I finally got my Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition core rulebook collection yesterday!!! I called home at lunch to see how things were when the wife said ..."you got a package from amazon..", man did the rest of the day drag on. That had to be the longest 4 hours I have had in quite some time. All I could think about was getting home and ripping open that package. Which is exactly what I did the moment I walked in the door.
I haven't read all the way through the books yet, but first off I have to say the artwork is fantastic. I have mixed feelings about what little of the rules I have skimmed. On one hand it seems like the same old D&D we've been playing over the past 7 years, with just a few things to snazzy it up a bit. On the other hand it seems to be both easier and more complicated at the same time. There seems to be more to remember, but then again it is still new and I haven't read the whole thing.
When I do I will definitely be putting my review up, but for now I've got some rules to read and some dice to roll.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Monday, June 9, 2008
Somewhere out there...
Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen donated $30 million for SETI to create an array of 42 radio telescopes in the search for E.T. Over the years SETI has used thousands of other telescopes in their search, but the equipment was usually on loan from other institutions. This array will allow researches to investigate a million different stars and billions of radio channels in their search.
Researchers are still fine tuning the devices, but are hopeful that this array will allow them to more thoroughly search the sky.
Like most people I am optimistic about finding intelligent life on other planets, but not ready to start brushing up on my Klingon and Vulcan, just yet. While I would love to see it happen in my lifetime the universe is a pretty big place and I think it will be quite a while before we have the technological capabilities to find life out there.On the other hand I commend those that keep trying and wish them the best of luck ; nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Researchers are still fine tuning the devices, but are hopeful that this array will allow them to more thoroughly search the sky.
Like most people I am optimistic about finding intelligent life on other planets, but not ready to start brushing up on my Klingon and Vulcan, just yet. While I would love to see it happen in my lifetime the universe is a pretty big place and I think it will be quite a while before we have the technological capabilities to find life out there.On the other hand I commend those that keep trying and wish them the best of luck ; nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
4e Pre-order
I am not one of the fortunate individuals who pre-ordered their copies of D&D 4e from buy.com, so I don't have mine yet. However, since the books are set to release on 6/6 mine should be hitting my front porch in a few short days. Once I get a chance to skim through them I will most definitely be posting my review and opinions of the new rules set.
Weezer: The Red Album
I am a Weezer fan. I have enjoyed every album, for the most part, that the band has ever put out and the Red Album is no different.
When I first saw the video for Pork and Beans on youtube, which is over flowing with youtube celebrities, I immediately began searching itunes for the album to download. It's been a few years since they've had a new album and it has been worth the wait.
The Red Album is possibly one of the most interesting and different Weezer albums to date, yet very reminiscent of their older albums. It starts off with some upbeat pop songs, like you would expect from this band, and evolves into some edgier, more melodic and more mature songs as the tracks progress. Halfway through I got a very real sense that the songs were part of a story, there is a definite rock opera feel.
I've only managed to listen to it in its entirity twice so far, but that sense of a story was definitely there and during the second listen I could actually visualize it. I don't know if this is what the band intended but if not it was a very fortunate mistake. Individually there are a couple of tracks that are not my favorites, and if I heard them on the radio I might take the time to change the channel, but in the context of the rest of the album they fit perfectly.
Over all this is another creative and fun group of songs put out by one of my favorite bands. It may not be for everyone, but I think Weezer fans will be able to appreciate their latest release. If you want some music that is insightful, occassionally deep, and definitely fun, then check it out.
Pork and Beans Youtube video
When I first saw the video for Pork and Beans on youtube, which is over flowing with youtube celebrities, I immediately began searching itunes for the album to download. It's been a few years since they've had a new album and it has been worth the wait.
The Red Album is possibly one of the most interesting and different Weezer albums to date, yet very reminiscent of their older albums. It starts off with some upbeat pop songs, like you would expect from this band, and evolves into some edgier, more melodic and more mature songs as the tracks progress. Halfway through I got a very real sense that the songs were part of a story, there is a definite rock opera feel.
I've only managed to listen to it in its entirity twice so far, but that sense of a story was definitely there and during the second listen I could actually visualize it. I don't know if this is what the band intended but if not it was a very fortunate mistake. Individually there are a couple of tracks that are not my favorites, and if I heard them on the radio I might take the time to change the channel, but in the context of the rest of the album they fit perfectly.
Over all this is another creative and fun group of songs put out by one of my favorite bands. It may not be for everyone, but I think Weezer fans will be able to appreciate their latest release. If you want some music that is insightful, occassionally deep, and definitely fun, then check it out.
Pork and Beans Youtube video
Good Geeks Wear Black
Black t-shirts are a staple of geek culture. You can almost always pick the geeks out of a crowd by the color of their shirt (go to any convention) and the logo/design on the front (almost always relating to gaming, comic books or computers). Here are a few of the multiple reasons for the Geeks Must Wear Black rule.
1. Black tends to be slimming and since geeks tend to survive on Cheetos, Pringles, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Jolt Cola and Mountain Dew (I prefer Mello Yello) we need all the help we can get.
2. Comic book characters look better on black backgrounds, mostly.
3. Black is what cool people wear and there is no one cooler than a geek. Or at least if you are wearing black no one will think your a geek, until they see Spiderman on the front of your shirt.
4. It makes us harder to see at night. So it is kind of like casting an invisibility spell.
5. Geeks are not known for their fashion sense and black goes with anything. So you are never mismatched, unless you are a complete moron, and it is easy to accessorize.
6. It shows off our pasty white skin that we earned from hours of sitting in front of computer screens, dark movie theaters, killing orc in our basement and generally avoiding the terrible UV rays emitted by the sun.
7. Black is the symbol of counter culture. Rockers wear black, beatniks wear black, goths wear black, it helps us show our individuality...by dressing the same. It give us a sense of unity, as Geeks tend to be solitary creatures, who only venture out to replenish supplies, and go to conventions.
8. The coolest superheroes & villains wear/wore black : Batman, Spiderman, Venom, Superman, Punisher, and Ghost Rider are just a few examples.
9. Black is also popular as an indicator of power.
10. Black absorbs all light in the color spectrum. Take that red!
11. Black is seen as mysterious and there is nothing more mysterious than a geek.
12. Chuck Norris wore black, plus has a black belt, and everyone knows he kicks butt.
So there you have it, just a few of the reasons why real geeks wear black.
1. Black tends to be slimming and since geeks tend to survive on Cheetos, Pringles, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Jolt Cola and Mountain Dew (I prefer Mello Yello) we need all the help we can get.
2. Comic book characters look better on black backgrounds, mostly.
3. Black is what cool people wear and there is no one cooler than a geek. Or at least if you are wearing black no one will think your a geek, until they see Spiderman on the front of your shirt.
4. It makes us harder to see at night. So it is kind of like casting an invisibility spell.
5. Geeks are not known for their fashion sense and black goes with anything. So you are never mismatched, unless you are a complete moron, and it is easy to accessorize.
6. It shows off our pasty white skin that we earned from hours of sitting in front of computer screens, dark movie theaters, killing orc in our basement and generally avoiding the terrible UV rays emitted by the sun.
7. Black is the symbol of counter culture. Rockers wear black, beatniks wear black, goths wear black, it helps us show our individuality...by dressing the same. It give us a sense of unity, as Geeks tend to be solitary creatures, who only venture out to replenish supplies, and go to conventions.
8. The coolest superheroes & villains wear/wore black : Batman, Spiderman, Venom, Superman, Punisher, and Ghost Rider are just a few examples.
9. Black is also popular as an indicator of power.
10. Black absorbs all light in the color spectrum. Take that red!
11. Black is seen as mysterious and there is nothing more mysterious than a geek.
12. Chuck Norris wore black, plus has a black belt, and everyone knows he kicks butt.
So there you have it, just a few of the reasons why real geeks wear black.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Summer Movies
What would summer be if Hollywood didn't throw its biggest and best, well at least biggest, blockbusters at us. This year's crop of Summer releases actually looks to be promising. There are more than enough geeky movies coming out this summer, actually in all of 2008, to help insure that our delicate skin maintains its pasty whiteness.
- Iron Man- playing now: If you haven't seen this stop reading now and go see it!
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull- playing now: I've heard mixed reviews on this one. I'll wait for the DVD.
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian- playing now
- Speed Racer- out now: I'll pass
- The Happening- June 13th: Can M. Night Shyamalan recapture the success of Sixth Sense? The trailer looks pretty good.
- The Incredible Hulk-June 13th: It can't be as bad as the last one... can it?
- Get Smart- June 20th: Missed it by that much...
- Wanted- June 27th
- Hancock- July 2nd: I want to see this one. The trailer looks pretty funny, but they took it back for reediting to get a PG-13 rating which probably does not bode well this close to release.
- Hellboy II- July 11th: If it is half as good as the first one it will still be awesome.
- Dark Knight- July 18th: This may be the king of the summer. Everyone will want to see Ledger's last full movie. I've even heard talk of an Oscar nomination and no one has seen the movie!
- X-files: I Want to Believe- July 25th: This probably has no chance against Dark Knight, but I want to believe this will be better than the series finale, really I do.
- The Mummy 3- August 1st: Jet Li as the new kung fu Mummy! Brendon Fraser doesn't stand a chance.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars- August 15th: The Lucas juggernaut rolls on
Comic Book News & Rumors
- Apparently Marvel had a great deal of success with the adaptation of Stephen Kings Dark Tower books and are planning to continue their relationship with the King of Horror. Marvel is now planning to release The Stand in comic book form.
- Invincible Iron Man #1 reportedly shipped with 11 variant covers. Two of these variants had movie photo covers, the newstand edition and the super secret movie version. Expect the variants to be hard to find. 11 Covers! Is it the 90's again?
- Bizarro appeared on the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated. What does a whacked out Superman clone have to do with Baseball? Pick it up and find out.
- Disney is starting their own comic book company called Kingdom Comics. They will adapt Disney classics in the hopes of rejuvenating the properties as well as create new properties that can be developed into movies. This is just Disneys next step towards world domination. When Mickey and Goofy get elected president and vice president it is time to head for Canada.
- Marvel is going to release Marvel Zombies 3. WHY WON'T YOU DIE!!!
- Sales for Marvel's Secret Invasion mini-series are pretty strong. The first issue is said to have sold around the same amount of copies as Civil War #1 and more than twice the number of copies as the final issues of DC's Countdown to Final Crisis.
- Ultimate Alpha Flight made their first appearance in issue #94 of Ultimate X-men. It was revealed that AF and Colossus are all junkies. What is the world coming to!?!? Filthy mutant junkies!
- Barry Allen fans will be happy to know that the character will more than likely be making his come back in Final Crisis.
- I've heard rumors, nothing official, saying that some of our favorite Lanterns may not be green much longer. When the the Blackest Night story line hits next year some fan faves may be trading in their green power rings for violet, indigo, black, red, orange, yellow, or blue ones (seen in GL #25). There have even been some rumblings that DC plans to have Barry Allen come back as a Blue Lantern, but you know how people love to speculate, and it could all be completely false. Still it would be kinda cool.
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