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I miss Blockbuster.
That is all.
:/
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Not me! I was blacklisted back in the day for refusing to pay a $60 late fee. I was willing to pay A late fee, but to my mind it was usury to expect me to pay four times the cost of the DVD in a store. They told me I could never rent from Blockbuster again. I told them fine and went to the local store instead.
When Netflix came out I was one of the first people getting those mailed DVDs. I called it too, I knew that arrogant chain was doomed. I went to their going out of business sale and picked up some cool movies cheap :)
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You know what chain I DO miss? Borders Books :/
I used to love perusing the stacks there
Wow, that does suck.
I can't help but wonder if they weren't just being jerks at that one store though?
I was told by the store(s) that I used, the late fee would never be more than the cost of the movie. So if I really liked it, just keep it and pay them the next time I came back in.
Of course, THEIR price was always more than say Wal-mart's prices, But a $60 late fee? Nuh-uh. That would be redonkulous.
I miss Blockbuster for the same reason the guy in the video linked says, I LIKED browsing & looking at the box and thinking about whether or not it might be a cool movie. Looking at the blurbs online just isn't the same. ;P (To me, I admit.) :/
I didn't sign up for Netflix until after they 'split' their services, I do not have (enough) time (to watch TV/Movies) to justify paying separate fees for the streaming and the DVD rentals. :P
However, I also did pick up a few cheap movies at the closing sale. For me it was a bittersweet moment. :)
You know what chain I DO miss? Borders Books :/
I used to love perusing the stacks there
Border's Books?!? That sounds familiar,...
Wait, is this the store that was basically a box store, but only had books? We had one near Jackson MS where I lived & worked for a year, I visited there often. I picked up a lot of stuff there on the cheap.
Notably, Boxed Radio Dramas for all three Star Wars Movies (On Cassette, The originals, written by Brian Daley) as well as many books, and GAME books (D&D mostly) from their 'slightly dinged/lovingly used' aisle. :)
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FYI, Our First ever (Hopefully of many) University Of Louisiana at Lafayette Stage Combat Workshop Intensive was a success!
I have christened it the "Swamp Slam Intensive", as we have the dubious honor of being the ONLY campus in America to have a Swamp in the MIDDLE of our college campus. With Alligators. :/
30 hours of training, one week, one weapon, (in this case 'Single Sword', think Rapier and dagger without the dagger, al-la Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone) with a test on Sunday. All 9 participants passed, most of us with a Recommended, (basically an 'A+')
Both the class teacher, and the Fightmaster who adjudicated the test were happy to help us get this program started, and we hope to be able to continue this project in the future.
Hopefully this will lead towards something good for me as well, (besides getting the fun of swinging swords around) AS I hope to convince the University to allow me to teach a basic Stage Combat course(s) as an alternative to the Performing arts department requirements for movement classes. (Right now dance is the only movement classes offered)
But for now, I bask in the glory of yet another SAFD certification under my belt. (5 total now, 3 more to go)
And I also bask in the pain, as 30 hours of workout in one week is a LOT. :/ (My right leg is still killing me!) :P
But for now, I bask in the glory of yet another SAFD certification under my belt. (5 total now, 3 more to go)
SAFD?
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But for now, I bask in the glory of yet another SAFD certification under my belt. (5 total now, 3 more to go)SAFD?
Society of American Fight Directors.
Founded in 1980's, bringing stage combat (anything from a simple slap, to a brawl, to a mass combat with swords and shields) to the professional (and amateur) performance artists, so we can do it every day and NOT get hurt! :) (AND look awesome while doing it!) ;)
SAFD.org has more information for those interested.
Or ask me! :)
Sword and F&@@ing Destruction.
That's my guess, I've been wrong before. :-)
Sword and F!*&ing Destruction.
That's my guess, I've been wrong before. :-)
Ah,... no.
THAT would be the organization for those who do not care about being safe while performing.(Also known as the SCA) ;P
I love Ska! So, we talking Mighty Mighty Bosstones, not sure I have any of them... Is Fishbone Ska?
Still congrats! Always awesome when hard work pays off. :-)
You know what chain I DO miss? Borders Books :/
I used to love perusing the stacks there
Agreed. Even Barnes & Noble just doesn't have the same feel to me.
Now I'm realizing it's been a while since I browsed B&N.
I don't get into the local mall much anymore, but the last time I hit B&N they had downsized their SciFi/Fantasy, graphic novel, and RPG sections heavily. I was not amused
They've actually added on to the one at ours. :-)
They've actually added on to the one at ours. :-)
I live in a singularly unimaginative region
You know what's bigger at my B&N actually? Toys. That and supernatural romances. So, werewolves and vampires are ok as long as they have nice abs and long flowing hair :/
I did like getting the monthly 3-3.5e splat book at Borders. It was a ritual
I was so sad to see this because I knew it was over
I used to be a fairly regular B&N browser, and Borders back when it existed.
But now I have Kindle. So... not so much.
I've never been one of those "must have the book in-hand" types, so that's no loss to me. Kindle books tend to be cheaper, too.
I have to prepare a first level wizard for friday, I have no Idea about appearance, name, baxkstory or motivation beside: robe and pointy head with stars on hit, long white beard and pipe :-(
any ideas?
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When I am stumped, I think of a personality quirk that I can layer onto the core concept. Maybe the wizard is always nervous and jumpy, or maybe he is so obsessed with being the smartest person in the room that he makes stuff up when he doesn't know the answer to something, or maybe he is fascinated by his own destructive magic and is something of a pyromaniac, or maybe he hears voices and is convinced they are the source of his power even though they are only hallucinations.
If you take something like that, the character is instantly memorable and non-generic. If it is a one-shot adventure, that may be all you need.
If I need a fast character, I think of somebody I know with a strong personality and model them after that person, then build a corresponding backstory.
Be fashionable, I've never been a fan of wizards in robes, Spring for the monocle.
Edit: hit on everything, wizards have needs too.
Still congrats! Always awesome when hard work pays off. :-)
Thenk yew, thenk yew!
Yah, I'm (mostly) joking about the SCA.
;P
We actually had a couple of local SCA fencers join us for the workshop. (I know one from his DM'ing Star Wars games at Mechacon) and they were easily the happiest and hardest working of the attendees. (Next to me of course!) ;P
They came to learn how to do more entertaining & theatrical/presentational displays with their fencing. I think they actually had more fun than the college kids did. :/
If I need a fast character, I think of somebody I know with a strong personality and model them after that person, then build a corresponding backstory.
I tend to model mine after tv/movie characters.
And the Doctor, obviously. ;)
usually I start with a picture in my head and work from the visual to the rest, but nothing comes to mind
it is for Iron Gods, by the way
maybe my dislike for fantasy-syfy mix-ups
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Use a Slavic sounding name. They tend to be underused in fantasy, and are thus inherently memorable to a Western audience.
As a fan of "The Witcher," Stregebor is my own reccomendation.
You know that Boromir in (West) Slavic languages would mean something along the line of Forest- (bor) -peace (mir) or -respect (mir in Modern Polish).
If anyone would want a handful of slavic-sounding names, I'll be sitting in my corner, browsing the internet.
Taking a day off lifting to check out Patrick's hotel for him. I have been putting it off and I really need to check it out before the day gets too close and I discover it is the den of 80s New York cop/crime movie stereotypes.
If I need a fast character, I think of somebody I know with a strong personality and model them after that person, then build a corresponding backstory.I tend to model mine after tv/movie characters.
And the Doctor, obviously. ;)
Or disreputable Chicago wizards...
Use a Slavic sounding name. They tend to be underused in fantasy, and are thus inherently memorable to a Western audience.
As a fan of "The Witcher," Stregebor is my own reccomendation.
You know that Boromir in (West) Slavic languages would mean something along the line of Forest- (bor) -peace (mir) or -respect (mir in Modern Polish).
If anyone would want a handful of slavic-sounding names, I'll be sitting in my corner, browsing the internet.
List some! I love them!
Vlachislav, Radomir, Vorosov, the cadence of them is enticingly exotic to English-trained ears.
Taking a day off lifting to check out Patrick's hotel for him. I have been putting it off and I really need to check it out before the day gets too close and I discover it is the den of 80s New York cop/crime movie stereotypes.
I appreciate it FHDM! I don't want to end up on an episode of CSI
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Or X-Files.
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Boromil (forest-lover)
Milobor (forest of love)
Mirmil (lover of peace, name of a character in Kajko i Kokosz comic books)
Voymil (lover of war, name of Mirmil's brother).
Mieshko (name of the Polish Dukes and kings, probably related to one of the many words for bear)
Boroslav (one who praises forest)
Viedomir (wise/wisdom peace)
Viedomil (wisdom-loving)
Viedoslav (wisdom praising)
For female forms of those names add -a at the end (or replace o with a for Mieshko).
Note that except for Mirmil, Voymil, and Mieshko, I invented those names on spot, though they might have actually existed in those or different forms. I wrote them down using mostly simplified spelling.
Oh, well, it seems that Borosław is in current use as a Polish name, or so the Google says.
I can post some more later when I get some fresh ideas...
Or X-Files.
Go on...
Note that except for Mirmil, Voymil, and Mieshko, I invented those names on spot, though they might have actually existed in those or different forms. I wrote them down using mostly simplified spelling.
Oh, well, it seems that Borosław is in current use as a Polish name, or so the Google says.
Ditto for my examples. I cannot ascertain their real world veracity. But I make up my English sounding ones too, so
Thanks Drejk!
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Am outside your hotel now. It is RIGHT off the bridge into manhattan. You should be quite safe, but I will escort you to it if need be after a night of drinking.
*sigh* Why are you on the wrong side of the world... Why can't you met in York? Though it would be even better if you came here!
You could see a real castle. With a dragon cave underneath!
Really, there is a dragon cave under the castle in my city.
In XVI-XVII it housed a public house. In both of English and Polish meanings of that word...
Am outside your hotel now. It is RIGHT off the bridge into manhattan. You should be quite safe, but I will escort you to it if need be after a night of drinking.
Lol
Let's hope it's not that bad :D
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Boroslaw the Bold!
Borosłav Chrobry (ch is read like h, it was a separate h-like sound in the past, but I have no idea how it was pronounced originally).
In Polish, -mil and -slav are actually mił and słav, ł being the sound you Saxon-speaking savages are usually writing down as 'w'. Not sure if that sound was used thousand or so years ago... Latin-writers definitely had a problem with writing it down and were very inconsistent when they tried to do that.
Only now I recalled a fitting name I assembled for my beorning in Lord Of The Rings Online: Miedomil. Miod (Polish) or Mied (older form, still present in Russian) means honey/mead.