Here we are again.  I have the new episode ready to go, and it will be uploaded and available for download this Friday.  There, I threw my hat over the wall.  Now I’m going to go do that…after I finish this, of course.  I’m starting to build better habits now.  To that point, I’ll be posting here each Wednesday afternoon.  Then on Fridays we’ll post the new episode of Redstone Diaries.  As of right now, we have about three or four episodes and we’ll be recording again by the second.  Just now I think I decided on a title for my Ripper podcast so, I’m going to start applying more energy to that.  I’m looking forward to my first go at writing an actual script for something and performing it, other than my own stand-up.  Otherwise, I’m still looking to produce other podcasts.

     We’re also closer to figuring out the video side of our projects.  I can’t wait to regularly live stream at least some of our bullshit.  I think I may get on Twitch later today and possibly play with some Lego.  I’m also thinking about just getting on Twitch so as to find some people who want to contribute to my writing process.  What do you guys think?  Hanging around in an online clubhouse write the story that I’ll use to beat, maim, and more likely than not murder the characters of my friends and coworkers.  I’m also getting ready to play a game with friends at work.  Some scheduling things changed at work that will make it easier for us to play games at lunch.  I’m getting a few friends set up with simple basic characters to start a game that we’ll play weekly for 20-25 mins. each go.  I have some ideas that I think will be fun and allow for a gradual acclimation into the game setting, mechanics, and rhythm of the group.  Things I’d be interesting to discuss in group settings on Twitch or Twitter, for example, would NPCs, special items, and other elements like that.  I use an app called Characterize to randomly generate characters.  The app gives you the ability to configure your own generator.  The process can be a mite monotonous but it’s worthwhile when you craft the generator to do exactly what you’re designing it to do.  I’m using this to create the NPCs used in our podcast games.  The generator I’ve so far isn’t quite what I want it to be but it’s working well.  I really like the idea of creating items that are unique and powerful, like in the realm of comic book super heroes we have things like Cap’s Shield, Batman’s belt, Witchblade’s Witchblade.  I could use some inspiration coming up with original weapons and/or vehicles.  Have any of you started reading the books for Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying Game?  I’ve said before that I wasn’t entirely sold on the power system in this game but I think I am coming around on it.  I’m interested in having some conversations about this.

     Well, It’s time that I get to other projects here.  If any of you are interested in hanging out and chatting on Twitch, the handle is ComedyShedRadio.  And I’m learning how to use all this technology shit so, maybe I’ll figure out how to connect our linktree onto the website…or whatever we have going on here.  In any case, later.

I’ve been watching the first season of Arrow again.  It’s been awhile since the last time.  I’d forgotten just how good that first season is.  Sure it has some technical missteps, however, no more than anything else.  And the things it gets right, it gets very right.  Just in this one season, the development of Oliver’s character is remarkable in that it’s more than we, the viewer, expect and it’s not so much that it’s unbelievable.  In the pilot, we’re introduced to Oliver Queen as a grizzled shipwreck survivor, stranded on a not-so-friendly island for five years.  After that we see him effectively in poor health, covered in scars and other damage, a doctor mentions numerous improperly healed fractures to multiple bones, and a marked digression in his emotional response.  Throughout this episode we see flashbacks and hear recounting of his misspent youth.  As a viewer we try to reconcile this image of an irresponsible and reckless child with that of a stoic, penitent man, which becomes simpler as we see his flashbacks to his time on the island.  We see an overprivileged and entitled whelp recognize this and grow in real time.

     There’s a lot to this episode that hit very close to home for me.  My dad died when I was pretty young.  Not so dramatically as depicted in this show but he sacrificed nonetheless.  Regardless of the how, the when, and however prepared you think you are, when you see your dad’s body lying there and you know he’s not getting up.  You know he’s not going to be there for the big events, birthdays, anniversaries, not even for the mundane and day-to-day.  In that moment you know these things and then you remember every morning when you wake up.  That changes you, it can’t not.  And if you think it didn’t or you keep acting like it didn’t you’re not just lying to yourself, you’re dishonoring one of the greater lessons your father should have given you.  In any case, these are the things we should be finding in the art we choose, not boobs…well, not just boobs.  Don’t get me wrong, boobs make everything better but that’s not my point here.  What I am saying is that the series Arrow, in particular this first season is far better a show than it’s given credit.  The season continues we watch as Oliver works to right the wrongs his father committed and while he starts by focusing on just that task, the people he trusts to keep his secret manage to sway him to expand the scope of his mission.  Going from psychopath in a costume to dangerous vigilante, and from time to time, a hero.  When I was a child among my heroes was always Spider-man.  My most favorite thing was the Fox Kids TV show Spider-man.  That’s where I first heard a quotation that has never left my mind.  F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote “Show me a hero and I’ll write you a tragedy.”  I’ve spent my life since then asking myself just how true that is.  Especially with certain things happening now, today, we’re shown all too well how villains visit tragedy on the heads of those around them.  

     My intent here was just to jerk off the first season of Arrow a bit but then stream of consciousness took over and I only really talked about one episode.  Maybe I’ll just do this weekly for each episode for awhile.  That aside, I have some editing to get done.  We just recorded an episode or two for Redstone Diaries last night and I have a few more sessions on the book so, we’re moving forward with our Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying Game.  Stay tuned, because per usual I figured out what to do next in that game after everybody left.  And we learned some things about Denmark.  You won’t want to miss this.

Well the convention is over.  Once again, I’m lacking the will to trudge through the day to day bullshit evaporating my energy and desire for the human race to continue.  The mere act of waking up again a herculean task that inspires no songs or poems.  Anywise, the show was as great as usual.  I picked up a couple handfuls of Lego pieces.  Some Darth Vader figures, in assorted colors, and some Lego Dragon Balls.  Then I grabbed a Tron Light Cycle toy from Tron Legacy and an action figure of Hal Jordan(Parallax) modeled on the design from Zero Hour by Dan Jurgens, which is a beautifully sculpted action figure.  And then I went to the booth of a local nerd company, Friar’s Dice.  They offered a deal where you pay to play a quick 3-4 minute D&D game.  I paid for the $50 option which let you choose two sets of dice randomly through the course of the game.  My first set turned out to be a standard acrylic set, a pearlescent base with red stylized pips, and the higher end set is hollow metal with dragons roiled about the corners and the pips, and painted with gradations of purple throughout.  Pictures below.

     I managed to get to celebrity row long enough to shake hands with Lou Diamond Phillips, and we lamented Stargate Universe not going longer.  I chatted with Fred Tatasciore for a bit about how much I’ve always loved cartoons and such.  Otherwise, I spend the most of my time in panels.  Of course I went to the Twisted Toonz panel on Saturday.  This time the lineup included; Phil Lamarr, Jess Harnell, Fred Tatasciore, Jim Cummings, Khary Payton, and the host Jeff Zannini.  They performed scenes from Toy Story.  I make it to this panel every year but this time I got there a little late.  I showed up to the line a few minutes before the panel was scheduled to start and they were still filing in the crowd.  And they had already started the show.  The programming schedule for these couple blocks was pretty tight.  The following panel was Brandon Sanderson.  You know I’m not a high fantasy type but I was recommended his panel because he tends to put on a good show and it turns out that he does.  More than that, he announced some interesting actions coming for his company.  Dragon Steel is expanding and they’ve grown to the point already of needing a full on facility.  To that point they’re working on getting or have a warehouse now and working on filling a warehouse with their staff and work spaces and such.  Again, I’m not a fan of the genre, myself, but this is inspiring to me.  What with my working to build this thing into something successful, or at least self sustaining.

     For eleven years now this show has been my regular annual vacation.  It’s always been fun, informative, and inspiring.  And who knows, maybe I’ll finally get off my ass and move forward with any of my lifetime long goals that I couldn’t even admit out loud I had that whole time.  I can’t wait until next year.

The first day of FanX came and went.  It was a solid day, though.  First thing, there was a panel on resin casting for cosplay.  Unfortunately the panelists never showed up and it was cancelled but less unfortunately there were seasoned artists in the room who took the opportunity to share their individual experiences working with resin and crafting their cosplays.  They had some good tips.  All in all, a good panel.  Especially with the impromptu organization.

     Then, per usual, I go to all the voice acting panels I can.  There was a panel with more famous performers like, Jess Harnell and Phil Lamar which is primarily fun Q&A conversations.  Which are indeed fun and I enjoy.  However, I tend to prefer more the technical and getting-into-it myself type panels.  To that point, Voice Acting Year One is a regularly occurring panel, this being my second time going to it.  The performers regularly hosting this panel, Stephan Watson, Jenna Caine, and Zack Cipriano are working to expand the reach of this panel and getting it into more conventions.  So, if you see anything about this panel showing up in your local conventions, you can only benefit from these folks coming by and showing you which ropes are worthwhile.

     As I finally write this, I’m about halfway through day two.  I sat through a panel about Twitch streaming, I asked and while the more experienced Twitch streamers had some good tips, we couldn’t figure out conclusively the issue we’ve been having with all that in the Quiet Treats Studio.  Rest assured, I’ll solve this shit…eventually.

     I’m getting ready to head over to the Thelma and Louise panel and I’ll probably stick around there for the Jason Isaacs panel.  I’ve seen his panels once or twice over the years and he’s solidly fun to watch in his spotlight panels.  And looking at my schedule I just realized that Andy Serkis’ panel is later this afternoon.  I’ll most likely wind up going to that one too.  After that just a couple more panels I’m interested in but today has been considerable fun so far and is looking to get even better going forward.

     I guess the last thing to talk about today is that I tried again to make #whereisitpyramid a thing.  I made a new pyramid and wrote the hashtag on the bottom of it, and then last night on my way out of the convention for the night, I stashed it in the edge of a planter just outside the doors.  I haven’t looked yet to see if anyone has caught on yet.  I’m distracting myself until a little later to see if it’s moved.  But knowing how things tend to work out for me, I’ll just end up moving it myself in a little while.  Eh, we’ll see what happens.  EXCELSIOR!

It’s finally time for FanX again!  I’ve been waiting most impatiently for this week since, well, last September.  Unfortunately, though, looks like Dick Van Dyke isn’t making it up here for the convention this time.  I haven’t been able to find anything from FanX announcing that he cancelled but I picked up an article in the New York Post about it.  I’ve been a huge fan of his since before I can remember.  And I mean anything.  My appreciation of Dick Van Dyke predates my sentient cognizance.  It turns out that his sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show, particularly influenced my life immensely especially in my youngest years.  I would watch this show everyday while I was busy not sleeping.  Apart from initiating my overwhelming crush on Mary Tyler Moore this show demonstrated the professional and practical application of writing comedy.  Being drawn to stand up as early as age four, and possibly younger, The Dick Van Dyke Show demonstrated the fun and roundabout professionalism of a writers’ room.  An environment and lifestyle I’ve been looking to incorporate in my life ever since.  Sure, it hasn’t worked out well so far but hey, eventually I’ll get to die.  So, if I don’t get to thank him in person for this, at least I’ve got it down here.  

     And don’t forget that if you didn’t make the ‘mail out’ deadline for your passes, pre-registration is on Wednesday from 10a-6p and registration at the event opens at 11a on Thursday and 8a on Friday and Saturday.  See you at the show!

     We’re still having some trouble moving forward with the podcast right now.  I’m getting back into the habit of recording by myself to keep the curtain up.  My plan is post an episode today.  I do have one episode to post but I’m also thinking I should wait until I have more character creation episodes and I’ll be getting at least one more next week.  I’m just about to the point of abducting my friends and chaining them to the table.  Good news is that I won’t need much length for the chains and I’m pretty sure I can use just one chain and get them all at once…not that I’ve given it much thought.

     I’m looking to challenge myself with the character creation in this new game, Marvel Multiverse Roleplaying Game.  If anyone has recommendations of characters from anything other than Marvel Comics; The Distinguished Competition, TV shows, movies, whatever.  Just e-mail me the name of the character and I’ll work it out to make a character sheet for them.  I’ve always had my go-to in The X-Files and Stargate franchises for inspiration but I’m could always use other sources for interesting analogues for these games.  

     It’s time for me to start getting ready for the week.  I can’t wait to get to the convention, see you all there!