For old times, slake

The majority of traffic to this site comes from:

1. The USA
2. Australia
3. Russia
4. The Netherlands
5. Germany

The keywords that most commonly lead people here are:

1. Some combination of "dork"/"geek"/"nerd"
2. "Chess wrestling"
3. "Olivia Munn Freckles"
4. "The Swarm Complete Sea Pet Kit"
5. "Aether Kavass"

It won't stop raining.

Nostaglia trap

At Mum and Dad's joint, I gathered branches and twigs, shovelled grass clippings and swept leaves until the green bin was full and I'd worked up an honest sweat. Then I swam in their oversized pool. Did underwater laps 'til I was puffing and my arms were tired. Floated on my back, watching the clouds coalesce and the gum tops dance. It was one of those moments of rare peace that makes you question your path in life. "Why can't it always be this way?"

Arrived halfway thru a DWCA meeting codenamed "Glitter Gun". Caught the highlights of Colin Baker's stint on Series 12 of "I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!". Big fella came across as extremely likeable. Revisited parts three and four of "Revenge Of The Cybermen", and the fab-tastic "More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS" doco. Attendees were polled regarding Christmas special. Scored a door prize and gave it to a kid. Semi-pished, set off in search of sushi.

Will be too busy to blerg during the week, so I'll tell youse in advance that MR and I are going to Mundine vs. Geale 2 @ the SEC on Wed. (If you aren't aware, the five-fight card also features Kimbo Slice.) "Peep Show" returns to ABC2 on Thurs. DL tried valiantly to organise a poker tournament for Fri, but that's been postponed indefinitely. May catch up with PB and/or SL and/or HB on Sat. for pubversation - unless, that is, I'm struggling to meet my Mon. deadline.


TV: "T/U/F/17"
iPad: "Punch Quest"

Irrelegant

Since last we spoke... Ate a Coat Of Arms Burger @ Grill'd. Kang-emu pattie, thyme mayo, beetroot, quandongs, goat's cheese, caramelised onion, lettuce, tomato, and bush-tomato relish. Described it to a friend as "rich, smelly, messy, filling". Found myself walking out of my FLGS with the new "Star Wars: Edge Of The Empire - Beginner Game" box set. Attractively presented and v. user friendly. Attended a "Dead Space 3" preview event, where we were given a pep talk by the producer then permitted to play through the first three hours of the game. More than anything, I was won over by the strength of the sci-fi storyline. Was drinking in our local when Bam Margera and his band staggered in, lugging armfuls of "P" mags, and were ushered into an upstairs area. To be honest, I didn't recognise them and wondered if it was a photo shoot. Turns out they'd just been causing havoc - and leaving traces of bodily waste - in the offices of "People" and "The Picture". The farewell episodes of "Attack Of The Show!" and "X Play" made me sad. Fuck you, G4. On t'other hand, delving into PS3 JRPG "Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch" has filled me with joy and wonder. Studio Ghibli animation + Joe Hisaishi music! You knew I'd be in the audience for Neil Gaiman @ City Recital Hall. He read the opening chapters of "The Ocean At The End Of The Lane" (out June), which we were also gifted as a booklet. It was enchanting and funny and mysterious and had that mythic essence that is his trademark. There was an intermission. String quartet FourPlay did their string thing, throwing in the "Doctor Who" theme as a fan-pleaser. They then accompanied NG as he sung the ballad from "Fireball XL5". We got a world-exclusive extract from tall tale for kids "Fortunately, The Milk" (out October). A Q&A session occurred. Then Neil read an Australia Day poem - white settlement, extinction of megafauna, our own impermanence - to close proceedings.


Classic "D&D" gear is available again (ta, SC) - www.dndclassics.com

Anyone but the Patriots

Dinner with the Ks on Friday. Pork and wild mushroom sausages FTW. How cute is "The Lorax"? Thought my assistance might be required in Newcastle on Saturday, but next w/e suits my oldies better. So I dropped in at "Magic" tourney GP Sydney @ D/H Convention Centre, just for the artist signings. Had cards autographed by dreadlocked Frenchman Aleksi Briclot and spiky-haired Aussie Adam Paquette. Couldn't resist a print of Vraska, The Unseen. AB kindly threw in another, of a cyber-chick against a Paris skyline. Saw a car accident (no-one hurt), then saw "The Hobbit" @ Event Cinemas. Was shocked at the liberties taken by PJ...yet somehow it remained true to Tolkien's universe. I'll spare you my minor quibbles. On the whole, it was glorious. Popular Korean chain Kofoo has opened a restaurant here. Speaking of new stores, a dessert cafe/stationers gets my vote for weirdest combo. Went home to the Big Bash final and Liverpool's 5-0 frolic in the snow. Today was consumed by UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Bisping, beamed live from Sao Paulo and marred by mismatches/questionable calls. From the opening bout on Facebook at 9.35am to the end of the post-fight show on FUEL TV at 4pm, housework and work work went on hold. It's OK, I'm slowly getting there...


TV: "Magic Of Science" is kinda lame, but I'm watching it anyway.
CD: Eight-tracker "Lost Sirens" (2013) by New Order.
iPad: A little of "Joe Danger Touch" and "Zork: The Undiscovered Underground" (an unfamiliar gem in "The Lost Treasures Of Infocom").

Yes, sensei

Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen describing his original idea for "The Karate Kid, Part III" to Craveonline.com last October: "I wanted to have them flash back to 16th-century China and do a historical flying people movie. I wanted to do a Hong Kong kung-fu movie... As Mr Miyagi tells Daniel in the first movie...the first Miyagi was a fisherman, he got drunk and he fell asleep and his boat drifted to China and he spent 10 years there and learned karate... I was going to tell the saga in reverse. Daniel and Mr Miyagi are in a boat. It all happens when Daniel gets hit on the head and he has a dream. He’s in a coma or something... It docks and Mr Miyagi and Daniel follow the first Miyagi ancestor into China."

As RMK points out, this concept was too radical for Hollywood in 1989, 11 years before "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" showed that a wuxia film can have international appeal.

Only Osiris can judge me

Bloody good Sunday... Grilled scallop sushi and unaju lunchbox @ Zen. A post-event fave among some uni groups, it offers quality at a reasonable cost. Proper strawberry tart (covered in fresh strawbs) @ The Sweet Spot. Sydney FC vs. Melbourne Heart @ Allianz with RS, CM and AM. What a thriller! Down 1-0, the bottom-of-the-table "Sky Blues" equalised in the 85th minute and stole the win in the 93rd. Tenpin and drunken dancing @ AMF. Bowling shoes are the business.

iPad: "GoatUp", "Super Ox Wars" and the rest of the Llamasoft titles.

Arse out of neutral

Editor! The meteoric rise took me a mere 13 years in professional publishing, plus a couple mucking about with the uni paper, street press and fanzines. While I could write and sub an entire issue of the mag without difficulty, I've still got more to learn about the administration side of things. Doing that and dealing with the large amount of internal/industry/freelancer/PR person/reader correspondence occupied the majority of my initial 60-hour working week. It appears this is a gig you have to *live*.


TV: "Nigellissima", "This Is Jinsy", "Britain's Hidden Heritage".
CDs: "Essential Oils" (2012) by Midnight Oil, Big Finish #119 "The Key 2 Time - The Chaos Pool".


If you ain't tried those Lipton Ice Tea mocktails yet, only the mojito is anything out of the ordinary.


Sweet victory, Alabama.


Do you prefer the new Suede or the new Bowie?

Ho-hum

Had a stickybeak at the giant yellow duck presently berthed at Darling Harbour. Almost blew a JB Hi-Fi voucher on a Blu-ray copy of "Avengers" (decided to wait for a sale). Was underwhelmed by the Aust. Museum's oversubscribed "Alexander The Great: 2000 Years Of Treasures" exhibition, which skirted rather than skewered its subject.


TV: "Charlie Brooker's 2012 Wipe"

iPad: "Magic 2013"

The rail goes ever on

To Novocastria, to hopefully make myself useful around my parents' place afore work resumes on Monday.


TV: Six eps in, Season 1 of "Sons Of Anarchy" is quite compelling.

iPad: Five-starred every city in "Textropolis". Now onto "Dungeon Story"...

We watched "Wreck-It Ralph"...

PRESENTATION: 100%. Preceded by the short, stylish, sweet-as-can-be animation "Paperman", this is Disney in top form.

GRAPHICS: 97%. Gobsmacking. However, less of the "Sugar Rush" world would have allowed for that teensy bit more variety.

SOUND: 89%. While you're not likely to jump online and buy the OST, the songs and effects are perfectly suited to the rest.

HOOKABILITY: 92%/72%. Veteran gamers will be in reference heaven. / Younglings will still appreciate the plot.

LASTABILITY: 90%. Li'l background details to reward multiple viewings, and the DVD extras are sure to be awesome.

VALUE FOR MONEY: 85%. Though it's no Peter Jackson epic, you'll be smiling from beginning of bonus 'toon to end of credits.


OVERALL: 91%. The makers clearly love and understand videogames. Terrific voice acting. Scrumptious visuals.

[GOLD MEDAL]

Operation: Capital Gains

Cairn burial (30/12)

The papers. Royal Australian Mint and New Parliament House. Crowne Plaza. Left thumb up for beef and wasabi rice crackers. Right thumb up for the "Ultimate Punching" episode of "The Simpsons". Stealth pun.

Smoked class (31/12)

Caramel Fudge Moove. Reds and Colts victorious. "Toulouse-Lautrec: Paris And The Moulin Rouge" @ NGA - bloke was impossibly talented, admirably subversive. Impact Comics is superior to its Sydney rivals. Australian War Memorial. Room service. Pyrotechnics.

Return journeying (01/13)

"Viz" and "SciFiNow". Delayed viewing of UFC 155. "WOPR" on iPad.


TV: "Ade In Britain" (2011) - mellow travel/cooking program starring Adrian Edmondson.