Ovda Wi'ik

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Fernando Blanco. How moody and brooding is this image? Growing up, a pal had two siblings around his age and three who were much younger. Once, the young'uns ran away from home together, leaving items on a local beach to create a nasty false impression. They were soon found and I never heard of any further attempts at flight. Just a crazy childhood notion.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Mindwanderer" by Italian metallurgists Konquest. 

Te-RIFF-ic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ-og6BpRqA

Commended >>> "Crater" by US alt-rock legends Sparta (who I was introduced to many years ago by LA, RIP), "Ida" by Dutch pianist Joep Beving, and the cover of Joy Division's "Transmission" by the father'n'son from "Bob's Burgers".

BEER OF THE WEEK

Strong but balanced. Really nice flavour. The grassiness is offset with...a hint of fruit? Ambrosia? E.T.'s weewee?

NEW (TO ME) PODCAST OF THE WEEK

True crime viewed from within a fam, and with a lot of reflection on immigrant experiences. So uniquely weird and considerately told, I had to binge all five episodes.

Blurb:

"For decades, M. simply disliked [their cousin] Allen. They saw him as a fool, a pompous 'international businessman' who bragged about shady deals and drove fancy cars while living in Eastern Europe and Africa. But one day Allen suddenly shows up at their father’s home in Cape Cod with his mother and five-year-old son. He says he has separated from his wife, whom he has left behind in Moscow. M. suspects this could be a kidnapping, but their family seems to disagree. Then, finally, Allen does something so bad that even M.’s family can’t ignore it." 

Awkward orchid, tingly bunny

Played "Gloomhaven" with the lads. The scenario was an escort mission, featuring a plant-man NPC designed to run into trouble. If he'd died, we'd have instantly failed. That almost happened at the very start, then we healed the foolhardy bugger up and kept him safe until the boss monster in the final room of the "dungeon" (actually a series of forest groves) was slain. A fun challenge.

Digital sport declined

A mate was telling me how he used to compete against his father at "Tetris". It made me envious - even the part about his dad's masterful trash talk.

The only videogame I ever got my own father to play was golf title "Leader Board" on the Commodore 64. Thanks to a lifelong passion for the real game, his club selection and shot direction/strength were spot on, to the point where his involvement felt like a cheat code.

Alas, after a single spirited session, he declared, "Nah, I'll get too addicted to this," walked away and never played it - or any other videogame - again.

--

Viewing: "Wheeler Dealers - World Tour" S2, "Ancient Justice" (history), "Truthseekers" (also history).

Stay in your space lane

After enjoying the audiobook of Matt Dinniman's "Dungeon Crawler Carl" novel so much, I had to buy TTRPG "Xcrawl Classics", which is thematically v. similar. I had to buy it all.

While we're on the topic, here's a list of things that sprang to mind while I was listening to "D/C/Carl". Why? Because I like making lists. One or two inclusions may surprise you.

* "The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy"

* "Solo Leveling"

* The Denis Leary song "Asshole" (mainly due to the narrator's delivery of the darkly humorous portions)

* "Mad" magazine (or perhaps downmarket imitator "Cracked" would be more appropriate)

* Something with sassy talking animals in a swords'n'sorcery milieu - "Spellsinger"?

* "Beavis & Butthead", AND

* Fan fiction.

"Doctor Who And The One With The Maggots"

Whenever I see a person wearing a heavy-metal shirt, the headbanger in me has to take a closer look. Going up the road for sushi just now, there was a chick at the opposite end of the carpark sporting an obvious metal tee. Except...when we passed each other, the stylised logo said "GANDALF" and the picture was of the famous wiz looking like a badass. Well played, madam.

Dwarves and halflings be listening at doors

(OSR role-playing reference. Not a slight on those of shorter stature.)

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Dan Panosian. Am waiting for my pre-ordered copy to land in the mailbox.

SONG OF THE WEEK

"Resonant Strings" by Morfonica (Japan). Tops track. Bonus: Violinist is a cutie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8XFRxh0TeA

LARGELY WASTED EFFORT

Some hypocrisy highlighted, but LT won't be changing any minds.

SATURDAY NOSTALGIA HIT

I was reminded how technically well written these ripping yarns are.

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