Sunday, March 29, 2009

Fundraising Conference Takes on a 'Second Life'

Grizzard Communications Group recently held a conference, Winning Strategies in Challenging Times, focusing on effective and efficient ways of communicating to donors during difficult economic times. The conference was held February 24th - 26th and featured a live panel discussion presented in the online virtual world of Second Life. Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary of The Salvation Army, along with other IT communications associates from Alexandria, VA and Reston, PA participated in a panel discussion as animated 'Avatars.'

Friday, March 27, 2009

Cully Hamner Signs DC Exclusive & Talks The Question

As DC Comics’ June solicitations served as the de facto announcement, one of the new co-features coming in June will appear in Detective Comics beginning in June, and starring The Question. Written by Greg Rucka (who’s also writing the rest of Detective, which stars Batwoman), The Question co-feature will be illustrated by Cully Hamner, who’s also recently signed an exclusive contract with DC.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Egypt tries to hang up on killer SMS rumours

Because, once again, real life shows that it is stranger than fiction AND that what people find hokey in their entertainment is believable in real life...
The Egyptian government has sought to dispel rumours that a mobile phone text message 'from unknown foreign quarters' is spreading around the country and killing those who receive it.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Marvel Studios Revised Release Schedule

Paving the way for the production and release of its multi-character superhero film, THE AVENGERS, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL), announced today an adjusted release pipeline for its self-produced feature film properties that reflects the first time individual Super Hero characters and story arcs will be inter-woven and culminate in a multi-character motion picture. Separately, Marvel Studios confirmed today that Sony Pictures Entertainment will release SPIDER-MAN 4 on May 6, 2011. Additionally, Marvel Studios has revised the release dates for THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA as part of its release strategy for an uninterrupted road to THE AVENGERS, now debuting May 4, 2012.

A Marvel character-based film will now launch the summer box office season for three years in a row, from 2010 through 2012.

“This new schedule strongly sequences Marvel’s movie debut dates, big screen character introductions and momentum. It maximizes the visibility of our single character-focused films, leading to the highly anticipated release of the multi-character THE AVENGERS film in 2012,” said David Maisel, Chairman, Marvel Studios.

Sony Pictures’ and Marvel Studios’ SPIDER-MAN 4 is slated for May 6, 2011. To date, all three motion pictures in the phenomenally successful SPIDER-MAN franchise have generated nearly $2.5 billion worldwide theatrically.

Below is Marvel Studios’ 2010-2012 updated release schedule for its slate of self-produced and financed feature films:

Marvel Studios Feature Film Pipeline
Film/Character - Prior Release Date - Current Release Date
IRON MAN 2 - May 7, 2010 - May 7, 2010
THOR - July 16, 2010 - June 17, 2011
THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA - May 6, 2011 - July 22, 2011
THE AVENGERS - July 15, 2011 - May 4, 2012

The release date for IRON MAN 2 remains unchanged. IRON MAN 2 is the sequel to the blockbuster film, IRON MAN, which has grossed nearly $600 million worldwide.

After Watchmen

I know that I said I was going to take some down time, but I saw this in my browsing and wanted to spread it along.
'We recognize that the success of WATCHMEN opens doors to new readers, and we’re more than happy to use this opportunity to bring new readers into our world,' says Steve Rotterdam, DC's Senior VP — Sales & Marketing.

If you're new to comics or super-heroes because of the Watchmen movie, this website introduces you to some books that you might like for a number of reasons. New Looks At Super-Heroics. New Directions In Comic Books. Bold New Storytelling. Etc. All those marketing buzzwords that are used to try to sell you stuff.

Regardless of the enlightened self-interest on the part of DC Comics with this website, there are some good suggestions to be found on this site and there are some book that even die-hard comic geeks might not have tried yet. Dip your toe in the waters of comics and see what is out there. Be sure to check out the stuff by Warren Ellis.

Comics haven't been just for kids for a while now.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Downtime

Dorkland will be closed for updates for a brief time. Talk among yourselves while I'm gone and I will look for some interesting things to share with you.

Stay dorky, internet.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Second Life Horror Fest

Last year, Emz Mazie (author Emerian Rich) and Bearon Schoonhoven (author Mark Eller) sponsored the first Horror Fest, and this year Bookstacks is picking up the reins. We have several co-sponsors offering events as well: The Guild of UK Writers; West of Ireland Library; authors Mark Eller, Emerian Rich, and Michael A. Stackpole; and Age & Country Hotel.

In addition to author readings and storytelling, we have are holding a monster/creature avatar meets fashion show titled “Beauty and the Beast.” We have also included some social time as well. First up is a murder mystery event at Age & Country Hotel — expect a few spooks to participate in that one. On Sunday the band Born Again Pagans will perform in the afternoon, and we will hold a Horror Costume Party as our closing event. Start planning your outfit now!

For more information, contact Simeon Beresford (simeonberesford@gmail.com) or Kghia Gherardi (kghia.gherardi@gmail.com).

Ombudsmen



As seen at...PVPOnline

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Atomic Rocket!

Your imagination has been captured by the roaring rockets from Heinlein's SPACE CADET or the Polaris from TOM CORBETT, SPACE CADET. But are such rockets possible? How does one go about defining the performance of these atomic-powered cruisers?

This document gives some hints and equations that will allow back-of-the-envelope calculations on such matters. Though horribly simplistic, they are far better than just making up your figures.

This site was mainly intended for science fiction authors who wanted a little scientific accuracy. But anybody who is interested can play with the toys contained within, designing their own Planet Rangers Rocketships. It is assumed that the reader has enough knowledge to know the difference between a star and a planet, high school mathematics, and enough skill to use a pocket calculator. Computer spreadsheet and computer programming skills are a plus, spreadsheets in particular will make your life much easier.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Running Through Tampa: Goddamn Mick Jagger

True stories often make the best fiction. Looking for something bizarre and off the wall for your next horror or general weirdness RPG campaign? Read this article and listen to the audio and introduce your players to the Evie Man.
On weekend mornings as I drive home from the station, sometimes I feel like it’s just me and the street corner paper sellers. I’ve usually been up for a few hours already and I’ve had two or three cups of coffee. At least. Being a habitual late sleeper myself, on these days I feel like I’ve been given a glimpse into the secret world of weekend mornings. Today in the center of my driveway I see the telltale accordion fold photocopy that could only have come from an individual that I have come to know as The Evie Man.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Joss Whedon: Why it's so hard getting DC Comics heroes on the big screen

Joss Whedon says Warner Bros is struggling to get many DC Comics heroes on to the big screen because they are too mythological and god-like to connect to audiences.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Bloodline Levels

Open Content from the Grand OGL Wiki:
The bloodline rules are clever, but unsatisfying to many players. Not only do you have to give up one or more character levels (and the Hit Dice and attack and save bonuses that go with them) in order to have a bloodline, you need to decide during character creation how strong your bloodline will eventually be, and if you don't carry through, you suffer a massive XP penalty. Fifth Element Games resolves these issues by adapting our Background Levels mechanics and applying them to bloodlines. Bloodline Levels presents 42 bloodlines, including the 35 standard bloodlines, 5 undead bloodlines and 2 brand new bloodlines: the ettercap and the medusa.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Lara Croft firm agrees takeover

A Japanese computer games maker has agreed to buy Eidos, the UK company behind the Tomb Raider and Championship Manager games, for 84.3m pounds($120m).

Square Enix said it would pay 32 pence a share in cash for Eidos, which has been hit by weak US sales of its latest edition of Tomb Raider.

Eidos shares more than doubled in value in early trading, to 31 pence.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Ed Brubaker On Incognito

I know I'm a bit behind on this one but since issue two comes out today I thought that I would blog this.
Of the handful of Marvel titles shipping in December that Newsarama previewed on Monday, one thing that raised many an eyebrow was Incognito #1 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, slated to ship under Marvel’s creator-owned imprint, Icon.

The two have released a 'teaser' for the new five-part story which sets the scene: an ex-super villain hiding out in Witness Protection, living an average, mundane life. Can he do it? Will – or when – will he snap?

Obama Disappointed Cabinet Failed To Understand His Reference To 'Savage Sword Of Conan' #24

President Barack Obama expressed frustration Wednesday after members of his cabinet failed to recognize his allusion to the 24th issue of the comic series Savage Sword Of Conan during their first major meeting together.

Obama, whose upcoming challenges include organizing a massive effort to rebuild the nation's infrastructure, was reportedly unprepared for the confused silence he received upon suggesting that his cabinet 'team up with Taurus of Nemedia' to secure the necessary funding from Congress

'If my inner circle of advisers can't even communicate about the most basic issues, how are we going to tackle the massive problems our nation faces?' Obama said during a press conference. 'When I tell my cabinet that getting bipartisan support is exactly like the time Conan got Taurus to help him steal Yara's jewel, they need to understand what I mean.'

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Brian Wood Announces ‘Channel Zero’, ‘Jennie One’ Rights Reversion

Brian Wood has announced the reversion of publishing rights to his debut work, Channel Zero, and its prequel, Jennie One.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Rucka and Robinson World of New Krypton Writers

In their weekly e-mailer, DC Comics has announced a new creative team for Superman: World of New Krypton. The announcement reads:

JAMES ROBINSON AND GREG RUCKA TO WRITE SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #1

Monday, February 02, 2009

Bar girl bedded 200 men after surfing web for sex with strangers

MOST women surf the internet for clothes, shoes and bargains. Not Louise Grant. She scours the web for sex with total STRANGERS.