Deep Politics

I am by no means a reviewer, I only tend to have a desire to talk about things I love or Hate. I also tend to view things abstractly, some as a whole other times hacking off something I do not like. I like to leave the Rocky Horror Picture Show early, endings are just too hard. But I will try to talk about Grails Deep Politics record here.

Grails have often been called Post Rock but for my ear their music was something more like Pink Floyd's Ummagumma. For the most part I hear all of the Post genre like this but none so much as Grails. And none of their records have been so progressive as Deep Politics. It its a progressive rock record in my opinion. And as such I love it even more.

Grails have always had a dreamy quality that seemed to fall upon a regional music and take it up. Sometimes Middle Eastern, sometimes Russian. Deep Politics seems to have grasped on the folk music of 1970's England.

Taking the record as a dreamy whole, as with all their works it seems best this way, I am reminded of Echoes but not the one you think. But Camel's song instead. I even hear a little of zebra floating in there.

Slow or fast I have yet to grasp the records soul. It is not as heartbroken as their other works. It almost has a technological hope but not a hope, more a forward walking without fear.

Head Games

I may have talked about gaming conversions in the past but the landscape has changed here in the Bay. Also I have just not felt able to go with a young child so I have been out of it.

There have been a number of small cons and game days that pop up here and there. I really don't know If I have a good handle on all of them. I also am well out of the scifi scene. I believe a Westercon has come and gone in San Jose recently and I know Baycon is still alive. I just looked online and I really can't tell if Silicon is still running. As for the smaller focus cons I have no idea about Anime, furries or cosplay. My first con experience were with Scifi cons and I quickly moved to gaming as that was where my heart was. I was never the a convention dilettante that had a hand in everything.

I can enjoy the broad focus conventions to see a bit of everything but the people that bask in it all are a bit much. I have a feeling that is what they do with all they have. Their house if full of collectibles and costumes and their spouses love it too. Their free time is going to ren faires or SCA practice and watching scifi channel. I am not belittling that its just not my life.I through much more of time time into gaming and as such the conventions just interest me more. Here are some local to the Bay that may interest you as well.

Dundracon is the grandpa of conventions in the Bay Area for good or ill. It is very established and it goes much the same year to year. I feel a little stagnation when going there but the people are not fixing something that works. One aspect that sucks is the time of year this falls on. Valentines day weekend is just a hard time to be away from home and family. The con does a good mix of minis from what I see as a role player. The RPG's are a little too focused on Hero and D&D but you can find what you want.

Kublacon is the big con in our area. you are going to find most anything you can imaging here. They do a great job of making it more than just gaming there is a lot of fun and extras. It seems like it's on the verge of becoming a major con for the west coast but something has been holding them back. If it could just get to three thousand I think it could really draw national support. If you are considering one con for gaming this year, go to this one.

Pacificon is an odd bird. It takes its name from one of the best cons to have even graced the area but it is only a spiritual successor. In truth it grew out of something called conquest. The real Pacificon was awesome, and it was so because of people. Old beardy types build cool one off games that were the highlight of the show. Live WizWar. A chariot game that was twenty feat long. The new pacificon has inherited some of the historical gamers but little of the cool scratch build wonders of the old con. A friend has called it a corpse of a con the last few years.

This leads me to Celesticon, its new and small and I think I may give it a try. At least for a day. I am going to try to keep an open mind and play more than I don't which is unusual for me. I will try to get some pics and thoughts posted after labor day.

Ladybugs Picnic

I must lament the company picnics they had in my youth. They just don't do them like they used to and its sad. Family isn't invited and that was half the point; to see where the parents were gone to half the day. And to say to the coworkers hey these are the reason I am busting ass and the reason I don't want to work overtime every night.

Seriously I have great memories from my childhood of my Dad's company picnics. I drank my first Coke at one and it was love at first sip. I have been a soda guy since. And all those weird picnic areas in the back end of amusement parks.

Does Great America even have that picnic area anymore? I know Frontier Village closed due to some town house land grab but where would it be without cooperate picnics. Blackberry park in Cupertino doesn't seem much more than a swimming pool these days.

I loved the prizes and drawings too, they made you feel apart of something even though you were just a kid. Even if it was just Pic N Save toys hastily purchased on the way to Ed Levine county park.

Also it was always odd to see how your parents coworkers were with them. They had friends at work, they didn't seem to at home. They had jokes and stories with all these people you didn't know. It was like you saw there second family.

But now too many companies want to keep work and family very separate. I guess its cost but I think It has a higher human cost they are forgetting.

Up Helly Aa

In the US we are cheated, our history deserts us, or we it. We have too few holidays and they are oft catered to kids. Only the 4Th remains with any danger and cowards afraid for their houses have defanged the fun of it.

But all falter to grasp at the wonder or "Up Helly Aa" viking festival of fire. My God if they added metal it would be perfect. Imagine Helloween throwing down some power metal behind the burning of a long ship. I don't even know majesty like that; and I have played a lot of AD&D.

That it's not celebrated in San Jose is the cruelest joke since they closed down Frontier Village.

Perhaps it is too great to just let go. Join with me friends. Buy axes at your next Renaissance fair and low helmet horned or not. Historical Accuracy be damned. Build and burn a little ship in your bathtub. And Up Helly Aa!!!

They call me the working man

Coming into a new Job setting and hitting the ground running is a hell of a thing. Adding that with working remotely and I think I am giving myself an ulcer.

When I come into a new environment I like to get the lay of the land and come up to speed with documentation or at the very least chatting with people. Getting throw into the fray makes me nervous.

Reporting status has always been failing point for me. And Its the constant source of my fear. I want these folks get their time and moneys worth from me. I am desperate to deliver really, but my learning a site doesn't equate directly to bugs. well not in the short term.

Still its an opportunity I have wanted for a long time,or at least a portion. Coming in at the ground floor and starting the ground work of test cases. I wish I would be involved in building out the team, but that is not my lot.

I am thinking a daily status of what i have testing may help everyone. If I could tell them yes I am working and here is what I have looked at, maybe I won't feel so panicked. If I was on site testing at least they would know hey this guy is here working, not conning us.

Sad Wings of Destiny

Its odd to find the road ahead of me speeding as it is. Odder still that I seem to be keeping up. I never expected myself the sort of person to rise to an occasion, I have seen so many that I feel to the shadows and watched from a seat. But its coming easier as it gets quicker, Perhaps I could have made something of myself. But I'm old and no Icarus, my destiny is on sad wings. At least they hold me up on the moments I presume to fly.

Cuz theyre more than meets the eye

Back when I was a kid I loved the Robotech TV series and I loved AD&D. You can imagine my shock to visit my cousins and be invited to play a role playing game based on the series that I loved. I saved up my allowance from that moment on to get the money to buy the book. My dad even bought me dice to play which i have kept precious to this day.

Back then my cousins and I went crazy for Palladium books. We had so many of their titles and they were all super easy to start playing, as they all use the same underlying system. So if you knew Robotch you knew TMNT, fantasy and Heroes Unlimited. Also the system just hit well for us in our youth. Its a very simple system to learn, I have long though Palladium was the best system to introduce new role players too. But also its very appealing to the mondo nature of younger players.

Getting older I have to say Palladiums appeal waned a bit. Other games showed up that seemed to offer a more adult setting and there was that feeling that Palladium was sort for kids. I am guilty of dismissing them off hand. As friends told their gaming stories some mentioned Rifts and they often seemed goofy and Monty haul over powered. With new games and systems I really didn't think much of Palladium.

My own role playing project finally brought me back to Palladium, well some nostalgia too. I am very interested in Scifi that focuses on living technology. Living machines and the use of symbiots as technology. Finding that in the roleplaying world will take you back to Palladium Books. Sure there are some one off books here and there from other publishers but it's sprinkled everywhere in Rifts. Then there was the near collapse of Palladium and their struggle to stay afloat. In that process they republished new Robotch material. I ordered it and waited excitedly as I had when I was a kid.

In looking at Palladiumbooks.com during my wait, I learned they really were not a huge company as I had expected. With Rifts they had seemed big and their CEO had seemed a bit of jerk. But now they seemed just a few people trying to keep a business they loved going after many years in business and some difficult problems. I was down with that, regular people just getting by are my kind of people.

In looking at the books I have bought, I realized they were not what I expected. For all the mondo crunch there is a lot of source material there. They have characters and backgrounds thoroughly fleshed out. Their source books cover worlds of play that are as inventive as many full role playing games. And when you look at their back catalog you realized damn these are some really imaginative people to have all these books.

While I think the system needs another edition to update it to more modern rules, its playable. Especially if you are looking for a light game. I'm not much a fan of survival horror so I am not going to play in any campaigns but a quick game would be fun, Palladium's Dead Reign may be just the thing for me.

shadow self

When I was a kid I was nervous but trying. Trying to get over my crap and just go on with the group. Not get held up on the fence even through i did. Not slow everyone down with drama but it always seemed to be the way it was. I was a joke in the waiting and still am most days. All eating and lust but it wasn't something I wanted even through its something I still am. If only I could rise above absorb the shell blast and throw off the shell of the being for the desire of the becoming. And I was there for a time but now I'm back to my shallow self, hoping for difference in the morning but fighting myself ever the same through the night.

The Metal

My wife and I went to the Mayhem Music festival to see Megadeth and Testament a couple of weeks ago. Those bands were great but only had a short time on stage. There were many other bands there as well so we got to experience a few groups we would not have gotten the chance to otherwise. And Oh my god did many of them suck. Seriously one was so bad I would have been upset to see them at the Pony Express Pizza Parlor.

I was left sad and dejected, with a feeling that something was very wrong in the land of metal. And so I searched for bands that might restore my faith a little. Happily, there is hope.

Holy Grail sounds a mix of nwobhm and thrash, maybe a little like wrathchild USA or Armored Saint. They make me happy in a way that only Anthrax and Killer Dwarfs have. They are serious but something about the sound coming out of youths is a little odd. But in a delightful sort of way. I bought Crisis in Utopia and I think you should too.

OK Dawnbringer wow, just wow. I think you need to just go buy the nucleus record now, its cool Ill wait. OK, to me it sounds very progressive with a mixing of harder metal. The voice used is clean but different maybe a mix of Lemmy and King Diamond perhaps. Musically its very old school almost has a hint of Rainbow. Very much to my liking.

Ghost I am a little more hesitant about, It sounds like Mercyful Fate come again. Which in and of itself isn't every ones cup of tea. The stage show is also very King Diamond melodramatic. I think its worth a try if that is your thing.

Well I have hope again, Denim and Leather my friends.

Silly Love

Been a little while since
I set this thing running
I wasnt caught up
but now I'm falling and fumbling

You never broke down my door
I guess im just a bore

Call if your feeling funny
I be waiting by the phone
Kept the old line
In case you called any time

Always around the house
wont miss you I wont be out

Dont worry nothings changed
kept it all the same
I wasnt falling just lazy
Didnt feel like I was crazy

for you

Brescia

The blood soar up screwing through veins with hard tidal rush reigning down panic and sorrow left aside years ago. It wasn't one you forgot but sought aimless through the shallow moments of your life. Dreaming to choke back in the ever falling fretless enchantment it always brought. I was Aloysius though years I had forgot until at last I was not. Not waiting not wanting, not ever needing nor myself or someone else. Then moments atypical seem to seal our fate, again with the Ghrelin lizard wanting Aloysius woke from Sleep.

Crescent Star Progressive Rock Score Card 8

Don't break the Oath comes from one of Mercyful fates records.


A short Lived Galaxy is a line from Rush's natural science. This is off the Permanent waves record

Watcher of the Skies is a song from Genesis off Foxtrot


Veteran of the psychic wars is from Blue Oyster Cult, I know it form the heavy metal sound track but it actually if from Fire of unknown origin

Lessons of course is from Rush off 2112

Good day is from Abdominal i guess flowtation device is the record


To tame a land is from Maidens Piece of mind

Stand up you don't have to be afraid is a line from I love it loud by kiss, from the creatures of the night record.

Games without frontiers is from Peter Gabriels Melt i think

Touch and go is Emerson lake and Powell. For some reason i always through of this when i heard the name industrial music, maybe its just the video.


Skeleton on my shoulder comes from Coroners Punishment for Decadence.

Mudmen is from Pink Floyds obscured by clouds

Going up the Country is by canned heat not really something i like but whatever.

Sitting in the sand to watch the fireworks display is a line from Rush's lakeside park off Caress of Steel

Sitting in the sand to watch the fireworks display

Well the nook is less than ideal for blogging I found. Getting though my password is impossible without a keyboard to feel the right keys. So no posts

We went to Vancouver WA for the 4Th of July which was great fun. They do not have the draconian fireworks laws that wee have in California. Basically you can have near commercial grade fireworks and everyone does. We were on a little ridge and could hear the fireworks going of constantly around us. Everywhere you looked there were lights in the sky as nearly everyone was doing them. You really don't need to go anywhere or pay to have a great time. But from TNT fireworks we were able to get a decent six shot mortar for four dollars. Were buying eight packs of roman candles for the same price.

We also traveled up to the Indian reservation in Chehalis to buy some of the better stuff. But really that was sort of unneeded. The mortars make bottle rockets unimpressive and firecrackers are sort of dull too. We had a great time though, we even got tired before lighting everything off.

Going up the country

Heading out of town for a week. Sorry there will be a lack of posting for that time. I will try through the Nook just to see how it goes. Hope everyone has a great 4th of July.

Mudmen

Broken light comes like ghosts of the past Sheltering me in memory of the way it never used to be as the sun sunk through the trees Catching me up in strands of silken hopes that should have slipped by but I was afraid to let go but at times are all I know Sunk down with the bones hung with scarecrows that want to wander

Skeleton on My Shoulder

I'm raising my arm in triumph for the meal I just ate Little left of the day but the sunset greets me with the night No sorrows seem to be on my way Music on the radio is coming right right and forgotten favorites finishing the rite I'm not leading just following the clues where i need to go Crazy forgot tomorrow slipped far from my mind

Nook Color Vs. Printed Page test 1

Gaming with the Nook was ok, but not a solid test. It was an end of the adventure rap up session so there was no need to look up any information in the book. I had my blog up with the character sheet going most of the time, just in case i needed to roll anything. I am going to need a better test when I get to the next game, hopefully i will need to read up a spell effect or something.

I really need to get some sort of bookmarks set up for the main pathfinder rules that i use most often. It seemed a little difficult even using the easypdf application.

I will say having ten books on that thing is nice. no need to break my back carrying it all in.

I'm attacking the darkness

So here in the south bay we don't really have that large of a gaming community to support several stores of quality. We have had several great stores rise and fall. I loved GameScape and Griffin computer and A Wrinkle in time;a nerd lifestyle store. I think PDF's are going to be the route to go soon, which is why i got the Nook. But here are some thoughts on the stores I like.

GameKastle is probably the best store we have had in years. It has grown out of a poorly located hole in the wall. I wish they would carry used product but that is a hard market. They do flea markets every so often which is nice. Their gaming space is big, but occasionally the players are ripe and this can spread through the store. The place is big and you can find things. Expect all the newest gaming stuff to be up and on the shelves. They even do gaming programs for the PC.

Gator Games is a bit of a drive but is often worth it. They just have a weird selection and often you will find rare gems. Also they do used games. They have problems with space though the store is just too small and desperately needs to be reorganized. Its hard to get around and things seem to have been piled up years ago.

Legends of comics and Fantasy in Valco opened a new gaming store some time ago, it wasn't well stocked but it looked like it had potential to be come something. I haven't been back but I think they probably have done something more and are worth a look

Games Workshop Oakridge, well this isn't my sort of thing I think its going to have everything you can dream of for warhammer and 40K so if you are into that probably you should make a point to visit.

D&J Hobby is a shadow of its former self and just makes me sad, they have to give me good reason to go back and they haven't.

Space Cat is a wacko comic shop on bascom. I have no idea if they have games, they seem to have all sorts of crazy stuff. What they have are Video games. Carts for all sorts of systems and systems too. Its sort of a mess in there so wander around stuff is everywhere.

4Jays wow what a store. Its video game heaven only and hour drive from San Jose in Concord. If you love games you need to go its like a pilgrimage. Its so great you will just be happy.

Endgame and games of Berkeley are up there somewhere i hear good stuff but have never been.

Touch and Go

Well i got a nook color, with the intention of using it for gaming. I have loaded up several PDF's onto the base OS and downloaded the PDF program. I was quickly pissed off viewing PDF files with the normal viewer and figured this viewer had to be better, it is. I am trying to throw some MP3 files and maybe a movie just to try things out.

I am not sure what to do about the hacking of the OS. If having the OS on a microSD card is as easy as pulling it in and out then great. I will have my Nook then throw in the microSD for my dice roller. But if it take more than a few moments forget it. I could do with just a dice roller and ill be at 85% what i want. I probably don't even need that; not rolling your own dice is for sucks.

I will probably get this set up just to have the experience. So i can be more of a nerd. It's not enough to load The skyrealms of Jorune on your Nook.

Pathfinder Cleric I am playing Lately

Just throwing this up so I don't have to worry about missing my sheet at the next game. You are welcome to comment on what I am doing wrong. I am mainly a pathfinder healer cleric with a little flair to make it interesting

Twaller Milius
True Neutral human Cleric 3 of Sarena

STR 10 0
DEX 10 0
CON 12 +1
INT 8 -1
WIS 18 +4
CHA 16 +3

HP 28
AC 21
Fort Save +4
Ref Save +1
Will Save +7

B.A.B. +2

Feats
Weapon Focus Ray
Selective Channel

Skills
Diplomacy +3stat, +3ranks, +3Class=+9
Knowledge religion -1stat, +3ranks, +3class=+7

Domains Fire and Healing

Spells Cantrips
Purify food, Resistance, stabilize, detect magic
Spells 1st
Burning hands, bless, divine favor, command
Spells 2nd
Project Flame, Bulls strength, Resist energy

Items
Full Plate, +1 shield, Masterwork Scimitar, Heavy Mace, Backpack, bed roll, tinder and steel. hooded lantern , oil, Gp 180

Games Without Frontiers

I have been thinking of leveling as it relates to gaming. Its of critical importance to players and almost trivial to most game masters. And it often is the biggest reason games fail. Even before starting a game some fail for lack of wanting to run a campaign not understanding the advancement system. Others fail when players are dissatisfied with advancement.

Lately I have been thinking of something I am calling dramatic snap, well at least in my mind i think of it in those terms. The idea is advancement detached from numbers but rather tied to need. The dramatic part of this should be tied to accomplishment of goals. In saying snap i am thinking like a rubber band under tension.

My idea is to use the need of the adventure or the highest level character and the point that pulls the lower level characters along. The level difference will increase tension pulling the lower level character up. In that two aspects will be reflected, the first greater advancement at greater difference of level and two smaller goals required for advancement.

For example we have a party of characters running on of the pathfinder chain module series. If they are lagging behind the pace character and are having a great deal of trouble with conflicts. The tension here would pull them up to the pace character and then let off completely. Through some minor successes the party could be raised up in level and giving the tools to complete the adventure. After words though the tension would be gone and they would not have a hug pay off for completing the quest. Or a new character that is brought in at a lower level than the group would catch up by nature of the tension.

The base metric is to decide what is meaningful advancement in the game. In D&D it is a level or in skill based systems it is raising a skill from 75% by 3-5%. In that I am saying an above average skill by a small but meaningful percentage, high skill levels often require greater effort to raise. Next I like to think of the max number of sessions i would require someone sitting on their ass doing nothing would require to advance. I am going to say about seven sessions to level and two or three to up the skill.

In combining the two you are just taking the tension between high and lower level points and figuring if any actions would warrant a snap. If none come up screw em just give them a session worth of gain. If you need them to level, invent a challenge and give them a win. Your need as a GM comes first.

If you want to do something positive with the character ask them their goals, and build in those so the character has their own actions to generate a snap. If they want to see the world, have them reach a snap upon reaching the next town or country. If they want to be a great solider one for their first battle or joining an army.

Well its a thought

Stand up you don't have to be afraid

While I know this site sucks, as does my writing, it's ad free and done for the viewer. Well OK its done for me but you get to laugh at me. I don't want much for this, comments would be nice, but more people looking would be nicer. If you get enjoyment out of this, even as a goof, tell your friends. Don't be ashamed to recommend it to friends. Especially anyone outside of the bay area or even those outside of the US.

To tame a land

Taking a look at Game of Thrones. I really don't know how I feel about the show after last night. I think they really short changed the viewer not showing the battle sequences from either the battle with Tywin or the capture of Jamie. I think they could have had two extra episodes if they would have extended the fights here and battles in previous episodes. I really just felt cheap.

Saying that I have not read the books and am just a viewer. The books may also gloss over these scenes. But I just it's not very metal. You need a release after a build, Mr. Martin please see Saturday Night (high and dry) by Def Leppard. There has been enough blood in the series already that I didn't expect you to shy away from a great battle sequence. Sure it may increase production costs but its what we were waiting for.

I dare say you may just loose viewers if you continue these sort of lack of content into session two. I really have no idea why you are waiting a year for the next series. Ten episodes is a British series plus. I guess I am not used to HBO series, I only got the channel to watch your show. Thankfully I am not paying for it as of yet.

In closing give me more and go bloody. the show has all the sex it needs now deliver on the violence. Do let this turn out like the Dune mini series from SciFi

good day

I need a weekend that starts some Friday with friends and you forget its not Saturday and then you think hey I got another day. Hot dogs burning on the grill and charcoal rising to the sky above backyards happy for what they have. Years ago monkeys would mock but these are people simply happy for good works coming to fruit and roses in bloom. Let the night come in slowly as the day is long but churn with crickets song.

something for nothing

I just saw an article by some sort of Lifehack outfit. I guess they are trying to make you a better you. Alas its was much more a better you as perceived by them. Who are them? douche bags! For my purposes Lets consider the supposed observer of change, Them or The They if you will. No unknown is going to understand my path from here and beyond and certainly will not be able to judge their ideal against my vector and intercept point. Even my friends and family are of poor judgment they are supposed to like me. And I think I am great, but look who is telling me this. Here I arrive at the judge I do value, my offspring. For me any life hack is a dad hack and let us have at it.

Learn baseball to the ability to teach your child the basics. That probably extends to basketball and football or soccer and softball if you have girls. Lets face it I earned my basket balling nickname "Air ball", I don't want my girl to have to wear it too.

Fix crap. Just do, you fuck it up, then call in the pros. You succeed and its free labor and you will feel better of yourself. Otherwise no loss. You kids want to see you as able.

Walk off pain. A beer and a wash clothe should be sufficient medicine for 90% of wounds. Chalk it up to straight up chuck Norris machismo. Kids should see their parents as tough. Again they want to know they are in good hands.

Be thy master of the grill. Hamburgers and Hot dogs should be your go to meal. Grill! It is Manly! It is Dadly!

Be a scout. You needn't be Les Stroud, but you should be able to pitch a tent. You may be roped into setting up a camp out any summers night in your backyard. Or volunteered to supervise a scout trip when someone ends up sick. You should have that covered. Don't be the reason your kid can't do some long hoped for activity.

Take up Krav Maga. Something goes down your the one between your precious and the bad people. I ain't looking myself in the mirror if something I could have stopped happens.

Know the basics. Why is the sky blue. who built the pyramids. You sir are expected to be a one man trivia expert. Your kid it more testing your knowledge than caring about answers. You should be the first person to show your kids knowledge is valuable and worth worrying about.

Don't believe in Karma. Only the weak believe justice is going to happen on its own. The just set things right even when they don't want to bother.

Veteran of the Psychic Wars

As you all I enjoy various fortean topics but i have a friend that absolutely gets his rocks off for that stuff. In the right circles he will start talking about Bigfoot being a CIA trained psychic sniper that took out Kennedy. The younger one, JFK is still alive apparently and may be one or more members of the Bush family. But lately he has gotten worse.

Enter his conspiracy pillow mate and they get going full steam. After listening in on one of their conversations I may be both the Lindbergh baby and jack the ripper. I have been trying to disprove their theory but their time line is iron clad. I am really sorry for whatever i did on the Ourang Medan too.

I wish these guys could just be sensible and give up junk like UFOs and psychic brain washing and get into ghost hunting like normal people.

watcher of the skies

Take this fretting rush away from me
and let me be sedate
let me sit motionless
only concerned with what is mine
Dreamless and worried over
foolish things meaningless
That I will regret
when it come to an end
Don't worry me with wrong paths
and tigers schemes of the rodeo

An open letter to the Stanford Theatre

Greetings

I can not count how many times I have started this letter over the years, only to discard it. Alas you have forced my had with the Stanford Theatres' latest schedule. You, or those who select the movies, are bland, unimaginative and lazy. Again I see titles that have been shown countless times. You will say some enjoy viewing these movies many times, but that's a cope out.

I feel that the Theater is a gift which you squander every year. I urge you to find new titles and expand your bill of fair. I also would like to see the time-line of movies expanded. You include a movie from 1964 with this schedule I think that is a fair range or films or at the very least the full life of the theater should be included, IE 1961.

Another issue is your lack of community input. At the writing of this letter I am planning on mailing this directly to the theater. Why is there no email address on the http://www.stanfordtheatre.org/stf/ site. There should be a route for communication. I am aware of difficulty in trying to acquire films for every request, but this is just not operating in the public trust.

In the past I had ideas that I would have voiced; horror or sci-fi films for October for example. But now I just would like to see a schedule that has something new.

Regards,

Again with this latest calendar you have proven yourselves to be near sited and lazy.  You craft a series of your back pocket favorites that is just plain sad.  Do you try anymore, I say the answer is no!  Gain and gain the same titles.  I have read your statements that many people like seeing the same film many times.  This has been rule for so long that you do not even consider the alternative.  There are so many files from the 50's that you could show and delight fans but you don't even try it.  You seem to have a vault that you work from but now are not trying to go beyond it.  LAZY!  You could do so much more and there are resources you could tie into but nope same old stuff.  It's as though you stick to a certain few films and disregard so much.  The movies you show don't need to be good.  Show some crap i would be interested.  Please try a wider selection of films.  How about you give us some early weekend shows with a lot of extras so families with kids could come and be entertained.  Try Disney non animated comedies perhaps they can't be expensive or in demand.  

A short lived galaxy

I feel a little hollow as if I don't experience all that is happening to me. I dont know it feels in the glare of the sun how you dont see the detail of anthing; but in experience. I think i am missing something about whats going on around me. Perhaps a lack of connection. Perhaps a regret of past connections getting weak over time.

I don't pretend to make any grand changes this time or feel some desperate attempt to mend things will work. Just an honest work to give more of myself with the people I can give more.

To get into that, some of you I just am just guarded and I dont know how to not be. I can try but it doesnt work in any way. I'm confounded from the inside.

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A

Its been way too long for me to work on something. We had a party with my Atari set up going and it got me looking at a few things on the video game front. I saw a listing about Nintendo games that had a nice format listing games as free, pay for, work hard to get, etc. That is really a good way to look at Atari collecting. Many games have little to no value and you are going to get at little to no cost. These are the games that you can find on a website or good store at just a few dollars a cart. The pay for games are going to be your five to ten dollar games. Your work to find games are those that are just hard to find. You may need to pay a pretty penny or hunt around quite a bit to find.

For my NES and SNES I am basically not a collector. I have them and like to get games I played but I have not expectation to have any sort of meaningful collection. I really just want Mario 1 and 2, Metroid, Simon's quest and Bionic Commando. I wouldn't mind having a full collection of Activision titles like i am collecting for Atari, but I don't really care.

Yeah I sort of liked Mario 2 for some reason, better than three i guess i am messed up in the head. I should probably keep that a secret like being a bigger fan of Van Hagar than Van Halen. Oh shit I said that too.

Really my favorite NES game is Bionic Commando,its great. Its just fun to move around in that game. Swinging here and there from lights and stuff, really a great game.

I play with a FC twin just to avoid the pain of replacing the NES cart connection. I have considered getting the FC three to have sega in there too but I am waiting for them to add Turbografx into the mix.

Dying Steps

Some where in the dens of morning Aloysius came to me with tales we has forgot. It was of a time of his wanting where ruin took the the southern slopes. Of some deluge that sank low the homes that sailed as idle ships upon the land. In these days those with wits hid with the high pasture steading waiting out the rain. But here I speak of wisdom and well we know Aloysius was without. He would save his own for they were what little he cared he had.

Even in that there was worry, of Nicene, so he cast all away. Casting care aside and not considering chores he rightfully owned, and left. To her high lands bright and choked with light.

Climbing steps that wound around themselves Aloysius was confounded by Nicenes host. And their eyes were not filled by his disheveled shapes; glaring upon him in his need. What was he to take Nicene dry with competense and drowning his in lack.

Hicks Road

Ah the Satan worshiping albinos of San Jose, California's hicks road a subject near and dear to my heart. I first came upon the subject Not with regard to Hicks road but March road in Milpitas. Someone told me a story with a house of Satanic Albinos living on the road and stated by writing a name on the bridge just before the house would end in that persons death. Which is a decent urban legend if not for the fact that they are combining something from the House of Seven Gates and retconning it to the location of the Rivers Edge murder.

Years later going to Piedmont Hills, there was talk of enclaves of Albinos in the nearby Alum Rock park. I was pretty unaware of genetics and how a lack of pigment was spread as a kid but damn Albinos are fucking everywhere. Did they move south? I don't really know if they did much other than listen to Edgar Winter and drink milk.

Finally when hooking up with a group of friends from the south side I heard of the Hicks Satan worshiping clan of Albinism. All my friends knew about them and knew hicks. So much like finding someone who has never heard of Iron Maiden they forced me in the car direct bathed me in the community experience. This will focus on Hicks, the surrounding area and Some topics that have come up on message boards that I wanted to talk about

OK Hicks road is in San Jose, CA in the far southern portion of the city. The road can be reached from Camden near 85; running over the hills a connecting with Alamitos road. The road climbs over the slopes of Mount Umanhum and Bald Mountain and skirts the boarder of Almaden Quicksilver Park. Taking this road you will pass by Almaden Reservoir, Guadalupe Reservoir and the town of New Alameda. A top Mount Umanhum is the remains of the Almaden Air Force Station. A gated road called mount Umanhum will take you close and allow you to park but does not allow for access by car. Reynolds is the other road connected to Hicks but does take you anywhere of interest.



In getting into the weirdness supposed to happen at Hicks. So Albino's and Satan worship would naturally coming in now i guess. I have never seen one on hick. I dint know about the religious beliefs of the regularly pigmented people I have seen. There has been some weird occurrences in the area. Mount Umanhum road is a publicly maintained road, but at one point someone painted private road at its entrance. Most people think it was one of the residence who live past the gate, just not wanting kids like me driving around. There have also been stories of various altercations with residents. Some speaking of residents barring guns and such. If you do walk past the gate, which is perfectly legal, you are going to eventually be confronted with a sign that says patrolled by armed guard. This is very old and was true only when the Air Station was open. Now a ranger does patrol the sometimes, but not often. You can find plenty of videos on youtube where people have broken into the complex of the former air station. There is even a site for the former airmen who lived and worked there. They all seem to be normal god fearing people.


Locally the town of New Almaden has a couple of points of interest that may factor into the story. The town has a drive thru cemetery; really its split by the road. Freaking weird! A walking bridge dips under the road into town from the Alamitos side. Many local stories have spoken of Satanic graffiti under this, calling it bridge under bridge. Back in the 60's or 70's there was a gravity hill somewhere out in the area but I have no idea of its location now. Since that is an optical illusion, landscaping could have completely destroyed the effect. Finally there is the small Twin Creeks cabins on the site of a one time resort. Driving in the twin creeks area people will look at you wondering what you are doing. It's a dead end that mose people don't even know exists.

I have no idea how this wraps into a story about albinos and Satan. To be honest I have a theory that its all a huge mistake. I think this whole Satan worshiping albinos may be a huge mistake for the Albigensian crusade of the Cathars. Perhaps spread from Europe to the united states and finally morphed into the many hundred of local albino tall tales we have today. Perhaps it was handy to keep kids away from the far off lonely places of the nearby woods. But really that will just draw some like moths to a flame. If you can elaborate please comment and I will try to follow up.

I am also going to try to address some of the misconceptions people have thrown out on message boards and other sites. Such as Sveadal, UTC, the Holy City and what not.

Sveadal is a community for Sweds some miles south of New Almaden. They are pale and untrustworthy but not quite albinos. Just look at Ikea and you can see they are a bunch of crooks. The community is just before the entrance of the Uvas Canyon park. It is some sort of patriotic league owned property I have no about it. Being Danish myself I sort of say away.

United Technologies Cooperation is located on Metcalf road in San Jose. It is some sort of scientific research facility. I remember in the late 80's they test fired a shuttle booster rocket there. I have also driven by to see guards armed with M16's, again no idea. Driving in the area as a kid I have been chased by some sort of phantom truck. I have been flying down the road and this guy kept up with everything i did. And I knew this road well.

The Holy City was up in the santa cruz mountains by redwood estates and chimicita park. Apparently some religious charlatan set himself as a king ala Jim Jones. I think this was in the 40's there was even a zoo. My cousin claims there was some sort of Satanic worship there and said his friends found a sword there. but I really think he was pulling my chain.

Well I will have to look for more info on the boards, to see if i missed anything. Oh there was a movie about Hicks, I should see it!

Here are a couple of further posts Post 2 with lost of photos and  Post 3 dealing with UTC and Metcalf road. 

A new Post about Sveadal and Croy road can be found here.

Atari 2600 collecting

I guess i started collecting Atari 2600 products when I first got the system as a kid. Form then on I just sort of kept it and acquired other peoples collections when they moved on to something else. After adding a few collections I had over a hundred cart a couple of systems and more controller than I knew what to do with. Currently I have a far too many systems, one even converted to composite video output, around a hundred an fifty separate cartridge titles and way to much space dedicated to my collection.

With a recent addition I acquired a couple of music mate cassette holders. This gave me inspiration to reconfigure my collection in with this system. The image shows the fruits of my labor. Its nice as it helps me understand what I have at a glance.

If you are going to start collecting I would advise you to look at Craig's list or eBay for a working system lot, making sure that it comes with some games and all the pieces you need. This would be controller. power supply and the RF adapter. There are some RF female to male Coax adapters out. I am absolutely not a fan, I like the big boxy RF to TV or coax with the TV / Game switch. They work better and work right ask for them by name. If you are serious about this you may jump directly into a modified composite system. You can sometimes find them on eBay or if you are electronically minded there are instructions to build your own.

The Atari 7800 is another thing to consider. The system plays 2600 games with out an adapter. I don't have one but I believe all of the controllers work on both, allowing for a one to one experience. Something like the 5200 had an adapter to play 2600 but the controllers use a different connection and can not be used. The colleco and Intellivision offered adapters as well so you can consider them, but you will have the same difference of controllers.

For collecting carts I really wouldn't be afraid about duplicates, it happens. If you don't have at least three copies of combat your a newb. If you are really new just work on games the you enjoyed in the past or genres that you like at first. I have focused on games from Activision myself. These were all very good games and none are particularly difficult got get. Also take interest in the rarity guide over atariage.com . You are going to quickly find getting one rarity seven game is about as hard as it is to get all the ones and twos. This is sort of the odd part of collecting, while not everyone had the same games there was a base lexicon of games that were pretty consistent. Combat, Pacman, Pitfall, Asteroids and Centipede were everywhere. It's trivial easy to get these. And you can buy them for three dollars a title on most sites.

If you poke around you can probably find someone who sells carts or systems if you are by a large enough metro area. Independent game stores and some independent record stores are a good place to check out. You can check garage sales but it seems like their day has passed, Craigs list is better. The odds of seeing an Atari by randomly checking sales has gotten pretty low. You pretty much have to just for the shopping and get lucky. Thrift stores are similarly bad. You can get lucky but you are looking for a pretty specific item or set of items. If you are lucky enough to live somewhere that has a classic gaming expo that's a great place to go, but be prepared because everyone there knows exactly what they have and its value.

Going to something like a classic gaming expo is a pretty heady experience in and of itself. You are going to have your eyes opened to a larger world of gaming and there is the potential to throw down several hundred dollars. My first experience opened me to the world of the PC duo, superguns and neo geo collecting. Let alone the fact that there were nearly every system I had ever heard of there and for sale. I would recommend you don't take much money, but pick up cards and write down every ones websites. Don't impulse bankrupt yourself. An example to that point. Someone was buying about a grand worth of equipment to play Neo Geo games at home, both MVS and AES. He would have grabbed several games and would have been pretty set up. That said i bought a working MVS stand up game for around 125 and spend another hundred on a 150 in 1 multi cart. I have a lot more fun for a lot less cash.

From that I would say look around, come to understand what your getting into before you buy. That said a working system and several games is not a rip off at fifty bucks. That's not a great price but you shouldn't be ashamed.

Star Castle

Sorry its been some time, I have been busy wasting time with video games. I do it far to much but, rather than lamenting the time I will do a post on my collection soon. I am a bit upset of late. My daughter has a bit of a stammer, which is usual for her age.

The thing is my dad has this weird thought that you can insult someone until they stop doing what you don't like. Its not really something that worked for me much. Rather it pissed me off and spoiled our relationship. I don't think much of myself and didn't stand up for myself, but the kid is another story. I don't care who I have to destroy to protect her. I would rather behead snakes than defang them.

Richard Scarry's Puzzletown

When i was a young kid I was very fond of Richard Scarry's Puzzletown toys. Having a daughter of my own now, I wanted to share them with her. The task proved more difficult than I originally thought. There are two big problems that I quickly ran into when collecting the toys for her. The first a lack of information on the Internet, people just don't remember these toys. The second people often combine sets or collect what they can find and sell them in partial lots. I will try to address the first problem with this post.

Richard Scarry was a prolific author and illustrator of children's books whom was active in the 50's, 60's and 70's. One of his larger projects was something called Busytown. This was a town that feature anthropomorphic animals. The setting was adapted by PlaySkool company in 1976 to become the Puzzletown line of toys. Basically they were a competing product to the Little People line of toys by Fischer Price, but included a construction element that was popular in 70's toys. The product line only seemed to last two years which may account for few who remember these toys, and the cost of sets on ebay.

While the toys were sold in many configurations most people seem to have been aware of the five larger sets. These were lettered a through E and featured large tiles cardboard wall pieces, some number of vehicles and three figures. Until recently I was only aware of the five sets. In my efforts to collect I have become aware of several other toys. Three smaller vehicle, figure and building were sold, most of these reference 1977 as their year of trademark. Also a few figure and vehicle products were sold. I will go into further detail later in this post. Just weeks ago I became aware of an ebay listing for a single carded figure. This was of "Nurse Nellie" I do not know if figures outside of the five large sets were sold in this individual format.



The first of large sets is labelled "Set A: Dr. Lion's Medical Center." This is probably the most common of the sets you are going to see. It includes the pieces to build the medical center, a bed, ambulance, Dr. Lion, Nurse Nellie and Abby the rabbit patient.

The second is "Set B: Hucklecat's Cottage" This includes the cottage set, huckle cat, momma cat and grocer cat. Some interesting points were the windows in the building walls and the full sized green plastic floor bit. There was also a car. This is usually considered a rare set.

Set C: is "Farmer Alfalfa's Farm". This is another common set you will see a lot of. it includes the barn and silo. As well as a truck, trailer, cow, the farmer and his wife.

Set D is "Mayor Fox's town Center" The third of the common sets. This is a nice set as it includes several buildings and gives you much to play with. This is the second of the sets with the full sized floor piece, All others use half floor pieces. You get a car and motorcycle in this set. Mayor Fox, Officer Dog and his wife are the figures that come with this set.

Finally Set E is "Lowly Worms rail and roadway" This is a more interesting set as its both rare and includes a rail road for the town. The rail pieces are reversible and convert to roadway. You get a two piece Tran and a car in this set. A water tower is an interesting addition as it uses wall pieces in an X configuration, sitting on top. Lowly worm, a bulldog engineer and fox conductor are included in this set.

For the smaller sets I have very little idea with regard to how they were sold. You are going to see reference to McDonald's Richard Scarry cars. These are a different line of happy meal toys sold in the 90's that are similar to but different than the Puzzletown toys. There was also a Brio set in the 90's that adds confusion. There are three puzzletown car and building sets. I do not know their official names and generally find them reference by description of the car. Therefor they are Egg Car, Apple Car, and Doughnut Car.

The Egg Car set includes the car, and farmer Alfalfa's wife. Also included is a single quarter sized floor piece and a few small roof tiles. The build pieces include eggs and a milk jugs shaped stand. A fun part of the quarter floor pieces is they are designed for upward building with special grooves to sit a top wall pieces.

The Apple car is the sole set I do not own, LET ME KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SELL. It includes the apple car and lowly worm. As will all these sets there is a quarter floor and small roof pieces. I believe it creates a fruit and veggie stand.

The doughnut car includes the car and huckle cat. The build is a doughnut stand and i has a few large doughnut cardboard/"woodboard" pieces.

I have two of the car and figures that i was able to get new from England. I don't know how they have wrapped toys over there, they seems new or in new wrapping. There is a rabbit in normal close unlike Abby the bunny patient and carrot car. Also a pig and pickle car. There way be more but I have not seen further figures.

UPDATE: I recently found an ad from 1977 for PlaySkool toys. It appears the cars and figures were called "Puzzletown People and Cars Assortment" while the car, figure and building sets were called "Puzzletown People, Cars and Places Assortment" There was also a banana car that came with a gorilla figure.

A second post on puzzletown can be found HERE

I just wrote up a third post on puzzletown and you can find it HERE

There is also a brand new post here.

If you have any more information i would love to know. Please comment or email me at jameslrickel@gmail.com

Don't Break the Oath

Gathering up the gloom I've set about myself and heading for something else With no fall or ringing rush toward summer its resounding through my blood with a tide of distant shores Giving and consuming til light is just memory of former days for a former self Little days doled out that pass whimpering Golden bells call forth binding all with rosy scents

Crescent Star Progressive Rock score card 7

"I am Superman" is a song by R.E.M. of one of their sucky ass records. I really don't care. They suck and have sucked. Will suck, shall suck. I was righting about comic book shops and wanted a title or some with super heroes. I should have used Bowie or Sabbath. I am truly sorry.

"I've read all the books about being ill" is a line from Bruce Dickinson's "no way out" I think this is from Balls to Picasso. I was just looking for something related to illness.

"I talk to the wind" Is by King Krimson. I heard the song and these are some of the thoughts that it conjured up. here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJG6AJz-puk

"Private Eyes" yeah hall and oats its dumb. I was just talking about my Role playing game so nothing inspired.

"When Lights go down" is a line from Europes Carrie which is off The Final Countdown. I was writing about my daughter Keri so used it.

"Winters Call" well that's by Badlands off first record called Badlands oddly enough. I think I caught that on the radio ,or something, before writing.

"Got me running" is by Def Leppard's high and dry. I had been listening to that song a bunch at the time and just worked it in.

"My Blue Heaven" i have no idea, my Granma sang it to me as a very young child. I was thinking of my little family on a drive which makes me very happy and is my idea of heaven on earth.

"Midnight Rider" is by the Allman brothers. Its odd i really like on version and dislike the other. I like the one that uses the single repeated riff over and over again. I think there is a musical term for that. I am writing about my thoughts on that line of the song i mention.

"The Ballad of Jane" is by La guns maybe. I know it was on the radio which is weird, they don't often play that stuff. I think it was something about the loss they guy is singing about that sparked me. But whatever something came out I'm happy about that.

"Sheer Heart Attack" is actually just a record from Queen. I was feeling like i was about to have one that day.

"Soothsayer" Is a song from Buckethead's 18Th , yeah eighteenth record, Crime Slunk Scene. I really love and respect his work and he is a freaking weirdo. Here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adV8-_hgL4g

"Here is her cup, filled with its poisons" this is part of the spoken bit of Bruce Dickinson's Jerusalem. This is from The Chemical Wedding. One of the best recorded works out there. It may be my favorite metal record of all. I would have to think about it.

Here is her cup, filled with its poisons

starry nights turn upon us, wheeling ever upon days we may have forgot if not for times we must regain their parting. Burning upon a pyre, Aloysius cast his days and watched her born from amongst smoke. Yielding up her poisons and pestilence, but he content not to drink.

Aloysius had seen her long before. Haddabaugh kept her for a time. Anglac travelled with him to Haddabaugh's manor, walking many miles and waiting hours more. When finally their hosts auto arrived they found themselves unwanted. As new lords held Haddabaugh's interest, one this regal and septic queen. Months Anglac and Aloysius awaited their friend, mourning the old haunts and unearthing new. Her poisons worked she withdrew to take other of our friends.

Aloysius waited and watched for the fire would birth Wrath as Pestilence dissolved with the smoke.

The nightmare corpse-city

Growing late in the year the seaside came upon his path. With the gale and grey Aloysius paused knowing he hadn't intended on this place. Palsy and Quaking he hated years misspent and loves forgotten. Again he longed for lands he had not known. He longed for Nicene's lips, He longed for youth and home.

Under the breath of sea a misplaced memory rang out perfecting his thoughts. Aloysius imbibed and drunk wrought nights sweeter than they were spent. Recast himself the hero in stories he once duly wrote. Aloysius a fool decide to believe these dream, and recapture them rote.

Soothsayer

sing of eons and veils hidden in sleep I have forgotten of sun choked hinterlands ribald music wanderings Wayward wings on serpents that try hard to creep lent motion shuddering or floundering for skyward shores Idle winds come wild facing against it more limited helpless rememberer I'm sightless bore Yet the many soft returnings mark the past days arbor burnt nocturnal bright

Star Fleet Battles

I was given my first introduction to star fleet battles last night. I am really not sure it is my cup of tea. It reminded me of battletech, I think it may have originally been under Fasa so It would make sense.

I really didn't like the feeling flight in the game. I felt very hampered in what I was doing, I wanted to turn around and just fumbled around trying to vaguely turn left. I guess i was supposed to plot out a course or something but learning i just wanted to try to turn. My be i was supposed to turn to the left and point of slip to the right; I really don't know. I just felt like meh I don't want to think about this. Perhaps Battle fleet Gothic is more my thing, well except for the use of that satanic metric system.

I am really not a war gamer which may have been some of my problem. I just suck at thinking on the large scale and want to do the pen and paper RPG sort of thing. I would like to give SPi's Sniper a try that looks interesting. Also i wouldn't have to model vehicular turning.

I think i would like 40K in chit form do they have that anywhere?

Sheer Heart Attack

I don't know if my decidedly unhealthy lifestyle is working for me anymore. I just realized i feel bad right now. Continuing with that idea, I am often tired. I think I need to get some sort of exercise maybe. My heart is racing after a flight of stairs which isn't good.


I think water for as much of the day as I can stand today. Then maybe some veggies or fruit. I am just not feeling like I should right now. I can even feel the veins in my arms. That is not a good sign well unless you are looking for a heart attack.

The Ballad of Jane

There is no lost love to lament and no dreams worth crying over lost. It's not hurt smiled upon and revisited. Night is not long with loss nor courted with chords sadly ringing woe. I've no need of songs of guns nor poison warranting tearful nights of long ago. But sing sadly friend I mourn you today for its been too long and had forgot your song. Music seems meaningless mad by fools who thought yours had little meaning. Listening to song trite and simple, I forgot you knew well how to play.

Midnight Rider

I don't own the clothes I'm wearing. What an apt statement. You can't take my life, it was never mine. Life is a gift as rebirth is a gift. I have been proud and foolish to think different. I have thought all I have is this, In truth I have nothing. On what ground would someone stand and bargain or look and say no you are not great. All gifts are there for the taking but for mistake that you have something already. Don't be proud as we are less than nothing. Take heart much is being given. Give everything you are back.

My blue heaven

sit back sit back it all worthwhile from here just don't be clouded over in your fear. Its wound up in wonder at least for me just look out and you might see the sun begin to sink. All things ours are alright just remember than when worry comes tonight. Listen from the back seat the baby chats happily to the dog head held out the window as we go. We have time and a lot is sewn up tight as sun fades to night.

Got me running

Sorry i am super busy this week at work. I have a scrum sprint starting up so I am trying to work on several tasks at once. Its sort of hard for me juggling the beginning of several jobs at once. I am OK once I have been in the trenches but before then I need a bunch of thinking time.

It's sort of part of me to need to conceptually need to grasp any task. Think of the avenues of attack and get a mental lay of the land. Some people are able to just march up a hill and then keep going without thought of direction. In a physical space this is natural for me but in the mental/conceptual space Its not.

On project has be looking up various pages of a certain type. I needed to understand the aspects of these pages and what mattered and what didn't before moving on. Now I am at least at conceptually there. I figured out what i need to do, and took some time bridge the gap of how to do that. Now its just documentation of ideas.

Plus its my anniversary so i am thinking a bunch on that. It's been 17 years and with the time before the wedding i guess I have been with Denise more time than not. Its odd thinking that and I am only 37. That's not young but its not that old either. We are going to La Foret in new almaden a few miles from the house. I am going to skip on the frois gras I hate geese but still force feeding them is a dick move.

Winters Call

Under the cold of a falling sky
left alone on winters throne
Dry what I can't remember
On the embers of a breaking dawn

Sleeps left me, again elusive
ever illness come to call
it's clamouring for attention
on days i don't say a word

Wide wonder begone home
its still sickness for today
prickly pin feeling under covers
then awake cold sweet clammy

Don't dream, it's not coming
ever in need out of sight

When Lights Go Down

The mornings are seeming shorter and shorter. I can feel the time missing when I'm not with you. I'm missing so many moments of your joy, and it seems your bigger every time I take the time to notice. There are nights I'm exhausted that I come home late and think she will be asleep soon. And I am happy for the coming rest but then I hate myself for not loving the time I get. I love your flapping excitement that bounds and bubbles with everything. I love your babbles about anything said again and again. I love you Keri.

Private Eyes are watching you

I ran a game last night since our DM was busy. The first thing that jumps out at me is boy was I under prepared. I need a way to railroad the players when they need railroading. I left them to their own devices to much. Need more carrots and sticks. I have to say this is a pretty standard problem form me. I play way too lose with the story. I need to do more of a module approach i think. Or have more stuff planned to get the action going.

I was doing a late 50's early 60's spy game, that had monsters and magic thrown in. One player was a goblin, and a villain npc an ogre. I am trying to not involve much fantasy into the plot line, but rather have that be a completely espionage based story. More that there just happen to be these other elements.

I am using the Savage worlds rules to run the game, but again i was a bit under prepared to run. Really that isn't fair to the players a GM should have the rules well in hand. Maybe I should have tried the rules set i am working on. Then i would have been more familiar with them.

Right from the star the players proved the old gaming adage "give your players 10 things to do and they will do the 11Th. Tried putting a P.I. and a hood together but the hood broke away and ran off. I really lacked giving the hood motivation to hang out with the party thinking he was going to be there for the exposition of the spy threat. Now he is sort of shadowing the rest of the players. I think I am going to have him get pulled in by the cops. Then i will try to reconnect him with the party by having the fed player get called in for some reason.

I hate having to come up with some shoe horn to get the party together, but I'm a pretty sucky gm.

I talk to the wind

Ships are moving over the water
Like notes flowing in time
expiring and conspiring
from sound conceived in mind

Splinters caught in wind
cast over a field aflame
seeded in embers
Ring out in fear

Calls and warning climb
from house to home
looking for answer
but ringing upon stones

Little ships sinking with water
burning houses in the town
Don't whisper a warning
just comply to be mine
were running out of wine

I'm yours for longing eons
but stay lets end this day
It's ours for your making

I've read all the books about being ill

I have a had a lot of medical problems throughout my life. From my kidney failure, skin problems all the way to several ear operations. Even to this day the ear nose and throat doctor makes me nervous. I would much rather to go the dentist, in fact my dentist is cool. I can easily remember being terrified as a kid visiting various doctors.

Now that I am a dad seeing my kid sick is incredibly hard. We had to give my daughter some eye drops which had her screaming and very afraid. Just doing it put me back in the doctors chair terrified of some thing he was going to use on my ears. And then I would think of my kid feeling that terror and I feel like I have failed. I don't want her to go through the crap I had even in a small way. Feeling her fear put me in tears the other night. I know it and I know how deep it is when you don't understand what is happening. And for my why it seemed to happen to me so often and not other people.

I don't mean that in a why me sort of way. I mean it in a kid coming to understand that their is something pretty seriously wrong with them sort of way. So far my daughter has been very brave little girl and has had few of the problems I had. I am happy, me being sick instead of hear makes what I have gone through OK.

I am Superman

I went into a comic store at lunch this afternoon. I have never been sure about these places, I just don't feel that comfortable in them. Its like I am listening to a Rap metal band. It's close to what I like but that bit I don't sucks schlong.

First of comic book store employees are dicks. I have been in a few over the years and it has been almost universally true. The owner of Hijinx comics in San Jose is a nice guy who is genuinely helpful. So shop from him exclusively if you have the choice. The rest are douche bags who don't give you much time or effort.

Most game shop folks can talk old school product and have an idea where you can find certain types of stuff. To expand on that, they knew which shops dealt in used product or had decent back catalogs. They have an idea what products like Basic Role playing or Alquadim are. This does not seem to be the case in comic shops or I am asking for some seriously crazy crap. I understand the industry of comics is huge in comparison and the history is roughly twice that of the gaming hobby. But these people seem to only have a solid idea current titles.

To an outsider comic book store organization is fuX0r. It's organized by publisher, fucking publisher. That would be OK for DC and Marvel maybe i could make a guess between those two. But How the hell am I going to know about the existence of some third party press. I don't know shit about comics let alone who published it. Imagine a book store like that, its freaking insane.

The staff have invited their friends to hang out at the store while they work so they can ignore customers. And they will ignore you you can wander around and take a dump in the stands in some shops. The stench will mix with that of the shop hanger-ons and probably make little difference to the over all aroma. If you can get their attention ordering stuff will be a huge inconvenience to them and you. keep in mind you are going to have to come back if you do. To be fair this is mainly true for the game stores, stench especially.