Anomalous Data - Fandom

Click on the link and pledge! Bring the Klingon Christmas Carol to Chicago!

Teresa Lhotka — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:03:04 GMT

A Klingon Christmas Carol

Teresa Lhotka — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:01:11 GMT

It's that time of year again:

Event: A Klingon Christmas Carol
"Twelve Nights of Klingon Christmas - 2009"
What: Performance
Start Time: Friday, November 27 at 8:00pm
Where: Mixed Blood Theatre

Box office info: http://www.cbtheatre.org/c>b-tickets.html

This is a fundraiser for Commedia Beauregard, a theater group whose “mission is to translate the universal human experience to the stage: to expand our horizons and share knowledge of all cultures, translating between languages and between arts to create theater that is beautiful in expression.”

Please consider attending. The lines of the play will be delivered in the Klingon language (through the cooperation of the Klingon Language Association), with supertitles in Earth Standard (English) and with the help of a Vulcan narrator, who will also be speaking Earth Standard.

SQuj’a has a problem, but he can’t rescue himself. He is a Klingon and a coward. All of his life he has hidden behind his excuses, and fakery, as well as his service to the Empire as a businessman of means who helps “keep the empire running”. But there is more to life than just getting by, and SQuj’a has not yet lived as a Klingon. Time is running out, SQuja’s grows older, and soon he will die. If he dies still not a true Klingon, he will not be allowed to enter Stov-o-kor. His life will be wasted, and he will never be reunited with his beloved Bel, who now flies with the Black Fleet, an honor for her bravery and courage. Watch as Marl’I and the ghosts of Khaless past, present and future work to spark the pounding of a Klingon war drum in SQuj’a’s shriveled heart.

Whether you are a fan of Star Trek, or A Christmas Carol, or both…you will have a great time, viewing the great Christmas Classic “A Christmas Carol” in its original Klingon.

I give up.

Teresa Lhotka — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:05:15 GMT

From now on, my blog will be just made up of doofy videos that Rocky makes me watch...

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.

...well, until the republicans do something that bothers me. :-)

I seem tense?

Teresa Lhotka — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:18:13 GMT

Samantha: "Tense? Me? I'm not tense. Am I? When did you first notice?"

Jack: "As. We. Met."

- Carter and O'Neill, "Ascension" Stargate, SG-1

I have the Best. Students. Ever. Tonight I got a Christmas present from one of my Kung fu families (the dad and two kids take the classes).

They gave me a gift card for a massage.

Like I said: Best. Students. Ever.

UPDATE: My, Christmas DID come early this year. Pcomeau gave me a link to this Rodney video, which is Frickin' PERFECT:

Random thought: Putting Daniel, who is cutest when he is annoyed and uncomfortable together in an episode with Rodney, who is cutest when he is being annoying and discomforting was the most genius Atlantis-related idea ever.

Random Thought 2: Is is bad that I also think that my husband is cutest when annoyed and uncomfortable?

Oh no he didn't!

Teresa Lhotka — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:19:17 GMT

So I was over a Pharyngula reading a very entertaining piece that handed Deepak Chopra, the rap master of woo, his butt. (again)

I was reading the comments and enjoying the science-nerd pile-on when suddenly THIS lept out at me:

"Hmmm... Now I know where the really bad, sciency sounding dialog for the character Mohindar Suresh in Heroes comes from."

Dan misses some very important points in this comment:

1) Mohinder Suresh is smokin' hot (see exhibit "A"), and Deepak Chopra is NOT (see exhibit "B").

2) Mohinder Suresh is a fictional character in a story that specifically suspends the laws of science so that the world can work very differently than it actually does...and to that end there is a need to supply enough technobabble to drum you into a state we call "suspension of disbelief"...whereas Deepak Copra is a real person that is creating a story that specifically suspends the laws of science so that the world can work very differently than it actually does, and to that end there is a need to supply enough technobabble to drum you into a state we call "suspension of disbelief". This will cause you to pay lots of money for him to tell you his pretty pretty story about how you can live forever and be healthy the whole time.

3)Until recently, Mohinder Suresh was a character of unfailing moral fortitude selflessly working to redeem his father's life-work, discover the truth, and benefit all of humanity...and Deepak Chopra writes lots and lots of stuff about what he thinks science doesn't know, and provides PZ Myers with many, many opportunities to point out that just because Mr. Chopra doesn't know how something happens, that doesn't mean that SCIENCE doesn't know how it happens.

4) Mohinder Suresh's use of eyeliner is organic, subtle, and alluring. Deepak Chopra's use of eyeliner is heavy, harsh and scary.

5) So, in summation: LEAVE MOHINDER ALONE! Thank you, and I rest my case.

Exhibit "A":

(Image from here)

Exhibit "B":

(image from this site)

The Best Man Won!

Teresa Lhotka — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:27:28 GMT

Hah! In yer face Ronin! You flat, featurless, thoughtless lump of of lumpy manliness! Now, if you want an Earth girl, go out and get a personality.

'cause Rodney schooled you!

I don't get it...

Teresa Lhotka — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:22:02 GMT

OK, I'll concede that John Shepard is esthetic enough...

But sexy? Nah... McKay has some off-putting features, but he's much MUCH more interesting. His flaws have become endearing. I realize, that I havn't always felt that way. On his own, I'd say he's got potential...But...slashed with Shepherd?? Pleese.

But then there's Carson: Rowr. He wins my sexy award for the Atlantis male cast. Too bad he's more-or-less dead.

And then there's "the kiss"...seems I'll have to wait in line...

Don't look now, but...

Teresa Lhotka — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:45:23 GMT

I think the Ori have slipped one of their Priors undercover as a Democrat in the Oklahoma government...

Here's what she's up to...

But to be fair, that is probably a really bad picture, and she has now claimed that she was just woolgathering when she made the comments. And there's no evidence I can find of her preaching Origin...

[Update: She says it was a joke.]

(Hat Tip: Erudite Redneck)

Im a true humanitarian.

Teresa Lhotka — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 05:50:00 GMT

Rocky and I were at Dragon Con, rooming with our friends, Gary and Isa and a delightful German journalist named Robert.

I hadn’t mentioned it the first time I posted after we got home from Con.

So it didn’t make sense to some of you when I began hysterically babbeling about how great it was to briefly meet Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudik and spend the whole time talking about how great other people were instead of about how great THEY were.

Anyway.

So I met, shook hands with, and talked to two REALLY adorable men who play characters that, to put it mildly, totally float my boat. So to speak.

So then I have a little bit of time, so I rush off to the blood drive to give blood.

They take my pulse: 60BPM

They take my blood pressure: 111/60 (up from 103/50 last time)

After walking a block and climbing a flight of stairs, and shaking hands with two of the cutest guys on the planet (in my humble opinion).

They stick me with a needle, and start my blood filling up the little pint bag…and I kid you not…I apparently didn’t have enough of a pulse rate or blood pressure to fill a pint bag even half-way before it started clotting, and they pulled my needle and sent me on my way…

…a failed blood donor. Again. I got a packet of cookies, a bottle of water, and a free tee-shirt...oh yeah, and a huge purple bruise that's about five inches across. To add insult to injury...after repeated wigglings and twiddlings of the needle from the nurse, blood began running out of my skin NEXT to the needle. So - Epic fail in the blood donation front.

Sorry Nathan and Alan…it’s not you…it’s me. I’m told this happens to lots of people from time-to-time.

But I would have thought that if anything could have raised my pulse rate enough to successfully donate blood, it would be a close encounter with Captin’ tightpants and his soulful baby-brown eyes.

Obviously, I need not even TRY to donate blood until I’m at a Con where I can meet Michael Shanks or John Barrowman…

I’d be willing to try. So I could give blood, of course. Anything to help humanity.

And another service to humanity: Here's the You-Tube video of their panel at DragonCon:

> > > >

DragonCon tidbit

Teresa Lhotka — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:54:41 GMT

Funny thing from DragonCon:

Isa showed up at the Bad Astronomer's panel, and I was happy to see her.

Me: "How's your day been? Been to any other science panels?"

Isa: "I wanted to go to '96% of the Universe is missing?' But I couldn't find it."

I literally laughed out loud. Then, Isa got it and the guy sitting next to me got it and we were all three laughing like freaks.

This video reminds me of that.

(Hat Tip: Pharyngula)

Sorry about the bad rap. David Hewlett will apologize for me. He's better at it.

Role Models

Teresa Lhotka — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:06:37 GMT

Can I be Sam and Vala when I grow up?

Clueless.

Teresa Lhotka — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:18:24 GMT

PZ Myers has a link to this article about Harry Potter and an accompanying rise in the popularity of "Witchcraft".

I read it, but its kind of long. There's a lot of hyperventilating about the popularity of fantasy in the current culture, some self-righteous pontificating....but the really significant quotes are as follows:

"In these standby novels, girls fret over friends, popularity, sports, parents, boyfriends, jobs and homework—or a neighborhood "mystery." But in this new darker world, girls don’t simply ask a friend’s advice, hang out at the soda shop or give the team their best effort. That would be too boring and too passive. Today’s girl takes charge, even in the heavenlies—these young priestesses cast spells. The paperbacks are laced with actual spells and rituals suited to many teen occasions. They are also packed with sexual innuendo and activity;"

uh huh...'cause hanging out at the soda shop had nothing to do with sexual innuendo and activity...and "boring and passive" girls never get into trouble. Seriously? You want your little girls to be boring, passive door-mats who know nothing about sex and hang out at the soda shop? (I think they actually hang out at coffee shops nowdays) Jesus people, you might as well tattoo targets on their vaginas.

"It’s a seductive method of manipulating human envy by ensnaring naïve youth: if you’re a misfit, it’s not because you are lacking something; it’s because you are "above" the rest in a unique way."

Yeah...the other kids didn't pick you up and stuff you in the trunk of your car because you're an asthmatic shrimp with a 135 IQ, and they're a bunch of muscle-head jocks whose daddies told them they had to live it up 'cause these are the best years of their lives when they get to rule the school and have no consequences for their actions, and they know they'll have to spend the rest of their lives answering to people who are smarter and more educated than them. They did it because YOU are lacking something.

But my favorite is this one:

"As adolescents peak in self–absorption, our panacea is to hand our offspring the sorcerer’s wand to wave away all troubles. They can use it to raise that already inflated self–esteem."

Obviously, this lady hasn't read the books she's condemning. At no point does Harry simply "wave his magic wand" and have his troubles disappear. Harry is initially protected by the loving efforts of his parents to shield him from danger, and prepare for his future. Later, he learns to draw on the wisdom and advice of his teachers, and ask for help when he gets in over his head. His loyalty to his friends and their resulting loyalty to him helps him through situations he could never have survived on his own.

In the end, he has to put his life on the line and risk everything...and it has nothing to do with his powerful magic. It has to do with giving back to all of the people who stood by him what was given to him. Giving love freely, and being willing to risk everything for the good.

Magic has nothing to do with Harry's final triumph. It is achieved through love, trust, and courage. The whole point of the ending is that he doesn't even raise his wand in order to win.

Geeze lady.

And, of course, no hyperventilating, hysterical scrawling are complete without the faint-hearted whining about D&D:

"Too numerous to mention are sites specific to role–playing games like Dungeons and Dragons and toys, CDs, DVDs and video games with occult themes."

OH NOES! CHILDRENS CAN HAZ IMAGINASHUNS! IM IN UR COMPUTER BRINGIN TEH DEBIL!

But how oh how do we stop it?

"Today we are urging parents and educators to prayerfully consider a general boycott of Scholastic materials in homes and schools country–wide." Kathi, a former witch who is now a Christian, has strong opinions about the Potter books. "Anyone who allows their children to read these books and participate in related activities is allowing their children access to the occult."

Of course! Boycott the Scholastic-sponsored school bookfairs which is usually a primary vehicle for funding literacy programs in the school district! What we need is more illiteracy and less funding for the schools! Naturally. Genius.

Ill skip over the part where she bends herself into pretzel shape to involve Planned Parenthood, the feminists and homosexuals, and the ACLU in the plot to make your kids witches. It's entertaining, but too self-satirizing to need my attention.

"And if your teen isn’t an activist or practitioner in middle school or high school, college is a fertile field for the growth of witch sympathies. Your daughter or son who takes a religion or women’s studies class at a non–Christian college can expect to be exposed to the benefits of alternative religions, mostly occultic, in overcoming the "oppression" of the entrenched Christian mainstream. "

For reals? The University of Minnesota must be a Christian college then! Except for my comparative religions class (which spent more than half the time on Christianity, 'cause there’s so many flavors). Whatever. Has this woman even BEEN on a college campus except maybe as a crazy mall preacher?

"If you are "as gods," you can make your own rules. Forget parents! Forget teachers! We’ll just live for the moment, the latest sensation and party on down. So witchcraft is a perfect fit for a paganized, pleasure–centered, shallow America.

I swear, everytime I hear a Christian's description of what their life would be like without Christianity, I thank God that they have Christianity. People who have such a vivid imagination for depravity should certainly have a religion that makes them able to repress it,and keep it decently confined to airport men's rooms.

And I just have to say..."party on down?" For real? Linda, You. Are. ADORABLE!

Michael Sheard and A Man Called Roadkill

Teresa Lhotka — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:11:47 GMT

Last night/this morning I attended an event that made CONvergence into a FIVE DAY convention.

CONvergence is usually a three day fan convention with role-playing games, art, community service, music, board games, miniatures, crafts, discussion panels, exotic dancing, martial arts, movies, anime and liquor all brought together to celebrate Science fact, and Speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, and related genres)

But all that changed when Michael Sheard came to the convention TWICE as a guest of honor. He had so much fun, that he got attendees up in arms and the chant "FIVE DAYS" could be heard every year since, encouraging the board and the con committee to extend the convention.

Michael Sheard was beloved by many at the convention, including me. He was just special, and touched many people (literally and figuratively) in the short amount of time we had him with us.

Which is what he has in common with another man. Someone I never met, but saw walking around all the time. Someone most of my friends knew, and someone who inspired fierce friendship and love. A man called "Roadkill".

People like Michael and Roadkill kind of demand your attention...but unlike people who are just demanding your attention so that they can feel special, they were more the kind of people who walk next to you and say "Hey! Look at that!" and then you realize you were walking along looking at your feet. And then, just as you get too absorbed in the wonder and magic of what they were pointing at, they make some comment that makes you feel a little dumb for almost missing it, a little goofy for getting too sentimental about it, and hey it's OK 'cause you're there sharing it with them and it's all good, fogedddaboutit - "Hey! look at that!"

Roadkill developed a brain tumor and passed away this year and we lost Michael Sheard long before that.

While Roadkill was in hospice, Tim Wick went to visit him several times, and told Roadkill that he wanted to do a memorial, and asked Roadkill what he would like done in remembrance.

Roadkill responded: "I would like you to smash a chocolate fish".

So, at a special event, held at 12:01 AM this morning (which made our special 10th anniversary four-day convention officially a FIVE DAY convention), Tim Wick presided over the first ever chocolate fish smashing ceremony I have ever witnessed.

A bit of smashed chocolate fish, followed by a shot of Tattoo spiced rum with some of Roadkill's friends was the strangest eucharist I have ever experienced (the similarity wasn't intentional, and I think I'm the only one who observed it) I shared a toast with a small knot of Roadkill’s friends, because even though I didn’t know the guy, I knew the guy. I wanted to honor the place he'd had in their lives, because it reflected something I understand and honor very deeply.

The gathering ended with "five days" sung over and over again to the tune of Amazing Grace, with people laughing their butts off.

And for about an hour we remembered Roadkill and Michael, and a whole bunch of other people who kept us from looking at our shoes, missing things we shouldn't miss, taking things too seriously, dismissing things too lightly, wrapping ourselves up too tightly, and generally forgetting that we are sharing the road.

[Update: I found this lovely video posted on Pharyngula in a strange bit of synergy] - NSFW - bad language

Bra-i-i-i-i-i-i-n-s

Teresa Lhotka — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:41:24 GMT

CONvergence is here, and now half over. I drank Captain Kirk's Two-Fisted-Punch. I drank a couple of something called a "flaming cowboy"...

...Which is like if you insluted a Jolly Rancher's mother, so it turned into liquid and kicked your ass.

My brain is quite annoyed with me right now, and my stomach doesn't want to talk to me, but can't help iteslf.

Before the drinking, there was Kung Fu. I saw a demonstration by a Tai Chi Master and his students. That was really cool.

Today I will hopefully recover enough to play some Tai Chi learning games.

I ran into one of my students at the Con, which is fun.

I attended a panel entitled 'the Secret Origins of CONvergence, as well as a performance of Soylent Theater: Made out of People entitled "Soylent Blue".

It was. They gave us multiple warnings about how un-PC they were going to be, and asked that anyone with a weak constitution leave. I didn't...'cause Im not the kind of person who gets offended over a little off-color humer.

They DID manage to offend me...several times. I was very surprised, but hey - they warned me.

Also, I met up with some of my friends who do the Missing Children Minnesota Mystery Dinner Improve fund raiser. Our writer (Damien Sheridan) was giving a reading of some of his stories. He did very well.

My fellow actor, Ted, told me a great story about how he was assaulted by a little old lady over his "buddy Christ" costume (from the movie "Dogma").

No kidding, some little old lady at the Con shrieked about how he was insulting her religion and began beating him with a purse. Naturally, he refrained from defending himself until he could leave the situation without risking harm to the little old lady.

I did a little volunteer "badging" (ensuring that everyone who is entering areas with convention programming is a paid attendee by checking their "badges") as it is a chance to sit in one place and watch everyone who goes past...which means that you meet up with all of your old friends that you only see once-a-year at con anymore...and do some catching up.

Its been fun, and this year we have FOUR (five) days! I will explain that later when I don't have other pressing concerns like a family to feed and a pounding head to care for.

In the mean-time, please enjoy the product of one important difference between liberals and conservatives: We can laugh at ourselves, and its OK.

Wrong. But funny in a wrong sort of way.

Teresa Lhotka — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:59:36 GMT

Discalimer: This entry will make no sense unless you are a fan of Torchwood, and up-to-date on the Dr. Who universe. The video will only be funny if you have a warped sense of humor...and even then, you will feel guilty for laughing. Sorry. I can't be alone in my Schadenfreude. The Scott Lively connection is just one of those random association firings that my brain subjects me too...but if you can't mock the Rev. Scott Lively, who CAN you mock?

OK, a while ago I heard about the Rev. Scott Lively, and his book The Pink Swastika and I thought "Who the hell would buy this? It's ridiculous. It's completely craven, ahistorical re-imagining at it's most cynically manipulative. I've seen sand-choked engines run more smoothly than this guy's logic."

But then I see this, and I realize the horrible truth!

NSFW !!!!!!!!!!!!!! (seriously, the ways in which this is not safe for work defy ~~numbering~~ ~~gravity~~ description)

Also, my understanding of the German langauge is even worse than I thought!

Awww..

Teresa Lhotka — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:07:03 GMT

This fanvid is for anyone who ever fell in love with someone who made them want to be a better person.

And, for that matter, for anyone whoever fell in love with someone who knocked them off their high horse, shook them out of their complacency, and completely robbed them of their equalibrium.

I give you: Daniel and Vala.

Pssst...don't look now, but I may have somehow become a Daniel/Vala 'shipper without realizing it. It took me even longer than it took Daniel! LOL.

What can I say, if you really love something, you're willing to let it go. :-)

Mah posse - Slug white nerds, yo!

Teresa Lhotka — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:58:10 GMT

There ought to be a law against doing that with an image of Eugene Scott, though. And to cleanse the pallet:

OK, I'm sorry too:

A present form pcomeau

Teresa Lhotka — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:46:58 GMT

Yes, I AM an unofficial member of the "Marcus Cole Estrogen Brigade" but I couldn't find a SINGLE fan vid of him out there. What's up with that?

The Golden Compass

Teresa Lhotka — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:18:07 GMT

A charming little tale full of whimsey and adventure. Steamer-punk elements. A little disjointed in parts, and with a tepid ending that screamed sequal.

In other words, a good story burdoned by it's condition as a movie adaptation of a novel.

Cool effects. Some really good performances.

Skanky blond villian named "Coulter".

A certain scene I like to call "bowling for cossacks".

All-in-all, it was a nice little family outing.

Awaiting final verdict until after the sequal.

An Evening of Yultide cheer and culture.

Teresa Lhotka — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:14:12 GMT

For those of you who do not believe that our great Republic benefits from the constant infusion of culture, language, and perspective of our alien residents, I offer a challenge to your closed-minded ways.

On December 8th, 2007; At 7:30 PM; for the mere pittance of $20 USD (effective price dropping daily) you can witness the charming and immortal tale; "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.

But this isn't just ANY rendering in ordinary English. No it is not!

Come to the University of MN Saint Paul campus

Student Center Theater

2017 Buford Avenue

St. Paul, MN 55108

There, you will witness the moralizing, liberal, whiney, orphan-hugger words of Charles Dickens transformed!

Commedia Beauregard will give that pallid old Englishman an infusion of Klingon-American honor, courage, and (I assume) bloodlust!

That's right "A Klingon Christmas Carol".

See it Dec. 8th at 7:30 PM Tickets at: www.ticketworks.com or (615)209-6689

Oh, did I mention that this is a fund-raiser? Proceeds from this performance will assist in funding future productions, commissioning new translations of foreign-language plays, and helping to further the understanding of the world's cultures, and (I assume) other world's cultures.

Don't miss it!

Oh, and...Q'aplah!

3 Doors Down is not far enough away

Teresa Lhotka — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 03:17:06 GMT

argh. shortbread cookies, with a chocolate layer on top. I am powerless before them.

They are my Jadarite.

(Hat Tip: A Blog Around the Clock)

Andreas Katsulas has passed away

Teresa Lhotka — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 15:29:48 GMT

I actually heard about this a couple of days ago, but haven't commented because I just didn't know what to say, or how to say it best.

Mr. Katsulas was a fine actor, and I can only imagine that he was a fine human being as well.

I can think of no other explination for his nuanced, sympathetic and honest portrayal of G'Kar, the vengeful revolutionary turned religious icon. G'Kar was a character on Babylon Five. He began as a petty, self-serving, bitter ideologue and ended as a symbol of reformation, hope, compassion and forgiveness.

Mr. Katsulas made you feel exactly how you were supposed to feel about G'Kar every step of the way. He made the unsympathetic sympathetic, the unbelievable believeable, and the alien unmistakably human. He did it with grace, wisdom, and a percieved ease that can only come from painstaking and unrelenting craftsmanship.

He died of lung cancer at the age of 59.

"There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain."

--G'Kar -Babylon Five

mini-me geekage experience.

Teresa Lhotka — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 00:12:07 GMT

Grasshopper (the eight-year-old) has two friends over for an overnight. They are listening to Hardingfele music and playing a Jedi role-playing game improvised from the D&D system.

Adventure Boy (the twelve-year-old) has been summoned to act as judge on two minor arguments about Star Wars cannon, and to help with one or two applications of role-playing math. Also, there was a minor discussion as to how long copyrights last (conclusion: 20 years).

Dinner menu: Hot Dogs, Mac –n- Cheese, green peas, mini cupcakes and Mt. Dew .

Ah yes, the geekage of the next generation is safe, Captain. Secure from General Quarters.

[update: Grasshopper (in the role of gamemaster) just definativly put the kibosh on one of the other boys shooting someone who was already dead in an armed combat situation. (I'm paraphrasing here):

GH: "You can't shoot him! He's already dead!"

Other Boy: "I need target practice, and anyway, he's dead. It's not like he's gonna care."

GH: "That's mutillation! It's a War Crime"

Other Boy: "You didn't mind me shooting him when he was alive. That's worse."

GH: "When he was alive, he was a bad guy. Now he's not."

Other Boy (sarcastically) "Oh, well...THAT makes sense."

What I've learned from this: I'm not 100% ready to observe eight year olds playing role-playing games.]

Save Monty Python!!!

Teresa Lhotka — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 15:25:01 GMT

Here's a link to an entry by Peter David. Peter David is a fantastic writer, and his blog reflects that.

Anyway, this is a rather light peice that illustrates the chilling fact that our bright young intellectual eliet of the next generation are woefully ignorant of Monty Python.

Be afraid. Be very afraid

The explination for the "they make a great sandwich" title.

Teresa Lhotka — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 16:36:00 GMT

I promised to explain the “they’re a bit spendy but they make a GREAT sandwich” comment on the title of an earlier entry.

It all started, as many silly inside jokes do, with a role-playing game.

One of the members of our group was married. Actually, I think that besides Rocky and I, he was the only married person in our group. That’s where the similarity ends. See, Rocky and I had the good sense to marry each other…fellow nerds.

This guy didn’t. He married a very nice lady who was very conventional, unimaginative, and painfully, painfully normal.

Then, he reproduced with her, and she got really really clingy. Now don’t get me wrong, this guy was pretty thrilled with having a baby. He stayed home a lot more and he doted on his child…but she wanted more…and our once-a-month role playing games were just too much time for them to be apart…so she started coming to the games and sitting in the corner knitting and watching the baby while we played. That way, she could stand up and declare that it was time to leave when his time expired. Not that I blame her. It’s a hormone thing. We women have babies, and we nest. And we expect our partners to nest with us, and we turn psycho if they don’t. It’s just part of the whole biology thing. I’m not saying this to criticize her…just to set up the story.

I still remember the first time she came to the house during a game. Will answered the door. Will was, at the time, a tall, lean, wolfish-looking guy with long hair, a pierced ear, and a grin that made you absolutely certain he was going to go for your neck. If Cary Elweys hadn’t already scooped the role, he would have been perfect for the part of the Dread Pirate Roberts.

The little wife stood on the step looking at Will with wide, alarmed eyes, clutching her baby to her.

Will smiled his most charming smile, “Oh don’t worry,” he crooned, “I’m only a rapist on off Tuesdays.”

Worlds Collide.

Well, shortly after that, she became aware of the fact that one of our members (Odin) was a Pagan…also known as a “witch”. So little miss rural Lutheran chick is swimming well out of her pool of experience now. To be fair to her, she soldiered bravely on.

So one day we’re having a game, and she’s there with the baby. We’ve made a munchie run to a local sub shop we all like for lunch, and are sitting around eating them and talking about how much we like these subs. I think Odin must have gotten up to use the bathroom or get a soda or something, but by the time he comes back, the subject has turned to babies, and how much it costs to just keep them fed and in diapers…but he wasn’t aware of that.

So Odin says “Yep. They’re a bit spendy, but they make a GREAT sandwich.”

EVERYONE stopped for a minute, and then burst out laughing uproariously. Odin looked confused, the proud momma looked horrified and then, when she realized the mistake, gave a nervous chuckle…but things were never really the same again after that.

Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon respond to Katrina

Fri, 02 Sep 2005 16:05:18 GMT

This is why Fandom is right about looking up to and idolizing our heroes.

Via Wil Wheaton’s Blog.

Larr>y Dixion and Mercedes Lackey have opened their home as a base for temporarily housing and eventually relocating refugees from Katrina.

Larry Dixon has a lot of experience as a volunteer firefighter, wildlife rescue worker as well as storm spotter and CERT experience.

Those of us in Minnesota Fandom can tell you that they are warm, open, caring and very directed people. This is what makes us one people: The warmth, the generosity, the knowledge that when some of us are suffering, the rest of us are there to help. They are generous, and kind people, whether they are taking a few minutes to encourage a child to pursue his creativity, or opening their homes to people whose lives have been destroyed.

Their contact information is in the third link…so if you know someone who needs a place to stay…get the word out to fandom.

To quote Mr. Dixon’s open letter:

We are all family because of our passions. Possibly the most valuable thing that gamers, fans and pros can give each other in these times is a gift beyond price: the knowledge that in tragedy as much as in joy, their fellows are there for them with open hearts and open arms.

Dropped into my inbox today

Teresa Lhotka — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 14:51:32 GMT

"True Story" a song by Leslie Fish, who has generously given general permission for it's use and reproduction:

True Story

By Leslie Fish

CHORUS:

Harmless historical nuts,

Who wear boiler-plates on their butts,

Who dress up in clothes from the twelfth century,

To bash on each other with sticks and debris,

And make up the world's largest private army,

Harmless historical nuts.

As I was out shopping, expecting no harm, Two big FBI men grabbed me by the arm, Dragged me into a cellar, shone lights in my eyes, Demanding full answers without any lies, About a new threat to good patriotism, This "Society for Creative Anarchism".

I said "They're just . . .

CHORUS

I answered, "'Tis true, to that club I belong, Put pardon me gentlefolk, you've spelled the name wrong.

Now I swear by the Cross and the Host and the Chrism, That last word is actually 'anachronism'.

It just means 'outdated'. Pray why don't you look, In Sir Merriam Webster's reliable book?

It says we're just . . .

CHORUS

When finally persuaded to look up the word, They blushed and they winced hard enough to be heard.

They hastily set me back out on the street, But I knew 'twasn't over and once more we'd meet.

So I passed on the warning to realms far and near, To give the impression for all the next year, That we're just . . .

CHORUS

And soon enough four infiltrators came in, All snooping for politics, sniffing for sin.

Three went away again, scratching their heads, But the fourth quit his job and turned stick-jock instead.

He's won coronets, he's in love with the sport, And we still have a copy of his last report.

It says we're just . . .

CHORUS

Five Days!

Wed, 31 Aug 2005 20:04:56 GMT

While I know that many of us are watching the devastation and tragedy of the hurricane in New Orleans, I’d like to take a small, quiet moment to remember a lovely, charming, humble man who touched many lives as an actor and as a tremendous human being.

Michael Sheard recently passed away. Many of you probably don’t know who he was. He was guest of honor at Convergence the first time my friends Gary and Isa came over to attend the convention with us. They knew Mr. Sheard from their work organizing a convention he attended…so I was able to visit with him quite a bit both during and after the con. He was a lovely man of wit, humor and genuine warmth. I still remember the little hug and kiss on the cheek he gave me at the end of one of our conversations.

But I don’t think there’s any point in me saying anything more, when the bulletin I just got from Windy Bolsby of the Convergence Con committee already says it so well:

We are saddened by the loss of a good friend of CONvergence. Michael Sheard, a CONvergence Guest of Honor in both 2001 and 2003 has passed away at age 65.

TV and film fans know Michael best for his roles as Mr. Bronson on the long running Grange Hill series, for his appearances on Dr. Who, and for his roles as Admiral Ozzel in The Empire Strikes Back and Adolf Hitler in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

CONvergence members will remember Michael for his charm, his infectious energy, his love of scotch, and his love of fandom. Michael enjoyed his first year at CONvergence in 2001 so much that he called for CONvergence to become a five day convention at the Closing Ceremony on Sunday. The chant of "Five Days" has become a recurring joke of the convention.

Another memorable Michael Sheard moment, resulted from Michael's countless stories of his good-natured distain for "that f-ing dog" (the infamously difficult to work with Doctor Who companion K-9). A mock-up of K-9 was secretly prepared to be offered up to Michael at the 2003 Closing Ceremony for him to destroy with a cricket bat. Before the mock-up K-9 had been revealed, Michael was asked to share with the Closing Ceremony audience his thoughts on the robotic dog, to which Michael responded "If he were here right now, I would jump up and down on him." You can't ask for a better cue than that. Out came K-9, and Michael did indeed stomp K-9 to bits. K-9's head currently resides in the CONvergence 2003 Time Capsule.

So raise a glass for Michael Sheard. We'll do it together at CONvergence 2006.

We'll miss you Michael.

The British Adventure - Part Two - Our Hosts

Mon, 29 Aug 2005 15:41:47 GMT

We got to the terminal, got our bags, and cleared customs in next to no time, and were greeted by Gary and Isa. They were a sight for sore eyes. No really. Our eyes were sore.

Unless you think it might be an understatement to call the sensation of having half your blood replaced with an inert substance roughly the consistency of Karo Syrup and carrying three pounds of rock salt under each eyelid “sore”.

Anyway, we did a lot of fun, entertaining and educational things on this trip…but the heart and soul of this vacation was the visit with Gary and Isa.

Let me introduce you.

Gary is a big, warm genial guy. If he were a piece of furniture, he’d be an overstuffed chair in the library. He’s got a graduate degree in Chemistry. He knows just about everything there is to know about British history. He loves to study accents and dialects, and can do a really good Nebraskan accent, and a passable South Carolina accent. And he is unabashedly a Fan, referring to Sci-fi/Fantasy as “The one, true, religion”.

Isa is German by birth. She works in London doing technical support for a small software company that used to be owned by Sea Gate. She deals most frequently with German customers. If she were a Disney Character, she would be Tigger…and indeed, their house is filled with Tigger paraphernalia. She is short, cute, bouncy and ferociously up-beat. Also, every time I see her, she greets me with a small suitcase full of German and Belgian chocolates.

We met Gary and Isa at a Babylon Five convention called “The Wrap Party”. It was a fabulous convention. I met J. Michael Straczynski (creator of Babylon Five, Jeremiah, and writer of some of the best comic book coolness in recent years), Harlan Ellison (brilliant and prolific writer and curmudgeonly over-grown ego that I want to be just like when I grow up), Peter David (promising young writer), Anne McCaffery (grand Dame of the cool dragon story), James White (peerless author of The Genocidal Healer and the other Sector General novels) and Gary and Isa.

In retrospect, given a choice between meeting all of these really impressive, talented, and famous people whose work I love and respect, and meeting Gary and Isa it would be hands down for Gary and Isa.

They are everything that is good about fans rolled up into one neat little package; generous, kind, easy-going, upbeat, optimistic, friendly, searingly intelligent, creative, imaginative, and very ethical.

If you are not “in fandom” you might not understand how you can form a life-long friendship with someone over a period of just a couple of days. Fandom is so called because it is a sort of Gypsy-like nation…spanning the globe with no real homeland of it’s own except for whatever center of the brain is responsible for imagination. Fans are one people. Sure, we’re British, American, German, Bolivian…whatever…but a Fan in Brazil will often find that he has as much or more in common with a fan from Norway than he has with his own countrymen.

Same with occupation or socio-economic class; a fan who’s a taxi driver can talk for hours with a fan who’s a nuclear physicist, if they are joined by a professor of philosophy, they will most likely come up with a great panel topic for the next convention they all attend.

With a few exceptions, fans are generally one big accepting, inclusive, occasionally dysfunctional family.

While we were at the Wrap party for example, we had a small emergency that looked as though it required us to travel back to our previous hotel. We had been mugged, or pick-pocketed, or whatever you want to call it, in Paris , and didn’t yet have any credit cards that we could use or cash to pay a cab.

A couple of fans we had never met, and never got to know the names of, offered us the loan of their car.

Fortunately, that turned out to be unnecessary…but can you imagine any other population where a total stranger would offer someone the use of their car? I love being a geek. I love my fellow geeks. I am part of the geek nation, and because of this I know I can fly across the ocean and have brothers and sisters who I can count on…even if I’ve never met them.

Zombies and Grommet

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 03:27:05 GMT

Here's a link to Magic Marmot's LJ post about his “Best in show” winning entry in the masquerade!

http://www.livejournal.com/users/magicmarmot/636225.html

'Cause I'm a fan girl baby!

Mon, 04 Jul 2005 16:55:22 GMT

Just got back from CONvergence…the best local fan convention in the Twin Cities. Rocky was traveling on business, and then attending a wedding of our long-time friends, Wayne and Brent.

Adventure Boy and I went by ourselves. Sue took Bunny Boy up north with her to stay in Bemidji .

Anyway, Convergence was a blast, as always. I gained three pounds, but that will come off soon enough. It’s all due to sitting in cool panels having cool discussions and living on Nuttella-and-jelly sandwiches, M&M’s and Captain Kirk’s Two-Fisted Punch.

Friday Adventure Boy and I registered and greeted some friends that we ran into on the way to and from Operations bridge.

Adventure Boy started out his con by running off more-or-less solo to a panel entitled “Superhero Smackdown”…where he met Con guest Larry Dixon…noted Fantasy author and artist. Adventure Boy showed him some of his drawings, and received a number of very encouraging comments and criticisms from Mr. Dixon.

Between his interactions with Mr. Dixon and Chris Jones, Adventure Boy has had his enthusiasm and drive for drawing and writing stories fueled for probably the next couple of years. He hardly put down the pencil all weekend.

They are both lovely gentlemen, and seeing the light they fueled in my kid’s eyes puts me in their debt more than I can express.

I went to the Writer’s Meet-up to hear Robert Wagner read “Coffee”…and afterwards to Krushenko’s for some literary discussion…where I responded to yet another urging to joining the Writer’s Meet-up by snapping something at Robert about not having time, and then made a joke about how everyone wants me to join their clubs, and what a bitch it is to be popular. J It wasn’t until the middle of the night, after waking up with a start, that I realized that they other people around there might have gotten the impression that I thought I was just too great to join their club… L I talked to their leader, and she assures me that everything is cool…so…that’s good. Nothing like trying to be funny and clever and making an ass out of yourself as a first impression.

We wound the evening up with a cool “Buffy Sing-Along” to the episode “Once More with Feeling” in the Vampire Hunters Union Local 542 room party. Excellent snacks, beverages…and hey, who can say “no” to a sing-along?

Saturday morning I went to a panel on Science Vs. Theology that actually went quite well, and didn’t degenerate into a shouting match of circular reasoning. Everyone behaved quite well, and the single, solitary, secular humanist was one of the most tolerant and compassionate that I have ever encountered, yet pursued his argument very effectively. He was not in a terribly enviable position, being the one lone Secular Humanist in a roomful of Pagans, Christians, Daoists, Jews and various other “spiritual” types.

It was difficult for him, as the thrust of his argument was that acceptance of spiritualism is a fundamental moral and ethical flaw (one that he clearly did not think lead inevitably to immoral and unethical behavior, but yet was a pitfall that served no purpose but to confuse and endanger people). And advancing that viewpoint without being insulting or demeaning to the people you are talking to is a very hard thing, and yet he accomplished it quite well.

The discussion bogged down where it almost always does if people don’t start screaming or throwing punches: with the nature of the unknown vs. the unknowable and the nature of the ability of human beings to feel connected to things and beings outside themselves. I was gratified that we sped rather quickly past the “God of the Gaps” argument, and other such eddies. I will most likely address this in greater detail at another time.

I went with Adventure Boy to “Drawing with Chris Jones”…and hung out and did some doodles and listened to Chris talk about comic books and the comic business, and art and got some cool history on CONvergence and stuff.

Many panels and cool meetings with friends later, we attended the masquerade (costume and performance contest) and watched an entry worked on by Magic Marmot take “best in show”.

We stopped off at some room parties for snacks, beverages and entertainment. Most notably, the DYSTOPIA party was fun…as was Cthulu Coffee, The Prancing Pony, Captain Kirks Den of Iniquity, and of course the Vampire Hunter Union’s Local 542.

Then, we were off to Connie’s Space Lounge” to hear the Great Luke Ski do some cool fanfilk, and wound up the day falling asleep to “bedtime stories with Larry Dixon and Mercedes Lackey”…how cool is that? We fell asleep before Mr. Dixon was finished with his reading, though…so luckily he read the same stuff again at his live reading the next day.

It was a good CON, and as it was Adventure Boy’s first CON...that is fantastic.