Harder to Say than it is to Play

Man, I'm on a roll! 3 or 4 posts in how many days? ...I guess I really am back for now!

I realized today that I haven't been very thorough in my discussion of gaming. I've managed to talk about D&D, and video games. The end.

Or is it??

Board games! How could I forget?! I totally grew up playing board games (rather than video games, honestly), but I'm ashamed to admit I've neglected them in the last few years. Fortunately my ol' college advisor (old college, not old advisor; although he did have a birthday yesterday...so maybe old. Haha!) reminded me the joy of board games last weekend. 'twas awesome. He and his lady have always had an impression collection of offbeat board games, and I've been inspired to share two of the best:

Car-casserole-oni?

This was the game we played last weekend that reminded me that board games rock. The rules were totally overwhelming at the start, but really it's super simplistic and awesome. Tile-based, board-buildin', turn-takin' goodness. Despite our complete clueless-ness, the Fiance and I managed to get first and second place (respectively), proving that anyone has a chance of success. Although I do have a theory that beginner's luck is just due to the veterans spending more time focused on teaching the noobs correctly than they are focused on winning.

Emphasis on "Stab Your Buddy"

Some of the wildest and craziest nights of my college experience were a direct result of playing this game. Particularly a victory with the Divine Intervention card that allows victor to mock his opponents relentlessly, and was carried out in such a way as to provide nightmare fuel for weeks...nay, years. Anywho, this is a card game that really has three components - fighting monsters, looting rooms, and stabbing your buddy. What's not to like? There is a board game version, which albeit not as good as the card game, it's better than no Munchkin. And there are like a dozen different versions and expansion packs, so it just keeps getting better. The artwork (see above) is super great, and the cards are all hilarious (including a pair of Boots of Butt-Kicking, complete with spikes affixed to the toes).

I'll think of more, and there are certainly plenty of others- including some classics. But for now that should be sufficient.

Game on!

Weekend Update

Three day weekends are my favorite. You get all the same days for mayhem as with regular weekends but it has a built in recovery/lazy day. Win!

Yesterday was all sorts of mayhem, so today was dedicated for R&R-- played some video games and caught up on some Doctor Who. We finally met River Song today which was very exciting. I swear learning about this show via pinterest and seeing all the spoilers without any context kind of makes River super relateable. I like her!

In other news, yesterday's mayhem included my first invitation to an academic party. Its been two years since I left so it was quite a surprise and compliment to be included. I mean, my department had always been very friendly but to actually qualify as a (social, not necessarily intellectual) peer was awesome. The timing made it even better- last night I also had plans to go to a 90s themed party...so naturally I ended up going to the academic party dressed in grunge. I can't begin to tell you how much I felt like a walking cliche-- the philosophy graduate at a party with her professors dressed in flannel and doc martens. Honestly it was awesome.

Even better, the party was actually to watch a puppet show. (I swear. I couldn't make this stuff up.) The host's friend is a professional puppeteer and performed for us a classic Italian puppet show, "Puncinello." You know, the one with the wooden puppets that hit each other with sticks? That one. So there I was dressed "in costume" (although I would wear that attire all the time if I could), surrounded by professors watching puppets beat each other up (it was hilarious by the way)...my life is ridiculous sometimes but I love it.

The Walking Contradiction

"Uh-oh, the power just went out for the whole block. That's weird..."
"I hate to break it to you, but it's probably zombies."

Yup. It's about time I discuss the undead elephant in the room -- zombies.

I've decided that zombies are a unique...beast. I once decided to a mini-research project on the history of zombies, but I'm not going to redo that here. But if you're interested, it's worth looking up. It was some pretty fascinating stuff...

I would also be tempted to provide a list of my favorite zombies of pop culture, but frankly my friends all surpass my knowledge and enthusiasm so my list would be rather embarrassing. For example, my favorite zombie movie is Zombieland, and I really really don't like The Walking Dead tv show (love the first three comic trades though). So I'm not going to pretend I know a thing about which zombies are best. But it did get me thinking -- in regards to my zombie-enthusiastic friends, I wonder if they actually wish it was a part of reality the way I wish I had gotten my acceptance letter to Hogwarts at 11. Not passing judgement, but it's kind of a funny thought - since for me at least, zombies are realm of fandom that make me actually grateful that it's not real.

Also, in thinking about the range of zombie qualities and their presentation, I discovered they really do possess quite the collection of contradictions or dualities. I suppose most things in life could have the same said about them, but that is not the point. Today it's zombies.

So yeah, we've established that people either (not so) secretly wish for the zombie apocalypse and probably consider Zombieland more of a study guide than source of entertainment, or there are those that if given the choice between real zombies or mandatory dentist appointment everyday for the rest of your life -- yeah, I'ma go with dentist.

In there presentation, it's kind of interesting to me that in most zombie movies/shows/comics/games it's either all about the zombies or not about the zombies at all. And even then if it's "about them" it's not really about them... I realize at first glance that probably doesn't sound right, but I'm still convinced it's true. Let me explain... on the one hand, you have zombies as a means to illustrate a social construct (e.g. "our dependence on technology has like turned us into zombies, dude") or to show how people -- the survivors -- relate to each other in a very controlled environment hypothesized by the writer (which is what puts most zombie stories in that dystopian genre). Even though the story or whatever is largely about zombies (it would be weird to call, for example, The Walking Dead, a survival story. It only makes sense as a "zombie story") but then again, it's really not about the zombies at all. Its about the choices those who experience them have to make to survive.

On the other hand, often times the zombies are entirely the focal point and it's not about the survivors at all. And these stories again use zombies to achieve another purpose -- gore and violence. Whether you like it or not (whether it's even really okay to "like" gore...which would be another topic of discussion), zombies are a vehicle for violence. So once again it's never really about the zombies in this case either, other than to pose the question "how many can I take out with this here chainsaw, eh?"

I think the only exception to these two presentations is probably the book Warm Bodies (for the record, the movie is just "eh". although I love About a Boy, so I'm glad to see that kid is back to work, and lookin' good if I do say so myself!). It doesn't focus too much on the survival of the non-zombies, and it doesn't focus on the destruction of the zombies just for the sake of it either. It's the exception that makes the rule, and I really enjoyed it. It's humorous at times, and full of existential goodness. Haha. (Apparently it's also based on Romeo & Juliet. I suppose this should have been super obvious when I read it, but I didn't pick up on it, and it didn't make a difference to me even after I found out. But I thought you should get a heads up.)

The only other exception I can think of right now, would be World War Z. I can't speak of the movie, since honestly the trailer looks like crap -- like they spent half the budget on Brad Pitt and said "eff it" in regards to decent CGI... anywho...I'm reading the book right now and it's pretty decent. The presentation is really unique, and super convincing. And again, from what I can tell it doesn't fall in either camp too strictly. Although I suppose it would be mostly about the survivors, but it's told as a 'history' of sorts so for some reason it makes it seem just a bit different than following along with a cast of characters trying to survive to the end. I dunno. I'll report back when/if I finish it (if you haven't noticed already, I'm notorious for not finishing anything, and I'm also currently reading Red Mars, which is super-fantastic.)

So where was I? Oh yeah, zombies. Duh... I think that's it for my thoughts on them. I realize it's not a bunch of contradictory stuff, but it is a surprisingly decent amount considering that most other genres don't have to deal with that. I mean, if you look at approaches to space travel or some other prevalent thing in science fiction, there are hundreds of different interpretations but they all tend to follow the same rules and constraints (just science -- physics...no big deal...). But zombies don't really have that -- I mean, everyone kind of sort of agrees on a couple key characteristics-- OH GEEZ, I'm getting into the "essence" of being a zombie...I'ma take that as a sign I should stop here...

P.S. - I'm a total chicken when it comes to scary stuff -- I don't do well with graphic violence, gore, horror, or anything generally perceived to be scary. So there are no pictures this time around, since searching for zombies on pinterest or google is frankly really gross and not worth the trouble...so instead I will leave you with this:

Yay thinkgeek.com!

Yup. Still *witty nerdy reference* here!

Wow, it's been two months and one day since I last posted. I fail. And I'm sorry, you lone reader (me, in the future. Ha.).

Honestly, I deleted the blog. Like a week ago in a fit of despair, but alas I'm back! So I suppose I should update...

1. I don't go to any gym anymore. Actually, like a true-blue geek, I had a panic attack before I even got there to what would have been my first workout. So I didn't go. Yup, went to the initial training class thing (who can resist a good class!) and then chickened out in the execution. Go figure! ...I won't begin to list all the other workouts I've tried. Most recently, yoga and running. But that's not very nerdy...so moving on...although fun fact - say what you will about Lucy Liu's Elementary, but she's always been awesome and I admit I enjoyed the Charlie's Angels remake, and apparently she too does yoga and running regularly to stay awesome. So there you go. Here's the actual article thing. (Okay fine, she does pilates. But that's pretty damn close to yoga. So whatevs.)

2. I finally saw Serenity. Hmm. I don't know how I feel about it. It was so nice to be watching a "new" Firefly adventure...But moly cow... I knew what was coming (thanks a lot pinterest!) but it still didn't lessen the blow! So sad... And honestly, the whole thing was mostly about River. And despite her being crazy awesome (emphasis on crazy), I still wasn't that interested in her story line. And the "revelation" at the end felt...dull...since I knew it didn't matter anymore. Gosh, isn't that so depressing?! Anywho, I still love Firefly. But I think I might actually pretend I hadn't seen Serenity. Sad.

3. What else?
I'm obsessed with Civilizations V and all it's expansion-y goodness. I managed to make it through the Steam sale without having to declare bankruptcy, so that's good. Highly recommend Don't Starve as well; that was another game that I simply could not stop playing...until a whole weekend was consumed with nothing but playing Don't Starve and running to the nearest fast food place, so, you know -- I don't starve. Ha!

I'm honestly on the fence about cancelling my World of Warcraft account. I know, *gasp!* But I haven't played since this winter. Maybe it's just a winter game? Seasons of gaming, like there are seasons of everything else in life. I dunno.

In the non-gaming world, I've also managed to slow down my comic book consumption. That is one expensive hobby! I think I'd be wise to hold out until trades start being more readily available for those series that I'm currently enjoying. Less fun, but whatever. (Geez, I feel like my geek card could be revoked at any minute...)

I can't think of any books I've read lately that were particularly awesome in the geek world. That's kinda sad...OH WAIT. I did read Mistborn. So I will definitely need to review that soon. Like, very soon. Like, pretty much expect me to write about that next time, since it's not looking good for me being able to talk about anything else.

Well, darn. The moral of this story seems to be that I have lately failed at my initial goal of being a 'better geek'. It almost sounds like I've gotten worse! Yikes!

...I can fix this!

Now with Video!

Oh man. I haven't updated in a while...apparently I haven't done anything particularly geeky in a while. Bummer!

Uh...I know how we can resolve this:

PICTURE FRIDAY!

...NO...

Even better...

VIDEO FRIDAY!!!!

First up-- because summer is here and it's almost the 4th..."Sexy Pool Party"
Ladies, don't let the screenshot fool you- it's freakin' hilarious.

Second-- because I miss Sherlock and can't wait for the next season... what if it was a comedy??? (I mean, it's already a funny/clever show, but what if it was marketed as a comedy?)

Happy Friday! :)

-BeetHats

C++, Star Trek's Red Shirts, Xbox One (Redemption), The Doctor is In--der's Game!

Goodness! I've been gone for a while... May is busy season in my line of work, and so there hasn't been a lot of geekery to report on until the dust settled...but in retrospect I realize it's still quite a bit to mention so be ready for a long-winded update!

Let's see...where to begin...

1. I've started a new mega-geek hobby!

A Geek Goes to the Gym!

Remember how I was all "working out is dumb, but I'm going to do it!" and came up with a whole plan for a combination of biking (and playing video games), rowing (and watching movies), and doing kickboxing what-not to feel like Chuck Norris?

Yeah. About that...

I got so bored. I ran out of movies (not sure how that happened), apparently am not that into video games right now (*gasp!*) and am too tired for kickboxing. Bleh. Lazy. So now my bike is sitting at my parent's house going unused. My rowing machine is hid away in the closet, and I may or may not have "accidentally" thrown away the kickboxing routine I had at one point really liked...

But...there is hope...

Again.

I joined a gym!