Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Wired 12.09: The Giants of Anime are Coming

The giants of anime are coming, huh? Boy, Wired sure is on the cutting edge of this one. Thanks for telling us, guys. Can't wait for GitS II though.

Wired 12.09: The Giants of Anime are Coming

"The story has become Hollywood legend: In the mid-1990s, veteran producer Joel Silver met with two brothers. A little-known writer-director team, they were pitching an idea that Silver just couldn't wrap his head around. Finally they showed him Ghost in the Shell, a 1995 full-length Japanese cartoon by Mamoru Oshii. 'We want to make a live-action version of this,' they said. Ghost was like no cartoon Silver had ever seen. Rather than the family-friendly fare conjured up by the word animation, it was a violent tale about a futuristic world where people are so entangled with computers that nobody knows who is human and what is real. Quickly grasping its appeal, Silver gave the brothers the thumbs-up to produce a movie about a futuristic world where people are so entangled with computers that nobody knows who is human and what is real. The brothers were named Wachowski; their movie was called The Matrix."

Monday, August 30, 2004

David A. Spitzley's Mythic Detroit

A developing Urban or Dark Fantasy setting built around Detroit. Since its relatively close to Cleveland, some of the magic may bleed back and forth. Perhaps as parts of a Triangle over Lake Erie.

Mythic Detroit

"If you say the name 'Detroit' to most people, they have very little idea there's more to the city than cars, Motown, houses that burst into flames on October 30, and (thanks to His Eminence Marshall Mathers) the presence of a road named 8 Mile.

"As you might expect, this page is intended to rectify this somewhat. I won't be pointing out mundane stuff like the Renaissance Center, Ford Field, or any other elements of the recent downtown building boom. Personally, I'm much more interested in the odd, the whimsical, the 'What the Hell?' factor. Every city has it, and Detroit, a major metropolis during the first half of the 20th century, has at least its fair share."

TSG: Blowing Up Gotti

TSG: Blowing Up Gotti

"As the daughter of a serial killer, Victoria Gotti has done okay for herself: hack novelist, supermarket tabloid scribbler, and, now, star of the A&E reality TV show 'Growing Up Gotti.'"

Frustrated chimp takes up smoking

Frustrated chimp takes up smoking

"Sexual frustration has driven a mild-mannered chimpanzee to take up smoking and spitting, according to China's Xinhua news agency." [via Jonny]

Friday, August 27, 2004

Tarantino to star in Muppets film

That sound you are hearing is the thumping of Jim Henson's body against the inside of his coffin...as he is spinning in his grave.

BBC NEWS

"Kill Bill director Quentin Tarantino is to appear in a new Muppets film based on The Wizard of Oz. " [Via Jonny]

Museum of Hoaxes

I think the name says enough.

Museum of Hoaxes

Thursday, August 26, 2004

Grant Morrison - Punching Holes Through Time

Sequential Tart

"I had the great privilege of interviewing Grant Morrison way back during Tart's first year of existence. The result, while interesting, wasn't the definitive Grant Morrison interview I wanted for our publication (mostly due to my inexperience as an interviewer back then). I waited three years to pose the possibility of an extended interview with the man. In that time, I thought hard about every question I ever wanted to ask the author about his writing. I realized that I didn't want to ask him about specific pieces of his work (which speak for themselves, by and large), as much as I wanted to ask him questions concerning the craft of writing, the influence of other art forms on his work, how and why his work keeps evolving and changing every few years, and so forth."

Once More With Rampage!!

An interesting looking blog by another geek. Looks like a nice mix of news and opinion. I'll have to check the link on Warren Ellis and the Global Frequency series.

Once More With Rampage!!

Edit: Checked out the Global Frequency site and was left overwhelmingly unimpressed by it. I am sure that it will be an ok program, but the site was just boring and, well.... boring.

Acting in the office of a parrot

Just reasons to dislike John Byrne, outside of the usual of course...

Acting in the office of a parrot

"I remembered that this wasn't the first time Byrne had to retract a public statement (later proved to be false) about a fellow professional. When Fantagraphics recently asked people to place orders with them in order to help them with their financial troubles, I made an order which included a few back issues of The Comics Journal, which always make for interesting reading. One of those issues (#82) featured an apology written by Byrne in which he retracted some statements he made about Roy Thomas at a convention panel. Like the Larsen apology, however, the phrasing of the apology left something to be desired, as you will see below."

A link to the main page.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

QT's Diary

I am guessing that it is probably a fake.

QT's Diary

Please save my mother

Please save my mother

A kitten watches fire Capt. Levy Davis try to revive its mother at a house fire in In Bowling Green, Ky. The oxygen did the trick, and both cats, along with a third, were taken to the Humane Society.

Friday, August 20, 2004

Cunning Folk

Just a little something interesting to throw out for folks, something to put a little flavor into their Fantasy games. Particularly useful for Fantasy Fudge GMs and Players, using the Hedge Magic "rules" for 5-point Fudge.

Cunning Folk

A Most Squamous Birthday, indeed...

Happy Birthday! Or have a most Squamous Birthday, indeed...

The Definition of H.P. Lovecraft

All New Meaning To 'Fox in Sox'

All New Meaning To 'Fox in Sox'

"A man has tried to extort the widow of legendary US children's author known as "Dr Seuss" by threatening to circulate a painting of his famous characters engaged in sexual acts."

Killer In The Phone

Killer In The Phone

"A NIGERIAN mobile telephone firm has sought to quash a widespread rumour that users answering calls from two "killer numbers" had been struck dead on the spot."

Hatebeak

No, seriously....

Parrot Lead Death Metal Band

"Face-crushing guitars, head-pounding drums, bass so low you'll vacate your bowels, and vocals so scorching, so extreme they simply can't be human! They're not. This death metal outfit with a parrot for a singer makes trashes the pathetic birdfeeder you call the metal underground!

"That's correct, a parrot for a singer, savaging you with feathers of razored steel! This is not Jimmy Buffet's parrot - be warned! Try as one might, they will not escape the claw; nothing can dodge the talons of hate!! These three songs are an ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY beak in the ass of all things sacred in the underground. The holiest shrines of metal and hardcore seriousness are duly trashed, burned, laid to waste, smeared in Avian excrement. The pecking order has been established! For the last time, it really is a parrot, not the loser from Six Feet Under.
Groundbreaking, nest-crushing, egg-shattering! You can run, but you can't fly."

Teen Sleuths, Dog, Thwart Plot To End World

Film at eleven.

THE rANT FARM

[Warning, this is a tripod site, so there is a pop-up.]

Thursday, August 19, 2004

GURPS Update

This links to the pdf file with the conversion guidelines from GURPS 3e to the soon to be released (and currently for sale...I guess...at GenCon) GURPS 4e. Just remember that no conversion is ever perfect or exact, and from what I have seen of the changes for 4e in preview, its going to be a much better game.

GURPS Update pdf file

NPR: Dungeons & Dragons

NPR's All Things Considered did a recent story on the upcoming 30th Anniversary of D&D. This linked page features a downloadable RM file of the piece. I have heard it, but I have read that it was not a negative piece, focusing on how D&D has influenced the computer game industry, and recording of a game session with a gaming group in Brooklyn, made up of professional 30-somethings.

Don't forget that October 16th is Worldwide D&D Game Day, as a part of the anniversary celebrations.

NPR: Dungeons & Dragons

"In the 1980s, Dungeons and Dragons inspired millions of kids to spend their spare time pretending to be wizards and dwarves. A new version of the D&D rule book comes out tonight, and the designers are betting it will lure today's kids away from video and computer games."

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Steve Jackson Game's Web Forums

In addition to their subscription discussion boards of Pyramid Magazine, SJ Games has introduced a new free forum on their website. Hopefully this will bring together the online communities of GURPS and SJ Games together in one place. Regardless, it is a nice augmentation for Pyramid.

Steve Jackson Game's Web Forums

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Big Bang Universe RPG

This is my next big piece of gaming work. I am really looking forward to tackling it, since I have been a big fan of the comics, and Gary and Chris' work, for quite a long time. Watch this space for more information about the game and playtesting as time goes by.

Big Bang Press Release

Grimjack Is Back!

Wow. This was announced in June and I managed to miss it. Let's here it for Grimjack collections!

GrimJack Is Back

"After long legal wrangling, the creative team of writer John Ostrander and artist Tim Truman recently announced that they had recovered the rights to GrimJack, who they created originally as a back-up feature in the pages of First Comics' Starslayer."

Thursday, August 12, 2004

Florida braces for double storm hit

I know from my family that where my parents lives (St. Pete Beach) has a mandatory evacuation by 4pm today. So, I guess that things are supposed to get ugly with Charley. No Chocolate Facotry for him.

Florida braces for double storm hit

"Florida authorities implemented emergency preparations as the southern US state braced for a rare one-two punch by a hurricane and a tropical storm."

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Can You Name The 53 States?

Can You Name The 53 States?

"California officials are seeking to shutter a chain of private schools that peddles bogus high school diplomas to unwitting students--many of them Latino immigrants--who are taught that there are 53 U.S. states and an 'administrative' branch of government. The California Alternative High School, which operated 30 schools statewide, charged students $1450 for a 10-week course based on a bizarre 54-page workbook that apparently was authored by Ali G. State investigators last week seized the school's assets and asked a Superior Court judge to close down the sleazy outfit. Below you will find excerpts from the school's workbook, which included questions about Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Traveling Salesman,' the study of 'Matemathics,' and the philosopher 'Aristotale.' "

Friday, August 06, 2004

Shinyokohama Raumen Museum

Just look at it, I guess is the best way to introduce this site. I wouldn't be sure how to bescribe it otherwise. It is an English-language site, although there is a link to a Japanese site.

SHINYOKOHAMA RAUMEN MUSEUM [via Jon]

Thursday, August 05, 2004

Bad Checks Spell Trouble For Forger

Bad Checks Spell Trouble For Forger

"AUGUST 5--Meet Fitzhugh Fenderson, an alleged felon in dire need of a spell checker. The 33-year-old Long Island man is facing grand larceny and forgery charges for a scheme to swindle car dealerships out of pricey SUVs. According to cops, Fenderson last month passed bogus certified checks at two Cadillac dealerships, walking away with a pair of $65,000 Escalades. When the checks bounced, the dealers ran to Nassau County cops, who yesterday nabbed Fenderson, who was at the wheel of one of the Cadillacs when placed in cuffs. However, had the car salesmen looked more closely at Fenderson's checks they would have realized there was a problem with the paper. Along with misspelling 'Roosevelt,' his own hometown, Fenderson had trouble correctly rendering 'Chase Manhattan Bank.' Below you'll find one of those bogus 65k checks, passed at a Freeport dealership last month. Perhaps the next time Fenderson goes auto shopping he'll leave the checks at home and pay with cash."


The Sultan Brought Cheesecake

The Sultan Brought Cheesecake

"AUGUST 4--Three hundred pounds of lamb. A $12,000 Franck Muller watch. Christian Dior after-shave lotion. A Lady McDuffies gourmet lemon cheesecake. Those are just a few of the fabulous gifts received last year by the Bush family from foreign leaders, according to a list released this week by the Department of State's Office of Protocol (below you'll find excerpts from the 52-page report). It will probably come as no surprise that the most valuable gift came from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdallah, who gave First Lady Laura Bush a matching set of diamond and sapphire jewelry valued by U.S. officials at $95,500. The Saudi royal also gave the president an $8500 mantel clock and the 'first family' (that would be first daughters Jenna and Barbara) received Bulgari necklaces valued at $8500 and $8000 apiece. Other recipients of Saudi largesse were Chief of Staff Andrew Card and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, both of whom got small daggers priced at $1500. The foreign gifts are taken, the State Department report notes, since 'non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and U.S. Government.' However, in most cases, the items are turned over the National Archives for safekeeping. As for the lamb cache, we're guessing it was served to First Mutt Barney."

Aeon Flux -- The Movie

Aeon Flux -- The Movie

"Charlize Theron, who will play the title SF superhero in Aeon Flux, told SCI FI Wire that she is currently rehearsing with director Karyn Kusama and her co-stars in the live-action movie, which is based on the animated MTV series. Shooting begins in mid-August, but Theron is still getting to know the character, she said in an interview. 'I've just spent five days with the director and the cast, so we're still sort of working that out,' Theron said. 'It's not just a special-[effects movie]. It's a love story, of course, so those are the things that kind of get me going.'"

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

U.S. May Limit Flights at O'Hare

Just wait until after I get to Wizard World, oh and back home too.

U.S. May Limit Flights at O'Hare

"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. aviation regulators threatened on Wednesday to cap commercial flights into and out of Chicago's O'Hare airport to reduce unprecedented delays that are causing congestion throughout the country's aviation system."

Monday, August 02, 2004

The art of not writing books

The art of not writing books

"Imaginary novels and incredible stories are being collected for posterity in an unconventional UK arts project, the Library of Unwritten Books."

heroes

Heroes

A flash animation combining super-heroes and the movie Clerks. Well, since one was already done with Stormtroopers...I guess this makes sense as the next. Its a Flash animation, check it out.