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Topics - The Holy Saint, Grand High Poobah, Master of Monkeys, Ehlers

Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 ... 59
16
Everything Else / Farewell Arthur C. Clarke
« on: March 19, 2008, 12:56:54 PM »
well, 2001 didn't turn out as he predicted, and he won't live to see 2010.

He provided us with a great deal of science fiction and had a huge impact on both other writers and science. The popularizer of the Space Elevator and geosynchronus communications satellites, died yesterday at age 90.

From Steve Jackson:
Quote
The CNN obituary ( http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/03/18/obit.clarke/index.html )  does a pretty good job of summing up his contributions. As of this writing, he's been the front-page story there for well over an hour (no less than he deserves) and his name has been spelled "Clark" in the first paragraph for that entire time (about par for CNN reporting). One trusts that history will get Sir Arthur's name right.

17
Brandon Sanderson / MOVED: How has your views on WoT characters changed over the years?
« on: January 28, 2008, 01:59:29 PM »
This topic has been moved to Books.

http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5681.0

18
Site News / TwiggyCon 2: Let's try this again
« on: December 20, 2007, 03:05:51 PM »
February 28-Mar 2

Why then?

Well, because that's when the D&D Experience is going to be. In Crystal City. Easily accessible by metro.

THat's why we're doing TwiggyCon 2 in DC. Not just because SE is a lazy butt who thinks everyone should come visit HIM instead of making him go anywhere.

All TWG-ers are invited, even though TwiggyCon's etymology has to do with it being "East."

The link above has hotel rooms information (I really can't host more than say, a person or two). It's really not unreasonable, and with quadruple occupancy at $139/night, it might be worth it to get a room, to stop off at, even if we aren't going to sleep there.

Not sure what Con registration is for the D&D Experience. Or if there even is one. TwiggyCon, however, is still free.

There will, of course, be TwiggyCon games and movies --possibly sightseeing, and most certainly a trip to Five Guys (we plan on taking a more direct route this time). However, we can't plan those too speciffically till we have D&D Experience schedules so we know what we want to see and do.

Now, for the record, here are the people I remember who are known TWG-Easters (ie, you live currently East of the Mississippi). We focus on you people because you're more likely to make it than say, Fell, out in lonely little Utah.

SaintEhlers
Jeffe
Shrain
Gemm
MPease
Loud G
Archon

I'm sure I'm missing someone, but I'm going by memory here. Remember, non easters are invited too. And bring friends and guests. The more the merrier.

To post: games you want included (I promise no Attack!), movies you'd like to watch, sights to see, D&D Experience events you won't miss, favorability of a hotel room, likelihood of coming.
also, generally mockery and sarcastic remarks about the quality of my hygiene.

19
Music / Archetype rock
« on: November 28, 2007, 02:53:58 AM »
It's another one of those threads.

I'm making a list, because I do that with songs. I'm looking for rock songs that ... sound archetypal. Rock songs like "Twist and Shout." but they don't have to *be* archetypal Just seem to... access the core ideals and sound of rock.

Songs with more than 4 chords are suspect, so while "Surfing with the Alien" kicks some major bootay, it's not really got an "archetypal" sound to it.

I'm not sure how to describe it, so here are some examples:

Rush
The Spirit of Radio
Freewill
Tom Sawyer

Led Zeppelin
Stairway to Heaven
Rock and Roll
Black Dog

The Ramones
I Wanna Be Sedated
Rock and Roll High School
Sheena is a Punk Rocker
Teenage Lobotomy

The Kinks
All Day and All of the Night
You Really Got Me
I Need You
I'm Not Like Everybody Else (pretty much the proto-punk song)

The Beatles
Twist and Shout
While My Guitar Gently Weeps

The Dandy Warhols
Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth
Bohemian Like You

Fountains of Wayne
Stacy's Mom

The Who
I Can See for Miles and Miles
Teenage Wasteland
Reign O'er Me
Pinball Wizard

Nine Inch Nails
Head Like a Hole
The Hand that Feeds

Rob Zombie
Dragula

Chuck Berry
Johnny B. Good
Roll Over Beethoven

The Refreshments
Banditos
Wanted
The Birds Sing
Broken Record

Fastball
You're an Ocean

Toad the Wet Sprocket
Hey Bulldog (yeah, I know it's a Beatles song, but I think Toad did it better -- one of those rare instances)

Jimi Hendrix
All Along the Watchtower (after all, who would disagree that this remake doesn't rock harder?)

Guns 'n' Roses
Paradise City
Welcome to the Jungle
Sweet Child o' Mine

The Yardbirds
Sunshine of Your Love (actually, I think I would pick the recording Clapton did in concert on One More Car, One More Rider)

Cream
White Room
Crossroads

Derek and the Dominoes
Layla

Credence Clearwater Revival
Down on the Corner
Fortunate Son
Born on a Bayou

Sugarcult
Stuck in America

Green Day
Basket Case

KISS
Rock and Roll All Night

Van Halen
Best of Both Worlds
Panama
Right Now
Running with the Devil

AC/DC
You Shook Me All Night Long
Highway to Hell

Buddy Holly
Peggy Sue

Weezer
Buddy Holly

The Police
Next To You

Jefferson Airplane
Don't you want Somebody to Love

 Metallica
Hero of the Day

Blue Cheer
Summertime Blues
.
The Stray Cats
Stray Cat Strut

Queen
We are the Champions/We will Rock You

Foreigner
Juke Box Hero

Bob Dylan
Trouble

Deep Purple
Smoke on the Water

Iron BUtterfly
In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida

Joan Jett and the Black Hearts
I Love Rock and Roll

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Freebird

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Rascal King
So Sad to Say
The Impression that I Get

The Ataris
Your Boyfriend Sucks

ZZ Top
Legs
Sharp Dressed Man

Deep Purple
Highway Star

The Scorpions
No One Like You

Ben Folds
Rockin' the Suburbs

The Donnas
Don't Wait Up For Me

Tom Petty
Running Down a Dream

That's just off the top of my head. I'm looking for suggestions for the list and discussion on the appropriateness of selections.

Songs I need to listen to (possibly again) because I'm either lame or blond:
 None! I caught up!

20
Movies and TV / New DVDs!
« on: October 10, 2007, 03:08:08 PM »
I stopped by the old Hollywood Video -- You know, the one that fired me for wearing the wrong pants -- because they're going out of business. But first, the gossip!
The regional manager that did the firing -- over the phone, in the middle of my shift -- is no longer with the company. His replacement announced several closings and that the employees at closing stores would not get jobs at other stores. Then she went on 2 weeks vacation. Nice people, huh?

Anyway, I officially spent Too Much Money. But here's my haul:

Rattle and Hum
Six-String Samurai
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 (they didn't have the others, but at least it wasn't 2 that was the only one left)
Batman (just the first one, I have Returns on VHS, Begins on DVD, and the others just suck too hard
Superman
Superman II (I have Returns, thought about III and IV, but decided my bootleg edit, Superman Redeemed, has all the good parts of both and no Richard Pryor, so they weren't necessary. Supergirl was, surprisingly, already nabbed. V. disappointing)
Sky High
The Muppets Take Manhattan
Godzilla versus Gigan (the only 'zilla movie left! So sad!)
Idiocracy
Snakes on a Plane
Ghost Rider

I couldn't think of others that they still had. To the customers' credit. All the Evil Deads, Army of Darkness, and Night of the Living Deads were taken. So was Flash Gordon. I didn't see Rock and Rule though I was in that section, but I forgot to have them look it up.

Are there any other movies I should go back and look for?

21
Rants and Stuff / I feel like a massive tool because...
« on: September 20, 2007, 02:03:20 PM »
I get confused, frustrated, and maybe a little angry when people go on and on about how great Robert Jordan was.

Look, I'm not happy he died. I know a lot of people are at best, disappointed, and quite a few of them genuinely grieving. Though he's probably free from pain now, and we should be glad about that.

It's that I had to *force* myself to read Eye of the World. It was derivitive, had poor prose, and made massive allusions to fantasy, literary, and religious symbolism for the sake of looking smart without actually using any of the tradition or meaning behind those symbols.  The characters are utter morons with poor motivations at best.

And no, I don't even like the cover art -- the poses look false.

So, yeah, that makes me a feel look the pope of the jerks. King Jerk. Jerkarino. Because so many people feel compelled to praise his work, especially since with his death I should be more sensitive, and I'm just tired of hearing about it.

Feel free to hate me now.

Ok, so, this is like a "grumpy bear" thread with a specific focus. My opinion, whether you agree or disagree, is not up for discussion in this thread, and I will separate those posts to another thread to keep it on topic. Feel free to tell me I *am* a tool though.

In this thread you should confess what you do, consciously or otherwise, that makes you feel like a maladjusted social misanthrope. Let Mortal Kombat Begin.

22
Movies and TV / AvP - Requiem
« on: August 29, 2007, 03:35:46 PM »
Ok, so, the first one sucked, right? Watered down? Then hope for the sequel coming in December. It appears to include much more violence, for one thing, as well as a "Signourny Weaver" character.

"In space, no one can hear you scream. On earth, it won't matter."

Warning, this *trailer* should probably be rated R. There is a *lot* of gory violence in it when it gets going, even if that violence flashes by quickly. There is at least one f-bomb too. I will *not* be the one responsible if you are offended by following tha tlink. You are warned.

23
Music / Saturday Morning Cartoon's Greatest Hits
« on: July 27, 2007, 03:01:12 PM »
Here's the track listing for the original:
Quote
1.   The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) -- Liz Phair with Material Issue (The Banana Splits Show theme)
2.   Go Speed Racer Go -- Sponge
3.   Sugar Sugar -- Mary Lou Lord with Semisonic (from an episode of Archie)
4.   Scooby Doo, Where Are You? -- Matthew Sweet
5.   Josie And The Pussycats -- Juliana Hatfield & Tanya Donelly
6.   The Bugaloos -- Collective Soul
7.   Underdog -- Butthole Surfers
8.   Gigantor -- Helmet
9.   Spider Man -- The Ramones
10.   Jonny Quest / Stop The Pigeon -- Reverend Horton Heat
11.   Open Up Your Heart And Let The Sun Shine In -- Frente! (From an episode of The Flintstones)
12.   Eep Opp Ork Ah-Ah (Means I Love You) -- Violent Femmes (from an episode of The Jetsons)
13.   Fat Albert Theme -- Dig
14.   I'm Popeye The Sailor Man -- Face To Face
15.   Sigmund And The Seamonsters -- Tripping Daisy
16.   Goolie Get-Together -- The Toadies
17.   Hong Kong Phooey -- Sublime
18.   H.R. Pufnstuf -- The Murmurs
19.   Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy -- Wax

So I got Gemm thinking on this, and we've got a list for what would be awesome to have rock groups performing for a volume two. The shows I pared it down to are in the poll.

Remember, the song doesn't have to be the theme, just a song used in the show. Ones already done by a rock group aren't really up. Like, Rocko's ModernLife was awesome, but it was performed by the B-52's, so already hip.

Give me more ideas for options, and suggestions for band/song pair ups.

24
Site News / MOVED: Hey Fell....
« on: July 26, 2007, 01:19:02 PM »
This topic has been moved to Everything Else.

http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5407.0

25
Suggestions Box / MOVED: Its away!!!! Timewasters Radio
« on: June 28, 2007, 02:05:48 AM »
This topic has been moved to Books.

http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5369.0

26
Books / Fare thee well, Alexander
« on: May 21, 2007, 01:16:32 PM »
Lloyd Alexander passed away last week.

Other than Tolkien, he was the first fantasy I had ever read. I actually came to speculative fiction by way of HG Wells, but I read so much more fantasy than I do SF, and I think it's largely due to the Chronicles of Prydain. As a young boy, I was reading ahead of my level, but Prydain was much more easily assimilated and encompassed in my mind than Middle Earth. It drew me in, connected me to fantasy in a way I haven't been connected to any other genre.

So, Adieu Msr. Alexander. The world of assistant pig keepers is much poorer for your passing.

27
Movies and TV / Spider-Man 3 (no spoilers yet)
« on: May 04, 2007, 07:23:44 PM »
So I just saw it. Very enjoyable. Working on a review.

RT has it at 62%. I understand a number of the complaints though the majority of them seemed less important to me having seen it than it was for the critic. Some of the critics are just... being silly.

Anyway, thoughts? opinions? Smart remarks?

28
Rants and Stuff / MOVED: "The Mormons" documentary
« on: May 02, 2007, 02:06:37 PM »
This topic has been moved to Movies and TV.

http://www.timewastersguide.com/forum/index.php?topic=5290.0

29
Site News / TwiggyCon 2
« on: March 28, 2007, 09:43:33 PM »
It's time to get real serious about this folks. Everyone who is near the east coast or will be this summer, we want your opinion. We'd like to incorporate as many of you as possible.

We need to answer the essential W's

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?

How is pretty much your own problem.

Who is easy. Anyone who can make it. Specifically TWG regulars on the east coast or nearby. but anybody.

What sounds easy. Like last october, an informal gathering for games, touring, food, and friendship. But I want to be more specific.
Activities from the last one included:
roleplaying (Jeffe led us in creating characters for Nine Worlds)
boardgaming (Attack, which didn't turn out as fun as it could be, and Settlers). I know there won't be much argument with another game of Settlers, but I want to propose the board game version of Age of Mythology too. It's a lot of fun.
videogaming. Mostly we played XBox, Lego Star Wars, a car game (i forgot, we crashed a lot), and DOA 3. I have acquired an xbox controller for the PC however, and own Lego Star Wars for the pc, so we won't *have* to have an XBox to play that two player. We won't argue with anyone who brings a console, however, even if it's old school.
Touring: The Old Post Office, the National Aquarium, a sculpture garden, the outside of the capital building. There's hella more to do in the DC area
Dining: Jeffe cooked us an excellent meal. I'm not going to volunteer him again, but won't mind if he volunteers himself. He's good. However, if we have more people, it might be hard on him. We also went to Five Guys, which I'm going to nominate as a regular part of Twiggycon. Pizza as well.  There are lots of restaurants in the area, so eating out isn't a problem.
Movies: We watched Hulk (Shrain fell asleep) and Some Kind of Wonderful (I think, or was it Pretty in Pink?).

Other possible activities: Pirates, Magic: the Gathering, other rpgs, writing workshopping, the park for picnics or frisbee golf. Or other stuff you guys can think of.

Keep in mind that if there are enough people, we could easily support two activities at once.

I would like to have more of a rough schedule though.

When: This summer. But let's get specific. I nominated August, but Shrain whines about going to London then. June is hard because the Ehlers family reunion is in the last week of it (I think) -- other parts of June would be ok, I guess. When are you guys available? I'm thinking something like 3 or 4 days. More than that makes my wife grumpy that I'm gone so much.

Where: The DC area, I'm assuming. I don't know if I can host the whole thing again, so it would be nice if people had ideas for the logistics of this. Esp if we have more than 4 people. Then I *know* I can't host you all.

Why:  Because it's fun to chill.

Please, please, please post your opinions and ideas, folks.

30
S.N.E.A.K.S. / REQUIRED RESPONSE FOR S.N.E.A.K.S. PLAYERS -- Posting Frequency
« on: March 12, 2007, 02:43:19 PM »
Some of you are following the post rules and some aren't. As they currently stand, you're supposed to post three times a week. Only a couple people are doing that.
One idea suggested is that we be required to post daily. I can do that, I want to know if the rest of you can. If you can't, we'd like to set a schedule for it, so people know when to look. So, poll it and give me your feed back.

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