Link to an article that's an IP primer

ComicMix posted a primer of sort on copyright and other IP concerns. Since I consider IP laws an interesting topic, I figured that I'd link to the page via this entry.

Finally...I have had an actual gaming session

After a long dry spell, my gaming fast has come to an end. That's right, I actually got to game Tuesday.

And it was good.

The game in question was Mike's Rifts "campaign". Commentary will come later. I'd prefer to do so after Mike posts his session report.

Another plus is that more of the gang from the Tuesday night circle may start blogging. Or at the very least read blogs.

A petition to remove the Joker from future films..

ComicMix has reported that an online Ledger fan club is circulating a petition to eliminate the Joker role from any future live-action films. The link to the news snippet and petition is here.

Honestly, I disagree with the petition. Yes, I agree that Ledger did a wonderful job portraying the Clown Prince of Crime. Would I accept a different actor playing the Joker? Not in the near future. But never? Not a chance. Of all the Bat-villains, the Joker is the big kahuna. Everyone knows who he is. Culturally, he is the nemesis. Joker is too important to the Bat-mythos to be removed permanently from any live-action Bat-film.

As an aside, I feel twenty years is adequate time without the Joker. Although if a film version of the Dark Knight Returns was made, I'd accept a different actor playing Joker much sooner.

A manga dealing with RPGs

ComicMix has reported Del Rey's new manga releases for 2009 that was announced at New York Comic-Con. The link is here.

One of their slated releases is an American manga that concerns the interactions of tabletop role-players and their online counterparts. Ought to be a hilarious commentary on the two groups of gamers. Hopefully, I remember it. December is a long time ahead.

The other two manga that attract my attention are Negima and Samurai 7. Of the two, Samurai 7 is the one I'm most interested in and more likely to follow. Its a sci fi version of Seven Samurai. An anime version already exists. Don't know which version I'll sample though.

Comics Haul 2/10/09

Went to the comics shop today. Overall, a much cheaper week than others since no hardcovers or trades arrived for me. Weather permitting, I'll probably be able to go to the shop twice during the next two weeks. So these Comics Haul entries will be weekly for at least a couple weeks. Based on purchases from a comics shop that is.

House of Mystery 10
Buffy the Vampire Slayer 22
Amazing Spider-Man 585
Tales of the TMNT 55
War of Kings Darkhawk 1
X-men Vs Hulk One-Shot
Agents of Atlas 1
Astonishing Tales 1
Marvel: Your Universe 1

Comics Haul 2/6/09

Ok, haul isn't an accurate term. A purchase is more like it. One thing I have liked that Viz is doing is compiling some of their manga into three-in-one editions called VizBig. Tonight, I picked the first VizBig volume of Dragonball Z from Wal-Mart. Dragonball Z ushered in my personal Second Age of anime/manga fandom. Now, that my Third Age has started its only fitting that it includes the manga of DBZ.

What I'm currently reading

I figured I might as well mention what books I'm currently reading. Definately, the sections of the Rifts UE book as I'm making a Mystic for Mike's Rifts campaign. Mongoose traveller will have to wait. Stephen King's It has occupied my attention on and off for almost a year and a half. The anime Basilisk has not only reawakened my interest in anime/manga but the phenomena of the ninja as well. So I have started reading two books on that subject. A book I'm currently reading at work is Mario Puzo's Omerta, which I have had since I believe 2002. Yes, it sometimes takes me that long to read something. Speaking of things I haven't done in awhile, I went to the library at the beginning of the week. There, I checked out an interview book of Alan Moore and Tarzan of the Apes. As I need to return the Alan Moore interview book on Tuesday, that particular book is occupying a lot of my time at the present. So far its a very fascinating interview. I plan on commenting on it.

Found out why I haven't received the latest Rifter

After coming home and discovering that once more that I haven't received the latest Rifter, issue 45, I was very frustrated. So I check Palladium message board and sit. By all indications, people have received their copies. Maybe something happened to my copy in the mail? I don't recall receiving four issues. In order to ease my fears I decide to check my email. I'm one of those people that maintain a huge archive of old email. However, I do delete email from time to time. Fortunately, I still had the email confirmation from the last super-subscription sale. Upon reviewing it, the start issue was issue 41. Which means the subscription lapsed with issue 44... That explains why I haven't received issue 45 then. Guess I'll have to take advantage of the latest subscription special sooner than later. As for the extra 'gift', I'm leaning towards the Tales of the Chi-Town Burbs anthology. I already own Mutants of the Yucatan. Although I really do want a copy of Mutants in Avalon. Maybe I'll combine the two.

Kudos to Troll Lord Games

As the title says, kudos to Troll Lord Games. While my X-mas order was later than I expected, TLG sent a follow up email confirming I received my order. After I responded that I did, they sent another email. Granted that is good customer service; but I figure they should be given proper credit for it. Especially since few companies send out confirmation inquiries and follow ups. So yeah I was pleasantly surprised.


Now if only the latest Rifter would arrive. Didn't think that my Rifter subscription has lapsed already...?

Speculation on the shortage of area LARPers

Over on Mike's blog, he laments on the lack of LARP'ers. For ease of reference, here's the link.

http://mikelrysk.blogspot.com/2009/01/wod-where-did-you-go.html



I understand where Mike's coming from. Having played and ran LARPs I know firsthand how hard it is to recruit new players for a LARP. However, Mike omits one crucial detail. He's really complaining about recruiting players for the currently on hiatus Werewolf LARP. That's important because there's two layers, both a macro and a micro, to the problem.

I'll cover the micro layer first. First, central wisconsin has low population than other areas that have LARPs. In other words, the population may not be large enough to have the needed diversity. Culture requires diversity and without it fringe cultures such as gaming have a hard time thriving. LARPs require both a more diverse and larger population that other types of gaming. I'm not saying Stevens Point doesn't have such a culture, but a lot of that comes from the university. However, reliance on students is a catch-22.

The worrying fact about central wisconsin, and to extent other places in the country, is the lack of quality game stores. Its sad when I have to go to a book store to see a diverse product mix. So even if the old stuff were still readily available I'm not sure one could actually acquire a copy in this area without ordering it. Which still means one has to become both aware and accept LARP. I knew about LARPs because I read about it in a tabletop book.

Macro layer

Even though I knew about LARP I was still leery about. If it wasn't for a group that came across as both normal and accessible I would never have participated in LARPs as much as I did. That's right, if the people who introduced me to LARPing came across as strange and couldn't communicate well, I would be one of those gamers who refer to their LARP experience with scorn. Granted, as time went by, I discovered that they were as eccentric as any other gamer. However, my first impressions of them were that they normal people who could articulate all the intangibles of LARPing clearly to me.

Another reason is that gamer culture is a fragmented bunch. There are card gamers, tabletop role-players, LARPers. Granted, there are gamers that do two or all three things but the point remains a separation exist. I can go on but that could be its own post/entry.

More commentary later. Although it might be more general in nature. Not so much focusing on why gamers aren't LARPers but LARP and WOD (both new and old). Heck, I have been planning on discussing gaming in general since I started this blog. So my comments may take time.

Comics Haul 2/2/09

Couple weeks ago the Science Fiction Book Club had its 50% off publisher price sale. While I was hesitant to take advantage of the sale, it is the best time to order graphic novels from the club. Otherwise, the cost of shipping reduces the savings one receives when ordering GN's through the club. When I went to the webpage to order, I noticed a section that said 'be like Barack Obama, collect Conan'. As its known that our current president is a Conan fan, I found that section amusing. Needless to say I ordered a couple Conan books. One, the Conquering Sword of Conan isn't a graphic novel. The club version is hardcover though and at 50% off a much better deal than its normal softcover version. Now the only Del Rey Conan I need to get is the second one. Anyway, my shipment arrived today.

Here's the graphic novels:
Savage Sword of Conan vol. 2 TPB
Bat-Manga (although not quite GN, manga comprises most of the book)
Serenity: Those Left Behind HC (even though I own the individual issues...)
The Complete the Great and Secret Show TPB

Interesting News: Several ScienceDaily links

I'm a huge fan of ScienceDaily. However, I don't always have time to read every article that I want to before updates occur. So here's links to several headlines that I find interesting and that others may as well. I may even comment later on.

Why garlic is medicinal
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090130154901.htm

LEDs that may slash electric bill by up to 75% within 5 years
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090129090218.htm

Some cells may be able to mimic stem cells - in plants.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128132645.htm

Imaging study illustrates how memories change
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127190432.htm

Is tech impairing critical thinking and analysis?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128092341.htm

Running out of ways to combat super-bugs
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128183925.htm

How Ebola evades immune system.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090127152838.htm

A faster way of comparing genomes.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090128160833.htm

Catalyst paves way for Ethanol fuel cells
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090126100645.htm

Comics Haul 1/26 - 1/31

Today, I went to Barnes and Noble and picked up a copy of Heroes vol. 2 Hardcover. The book contains all graphic novellas from the second season.

Earlier this week, I purchased Knights of the Old Republic vol. 1 TPB from Bookfinders at 30% off. I became interested in the series after hearing writer John Jackson Miller discuss it during the '08 FCBD. When I saw it for 30% off, I decided check out the series for myself.

updated: Went to the local comics shop, Galaxy Comics, and picked up this week's shipment/purchase.

Amazing Spider-Man Extra 3
Astounding Wolf Man 12
Reign in Hell 7
Usagi Yojimbo 117

In addition, I picked up the February Previews Catalog along with Stephen King's Dark Tower: The Long Road Home HC. In addition, I was able to get four trades really cheap. They are Marvel Comics Presents Wolverine Volumes One and Two as well as Wolverine Classic Volumes One and Two.

Good/Bad Gaming News 1

I figured I might as well mention two tidbits I have learned today that pertains to gaming. One is good news, the other is bad news. To me anyway.

Bad news first. Over on a Marvel/DC TCG discussion group some bad news has come to light. Apparently, UDE has ended its Versus card game. I really liked VS and thought it had potential. Unfortunately, the card gamers in my area didn't adopt. Those that did slowly stopped playing it, myself included. Personally, I stopped playing due to both my availability and lack of local players. However, I continued to follow the game on a discussion group. Then, an 'official' site appeared. As I wasn't playing I solely relied on the discussion group for any connection to VS. Alas, participation waned on the group. For all intents and purposes, VS was dead to me. The news of its cancellation is more of a final nail in a coffin. Still bad news.

Now for some good news. While at work, I found out that the new week three schedule was posted. Normally, I have to wait for the weekend for a new third week schedule. So I was surprised. I was even more surprised, pleasantly so, that my third week schedule is the same as the second week. Namely, once again I have a Tuesday off. So, I should be able to game on the 17th of February. Yay.

Royal Rumble Thoughts

Since I was off Sunday, I was able to watch a wrestling PPV live on TV. This particular PPV being the Royal Rumble. Whether or not one liked the PPV depended on how one felt about Randy Orton and his group Legacy.

Likes:

Beth Phoenix beating Melina over back of her head - with Melina's foot.

Jeff Hardy jumping from a ladder onto Chavo Guerrero with only his elbow landing.

Santino breaking the Warlord's record for being eliminated the fastest.

The brother vs brother face-off of Goldust/Cody Rhodes along with the "corrupting" influence of Orton.

Rumble opening with some of the more athletic members of the roster.

A rumble first (?) of thing being crowded after entrant #30.

Dislikes
Not much. The Rumble was very satisfying for me at the time I watched it.

Game on Feb 10th?

Looked at my work schedule. According to the work schedule I am off on Tuesday, February 10th. So chances are I'll be able to go to the Tuesday game unless my schedule changes, family stuff occurs, or game cancellation.

If I can make it, I wonder which it will be.

Interesting News: New UFC Champ ( I think?)

I normally don't watch the UFC. However, I have been slightly interested in watching it at least. Today, I happened to stumble over an airing right around the main event. If it wasn't for the fact that Brock Lesnar was involved in that match I probably would have continued channel surfing. I'm a huge wrestling fan so I decided to watch the match to see whether or not Lesnar would win against Randy Couture (sp?). As a wrestling fan, I have mixed views on Lesnar. On one hand, I'm glad he's gone from wrestling. On the other hand, he's charismatic enough that I root for the guy. With that in mind, I watched the match. Brock Lesnar won and is now the champ. I think so anyway. Its possible the match was a rerun. Like I said I normally don't watch UFC.

As for UFC and MMA, I am ambivalent. I understand the appeal and may like some day. On the other hand, its like watching two people fight in a school yard. I suspect that I have grown accostumed to some aspects of sports entertainment that I can't truly appreciate a more sports-oriented event. Then again, other than pro wrestling I don't watch sports.

Guardian's 1000 novels one must read list

Over at the blog Antick Musings (abridged title), there's a post on the Guardian's 1000 must read novels. I figured that I'd like to comment on the list; however, I'll do that at a later time.

I'm linking to the page for my own future reference.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jan/23/bestbooks-fiction