Yes, I’m well aware that the frequency of my posting has dwindled alarmingly to almost nothing and I make no apologies for it. Apparently one can not have a social life and work and write and still blog all within the allotted 24 hour time period. Who knew?!?!

Anyhow, this isn’t going to be any more interesting than any of the previous posts unless of course you’re a Doctor Who geek like me. Yup. Series 4 debuts in the UK on Saturday April 4th, 2008. Which of course means that by about early Saturday evening local time, it’ll be up on the usual Torrent sites for the rest of us to all enjoy. I can’t wait.

And because I can’t wait… here’s the Teaser Trailer for the upcoming season. Looks good. Ood, Sontarans, Daleks, Rose, Martha and Donna. What more could a Who geek ask for… except maybe a Tom Baker cameo. But that’s just wishful thinking. Enjoy

Oh and I will actually try to start posting with some semi regularity very soon.

Tags: Doctor Who

I’m going to blame my sister for sending me this one. It’s an interesting sight perception test.

Good Luck

Recently, the New York Times published an article on E. Gary Gygax and how he influenced much (if not all) modern geek culture. They even provided a shnazzy flowchart that I’ve copied below for handy dandy referencing. I’m still trying to figure out where on the great big wheel of geekiness I fit in personally though.

Yeah, as you can tell, there haven’t been many posts lately. I’ve been busy and distracted by other shiny things (Life, it’s full of them. Who knew!)

As per the norm, whenever I end up being short for time. I always end up spamming a few mindless links to fill up space and to give myself that hollow sense of accomplishment that posting something, no matter how puerile, gives.

Today is no exception. Today you must be a valid holder of a Geek ID card to truly appreciate this next useless quiz.

Enjoy

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: D&D

Now… I wonder how they taste.

For those of you who haven’t seen it yet. They released a new trailer for the upcoming Iron Man movie with Robert Downey Jr. as the titular character. It looks good. I’m really looking forward to this movie.

Tags: Movies

Gary Gygax, the co-creator of the oft-maligned and misunderstood role-playing game known as Dungeons & Dragons, has passed away at the ripe old age of 69.

This saddens my geek attuned heart greatly. D&D and The Lord of the Rings were how I cut my teeth to the wonderful world of fantasy. They started the fire in my imagination that has fuelled everything I’ve done since. I remember with great joy the fun I had playing in my friend Brian’s basement back in grade five using only the the old red and blue boxes where lf and Dwarf were classes and not races. I remember too the fun Shane, Brock, Colin, Rob, Daniel and myself used to all have in my basement exploring the vast worlds of Greyhawk, Krynn and the Forgotten Realms. I remember talking with Dale, Eric, Trevor, Ashley and Corby in junior high about the worlds beyond D&D. Of Conan and Gamma World, of Top Secret and Marvel Super Heroes. I remember us exploring these worlds together and expanding our imaginations to greater heights.

I remember my introduction to other games beyond D&D and the TSR umbrella. To GURPS games of unparallelled sophistication with Trevor, Allan, Dale, Rob and Shane. Of late night Vampire sessions that we continue to talk about to this day (“No. I do not know where the sword is currently.”). Of Shadowrunning through futuristic Seattle with Rick, Steve, Calvin, Adam, Brian and Jon. And finally to my introduction to Live Action Roleplaying with far too many people to mention.

I remember too the stigma of being a gamer geek. Growing up through junior high and high school with the “geek” and “nerd” label firmly stamped on my back that assured that few girls would talk to me and fewer still would understand the fire that fueled my imagination. The same badge that “concerned” (read close-minded) parents used to label the game as sinful or blasphemous. It’s a badge I now wear proudly and I wouldn’t have traded it in for the world. The ostracization were a small price to pay for the imaginative outlet it allowed. Okay sure, it would’ve been nice to have had a girlfriend or at least have a girl talk to me now and then, but that’s beside the point. I’ve more than made up for that shortcoming in the years since.

Hell, if it wasn’t for D&D and Gary, I wouldn’t have ever owned my own comic & games store. He did so much for me without ever meeting me. I owe him a great debt. I intend to pay it forward.

*raises a pint*

To Gary. May you live long in our hearts and minds. May you find many new lives to touch in your next adventure and may the dice always come up 20 for you from now on.

Cheers.

Addendum:

The nerdcore are out in force after this news. Here’s an Order of the Stick comic in tribute to Gary.

Tags: D&D

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted an overly mindless or fluffy post so I figured I’d come up with one for this cold and snowy March evening. Rather than dredge the internet looking for something fitting, I’m just going to go ahead and post a link to my newest poll.  Enjoy

Read the rest of this entry »

Just a quick one tonight folks. I’m exhausted so I’m not even going to bother saying much beyond the fact that I like this band and I think you should too.

They’re a little Canadian indie band that go by the name of Metric.

I first heard Monster Hospital last year and did the usual “Hrrm that sounded good. I wonder what their other stuff is like?” So far I haven’t been disappointed. Here’s a brief selection of their work. Hope you like them as well.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Serenade

There is a certain sense of anticipation in the air for me this week. The snow finally melting at a rate that is making me itch like mad to get on my bike and pedal on all of my favourite trails again and through every mud puddle I can find. I really can’t wait. I’ve been cooped up all winter and I really need to run into a few trees to knock some sense into me.

On top of having that itch that I just can’t quite scratch yet, this week is also when my tax refund should come in as well as my first actual pay cheque from my new job. I’m really looking forward to both. It’ll be nice to actually have money again that isn’t all automatically earmarked for keeping the wolves from the door. While most of it will still be used to  pay off the debts that have accrued recently a fair chunk of it is going to be set aside for the sole purpose of rebuilding my computer. It won’t cost six million dollars but I will rebuild it and make it faster, stronger, smarter. I might even have it make the “Dah-nah-nah-nah” bionic man noise when it boots up because I’m a geek like that.

So here’s to sunny days and rebuilt computers and all that jazz.