Darkness campaign I was ever in, and chatting with a friend who moved away and hadn't had internet access in months. I'll finish recapping eventually. I swear!
Monday 2 August 2004
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So, another Hexacon bites the dust. Ivan took my sugestion and posted pictures at the end of each day (except Sunday), so check it out. Each of our events were featured, and I've linked them separately below. Also, the Arizona Republic did an article on the convention, which included interviews with a couple of the players from Diagon Alley Live. Check it out.
As much as I've discussed Pokemon Live Action IV in the weeks leading up to Hexacon XIV, I thought I'd share this pic from the game with you:
And here's another pic, this time from Diagon Alley Live:
Thanks to the ConEvents staff for a great convention and the good pictures I've borrowed.
So, I'm sure you'll want highlights. Look for them coming up. I've a lot to do before I can give a recap the time it deserves.
So, what's next? Well, it looks like I have the following schedule for CopperCon XXIV:
Thurs 6pm:prereg panel
Thurs 7pm: GAM 24
Thurs 8:30pm: GAM 22
FRI. 7:00pm -- Meet the Pros
Sat 1pm: KID 07
Monday 26 July 2004
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One man out of his mind, the other out of his... Another shocking link from blueyoohoo.
I felt my IQ drop while watching SG-1. To be honest, it wasn't the episode, it was the commercial for Icebreakers Liquid Ice. So, I decide to complain about it here, and while finding the previous link I discover that it starred Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson. I recognise those names from my coworkers that watch The Simple Life. No wonder I felt my IQ drop. The exploits I hear about those two always make me ashamed to be of the same species.
Anyway, in this episode Agent Barrett and Sam have this whole Mulder and Scully thing going that is kind of cute. Meanwhile, its raining outside finally. I had hoped that would happen as I mowed my lawn this evening. LOL, you've got to love it when the big scarey alien gives you the silent treatment in a holding cell. Here it comes!
Anyway, I'm sure you don't want play-by-play of SG1. Eight days ago An, Tina, and I went to Dragon Bowl before watching Night of the Lepus.
Oh, stab! The final line of this episode is awesome. Have I mentioned how much I love this episode. In fact after Night of the Lepus Tina went to bed while An and I watched this same episode last weekend.
Then on Sunday, I met my mother and step-father at mass. He wanted to watch me lector. That was nice of him. Because of my duties I missed the Paladium game that was held at Webb's house. Wayne called and told me about it that night after mass. They met a man with a sword which cursed him with eternal life. Forth Fang took the sword to help end his life, and agreed to take the sword to a dwarven forge to unmake it. Then they went to his village to get his name. The elf staged an archery contest in their village, in which Fletcher won second place. The wolfen accepted a duel with a passing knight of the Wolfen empire. And that's all I know of what happened.
Friday was Monte's Star Trek Feng Shui campaign, this time up here at my place. We followed the map down the river to the village housing the orb. As we staked it out we discovered that the other members of our tour were prisoners of the village. Then, suddenly, we found ourselves in a pitched battle aboard a starship: Starfleet personell versus Romulans and Klingons! Keoc was in full Klingon gear on one side while Ben, Fiora, and Mathias were in full Starfleet gear on the other. Keoc immediately crouched low and began shouting that the orb had done something to us.
And did it ever! Fiora was now a lieutenant medical officer, Ben a lieutenant commander, and Mathias a lieutenant security officer. Even more bizarre, Fiora was no longer a Vulcan, but an Andoran! Mathias was no longer a Betazed but a Ferengi! Eventually we defeated all of the Klingons and Romulans except Keoc, took him into custody, and decided to go to Ben's room on the ship to discover what happened. It was ten years later to the day. We pulled up a news article of our rescue from the Bajoran enclave which showed us as our new races rather than our original. We pulled up Starfleet records from our Academy freshman year and discovered that even those showed our new races. Apparently we all graduated from the Academy, with Keoc resigning his commission and joining the Klingon Empire.
That's when the door chirped. It was a Vulcan and a Cardassian claiming to be the two security cadets who fell under the arrows of the Bajoran enclave! So we went to Medical and tested each of us. Ben and Keoc had slight traces of dilithium in their bloodstream, but the rest of us checked out clean.
Saturday was Steve's FR3.0. Kitty and Rusty had to replace their dishwashing machine, so they missed out again. We healed up from the displacer attack, skinned the beasts for the human scout, and resumed traveling with him in tow. Along the way we noticed three humanoids keeping their distance from us. Eventually we passed through the mirthil before camping for the night. The next day we reached Myth Drannor while the Cult of the Dragon fought the Knights of Myth Drannor in the streets. Cap suggested using the distraction to slip in undetected. That's when Valor chipped in that he agreed!
It turned out that he and two other drow were the ones that had been avoiding us. An uneasy discussion followed. Eventually, we were at such an empass Cap started discussing things with Valor in Druidic as they headed toward the ruins. Eventually the human scout couldn't resist any longer and tried to shoot Valor from behind. Unfortunately the mithrill caused a three second delay between when the sound occurred and the shot actually happened, allowing them to duck. He shot off a Briar Web, capturing everyone but the human and dwarven fighter who had taken up the rear. The drow called some dragon-like humanoids from the conflict in the ruins before quaffing potions of gaseous form. We took out the leader before scaring the others off. Then the group decided that if Valor wanted us not to help the knights that we had better do so. Well, Cap and Magnus disagreed, but they were outvoted by the lawful good types.
Today I got a postcard from my camping grandparents complaining that I've ignored their last three E-mails. Oops! I've been so Hexacon oriented when on the computer that I haven't been checking all of my E-mail accounts. I don't think they'll appreciate it if I hold off until after Hex either. Bad Paul!
Father Rich bored half of mass with his clinical homily. He meant well, but people were nodding off, kids started running around, and most people were shifting around in the pews before he was done. He could have totally used an editor to cut it down. He danced around and repeated his point too many times to keep people's interest. Maybe that's why we got a replacement associate pastor so quickly. Pray for the guy and hopefully he'll improve.
Anyway, it is late enough that I should be going to bed. More Hexacon work looms for tomorrow. Night!
The University of Blogging
Presents to
chernabog
An Honorary
Bachelor of
Emo
Majoring in
Bad Poetry
Signed
Dr. GoQuiz.com
®
"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go." ~William Feather
Thursday 22 July 2004
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How safe are the airways? Thanks to blueyoohoo for the link. I'll be taking my first post 11-9 flight next month so I have to start preparing as soon as Hexacon is finished.
Doing laundry. Doing dishes. Working on DAL. Using this as a short break to keep my sanity. Tired. Hope yesterday's post wasn't too disjointed. I'll continue my weekend recap in another post. Today we'll deal with today!
So I check my E-mail tonight after getting home around 21:30 only to discover that KTAR had E-mailed me twelve hours earlier to let me know I had won a pass for two to see the advanced screening of Catwoman. The only catch? Passes were to be picked up between 17:00-18:00 tonight for the 19:00 showing at Harkins Fashion Square. Oops! I guess they failed to E-mail the notices yesterday when they were supposed to do so. I wonder how many others missed their opportunity? Free was about the only way I was going to see this movie anyway. While I like comic book movies, this one didn't look like it was going to be much of a winner.
Before that, while I'm in the grocery store line, I was behind these two ladies who are using their outdoor voices to talk to each other, despite being close enough to touch each other. The one lady was explaining how this guy she's "seeing" wanted to "you-know" and how she had to emphasise to him that they were only "special friends." They lamented the fact that the guy just didn't "get it." She then confided to her friend (still in that outdoor voice while in the grocery store line) that she didn't love the guy and that his chances of "ever getting...." were non-existant. And people wonder why I'm disgusted with the typical dating scene? Who the heck would want to put up with sex being so casual? Who'd want to put up with stupid euphemisms such as "special friend"? Who'd want to put up with people who can't be honest with each other but instead talk behind their backs to their close friends (and dozens of strangers)?
So, I just reviewed DeAnna's work on the DAL Dueling Rules. They seem adequate for the job. I'm not sure what could have been unclear to Wayne. If anyone who reads this will be at Hexacon this year, we can always use more Diagon Alley merchants. Hint! Hint!
Hmmm, come to think of it as long as I'll be in Tempe for Hexacon XIV next week, I should see about contacting Linda about those jelly babies she brought back from the UK before she eats them.
Sleep calls to me. DAL can wait. Night!
Another quiz taken from the pages of jada_marnew:
You are a Trekkie!
It's a geek, Jim! You probably have a starfleet uniform and a tricorder. Bonus points if you speak klingon. One day you will walk down the aisle with your buttertroll trekkie partner, humming to the Yoyager theme.
More Quizzes at Go-Quiz.com
"The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." ~Abraham Lincoln
Wednesday 21 July 2004
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"Who--who are you?"
"I am the Master, and you will obey me!"
Awesome, just awesome. The continuing audio adventures of Doctor Who did a good job of having the Master in an episode without actually saying as much anywhere on the packaging. That way we the audience could be just as surprised as we would have been had this been a television series episode.
So, I've been busy with DAL work. Creating shop inventories, motivations, and clues. Thank goodness for the Harry Potter Lexicon! Poor Wayne had to hear me vent my frustrations about Phoenician weather wimps at one point this weekend. All he had wanted to talk about was the Paladium session I missed and check on the status of my DAL work.
So, I hear that the premiere of Stargate: Atlantis was good. I'm hoping that will hit syndication like SG1 has so that I'll be able to watch it. I'm enjoying the Jonas season which is in syndication now.
Eventwise, Friday was Monte's Star Trek: Star Fleet Academy (powered by Feng Shui) campaign. Each of us was separately attacked by a gnarled horror tentacle while in the shower. It turned out that the tentacle was just a mechanical piece of salvage from our survival mission. It was being used in a prank by older cadets who had also once been through the ordeal.
We were put aboard the USS Hathaway to get more shipboard practice, shadowing officers while they were doing their jobs. Eventually, we docked with DS9 for supplies and were given a week's leave. We explored the Promenade, and at my character's suggestion booked a tour of Bajor.
During one portion of the tour we entered a primative enclave, where possesion of technology could get you in trouble. They even had a major jamming signal covering the entire enclave. We took a Bajoran boat down the river into it, and stopped at a small village (who main economy was obviously centered around the tourist) for the night. When a Ferengi was caught pickpocketing, a Bajor threatened him. That caused the Ferengi's Klingon friend to defend him. Fiona cornered the Ferengi as he tried to escape during the confusion. Meanwhile, my character looked around to see if this distraction was being used by anyone else. That when he noticed another Bajoran watching him, who turned away when noticed.
After the authorities arrested the brawlers, Fiona had the Ferengi pay both of the combatants' fines using his illgotten funds. Meanwhile, the Bajoran who had been watching me passed by my table and whispered that he wanted to talk. A few minutes later I joined him outside, and our small talk was cut short when he touched my character's face and declared that his Pah was strong. It was then that he discovered that the Bajoran was a member of the Bajoran governement asking him to rescue one of the sacred Orbs from the technophobic enclave members. He claimed that they kept the Orb to themselves rather than share it with all of Bajor, letting no one see it. Treaties prevented the Bajoran government from directly involving themselves with its freedom, but indicated that a few Star Fleet cadets working on their own accord would be likely forgiven their rash actions.
When questioned how that didn't conflict with the Star Fleet regulations against interfering with primative cultures, the government agent pointed out that these Bajorans were members of the UFP and living on a technological world. He also pointed out that the jamming signal showed that they did use technology when it suited them. So fully convinced, the team was gathered. When the group started dragging the government agent supplied boat to the shore, we were suddenly come upon by arrows! The primative Bajorans were shouting anti-technology slogans as they massacred the people in the village. Our two other security cadets were killed, but we killed a few of the Bajorans as well. Then we headed on down the river.
When he called it a night, Monte told us that the name of this episode is "The Orb of Darkness". Nooooo!!! We headed down a river in search of treasure among technology-rejecting primatives. Monte has seen both movies, so I'm fairly certain that I'm not missing his inspiration for this storyline. We're so doomed!
Hmmm..it's late. I'll post more later. In the meantime, here's a little quiz I borrowed from jada_marnew:
PARENTAL
ADVISORY
CHERNABOG CONTAINS
EXPLICIT LYRICS
From Go-Quiz.com
"If our life is ever really as beautiful as a fairy-tale, we shall have to remember that all the beauty of a fairy-tale lies in this: that the prince has a wonder which just stops short of being fear. If he is afraid of the giant, there is an end to him; but also if he is not astonished at the giant, there is an end of the fairy-tale. The whole point depends on his being at once humble enough to wonder, and haughty enough to defy." ~G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
Friday 16 July 2004
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Monday I paid bills, mowed and weeded the lawn, and met up with Mer and Charles. Charles hasn't changed much in ten years, and it was good to see him again. We went to a place called Ono Hawai'ian Barbeque Grill, a Hawai'ian fast food place. Afterward, we were unsuccessful in talking Mer out of going to the old hs campus. We tried explaining that it would most likely be closed. But she took us there, and then ignored my pleas to check into the office for permission to be on campus. When asked, "what's the worst that could happen?" I replied to her, "We get arrested for tresspassing." Eventually, we were warned off campus by a custodian using the summer break to wax the floors. Then we went to her place, where she returned my Star Wars Holiday Special tape that she's been borrowing since the holidays. We also picked up some photographs to be scanned at my place. Then it was off to the Harkins Camelview to see Super Size Me, an awesome movie. Finally, we went to my place, scanned pictures for Charles and Mer, and parted ways. All in all, it was good to see them both again. Next time we might drag Claudia out with us. Soon we might have the whole old gang!
Tuesday night I watched the final episode of Shada, a rewarding experience to be sure. Afterward I worked some on editting our TFLAS page on the Hexacon XIV page.
Last night we had another Diagon Alley Live meeting at the fifteen day mark. We still have a lot of work to go, so if I don't post here much its likely because of that. In fact, I should be doing some of that now. Aloha!
I stumbled across a few unusual ambiguous predictions for my morrow, using terms I had previously never seen such as "sextile" and "trine". They were so interesting, that I am sharing them here in context instead of my usual quizes:
«July 16: Venus Sextile Mars
Get your calendar ready -- your social life is about to take off! You'll meet all social situations with ease, but you'll be especially adept at connecting with the opposite sex. You'll naturally know how to approach people without being too aggressive. This balance will make you more attractive in a general sense, but the benefits will be especially obvious in the bedroom. Not with someone? Pay some extra attention to your crush -- and don't be surprised when you end up with a date!
July 16: Venus Trine Neptune
Love is in the air this week! When Venus trines Neptune, we tend to see the world through rose-colored glasses. What feels like true love may turn out to be just a fun little tryst, but either way, you'll enjoy the experience. You may also find yourself in a dreamy state, not wanting to cope with the real world. Focus your energy on creative projects if you can.
July 16: Mars Opposes Neptune
Feeling a bit odd today? When the planet of passion opposes the planet of illusion, ambiguity reigns. Remember that things aren't always as they seem; it's better to wait until you have all the facts instead of relying on blind faith alone. Since you may be more gullible than usual, keep your eyes open and your wallet closed until you are feeling more clear-headed.»
Wednesday 14 July 2004
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You know how us Phoenicians are when we think we might have some rain to go out and enjoy. This'll be the first monsoon of the season to hit inside town. I'll have to pack my gear for water resistance tomorrow morning. Anyway, where was I?
On Sunday the gang came over for Bailey's Paladium campaign. Bill's longbowman was converted over to second edition, healed up by the hermit, and rejoined the party. We then bluffed our way past the kobold families to search for the dwarven forge. On the way we discovered a magical being which fled from us as we tried to approach and flowed us as we left it behind. We eventually figured that the kobolds were keeping it at bay with a bondfire somehow.
Further exploration found a magical iron staff, the big boss's room and its electrically trapped chest, and finally the magic sword and a couple of magical anvils. However, we then found ourselves confronted by the big boss! He threatened to harm us, but we beat him so bad that he fled and took all of the other kobold squatters with him. We then further explored only to find a summoning chamber, doorless jail cells, and a magic longsword. We then decided to try to discover more of the direction where the moving presence was, despite the fact that the summoning room and magical forge were adjacent to each other. This implied that the forge was used to craft the heckspawned-bound magic swords used in the great dwarf/elf war. Sure enough, the second our torch was put out the entity came and started attacking Val's hp and isp.
Luckily, Maedros carries a candle with him in his gear, and we were able to flee to safety. Eventually, Maedros summoned a water elemental to destroy the summoning room and the forge before we fled with the "salvaged" kobold crafted weapons.
After the game, Mom attended mass with me while her husband was teaching a tribal court class up north for the weekend. Father Milt challenged us to be the good Samaritan, despite the difficulties within our hearts.
It's getting late, so I'll recap the rest of the week Thursday night. Tomorrow I have another Diagon Alley Live Action meeting after work. Have a great week, everyone!
Ninety-six years later and we have come closer to some than others, but we have come closer:
"It is conceivable that we are going more and more to keep our hands off things: not to drive horses; not to pick flowers. We may eventually be bound not to disturb a man's mind even by argument; not to disturb the sleep of birds even by coughing. The ultimate apotheosis would appear to be that of a man sitting quite still, not daring to stir for fear of disturbing a fly, nor to eat for fear of incommoding a microbe. To so crude a consumation as that we might perhaps unconsciously drift." ~G.K.Chesterton, Orthodoxy -
A Flap Over 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'
Well, Rusty's decided to quit running games for the time being, especially his Shadowrun campaign. It sounds like Tom might have something to do with it. So Jen, Kitty, Monte, Rusty, Trav, and I had a barbecue in the park Friday night. It sounds like Monte's Feng Shui campaign might become the new Friday night game.
Saturday Kitty, Monte, Rusty, and I saw Kill Bill Volume II at Tempe Cinemas. It was another great QT film. Afterwards, we hit a nearby Chuy's so Monte could participate in karaoke night.
Hmmm...it sounds like a monsoon storm is going on outside. I'll be right back...
Friday 9 July 2004
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Today I received one of the most awesome gifts I've ever received: a trip to GenCon! No kidding! I'm excited, and honoured, that Steve and Troy decided to make me the beneficiary of the tickets they had intended to be for Jackson. I know he always enjoyed GenCon Milwaukee. So much so that he, Steve, and some of the others used to always try talking the rest of us into going. Monte ended up hating it because of the incidental costs of being there for a week. Wayne disliked it, too, but its been so long I don't recall why.
Currently Playing
Spider-Man 2 - Music From And Inspired By
By Various Artists
"Vindicated" by Dashboard Confessional video on Launch
see related
So, because I'm still a little stunned, I don't really have much else to say. If you want, read A Hero A Day Keeps the Turco Away. It's a good exploration of the superhero movie genre. Have a great weekend everyone!
"The essence of all pantheism, evolutionism, and modern cosmic religion is really in this proposition: that Nature is our mother. Unfortunately, if you regard Nature as a mother, you discover she is a step-mother. The main point of Christianity was this: that Nature is not our mother: Nature is our sister. We can be proud of her beauty, since we have the same father; but she has no authority over us; we have to admire, but not to imitate." ~G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy
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