I came across this after seeing postings by the author on RPG.net, so I decided to check it out. While it doesn't look like it is my thing rules wise...it does have some interesting background material and the production values are pretty darn good. It is certainly a game system worth checking out...plus it is free. Free is always good.
JAGS
"JAGS is a free, high quality, universal, pencil and paper RPG. It's got great support and exciting things are happening for it right now! "
Monday, February 28, 2005
Looking For Gamers
I posted this on RPG.net, looking for some new people to game with. If you're in the Cleveland area, and this sounds interesting. Leave a comment and let me know how to get in touch with you.
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
The system is Mutants and Masterminds, the concept is fairly open ended but it is a campaign influenced by Vertigo Comics, and comics like Planetary by Warren Ellis. It is about the world of secrets behind the veil of the standard four-color worlds of comic book super-heroes.
Sometimes, a person wakes up with a jolt from their everyday world to discover that everything is different. That all of the rules have changed. Or sometimes they discover that everything that they knew, everything that was safe and comforting to them was only on the surface of the world and they had fallen into the cracks. These cracks can be their own worlds, then, fractally reflecting the world of the surface while at the same time subtly hinting of darker, deeper worlds laying in wait in cracks of their own.
The cosmology of the world is built around my reimagining of the Cthulhu Mythos. The names and faces are different, but the concepts underneath are the same so that things can once again be unsettling and unknown to the players. Things are frightening once again. But the characters are still the heroes of the picture, facing an uncertain and unsettling world where, unlike with many heroes, things cannot be easily settled with a fist fight.
The game will be using a number of variant rules developed by myself. If all of this sounds interesting, and you would be available on Sunday evenings (and able to commit to a weekly game) then leave a comment. Of course, it also helps to be in Cleveland...
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)
The system is Mutants and Masterminds, the concept is fairly open ended but it is a campaign influenced by Vertigo Comics, and comics like Planetary by Warren Ellis. It is about the world of secrets behind the veil of the standard four-color worlds of comic book super-heroes.
Sometimes, a person wakes up with a jolt from their everyday world to discover that everything is different. That all of the rules have changed. Or sometimes they discover that everything that they knew, everything that was safe and comforting to them was only on the surface of the world and they had fallen into the cracks. These cracks can be their own worlds, then, fractally reflecting the world of the surface while at the same time subtly hinting of darker, deeper worlds laying in wait in cracks of their own.
The cosmology of the world is built around my reimagining of the Cthulhu Mythos. The names and faces are different, but the concepts underneath are the same so that things can once again be unsettling and unknown to the players. Things are frightening once again. But the characters are still the heroes of the picture, facing an uncertain and unsettling world where, unlike with many heroes, things cannot be easily settled with a fist fight.
The game will be using a number of variant rules developed by myself. If all of this sounds interesting, and you would be available on Sunday evenings (and able to commit to a weekly game) then leave a comment. Of course, it also helps to be in Cleveland...
Dorkland!: Februar 2004
So, I was looking at my refererers and I saw that someone translated this page into German. Now, I really wish that I knew who or why. If you were the person who did this, and are still checking the blog out....post a comment on this and fill me in.
I'm just curious.
Dorkland!: Februar 2004
"Eine Erforschung aller Sachen, die ich betrachte, dorky, in dieser sonderbaren und wacky Welt von unseren merkw�rdig und ungew�hnlich zu sein. Wie die Tides, die oben auf dem Ufer waschen, ebb meine Definitionen und flie�en und �ndern mit den Phasen des Mondes."
I'm just curious.
Dorkland!: Februar 2004
"Eine Erforschung aller Sachen, die ich betrachte, dorky, in dieser sonderbaren und wacky Welt von unseren merkw�rdig und ungew�hnlich zu sein. Wie die Tides, die oben auf dem Ufer waschen, ebb meine Definitionen und flie�en und �ndern mit den Phasen des Mondes."
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Hunter S. Thompson, R.I.P.
I know that I had already put up a link to the story when it broke, but this obituary was too well written for me to not put it out. The more of this story that comes out, the stranger it gets. Of course, in the life (or death) of Hunter S. Thompson I would expect no less. "When the going gets weird...the weird turn pro."
Again, he will be missed.
Hunter S. Thompson, R.I.P.
"With Thompson's suicide, journalism lost a deeply flawed and unconventional practitioner – but one who always sought the truth with his highball."
Again, he will be missed.
Hunter S. Thompson, R.I.P.
"With Thompson's suicide, journalism lost a deeply flawed and unconventional practitioner – but one who always sought the truth with his highball."
Whitley Strieber: The Scum Rises: Peter Jennings on UFOs
Everyone's fan favorite kook Whitley Strieber (so much fun that I named my grey cat after him) weighs in with his "unbiased" opinions towards the recent UFO Special done by ABC News. I thought that it was ok, they did a good job of showing both sides of the issue and I think that the two sides alternated in looking like kooks. I find this quote from Whitley to be rather ironic: "The result is that their efforts become an exercise in hubris. They end up making judgements based on inadequate information because they believe that what they have gathered is sufficient."
I would watch throwing stones in that glass house, Mr. Strieber.
Whitley Strieber: The Scum Rises: Peter Jennings on UFOs
"The much heralded ABC special on UFOs has come and gone. Predictably, it was more of the same, a large number of lies sprinkled with a few truths. At least it wasn’t as relentlessly negative as such programs have generally been in the past. But people like Peter Jennings and his producers are cursed with the belief that they can understand—or already do understand—what they are looking at. The reality is that the UFO phenomenon is the most complex event in history, and a cursory examination of its surface by a few overworked and ill-informed television producers is not going to succeed in any way whatsoever to come to any truth about it.
"They are filled with belief in their own competence, however. The result is that their efforts become an exercise in hubris. They end up making judgements based on inadequate information because they believe that what they have gathered is sufficient. But it is not sufficient, it only fulfills their expectations and serves their assumptions. That's always where they stop, and it’s never enough.
"Jennings was somewhat open to the notion that some UFOs might be actual unknowns, and he actually told the truth, for once, about Project Bluebook: it was indeed a publicity stunt.
"But the characterization of the Roswell Incident as a hoax and the people attempting to investigate it as cultists was a grotesque lie, and, I think, an intentional one. It is classic disinformation—tell a little truth so that your lie will be swallowed along with it. Of course, how could anything more be expected from a man like Jennings? He’s a prostitute to the establishment, nothing more or less, and it is in the interest of the establishment to conceal the reality of Roswell." [via Posthuman Blues]
I would watch throwing stones in that glass house, Mr. Strieber.
Whitley Strieber: The Scum Rises: Peter Jennings on UFOs
"The much heralded ABC special on UFOs has come and gone. Predictably, it was more of the same, a large number of lies sprinkled with a few truths. At least it wasn’t as relentlessly negative as such programs have generally been in the past. But people like Peter Jennings and his producers are cursed with the belief that they can understand—or already do understand—what they are looking at. The reality is that the UFO phenomenon is the most complex event in history, and a cursory examination of its surface by a few overworked and ill-informed television producers is not going to succeed in any way whatsoever to come to any truth about it.
"They are filled with belief in their own competence, however. The result is that their efforts become an exercise in hubris. They end up making judgements based on inadequate information because they believe that what they have gathered is sufficient. But it is not sufficient, it only fulfills their expectations and serves their assumptions. That's always where they stop, and it’s never enough.
"Jennings was somewhat open to the notion that some UFOs might be actual unknowns, and he actually told the truth, for once, about Project Bluebook: it was indeed a publicity stunt.
"But the characterization of the Roswell Incident as a hoax and the people attempting to investigate it as cultists was a grotesque lie, and, I think, an intentional one. It is classic disinformation—tell a little truth so that your lie will be swallowed along with it. Of course, how could anything more be expected from a man like Jennings? He’s a prostitute to the establishment, nothing more or less, and it is in the interest of the establishment to conceal the reality of Roswell." [via Posthuman Blues]
BRRRAAAIIIIIIINNNNNNNSSSSSS!!!!
Just when you think that the powers that be can't get any more stupid...
(Although the kid's grammar isn't that great either.)
Student Arrested For Terroristic Threatening Says Incident A Misunderstanding
"A George Rogers Clark High School junior arrested Tuesday for making terrorist threats told LEX 18 News Thursday that the 'writings' that got him arrested are being taken out of context.
"Winchester police say William Poole, 18, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. Investigators say they discovered materials at Poole's home that outline possible acts of violence aimed at students, teachers, and police.
"Poole told LEX 18 that the whole incident is a big misunderstanding. He claims that what his grandparents found in his journal and turned into police was a short story he wrote for English class.
"'My story is based on fiction,' said Poole, who faces a second-degree felony terrorist threatening charge. 'It's a fake story. I made it up. I've been working on one of my short stories, (and) the short story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school over ran by zombies.'"
(Although the kid's grammar isn't that great either.)
Student Arrested For Terroristic Threatening Says Incident A Misunderstanding
"A George Rogers Clark High School junior arrested Tuesday for making terrorist threats told LEX 18 News Thursday that the 'writings' that got him arrested are being taken out of context.
"Winchester police say William Poole, 18, was taken into custody Tuesday morning. Investigators say they discovered materials at Poole's home that outline possible acts of violence aimed at students, teachers, and police.
"Poole told LEX 18 that the whole incident is a big misunderstanding. He claims that what his grandparents found in his journal and turned into police was a short story he wrote for English class.
"'My story is based on fiction,' said Poole, who faces a second-degree felony terrorist threatening charge. 'It's a fake story. I made it up. I've been working on one of my short stories, (and) the short story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school over ran by zombies.'"
Friday, February 25, 2005
Hooray For Hollywood
Well, I haven't posted anything from The Smoking Gun for a while, but I thought that this would make a good nod to this weekend's Oscar awards. Check the link and enjoy the fruity goodness of those celebrities that oh so many of us idolize.
Hooray For Hollywood
"In recognition of Sunday's Academy Awards, The Smoking Gun offers this special tribute to Hollywood, the source of many memorable lawsuits, restraining orders, narcotics arrests, palimony beefs, divorce petitions, indictments, and other assorted paper-based entertainment. With so many stars and so many documents, TSG actually had trouble singling out our top Tinseltown hits (so excuse us if we forgot your favorite bit of debauchery). Below you'll find our favorite confidentiality agreement, the one Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman once had their household employees sign. After you read that beaut, make sure to check out these other movie classics: Roman Polanksi's perversions; Sharon Stone's demands; Jack Nicholson's hooker problems; Winona Ryder's probation report; Christian Slater's drug rampage; Bruce Willis's aching head; Nick Nolte's Hawaiian shirt; Ben Affleck's voting record; Michael Douglas's errant golf ball; Jim Carrey's support woes; Matthew McConaughey's naked bongoing; Catherine Zeta-Jones's diet and topless photo beefs; Bud Abbott's porno stash; Lou Costello's porno stash; Linda Fiorentino's nudity rider; Diane Lane's modest proposals; Cruise's heterosexual exhortation; Barbra Streisand's paparazzi rant; Roddy McDowall's pirated films; Mark Wahlberg's youthful indiscretions; Lucille Ball's Red run-in; Demi Moore's nettlesome nanny; and Arnold Schwarzenegger's bothersome bobblehead. Oh, we almost forgot about this pussy."
Hooray For Hollywood
"In recognition of Sunday's Academy Awards, The Smoking Gun offers this special tribute to Hollywood, the source of many memorable lawsuits, restraining orders, narcotics arrests, palimony beefs, divorce petitions, indictments, and other assorted paper-based entertainment. With so many stars and so many documents, TSG actually had trouble singling out our top Tinseltown hits (so excuse us if we forgot your favorite bit of debauchery). Below you'll find our favorite confidentiality agreement, the one Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman once had their household employees sign. After you read that beaut, make sure to check out these other movie classics: Roman Polanksi's perversions; Sharon Stone's demands; Jack Nicholson's hooker problems; Winona Ryder's probation report; Christian Slater's drug rampage; Bruce Willis's aching head; Nick Nolte's Hawaiian shirt; Ben Affleck's voting record; Michael Douglas's errant golf ball; Jim Carrey's support woes; Matthew McConaughey's naked bongoing; Catherine Zeta-Jones's diet and topless photo beefs; Bud Abbott's porno stash; Lou Costello's porno stash; Linda Fiorentino's nudity rider; Diane Lane's modest proposals; Cruise's heterosexual exhortation; Barbra Streisand's paparazzi rant; Roddy McDowall's pirated films; Mark Wahlberg's youthful indiscretions; Lucille Ball's Red run-in; Demi Moore's nettlesome nanny; and Arnold Schwarzenegger's bothersome bobblehead. Oh, we almost forgot about this pussy."
Hasbro Launching Musical Toothbrush
This is pretty screwed up.
Hasbro Launching Musical Toothbrush
"Toymaker Hasbro, Inc. is injecting music into the act of brushing teeth. The company announced Friday that it's launching 'Tooth Tunes,' a toothbrush that transmits music through the jawbone to the ear when its bristles touch teeth.
"'You can clearly hear the words and the music,' said Brian Goldner, president of Hasbro's U.S. Toys unit. 'You can hum right along if you like.'
"For someone standing near a person brushing, the noise would be a muted hum, Goldner said.
"The battery-operated toothbrush contains a tiny microchip that stores the song. When the user presses a button and starts brushing, the sound vibrations pass through the tooth, to the jawbone and directly into the inner ear. The song plays for two minutes, the amount of time dentists recommend people spend brushing their teeth."
Hasbro Launching Musical Toothbrush
"Toymaker Hasbro, Inc. is injecting music into the act of brushing teeth. The company announced Friday that it's launching 'Tooth Tunes,' a toothbrush that transmits music through the jawbone to the ear when its bristles touch teeth.
"'You can clearly hear the words and the music,' said Brian Goldner, president of Hasbro's U.S. Toys unit. 'You can hum right along if you like.'
"For someone standing near a person brushing, the noise would be a muted hum, Goldner said.
"The battery-operated toothbrush contains a tiny microchip that stores the song. When the user presses a button and starts brushing, the sound vibrations pass through the tooth, to the jawbone and directly into the inner ear. The song plays for two minutes, the amount of time dentists recommend people spend brushing their teeth."
Thursday, February 24, 2005
American Science & Surplus
Is it dorky? I think it can be. It is certainly a cool site. If you can't find some ool here then you just aren't looking hard enough. Start your Holiday Gift Shopping now!
American Science & Surplus
American Science & Surplus
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