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Repost: Podcasting

It’ll happen. Soon. Maybe. I had a taste of it Friday night.

My friend Michelle invited me to Digital Nerdage podcast’s Best of 2016 recap show. I had thought that I’d be a ‘call-in’ guest (long time listener, first time caller), answering a question or have a take on something, much like a sportstalk radio show, but as the show started, I was introduced as a new friend of the show by the host, Pat.

We covered a few topics that I could see myself talking about on my own podcast, when/if that ever gets off the ground. All told I think we were talking for a little over 90 minutes, which will probably edited down to 60 minutes or so.

My concern right now is whether or not I have the technical side of this nailed down. I have some research to do in that respect. Luckily Kindle Unlimited has a few freebies that I downloaded to read up on podcasting.

I’ll post a link as soon as the podcast gets posted.

In the meantime, I’ll be going about my usual blogging here, with the goal of posting every day in 2017.

#blog365

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Repost: Friday Randomness

This is the longest I’ve gone without a calendar hanging up in my office, or at home. That’s what I get for ordering them online, instead of picking them up from the calendar shop at the mall.

* * *

Still trying to figure out what to do with the microphones.

Yes, plural.

Podcasting is the leading choice, I just have to figure out what the content will be. It would probably be something monthly, as I don’t think I’d have time to do a weekly thing.

Or I can just use them to talk to people online.

* * *

At lunch I thought about how often and for whom I would post another of those “The 50s” entries like the one from yesterday. First of I want to say that you shouldn’t feel offended/insulted if I don’t have enough material to write something on your 50th. I may simply had forgotten, or hadn’t had time to come up with something interesting. That’s on me, not you.

* * *

Vlogging.

Never did keep up with that. I should, in case I never get the podcast thing off the ground.

* * *

Not sure why I’m so jazzed about wanting to play role-playing games again, as in pencil-and-paper, face-to-face, not online.

* * *

6 days into the new year, and no table top sports games played. I need to fix that. Soon. Tonight.

I also need to get off my butt and start up the lunchtime D&D campaign again. It’s ONLY been a YEAR since I was supposed to come up with something. Ah well.

* * *

And then there’s my camera and photography. I bought a new lens to experiment with static close up shots of stuff, and I haven’t really done anything in regards to that.

Gotta change that.

* * *

For the first time in years, neither football team that I follow are in the playoffs.

My weekends are free and clear. Though I’ll probably end up watching the Super Bowl.

* * *

Pizza and cupcakes. Those are my only requirements so far for my birthday.

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Repost: The 50s

One of my oldest friends turned 50 today.

December 17, 2015: The Force Awakens premiere, Metreon SF

Nelson Wong and I first met under forgotten circumstances when we were 7 years old, in Mrs. Sinton’s 2nd grade class at Longfellow Elementary School. In 3rd grade we were placed in separate mixed grade (2nd and 3rd) classes, and while we were supposed to attend the same school in 4th and 5th grades, the campus was under renovation for both of those school years.

We were reunited in 6th grade at Luther Burbank Middle (Jr High) School. We then both went to Lowell High School, and then college, he at CCSF, me at SFSU. Eventually Nelson transferred to SFSU as well.

Our post-college careers took us along different paths, though we did keep in touch, until I started working for the Judicial Branch of California, where Nelson had already been working for a couple of years. He was the one who actually recruited me for this job. And we’ve been working at the same place ever since.

Over the years we’ve made a habit of watching Star Wars films together, specifically premieres or at least our first viewings of each film. This started in 1980 with The Empire Strikes Back, though we just planned to be there with school friends and family. This has continued through last month, when Rogue One premiered. We attended our first sci-fi conventions together back in high school, and made a few geek road trips to San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration.

Our interest in games are similar, as we played the same tabletop RPGs in high school, and as we later played the same online RPGs over the past few years. We still get together with friends for monthly Games Days, and occasionally play a board/card game at work with coworkers, during lunch.

I sometimes joke that he’s one of the few people that probably knows me better than I know myself. As I get older myself, this may or may not be more true. Memory is the first to go, y’know.

Happy Birthday, Nelson. Thanks for being there for me over the years, and for being such a great friend. The Force is with you, and you are one with the Force.

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Repost: Quick Comic Review: Justice League vs. Suicide Squad

I didn’t expect to like this series as much as I do.

I’ve been a fan of both teams, I just haven’t followed Suicide Squad since the ’80s, to be honest. I haven’t even seen the latest movie.

So far (through JL #12 on the checklist) it’s been a pretty good story, with an unexpected villain. I won’t spoil it for those who want to read the trade paperback when it comes out.

3 out of 4 stars, so far. Go check it out!

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Repost: Birthday

My sister asked me what I wanted to do for my 50 birthday.

I haven’t answered yet. Because I don’t really know the answer.

I’d like to do… something… with friends and family, I suppose.

Here’s the thing: I have not been in a serious relationship in forever, so in those many years, nay, decades, I didn’t get a sense of what’s socially correct for such milestone birthdays. Hell, I spent my 41st birthday at WonderCon, which I really enjoyed.

I never went to other friends’ birthday celebrations because for the most part they were smaller family affairs. I didn’t have a significant other to plan or throw a party. I had my sisters organizing gatherings and dinners, mainly with family, which were fun, too.

So I’ve been stuck with the mindset of a non-adult in regards to a gathering for my 50th birthday. I want pizza. But I always want pizza. I want friends and family around.

Fully catered? Pot luck? Just how many people are we talking here?

I had a surprise party once, for my 16th birthday, and that seems to be the last time I had a birthday party.

I don’t know if I want a party. I think I do, because that’s what I pretty much described, with the friends and family and pizza thing.

Cake? Sure. I like German chocolate, but I know many who don’t like coconut. A cake in the shape of the Millennium Falcon? Or the Starship Enterprise? The TARDIS?

A themed party was mentioned, which I’d be fine with, because it may not be what an adult would want, but it’s what I would want.

An 80’s party? Everyone must come in costume/period clothing? Star Wars/Trek?

This isn’t a baby/wedding shower so I would not want to have any games like the ones you’d expect at such venues.

And because I’m semi-clueless, I don’t know what to do/have as entertainment, so people aren’t bored. I suppose there could be music, but I’m not much of a dancer, but I wouldn’t stop others from doing that.

As far as time, perhaps afternoon/early evening? You get older, you can’t stay out late, and many folks have kids who shouldn’t be up so late anyways.

Thus ends my stream of consciousness regarding this question.

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Repost: Day 2

Not that I plan on posting something every day on this blog, though I should.

Nah.

I spend the better part of the day out an about, browsing aisles at Fry’s and Game Kastle. I needed a replacement charging cable for my phone, so I ended up getting 2 of those (one was found to be too short when I got home), a Hot Wheels car, and some gummi candy from Fry’s. I also almost walked out of there with a USB microphone, the kind used for things like podcasts. I stopped myself when I realized that I don’t podcast.

At Game Kastle, I must have spent over an hour there, browsing and almost starting a trip down the rabbit hole/money suck that is the Batman Miniatures game. The rulebook alone, along with just 3 minis, was a bit too high to start investing in a game that I probably would end up not playing, much like Warhammer 40K had become over the years. At least I may be playing 40K again.

I also looked at supplements for a couple of other games, including Zombicide: Black Plague and a couple of RPGs: Mutants and Masterminds and Traveller.

I found that I could get the Black plague supplement cheaper online.

I was reminded that I purchased a mega bundle of M&M PDFs, including most of the printed items that I saw today.

As for Traveller, I’ve been itching to play some sort of space-themed role-playing game since watching Rogue One. I dug out the original Star Frontiers rules, and browsed the Traveller PDFs that I had picked up in another online sale sometime last year. Again I found that I either had the printed materials in PDF, or I could get them cheaper online.

My monthly group may or may not be starting a new RPG campaign with Mutants and Masterminds. I’d love to start a space RPG campaign.

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So long, Princess…

There’s not a lot I can add to all the online tributes and stories about Carrie Fisher.  She was Hollywood royalty, as an actress, and became so much more since becoming that space princess in 1977.

Author.  Writer. (there’s a difference, really) Mental health spokesperson.  Script doctor.

She was very open about her addictions, and of her bipolar disorder.  She share that part of her life with us, as much as she shared everything else.  Warts and all, so to speak.

As much as I loved her portrayal of Princess Leia, my favorite roles of hers other than rebel leader were as the jilted bride in The Blues Brothers, and as Meg Ryan’s friend Marie in When Harry Met Sally.

And the therapist in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

And the nun in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

I was glad that Nels and I got to see her at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim in 2015.  Hers was the most entertaining panel of all the ones we attended.

She was going to be a guest at Silicon Valley Comic Con in 2017, and I was thinking of getting a photo op with her, like the Christopher Lloyd photo op that I did last April.

I only got to say that it was an honor to meet him, to which he replied, ‘Likewise!’

I had hoped to thank her for all that she had done, and she’d reply with some clever, witty quote from her that I could share.

Alas.

Rest in Peace, Carrie Fisher.  Thanks for all you’ve done.