"Anyone.....Anyone....."

RANT ON

Some of you may know already that I have enrolled in ITT Tech.  So far, the entry-level classes I am taking are interesting, if not challenging.

What is getting me is the absolute LACK of activity in many of my associate students.  I have observed that most of these "studying dead" are fresh out of high school.

Without going into too much detail, let's just say that two of my classes require some form of basic creativity in the form of the-answer-isn't-directly-in-the-front-of-your-face-with-a-big-fucking-neon-sign-flashing-rather-you-have-to-think-for-yourself-or-research-the-answer-on-your-own. 

You must understand that, although ITT Tech is cheaper than most colleges/universities around where I am, it still isn't pennies.  These kids are paying tens of thousands of simoleans to go here to stare at the instructor with their mouths open.  I hope they don't get too much into debt and drop out while they still can salvage their credit ratings. 

Oh, well, maybe I am asking too much, but it really SUCKS when I seem to be the ONLY one that can answer any of the instructor's questions when he throws one out to us.  It is getting that the instructor says to the class: "Can anyone ELSE, other than him, answer these questions, guys?  Come on, what are you paying for?"

Okay, RANT OFF.  Back to my "studies...."

Pie Jesu Domine, Dona Eo Requiem

Today, March 4, marks the first anniversary of the death of Ernest Gary Gygax - the founder of modern role-playing games.

Loved his work, or hated it, GG set the initial standard for our favorite hobby. One of the quotations from him that I remember the most was:

"The secret that we should never let the gamemasters know, is that they don't need any rules."

This is something I learned in my early stages of GM'ing. Most good GM's learn this. GG was, I believe, a good GM - the way GM's should treat "their" games.

Many newbie RP'ers don't know who GG was. I found, a few years ago in a comic shop in Simi Valley, California, many kids who were interested in this "3rd Edition D&D" stuff. They didn't know what it was (a few wondered what card sets went with it) or where it came from. It was up to me, and a few others, to edjamacate them.

Because of the demise of The Great GM on this day, several RPG companies and groups have declared this day, March 4, as GM Day. For all of us GM's, this day is for us as well. Many game companies are offering promotions on this day. Check out your favorite company and see what they are offering.

I will sign off now from another quotation from the man who gave us the pastime that will stay with us for the rest of our lives:

"I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else."

And The Winner Is...........A Corpse!!!

I didn't watch the Oscars last night. I just looked in the paper this morning to see who/what won.......

I see that the Late Heath Ledger received the Golden Statue for his work in "The Dark Knight." What kind of crap is this???? HELLO....HE'S DEAD!!!! He has passed on! He has left his life behind! Did I happen to mention that he is dead?

Keep in mind: the Oscar he received wasn't some kind of Lifetime Achievement Award; it was for BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR.

My main problems with wasting an Oscar on Heath Ledger are twofold:

1. Did I mention already that THE ACTOR DIED many moons ago?
2. The Dark Knight did pretty well at the box office and DVD sales. IT DOESN'T NEED PROMOTION!!!

Slumdog Millionaire seems like a good choice for being a multi-statue winner: it looks like a good movie that nobody in the U.S. bothered to see. Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, and Penelope Cruz are excellent choices as well. All three of them have a large corpus laborum consisting of excellent talent and dedication. And, unlke Mr. Ledger, they're STILL ALIVE!!

There are plenty of actors out there that slaved over a hot script last year with comparable bodies of work. Ones who have excellent talent and dedication to their craft. I love this: all of you were passed over by a corpse! I am sure you are all very happy for the rotting carcass and wish it well while it rests 6-feet under...

I am sure all of the African American Special Interest Groups are up in arms right now: no Oscar this year for the token black actor. They've been skunked by a cadaver as well!

Now, if they dug up Heath's body, dragged it up to the podium at the ceremony, and spliced bits of dialogue from his various projects to make his speech and played it over the P.A. system, then it would have been worthwhile to give him the prize (and it would've been pretty cool to watch).......

Update

Well, the show on Feb 14 went very well.  We had a decent turnout and it didn't take too long - even with all of the extra stuff.

Our LAST showing is March 6 at Paul's Italian Villa in Simi Valley.  You can get reservations at the Gypsies' site here.

Hope to seee some of you there!

Well, Here We Go Again...

...with The Pirates of Channel Islands.

This Saturday, Feb 14, we will be doing a private show in Palmdale's Lions Club or something like that. I think we have a show in Simi Valley's Paul's Italian Villa in March. I will keep everyone posted if it is a go.

I hope this next season is better.

What I Am Thankful For This Thanksgiving....

Hmmm....on this American holiday, this will be interesting......

1. I am thankful that my lower intestines never turn inside-out every time I fart.

2. I am thankful for the Pacific Ocean - otherwise it would be too easy for the Indonesians to invade...

3. I am thankful for g-strings.

4. I am thankful for living in a country that allows homebrewing.

5. I am thankful for having the patience to deal with all of the morons that seem to waste my time whenever I am in Camarillo, California.

6. I am thankful for knowing that Ventura County, California is not like Los Angeles County, California - YET!!

7. I am thankful for the fact that, no matter how bad life seems, there are always people in worse shape than me - like government workers.

8. I am thankful for knowing that I don't know everything, but more than most people.

9, I am thankful that life goes on after puberty.

10. I am thankful for knowing who to love, like and ignore.

11. I am thankful for knowing how to read between the lines when a directer takes me out of the room for a private talk.

12. Lastly, I am thankful for all of the wonderful people that are in my life - you know who you are...

It's That Time Of Year Again...

Yes, it's the season. For some, it's the worst day of the year. For others, it is the best.

To the religious nutcases out here: GET OVER IT!!! The only ones who persecute you are yourselves and you are not going to "save" anyone. Yelling religious tracts at the kids is just going to get your house egged badly - by their parents.

To the retards out there: You know whom I mean: the kids who don't even bother to dress up for Halloween but go around asking for candy. If you are of single-digit age, it's not your fault. Blame your parent(s). If you are a teen, go away. You're not being clever.
In my neighborhood, you might even get the cops called you at best, shot at worst. We had an incident where party crashers demanded beer during a bachelor party. They were refused and kicked out. They came back shooting - killing the groom-to-be. We are prepared for you this year: either with a cell phone with a hotkey to the cops, or a gun barrel in your face. In short: dress up and put some effort into the game.

To all the freaks out there who can't leave black cats alone: GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!! It's just a kitty! The cat can't help the color of its fur. It is not the sign of Satan ::tm:: . If anything, YOU ARE! Go sacrifice yourselves and do us all a favor. If you touch any of MY black kitties, well see the previous paragraph of what will probably happen to you.

Well, that covers the important parts, except for one more thing:



HAPPY HALLOWE'EN!!!!!

3 Strikes....

Well, when it comes to the dinner theater show I am doing, The Pirates of Channel Islands, it's been a bummer.

We have had 3 shows canceled so far.  People are pulling their reservations.  The places where we have our shows have a minimum reservation count.  We don't get enough, the show is cut.

Our upcoming schedule is:

Friday, October 24, 2008 – Simi Valley – 8 pm

Saturday, October 25, 2008 – Palmdale – 7:30 pm

Friday, November 7, 2008 – Palmdale – 8 pm

Sunday Champagne Brunch, November 9, 2008 – Simi Valley – 11:30 am

Friday, November 14, 2008 – Simi Valley – 8 pm

Saturday, November 15, 2008 – Palmdale – 7:30 pm

If you have any inkling to see an interactive dinner theater, go to http://www.justmurder.com

Set up a reservation.  The Simi show is at Paul's Italian Villa on Cochran Ave.  The Palmdale show is at the Holiday Inn.  You can get full directions at the website.

Well, I hope that the economy doesn't help kill any more shows...