"Imagine he was me, and I was called - Frankenstein!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAXLlaW_4cM

Hunting high and low

So SC has me playing the "free" web-based Flash game "Card Hunter" (www.cardhunter.com). It roughly equates to old-school "Dungeons & Dragons" meets "Advance Wars" by way of "Magic: The Gathering", i.e. dungeoneering rendered as 3D-ish turn-based combat where the available actions are the cards in your hand (from each character's deck). Don't worry, it works - after an intimidating intro, you're allowed to assemble a party from scratch and the clever control method soon becomes second nature. In the past few hours, my band of elves (all named after types of moss) have been rapidly clearing lairs, filling in the world map, blinging out their adventuring gear and upping stats. The looming question is how far I'll be able to progress without investing real money - and whether, when I reach that point, doing so will seem like a fair deal. "Card Hunter" gets a tentative 7/10 for now. It's definitely worth a look, for the retro art and deliberately dweeby humour alone.

The Ender - or is it?

Just printed and signed the confidentiality agreement required to gain access to the 10am preview of "Ender's Game". I love the novel, which was introduced to me by BP back when we were teenagers (I later passed it on to Dad and sister AC). I've read at least 10 of the related books and always enjoy the long discussions of strategy, tactics and ethical dilemmas. But I must admit I'm worried that this thoughtful aspect of "E/G" will be lost in the Hollywood-isation, in favour of CGI action. It's also troubling that author Orson Scott Card, who writes such reasonable discourses, should be opposed to marriage equality. Then there's the problem of how to cram history, admiration, misgivings and a plot synopsis into a 150-word online review!

Quit yer bellyachin', tauntaun!

Today, I did my first shift on my 10th magazine* in my 14-year career in professional publishing. It's still fun and I still care.

But then I got over-excited and scoffed a sub, cookies and juice in 25 seconds, so I'm stuck listening to gurgles of complaint.

*Not counting spin-offs

I be trippin'

After securing a ticket to UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Bigfoot in December, I've now booked my flights [gulp] and accommodation. Gonna spend an extra couple of days in Brissie either side of the event, to attend the weigh-ins, catch up with EM and family, and see the Cai Guo-Qiang exhibition at the Gallery Of Modern Art. Looking forward to sinking bulk piss (well, what else would you call XXXX?) and witnessing some memorable scraps with MR and a mate of his from Melbourne.

Ellie Arroway forever

http://vimeo.com/70554007

"Beyond The Visible: The Story Of The Very Large Array"

The selling point of this doco is Jodie Foster's narration, which is great. But for me, its real strengths are the compleat picture it paints of the Karl G. Jansky VLA in Socorro County, New Mexico, and the stunning footage, much of it behind the scenes. It's so worth 25 minutes of your existence. The ending is beautiful - you'll feel your wings unfurling and your spirit taking flight. I busted out some beers and watched the whole vid three times.

Speaking of science, I'm excited about upcoming Sydney Theatre Co. production "Vere", by John "Roy Slaven" Doyle. From what I gather, it's an exploration of mortality and unconditional love set against the backdrop of the search for the Higgs boson, perhaps treading similar reason vs. faith ground as the recent "Freud's Last Session". Given that my favourite plays are Michael Frayn's "Copenhagen" and David Auburn's "Proof", I have high hopes.

Quick recap

Module #1 was about a cinema opening gone cinematically wrong due to the owner screening an old B&W reel film which had, unbeknownst to anyone, been imbued with chaotic magical properties by its faerie leading lady.

Module #2 concerned a secret cult of neo-pagans (with government connections) attempting to summon a monster to a North Sea oil rig using artefacts that included a bone knife, an iron crown and a sunken Viking longship!

How YOU doin'?

A very DGN-y long weekend approaches... (Sydcon will be with TC and LPO)

Tonight, with AZ