Sep 15 2008

Upcoming books: “Without Warning”

Tag: Books, Miles and Mileage runsNate @ 11:31 am

John Birmingham’s latest, Without Warning has showed up on Amazon. Looks great, although it isn’t out in the US until February. If I make it to Asia again this fall, I may get it early … as I was able to do with Final Impact, since they get the Aussie editions at some of the Kinokuniyas there (can’t, at this point, remember if it was the Singapore one or the then-new Siam Paragon one in Bangkok.)

It does lead to the interesting question of whether to pre-order (then cancel, if I get it in Asia) or whether to wait to see if the fall vacation (A) happens, and (B) if it’s Asia or Buenos Aires… lots of steak plus the 32.5k mile Citi award (*) make for a tempting option, even with hotel and other prices once I’m on the ground so much higher.

(* vs 40k usually, and 70k for Asia… seeing as I’ve made PLT for the year, this is a good chance to burn miles rather than earn them.)


Sep 13 2008

One trippy film

Tag: MoviesNate @ 4:03 pm

Just watched Wild in the Streets on cable, and thought I’d leave a note here since it’s exactly the sort of film I see once and then a couple of years later think:

What was that 60s film about youth taking over the country?

So by writing about it here, hopefully I’ll find it more easily. It’s sort of like a prequel to Logan’s Run, minus the whole “overpopulation” angle.

Sadly, like two other movies I’d really like to see again(*), it’s not out on DVD.

(* The Dark Secret of Harvest Home[**] and Coming out from the Ice)
(** btw the book of this one is good.)


Aug 04 2008

Random funny sites, lest you think I am dead in a ditch

Tag: DiversionsNate @ 7:30 pm

Sorry for the lack of updates. Meanwhile, why not look here:
Resolutions… If I Ever Become a Vampire
(which astute readers will notice is in the same spirit as the Evil Overlord List)


Jun 17 2008

Battlestar Galactica mid-season thoughts

Tag: Misc. Sci-fiNate @ 2:14 pm

Warning, movie reference that will be a spoiler both for that movie and the mid-season ep of BSG, below the break.

Continue reading “Battlestar Galactica mid-season thoughts”


Apr 15 2008

“What D&D character are you?” (cool blogmeme)

Tag: D&D/D20, LJ/Blog MemesNate @ 1:23 pm

I Am A: Neutral Good Human Wizard (4th Level)

Ability Scores:
Strength-12
Dexterity-13
Constitution-11
Intelligence-16
Wisdom-14
Charisma-11

Alignment:
Neutral Good A neutral good character does the best that a good person can do. He is devoted to helping others. He works with kings and magistrates but does not feel beholden to them. Neutral good is the best alignment you can be because it means doing what is good without bias for or against order. However, neutral good can be a dangerous alignment because it advances mediocrity by limiting the actions of the truly capable.

Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.

Class:
Wizards are arcane spellcasters who depend on intensive study to create their magic. To wizards, magic is not a talent but a difficult, rewarding art. When they are prepared for battle, wizards can use their spells to devastating effect. When caught by surprise, they are vulnerable. The wizard’s strength is her spells, everything else is secondary. She learns new spells as she experiments and grows in experience, and she can also learn them from other wizards. In addition, over time a wizard learns to manipulate her spells so they go farther, work better, or are improved in some other way. A wizard can call a familiar- a small, magical, animal companion that serves her. With a high Intelligence, wizards are capable of casting very high levels of spells.

Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)


Mar 25 2008

Washington: 1, Cornwallis: 0

Tag: DiversionsNate @ 3:06 am
From Humor

Dec 13 2007

Poetry

Tag: DiversionsNate @ 8:52 pm

Spork!
Spork!
It’s like a fork.
It’s also like
a spoon.


Dec 04 2007

That dog sure loves the wii!

Tag: Animals are weird, Video GamesNate @ 2:58 pm

Nintendo Wii ‘Dog Attack’ video

Sort of NSFW


Nov 14 2007

Amusing, albeit NSFW

Tag: DiversionsNate @ 1:37 pm

“The Goth Cycle”

(For those not familiar, NSFW = “not safe for work”)
(via a post on RASSF)

Back to being largely too busy to blog…


Oct 18 2007

Still here, just under a rock.

Tag: DiversionsNate @ 5:43 pm

Here, have some Muppetly-goodness (the Viking Pigs do “In the Navy”) until I get around to blogging again.


Jul 22 2007

A “Deathly Hallows” parodic summary

Tag: Books, HumorNate @ 5:33 pm

Potterdammerung [Mega-Spoilers]

Don’t read this unless you’ve finished The Deathly Hallows, don’t care about spoilers, are or just a jerk who wants to find out what happens at the end and ruin it for everyone.

Sadly the funny parts are pretty much wall to wall spoilers, but once you’ve read the book, this is a must read. If you are not bothered by spoilers, while you CAN read it without spoiling the book, I don’t think it would be very funny on its own.

Update: Another summary of snark, albeit written straight rather than as parody.


Jul 22 2007

OK, I’ve read “Deathly hallows” (no spoilers but may be spoilers in comments)

Tag: BooksNate @ 12:59 pm

Finished reading at a bit after midnight last night… since I started a bit after noon, and given about a three hour break for dinner “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” provided about 9 hours of solid entertainment. Not bad.

Overall, liked it. A very few bits reverted to the “whiny/angry Harry” of Order of the Phoenix (OotP/Book 5) but fortunately that part didn’t last TOO long. Solid action sequences, and a nice resolution although a few questions left unsanswered.

I’m going to keep the body of this spoiler free and add a few of the latter to a comment. If you have complaints about unanswered questions or other comments/reviews, please add them there :)


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