Introducing the Austinverse!

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Steve

As part of D&D’s 40th birthday this year and my ongoing doodling with rules, options and trying to help other DMs I know, Jeremy and I have started a new site called The Austinverse. Also a fitting 3500th post!

So what exactly is it?

Right now Austinverse is in its formative stage so obviously it’s a work in progress. To get the ball rolling, I posted my an alternate rule I’ve been kicking around for a few years. We’ve both broken down our campaigns: Jeremy’s D&D, Jeremy’s d20 Modern, my D&D/PF and another person’s upcoming Star Wars.

I also want to have ready-made NPCs present. As an experience DM, you can never have too many on hand. Sure the big publishers make volumes of these yet I always have to tweak them because they’re too powerful, have lame-ass names (really, you guys can’t look up all the real names people have had for centuries?) or too generic to function, even on the fly.

The site won’t be much use for most players, it’s meant to be an additional tool for DMs…I mean GMs thanks to DM being copyrighted to Hasbro.

If you’re running a game and would like an account so you can contribute, let me know.

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New podcasts I’m hooked on #4

Posted on June 8, 2014 by Steve

Back in March I was full of fire to keep blathering on about the few podcasts I recommend these days, the ones from a few years ago mostly ran out for me, only On the Media remains. I feel I’m caught up enough to promote the parent show which led to the splintering off of Stuff You Missed in History Class, it’s the long-running, often in the Top 20 via iTunes…Stuff You Should Know.

SYSK is a must have show for trivia fanatics, NPR devotees and wanna be Cliff Clavins. Several times a week hosts (these days) Josh and Chuck pick a random topic to discuss: how to survive a plane crash; what are temper tantrums?; can you outrun an alligator if you zig-zag?; etc. Most of the research is done by other writers at Discovery in Atlanta (where they’re based) and some freelancers their publisher farm the material out to.

The show is truly informative despite Chuck getting caught up in fits of giggling or Josh editorializing his center-right views (he originates from Ohio which is mostly northern Kentucky). Due to their high rankings, they have had a few surprises. My favorite was when they recorded from San Diego’s Comic Con and John Hodgman dropped by. It was the future version of John. He wanted to warn them about upsetting Joss Whedon. A rather fitting gag to squeeze in with the topic the duo was covering, is time travel really possible?

Being a completist, I’m plowing through every episode from the beginning (2008) but much like SYMiHC, it has grown time-consuming since this began as a short show and has exploded to an average of 25 minutes each. Currently I’m at May 2010 with sprinkles of recent installments. Another advantage to having an iPod in the car!

I highly recommend the show. Go through the archives, see the topics and go from there. I find their coverage to be more complete and thorough unlike Cracked non-humor pieces. I do have a bone to pick on how D&D works, it relied too heavily on one of io9.com’s hacks.

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X-Men: Days of Future Past: Worth Seeing*

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Steve

xmendays

* – This chapter in the X-Men films isn’t terribly concerned whether or not non-comic book movie goers are very knowledgeable of this venerable storyline. There is some exposition but the flick doesn’t concern itself if general audiences get it.

I gave up on the X-Men movies after the second installment. The first sucked and reeked of being a long, dull TV pilot. The second was better because it had more action yet I never found it re-watchable. Didn’t bother with the third. Missed the “reboot” showing what the older characters were like when they were entry-level mutants. I did rent it and need to get cracking on it before the 30-day window expires on my iPad. So why see this? When I was a bigger and younger fan of the X-Men comics, this alternate-reality arc created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne was a favorite alongside “The Dark Phoenix” saga. The fallout from the Sentinels ruling the future continued to permeate through the series via a couple key heroes (Rachel Summers, Cable) and villain (Nimrod).

As a movie, it was pretty impressive. The younger and current incarnations of old allies/enemies Professor X and Magneto was a nice touch, especially in succeeding to land all four actors. How the early Seventies are re-visited was pretty hilarious, namely how out of character Nixon was (spoiler alert). The fanboy in me enjoyed the references to what I knew about the Marvel/X-Men universe. I always thought the Sentinels were impossible to make into believable foes that’d translate to the big screen but modern special effects have closed the gap since Terminator 2.

Will there be another sequel? Depends on a couple things. Did this make enough money to satisfy Fox? Looks likely, especially with the slow weekends ahead (Tom Cruise’s version of Groundhog Dog seems dull and Jupiter Ascending was pushed back to next year). Can they get all the key actors to return? It’s leaning toward the younger set because McKellen and Stewart are in their seventies. If you sit through the closing credits you’ll get a hint as to where they’re going. I guessed correctly via the clues.

One major complaint was the apologist message in those closing credits about how many people the production employed…right after the thank you’s to the Canadian and Australian governments for supplying the subsidies to increase Fox’s profit line. Nevermind how many special effects people have lost their jobs in America through production companies going abroad where people are paid crap wages (India, China) or foreign taxpayers get the bill (Canada, Australia).

Alamo Extras: We arrived late and missed the bulk. There were clips from the horrible TV/Fox Adaptation of Generation X; toy commercials, the little boy imitating Rogue’s cajun accent was cute; animated clips from the most common X-Men cartoon; a Lego version of The Wolverine trailer; a Marvel flash mob; and the best was the Pete Holmes bit Ex-Men which was a comedy bit of Prof X laying off the useless team members.

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Game over man!

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Steve

Lego Master Builder Missing Brick (she or he should be labelled one) has a rockin’ Flickr site with the greatest kit-bashing of Aliens. Well, my Lego abilities are pretty unimpressive compared to this person.

I wonder if Missing Brick uses software to figure out which pieces are necessary to construct the vehicles. The marines are just a matter of paint.

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1944: D-Day, 70 years later

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Steve

I’m sure we’ll all be reminded through the day and weekend over the massive landing/invasion/retaking of France. It is tragic to think about all the lives lost so suddenly on both sides thanks to stubborn and/or insane governments at the helm. What’s more frustrating is that the lessons learned from the last good war have been ignored by the newer generations of chicken hawks (aka, pro-war Republicans mostly) who ratchet up their rhetoric and send our forces into needless conflicts. Then they turn around to point the finger at others for being cowards (Clinton had a high lottery number to avoid the draft), traitors (the Right Wing Noise Machine’s constant bitching over the recent prisoner exchange) or saboteurs (there are no confirmed nor proven incidents of Vietnam Vets being spit on by the peace movement, it’s an old myth). Nevermind the chicken hawks’ records on cowardice (W got bumped up in queue for a spot in the Texas Air Guard), betrayal (Reagan traded weapons to Iran for the release of hostages) nor sabotage (the Right often claimed Vietnam was lost because our soldiers didn’t try hard enough). In defense of Republicans/Conservatives who did fight in WWII, from their behaviors, I think they knew the horrors and expressed more caution than the phonies in the party; Jimmy Stewart flew a bomber and refused to make any WWII movies when he returned.

Anyway, I want to thank all the Allied forces who gave their lives. Often this event tends to be very American-centric and overlooks that three of the five beaches were taken by the UK, Canada and the free forces from the occupied nations (Poland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands). I’m certain there were volunteers who originated from the neutral or opposing countries too.

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RIP Ann B Davis

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Steve

The Picayune was enduring the “support” from AT&T India earlier in the week plus my Stars trying to advance to the next round is why this obit is late. Sometimes I would let these things slide as its timeliness has passed but I couldn’t with the lady who played Alice on The Brady Bunch. The often smiling, always cheerful live-in helper on the iconic and unrealistic sitcom was a big part of my growing up.

Although Brady was in syndication when I grew old enough to watch and remember television viewing, it made my parents’ eyes roll. They didn’t find it funny plus it was a former ABC sitcom, back then, the network was the weakest provider of commercial programming. Plus they found the family’s living situation implausible; nine people crammed into a four-bedroom house and no sign of a toilet in its only visible bathroom?The show’s humor wasn’t necessarily its primary appeal to children my age. Sure there were funny bits like Bobby overloading the washing machine or Jan wearing a wig to get out of Marcia’s shadow. Funny to someone under 13. I think what drew me to it was the family’s dynamics and mundane adventures. They got along, they faced bullies, they dealt with personal space issues, rivalries, tattle-tailing. It was an exaggerated projection of how pre-teen kids saw the world or maybe how I they idealized it.

Smack in the middle was Alice. Thanks to Ann’s performance, she was the adopted, kindly, wise and trustworthy aunt to the Brady kids. Someone they could confide in if there was a situation they weren’t comfortable disclosing to the parents. I didn’t see her as a servant, extra wife or employee, Alice was the additional helpful adult all us Gen Xers wish we had in our homes. Her ability to make snacks or assist with the laundry was just cake frosting.

Of all the cameos in the 1995 movie, I was most pleased to see the real Ann B Davis as the truck driver giving Jan a ride. Even more than Florence Henderson as Grandma Brady or Barry Williams as the recording executive ripping on Greg’s awful lyrics.

Although Ann never married nor had any of her own children, I hope she took pride in being Alice for millions of us kids. Making us chuckle with her fateful accident in the dunking tank and spreading the meme, “pork chops and apple sauce.”

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My Stars win 2nd Western Conference title! On to the Calder!

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Steve

Last night, my local team gave my beard a few dozen more gray whiskers. Despite leaving Toronto with a 3-2 series lead, they lost Monday night putting their championship season into serious doubt. That game was ugly. After having a kick-ass penalty kill, the Marlies got under the Stars’ skin with a very physical game. So when game seven appeared to be a repeat of the earlier evening with two immediate goals, two things were racing through my mind. Number one, head coach Willie Desjardins had to find a way to shake the mental warfare the Stars were succumbing to. Number two, despite the Marlies’ lucky pair of points, my team was almost outshooting the opposition two to one, if they could keep bombarding the goalie with at least 30-35 tries, goals would start to happen.

Not sure which solution worked but before the second period ended, the Stars woke up and tied the game. The crowd was fired up. The team was energized. It was a whole new situation.

When the Stars returned from the intermission, they cranked up the energy and clobbered the Marlies with four more unanswered goals. I was relieved with the 4-2 score since they had the insurance goal to make pulling the goalie an unlikely solution…unless they were the Anaheim Ducks.

So my Stars are headed for their second try at the Calder Cup in five years. Not bad for a five-year-old franchise. If this were the NHL, it wouldn’t be quite as impressive. With the AHL any repeated success is difficult due to the league’s focus on development for NHL parents. Come next Fall, we will now have at least two banners to raise at the ceremony. I am now greedy for a third!

The Calder Cup kicks off Sunday with us facing the Eastern Conference champs, the St. John’s Icecaps who were a couple years ago, the Manitoba Moose and are the Winnipeg Jets’ AHL team.

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Happy Birthday Alaire

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Steve

Dr. Alaire celebrates her own private holiday. Since the June cat sitting period begins today, it must be so she can visit the grand-daughters over in San Francisco. I would call my guess an educated attempt because ski season ended a while back.

When she and Tom return, Somara and I will invite them to a nice dinner.

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(Pacifier sound effect)

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Steve

legomaggieComes with Mr. Burns’ Bobo Bear.

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This header is more like it II

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Steve

Technically last month was Batman’s 75th birthday, no wait, March? Or better yet, Bruce Wayne tends to be February 19. Who cares, he is a fictional character and I chose June for  one main reason, it’s also the 25th anniversary of the Tim Burton flick. Initially I thought it rocked but within a few years I realized it didn’t age well (Lost in Space too). Think about this, Batman (1989) should be more appropriately re-titled The Joker Movie thanks to Jack Nicholson doing an impression of the Joker doing an impression of Jack Nicholson’s standard schtick; not sure which year it began, I’m going with The Witches of Eastwick.

Before I digress any further, I want to break down this month’s header/banner, my favorite incarnations of Batman.

Obviously, Adam West! His playing it straight in a camp take widened the character’s appeal to TV audiences from Sixties on ABC and then forever through syndication and soon the entire run on DVD this year! To his right is a representation of the Bruce Timm look. The 1992 cartoon series rescued the icon and his fellow DC cohorts from three decades of schlock animation via The Superfriends. I’m going to miss Kevin Conroy provided his voice too. MAD made many jabs at the films and TV versions, I went with their most recent parody to incorporate the finale to the Nolan trilogy. After Alfred E. Neuman comes what will be taken as the most heretical stance, my favorite latex-armor Batman…George Clooney. Hear (or read) me out. I totally agree that Batman & Robin is horrendous movie, hell it makes Batman the Movie! (1966) resemble a documentary. However, Clooney is not at fault and he beats out Bale, Keaton and Kilmer for one huge reason, he is the more plausible Bruce Wayne. Any clod can wear the armor, act tough and put on a gruff voice. It’s the character in his day clothes who matters more. Keaton has less range than Nicholson, when he’s not doing the Beetlejuice bit, it’s Mr. Mom. Bale and Kilmer were vanilla dudes in suits. Admittedly, by the time Clooney had the role, the death of Wayne’s parents was played out. For my money, the guy had the playboy millionaire down pat for a Joel Schumacher disaster.

The bottom row are Batman in two different comic-book styles. His first appearance in Detective Comics #27 by his primary creator Bob Kane and the look responsible for rejuvenating Batman after the Sixties’ camp ran out, the Neal Adams and Dick Giordano rendering. I would like to also acknowledge Walt Simonson and Marshall Rogers for their contributions during Batman’s modernization in the Seventies.

Batman has gone on to be my favorite superhero long after I grew out of the Frank Miller The Dark Knight Returns miniseries. To me, he is the greatest detective in the 20th and 21st century, I’ll concede Sherlock Holmes the 19th. Sure he’s not terribly original: the Lone Ranger, the Green Hornet, the Shadow and the Crimson Avenger; and Kane cribbed his look from Dracula. The character’s success and longevity comes the numerous other artists, writers and animators who have found new ways to integrate the Dark Knight into different teams and shows. Cases-in-point: The Justice League, Batman: The Brave & The Bold (TV show), Batman Beyond, helping Scooby Doo, his cameos in other titles like Swamp Thing, Suicide Squad and being Superman’s equal when fighting Lex Luthor. What I hate is the Batman-is-crazy viewpoint. Obsessed? Yes. A bit extreme? Oh yeah, he is a freakin’ billionaire. Insane? NO. Batman still captures his foes, has them incarcerated because justice is the goal, not revenge. For D&D players, he’s the best example of Lawful Good around.

In closing, I also want to stand up for Ben Affleck landing the role with the next film. He’s not my favorite actor neither. Argo was decent but I wouldn’t have given it an Oscar®. Affleck has done a superhero movie before which did suck. Remember Chris Evans got a second chance too, look how well-loved he is as Captain America! Makes you forget he was the Human Torch, twice. I have to root for Ben because the finally gave the role to an American. We should make a deal with Aussies and Brits, we don’t play your iconic characters and nationalities (Bridget Jones, Sherlock Holmes, Judge Dredd) and you leave ours alone: Thor, Spider-Man and Superman.

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Happy 12th Birthday to Nemo

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Steve

nemoonshoeHard to believe this cat is now the “old man” around the house. I still remember back when he was the new kid, a kitten who feared the three adults around him. Plus the vet warned us about the gimpy leg needed to be amputated. Well this guy has flourished as he is now the biggest and heaviest cat in the house. Unlike Kuroneko, Nemo is not seriously overweight because he has a larger frame.

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Happy Birthday Anna!

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Steve

The only true Maggi niece celebrates today. I use the adjective in italics due to her being my brother’s daughter. There are the daughters of cousins I just call niece for simplicity, I have no idea how to do that cousins-removed silliness. English needs to come up with labels for relatives beyond immediate family. A co-worker who spoke fluent Cantonese said they figured it out in China centuries ago.

So Anna is growing up a Cali Girl like my friend Ethan’s trio of daughters. She spent over a decade in Chicago which tells me she’ll have a more even head and not be totally caught up in the frequent California Uber Alles ‘tude I often smell from visitors during SXSW, ACL Fest and other excuses to slum in Fly-Over Country.

Somara and I wish her well. We do look forward to meeting Anna in person eventually. Maybe their parents will bring them out to Vegas for the weekend as a half-way point. Probably not. Then again, I need to find an excuse to visit the Mothership at my job. Brian is in the area, ergo I can be introduced as the goofy, DINK Uncle from Texas.

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Godzilla: Rental

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Steve

godzilla14Godzilla hit bottom in 1998 with that abysmal version starring Matthew Broderick and half the cast of The Simpsons. So I figured it could only get better but I had a hard time caring. Then I saw Bryan Cranston and gambled on this having a chance. Well, it didn’t have enough to keep my attention.

The story is yet another adaptation on the Japanese monster rising up from the depths to wreak havoc because humans tampered with nature, blah blah blah. The original was a cautionary tale regarding nuclear weapons. Today, I’m not sure if it’s a warning about the environment getting ruined or how we humans are too hubristic with our gadgets; obviously they’re worthless against Godzilla. Anything further would be a spoiler even if anybody is really expecting a major surprise? Well, if the jaegers from Pacific Rim joined in the melee…

Cranston is great along with David Strathairn and Juliette Binoche. All else is just going through the motions of a paint-by-numbers disaster flick/ad campaign for the US Navy. I wasn’t really worried nor interested in one damned main character surviving, they were too vanilla, including Godzilla.

Alamo Extras: The Seventies Godzilla cartoon (with Godzuki!); Seventies toy commercials; stop-motion battles with Gypsy Danger from Pac Rim; clips from Pee Wee Herman’s first movie, The Simpsons and One Crazy Summer involving Godzilla; trailers from various Japanese movies; the cult favorite gag Bambi v. Godzilla; and a Preparation H commercial starring Bryan Cranston!

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Shazbot! I aced this Sci-Fi book cover quiz

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Steve

Check it out at the ever so clear Guardian link. A few were rather easy due to the covers resembling their film adaptations. I figured 9 out of 10 was my best chance. Finally got everything correct.

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Happy 110th Birthday to Grandpa

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Steve

It would’ve been pretty cool if he made it this far. He loved technology and I think all the miniaturization we have now would blow his mind.

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