Winning at losing

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

Conan's pirate pal Valeria by Nick Marinkovich. Intense gaze! You can imagine the rest of her outfit from just the headband and puffy sleeve. Clever. He *almost* overdid the hair with that signature, though.

SONGS OF THE WEEK

* "Fever Dream" by RinRin (Australia)

* "Vagabond" by Malte Ebert & Mumle (Denmark)

* "Pole Position" main theme remix by Reborn Synth (Germany) - this one's actually two months old. Earworm warning!!!

* "All Blue" by Hiss from Beatpella House (South Korea)

* "Stranger" by Uranus x Jossey (Mongolia)

* "Africa" cover by VoicePlay (US)

* "Amanat" by Ay Yola (Russia)

* "Give Me Something" by Vulfpeck (US)

* "The Moon" by Yagoda (Russia)

* "All That We Perceive" by Thievery Corporation (US) - new clip for a 2003 track, which is sufficient reason for me to include it.

RANDOM TRPG REMINISCENCE OF THE WEEK

I reckon it was Nucon 91 where I played in one of a fella named Greg Rickards' wonderful "Saga Of Raven's Nest" games (not to be confused with the RPGA Network's Ravens Bluff site). Picture a detailed diorama of a Medieval-fantasy town plus surrounding areas, populated with painted miniatures...one of which you are controlling, using a rules system of GR's devising. Meanwhile, a bunch of other peeps are doing likewise. While I can't recount the plot at this remove*, I recall the feeling that SO MUCH was happening, with various little groups pursuing their own agendas - and co-operating and coming into conflict - across the bespoke landscape. Minis were constantly in motion. I can't say if my team-mates and I were successful in our aims. I can say we had some unique fun.

*Was I a guard defending the settlement?

BEER OF THE WEEK

Splendidly average :-) 

SNACKS OF THE WEEK

Thanks to sister AK for these.

Where's theirs?

The latest "Doctor Who Magazine" has an amazing 27-page interview with actress Anneke Wills (Polly). It just keeps going - I felt like I was reading "The Comics Journal". Fortunately, her life has been full and her opinions are strong, so it's a fascinating journey.

RIP, Angry Anderson. Saw Rose Tattoo live more than once, but the time which sticks in my mind is when they supported Motorhead. Geez, he went hard. Also, no Aussie over a certain age could forget his role as Ironbar in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome".

Talking old flicks, I rewatched "Gremlins 2: The New Batch". Such a cartoon. 0% believable, 100% nonstop chaos. I think I appreciate it more now than I did at the cinema - with JH and co.? - in 1990, mainly for the sheer amount of satire they crammed into the thing.

Backed this handcrafted fairytale setting for 5E (and the like) on Kickstarter. After I'd resisted the charms of "Land Of Eem" and "Dolmenwood", "The Hazelands" struck a kooky chord. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tinefieldling/the-hazelands-setting-guide

Purple flowers

On today's "University Challenge", the Queen's Belfast team had three American members and one Irish, while their opponents Southampton also sported an American. Nothing against Yank quizzers - Brandon Blackwell (2019-20) is one of the best players EVER to appear on the show - I'm merely observing that they are becoming increasingly prevalent. Anyhoo...the Qs on "Star Wars" planets were a gift. I managed to answer 16 right before the contestants.

Couldn't last 16 minutes watching the new "Golden Axe" cartoon. Painfully unfunny. Waste of a licence. Whoever decided to make it an adult comedy (both terms used loosely) is a fool.

CURRENT PIXEL READING

CURRENT PIXEL REARRANGING

"Scriver" [Steam]. Smashed it first go tonight. Sure, there are higher levels/additional challenges available, but it was so easy I'm already worried there won't be much replayablity.

May as well finish the bottle

There was one Knights flag in our street prior to the men's team's upset win in Auckland on Sunday. Now, there are three flying outside different houses. Doubt we'll defeat the Panthers, but no harm in dreaming.

Pod rec! Experts, not adverts. Extensive back catalogue. So far, I've listened to episodes about gut bacteria, language acquisition and modern cities.

RS2 and I rewatched the Director's Cut of this. Totally holds up. Even the 1982 computer displays. Shame Kirstie Alley didn't return as Saavik.

Enter the prize

It's hot here and there's been smoke in the air all day, like bushfire season has come early. Bloody hope not. 

Netflix's portrait of the infamous Oz breakdancer tells you everything you need to know in 1h12m. Most importantly that: 1. R. and her hubby/coach/#1 fan deluded themselves into believing *that* routine might tickle the fancy of at least one judge (I think they're still slightly deluded about it), 2. There's no substance to the rumours of favouritism or foul play in her Olympic qualification, AND 3. She's a nice enough sort, just quirky and somewhat naive. I wish her well.

Did you catch King Casey's cinematic armbar submission at UFC 331? Check out her eyes in the slo-mo replay - deadly focus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxuKT_J2f64

Tea and anchovy toast

What a disappointment after the first Eleven/Eleanor collection. No shade on Miles Taylor or Jasmine Bayes, who I want to hear engaging in intriguing, exciting adventures. Sadly, what "H/I/P/S" offers is lame conspiracy, tedious treading water and an unwelcome unreality scenario. Spoiler warning for the next bit... I couldn't care less about the Judoon, Slitheen, the Shadow Proclamation or Lake Silencio! Bundle them together in such a convoluted way and you're bordering on fanwank. There are too many annoying alien voices and, for that matter, too many minor characters played by Nick Briggs. He's a multi-talented fellow and I do like him, but he's instantly recognisable - it takes you out of the tale.

Definitely less of a disappointment is Prog 2500 of Brit institution "2000AD", which will turn 50 next February. While the cover's nothing special, the book size has been upped to accommodate seven yarns, each of which is either a Part 1 or a standalone. Two are very good, two are good, two are middling and one gets an N/A because pages of text, even with illos in the borders, have no place in comics (look at how they ruined the "X-Men" titles). Can't complain about that strike rate for the money. There's also heaps of variety in the writing and art styles, as you'd want in a milestone anthology like this. A proper dose of Thrill Power!

At each other's Throaties

COMIC COVER OF THE WEEK

By Mattia Monaco. Bananas.

SONGS OF THE WEEK

* "Woof" by Esme Emerson (UK)

* "The Return" by Q-Tip & MC Lyte feat. Mos Def (US)

* "Mogo" by Fatoumata Diawara (Mali-France).

RANDOM TRPG REMINISCENCE OF THE WEEK

Have I mentioned the haunted-house convention module with a GM who seemed to believe it was his duty to frustrate our every move? I'm talking: monster appears, hits PC, disappears, no chance to interact with in any way. One mate walked out of the session, went and listened to a rugby-league game on his car radio.

CURRENT PIXEL READING (iPad)