The Dresden Files Roleplaying Game

I am Michael Carpenter. I am one of those honored by God to serve His Will as a Knight of the Cross. My faith is strong, unshakeable -- and deadly to the truly evil. It's my job to seek them out, to get them to change if I can, and to stop them if I must. And I am not alone in this. Never alone. God watches over me and sees that I am sent where I am most needed. I carry the holy sword Amoracchius at my side -- that nail you see in the hilt came from the Cross. The other Knights stand by me. My wife and children are just as fierce as I am -- God help you should you try to find out if it's otherwise. And there are others. Together we all stand, shoulder to shoulder, against the darkness. Our faith has been tried, tested, and proven resolute. No matter the cost, no matter how bloodied you might make us, we will not bow, and we cannot fail. God's Will be done -- on Earth, by our hands.

Who are you? Take the quiz!

I re-took the quiz to be more honest with the questions to see who I would be in the game. I am Michael Carpenter.

With a quick review of the game, it looks like a little like Call of Cthulhu type of game. --Heath

Japan Vending Machines

Found this page on Japan Vending Machines. Check out what they sell in the vending machines.

Blogging from Iraq

Got this email from a friend today and wanted to pass this along:

Howdy fellas!
This guy has a pretty amazing blogsite that he runs
while embedded with an Army infantry unit in Iraq. Here's his latest story along with some pictures: Michael Yon : Online Magazine It's incredible.

Take it easy!
--Neal

Cool link ... check it out.

Check out the below link and plug in a word or two. The interface is seriously cool, with the search work it finds the related tags on pictures found on Fickr.

http://www.airtightinteractive.com/projects/related_tag_browser/app/

I tried it with my flickr account. I updated some of the tags on a few of the pictures and then tried the search. I pluged in "Brent Spiner", "Avery Brooks" and RPG into the above link. I got my pictures I had labled. Looked like update rate is only a min or two to show via the above search link.

Wacky news

Joseph Siragusa, 23, of Garnerville, New York, received 20 traffic fines in five minutes.

Our HERO game.

This game was played on August 21st in the year of 2005 using the HERO game system with Fantasy HERO setting.

Our game master, Norm.

(left) Gregor has jumped on the table after finding a cheater at this dice game. Gregor stabs the cheater in the hand. The cheater's friend clubed Gregor in the head knocking him out for a few seconds. Gregor fell foward into the cheater pulling his hand away from the knife (that was stuck thru his hand into the table). The fight was stoped before any more damage was done.
(right) At a house in town, we were jumped (while asleep) by some thugs that was sent by the cheater. The two thugs were knocked out and sent to a holding cell.


A current basic map of the area. Large square is the town, small square is our group's house and spaces marked with a "F" is farm land.

(above) My character buy the name of Vaden, as drawn by Rich Schleifer.

The best fight of the day happened at the end of the game. Our part of two was camped out getting a little rest, when we were attacked. It was dark, our characters could not well at all in darkness. While our attackers did not have the same problem. I attacked the creature when he was close and smack, I smashed it's head in. The second creature was close by. I attacked it, landed another head shot killing the creature in one shot. We then found a 3rd creature lurking near by. I missed it. I tried again and smacked it in the head, dazing him. The creature seeing no good out come, gaving up. All the hits and head shots were one of the luckiest rolls I have done in a long while. (Rolling on 3d6 in a range of 3 - 5 to hit the head and just to hit at all in the dark, was just ... great.)

That old house ...

Picture taken Jan/04.


Picture taken Aug/05.

I went by the old place a week or so ago. As you can see the place is over grown and boarded up, that was done a few day after I left back in April. I drove around the area and also found out that some of the old buildings and a apartments building were eater already torn down or were fenced off to be torn down. Just around the old place I counted 3 places that will be in development over who knows when.

Wacky news

Communist authorities in India's eastern city of Kolkata claim they would ban hand-pulled rickshaws if they ever gained power.

Thought

In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak.

The rabbit.

I walk to work. At the half way to work there is a coffee stand that a coworker, who bikes to work, stops there most times to get coffee or to talk to girls that mind the store. I end up passing him on way to work and meet him at the light. He started to refer to me as The Rabbit (as the rabbit at the dog track).
Today I got a "hay rabbit" from the girl in the booth today while walking by the coffee stand (while the coworker was there talking to her).

Backstroke of the West

Got this email this from a friend:

I ran across a link today to these screen shots of Revenge of the Sith with English subtitles after being translated first into Chinese then back into English. Enjoy! ;^)

http://americaninlebanon.blogspot.com/2005/07/backstroke-of-west.html

Take it easy!
--Neal

Ghost Rider Bust

Standing over 7" high and sculpted by Eli Livingston, this bust of the Spirit of Vengeance features clear resin for the flame.

I picked up my order of this bust and was surprised to see the final product. The picture does do it justice, the clear flame resin make the bust.

My Star Trek Con pictures ...

I have a selection of photos that have been scanned from the Star Trek Convention (Aug 6th thru 7th) and uploaded to my fickr account. The pictures came out good. I took many picture and the one showing are selection of each person. The pictures are trimmed for size, but even at this size the picture is still of good quality. (At this point I have uploaded the pictures, it is late at night or early in the morning, depending on how you look at it. Any ways, I will be adding some comments to the picture over the next day or so)

Brad Sucks | a one man band with no fans

Check out this link for some mp3 of some good music: Brad Sucks. Yes that is the name.

Top 50 Favorite Game Ending Songs

Check out this web site: Top 50 Favorite Game Ending Songs

Numbers

68: Percentage of Twinkies that are actually air.

Wacky news

An American man was taken to hospital after having his testicles stuck in a padlock for two weeks.

Scott Stapp of Creed gets humiliated at a Gainesville, Florida Denny's . . .

It was on the radio in the morning as I was getting ready to goto work today. On the Morning Alternative at 107.7 the End, they were talking how Scott Stapp of Creed got Punked. Here is the blog that it was noted on.
Creed is not my favorite band at all, but I thought it was funny what happened to him.

Funny story at work today . . .

It was brought up in a training class today on what happened while talking to a customer calling to go over his bill. Basic setup, the caller's first name is Dick. It got to the point in the conversation that the customer service rep want the customer to write something down, so she asked ..."do you have a pencil, Dick?" It was said that the call got quiet and the customer service rep was little nervous at what was said. The people around the customer service rep were cracking up on what was said. The call was complete with the customer being mono tone thru out the call.

Thought

More people are killed annually by donkeys than die in air crashes.

Thought

Some 3.3 million Americans commute more than 50 miles each way to work, according to the Bureau of Transportation.

Brent Spiner on stage.

The above pictures are of Brent Spiner from Star Trek: The Next Generation as part of Creation. You can click for a larger picture. (As stated below on the prev day.) These are not the best photos, they are from my camera phone. I took some better (I hope) photos with the standard camera and will post them on my fickr account (which is linked on this page) as soon as I get them developed.

Today was short day, but a good day. Stayed for the No Minimum Bid Auction today also. I won the bid on a Leonard Nimoy signed picture plaque. When Brent Spiner was on stage he posed for people who had camers when they came to the mic with questions. Brent was funny and was cracking jokes thru out the time he was on stage.

With thing winding down Gareth Von Kallenbach (check out his web site) came on stage with less than 1/6 of the chairs beeing filled. He went over news and rumored info for the movies comming up in the next 2 to 3 years.

Got some nice swag over the weekend. Star Trek pin, Farscape photo, Deuce Bigalow 2 and Transporter 2 mini posters, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Elektra, Mr. & Mrs. (2 ver) and Fantastic Four Movie posters.

Also I want to mention this book that was brought up yesterday. Kristine Smith had a chance to speak on stage of her fond memories of DeForest Kelley and has wrote a book about this science fiction icon. It was stated that there is little to do with Star Trek in her book.

The book is called DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories : My Life and Times With a Remarkable Gentleman Actor and is available thru Amazon with paperback & hardback volumes. It is also available thru AuthorHouse.com (a little cheeper than Amazon) or you can call and order by dialing 1-888-280-7715.

Avery Brooks on stage.

The above pictures are of Avery Brooks from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as part of Creation. You can click for a larger picture. These are not the best photos, they are from my camera phone. I took some better (I hope) photos with the standard camera and will post them on my fickr account (which is linked on this page) as soon as I get them developed.

Had a good time today. With the No Minimum Bid Auction, I won the bid for a canvas poster of the DS9 cast (season 8 , the last season , I think, one where Worf joined the crew and Dax had change host) It was limited, the only one they had there. The poster had autograph ticket with it and I got to go to the head of the autograph line. The poster was on the medium size, only 40in x 40in.

Avery Brooks was the main guest today. He mainly did Q & A from the audience about his DS9 and Spencer: For Hire days. And ending his time by doing a part from Othello and a sung a short song. The day was not over yet. They had for the Gold Weekend Patrons a dessert party. Icecream with plenty of topings was had by all.

DVD News

"Kung Fu Hustle" the highest-grossing Hong Kong movie that was also shot there, now comes out on DVD.

Wacky news

Dolls houses are being used as an affordable alternative to shelter homeless children in Brazil.

DVD News: Alien Vs. Predator

Looks like they are adding back the parts they took out to make it a family friendly film that was on the big screen. --Heath

Fox will release a two-disc Alien Vs. Predator: Collector's Edition on November 22nd. Here are all the details. Disc One will feature a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS Surround tracks. The unrated cut will be presented via seamless branching and will include the added scenes "Antarctica 1904," "Argument," "Chamber of Skulls," "Sacrifice," "Weyland's Death" & "Predator Ritual." Extras will include a commentary track with Paul W.S. Anderson, Lance Henriksen and Sanaa Lathan, along with a second track featuring Alec Gillis, Tom Woodruff Jr. and John Bruno.

Over on Disc Two, look for deleted scenes with optional director's commentary (The Sister, Miller Gets Caught, & Love Scene), "Pre-Production: AVP The Beginning," "Branching Footage: ADI Workshop," "Production: AVP Production," Branching Video off of "Making of AVP" (Miniature Whaling Station, Facehuggers & Eggs, Trouble at the Mouth of the Tunnel), "Post-Production: Visual Effects Breakdown," "Licensing the Franchise: Aliens vs Predator the Comic Book," "Marketing: HBO Special," "Monsters in Miniature by Todd McFarlane," storyboard gallery, concept art and a collection of trailers. Retail will be $26.98.
(info from DavisDVD.com)

DVD News: Family Guy

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment has officially announced Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story (Unrated) for release on September 27th. This straight-to-DVD film will feature a fullscreen transfer and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround tracks. Extras will include an audio commentary, alternate "unrated" audio track, a making-of featurette, animatic comparisons and previews for Family Guy: Season 4 and American Dad: Season 1. Retail is $29.98.
(info from DavisDVD.com)

SEATTLE STAR TREK CONVENTION THIS WEEKEND!

TREK FANS COME ON DOWN! Brent Spiner and Avery Brooks, two superstars of the Star Trek Universe are headlining the Star Trek Convention beaming into Bellevue Sat. & Sun. August 6-7, 2005 at the Doubletree Hotel Bellevue (300 112 St. SE).

GENERAL ADMISSION IS ONLY $20 A DAY! $15 FOR KIDS 6 TO 12, UNDER 6 FREE! And there is FREE Parking too! A great weekend of family entertainment with two great headliners.

Robotech: Shadow Chronicles Info

A 90-minute sequel movie to the original Robotech tv series from the mid-1980s.

"With the unexpected conclusion to the war with the Invid, the people of Earth are finally liberated and an expedition prepares to search for Admiral Hunter's missing fleet. However, another mystery unfolds as a deadly new adversary threatens to test the limits of the Expeditionary Force's use of Shadow Technology..." (ROBOTECH.COM)

There will be a new menace that was responsible for the events in the original series. (ANIMATION MAGAZINE, NOV 2004)

Takes place the day after the end of “The New Generation” (Kunicon St. Louis, 2005)

Question.

WHAT'S THE INVENTION YOU HATE THE MOST BUT COULDN'T GIVE UP?

One in three adults say the cell phone.

Wacky news

An escaped convict was caught by police in Brussels when he tried to steal a handbag belonging to an off-duty policewoman.