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Wrathskellar [10 Jul 2009|12:03am] I’ve mentioned in passing to a few, and a few others have asked about it, so let me say again that you should all go see The Boston Babydolls perform in their new show “The Wratheskellar”, going up next week. There’s an excellent writeup in the local paper, which you can read here: www.wickedlocal.com… The Babydolls are an amazingly talented group who bring so much fun and love of the art to their performances that I dare anyone to go and say they didn’t enjoy the show. Tickets can be bought here: www.tinyurl.com… and you can read more about the troupe at their web site: www.bostonbabydolls.net… It’s a small blackbox theater, and they’ve chosen a darker theme for this show. My guess is that it will be a recipe for a smashing success. Here’s the official blurb: The Boston Babydolls present a very dark shade of burlesque in this archetypal underworld tavern where hearts, promises, and crockery are broken with abandon and secrets are hidden just below the surface. The Wrathskellar is just off an alley in Queen Victoria’s London or down a flight of stairs that Mack the Knife might have tread.  In the dim limelight, a chanteuse sings forlornly of a lost love, while a diva plots revenge for some imagined slight. A departure from The Boston Babydolls usual mix of bubbly fun and retro glamour, The Wrathskellar is a moody whirlpool of sinister dirges, predatory laments, and torch songs in a minor key.  Instead of big band and swing, the soundtrack for The Wrathskellar features atmospheric and evocative works from The Dresden Dolls, Tom Waits, and Cirkestra. The Wrathskeller is an evening of revenge, betrayal, sex, and murder… all to your favorite tunes. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 4 comments|post comment

Why do they perpetuate innacurate stereotypes? [21 Jun 2009|09:13am] Came across www.ethangilsdorf.com… today (off of the Boston Gamers mailing list), and became rather annoyed at it. Why does the media continuously perpetuate the perception that gaming, larping, fantasy, etc. is only an escapist pursuit? I suppose they do so because it makes a quick buck by giving the non-gamers a justifiable rationale for not trying to understand the hobby and for thinking those who engage in it are somehow deficient. I know a -lot- of gamers, and very few of them are active in the hobby as a way of escaping from real life. They’re well adjusted, productive members of society, who have the same daily problems as anyone else and deal with them the same way as anyone else. They just happen to enjoy exploring fictional adventures that are impossible to find in the non-fictional world. I don’t hear the media calling Romance Novels escapist. Videogames have gone mainstream and are not called escapist. Community theater and improv troupes are not called escapist. What gives? Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 6 comments|post comment

Poll: Passing authors [16 Jun 2009|08:39pm] With the recent passing of David Eddings, and the not that long ago passing of Robert Jordan and Madeleine L’Engle (the two died 10 days apart) and Robert Aspirin, I’ve been thinking about authors from my childhood and wondering (perhaps morbidly)… assuming only natural causes, 1) Which of your favorite authors do you suspect will pass next? 2) Which would you be most upset to hear had passed? 3) Which would you be least upset to hear had passed? I read mostly fantasy and ’soft’ scifi novels growing up, so here are my answers. As it was also common practice for me to read books that came in large series, these names came to mind. First, I have a nagging feeling that any day now I might read about the passing of Ursula K. Le Guin. Not given to lengthy works like some others, I’ve enjoyed much of what she has put out, not just fantasy, but poetry as well. She’s coming up on 80 this year. Second, I’d be most upset to hear about the passing of George R. R. Martin. He’s got a fantastic series in progress, and I’d be dissappointed to see it interrupted. And from everything I’ve read or seen, he’s a genuinely nice guy (his username is grrm on livejournal). Not that I think it likely. Least upset to hear about? Tough choice. Maybe Orson Scott Card. For as much as I couldn’t read Ender’s Game fast enough, and for all his worthy contributions to the Monkey Island dialogue, these days he spends less time writing quality fiction and more time writing political screeds and religious tracts that run completely counter to my viewpoints. He is welcome to have and express them, but he has shifted me more to the ‘love the art, not the artist’ perspective on things. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 14 comments|post comment

I love it when a plan comes together… [07 May 2009|02:37pm] In one of the most fascinating applications of public domain I’ve seen in a while, I present Dracula Feed at dracula-feed.blogspot.com… . Bram Stoker’s original novel is written in the form of diary entries and letters, and someone has had the brillian insight to post this public domain material in a new form: a blog. Entries to the blog will be posted on the corresponding dates of the original material. I land on the ‘information wants to be free’ perspective, while still respecting a healthy copyright practice. In the time since Stoker wrote his novel, copyright has been scaled. enlarged, grown, and extended beyond what many (myself included) would consider healthy. This new format for Bram Stoker’s words is an excellent example of how letting material enter public domain can actually allow the material to gain new audiences and remain culturally relevant. Oh, and if you doubt the intrinsic academic value of Vampires, here is a brief article, as relayed to me by Elenuial, on how vibrant and interdisciplinary a topic the infamous bloodsuckers can be: io9.com… Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 4 comments|post comment

*So* glad they listened to me and went with Moodle. [06 May 2009|04:40pm] Blackboard just bought up Angel for $95 million. The gorilla is gaining weight. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

In the good news department… [01 Apr 2009|08:35am] We have proper front steps again! Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 2 comments|post comment

Crazy Crime Results - Wacky German Edition [31 Mar 2009|03:21pm] Two recent news articles on crimes on the other side of the Atlantic caught my eye recently.  These are definitely from the fact better than fiction category. First up, we have a jewelry heist involving conclusive DNA evidence, but the person who left the evidence is still deemed innocent.  How?  Identical twins.  The court can not conclusively prove which one was at the scene of the crime, so both must be let go, according to German Law.  With somewhere in the neighborhood of $6.8 million in jewelry stolen, this definitely comes across as the plot of a mystery novel. Second, more proof that the Germans are having a bad time of it when it comes to DNA evidence.  On the upside, they’ve finally found the woman linked to 40 crime scenes and at least 6 murders, including the murder of a police officer.  On the downside, it turns out the woman in question worked at a cotton swab factory and accidentally contaminated the swabs used by the forensics teams. Lastly, not technically a crime, and definitely not German, it turns out the British Library has lost over 9,000 books.  Those of you hoping they won’t call to collect the fines, please return the volumes at your earliest convenience. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

Starting a little spring cleaning… [28 Mar 2009|10:15pm] So in the process of cataloging and cleaning up the DVD cabinet, a few items have come up which we have decided to willingly part with. Please feel free to take a look at the items posted at www.chadbergeron.com… and let us know if you;re interested in taking any of them away… Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 25 comments|post comment

One -amusing- side effect of the current fiscal morass… [24 Mar 2009|06:49pm] is that the nation as a whole is getting to hear a lot more of Barney Frank’s patois than anyone outside of MA ever expected to. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

If I’m not back in 3 days, send someone after me… [23 Mar 2009|08:12pm] Just got an advance proof copy of Raymond E. Feist’s new unreleased novel. I’ll be over in the corner reading now. Somebody prod me and remind me to eat and go to work now and again. Sleep is optional. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

West Wing will never be the same… [23 Mar 2009|06:18pm] I’m glad I watched The West Wing long before I saw Babylon 5’s The River of Souls. I’d have never made it through WW without cracking up at inappropriate moments if it went the other way around. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 3 comments|post comment

BSG Series Finale [21 Mar 2009|01:54pm] I’ve just finished watching the Series Finale of Battlestar Galactica.  There are no spoilers here, and I’ll save my opinions on the ending for those who have seen it and are interested in hearing about it.  No, what I’m writing to talk about today is an unfortunate reaction to the close of the show.  Ok, not jsut to this show, but to any long running TV series, set of books, or other extended storytelling universe.  Inevitably, when planned out, and well executed, the ending to a story like this leaves me with a sense of completion, a sense of ending, a sense of finality.  It could be the closing credits for the last time, the closing of the back cover, whatever, but it is done.  This is a feeling I don’t get if the story is short (most movies), ends unplanned (prematurely canceled TV shows, some books), or is open ended enough that there is clear unfinished material. It can be a nice feeling, to have this sense of resolution (satisfied or unsatisfied though I may be).  I sit and enjoy the resolution.  And then I’m faced with the abrupt and harsh reality that in life we don’t have resolution.  We have to get up off the couch and keep going with our day, because there’s always the next thing to be done, the next day to greet, the next chapter to begin.  This is simultaneously a buzzkill and a refresher.  It’s rather annoying, actually. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

Facebook, ToS, recap [17 Feb 2009|11:59am] If you haven’t already heard, Facebook just changed its Terms of Service, and not in your favor. To recap and review: CNet discusses the changes made Amanda French compares ToS from several major sites, and finds FB to be overreaching Digital Natives agrees, but also points out that it won’t make a lot of difference My reaction: I sure hope FB changes its mind and comes more back in line with common practice.  These days no one reads the ToS any more than they read the EULA, and although legally millions of people have just given up ownership rights, they don’t know it, probably won’t know it, and will probably be very peeved when (if, I suppose)  FB starts doing things with their info.  I’m not sure why FB went this far with the ToS, but it has to either be for legal protection or for further data mining and potential new streams of revenue. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 7 comments|post comment

The Tao Of Backup [17 Feb 2009|11:44am] This site (www.taobackup.com…) was originally written to promote software that hasn’t existed for a decade or so, but the lessons are just as timely now as then. It does a nice job of summarizing all the principles of backing up data. I’ll admit, I don’t follow all of them, but I’ve got most of them down… Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 1 comment|post comment

Games today? [16 Feb 2009|09:57am] I know a lot of folks already have plans for today, but you’re welcome to come over to my place and play board games this afternoon! Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

A must read link. [04 Feb 2009|10:20pm] Go read www.washingtonpost.com… . It’s about the age old question of art out of context. It’s a long read, but well worth it. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

With a name like that… [01 Feb 2009|06:36pm] Really? How are we supposed to take the British Military seriously when their current head military man is a guy named Jock Stirrup? That’s a name drawn right out of the pages of 1940’s pulp magazines, no? (en.wikipedia.org…) Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

Stargate SG-1 [24 Jan 2009|05:43pm] Having recently gotten the complete box set of all 10 seasons of Stargate SG-1, I now have older boxed sets of seasons 1-7 looking for a new home. $150 for all 7, or $25 per. Help me get some of my space back? Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 8 comments|post comment

Final Reminder: New Years Party [30 Dec 2008|12:02pm] Now that the gift giving winter holidays have slipped by (unless you give gifts on 12th night, I suppose), I’d like to remind you of my annual shindig to celebrate the passing of one year into the next. We’d be thrilled if you could join us. Simply follow the link below and add your name to the list! You’re Invited to “6th Annual New Year’s Party!” You are invited to our 6th Annual New Year’s Party!. Event Name: 6th Annual New Year’s Party! Description: It’s time again for our annual New Year’s Party! Come join us and a bunch of friends for food, music, games, and a hale and hearty welcoming to 2009! We’re pretty relaxed about this party, so come alone or with others. If you’d like to bring something to share with others, all the better! (We don’t have a very robust liquor cabinet, for instance.) Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or special requests. -Chad and Amanda When: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 @ 7:00 PM Where: Chad and Amanda’s @ 41 Pond Street, Framingham, MA 01702 RSVP Now: View Invitation Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. post comment

Like Bacon? [22 Dec 2008|03:07pm] Ok, I hope by now you’ve all seen the Bacon Flowchart.  If not, go google it. I’ll wait. Ok, now that you’re back, or still here, as the case might be, I have to warn you: there are people who take bacon to the extreme: (For the link averse, it goes to a page in the Archie McPhee online catalog.  Archie McPhee is a well known retailer of bizarre and useless items.  Think of what happens when you smash a Spencer Gifts and a Dollar Store together.) Bacon Floss.  Bacon Jellybeans.  Bacon Gumballs.  Bacon Wrapping Paper.  Gummy Bacon.  Bacon Bandaids.  Bacon Wallet.  And although it isn’t on the linked page, if you search their site for hte word ‘Bacon’, they even have a Bacon Scented Bacon Print Tuxedo.  Ok, that last one is actually an April Fool’s joke by them. Which means all the others are real. Originally published at lebor.net. You can comment here or there. 3 comments|post comment

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