I saw the new Star Wars.

I saw the new Star Wars.

It was really quite good. I look forward to the next installment when, hopefully, they can leave the fan-service behind and start digging in with their new characters.

So last night I saw Hateful Eight in 70mm.

So last night I saw Hateful Eight in 70mm.

This is a Quentin Tarantino film. If you like QT films, you'll like this one. If you hate QT films, you'll hate this one. What if you don't know which kind of person you are?

It's a Western so there's none of the pop-culture geekiness that you see in a lot of his other films (like Pulp Fiction)

It's also a mystery. In fact, it's rather a lot like Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap. A group of strangers are trapped in a snowstorm. No one is who they seem. People wind up dead. But with a lot less cosy English charm and a lot more swears and gore. QT telegraphs his violence pretty well so if you're at all squeamish (like me) it's pretty easy to know when to avert your eyes.

Overall, I thought it was a pretty good movie. Except for maybe one small bit, the overall plot held together fairly well and made sense. One scene in the movie is completely gratuitous but I don't watch QT films for the sparse necessity. It's not the most comfortable movie to watch for a lot of reasons, but it is genuinely compelling in a way a lot of shock movies never are.

How was the 70mm? Expansive. I think that digital films produce a sharper picture and IMAX might be able to deliver the scope, but it was an extremely well-shot picture that tries to take full advantage of its jumbo screen size. Still, it was clear just how long it's been since I've seen an actual film at the movie theater.

So yeah, Hateful Eight, worth your consideration.

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"Truly this man was...the Ace of Spades."

RIP Lemmy

p.s. fuck cancer

Stoner Sloth Compilation

Duuuuuuude....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rHm8GbTHyE

More "Best Of" reading lists.

More "Best Of" reading lists.

I've read several of the books listed and unhesitatingly recommend The Water Knife, Luna: New Moon, and Seveneves


http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-very-best-science-fiction-and-fantasy-books-of-2015-1748164151

Pre-order the Urban Tarot now

It's about 3 years late, but worth every second.

My copy of The Urban Tarot deck arrived this morning.

It's gorgeous. And I'm not just saying that because I'm one of the models.

The artist is taking pre-orders for those who didn't get in on the Kickstarter.

http://www.robinscottart.com/2015/10/pre-order-the-urban-tarot-now/

Leah Bloom -- I know I'm racing ahead, but I did like this list of books as well.

Leah Bloom -- I know I'm racing ahead, but I did like this list of books as well.
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/books-loved-2015

Hey

Hey,

For those of you playing along with the ad hoc book club thing, I just finished up The Discreet Hero this morning. I'd be happy to talk with you about it when you finish up.

Again, I read a bit faster than average so if you're still wading through, no worries.

Does anyone have a Dremel cordless drill with a small range of drill bits I could borrow?

Does anyone have a Dremel cordless drill with a small range of drill bits I could borrow? I'm about to attempt to pin a miniature and my hand-drilled attempts in the past have been terrible. Hopefully a power drill should make a fast, efficient hole for the pin.

Thanks!

Behind the Scenes - Emmet Otter's Jug-band Christmas - The Jim Henson Company

Drumroll please...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqWJD1ov6oY

What time is it?

What time is it?

It's TIME TO CLIMB!!!!

very slowly...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DljStQsY80I#t=23

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If you're interested in being part of the ad hoc reading group Leah Bloom and I are doing. Today is the official start day. We're reading The Discreet Hero by Mario Vargas Llosa. Feel free to grab a copy and read along. Again, this is pretty loose, if you finish up by the new year, that's fine, but hopefully it'll be a fun read and you'll have something literary to chat about at holiday parties.

The World’s Ship Pilots Putter Around in Tiny Scale Models

I've wanted to do something like this recreationally for years now. Apparently this also happens in the US, I wonder if they've got "lubber classes".

ETA: SQUEEE!!! http://www.maritimepilotsinstitute.org/Manned-Models.html
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151207-port-revel-ship-pilot-school/

They say to dance like no one is watching.

They say to dance like no one is watching.

Lady in the car behind me on the commute this morning, I saw you, but it didn't matter one damn bit.

Rock on, Lady in the car behind me on the commute this morning!

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Dear G+,

Why is it that I can't change who I share a post with after I make the post? If I accidentally make something public, I can't go back and change it to private (or vice versa). Worse, on the next post it defaults to public so there's that as well. Apparently this has always been true? It's kinda dumb.

Dear My iPHone,

You've started doing this thing where I get in the car and you send notifications letting me know how long it will take for me to get where I am to where I'm (probably) going to go (either home or work so far). That's a bit creepy and I should disable that.

No love
Tom

Because there doesn't appear to be any way to replace low-quality photos with better ones after posting to G+, here...

Because there doesn't appear to be any way to replace low-quality photos with better ones after posting to G+, here are better pics from Friday's walk by the river. Hopefully the magic school bus will be easier to spot.

The Discreet Hero: A Novel - Kindle edition by Mario Vargas Llosa, Edith Grossman.

Hey there!

So Leah Bloom and I are going to read The Discreet Hero by Mario Varaas Llosa as a sort of ad hoc book club. No regular meetings or anything, but we just think it'd be fun to read a book and then turn around and talk to someone else about it who has also read the book (and recently to boot).

So if you want to play along, feel free to snag a copy (I've linked to Amazon below, but you can probably get it at your favorite local bookshop as well). Leah expects her copy to arrive on the 8th or thereabouts so that's when we'll get started. Again, the timeframe is pretty loose. If you finish up by New Year's that's probably more than fine.


http://www.amazon.com/The-Discreet-Hero-A-Novel-ebook/dp/B00MSYXJ4K/

TENA Men | Control

First off -- this is a commercial...although very few people in my circles will be interested in what's on offer.

Still...I laughed and laughed and laughed. I so want this to be on during the Super Bowl.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NKvN7U5RXQ

Huh

Huh,

Someone specifically wrote me on OKC to tell me they didn't like my lifestyle choices.

OK, random Internet Stranger....whatever.

New World Magischola: A College of Wizardry Larp by Learn Larp, LLC. — Kickstarter

What the hell have I been doing wrong all these years? They were asking for $35K and they're over $150K with 40 days to go. FML.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nwmagischola/new-world-magischola-a-college-of-wizardry-larp

Crap!

Crap! I was thinking about going to Dreamation this year, but it's running opposite Intercon P so most folks I'd think about traveling with won't be going. But are you thinking of going to Dreamation instead of Intercon? Let me know.

66 (Old) Movie Dance Scenes Mashup (Mark Ronson-Uptown Funk ft.Bruno Mars)

And if Japanese Shrimp bands aren't your thing, maybe a little mash up of modern sounds and slick moves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1F0lBnsnkE

So these guys might be my new cosplay inspiration.

So these guys might be my new cosplay inspiration.

It's a Japanese band called Autopsy Report of the Drowned Shrimp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEMadjiyzvw

Attention Epidiah Ravachol

Attention Epidiah Ravachol 

A fascinating article on a small wresting outfit in the Bronx.
http://www.hopesandfears.com/hopes/city/city/216813-lucha-libre-wresting-bronx

When you just don't want to deal with Latin any more...

When you just don't want to deal with Latin any more...
http://www.bobrosslipsum.com/

You know, I thought Hamilton was the musical I was most excited about seeing.

You know, I thought Hamilton was the musical I was most excited about seeing.

I have never been more wrong in my entire life.

h/t to Epidiah Ravachol 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6cu7nM1ms4

Crapshots Ep293 - The Decadence 1

I'm always stymied by the gap between theory and practice myself...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFZq8NrXvlY

Man, my next D&D game is gonna be awesome!

Man, my next D&D game is gonna be awesome!
http://existentialcomics.com/comic/23

Who not to invite to your Games Night...

Who not to invite to your Games Night...
http://existentialcomics.com/comic/102

Of interest to all right-thinking people...

Of interest to all right-thinking people...
http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2015/11/05/the-accidental-color-that-redirected-human-expression/ideas/nexus/

Dear Internet Radio

Dear Internet Radio,

Please stop playing sad songs of heartbreak and loss.  I did appreciate this one but still....

No Love,
Tom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vz2qlIdnO0

This times a million.

This times a million.

ETA:  Despite the headline, the article's argument is that we should just go on DST permanently.
http://gizmodo.com/this-turning-the-clocks-back-nonsense-needs-to-stop-1739798673

Of more than passing interest to some folks in my circles:

Of more than passing interest to some folks in my circles:
https://vimeo.com/29549708

Worst thing about coming home from the hospital: Peeling the various sensor stickers off my man-pelt.

Worst thing about coming home from the hospital:  Peeling the various sensor stickers off my man-pelt.

2nd best thing about coming home from the hospital:  Taking a shower.

The actual best thing about coming home from the hospital:  Sleeping for 14 glorious hours in dark and quiet without anyone taking a blood sample from me at any point.

OK, so obviously I'm watching the Bob Ross twitch stream.

OK, so obviously I'm watching the Bob Ross twitch stream.

The best thing I've seen so far is that when Bob finishes a painting pretty much everyone in the chat says something like "gg Bob".

For those kids not hip with the speak, "gg" stands for "Good Game".  It's an abbreviation used by lots of people at the end of multiplayer video games.  You finish your Call of Duty or Battlefield game and you see "gg" popping up on the chat feeds.

I like the idea of applying that to one of Bob's paintings.

Well...even sans the hospital stay today has been pretty shitty.

Well...even sans the hospital stay today has been pretty shitty.

On the plus side, when I dropped the laptop on my toe there was plenty of help available.

Title

So, first off, while I'm not technically fine, I feel fine and things are getting better.

And now here's why I'm in the hospital.

You may remember a few years ago I went to the hospital because I had a pulmonary embolism.  This morning I went down to the basement and when I came upstairs I felt like I'd just run a marathon.  So I packed my bags, hopped in the car and checked myself in to the ER.  One CAT scan later and yeah....another pulmonary embolism.

So I'm in the hospital for a few days.  Very likely I'm going to be on some sort of anti-coagulant for the rest of my life.  So I made it to 43 before I need daily medication.  Not too bad. 

Damn mutant healing factor.

This might be in your wheelhouse

This might be in your wheelhouse

Originally shared by Imre Fitos

Tentacle scrunchie. Now I'm trying to find a tentacle buff!
https://twitter.com/nippon_en/status/653805898951856128

Title

From today's walk with my mom along the Assabet River.

Attention Rowan M and Co. and a few other people in my circles...

Attention Rowan M  and Co. and a few other people in my circles...

We need to get to London stat!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm6JnhPbHCQ

Oh Japan....

Oh Japan....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n3Db6pMQ-8

Attention Epidiah Ravachol

Attention Epidiah Ravachol 

In other news, they're also Kickstarting a 4th printing of DCC.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1398817948/bullseye-d6-damage-dice

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"Hey, let's go see the new Ghost in the Shell movie."

"What's it called?"

"Ghost in the Shell, The New Movie."

"Right, what's it called?"

"The New Movie."

"Yeah, the new movie."

"Right."

"So...what's it called?"

"The New Movie."

"Yes."

"Right."

THIRD BASE!

So Comixology is having a massive sale on stuff by Grant Morrison.

So Comixology is having a massive sale on stuff by Grant Morrison.  I'm torn between picking up a complete run of The Invisibles vs. a complete run of Doom Patrol.  I'm leaning towards the former, but I've got a bunch of issues in floppy.  I forget exactly where/why I stopped reading the series, but now I kinda want to see the whole thing finish off.  On the other hand, I've only read bits and pieces of Doom Patrol and there's a lot of madness in that one as well.

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?  Both isn't really an option.

Where it all began....

Where it all began....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh5p5f5_-7A

A fascinating sub-culture I learned about today.+

A fascinating sub-culture I learned about today.+
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2O5yfw20Yg

"Now it's over, I'm dead, and I haven't

"Now it's over, I'm dead, and I haven't
  Done anything that I want
  Or, I'm still alive and there's nothing I want to do."

--- Dead, They Might Be Giants (from Flood)

"With another 50 choices
 Comes another 100 voices in my head
 No great angels no big devils
 Just another 100 levels to contend with
 Then when I've found the perfect one
 There's another 100 ways to be outdone."

-- More and More and More, Ryan Montbleau Band (from Heavy on the Vine)

Some days I wish I could just decide.

You've failed me for the last time, Internet Friends!

You've failed me for the last time, Internet Friends!

This past weekend was International Sloth Day!

Next year, we're sleeping in like a boss!
http://www.ticotimes.net/2015/10/17/happy-international-sloth-day

How is NSA breaking so much crypto?

Mildly geeky but an interesting theory on how the NSA beats fairly tough encryption.
https://freedom-to-tinker.com/blog/haldermanheninger/how-is-nsa-breaking-so-much-crypto/

Time, The Place And The Girl, The (1946) -- (Movie Clip) I Happened To Walk Down First Street

This is what OK Go looked like in the 1940's...
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/554418/Time-The-Place-And-The-Girl-The-Movie-Clip-I-Happened-To-Walk-Down-First-Street.html

Mo-Do - Eins Zwei Polizei

Submitted mostly because I think Evan Torner would like it, but it is pretty catchy for office chair dance parties.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSy2DcATYUo

"Wait, wait, stop.

"Wait, wait, stop.  Not like this.  We need a hang-glider and a crotchless Uncle Sam costume and I want the entire field of your largest stadium covered end-to-end with naked red heads and I want the stands packed with every man that remotely resembles my father."

Thanks, Rick, now I have a new fetish.

This Unicorn Changed the Way I Poop - #SquattyPotty

OK so...this is absolutely an ad for something to buy.

It's also mildly NSFW.

I am still sharing this with you because I am History's Greatest Monster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYWhdLO43Q

Not the warmest swims I've ever had, but far from the coldest and well worth the novelty of a mid-October swim.

Title

So last night I saw a special theatrical re-release of The Iron Giant.  Man that's a good movie and it was fun to watch a hand-drawn animated film.  It had two minor scenes added, but one was so minor we weren't sure what it was.

There's going to be a special edition DVD/BluRay coming out later this year apparently.

Also -- today I learned there's a podcast that does interviews with people who were associated with the Jungle Cruise attraction from Disney parks.  Which is...pretty specific.

Super-relevant to a number of people in my circles.

Super-relevant to a number of people in my circles.

Delta Green is back, baby!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arcdream/delta-green-the-role-playing-game

In which I stir up some on-line controversy about face-to-face communications...

In which I stir up some on-line controversy about face-to-face communications...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/27/opinion/sunday/stop-googling-lets-talk.html?_r=0

Lin-Manuel Miranda Performs at the White House Poetry Jam: (8 of 8)

So I don't follow NY musicals all that closely, but last night a good friend alerted me to Hamilton -- the hip-hop musical about the Secretary of the Treasury.  This is from a few years ago when the playwright, Lin-Manuel Miranda was still working on it and here he does the opening number.

Lin-Manuel Miranda also did In the Heights of which I have a few songs.  I didn't realize that Lin-Manuel was also the author of that musical.

Folks -- Lin-Manuel is one of my favorite rap artists.  His stuff does everything I want rap to do -- fire off a compelling narrative while dazzling you with lyrical acrobatics.  It's seriously good stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFf7nMIGnE&feature=share

I remember getting AD&D books via interlibrary loan as a kid.

I remember getting AD&D books via interlibrary loan as a kid.

If you were in charge of a library, what would you add to your shelves?

h/t to Kendra Brown  for the pointer.
http://boingboing.net/2015/09/24/study-tracking-every-rpg-book.html

So I got a chance to play an early prototype of this game a couple years ago.

So I got a chance to play an early prototype of this game a couple years ago.  I really enjoyed it and so I'm backing this.

The premise is that it's a reverse Settlers of Catan.  You play as one of the mighty spirits who inhabit an island being overrun with colonizing forces from far off lands.  You need to rally your people and use your magical powers to drive the invaders back into the sea.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gtgames/spirit-island

I think this is going to be a really interesting film and I think people in my circles may find it relevant.

I think this is going to be a really interesting film and I think people in my circles may find it relevant.  It just screened at the Toronto Film Festival and I hope it makes its way to local theater's soon.

The synopsis:  Trio of girls who get bullied at school for looking like they might be lesbians drink the sap of a mysterious plant and gain the power to transform into boys. Uses fantasy premise to explore the intersection between teen drama and gender identity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-eU4B-fnc4

Probably inspired by the "space markers" people use in the winter around here.

Probably inspired by the "space markers" people use in the winter around here.
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3051049/a-guerrilla-bike-lane-made-with-flower-pots-forces-a-citys-hand

Dear Foodie Hipsters:

Dear Foodie Hipsters:

  FULLY COMMIT!!

 *Warning:*  A chicken dies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URvWSsAgtJE&feature=share

Invader Haywire This looks relevant to your interests...

Invader Haywire  This looks relevant to your interests...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcAFkef3VfU&feature=share

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And finally (or firstly, because of the way these posts are structured) here are some photos from around the B&B we stayed at in Colorado.  I should say that if you're planning a trip to CO and need a place to stay, Elk Run Bed and Breakfast (http://elkrunbedandbreakfast.com/) is fantastic and has my highest recommendation.

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Of all the things we did in Colorado, hiking around Elk Meadow Park was one of the most enjoyable.  Here are a few photos from that.

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From our visit to the Red Rocks Amphitheater.  Some amazing geology out there..

More photos from my Colorado Trip.

More photos from my Colorado Trip.  These are from our drive to Mt. Evans.  On the way down, we stopped to see the ancient bristlecone pines.

I'm going to do a more detailed write-up soon(ish) (I hope!) about my trip to Colorado.

I'm going to do a more detailed write-up soon(ish) (I hope!) about my trip to Colorado.  For now, here are some of the pictures.

These are from Boulder and the Avery Brewing Company.