It had totally slipped my mind to mention that I was on an episode of the Midnight Movie Club Podcast a while back.
They did an episode on Judge Dredd and I was on about a third of the podcast for their "Week in Geek" and "3 of the Best" segments... and unlike my other forays on their podcast, I was actually interacting with the lovely Dan, so I sound... what's the word... natural.
This is not an April Fool's Joke, BTW. Hate that I have to actually say that.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Free shipping from GameManiacs during April
During April you get free shipping from GameManiacs on all orders above 100SEK.
Free shipping is always nice, especially for smaller orders :-)
Free shipping is always nice, especially for smaller orders :-)
Today in Real Housewife Profiles: Jill Zarin
By Sheer Elegance, GTOG Special Guest Blogger
I’ve been given the challenge of bringing GTOG Nation up to speed on my favorite sport: The Real Housewives of NYC. Season four begins next Thursday, April 7, and I'll be here every day until then to make sure you have your bearings on the big day. Have you missed the glamour of awkward PR “events,” copious pinot grigio, and treasured lessons on etiquette? I know I have.
These housewives have been working: their cores, skin care lines, and drag queen anthems since season three ended last summer. I watched much of that season’s compelling life lessons at 3am while nursing my new baby, waiting to nurse my new baby, or waiting for my new baby to wake up/go to sleep, so my memory of this time is mostly like that of seeing the Allman Brothers Band in New Hampshire after swallowing whatever my friend’s friend’s friend ensured me was going to be fine, he promised. Anyway. At the end of the season, I have to say I was ready for a break from these beeyotches for realz. They were awful. They were fighting and screeching practically swatting each other like toddlers. They were catty. Awful. Their teeth were too white and their hair unnaturally smooth. It was weird.
But now I’m caffeinated and ready for a fresh season of my favorite totally staged show of ladies who lunch, lash out, and linger in my brain more than anything I learned in AP US History.
So let me break it down for you folks, one housewife at a time.
Meet Jill, the owner of a "gay husband," a hilarious mother, and a Chihuahua, after the jump...
Jill Zarin
Oy. Jill is like your friend from college who seems down to earth and warm, but then cuts you with her Louis Vuitton shiv when you enter the bathroom at Yom Kippur services. I watch people interact with her on the show and can hear the internal anti-Semitic commentary beyond their glazed expressions. She makes me just the tiniest bit embarrassed to be Jewish and from New York.
Jill is married to Bawby AKA Bobby, who is in the schmatte business. Zarin fabrics is their shop on the Lower East Side, where Jill has pretended to work in the past. They have a daughter Alison, who is definitely the most natural person on the show in her adolescent, slightly mortified “my mom has chosen to put me on a reality show but I’m going with it” kind of vibe. Jill had a “gay husband,” “Brad,” who also worked fondling fabrics at the store, but then he got drunk on camera a bunch of times and started to upstage Jill with his seersucker suits and inappropriate comments, so we started seeing much less of “Brad.” Jill also has a hilarious mother named Gloria, who probably hopes to also get her own show at some point. She gives a lot uninvited bromides to whomever happens to be around, and its hard to tell if she is 50 years old or 120 as a result of her intense facelift. Jill also has a sister who is a radio host and seems kind of smart and normal. The sisters and the mom all wrote a book together with “Jewish Mother” in the title, natch.
Jill has at least one Chihuahua.
The most important thing you need to know about Jill is that she bonded hard in seasons 1 and 2 with Bethenney and then they had a giant falling out in season 3, which ended with Bethenney leaving the show without forgiving her. Jill looked BAD. Its vague what actually happened between them, which is strange for these women who seem to have no problem exposing any and every thing about their lives, but there was a lot of crying and self pity and gossiping and something having to do with Bethenney not calling to follow up after she sent flowers when Bawby had a cancer scare without being told he was actually sick (but he ended up being fine). Confused? So was Bethenney.
But Jill showed her true colors as the whiney tween that she is, and Bethenney looked like a freaking hero/genius/moral center of the show. In a story arc that reads like a modern American fairy tale for our times, Bethenney departed RHONY with dignity and now has her own show on Bravo, about finding love and having first a wedding and then a baby and now a nanny so she can manage herself as a “brand,” which apparently is indistinct from the brand that is Skinny Girl Margarita Mix ©.
So that’s Jill.
I’ve been given the challenge of bringing GTOG Nation up to speed on my favorite sport: The Real Housewives of NYC. Season four begins next Thursday, April 7, and I'll be here every day until then to make sure you have your bearings on the big day. Have you missed the glamour of awkward PR “events,” copious pinot grigio, and treasured lessons on etiquette? I know I have.
These housewives have been working: their cores, skin care lines, and drag queen anthems since season three ended last summer. I watched much of that season’s compelling life lessons at 3am while nursing my new baby, waiting to nurse my new baby, or waiting for my new baby to wake up/go to sleep, so my memory of this time is mostly like that of seeing the Allman Brothers Band in New Hampshire after swallowing whatever my friend’s friend’s friend ensured me was going to be fine, he promised. Anyway. At the end of the season, I have to say I was ready for a break from these beeyotches for realz. They were awful. They were fighting and screeching practically swatting each other like toddlers. They were catty. Awful. Their teeth were too white and their hair unnaturally smooth. It was weird.
But now I’m caffeinated and ready for a fresh season of my favorite totally staged show of ladies who lunch, lash out, and linger in my brain more than anything I learned in AP US History.
So let me break it down for you folks, one housewife at a time.
 |
Jill Zarin
Oy. Jill is like your friend from college who seems down to earth and warm, but then cuts you with her Louis Vuitton shiv when you enter the bathroom at Yom Kippur services. I watch people interact with her on the show and can hear the internal anti-Semitic commentary beyond their glazed expressions. She makes me just the tiniest bit embarrassed to be Jewish and from New York.
Jill is married to Bawby AKA Bobby, who is in the schmatte business. Zarin fabrics is their shop on the Lower East Side, where Jill has pretended to work in the past. They have a daughter Alison, who is definitely the most natural person on the show in her adolescent, slightly mortified “my mom has chosen to put me on a reality show but I’m going with it” kind of vibe. Jill had a “gay husband,” “Brad,” who also worked fondling fabrics at the store, but then he got drunk on camera a bunch of times and started to upstage Jill with his seersucker suits and inappropriate comments, so we started seeing much less of “Brad.” Jill also has a hilarious mother named Gloria, who probably hopes to also get her own show at some point. She gives a lot uninvited bromides to whomever happens to be around, and its hard to tell if she is 50 years old or 120 as a result of her intense facelift. Jill also has a sister who is a radio host and seems kind of smart and normal. The sisters and the mom all wrote a book together with “Jewish Mother” in the title, natch.
Jill has at least one Chihuahua.
 |
| Not Even Jill's Chihuahua |
But Jill showed her true colors as the whiney tween that she is, and Bethenney looked like a freaking hero/genius/moral center of the show. In a story arc that reads like a modern American fairy tale for our times, Bethenney departed RHONY with dignity and now has her own show on Bravo, about finding love and having first a wedding and then a baby and now a nanny so she can manage herself as a “brand,” which apparently is indistinct from the brand that is Skinny Girl Margarita Mix ©.
So that’s Jill.
Armia Krajowa, 55RP armylist for SoTR
Busy weekend with a gameday tomorrow down at the club and the Sci Fi convention this sunday.
I plan to play my Polish partisan platoon, built upon a tweaked Doomsday Partisan OoB. Though I added a lot of unit types and special units myself to make it more a Warsaw Uprising 1944 themed force than the generic resistance fighters of the Partisan OoB. You can find all the special and tweaked units in my Polish OoB PDF, just click and download it for free - it's located in the "links of interest" box. The PDF also contains a few tweaks if you want to play a Polish platoon under Soviet command, or play a Western allied platoon. Also added a couple early war units such as cavalry and the TKS tankettes.
........
Anyway, the armylist I wrote for tomorrows 55RP game looks like this:
Veteran 5RP
Partisan Hero (Free)
Armia Krajowa Cameraman 3RP
2x Armia Krajowa partisan bands with SMG/Semi automatic rifle mix 10RP
1x Lesni squad 5RP
1x LMG team 3RP
1x Flamethrower team 2RP
1x Kedyw Squad 6RP
1x Light mecha, light vehicle armor, lmg & flamethrower 6RP
1x Sdkfz 251 with pintle mounted HMG 4RP
1x Hetzer (medium armor house rule 11RP)
/55RP
..........
Not sure what opposition they will face. But I'll see if I can take pictures and throw together a battle report or something if time permits.
Latest addition is the Flamethrower team. I also got a few spare models which I prepped today. They will form a HMG team and a AT team. Need to get me 2 sniper models as well.
I plan to play my Polish partisan platoon, built upon a tweaked Doomsday Partisan OoB. Though I added a lot of unit types and special units myself to make it more a Warsaw Uprising 1944 themed force than the generic resistance fighters of the Partisan OoB. You can find all the special and tweaked units in my Polish OoB PDF, just click and download it for free - it's located in the "links of interest" box. The PDF also contains a few tweaks if you want to play a Polish platoon under Soviet command, or play a Western allied platoon. Also added a couple early war units such as cavalry and the TKS tankettes.
........
Anyway, the armylist I wrote for tomorrows 55RP game looks like this:
Veteran 5RP
Partisan Hero (Free)
Armia Krajowa Cameraman 3RP
2x Armia Krajowa partisan bands with SMG/Semi automatic rifle mix 10RP
1x Lesni squad 5RP
1x LMG team 3RP
1x Flamethrower team 2RP
1x Kedyw Squad 6RP
1x Light mecha, light vehicle armor, lmg & flamethrower 6RP
1x Sdkfz 251 with pintle mounted HMG 4RP
1x Hetzer (medium armor house rule 11RP)
/55RP
..........
Not sure what opposition they will face. But I'll see if I can take pictures and throw together a battle report or something if time permits.
Latest addition is the Flamethrower team. I also got a few spare models which I prepped today. They will form a HMG team and a AT team. Need to get me 2 sniper models as well.
Sessions updated for Google I/O 2011!
This post is by Monica Tran. Monica comes to Google by way of the Developer Marketing team, primarily focused on Google I/O and our international Developer Days. As it is written in To Kill a Mockingbird, "Thus you'll come to know Monica whose head teemed with eccentric plans, strange longings, and quaint fancies." – scottk
From our Last Call for Google I/O contest to I/O Extended viewing parties all over the world, we’re super duper extra excited to bring you even more surprises at Google I/O in 2011. Starting this week and counting down to May 10, we’ll be bringing you the latest on Way After Hours, the Developer Sandstorm, Android for Goodness Sake, I/O It’s Alive and a massive number of other things with cool names.
To kick off April, we’ve added NEW! sessions, covering web technologies of the future. We think this new lineup of speakers, tracks, and sessions will arm you with the tools you need to become tomorrow’s innovators and pioneers of the Internet revolution. Check out the Google I/O page and hit our guestbook to let us know what you think.
For those of you unable to join us in person on May 10 - 11, we will be harnessing the power of the interwebs to bring you real-time video footage of the keynotes and recorded videos of all sessions. Viva le web-volution!
Please pardon our dust--the site is currently under construction and you might find it acting up. We promise to get it fixed by tomorrow.
 |
| Monica Tran in typical attire |
To kick off April, we’ve added NEW! sessions, covering web technologies of the future. We think this new lineup of speakers, tracks, and sessions will arm you with the tools you need to become tomorrow’s innovators and pioneers of the Internet revolution. Check out the Google I/O page and hit our guestbook to let us know what you think.
For those of you unable to join us in person on May 10 - 11, we will be harnessing the power of the interwebs to bring you real-time video footage of the keynotes and recorded videos of all sessions. Viva le web-volution!
Please pardon our dust--the site is currently under construction and you might find it acting up. We promise to get it fixed by tomorrow.
GTOPG: Tampa Sucks; Pens Lose 2-1
By GTOG Staff
Let's get one thing out of the way, just in case it wasn't clear from the headline: Tampa sucks. They certainly have plenty of top end talent, but that team's whole strikes us as somehow less than the sum of its parts. The Bolts are a team that plays a trap game as soon as they get up by one goal. That would be a sound strategy if you were playing the 1995 Penguins, but it made no sense on Thursday night. If you're anything like us, then you were texting your friends late in the first period and throughout the second period talking about how the Pens were playing terribly and the playoffs were looking like a one-and-done scenario. And then you overheard the Tampa announcers (because you're watching on the Package) talk about how the Pens are totally outplaying Tampa and started the second period with a 9-0 advantage in shots. You probably did a double-take and came to the only conclusion that you possibly could. That's right. Tampa sucks.
- Even though Tampa sucks, could the Pens lose to Tampa in the first round? Absolutely. Tampa may have the four most skilled players in the series - St. Louis, Stamkos, Lecavalier, and Gagne - and they have a power play that clicks at over 20%. They'll have Ryan Malone in front of the net. The Penguins power play has Max Talbot falling forward in trying to win an offensive zone faceoff and immediately allowing a 3-on-2 the other way. The advantage the Lightning have in this area right now cannot be overstated.
- None of this is to say that the Pens will lose to Tampa. In fact, GTOG maintains that the Pens will be the favorite in the series and probably should win. Remember the takeaway from last night: Tampa sucks.
- The first key to success for Pittsburgh will be Marc-Andre Fleury. He can keep the Penguins in any game and in any series. The second key will be the power play. If it can muster even 3 goals in the series - something very much in question - we like Pittsburgh's chances. And here's the third key: Kris Letang. We've been touting him since October as one of the best defensemen in the league, and he deserves the accolades, but he played an immature game last night. He got visibly frustrated. He yelled at the referrees. Guys were getting under his skin. It didn't help that he took a Lecavalier elbow to the head that directly resulted in the St. Louis game-winner. But let's be clear-eyed about this. Since the wave of injuries that altered the course of the Penguins' season, Letang has shown a tendency to try to do it all himself, forcing the play, taking unnecessary risks, and going all Darius Kasparitis on opposing forwards when the situation maybe calls for a little more Rob Scuderi. Can he be the leader the Penguins need right now? This bears watching.
- If you don't despise Steve Downie by now, give it 20 more minutes.
- Stamkos, upon whom we couldn't have possibly heaped more praise early in the season unless he had split the D and kicked Jon Casey in the nuts, was largely a non-factor last night. There's really only one Tampa player who scares us, and his name is Marty. But to avoid jinxing it and unleashing him on a 2-goal-per-game fury in Round 1, everybody say it with us, "Man, I'm terrified of Stamkos." Little Stevie did make one very good play last night, manhandling Brooks Orpik to free up a loose puck that Kris Letang didn't even pretend to fight for before Tampa stuffed home their first goal. The way Stamkos dislodged Orpik was very impressive and reinforces that you don't have to be big to hit people, you just have to be a great skater.
- Anyone else go to bed terrified of Dwayne Roloson? Oh wait, no one does.
- Zbynek Michalek is going to be a joy to watch in the postseason. He may block every single Tampa shot. What a signing.
- Eight-foot tall Victor Hedman wanted no part of Tyler Kennedy during a second period scrum. That was straight baby thighs, son. Vic, this is not a rec league. Wait until you're on Consol ice for four games and the Pens start throwing the puck into your corner just to let James Neal and Chris Kunitz punish you. Thanks for the playoff preview.
- We can't blame you if you came away from the game last night with a pit in your stomach. Keep your chin up. It sounded like Aron Asham was talking about Mario Lemieux on Thursday.
Let's get one thing out of the way, just in case it wasn't clear from the headline: Tampa sucks. They certainly have plenty of top end talent, but that team's whole strikes us as somehow less than the sum of its parts. The Bolts are a team that plays a trap game as soon as they get up by one goal. That would be a sound strategy if you were playing the 1995 Penguins, but it made no sense on Thursday night. If you're anything like us, then you were texting your friends late in the first period and throughout the second period talking about how the Pens were playing terribly and the playoffs were looking like a one-and-done scenario. And then you overheard the Tampa announcers (because you're watching on the Package) talk about how the Pens are totally outplaying Tampa and started the second period with a 9-0 advantage in shots. You probably did a double-take and came to the only conclusion that you possibly could. That's right. Tampa sucks.
 |
| Tampa _ _ _ _ _ |
- None of this is to say that the Pens will lose to Tampa. In fact, GTOG maintains that the Pens will be the favorite in the series and probably should win. Remember the takeaway from last night: Tampa sucks.
|
| Tampa _ _ _ _ _ |
 |
| Less Darius, please |
- Stamkos, upon whom we couldn't have possibly heaped more praise early in the season unless he had split the D and kicked Jon Casey in the nuts, was largely a non-factor last night. There's really only one Tampa player who scares us, and his name is Marty. But to avoid jinxing it and unleashing him on a 2-goal-per-game fury in Round 1, everybody say it with us, "Man, I'm terrified of Stamkos." Little Stevie did make one very good play last night, manhandling Brooks Orpik to free up a loose puck that Kris Letang didn't even pretend to fight for before Tampa stuffed home their first goal. The way Stamkos dislodged Orpik was very impressive and reinforces that you don't have to be big to hit people, you just have to be a great skater.
- Anyone else go to bed terrified of Dwayne Roloson? Oh wait, no one does.
- Zbynek Michalek is going to be a joy to watch in the postseason. He may block every single Tampa shot. What a signing.
- Eight-foot tall Victor Hedman wanted no part of Tyler Kennedy during a second period scrum. That was straight baby thighs, son. Vic, this is not a rec league. Wait until you're on Consol ice for four games and the Pens start throwing the puck into your corner just to let James Neal and Chris Kunitz punish you. Thanks for the playoff preview.
 |
| Straight baby thighs, son |
"He looks good. I'm pretty sure he could lace them up tonight and play and be a force," Asham gushed. "He's just so much better than everyone else. He can be out for a year and he'd probably come back and still lead the league [in scoring]. He's just that talented."
Casey Abell to host Wheel of Fortune
About time they got rid of Sajak. I mean, this guy's been around since the Athens-Sparta Super Bowl.I'm making a few changes. Vanna's gonna wear shorts. What's the use of having legs like that if nobody can see 'em? The new announcer will be Drew Carey, but only if he gains back the weight. I don't want an announcer who's skinnier than me.
We're gonna do some Latin puzzles because I really want to screw up the contestants. I figure "Veni, Vidi, Vici" should be a real doozy. Whoever picks "V", anyway?
Speaking of V, has that thing on ABC been cancelled yet? Put it out if its misery, please.
Oh, back to Wheel. I've been thinking about squaring the circle. Literally. I'll have the contestants spin a square thing, just to get something new into a show that's older than Everest.
And I'm getting rid of the chitchat with Vanna at the end of the show. We know she can say "bye."
Bye.
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