The Black Campbell

…because they perpetuate stereotypes.  Thus perpetuating the image of geeks and nerds as humorless pussies.  Thanks a lot David Anderegg, you self-righteous dolt.

This is the second time in a week I’ve noticed my posts are not making it to the live feed.  Nothing in them was profane, yet they’re not showing up.

Interesting…

“Kinda makes you feel insignificant, don’t it?“

Yes, it was cheesey.  Yes, it was a Raiders knockoff.  I still loved it when I was a teen.

Tales of the Gold Monkey was a prime-time show on ABC in 1982 looking to cash in on Raiders (just as CBS had Bring ’em Back Alive), but  the flavor was closer to some of the 1930s adventure movies like Only Angels Have Wings, which the creator, Donald Bellisario, claims was more the inspiration.  (He had been trying to get the series made since the 1970s, predating the Lucas-Speilberg spectacle.)

The show took place in 1938 in the South Pacific and featured a young (and improbable) Stephen Collins as a rough around the edges contract pilot, Jake Cutter.  Other backup characters followed the Bellisario Magnum PI, Airwolf, JAG motif of hero, comedic sidekick (in this case his drunk mecnahic, Corky), and a bar owner/fixer (Bon chance Louie, played by Roddy McDowell.)  The love interest was a female American spy. And of course, there was Jake’s one-eyed dog, Jack — who was alleged to answer yes/no questions with a number of banks…that no one could remember which was which.

Central to the series was the building Japanese menace, led by a “dragon lady” type —  Japanese princess Koji (of course, not played by a Japanese actress, Marta DuBois [some might remember her as the alien posing as the Devil in Star Trek: The Next Generation].)

There were 21 episodes in all, and while I’m a bit worried that it won’t hold up to a mature screening (much like Heavy Metal), I would love to see a DVD release.

Well, that was fun…

Had to replace the left rear turn signal on my 2006 Taurus.  Apparently, Ford has trouble with left rear turn signals…it’s the only thing that broke on my 1998 Mustang, and on other fords my other friends have owned.

Hey, Ford, let’s make it a bit more of a pain in the ass to change a simple bulb.  Step 1:  mangle the interior padding of the trunk to get to the screws for the light assembly.  Step 2:  struggle at awkward angle with the screws (don’t drop them under the trunk!)  Step 3:  realize at the last second there’s another screw under the plastic molding at the back of the trunk.  Try to bend plastic out of the way to undo this screw.  (See warning from step 2 and double it.)  Step 4:  pull light assempbly off the car.  Step 5: unscrew bulb assembly.  Step 6: pull bulb and replace with ice cold, unfeeling fingers.  (You should do this, if at all possible, in the cold and wind…)  Step 7:  try the turn signal to see if it works.

Success!  Now retrace your steps in reverse to put the thing back together.   Add curses as needed.

Well…maybe not really.  I just opened an “account” at the Whuffie Bank, no doubt inspired by the Cory Doctorow novels.

Well, then just hit the button to subscribe for some automated email subscription doo-hicky.

Or don’t…it’s Freedom City, baby!

There are a lot of players and GMs in search of each other out there.  I’ve known a lot of people that simply can’t find other players, or can’t find people willing to try a particular role playing game.  I’ve had this issue myself, but find the gaming famine doesn’t normally last long for me.

There are a lot of tools out there now for gamers looking for each other.  There’s Nearby Gamers, through which I’ve found a few gamers (and funnily had near misses with people who would later join up by meeting in different places), there’s things like Berin Kinsman’s new Role Play Media Network and fandoNM (for New Mexico, mostly…)  There’s the RPG store bulletin board, comic stores, university clubs.

Mostly, however, I find it’s best to simply not be shy about the fact you play games.  It’s how I’ve linked up with several players and recruited people from outside of the hobby.

Once you’ve found someone who is interested, and you’ve passed a few emails or phone calls back and forth, I suggest meeting the person in a neutral place — a coffeeshop, lunch place, wherever, so that you can talk about not just gaming, but things in general.  See if they’re the kind of person that will fit with your group, that will want to deal with you.  Gaming buddies who are just gaming buddies, don’t tend to hang on for long, in my experience.  Friends stay.  Also, it helps you weed out the weird and dangerous without letting them know where you live.  (As a friend just said, “it’s kinda like dating…”)

To find good gaming groups that will be cohesive and lasting, looks for friends first, and gamers second.

The trailer….