The Ramblings of Rev. Karl

kmusser @ 2009-12-31T10:53:00

2009-12-31T15:53:20Z

As most of you know Brunswick Games Day is this Saturday. A big thank you to those of you that have been pimping out the event.
Scheduling opening is 10 am, I'll probably open the doors an hour earlier to start setting up - any help in setting up is welcome :-) If you have any requests for specific games feel free to ask either here or on facebook. If you want crash space and haven't already told me, please do.

kmusser @ 2009-12-31T10:48:00

2009-12-31T15:48:27Z

Thanks to divalion for the link:

What Matters Now, a free e-book containing a series of mini essays of various writers thoughts on the future, makes for a good read.

kmusser @ 2009-12-15T17:12:00

2009-12-15T22:12:59Z

Are you Virginians tired of not knowing whether you live in the "North" or the "South"? Worry no longer, it all depends on sweet tea and now thankfully the critical "Sweet Tea Line" has been mapped. http://eightoverfive.com/SweetTea.swf

update

2009-12-03T15:53:45Z

Thank you for everyone that joined us for Thanksgiving and for all the happy birthday wishes. We had a lovely turkey day, and the rest of the weekend as well. I allowed myself to be spoiled by zammis and radiant_one. Many games were played, and there was port and cheesecake.

We also acquired a new household member, taking in one of ilostonjeopardy's cats. PeeJee spent the first few days hiding in corners and sulking, but has now decided that getting pettings is not so bad. Piccolo has grumbled about the new addition, but I think she'll get used to it.

This weekend zammis and I are running off to Key West and Pirates in Paradise. We were hoping for sun, but it looks like the weather may not cooperate. Regardless, there will be foofy drinks, and at least it won't snow.

Later this month - I'll also be out of town the 18th to the 22nd - doing the family Christmas a bit early.

Reminder that right after New Years - January 2nd - is Brunswick Games Day - join us for a full day of gaming goodness - Free!

For some light reading: the manufactured doubt industry, blog entry by Jeff Masters inspired by the recent climate change kerfluffle - basically the underlying science hasn't changed, if you want to know the truth on a scientific subject ask a scientist, not a PR person.

kmusser @ 2009-11-30T20:36:00

2009-12-01T01:36:12Z

Kudos to Patrick Stewart for speaking out.

GIP

2009-10-27T19:59:37Z

I had an excellent weekend at faire, as seen in the new icon :-) It was good to see everyone.

A quick reminder for the gamers that pre-reg for Euroquest is this coming Sunday. Euroquest is Nov. 12-15 in Timonium, come join us for games.

schedule/faire update

2009-10-06T14:12:28Z

Lullaby of Broadway went well, thanks to everyone that came out and played.

This weekend I actually get to go to faire! Hope to see many of you there.

Weekend after that I am hosting a GCOM-Brunswick session on Saturday (the 17th), will probably be at faire on Sunday.

I'll probably be at faire closing weekend as well, though for the Jacqui Macmillan fans I'll point out that she's doing her Drum for Joy workshop in Frederick on the 24th in the afternoon and then a concert later in the evening. Details here.

Update and pictures

2009-09-23T14:44:56Z

Work has been keeping me too busy to keep up with the blogging, which is good for work but sad for the LJ. Last month we had a lovely trip to the Pacific Northwest including Oak Harbor, Victoria, and Seattle. While I haven't had time to do a proper write up I did get our pictures uploaded which you can enjoy here.

For the gamers, this weekend is the Congress of Gamers in Rockville. I'll be there for at least part of it.

I will be at Fires of Venus on Friday only.

TCEP

2009-09-02T14:03:19Z

A final reminder of TCEP, this weekend in Laurel, one of the best little gaming cons in the area. You know you want to join us for gaming goodness.

kmusser @ 2009-09-01T10:30:00

2009-09-01T14:33:44Z

Today in Salon is the speech that Obama should give on healthcare:

"My fellow Americans, we say that healthcare is a right of all citizens. The other party says that it is a privilege for those who can afford it. If you agree with them that healthcare is a privilege, not a right, then vote for them. We would like to persuade you to join us, but if we can't, then we are going to defeat you.

"Decades ago our opponents tried to block Social Security and Medicare, using the same bogus arguments that they are using today against healthcare reform. They said Social Security and Medicare would bankrupt the country. They were wrong. Once we fix the cost inflation of our broken medical sector, with some minor tweaks Social Security and Medicare can be made solvent forever.

"Decades ago, our opponents said that Social Security and Medicare would turn the United States into a fascist or communist police state. They were wrong then and they are wrong now. And not only are they wrong, they are hypocritical. Many of our opponents who claim absurdly that universal healthcare will bring tyranny to the U.S. have defended some of the greatest assaults on civil liberties and the rule of law in American history during the previous administration.

"They can draw a Hitler mustache on me. They can draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa, for all I care. They are wrong and we are going to defeat them.

"We won the elections and we are the majority. We would like to build the biggest consensus possible, but progress is more important than consensus. Our job is to help the American people, not split the difference between right and wrong by giving a veto to the party that the American people have rejected.
Quantcast

"In this fight, as in earlier struggles, powerful interests are opposed to the needs of the people. In the 19th century, we the people defeated the Southern slave owners, freed the slaves and saved the nation. In the 20th century, while fighting alongside many other nations to save the world from militarism and totalitarianism, we the people here at home tamed the corporations for a generation and fought segregation based on race, gender and, more recently, sexual orientation.

"Today the campaign for affordable healthcare as a right, not a privilege, is opposed by powerful interests in the medical and insurance industries. They seek to deceive and confuse you. And they seek to bribe or intimidate your elected representatives into serving their will rather than the needs of the public.

"They may win this battle. They may win the next. But we will never stop fighting for the needs of the many against the greed of the few. For more than 200 years, from the time we threw off the tyranny of the British empire and established our republic, we have worked to realize the spirit of '76 on this continent and in the world beyond. The enemies of progress have money on their side. We have history on ours."

Games!

2009-07-30T19:31:15Z

Mid-Atlantic gaming opportunities this fall:

DeRail, August 1-2 in Newark, DE - minicon featuring railroad games.

World Boardgaming Championship, August 3-9 in Lancaster, PA - big con with mostly tournament style play.

TCEP, September 4-7 in Laurel, MD - great convention, I'll be there the whole time with a good chunk of my collection

Congress of Gamers, September 26-27 in Rockville, MD

Lullaby of Broadway, October 2-4 in Hagerstown, MD - weekend long LARP that I'm helping with, we're full on player characters but are still looking for cast.

Intercon Mid-Atlantic, October 23-25 in Gaithersburg, MD - LARP convention

Euroquest, November 12-15 in Timonium, MD - great con featuring Euro-style games - I will be there.

Philcon, November 20-22 in Philadelphia - general SF con that also has gaming.

Darkover, November 27-29 in Timonium, MD - now has gaming.

Also Brunswick Games Day is set for January 2 in Brunswick, MD - a full day of gaming goodness for the low, low cost of free.

Book reviews

2009-07-14T20:50:55Z

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama - Finally got around to reading this, it's an excellent book. It is an autobiographical telling of Obama's search for his roots. It does have some political and racial commentary, but that's not really the focus. I did find the politics interesting as he was talking about Chicago during a time when I was politically active in the same area, it's been a while since I heard anyone mention Vrdolyak (who somehow still isn't in jail). The racial stuff will make more sense if you read "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" first, as Obama references it several times (I'd recommend it anyway if you want even a basic understanding of racial politics in this country). But where the book really shines is where Obama is talking about his own background and especially recounting his trip to Africa. I think wanting to know where you come from is pretty universal, and I'm a little envious that when Obama goes looking for his roots that he actually finds them.

Serenity by Keith R. A. DeCandido - The novelization of the movie; it's been a long time since I've read a book this bad. Really it's just a prose scene by scene description of the movie. Usually a novelization is an opportunity to offer a little more depth than the movie, but not here, just watch the movie instead, the actors performances convey more meaning.

Definitely Dead, All Together Dead, and From Dead to Worse by Charlaine Harris - Doing some catch up on the Sookie Stackhouse books, I read 1-4 several years ago and here are 6-8, somehow I skipped 5. All are fun reads, I think Harris does a good job of keeping the series interesting. From Dead to Worse wraps up nearly all the plots lines so I'm curious where the next book goes. I might have to actually watch some of "True Blood" now.

Bone by Jeff Smith - Graphic novel, I read most of these back when kolyada and I were together and didn't keep up with them after she left. When I saw there was an all-in-one collection I treated myself and finally finished the series. It's fun stuff, epic fantasy with a high dosage of humour and the art is fantastic.

The Mystery of Grace by Charles de Lint - I almost always love his stuff and this is no exception. It's a bit of a departure as it's not set in Newford and there isn't a faerie to be found - it's about a girl that dies and finds herself somewhere unexpected. I don't want to say too much because it is a mystery, but it's an excellent read.

Kiva

2009-07-13T01:46:48Z

I want to take a moment to pimp out the Kiva reunion concert coming up August 8th in Silver Spring, MD. Details at http://www.kivasong.com/schedule/current.html. The concert promises to be awesome with Amikaeyla and Jaqui MacMillan joining them along with many past members including Lynn Cunningham who some of you might know better from the Pyrates Royale.

that time of year again

2009-06-30T15:31:07Z

http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2009.htm

LJAB

2009-06-24T18:48:21Z

Just a quick notice that the LJ Advisory Board elections are currently going on, so GO VOTE. Personally I'm rooting for webqatch, you can find all of the candidates statements here.

kmusser @ 2009-06-22T18:57:00

2009-06-22T22:59:45Z

I am safe and sound, the Metro crash is on my regular commute route, but I had driven in today rather than train.

Games

2009-05-29T12:59:01Z

I finally got around to cataloging my RPGs - the list can be found here, almost the entire list (excepting the original D&D and some of the oddball games) is available for sale or trade, so if you see something you'd like make me an offer. As a reminder I do have board games available as well (to see the full collection uncheck the filters: trade=yes). I also have more Battletech stuff that didn't really go on either the BGG or RPG list that I'd happily get rid of.

kmusser @ 2009-05-21T13:08:00

2009-05-21T17:08:11Z

Morena Baccarin can be my Visitor any day.

new floors

2009-05-16T17:51:50Z

Now with photographic evidence thanks to radiant_one

http://pics.livejournal.com/kmusser/gallery/0004467c

GCOM Games Days

2009-05-04T19:07:27Z

Games played:
Bombay, Can't Stop, Dominion (11 times at least, twice with the Seaside expansion), Hamlet, Imperial (Asia map variant), Keltis (twice), Kreta, Lokomotive Werks, Mr. Jack, Nexus Ops, Poison, Race for the Galaxy (twice), Saboteur, Small World (twice), Ticket to Ride, Tin Lizzies, Web of Power

Dominion clearly the "hot" game of the con, usually a 1/2 dozen games of it going on at a time. Seaside is the 2nd expansion in the pipeline after Intrigue. Recommended for those that like CCGs but don't like the CCG investment (for me it makes me miss playing my CCGs).

On the new releases played: Small World is a fantasy themed version of Vinci. I was already a big fan of Vinci so it's no surprised that I liked this one, plus it fixes Vinci's endgame problems. Added to the want list. Bombay is a quick pick-up and deliver type of board game, might be worth it for the cute plastic elephants alone.

New to me games: Lokomotive Werks is a kinda interesting game trying to balance supply and demand, like many Winsome Game releases left me kinda meh - they often make for better simulations than games. Nexus Ops is a kind of game I don't usually play, a sci-fi themed war game from Hasbro, complete with plastic figures and using the Axis & Allies combat system, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, unlike similar games it is pretty fast-paced. Saboteur is a cute sort-of cooperative card game with a dwarves digging for gold theme, players are essentially on two teams, but you don't get to know who is on your team, also nice as it can handle large numbers of players.

Development of Tin Lizzies is going well, played with 4 and all enjoyed it, I still need to test it with larger numbers of players. Overall I'm pretty happy with the mechanics, though it could still use some way to trim down the playing time a bit, I might just chop a turn or two off. I also need to redo the graphic elements, but I don't know when I'm going to find time to do that.

Update

2009-05-04T18:01:17Z

First a LJ-related comment. My work has done something to make LJ somewhat dysfunctional, I don't know what it could be as other sites work fine, and LJ still works fine from my home computer - but at work LJ pages take a good 10 minutes or so to load or refresh. So, I haven't been posting or commenting as much as I used to, but I am still reading what you fine people are writing (except for the twitters - I skip those).

So anyway, currently our lives are being consumed by adventures in flooring. We're ripping up the carpet and replacing it with wood. When the estimator came out we got the pleasant surprise that parts of the house already have hardwood, so we're getting that refinished and the parts that don't will get new (why a house that only had one previous owner has 3 different types of floors, and then covered them up with carpet, remains a puzzle). I picked up the wood the weekend before last and the installers are due to arrive on Thursday. Meanwhile we've been busy trying to clear our crap so that they'll actually be able to get to the floor. The poor kitty is already traumatized, probably convinced that we're moving. Once they're done we'll have the fun task of putting it all back which will probably takes us the rest of the month.

This past weekend I had a fun diversion with Games Club of Maryland's Games Days, games played will get their own post following.

Plans for next month include Free Spirit - I hope to see many of you there. I don't have any official duties this year so plan on spending most of my time relaxing (though if any FSG staff reading this are still short-handing in their dept. I could probably be talked into helping).

I'm also hoping to make to Celtic Fling due to their drool worthy musical lineup. Any one else I know going?

Beltane

2009-05-01T05:14:37Z

Happy Beltane to all. Celebrate appropriately.

kmusser @ 2009-04-27T19:07:00

2009-04-27T23:08:57Z

For the record, I don't appreciate skipping spring.

kmusser @ 2009-04-17T16:21:00

2009-04-17T20:23:25Z

For my fellow Gaiman fanatics, he's doing an event over on the Eastern Shore, Monday the 27th. But that's sold out you say? They've moved it to a larger venue.

Gaming reminders

2009-04-15T13:52:36Z

Games Club of Maryland's Games Days are coming up at the end of the month, a great little convention, details at http://gamedays.gamesclubofmd.org/

There is also a new gaming con this weekend, their site (http://www.freewebs.com/gamecon2009/) seems to be down at the moment, but I believe that they are more RPG oriented than GCOM events are, and it's at the Clarion Hotel in Aberdeen, MD this Friday and Saturday. I can't make it, but if you can, go check them out.

For our regular Brunswick sessions I am not hosting one this month, but will be back at Beans on May 16th.