May 28, 2009

Little Boots: Electro-Pop Gadget Girl - Video - Wired

Little Boots: Electro-Pop Gadget Girl - Video - Wired

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NBC's Chuck is back for a third season

A-Kon 20 May 29 - 31, 2009 Dallas, Texas


A-Kon has shaped up to be quite a display this year with bands, seminars, cosplay, and
celebrities. Unfortunately, the $35 price tag at the door has thrown a spanner in the works,
so I will not be attending. But, that doesn't mean that you can't. My budget rules this household.

Camino will be the headlining act for the Friday night concert with ALSDEAD, the opening act.
Here's a video on Camino's website and this is the MySpace site for ALSDEAD.
I'm a little dissappointed about not being able to go this year, because there will be a first ever
Steampunk Ball put on by the Babbage Patch Kids. I love me some steampunk!

There are some really great seminars this year. From the history of Robotech to how to get into
the different industries. Some of the events on the program will require you to be over 18, so
be sure and bring ID.

So, I guess one question to ask here is, "Does the economy bite into your hobby?" Do you have to
curttail some activities to enjoy others and if so, what goes out the window first? Oh, and if you
get to go, send me photos and I'll post them.

May 27, 2009

Remote-Control Halo Warthog

Very cool post from Fidgit, the Sci-fi Channels games news site. Be forewarned.
It is expressly for adults. Children, do not attempt to play with this toy.

May 15, 2009

ReaperCon VI May 14 - 17, 2009

Again, I almost let an event slide by me unnoticed. If you know nothing of miniatures, as is the case with me, or you love them and want to see more, then ReaperCon VI is the place to be this weekend. Opening day was yesterday but the folks at Reaper Miniatures have something planned for the rest of the weekend. Located on the south side of Denton, Texas, and out in the country is a warehouse filled with fantastical creatures great and small.

I got registered and was told a tour would start in about 10 minutes. I took that time to do a quick walk around the building and check out what was happening. In the store front area there was a game going on of Reaper's Zombie Apocalypse Readiness Plan. Just a little game that was dreamed up to test the readiness of employees in case of all-out zombie war. Lots of painting and classes and , yes, miniatures still being made.

I was so enthralled with the zombie battles that I was a few minutes late joining the tour, but I arrived just in time to see the molds that were used to make the minis. Bryan then took us over to the shop area where the real magic was done. While we watched on, he poured the metal mixture from the vat into the mold centrifuge and within minutes we had miniatures. We learned that it's a secret mixture that is heated to around 750 degrees, yet it cools rather quickly. Quality control inspects them to make sure that employees are up to quota. That quota is around 3000 and only the good ones are counted. If you mess up enough, then you'll be making a lot more than 3000. Once they go through quality control, they are packaged at "the wheel of pain." Bryan says it gets it's name from the fact that you hurt after standing at it all day.

Most of the painting was going on in the paint mixing area towards the front of the warehouse. I was intrigued to find that instead of little ball bearings in the paint to help mix it when you shake the bottle, they use little pewter skulls. Pewter doesn't tarnish and mess up the paint and when you're done with the bottle, you've got a little souvenir.

Upstairs, the guests of honor were teaching people how to perfect their painting or instructing newbies in the basics. I got some great photos and met some really cool people.

They will also be having contests and tournaments, so check into that. The one thing that they do not post on the website or any of the flyers is that it cost $10 to get in. Other than that, people are friendly and willing to help you learn and food is available for purchase. They will all be there until Sunday, so don't waste time.

Also, view the rest of my photos at this link here.

May 8, 2009

Review: Star Trek viewing courtesy of Boomerang Comics

Okay, let me start by stating that I don't normally do reviews. In fact, this is not a review, but an opinion. All opinions are welcome. I've probably seen most, if not all, of the original series. I was in the Navy when "Next Generation" came out and we didn't get much TV in the middle of the ocean. The 12 years that I dj'ed, I didn't watch much TV either. I'm a casual Star Trek fan. I've read some of the books, but not enough to know the entire ST time line.

So, my opinion of the movie is going to differ from the person who has all the series on DVD, read every book, has played the games, and even has a few tribbles running around their house. So, again, if you thought that the writers deviated from the time line or you didn't like the actor choices, that is your opinion. Let me have it. But, please do not put someone down for their opinion or argue with them about why they are so totally stupid for feeling a certain way. That's just impolite and the refuge of the ignorant. Or something like that.

So on with my opinion.

THIS MOVIE WAS FREAKING AWESOME! Okay, no more caps. Like I said, I'm a casual Trekkie. So, it might be pretty easy to impress me. I was a little skeptical with the choices of actors. I'm not too familiar with the them except Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, and Simon Pegg. During the first 30 minutes I still had those reservations but after the story starting revealing itself, I was hooked on them. Karl Urban and Simon Pegg were spot on as Bones and Scotty. In fact, they were probably my favorites.

What helped make those characters so great was the writing. The play between all of the characters was remarkable and made me fall in love with everyone all over again. The relationship between Spock and Uhura was a little strange, but again I'm not fully aware of the history that may have been revealed in print or other sources. But that doesn't mean that I didn't like it. To me, it helped reveal the emotional struggle that Spock was dealing with and I like that.

The cinematography was astounding. The signature J. J. Abrams frantic camera work was not overdone as it has been known to be in other works. The ship-to-ship combat was also incredible, so much so, it actually felt like an old WWII dogfight in spots.

And last but not least. Spock. Nuff said about that.

Here's a link for some great trivia courtesy of IMDB.com. Enjoy.

Please let me know what you thought of the movie. Do you agree with actor choice, or, was the events at the academy a little skewed? Tell me about it. Post them here or email me at agalaxycalleddallas@gmail.com.

Thanks in advance,
James

Star Trek Movie May 8, 2009 with Boomerang Comics

Boomerang Comics is hosting another movie night at Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville. You can purchase tickets at the store for $8.50. It is a little more than the regular tickets, but you get to sit with all the cool people and have a chance at winning prizes. If I'm not mistaken there will be a costume contest and even if that isn't true, you can still dress up. I'm gonna wear my red shirt. (you get that, right?)

May 6, 2009

Wanderings May 6, 2009

A little something from our friends at Critical-Hits.



Head on over to Geeks of Doom for your chance to win an Xbox 360 and Sacred 2: Fallen Angel swag!  All you gotta do is sign-up as an email subscriber and fill out an entry form. If you're already a subscriber then skip right to the form.

SciFi Wire has been extra busy with all sorts of tidbits for you to peruse. I'm just gonna list them by topic and link'em. Enjoy!

First Look at NBC’s Day One - SciFiChick.com

Milo Pokes Fannish Fun with Ultradome - SF Universe
 
Topless Robot - The Punisher Is More of an Insane Clown Posse Fan
Trek Yourself from Topless Robot

More Movies:
Topless Robot - District 9 Is a Nice Place to Visit, But You Wouldn't Want to Live There

Topless Robot - Blood: The Last of About 800 or So Vampires

Topless Robot - An Arkham Asylum Clip That Isn't the Videogame

May 5, 2009

DFW Trekfest May 6th, 2009

Got this information through the Yahoo Groups site Fandom at Random DFW -

DFW Trekfest: The Details
Dallas, Fort Worth, and the surrounding areas are invited to a special one-night only screening of three of Star Trek's most beloved films - Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. All three movies are being shown in a full digital format on the big screen at the historic Uptown Theater in downtown Grand Prairie, TX. The theater also has stadium seating. The event starts at 6PM and ends at 12AM.

Kevin Hosey will be appearing at the DFW Trekfest in Grand Prairie on
May 6 to sign copies of volumes 6 and 8 of the "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds"
anthologies published by Pocket Books.

May 4, 2009

Wanderings

Was tripping around my google reader and came across some wonderful tidbits
for you folks. Dvice which is powered by SciFi posted this late entry into their art
contest. It's the best of two worlds, kinda like chocolate and peanut butter.

The fine people over at Geeks of Doom have found a hitchhiker
on a mission. It would seem that Mathias-Emanuel Hartmann is
thumbing his way to the graveside of Douglas Adams, the man
that warned us to "Don't Panic." Over 1200km, he will attempt
to arrive by May 11th, what would have been Mr. Adam's
57th birthday. And in true fashion, he'll travel with only a coat,
a copy of the "guide" and a towel.


Wolfen Moondaughter, not her given name, has written this in-depth review
of the new Wolverine movie on Pink Raygun. When I say "in-depth", I'm serious.
It's a great read for someone like me who isn't totally up on the Wolverine
background. Lots of great information.

Shaun Clayton waxes comedic about the top 10 most shameful dice
to ever grace a tabletop. Check out the link at Topless Robot and weigh
in on your favorites.

And last, but not least, the website "Looking For Group." I "wasted about
an hour reading the comic and am determined to catch up to the present panel.
Not only is it funny, but it gives me ideas for future characters.

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

May 2, 2009

Artist April Soloman as posted by Orcward

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Trailer

New ‘Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen’ Trailer - Devastator Included!
New ‘Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen’ Trailer - Devastator Included!

Geeks of Doom has Clash of the Titans News

‘Clash Of The Titans’ Begins Production; First Set Photos
‘Clash Of The Titans’ Begins Production; First Set Photos

Free Comic Book Day Highlights

Man, what a day! This was my first Free Comic Book Day experience and I loved it. I live right across the way from Boomerang Comics and so that was my first stop. It was rumored that the Dark Knight and Harley Quinn would make an appearance and they did. Neal Rhone put on a great event with free food from Jimmy John's Sandwiches and face painters. When I arrived there was a line to the door with kids of all ages (we older ones included) and their free comic books. Batman and Harley Quinn mingled with every one and I got a kick out of watching the little ones' faces as they spotted the duo.
After spending a little time dodging the crowd, I headed over to Area 51 in Grapevine. I arrived just in time for the swap meet. Tables out front were lined with miniatures, board games, and role-playing materials from games current and not-so-current. Just inside I met Brian Denham, illustrator of The X-Files comic series and my autographed purchase of the day, Iron Man: Hypervelocity. A very amiable guy, we conversed for about 15 or 20 minutes about comics, weather, and just general stuff. I explained to him that I'm having to reacquaint myself with comics after a 20 year absense, thus the lack of knowledge of current comic affairs. He had some great stuff for sale and was at the moment working on an ink sketch of Wolverine in his mask and outfit. One piece of note was his "President Evil" cover. I didn't realize that there were only 50 copies otherwise I would have bought one.

Moving on to the back of the store, the gaming tables were in motion. An D&D 4e session was going on and hopefully later on this week, I'll sit in with them and learn the new rules. One table had two young gentlemen, 9 and 11 years old, going head-to-head in a match of Axis & Allies Naval Miniatures: War At Sea. It ended in all ships being sunk, but both young men were still wearing big smiles and ready to play again. The next table had a WWII play surface that had some very realistic affects. My photos do not do it justice. The folks at Area 51, employees and customers, are very friendly and always look to help you either in a purchase or understanding a game.

As I said at the beginning, the day was a blast. The timing was perfect too, because later in the day, it stormed till late evening. Click here to go to see other photos and click here to see all the links for everyone I met.

Let me hear how your day went. I'd love to hear from you.

X-men Origins: Wolverine Event with Boomerang Comics

Well, a great time was had by all. I have to give a big attaboy to Neal Rhone over at Boomerang for a fun event. If you missed it, there will be other movies and other opportunities. Neal will often rent out a theater at the Lewisville Studio Movie Grill and then you purchase tickets through him. About thirty minutes before the event he'll have trivia contests, costume contests, or giveaways so you get your moneys worth.

Friday night was the opening weekend showing of X-men Origins: Wolverine and my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We got there about forty minutes before the movie and most of the seats were already taken. We found a place to sit and ordered food and drinks. I got a chance to listen to conversations around me and now have new topics to research for future posts. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring flyers and business cards but I won't next week when we go see Star Trek. You think after 20 years of promotions and marketing I would bring my "A" game.

Neal offered up some trivia questions for some great swag, but it seems that the hardcore Wolverine fans either were not there or the questions were just super-duper tough. Fortunately, the answers were close enough to get winners. Next week at the Star Trek show there will be a costume contest, so get your gear together. I'm just gonna wear a red shirt. Nuff said.

I'll be honest with you, I don't do reviews. I don't usually listen to other people's reviews. I don't care to hear what some stuffed shirt has to say about a genre of movie that he doesn't like in the first place, and people don't want to hear my opinion about a movie either. I've heard so many people who thought the writing stunk, or the effects were not up to par and on that I can agree to a certain extent. But, on a whole, the movie was great. I'm not a Wolverine historian and to those who aren't either, well, I think that you will enjoy very well.

If you got a chance to attend the Boomerang event, tell me what you thought about it, and if you saw the movie, give me your take on that. Later, James.

May 1, 2009

Wolverine Movie Night with Boomerang Comics

Boomerang Comics |

Wolverine Movie Night!

Please join us for our next movie night, Wolverine, on opening night May 1 Friday night! Purchase tickets now in the store. Show time is 7:30pm. Our theater will open at early, so plan accordingly for best seats. Tickets are $8.50

Free Comic Book Day May 2, 2009

It's almost here! Tomorrow! Free Comic Book Day! Check out these local favorites for a free comic books. Some conditions apply so contact them to find out.


Boomerang Comics | News
Stop in this Saturday, May 2nd and pick up some great free comics! Besides thousands of comics, we will have free food from Jimmy John's Sandwiches, super hero face painting by local artist Marty Longoria, sale on graphic novels, t-shirts & board games, and a vist from the Dark Knight (from 11-1pm)!


Area-51 Games and Collectibles • View topic - FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!!! - MAY 2nd -
EVENTS SCHEDULE

10:00am – Opening Celebration with a Free Donut and coffee for the first 100 customers.
11:00am – Artist Brian Denham (X-Files) will begin signing autographs and selling art.
12:00pm – Gaming Swap Meet Begins – Think organized garage sale with games new and old.
(Take a walk down to the Back Porch Tavern for the best lunch in Grapevine!)
2:00pm - Free cake & first raffle drawing including gift certificates, figures & more!
6:00pm - Final raffle drawing for limited edition Star Wars statue and other prizes!