THURSDAY
Posted September 2nd, 2010 in Comics, Animation, Comedy, family, Games, books, TV, Disney, cats, robots, Culture, entertainment, writing, Lonely Pond Productions, Inc., movie, insomnia, Reading, Blink Kitty Love, Twitter, science, Warehouse 13, web
Starbucks has posted a new menu for the Fall and the green tea latte is not on it. Currently, our favorite Starbucks still has green tea powder and will make it for me, but soon, very soon, I fear I am going to have to start packing my own matcha.
Have been going to the library more, which is great. I like reading moods. Finished The Genius In All Of Us yesterday, a good clear quick read revising the accepted view of how genes and environment interact and what circumstances create genius/talent. Today, I skipread through The Best Time Travel Stories of The 20th Century. Connie Willis’s “Fire Watch” reminded me of how excellent and moving her time travel stories are. All I could think after reading it is people (and cats and/or other furry creatures) and your relationship with them are really the only things that matter. Willis’s The Doomsday Book is both one of the scariest books I have ever read and one of the best. And then you pick up To Say Nothing of the Dog, a lighthearted time travel romp using the same time travel apparatus/suspects as The Doomsday Book. Her Bellwether has nothing to do with time travel, but everything to do why we behave the way we do and is the book I recommend to everyone (yes, that means you.) And, checking her website for titles, I discover she has a new time travel book Blackout. Its companion All Clear will be coming out in October. Found a cool interview with Ms. Willis about why she wrote Blackout and All Clear, as well as her next project.
Terry Pratchett also has a new book, I Shall Wear Midnight (GREAT title) coming out next month, revisiting the world of Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men. The three previous books have been some of his best work, less rambling than he tends to get when he visits Ankh-Morpork in his “adult” books. So Tiffany in Ankh-Morpork should be fascinating.
I have been reading many blog posts from i09 recently, about must read science fiction and Warehouse 13 reviews. We still seem to agree on most Warehouse 13 points. The last episode, Vendetta, was uneven; the plotting of the Russian angle seemed shaky. Always good to see H.G. Wells and it was great how as soon as she was announced as a fully reinstated agent, you realized that could NEVER work. Even before Artie flipped out.
Weekend plans, I know you’re always interested in these. Well, if you missed it, it’s Camp Rock 2 weekend and I have a Disney, Jonas Brothers loving cat. So we’ll be watching that. Gayle requested I bump Casablanca to the top of the Netflix queue so we’ll pause a moment while I do that. It should arrive Saturday.
Last Netflix DVD we watched was The Bannen Way. Didn’t finish it. Liked the Jaguar, but I always like a snazzy car. Came to the conclusion today that even morally grey heroes care about something — the next whiskey, the current client and her nicely hourglass figure, the partner, a code, the money…something. The characters in The Bannen Way didn’t even care enough to qualify for nonchalance in a strung together collection of mob movie/heist cliches boosted with large doses of titillation.
My favorite web series continue to be Odd Jobs(well written and acted, care is obviously taken by creator Jeremy Redleaf), The Web Files(good behind the scenes and on the spot coverage of what’s happening in the web world, hosted by Kristyn Burtt), Space Hospital(yes, I’m a sucker for robots, special effects and bad 70’s spoofing), Movies You May Have Missed(which I don’t get to watch often enough because the episodes are 20-25 minutes and the movies sometime involve zombies, although they do try for unusual zombies), The Guild I am still enjoying in comic book form, and sometime I plan to catch the goofiness that is Safety Geeks: SVI, especially now that they’re working in 3-D. Oh, and sometime I need to catch up with Chick too (sucker for superheroes) which also brings up the dancing heroes of The LXD And no news on new B.J. Fletcher episodes. I would love new B.J. Fletcher episodes. NOW. Or sooner.
Doing some research/doodling for new projects. I’ve put Blink Kitty Love on hiatus for awhile and changed my Twitter handle to @mdnightmaverick. The Prometheus Film Festival was fun. We enjoyed Pure Imagination, a short documentary about comics creation + creativity that talked to creators like Kyle Baker and Joe Staton (E-Man is one of my favorite comics ever) Gayle, Calvin and I got to see Jabberwocky and Skate Street on a big screen. Jabberwocky looked much better than I expected (I’ve been grumping about the camera but I seem to owe it an apology.) And I feel like I got to check off an accomplishment, having my fellow Lonely Pond Production adventurers be able to see their hard work in a public venue. So now I’m trying to focus on things I want to do as an individual.
Oh, and worst shirt.woot derby (Cryptozoology Redux) so far for me. Didn’t end up voting for any of the shirts in the fog. And last week’s Double Take Derby and subsequent Editor’s Choices ignored the one design I wanted, a very cool map in the shape of a dragon. Which might be good because I’m broke but isn’t really fun. Couple of cool Tilteed shirts wandered by but I was holding out for the dragon map so now suffering t-shirt withdrawal.
Rest of weekend plans? Read, clean up, enjoy the weather once it gets COOL again, find some cool new things to cook (I need new breakfast options). Entertainment Weekly suggested the Reiner Knizia’s Samurai game/app in this week’s The Must List so I might try that instead of Civilization Revolution. May also sneak out to a $2 movie or the new Justin Long/Drew Barrymore comedy.
And I think I’m rambling. Enjoy your holiday weekend. Suggest books, web series, strategy games in the comments or @ me on Twitter. Good night!
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PUNFULS OF FUN (+ WERETACOS)
Posted July 29th, 2009 in Comedy, family, Games, Culture, entertainment, Adventure, insomnia, Twitter, meandering, Current Events
Having realized that in my heart beats the rhythm of Disco Banditry, I’m going to furlough Flagamuffin to focus on the Wild and Wooly Adventures of larf — currently wearing an eXtreme scarf + fighting an upgraded ram on the slopes of The Icy Peak) in Kingdom of Loathing. KOL is a blast to play, full of fun, sharpness, references that make me both laugh + think and not nearly as boring as trying to be a proper holy paladin in World of Warcraft (thanks ever so for the pep talks, Beau ; / ) Apparently, the KOL PTBs are trying to convince “some folks” they rock so they asked for shout outs on their Twitfeed–and they caught me on my shout out night (you could too; @ me)
All I demand as tribute is the right to buy something with a weretaco printed on it.
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OK
Posted January 2nd, 2009 in Animation, Comedy, Games, TV, music, Culture, Arts Commentary, Big Bang Theory, movie, insomnia
Lastfming (once I take my computer off mute); first song Esperanza Spalding’s Perazela, I don’t think I’m alert/awake enough for scatting so let’s try again. Ah, now Sigur Ros’s Vaka…so if I’m suddenly sounding Icelandic you’ll know why.
Pulled out the rough draft of what I shall be referring to as “THE MYSTERY.” As aforementioned, I was disappointed that I haven’t been able to work on it at all. But having ditched the actual paying freelancing gig to work on the projects I’ve been neglecting for phone tag, I am going to start reworking it — first step reading it and deciding which of the multiple narrators to save/alter. It was inspired by my Chet Gecko/Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew phase as well as the nieces and nephews so for those of you hoping for The In The Bleak December sequel, we’re not there yet. But I think you’ll still enjoy this one once I’ve improved it a little.
I always hand write the first draft — this time in medium sized cardboard covered Moleskin notebooks (7 total) that fit handily by the side of the bed. Then I use typing it into the computer as a way to clarify and distill the initial inspiration. This one may be due for another hand written take; I’ll know more once I read it.
I will be taking a break for my Chinese New Year art meditation in a couple of weeks. My acupuncturist has copied for me some commentary on the Ox Herding pictures, classics of Zen Buddhism but is encouraging me to find better art than the small printed version online. I’m hoping to do a couple of animations as well as returning to more traditional art forms as well (last year my first Toon Boom test was a Year of The Rat animation — Studio Express didn’t work; FlipBoom did and we fell in love.)
Had my standard audition nightmare about the upcoming “Taming Of The Shrew” (they usually happen about six months before the actual auditions). This time, I was underprepared, couldn’t find scripts in the strange high school type office while the unfamiliar auditorium was full of actors, some of them professionals, I think. Some years, the nightmare is I’m prepared and nobody shows up. Underprepared makes sense after my sabbatical year from theatre. Moliere will help with that, although I think “The Miser” might be a difficult warm up as I’ve never done French farce before. But I have done an excellent “The Importance of Being Earnest” so I’m going to try to channel that.
Want to relax and have nothing on the schedule this weekend. Broke so lots of cooking in with maybe a little Mexican takeout and perhaps a visit to Starbucks for tea on the way to or from a two dollar movie (I haven’t watched anything on the big screen since High School Musical 3 opened and that’s too long.) Will also be playing World Of Warcraft with the little brother and trying to get a group together for dungeon questing — anybody playing in Arthas and nearing Level 40?
I’ve sicced the little brother on The Girl Who Leaped Through Time quest. He’s my other anime resource and has a NetFlix account so check back in February or so for a review. Mel has loaned my SteamBoy for my next bite of anime.
Bonus Big Bang Theory last night. Sheldon and Penny and the online role playing game — priceless stuff when Penny breaks into to Sheldon’s bedroom and Leonard catches her on the way out.
Looking forward to Nick’s Kisses and Misses new eps this weekend. I’m thinking Gibby gets to kiss somebody interesting; Gayle doesn’t see how Freddie and Sam could possibly work. Caught part of iGo Japan again — still some great stuff at the end and Freddie’s mom is comedy gold.
And thank you to whoever runs The N’s programming and has a wicked sense of humor for putting Radio Free Roscoe on all next week from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. That’s my prime sleep time. Stay tuned to see if insomnia or RFR wins.
Have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. One of my favorite songs (New Radicals “Someday We’ll Know” will be playing us out.
Oh and the FT’s been a bit dull over the holidays, although I have been enjoying The Economist’s year end issues. And when Entertainment Weekly offered me a year for $10, I caved. Gayle apparently likes when I read out highlights and the Hit List guy is funny.
NB: Interesting thing about The Economist’s one page summary of things going on in the World in 2009. The only movie or TV show to make an appearance on it is Star Trek XI. Right up there with the Oscars, The Venice Biennale and Asterix’s 50th birthday.
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SERIOUS THINKING FROM THE ORIGIN POND
Posted December 8th, 2008 in Animation, Games, Culture, movie
(From the original blog verbatim but with a paragraph break - get some blogging software withoutabox and yes, I’m in a mood — hi):
Have missed you all — quick roundup — some sadness, Pongo the cat had a stroke and died last week so things have been a little rough around here…still haven’t recovered my FlipBoom mojo. Had the annual meeting and agreed that yes, we want to keep doing movies. Pushing via the Blogverse for Disney to broadcast High School Musical 3 over the holidays and cheer Flash up. Want to rip the wrap on Kung Fu Panda sometime soon. Playing World of Warcraft with the little brother and enjoying it — I miss playing games with family and friends. Thanksgiving was great for that.
Had a good time at DreamWrights last night; good to see Diane, excellent performance by the gentleman playing the grown up Tiny Tim. Have decided people should write better children’s plays — or just better plays, Madeline L’Engle always said she just wrote good books, not specifically children books — so that the often times very good acting you can find at community theatres can be helped by good lines and great characters. Another quest to add to the to do list — I have the outline of a tall tale play — who doesn’t love the Wild Wild West — well, yes, anyone with an ounce of compassion and an awareness of history, but tall tales can be fun and wacky and…well, this is going to turn into a doctoral level thesis on how everyone’s childhood is a morass of things that can’t be tolerated today but that’s just because I’m annoyed about the whole day without gays things…if I take a day off, the only person I hurt is myself…Marches on Washington I can get behind, but you really should be careful about language choices. Leadership doesn’t come from anything that can be interpreted as the act of a sullen and immature person. Leadership comes from seizing the seat that you deserve as much as the person next to you, and then, letting them sit in it because their packages are heavier than yours. Anyway, forgive the rant and do your best work on Dec. 10th, gay or straight. That’s how you change the world.
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WORLD OF FAMILY GAMEQUEST
Posted December 2nd, 2008 in Games
The Warcraft neophyte reports in: Well, this time I met up with brother Beau, survived(athough I did just start over with a new character, clear the slate, it’s often a morale booster), gained levels, glowed a little and did all those fun things I remember from D+D…and yes, I come from that kind of family and I was usually the DM…just another storytelling manifestation. Anyway, I’m exploring WOW as a family thing — my nephews adore it, being orcs, crushing things, etc. Both their parents play, but on a different server. Thanksgiving, we played long distance MarioKart on the Wii and when you added in the speakerphone on my cell, it was a little like being in the same room…
This, I guess, is the year I explore alternate strategies for keeping in touch with family. Meeting at the King Of Prussia mall works, but doesn’t happen often enough. None of us are really phone people — we’re more pull out Settlers of Cataan, Blokus or Scrabble — or if it’s a nice day, take the football outside or go play on swings. So phone calls don’t really cut it; you have to share an activity. So I’m trying out WOW…
Fun inexpensive family game suggestions: Flux — a great card game — and from the Games 100 list, Go Nuts. Found that one in a game store two weeks ago, tried it out with friends and had a blast. Same night we played the new Risk, which was an interesting way to make the old Risk less of a time eater. Enjoyable. But what I am really enjoying right now is “de blob” for my iPod — the last level’s impossible, but the rolling gameplay rocks and it’s nice to bounce through town making citizens colorful and happy.
O.K., for further me + WOW + little brother/sister/nephew/brother-in-law updates, you’ll have to head here; this blog ranges enough. And I’m always on the lookout for new family friendly games; let me know if you find one.
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ADVENTURES WITH A KOBOLD SHOVEL
Posted December 2nd, 2008 in Games
Today, my character only died twice, raised several levels, hacked a whole lot of kobolds to pieces and actually FINISHED 4 quests…it helped that I finally met my little brother there — ok, not so little, 6′1” and bearded. I did start over…decided to not be a night elf druid and switched to a human paladin, the better to hit things and heal. Very reminiscent of D+D questing but not quite the vividness of the imagination, although very richly detailed. Fun to watch Beau’s character jump around like a maniac frog to try to get my attention. He only had to call three times before I figured out the mighty apple mouse is absolutely no good for Warcraft…so I had to figure out how to use the Wacom tablet for the better hacking of goblins. Still need bags of gold, but a much better experience…have mace, will travel, I guess. My character’s at an inn in Goldshire and I think Beau went off to play with one of his 70+ level characters…so the trial continues.