Monte Cook's Blog, page 145
February 23, 2010
At the Movies
At the Movies
Okay, I've heard it all already. The popcorn is way overpriced. People in the audience talk during the show. The ticket prices are too high. There's nothing good out anymore. I'd rather watch it at home.
Know what? I don't care. When the lights dim, and Sue and I settle into our seats in that theater, I know I'm in the right place. Just walking into the theater, before we buy our tickets, I get a bit of a rush. Sometimes, when I'm watching the previews, munching popcorn, I forget ...
Okay, I've heard it all already. The popcorn is way overpriced. People in the audience talk during the show. The ticket prices are too high. There's nothing good out anymore. I'd rather watch it at home.
Know what? I don't care. When the lights dim, and Sue and I settle into our seats in that theater, I know I'm in the right place. Just walking into the theater, before we buy our tickets, I get a bit of a rush. Sometimes, when I'm watching the previews, munching popcorn, I forget ...
February 18, 2010
Conan is a Jerk
Conan is a Jerk
Sorry to disappoint fans of late night television or relatively current entertainment news, but the Conan of the title of this piece is not Conan O'Brien. Instead, the fellow I'm (very slightly) maligning likely signs his residuals checks with "the Barbarian" after his name. Yes, I'm speaking of the Robert E. Howard character. And if your only experience with the character is the Schwarzenegger movies, well, this all is probably not going to mean much to you, because those film...
Sorry to disappoint fans of late night television or relatively current entertainment news, but the Conan of the title of this piece is not Conan O'Brien. Instead, the fellow I'm (very slightly) maligning likely signs his residuals checks with "the Barbarian" after his name. Yes, I'm speaking of the Robert E. Howard character. And if your only experience with the character is the Schwarzenegger movies, well, this all is probably not going to mean much to you, because those film...
February 15, 2010
Podcasts
Podcasts
A few weeks ago I was interviewed for the Darker Days podcast, mainly regarding the World of Darkness game that I worked on. As of yesterday, you can listen to another, more general interview on the Gamer's Haven podcast.
Also, did you know that I did a podcast? Members of dungeonaday.com get access to Listen Check, where I talk about design issues related to Dragon's Delve or simply DMing/design topics of a general nature. A new episode of Listen Check is available today.
A few weeks ago I was interviewed for the Darker Days podcast, mainly regarding the World of Darkness game that I worked on. As of yesterday, you can listen to another, more general interview on the Gamer's Haven podcast.
Also, did you know that I did a podcast? Members of dungeonaday.com get access to Listen Check, where I talk about design issues related to Dragon's Delve or simply DMing/design topics of a general nature. A new episode of Listen Check is available today.
February 14, 2010
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers
I have been using Weight Watchers to try to lose another 10-15 pounds. In 2008, I lost about 40 pounds. I've since gained about 5 or so of that back by being lax, particularly around the holidays.
I was going to write about how great the program is, but the truth is, I already did that. So let me just quote what I wrote about a year and a half ago:
I've been using Weight Watchers.com to keep track of the loss and everything I eat and all the exercise I do.
It really hasn't been ...
I have been using Weight Watchers to try to lose another 10-15 pounds. In 2008, I lost about 40 pounds. I've since gained about 5 or so of that back by being lax, particularly around the holidays.
I was going to write about how great the program is, but the truth is, I already did that. So let me just quote what I wrote about a year and a half ago:
I've been using Weight Watchers.com to keep track of the loss and everything I eat and all the exercise I do.
It really hasn't been ...
February 9, 2010
Accurate Inaccuracies
Accurate Inaccuracies
Even more than outright fabrications, I think I dislike the use of technically accurate information used incorrectly. To use an innocuous, inconsequential example, I'd cite the headline I read yesterday, "Dear John beats Avatar in box office." Now, of course what they're really saying is that megablockbuster Avatar finally slipped down to #2 after a record breaking stay at the #1 position. But the implied falsehood is that fire-and-forget teen romance movie Dear John best...
Even more than outright fabrications, I think I dislike the use of technically accurate information used incorrectly. To use an innocuous, inconsequential example, I'd cite the headline I read yesterday, "Dear John beats Avatar in box office." Now, of course what they're really saying is that megablockbuster Avatar finally slipped down to #2 after a record breaking stay at the #1 position. But the implied falsehood is that fire-and-forget teen romance movie Dear John best...
February 3, 2010
The iPad and Dungeonaday.com
The iPad and Dungeonaday.com
So Apple announced the iPad and everyone made fun of the name and people were either gaga over it or wholly unimpressed and blah blah blah. I really couldn't be less interested in the controversy, the mockery, or the cultish following of all things Mac. I'm not a Mac guy (although I was 20 years ago, and Sue is a big Mac supporter), nor am I invested in the tech world. I use a computer (or three) all day long, but I also drive a car all the time but that doesn't me...
So Apple announced the iPad and everyone made fun of the name and people were either gaga over it or wholly unimpressed and blah blah blah. I really couldn't be less interested in the controversy, the mockery, or the cultish following of all things Mac. I'm not a Mac guy (although I was 20 years ago, and Sue is a big Mac supporter), nor am I invested in the tech world. I use a computer (or three) all day long, but I also drive a car all the time but that doesn't me...
February 2, 2010
Writer's Software
Writer's Software
In a perfect world, I would have specialized software that allowed me to organize all of my ideas in a very logical and useful way when I'm writing.
For example, while I'm working on Dungeonaday.com, and I needed to name an NPC, I would be able to click on a tab or a button that would take me to my list of fantasy names appropriate for characters. Likewise, when I needed a new monster or magic item, I could access those lists as well (I have very long lists of ideas for all t...
In a perfect world, I would have specialized software that allowed me to organize all of my ideas in a very logical and useful way when I'm writing.
For example, while I'm working on Dungeonaday.com, and I needed to name an NPC, I would be able to click on a tab or a button that would take me to my list of fantasy names appropriate for characters. Likewise, when I needed a new monster or magic item, I could access those lists as well (I have very long lists of ideas for all t...
January 29, 2010
What's the Story?
What's the Story?
I own a lot of books about books. For example, we have quite a few books about science fiction books: the history, trends, changes in the genre, and so on. Many of these are illustrated, and so I flip through them and it shows a lot of book covers and says that such-and-such book by so-and-so came out at such-and-such a time, and was the first of the such-and-such trend or subgenre and so on.
I find this kind of thing interesting, but ultimately frustrating. Because while this...
I own a lot of books about books. For example, we have quite a few books about science fiction books: the history, trends, changes in the genre, and so on. Many of these are illustrated, and so I flip through them and it shows a lot of book covers and says that such-and-such book by so-and-so came out at such-and-such a time, and was the first of the such-and-such trend or subgenre and so on.
I find this kind of thing interesting, but ultimately frustrating. Because while this...
January 27, 2010
There's a Name for That...
There's a Name for That...
There's a name for a type of specious argument technique wherein the speaker throws in an additional, unrelated and ill-thought-through argument to further bolster their point. For example, "You can't go to the party because we need you to stay here and take care of your little brother tonight. And besides, you might get in a car accident on the way there."
The latter argument is tacked on, irrelevant, and ill-conceived (because it is an argument to never drive anywh...
There's a name for a type of specious argument technique wherein the speaker throws in an additional, unrelated and ill-thought-through argument to further bolster their point. For example, "You can't go to the party because we need you to stay here and take care of your little brother tonight. And besides, you might get in a car accident on the way there."
The latter argument is tacked on, irrelevant, and ill-conceived (because it is an argument to never drive anywh...
January 25, 2010
D'oh!
D'oh!
Me: Fine then. I'll just go buy myself an RV. I'll travel the highways and byways and have adventures.
Sue: OK.
Me: Of course, I'll have to find myself an old guy to be my mentor.
Sue: Really? I assumed you'd be the old guy.
Me: Ouch.
Not only does Sue get all my references, she beats me at my own game.
Me: Fine then. I'll just go buy myself an RV. I'll travel the highways and byways and have adventures.
Sue: OK.
Me: Of course, I'll have to find myself an old guy to be my mentor.
Sue: Really? I assumed you'd be the old guy.
Me: Ouch.
Not only does Sue get all my references, she beats me at my own game.
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