With apologies to Rachael Maddow as I'm totally stealing the same bit...
31 December 2009
30 December 2009
Best Whatever of 2009
So yeah... I'm doing that...
Best music I bought this year: It is a close race this year for me. The Mastadon record is amazing... the Black Crowes record is magnificent. But for me, the one I like the most is the John Mayer Live in LA. The second set (his blues trio) got me back into the blues and is just damn fine.
EDIT: Yeah... I have to change my vote here... Blueprint III is too good. It will get a whole post devoted to it in the next week or so.
Best movie I saw: Wish I could say Watchmen, but it was just sort of flawed. I can't really put my finger on why. GI Joe is a hilarious nostalgia fest for me, and only lacked someone turning to the camera and saying "America... FUCK YEAH" to just be Team America without puppets. For me tho, I think this year, it was Inglorious Bastards. Christolph Waltz (the main SS officer) is unfathomably good in this. I can't wait to watch the guy in things, and wish I could appreciate more German cinema. The first scene in the cabin is worth the price of admission by itself. Also, Brad Pitt being so over the top as a Tennessee officer was amazing. I love that the guy can embed himself into a character like that and make it something memorable and not a joke. He walks the line, and pulls it off, which is really damn hard.
Best tech that actually delivered: The year started with me drooling over the possibilities of the Palm Pre. Man it looked good at CES didn't it? Too bad the keyboard is criminally small and the apps aren't worth writing home about. For me tho, watching Android evolve into its own niche of a geeky iPhone was awesome. I have one (HTC Hero) and I freaking love it. Honorable mention goes to my swanky LCD TV and Blu-Ray player. I can actually watch football at home without wanting to choke someone. Going to games live and seeing the whole field spoils you in ways you can't understand until you've done it yourself. Another note... Windows 7 is actually good. It is so unproblematic that I forgot to include it.
Best Add-On for Firefox: This comes down to two for me... Stylish and Feedly. Yeah, I know, neither were new this year. But I got them for the first time this year. Stylish plays to me UI Config fetish, and Feedly is a superb RSS aggregation tool. Once you have either, you can't see the web the same again.
Best New Habit: I has a blog now. It clears my head and whether or not anyone reads it, its fun to do it.
Best Renewal of Old: I got back into Warhammer with the Bell Of Lost Souls Tourney in August. It is back as my main hobby, and I'm glad to be back. I'm committed to going to tourneys in 2010 and learning more about the game... and actually painting my Orks...
Best Texas Football Thing: 1530 bring Geoff and Chad together is pretty sweet... 1300's morning show is brilliant (Ahmad Brooks will be a national analyst... just watch... its only a matter of time)... Seeing Colt get the love from the DKRMS faithful... Seeing the look on my father's face whenever Shipley broke one... The sound of my mother screaming "COME ON HORNS". For me tho... the best... was seeing Texas fight for every inch on every play. They never quit all year. I'm proud to be a fan of this team and can't wait for the big game next week.
Best Comic Book Thing: The fruition of years of plans by Brian Bendis has been a fun thing to watch, and it promises to truly pay off with The Siege. Blackest Night is fun as hell. Fraction's Iron Man is brilliant. Brubaker showing everyone that he had a plan from the start with Captain America is like that moment when you knew you trusted a friend no matter what anyone said, and he paid off that trust like gang busters. For me tho, the best of the year goes to something no one created... it came to my realization that what I truly love about comics is sequential, serialized story telling as its own art form. See the previous "What makes good comics" post for more on this.
Okay... I'm sure there is more... that's what I have for now. At some point I'm going to put up a wish list for 2010.
Oh and one last thing... to the God of War, the Crowbar and the Dog Barber... you three are my rocks, and I wouldn't have had the best year of my life without you.
Much love to all. Happy New Year... and don't break nothing what can't be fixed.
Best music I bought this year: It is a close race this year for me. The Mastadon record is amazing... the Black Crowes record is magnificent. But for me, the one I like the most is the John Mayer Live in LA. The second set (his blues trio) got me back into the blues and is just damn fine.
EDIT: Yeah... I have to change my vote here... Blueprint III is too good. It will get a whole post devoted to it in the next week or so.
Best movie I saw: Wish I could say Watchmen, but it was just sort of flawed. I can't really put my finger on why. GI Joe is a hilarious nostalgia fest for me, and only lacked someone turning to the camera and saying "America... FUCK YEAH" to just be Team America without puppets. For me tho, I think this year, it was Inglorious Bastards. Christolph Waltz (the main SS officer) is unfathomably good in this. I can't wait to watch the guy in things, and wish I could appreciate more German cinema. The first scene in the cabin is worth the price of admission by itself. Also, Brad Pitt being so over the top as a Tennessee officer was amazing. I love that the guy can embed himself into a character like that and make it something memorable and not a joke. He walks the line, and pulls it off, which is really damn hard.
Best tech that actually delivered: The year started with me drooling over the possibilities of the Palm Pre. Man it looked good at CES didn't it? Too bad the keyboard is criminally small and the apps aren't worth writing home about. For me tho, watching Android evolve into its own niche of a geeky iPhone was awesome. I have one (HTC Hero) and I freaking love it. Honorable mention goes to my swanky LCD TV and Blu-Ray player. I can actually watch football at home without wanting to choke someone. Going to games live and seeing the whole field spoils you in ways you can't understand until you've done it yourself. Another note... Windows 7 is actually good. It is so unproblematic that I forgot to include it.
Best Add-On for Firefox: This comes down to two for me... Stylish and Feedly. Yeah, I know, neither were new this year. But I got them for the first time this year. Stylish plays to me UI Config fetish, and Feedly is a superb RSS aggregation tool. Once you have either, you can't see the web the same again.
Best New Habit: I has a blog now. It clears my head and whether or not anyone reads it, its fun to do it.
Best Renewal of Old: I got back into Warhammer with the Bell Of Lost Souls Tourney in August. It is back as my main hobby, and I'm glad to be back. I'm committed to going to tourneys in 2010 and learning more about the game... and actually painting my Orks...
Best Texas Football Thing: 1530 bring Geoff and Chad together is pretty sweet... 1300's morning show is brilliant (Ahmad Brooks will be a national analyst... just watch... its only a matter of time)... Seeing Colt get the love from the DKRMS faithful... Seeing the look on my father's face whenever Shipley broke one... The sound of my mother screaming "COME ON HORNS". For me tho... the best... was seeing Texas fight for every inch on every play. They never quit all year. I'm proud to be a fan of this team and can't wait for the big game next week.
Best Comic Book Thing: The fruition of years of plans by Brian Bendis has been a fun thing to watch, and it promises to truly pay off with The Siege. Blackest Night is fun as hell. Fraction's Iron Man is brilliant. Brubaker showing everyone that he had a plan from the start with Captain America is like that moment when you knew you trusted a friend no matter what anyone said, and he paid off that trust like gang busters. For me tho, the best of the year goes to something no one created... it came to my realization that what I truly love about comics is sequential, serialized story telling as its own art form. See the previous "What makes good comics" post for more on this.
Okay... I'm sure there is more... that's what I have for now. At some point I'm going to put up a wish list for 2010.
Oh and one last thing... to the God of War, the Crowbar and the Dog Barber... you three are my rocks, and I wouldn't have had the best year of my life without you.
Much love to all. Happy New Year... and don't break nothing what can't be fixed.
24 December 2009
UI Config Addiction and Android
So... long ago I came to the realization that I'm a flat out user interface configuration addict. I will constantly change up the look of whatever tool I'm using to get it exactly how I want it. Hell, I ran litestep on XP. My WoW interface looked nothing like what most people played with... and I constantly futzed with it.
Now I have an Android phone, the sublime HTC Hero for Sprint. It's the crack of UI Configs. You have 7 home screens. You can add or remove anything you want on the fly and because HTC is the devil, you can save multiple layouts for different needs. It is amazing. It is wonderful, and my neck will never forgive me.
After two weeks with a touch screen phone, I'm completely addicted. The Android OS is smooth and perfect for my OCDish UI config addiction. My only complaints about the phone are that the vibrate isn't strong enough and the slightly sluggish performance. The vibrate isn't likely to change, but the firmware upgrade rumored to be coming in Feb should solve the sluggishness.
In short: I love the damn thing. Its wonderful. I'm completely addicted. Now if only I could use my mouse to swipe back and forth between programs. Time to find a mouse gestures program for Windows 7... God help me...
Now I have an Android phone, the sublime HTC Hero for Sprint. It's the crack of UI Configs. You have 7 home screens. You can add or remove anything you want on the fly and because HTC is the devil, you can save multiple layouts for different needs. It is amazing. It is wonderful, and my neck will never forgive me.
After two weeks with a touch screen phone, I'm completely addicted. The Android OS is smooth and perfect for my OCDish UI config addiction. My only complaints about the phone are that the vibrate isn't strong enough and the slightly sluggish performance. The vibrate isn't likely to change, but the firmware upgrade rumored to be coming in Feb should solve the sluggishness.
In short: I love the damn thing. Its wonderful. I'm completely addicted. Now if only I could use my mouse to swipe back and forth between programs. Time to find a mouse gestures program for Windows 7... God help me...
Thoughts? Anyone else afflicted?
17 December 2009
Why I Love Being an Underdog
Guess what? Texas fans get to watch this video and get pumped. Let em all pick Bama. I can't freaking wait till the game gets here...
Labels:
Texas Football
10 December 2009
What Makes Good Comics?
Ambitious title I know, but bear with me here…
So the key to good comics is good storytelling. In comics that isn't just the right words together or a great plot, but it’s the ability to put all of that in a sequential format to convey the story. Great art helps, but truly great comics benefit from art that moves the story and creates that flow to draw you into each page. A great comic is a symbiosis of art and writing that tells a story in the unique method of the medium.
But what makes the comic book medium so different? Why do some things work and others fail? Why is it so difficult to make a comic book movie right?
A good story is a good story, doesn't matter what medium its in. A good story should come through and pull you into it. But not every story works in every medium. Some are tailor made for certain mediums…
Movie: the latest Star Trek is an amazing example of why a movie should be a movie. There are sequences in there that are why people got into the business. That story was grand, but also tight and could come across perfectly on screen. Visually it had a specific feel that another medium likely would have lost.
Novel: Infinite Jest is a rambling, brilliant and funny exploration of humanities obsession with entertainment. It brings a specific perspective that really could only work in a book. Its insane juxtapositions of theme and constant flipping between character perspectives takes full advantage of the novel. The reader is invested from the start and only pulled deeper as the author leads you to where he wants to take you. It's brilliant, but dense, and brings out everything that can be great about a novel.
Comic: The Dark Knight Returns is an almost perfectly crafted comic. It takes full advantage of the page and the ability to fill it with information while still generating a sense of flow to everything. Its big moments are dramatic because they take up the space to drive home the impact. The constant TV anchor works because its narrating the action, something that would be challenging at best to sit through in a theatre and would be disjointed in a novel.
TV: The Wire, in my opinion, is the best show to ever air on television and a genuine accomplishment in story telling. The characters (and by that I mean the writers) use the sense of time you can accomplish with a series and a set of seasons to convey growth and genuine humanity. By the end, every last character is a fully realized person whose motivation follows a track that has been set since they were introduced. You understand why someone does it, and almost tragically, you see the bad choices coming from a mile away but can't look away as someone jumps off that cliff into a painful dive.
Could any of these worked in the other medium? Maybe. I don't think Infinite Jest could come across in a movie. If it did, we all might leave the theatre mad as hatters. It *might* work in a TV format, but honestly, it’s a novel and best explored as such. TDKR is a comic through and through. While elements have found themselves in the latest movies, it too plays with tricks that only work in a comic. Star Trek would feel flat on the page, and as a TV series, would feel like a bunch of mini movies. The Wire *could* work as a novel or even a comic, but it is so damn good as a TV show, why jack with it?
And there's the rub... why jack with it? Why make something that works and push it to another place? Why did we *have* to have a Watchmen movie? Somehow it just didn't work. Its great, but the comic is revered and is probably the pinnacle of what you can accomplish with the medium thus far. Was I the only one who felt like Sin City felt stiff and visually forced? It’s a fun movie, don't get me wrong, but for me it just fell flat a little. In the same vein, why do we need a comic book adaption of every big movie? Other than the obviously naked grab for revenue of course.
But sometimes it works… Iron Man for example. It is a GREAT movie. That's what it is tho… it is a movie. It isn't a comic book adaption, it is characters who were first brought to life in a comic and then brought into the medium of film to become that much larger than life. It also doesn't hurt that Robert Downey Jr. is the most perfect bit of casting this side of the Harry Potter movies.
But I digress….
Good comics take advantage of the medium. They play with the limitations and create brilliance through working with it, not against it. The comics in the 90's, particularly the bad Image books, failed in their ability to tell a story because they were all flash and no substance. The same way so many books from the 70's are almost unreadable because of how over emphasized the writing is. Good comics take both writing and art to build a story and create a page flow.
What's the point of this rambling? Not even sure any more… I guess what I'm trying to convey is that good comics take advantage of the unique medium of sequential art and use it to enhance to tale. A good story is a good story, but a good comic is a good comic.
Anyone have any thoughts?
Labels:
Comics
09 December 2009
Nids... giddyness
So the Nid book is out in January... and I'm giddy. Now I just have to pain up the Orc Army first before I dig into buying and building the Nid army.
That's the goal... painted Orcs before I get into Nids... that's the goal...
That's the goal... painted Orcs before I get into Nids... that's the goal...
Labels:
Gaming,
Texas Football
Smell that underdogaliciousness?
Man I love the build up to a National Title game. Texas, at least in the last few years, has always been an underdog against some sort of amazing team.
Why? Texas looked brutal against what might be the best defensive player I've ever seen. The thing is, they still won the damn game. Texas did what they needed to do to beat Nebraska. I'm with Mack on this... if it was in the SEC we would hear all this about how amazing the defense was and how strong the Texas D looked and how incredible the Nebraska D was. Instead? Well, you've heard it by now, no reason to recap.
Bama looked amazing against Florida. They just took it to 'em and beat the Gators as soundly as a team can get beat.
Thing is? I think Texas will hang, and in the end beat Bama. More analysis to come... well what passes for analysis anyway.
Until then... God love the underdog.
Why? Texas looked brutal against what might be the best defensive player I've ever seen. The thing is, they still won the damn game. Texas did what they needed to do to beat Nebraska. I'm with Mack on this... if it was in the SEC we would hear all this about how amazing the defense was and how strong the Texas D looked and how incredible the Nebraska D was. Instead? Well, you've heard it by now, no reason to recap.
Bama looked amazing against Florida. They just took it to 'em and beat the Gators as soundly as a team can get beat.
Thing is? I think Texas will hang, and in the end beat Bama. More analysis to come... well what passes for analysis anyway.
Until then... God love the underdog.
Labels:
Texas Football
26 November 2009
Hell of a Shoot Out
I'll give ATM credit: they played lights out on offense. Not sure what was up with Texas on defense tonight. Just looked unlike anything I've seen from them all year.
Colt continues to be brilliant, the offense is humming doing whatever it is that the defense will let them do. You shut down the short pass? Fine, Texas goes over the top. You load 8 in the box, Colt, Malcolm, Jordan and the rest will shred your man to man. Give us the run. Texas runs smash mouth ball on you.
Texas escaped with this win, make no mistake. The defense at too much turkey or some other post Thanksgiving cliche. Still, Texas looked excellent on offense.
And now... The Huskers await. Hook 'em.
Colt continues to be brilliant, the offense is humming doing whatever it is that the defense will let them do. You shut down the short pass? Fine, Texas goes over the top. You load 8 in the box, Colt, Malcolm, Jordan and the rest will shred your man to man. Give us the run. Texas runs smash mouth ball on you.
Texas escaped with this win, make no mistake. The defense at too much turkey or some other post Thanksgiving cliche. Still, Texas looked excellent on offense.
And now... The Huskers await. Hook 'em.
Labels:
Texas Football
23 November 2009
Colt Freakin McCoy
Saturday night saw the end of the McCoy era at DKR. He went out with a bang: 300+ yards, 4 touchdowns, one shot of Smokey and some hits on Big Bertha.
There was a play early that reminded me why I've been such an ardent fan of him. On a third down and I think 9, Texas lined up spread, Colt took the snap, saw no one open, and ran for the first down. He slid and took a lick from two different defensive players, but was up and hyped immediately. That took me back to when I first really took my first full swig of the Colt McCoy Kool-Aid...
Nebraska vs Texas at DKR, 2007... 3rd Quarter... Texas is having a hard time of things because Greg Davis is still Greg Davis. They line up spread, and as they had all day, Nebraska blitzed, sacking McCoy. He didn't get up quickly and in fact lied there kind of motionless for a bit too long. Trainers came out and escorted him to the sideline. John Chiles came in, and Texas ran the ball to Jamal Charles for 30+ yards. Then, to many surprised Horns fans, McCoy comes right back in. He takes the snap, and runs a QB draw for 20 yards, takes a SERIOUS hit and jumps right up. The guy is pumping his chest and fists and screaming and getting his team fired up.
For me, that was it. The guy showed toughness that got me out of my seat and cheering till I was horse. Texas won the game, and the story was mostly about how Jamal Charles ran for so much in the 4th quarter. For me tho, it will always be that play. Colt took a shot, had to come out, then came back in, took another and jumped up to show everyone that he is not to be trifled with.
Every Texas quarterback has that iconic moment that burns them in memory of the Horns faithful (see VY Rose Bowl, James Brown in St Louis, Major Applewhite in the Holiday Bowl), but they also have that moment when they go from player to hero. You see them take that step, and as a fan you are grateful for getting to watch it in person. VY did it when he lead Texas back to beat Oklahoma State after being down by 30 at home. Major refused to leave the field at Nebraska despite a concussion to make sure Ricky carried the rest of the load to victory. James Brown beat OU in his very first start.
Nebraska 2008 was that moment for me for Colt. It has been fun to watch him to go even higher, and I can't wait for his legacy moment, maybe in LA.
What are your thoughts on Texas and Colt McCoy after this weekend?
There was a play early that reminded me why I've been such an ardent fan of him. On a third down and I think 9, Texas lined up spread, Colt took the snap, saw no one open, and ran for the first down. He slid and took a lick from two different defensive players, but was up and hyped immediately. That took me back to when I first really took my first full swig of the Colt McCoy Kool-Aid...
Nebraska vs Texas at DKR, 2007... 3rd Quarter... Texas is having a hard time of things because Greg Davis is still Greg Davis. They line up spread, and as they had all day, Nebraska blitzed, sacking McCoy. He didn't get up quickly and in fact lied there kind of motionless for a bit too long. Trainers came out and escorted him to the sideline. John Chiles came in, and Texas ran the ball to Jamal Charles for 30+ yards. Then, to many surprised Horns fans, McCoy comes right back in. He takes the snap, and runs a QB draw for 20 yards, takes a SERIOUS hit and jumps right up. The guy is pumping his chest and fists and screaming and getting his team fired up.
For me, that was it. The guy showed toughness that got me out of my seat and cheering till I was horse. Texas won the game, and the story was mostly about how Jamal Charles ran for so much in the 4th quarter. For me tho, it will always be that play. Colt took a shot, had to come out, then came back in, took another and jumped up to show everyone that he is not to be trifled with.
Every Texas quarterback has that iconic moment that burns them in memory of the Horns faithful (see VY Rose Bowl, James Brown in St Louis, Major Applewhite in the Holiday Bowl), but they also have that moment when they go from player to hero. You see them take that step, and as a fan you are grateful for getting to watch it in person. VY did it when he lead Texas back to beat Oklahoma State after being down by 30 at home. Major refused to leave the field at Nebraska despite a concussion to make sure Ricky carried the rest of the load to victory. James Brown beat OU in his very first start.
Nebraska 2008 was that moment for me for Colt. It has been fun to watch him to go even higher, and I can't wait for his legacy moment, maybe in LA.
What are your thoughts on Texas and Colt McCoy after this weekend?
Labels:
Texas Football
16 November 2009
The Blues - When Being Emo Meant You Didn't Have to Be a Bitch
"Nobody loves me but my mother, and she might be jivin' too"
That's a line from the great BB King. He's a music god. He's a pillar by which the guitar as a form of expression is built. Much like Chuck Berry or a few others, you go through a phase when you learn to play guitar where you are trying to make your guitar sound like Lucille. You will fail, as many have before you... but that's not the point.
BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson... the list goes on... but anyway... Why are they looked at as musical icons and legends when they are ultimately singing what by the lyrics is more emo than anything The Used or Fall Out Boy or whoever else put out?
Well, for me at least, it's because they play the blues as a kind of revival. They come off like like the whiney kid in high school with a self esteem issue... they sound like men in pain with crushed hearts and hard lives. Life can kick your ever loving ass. Singing the blues is a way to exalt and turn that pain into glorious celebration, and have an audience share their own with you through their attention and adoration. There is so much to it that is beautiful and brilliant, and most of all, none of it (well maybe Clapton) comes off as whiny. Why? Its all in the delivery kids...
The lyrics are as all about how bad someone has it. The lyrics are angsty. But the delivery is glorious.You feel these musicians bear their souls through their art. The soul of the music is undeniable and untouchable. But there is something forceful about it. Like they know that through this expression they free themselves of the pain. There is a sense of joy to the expression.
Emo music comes off like people want to lay down in self pity and cry the night away. It sounds like someone is saying "woe is me, my life sucks." But there is a sense that they want to wallow in that. There is no freedom, only self induced slavery to their own sadness. Who wants to listen to that? Why for the love of God would you want to wallow in pain? I mean, I've done it... its stupid and self destructive.
The blues is joy through pain... emo drags joy down to pain.
So to those who want to listen to emo bands all day and feel sorry for yourself... I say this: grow the hell up. Life sucks. Get a helmet. Share your art and express yourself, but please, stop making me want to slap you.
And yes... to those that now me... I know how odd that kind of advice is coming from me... but what can I say? I grew up... I had friends... they are awesome.
So what do you guys think?
That's a line from the great BB King. He's a music god. He's a pillar by which the guitar as a form of expression is built. Much like Chuck Berry or a few others, you go through a phase when you learn to play guitar where you are trying to make your guitar sound like Lucille. You will fail, as many have before you... but that's not the point.
BB King, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson... the list goes on... but anyway... Why are they looked at as musical icons and legends when they are ultimately singing what by the lyrics is more emo than anything The Used or Fall Out Boy or whoever else put out?
Well, for me at least, it's because they play the blues as a kind of revival. They come off like like the whiney kid in high school with a self esteem issue... they sound like men in pain with crushed hearts and hard lives. Life can kick your ever loving ass. Singing the blues is a way to exalt and turn that pain into glorious celebration, and have an audience share their own with you through their attention and adoration. There is so much to it that is beautiful and brilliant, and most of all, none of it (well maybe Clapton) comes off as whiny. Why? Its all in the delivery kids...
The lyrics are as all about how bad someone has it. The lyrics are angsty. But the delivery is glorious.You feel these musicians bear their souls through their art. The soul of the music is undeniable and untouchable. But there is something forceful about it. Like they know that through this expression they free themselves of the pain. There is a sense of joy to the expression.
Emo music comes off like people want to lay down in self pity and cry the night away. It sounds like someone is saying "woe is me, my life sucks." But there is a sense that they want to wallow in that. There is no freedom, only self induced slavery to their own sadness. Who wants to listen to that? Why for the love of God would you want to wallow in pain? I mean, I've done it... its stupid and self destructive.
The blues is joy through pain... emo drags joy down to pain.
So to those who want to listen to emo bands all day and feel sorry for yourself... I say this: grow the hell up. Life sucks. Get a helmet. Share your art and express yourself, but please, stop making me want to slap you.
And yes... to those that now me... I know how odd that kind of advice is coming from me... but what can I say? I grew up... I had friends... they are awesome.
So what do you guys think?
Labels:
Music
14 November 2009
Digital Comics 2 - Gaming
There is another side to digitally distributed comics... gaming books also fall into this realm. Wouldn't it make sense for D&D, White Wolf, or any other group creating table top material generate the information and send it out digitally?
I mean, it already happens. Most gamers have 1 set of the books needed in a gaming group and have downloaded scans from various venues which provide a perfect gaming tool for you laptop. WoTC has started to embrace the digital model, and there are loads of start up groups like Army Builder who provide a digital tool for table top gaming. They are further along than comic books, but wouldn't it benefit them to produce licensed digital copies. You could even water mark them or go so far as to DRM the copies.
On another note, Google Wave presents an interesting tool for a game scenario. You could simulate a true game online, which would be really cool. With how live that system can be, it would present a true feel for a the room that previous options (chat, forum, email) haven't before. We shall see where that goes...
Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?
I mean, it already happens. Most gamers have 1 set of the books needed in a gaming group and have downloaded scans from various venues which provide a perfect gaming tool for you laptop. WoTC has started to embrace the digital model, and there are loads of start up groups like Army Builder who provide a digital tool for table top gaming. They are further along than comic books, but wouldn't it benefit them to produce licensed digital copies. You could even water mark them or go so far as to DRM the copies.
On another note, Google Wave presents an interesting tool for a game scenario. You could simulate a true game online, which would be really cool. With how live that system can be, it would present a true feel for a the room that previous options (chat, forum, email) haven't before. We shall see where that goes...
Labels:
Comics
13 November 2009
Who reads this?
Just wondering who all reads this blog. Say hi you loitering bastards...
08 November 2009
Weekend
Had a great night Friday, more on that coming, don't want to jinx/spoil anything.
Saturday saw Texas win, and do so rather impressively. I'm very happy to see Jordan and Colt crush more records, and the defense looks as impenetrable as always.
Sunday, I actually won a 40k game. Yeah, my opponent had the worst luck ever. And yes, I took an army that was tooled for hard tournaments. But I won dammit. That has to count for something.
Looking forward to the next couple of weeks. No real point to this post other than to keep the habit of posting.
Saturday saw Texas win, and do so rather impressively. I'm very happy to see Jordan and Colt crush more records, and the defense looks as impenetrable as always.
Sunday, I actually won a 40k game. Yeah, my opponent had the worst luck ever. And yes, I took an army that was tooled for hard tournaments. But I won dammit. That has to count for something.
Looking forward to the next couple of weeks. No real point to this post other than to keep the habit of posting.
Labels:
Gaming,
Texas Football
31 October 2009
Well that was anit-climactic
After all the hype about the Halloween night in Stillwater... Texas came out and dominated defensively and did everything they needed to do on offense.
Its nice to see Fozzy and Cody as the 1-2 punch.
And, as if kind of poetic, the three guys who were most burned a year ago in Lubbock... well all three had game changing interceptions, two of them run back for touch downs.
Just a fun game to watch, and Texas is running on the right cylinders, imposing their will on other teams.
If only next week wasn't at 11:00 AM... >.<
Its nice to see Fozzy and Cody as the 1-2 punch.
And, as if kind of poetic, the three guys who were most burned a year ago in Lubbock... well all three had game changing interceptions, two of them run back for touch downs.
Just a fun game to watch, and Texas is running on the right cylinders, imposing their will on other teams.
If only next week wasn't at 11:00 AM... >.<
Labels:
Texas Football
29 October 2009
Digital Comics
There are a lot of ways to read that title. What I'm talking about is viewing comic books in a digital format so that I don't have to store ungodly growing amounts of paper or pay an exorbitant prices for that habit.
I can currently get comics digitally through less than legal means, and I don't mind doing that, but I'd rather pay for my content. Getting the books isn't the issue... it is reading them. There are quite a few programs out there for just that, the best I've found being Comic Rack. It follows the iTunes model, but is still a little clunky. Also, its on my screen. There isn't a cheap way to read them on the couch, barring using a laptop. That has limited viability anyway, because you have to constantly scroll.
What we need is an affordable tablet in color, like the Kindle... or the rumored Apple Slate. I would prefer the Microsoft Courier to be anywhere close to amazing as the previews, just because I'm comfortable with the Microsoft ecosystem (Windows 7, Zune and XBox).
Sadly those things don't exist yet. And on top of that, the comic book industry seems intent on creating "Motion Comics" which annoys me. I don't want a moving video. I want a comic. I want to be able to follow the sequential art from panel to panel, page to page. I've grown up as an adult addicted to sequential, serialized story telling. Its how I've always enjoyed fiction and why I have hard times digesting long novels. I just prefer to be strung along over time and relish the idea of having to wait for an answer. And I love the sequential art model. It is an art form for story telling that is unlike any other, and adding motion lessens the impact. JM Strazynsky (butchered that) once said the hardest part of writing comics is the lack of a moving camera. Great comics come from a unique place. Great comic storytelling comes from a unique art form that is amazing for certain kinds of stories. I hate the idea that we might lose that for something that is little more than a flash motion voice over comic.
Maybe I'm a Luddite, I don't know. I just want sequential art and I want to be able to digest it digitally.
C'mon... someone make a color e-Reader that doesn't suck and is less than $500. You can do it. It can't be that hard. If I had the money and the knowledge, I would try to find a way on my own, but I don't. So I can only beg that someone does it. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, hell Marvel or DC... I don't care who.
I can currently get comics digitally through less than legal means, and I don't mind doing that, but I'd rather pay for my content. Getting the books isn't the issue... it is reading them. There are quite a few programs out there for just that, the best I've found being Comic Rack. It follows the iTunes model, but is still a little clunky. Also, its on my screen. There isn't a cheap way to read them on the couch, barring using a laptop. That has limited viability anyway, because you have to constantly scroll.
What we need is an affordable tablet in color, like the Kindle... or the rumored Apple Slate. I would prefer the Microsoft Courier to be anywhere close to amazing as the previews, just because I'm comfortable with the Microsoft ecosystem (Windows 7, Zune and XBox).
Sadly those things don't exist yet. And on top of that, the comic book industry seems intent on creating "Motion Comics" which annoys me. I don't want a moving video. I want a comic. I want to be able to follow the sequential art from panel to panel, page to page. I've grown up as an adult addicted to sequential, serialized story telling. Its how I've always enjoyed fiction and why I have hard times digesting long novels. I just prefer to be strung along over time and relish the idea of having to wait for an answer. And I love the sequential art model. It is an art form for story telling that is unlike any other, and adding motion lessens the impact. JM Strazynsky (butchered that) once said the hardest part of writing comics is the lack of a moving camera. Great comics come from a unique place. Great comic storytelling comes from a unique art form that is amazing for certain kinds of stories. I hate the idea that we might lose that for something that is little more than a flash motion voice over comic.
Maybe I'm a Luddite, I don't know. I just want sequential art and I want to be able to digest it digitally.
C'mon... someone make a color e-Reader that doesn't suck and is less than $500. You can do it. It can't be that hard. If I had the money and the knowledge, I would try to find a way on my own, but I don't. So I can only beg that someone does it. Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, hell Marvel or DC... I don't care who.
Labels:
Comics
26 October 2009
That's a lot of Orks
So went up to BFG today to play a friend who is just learning and my roommate showed up and felt like getting a game. Well, since you can't really play a 3-way game of 40k, I played two armies of Orks against them.
Holy crap. I have a lot of Orks... I was able to field 4000 and probably could have fielded another 2000.
I did decently enough, but got a few steps shy of the final win because of a land raider full of Khorne death I didn't deal with well enough. Still fun as hell. My back is sore as hell tho... but a ton of fun none the less.
That, and I learned a few things about how to do some things differently.
Another note, I did a ton of converting Saturday while I watched football (a rant on why the SEC can blow me to come) and I came to a scary realization: I cut the shit out of my thumb. Cut it bad... more times than I can count really when I look at it today. Apparently it bled a bit too from the look of the deepest cut. Here's the rub tho... I didn't feel any of it. The jab on my left index finger is *still* smarting, but the thumb... nothin. Mars says I have callouses... guess I've just cut it that many times that I do. That or the nerves have stopped caring and gave up the ghost.
Either way, good weekend after feeling awful Friday.
Holy crap. I have a lot of Orks... I was able to field 4000 and probably could have fielded another 2000.
I did decently enough, but got a few steps shy of the final win because of a land raider full of Khorne death I didn't deal with well enough. Still fun as hell. My back is sore as hell tho... but a ton of fun none the less.
That, and I learned a few things about how to do some things differently.
Another note, I did a ton of converting Saturday while I watched football (a rant on why the SEC can blow me to come) and I came to a scary realization: I cut the shit out of my thumb. Cut it bad... more times than I can count really when I look at it today. Apparently it bled a bit too from the look of the deepest cut. Here's the rub tho... I didn't feel any of it. The jab on my left index finger is *still* smarting, but the thumb... nothin. Mars says I have callouses... guess I've just cut it that many times that I do. That or the nerves have stopped caring and gave up the ghost.
Either way, good weekend after feeling awful Friday.
Labels:
Gaming,
Texas Football
22 October 2009
Tank Bustas
I converted some Ork Boys into a Tank Busta unit, if only because I didn't already have one. I'm convinced they can be useful, but need to be used correctly. A Battlewagon full can definitely be helpful, and with as much mech as there is out there, they will be able to do *some* damage. That many rokkit shots has to register eventually.
We shall see...
We shall see...
Labels:
Gaming,
Texas Football
19 October 2009
The People You Love
Its amazing how just knowing someone and letting them know you can bring you peace when things are rough.
After an amazingly frustrating day, I'm grateful for my two best friends in the world. They let me vent and huff and puff and call me on my bull shit. I owe so much to both of them, and I thank them often for their friendship and what they mean to me.
That's why I'm posting this: thank the people that matter to you. Let them know they do. Make sure they know.
Yeah... sappy... I know... but it is what's on my mind and isn't that the point of a blog?
After an amazingly frustrating day, I'm grateful for my two best friends in the world. They let me vent and huff and puff and call me on my bull shit. I owe so much to both of them, and I thank them often for their friendship and what they mean to me.
That's why I'm posting this: thank the people that matter to you. Let them know they do. Make sure they know.
Yeah... sappy... I know... but it is what's on my mind and isn't that the point of a blog?
17 October 2009
Texas/OU thoughts...
In no particular order...
- OU's defense is all world... they are everywhere and fast and are the key to the OU season. They will beat any team that can't match them defensively.
- Fozzy Wozzy... dude is quick and seems healthy... looks like they found a running back combo they can rely on because...
- Cody Johnson was a bear... the guy is big, but still shifty. He and Fozzy can be that perfect one-two punch that makes a running game work. With all the attention to Colt and J-Ship, they need a consistent running game. Vondrel is good and all, but these two stepped up on The Stage.
- Speed kills... so much speed on the field, so much on defense for both teams. You saw a lot of Sunday players on the TV today.
- 12 made some money... not Colt, but Earl Thomas. He's the best Texas DB, and continues to show his speed and magnetism to the ball. I'm impressed, and he's going to be a hell of a guy to watch get even better.
- Mushcamp is your daddy... Texas defense is stout, fast, and will win almost every game. The Texas offense is potent, but has been inconsistent. Defensively, it is not close. They are everywhere and adjust as good as anyone I've seen this year. Yeah, I'm biased, but they are really good. I give you this as evidence... Texas held UTEP to 53 yards... the next week, UTEP went out and scored 58 on Houston. Yes, Houston isn't the best D, but seriously, they scored more points than yards gained the week before. That's all Texas D. And Muschamp is the key. He's an amazing coach. And they love to play for him. His enthusiasm, humor, and creativity jump out at you with every series. He is Mack's best hire, and I am as happy as I could be have him roaming the Texas sidelines.
- There Ya Go Pardner.... Can someone please muzzle Brent Musberger? Herbstreat is great, brings insight, and charisma for days. And then Musberger starts talking, and I want to hang myself. The guy is unbearable. Give me Mike Patrick or Ron Franklin any day of the week. Could you imagine how awesome Herbstreat/Franklin would be? Keep Mike Patrick with Craig James, they are excellent together and make any game watchable.
Labels:
Texas Football
13 October 2009
Ideas from watching Jazz by Ken Burns
First off... see previous post regarding how Jazz is truly American Patriotic Music.
Now...
I find it interesting how much Jazz really really really drives home that race is an issue in America. To be fair, you can't talk about the music without race as a factor in the discussion. But the way Burns does it, he almost goes over the top... but just as he's about to go too far, he dials it back. That and the musicians involved are so damn amazing that their genius is undeniable.
And that's what he's trying to drive to, at least as far as I can tell... he's driving to the idea that Jazz transcends races, it was started by Blacks in New Orleans, but has transformed and reshaped itself into a truly American concept. If anything, Jazz was the true mechanism by which Black culture pushed through and shifted American ideas to meet its own nature and in doing so, shape America unlike just about anything else.
Jazz is everything... and it is nothing. It is just music after all. But saying that is like saying that Jerusalem is just a city. Jazz has shifted the world musically unlike anything that had come before since the ideas of Beethoven. Jazz pushed music to places no one had thought to go, as an expression ultimately of freedom from the constraints of what has come before and the tyranny of what comes next. Jazz is the ultimate expression of NOW.
Everything American about music stems from Jazz. It pushed the boundaries of what came before and opened the world to a truly new idea.
That being said... just because its truly American doesn't mean it is evil imperialism. If anything, its the idea of what people really felt America as an ideal always has been... freedom of ideas and innovation of a concept beyond constraints seen before. That idea has been lost some how, buried under the reality of who is expressing the ideas and their inability to listen to one side or another. Jazz, in an odd way reflects that as well. Its been divided into intense schools since Bop punched Swing in the chest and pushed the music ever forward in the 40's and 50's.
Jazz is a reflection of America as a concept, an ideal, a history, and is the musical landscape that shaped the 20th Century.
Now...
I find it interesting how much Jazz really really really drives home that race is an issue in America. To be fair, you can't talk about the music without race as a factor in the discussion. But the way Burns does it, he almost goes over the top... but just as he's about to go too far, he dials it back. That and the musicians involved are so damn amazing that their genius is undeniable.
And that's what he's trying to drive to, at least as far as I can tell... he's driving to the idea that Jazz transcends races, it was started by Blacks in New Orleans, but has transformed and reshaped itself into a truly American concept. If anything, Jazz was the true mechanism by which Black culture pushed through and shifted American ideas to meet its own nature and in doing so, shape America unlike just about anything else.
Jazz is everything... and it is nothing. It is just music after all. But saying that is like saying that Jerusalem is just a city. Jazz has shifted the world musically unlike anything that had come before since the ideas of Beethoven. Jazz pushed music to places no one had thought to go, as an expression ultimately of freedom from the constraints of what has come before and the tyranny of what comes next. Jazz is the ultimate expression of NOW.
Everything American about music stems from Jazz. It pushed the boundaries of what came before and opened the world to a truly new idea.
That being said... just because its truly American doesn't mean it is evil imperialism. If anything, its the idea of what people really felt America as an ideal always has been... freedom of ideas and innovation of a concept beyond constraints seen before. That idea has been lost some how, buried under the reality of who is expressing the ideas and their inability to listen to one side or another. Jazz, in an odd way reflects that as well. Its been divided into intense schools since Bop punched Swing in the chest and pushed the music ever forward in the 40's and 50's.
Jazz is a reflection of America as a concept, an ideal, a history, and is the musical landscape that shaped the 20th Century.
Labels:
Music
Orkkimus Fattimus
He's done... needs paint... pictures as promised
Labels:
Gaming,
Texas Football
12 October 2009
He's done, now to paint...
Orkimus Fattimus is complete... pic coming... now he requires paint. I've also ripped apart some of my old Black Reach Orks and added Shoota Arms. Just needed more shoota boys as they are better in general.
That's all for now, I will take a pic or two tonight and post his jumboness in all its glory...
That's all for now, I will take a pic or two tonight and post his jumboness in all its glory...
Labels:
Gaming,
Texas Football
11 October 2009
Texas
Good:
- Shipley is amazing... great game with 2 touchdown
- The defense is special... they fly to the ball and adjust from series to series
- Colt is Colt... he has that flair to him that makes him seem invincible, even when everything else is falling apart
- Points from everywhere... blocked punt, punt return for a TD, interception return for a TD
- Running game... they racked up under 50 yards rushing as a team... AS A TEAM!
- Kick Off coverage... what the hell... seriously... cover a damn kick
- Punts... *FACEDESK* two pooch style punts, both blown kicks... the hell are you trying to accomplish with this crap?
Over all, a win is a win, but man, it is hard to feel great about your team when they make you mad with frustration.
Still... Hook 'Em
Labels:
Texas Football
07 October 2009
What is Patriotic Music?
Watching Ken Burns Jazz and something occurs to me...
People should feel as patriotic when they hear In The Mood or Sing Sing Sing or 1 O'Clock Jump or Swingin at the Savoy or Mood Indigo as they do when they hear America the Beautiful or even the National Anthem.
Those songs are truly American, without force or contrivance, and grew from a uniquely American idea and environment. Just brilliance and exploration of what you can do with music that really only could have happened in the melting pot of America in the early 20th Century.
So I ask you this if you hate Jazz... Why do you hate America?
Labels:
Music
05 October 2009
Thoughts
Raw was good tonight,better than its been in a while. The US Title match was outstanding, and really told a good story, as did the main event. I think we are looking at possibly the end of an era with HBK and Taker both on their last legs. Rothlesburger was a good guest host... when they are big fans of the product, it shines through.
Didn't get any work done on Orkimus tonight, had other things to prepare for... more on that later.
Habit kept, daily blog done... going to sleep.
Didn't get any work done on Orkimus tonight, had other things to prepare for... more on that later.
Habit kept, daily blog done... going to sleep.
Weekly Warhammer Update - Orks have finally hit the table
I've been able to snag 2 games of 40k this week. My Orks have performed as expected, Nobs being a real pain in the ass to kill, and everything else still figuring itself out. I am trying to learn what my army is capable of without just going out and snagging an army list on the net. What I know so far:
On the Fantasy side of things, Archaon finally got here. Games Workshop really needs to get their shit together when it comes to special order shipping. If they are going to remove so much of the line to force direct orders, it really ought to get to customers faster. When I ordered him, I was still thinking of building every army around him... now... he will come out for fun, but not as a staple. He's assembled, and hopefully Thursday night I will get a feel for how good he can be.
I still need marauders on foot, but I really wish I didn't have to. The army is called Chaos Warriors... I really would love to actually put them on the table without hamstringing myself points wise.
Okay, enough ramblings for tonight...
- Nobs are a pain in the ass to kill... and if you have a varied load out for them, 5th ed wound allocation gets a little cheesy
- Meganobs are fun, and scare people, but regular nobs are overall better
- Storm Boys are great, but I've only played with Boss Zagstrukk. Next game I play, I'm going to go for the full 20 mob and an old fashioned Nob with Power Klaw.
- My Battlewagon is also stout, and makes a hell of a "please shoot me" kind of target... I think I need 2 more.
- Big Mek with Kustom Force Field is kind of like cheating... but it keeps trucks alive far longer than they should stay upright
On the Fantasy side of things, Archaon finally got here. Games Workshop really needs to get their shit together when it comes to special order shipping. If they are going to remove so much of the line to force direct orders, it really ought to get to customers faster. When I ordered him, I was still thinking of building every army around him... now... he will come out for fun, but not as a staple. He's assembled, and hopefully Thursday night I will get a feel for how good he can be.
I still need marauders on foot, but I really wish I didn't have to. The army is called Chaos Warriors... I really would love to actually put them on the table without hamstringing myself points wise.
Okay, enough ramblings for tonight...
Labels:
Gaming,
Texas Football
02 October 2009
10 Live Albums You Should Own
In no particular order, but all great albums...
- Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis - Live In Swing City (Swingin' with Duke): brilliant musicians playing music that is beyond timeless to utter perfection.
- The Black Crowes - Before The Frost ... Until the Freeze: Just something about this disc keeps me coming back again and again. Its really good. Especially the middle with The Band Played On, Where Love Lives and Lazy Antelope. I could listen to those three tracks for days...
- Brad Mehldau - Live in Tokyo: Just the man, playing piano. Monk's Dream and Someone to Watch Over Me are great, but the near 30-minute Paranoid Android defines Mehldau's passion at interpretation and performance.
- Bruce Hornsby - Here Come the Noise Makers: Great songs from top to bottom, never mind the stout musicianship.
- Phish - Live Phish Vol 5: Phish is an all time love, and always will be I think. I've heard hours and hours of their concerts, but Vol 5 is probably my favorite collection. Silent In the Morning into Possum is a great way to start a day. Run Like an Antelope finds its rhythm beautifully. And of course the Tweezer sandwich.
- Rodrigo y Gabriella - Live in Japan: Once you hear these two, and then see them play, you can't help but be addicted. They have so much energy and life in their performance, and their skill at the instrument is almost beyond category.
- Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis - Two Men with the Blues: Just go listen to it. If you don't like it, I think you might be dead inside.
- John Mayer - Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live In Los Angelas: So yeah, I like me some blues. This CD is really 3 bands... 1st is Mayer playing solo acoustic guitar showing off what made him famous, 2nd is the John Mayer Trio playing electric blues with chops that make you understand why he's so regarded as a guitar player, 3rd is the band Mayer put together for Continuum where he still brings the blues along. The 2nd set is really why you check this out. The guy covers Hendrix, and has the chops to truly pull it off.
- The Dropkick Murphys - Live on St. Patrick's Day: One of my favorite band's in their element, showing off what makes them so damn good.
- Kaizers Orchestra - Live at Vega: Doesn't matter that its not in English. Doesn't matter that its a band you've never heard of. Go watch them live on YouTube. Be converted to the congregation. God I can't wait to see these guys play in the states. If you dig DKM or Flogging Molly, these guys will knock your socks off.
Labels:
Music
16 September 2009
Ceremonial 1st Blog Post
I has a blog now... figured since all my friends have one, I may as well jump on board.
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