collectik-kat's playlist

Fear the Boot: The Lazy DM on Making the Plots (aka Something from Nothing)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:48:24 -0500

Have you ever just not felt like writing? Have you even just been too busy with all your video games and napping to get something written for the upcoming game? I’m sure you have. In fact it happens to DMs all the time, and we end up running half assed junk or pointless role playing [...]

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Jesus Returns To Give Consumers Christmas Pep Talk

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:52:03 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Department Of Justice Adds Mounted Prosecutors

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:52:03 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Grape-Flavored Vodka Makes Vodka-Time More Fun

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:52:03 -0500

Fear the Boot: Madden 2009 review, part 1 of 3

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:32:11 -0500

Yeah, that’s right. I’m reviewing a football game. Sports are the social currency of our society, and while I’m conversant in our professional pastimes, I can’t dig into the stats and terminology that keep more fluent fans abuzz. Since I own a company that makes fantasy football software, I’ve been feeling some pressure to change that. A [...]

Fear the Boot: Madden 2009 review, part 2 of 3

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:32:11 -0500

Madden 2009 is playable by anyone that has a passing familiarity with football and a good feel for the console controller. But if you have a PhD in football, this game is still ready to challenge you. You can view depth charts at any point in the season. There are stats galore. The announcers use [...]

Fear the Boot: Episode 126 - no dice and almost no players

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:32:11 -0500

* Embarrass Chris and feed a village! You just can’t lose with this charity. We’re collecting money to purchase livestock for struggling communities around the world. Each animal purchased will not only provide much needed labor, wool, or sustenance to these people, but it will also ransom out one of Chris’ Battletech love letters for [...]

Fear the Boot: Madden 2009 review, part 3 of 3

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:32:11 -0500

I can’t stress enough how much this game recreates a Sunday afternoon experience. As a game starts, you’re hit with familiar NFL musical fare. Madden is on hand to introduce the match-up, explaining its context in the season. Logos sweep across your view with the same sound effects you’d hear during the telecast of a pro [...]

LibriVox Audiobooks: 63 - A Visitor

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:04:15 -0500

LibriVox Audiobooks: 64 - A Last Retrospect

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:04:15 -0500

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: interview - podictionary 900

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:04:35 -0500

The word comes from French and was once two words entre voir literally meaning "to see between" but more figuratively "to see each other." By that definition telephone interviews would be an impossibility.

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: museum - podictionary 44

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:04:35 -0500

The Museum was singular, there was only one, and it was at Alexandria in classical times. In Greek it was the Museion because it was the temple of the muses.

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: vitamin - podictionary 901

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:04:35 -0500

And so it was that the word was punished by the removal of its "e" so that people wouldn't ever be fooled again into thinking that a vitamin needed to be an amine.

SF Site Podcast: Nation by Terry Pratchett Narrated by Stephen Briggs (9.5 hours, unabridged) Published by HarperAudio an audio review podcast by Brian Price

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:56:09 -0500

Stepping away from his Discworld universe, Terry Pratchett has written a children's book that will appeal to both kids and adults. When a mile-high tidal wave crashes through the South Seas, 13-year year old native islander Mau and 13-year-old English castaway Daphne believe they are the sole survivors this cataclismic change has brought to their perspective worlds.

Sons of Kryos: Interview with Luke Crane, and David Petersen

thelostgm@yahoo.com (Jeff Lower and Judd Karlman) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:04:10 -0500

GenCon 08 Interviews part one with Luke Crane about the Mouse Guard RPG, and then we catch up with David Petersen on the GenCon floor. 34min

A Way with Words: Moonbats and Wingnuts - 1 Dec. 2008

words@waywordradio.org — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:20:42 -0500

[This episode first aired September 20, 2008.]

Here's a bit of political slang now making the rounds: sleepover. No, we're not talking about another pol caught with his pants down. We're talking about spending the night with, well, a voting machine. In this week's episode, we examine this and other examples of political language.

You call the repairman to fix a balky garage door, but when he gets there, it inexplicably works. You summon a plumber, only to find that when he arrives, your toilet's no longer leaking--and you're out $150. Or you discover that somewhere between your home and the doctor's office, your kid's sore throat miraculously healed. A caller in Traverse City, Michigan, is tearing her hair out over this phenomenon, which she calls "phixophobia." But, she asks, might there be an even better word for the way inanimate objects seem to conspire against us? We think so: resistentialism.

Great Scott! You've heard the expression. But who was Scott and why was he so great? Or was he an impressive Scotsman? Martha and Grant can't say for sure, although the evidence points toward a Civil War soldier who happened to go by that name.

Our hosts bandy about some more political slang terms and explain their meaning and origin. Or did you already know the difference between a moonbat and a wingnut?

Quiz Guy John Chaneski strikes up the band, begins the beguine, and treats Martha and Grant to musical quiz. Warning: Songs may be sung. Not to worry, though--all three have promised to keep their day jobs.

If someone handed you something and told you to stick it in your jockey box, where would you put it? A Baltimore caller who grew up in Utah says when he used this term on a road trip with a friend, his pal was flummoxed. Is jockey box an expression peculiar to one part of the country?

Is that oh-so-handy sticky stuff called "duct tape" or "duck tape"? An Emmy-nominated filmmaker is wondering, specifically because he has to instruct narrators to be careful to avoid running together a T sound at the end of a word with the T sound at the beginning of a word. And that has him further wondering if such elision of consonants has created other terms. We offer him an answer and a glass of ice tea. Or would that be iced tea?

It's Obamarama time! We discuss the growing number of plays on the name of the Democratic presidential candidate.

A North Carolina pediatrician is this week's contestant for an animal-themed version of our slang quiz. He tries to figure out the meaning of dead cat bounce and pigeon pair.

A caller's question about the word wonky, in the sense of askew, leads to a broader question: What makes a word slang, anyway?

Why do we say something is jet black? Does it have to do with the color of a 747's exhaust? Or skid marks on the runway? Or something else entirely? We provide a color with a mineralogical answer.

A listener phones with his pet restaurant peeve: When your waiter ask, "Are you working on that?" Martha and Grant agree and pile on with gusto.

--

Get your language question answered on the air! Call or write 24 hours a day: (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673, words@waywordradio.org, or visit our web site and discussion forums at http://waywordradio.org. Copyright 2008, Wayword LLC.

A Way with Words: Ground Game (minicast) - 1 Dec. 2008

words@waywordradio.org — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:20:42 -0500

We're continuing our look at some of the words of the year of 2008.

Being an election year, it generated a huge amount of political language.

One expression that was not new, but which certainly seems to have exploded in use, was 'ground game.'

Ground game is a political term that refers to the door-to-door, one-on-one tactics used in the presidential campaigns.

The victory of the Obama campaign, in particular, has been widely credited to its voter registration drives, its organized efforts to sway undecided or independent voters, its email lists, and its repeated reminders of when and where to vote.

Ground game has its roots in sports.

In football, playing a ground game is about not kicking or passing, but pushing the ball step by step toward the goal with scrimmaging. It's a slog to the end zone, but it avoids investing too much hope on a single play.

In martial arts, a ground game is the kind of fighting that happens on the mat or floor, as opposed to the kicking and punching that happens when standing up.

It puts the combatants face-to-face. This, too, is a tough slog toward victory, though perhaps a more sure one as it does not rely on a miraculous kick or punch.

That's all about 'ground game.' Next week we'll talk about the acronym 'PUMA.'

--

Get your language question answered on the air! Call or write 24 hours a day: (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673, words@waywordradio.org, or visit our web site and discussion forums at http://waywordradio.org. Copyright 2008, Wayword LLC.

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Childless Couple Seriously Thinking About Abducting

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:40:07 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Highest Blender Setting Successfully Drowns Out Jamba Juice Employee

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:40:07 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Technical Preschool Teaches Welding To Kids

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:40:07 -0500

The Sniffer: The Sniffer: Trends: High Fashion Goes Budget and Punk Rock Bike Locks

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:32:18 -0500

In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young mentions that avant garde fashion label, Comme des Garçons, is coming to H&M (via her new blog crush, Dinosaurs and Robots) Discussion of shopping addiction ensues. (BTW, the book that Nora couldn’t remember the name of is a history of glamour, called, erm, Glamour) Meanwhile, Cathi Bond addresses the frustration [...]

Fear the Boot: In with the new, out with the old: the fallacy of game edition garage sales.

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:20:17 -0500

The new edition of your favorite game is out. It’s hot off the presses and has that ‘new edition smell.’ The cover is new and shiny, the rules fixed all the problems with the old edition, and you want to take it out for a spin. Too bad all your old books are ‘useless’ now. Time [...]

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Wal-Mart's Prices Undercut By Wal-Mart Dumpster

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:28:03 -0500

The Sniffer: The Sniffer: trends in portability: mini-max and what the cell phone gobbles up

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:28:03 -0500

In this trendwatching podcast, Cathi Bond mentions David Pogue’s pick of the Optoma Pico Projector. It’s a mini projector that you can carry around and project movies and the like. It’s part of a dual trend we’ve been spotting for a while: miniaturization of devices combined with ways of maximizing visibility. (Side note: Nora was at [...]

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: coat - podictionary 899

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:40:10 -0500

The legacy of these naming conventions survives in waistcoat and petticoat.

Fear the Boot: Episode 125- never letting them see you sweat

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:12:30 -0500

* The Fear the Con site is now up for registration. If you want to run a game, sign up first and then contact Chad, telling him about the game you’re running (title, description, system, desired timeframe, and number of player slots). * Introducicng our guest hosts, Andy and Arthur. If you can’t remember their forum [...]

Pulp Gamer Hard Core: Pulp Gamer Out of Character: PGOC 064: Facebook Fury

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:28:40 -0500

We have jumped on board with Facebook. Join our group there and lets talk about the topics that interest us on the show.

Settlers of Catan makes MSN's Top Ten Games list.

WizKids Games is closing their doors.

Polymancer is calling for bloggers.

We received word of the coming Pulp Fest. We wish we could go!

We thank Myriad Games for their ongoing support!

The podcasting friends we mentioned on today's show include Yog Radio, Game On, and Fear the Boot.

Pulp Gamer Hard Core: Pulp Gamer Special Presentations: Game Kennel 2008 Review

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:28:39 -0500

We are just getting started in the holiday season and wanted to give you an overview of the games covered thus far on The Game Kennel. Be sure to listen to the individual episodes for a more in depth discussion about each game.

earideas: 62 - A Light Shines on my Way

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 18:40:28 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: American Bar Association Recalls 230,000 Defective Lawyers

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:20:17 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Vice President Cheney Burns Down White House Aviary

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:20:17 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Area Man Sneaks Own Balloon Into Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:20:17 -0500

Fear the Boot: The Lazy DM on Ultimate Power!

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:52:14 -0500

Many have said I’m crazy as a DM for allowing the players too much power. I let them be Gestalt, I let them pick classes and prestige classes with impunity, and I don’t care what horrific combination of feats they come up with. It all works to my advantage as a DM. How is that an [...]

Fear the Boot: Gamer Adventures

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:52:14 -0500

In several episodes of the show, I’ve mentioned a travel agent, Kim Maita, who does gamer-themed vacations. Her most recent endeavor was a LARP cruise, in which a fair number of LARPers took up a block of a cruise ship, turning it into a floating Denny’s (albeit with much better food). The lack of clear [...]

Fear the Boot: Surface, My Latest Favorite Arcing Series

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:52:14 -0500

Truly arcing story lines in television is a real rarity, at least when it comes to the kind of television I enjoy. I spend a lot of effort looking for a series that will keep me glued to the plot for hours, or even days of watching. These are those story lines that are characterized [...]

The Signal: The Signal, Season 4, Show 22, November 25th 2008

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:48:14 -0500

Features include: Marian Call and Andy Gore Interview, Badger's World (Beginnings -Part1), What's Your Serenity (Part 5), Tale of the Verse (How the Verse Will End), Music Section (Marian Call - In the Black)

Pulp Gamer Hard Core: Pulp Gamer Inside Track: PGIT 063: Kim Maita of Gamer Adventures

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:20:03 -0500

We are extremely excited to be joining Gamer Adventures for a gamer cruise to the Caribbean this spring. To learn more about this and other cruises, we called Kim Maita. Kim just got back from a LARP cruise and was eager to tell us all about it. We then taked about the coming Magic cruise, and our Caribbean Cruise.

I hope you will be able to join us in March of 2008 for this cruise for gamers and significant others. Kim was kind enough to share links to some of the activities we can partake in when we hit port. Once the new year rolls around, be sure to check with Kim to get the best rates on these events. We will be hitting Key West, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica.

Mayfair Games will be on board and hosting a Settlers of Catan Tournament. The winner will get a full ride to Gen Con 2009 to compete in the North American finals.

A Way with Words: Nuke the Fridge - 23 Nov. 2008

words@waywordradio.org — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:56:12 -0500

We kick off our series on contenders for 2008's "Word of the Year" with a look at "nuke the fridge."

The American Dialect Society will hold the 19th annual "Word of the Year" vote in January. It's the granddaddy of all word of the year votes--the longest running, the most academic, and the most fun.

And as we approach January 9th in San Francisco, we'll be talking here, in these minicasts, about some of the likeliest candidates.

One very odd one that caught our eye was "nuke the fridge."

Putting it politely, it means to exhaust the possibilities or merits of a movie franchise.

Putting it negatively, it means to destroy a movie franchise through the hubris and arrogance of a successful producer or director.

The term was coined based upon a scene in the latest Indiana Jones movie, in which the hero survives a nuclear blast by hiding in a refrigerator.

"Nuke the fridge" is patterned after "jump the shark," which was coined a few years ago to refer to anything that had peaked in popularity or quality and was now on a downward slide.

Jumping the shark referred to an episode on the sitcom Happy Days in which Fanzine water-skied over a shark, a moment thought by Happy Days aficionados (there are such things!) to be the surest sign of the show's decline.

That's all about "nuke the fridge." Next time we'll talk about "ground game."

--

Get your language question answered on the air! Call or write 24 hours a day: (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673, words@waywordradio.org, or visit our web site and discussion forums at http://waywordradio.org. Copyright 2008, Wayword LLC.

A Way with Words: Dust Bunnies and Ghost Turds - 23 Nov. 2008

words@waywordradio.org — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:56:12 -0500

Feeling fankled? It's a Scots English word that means "messed up" or "confused." In this week's episode, Grant and Martha also discuss a whole litter of synonyms for "dust bunny," a slew of different terms for the piece of playground equipment you slide on, and the proper way to refer to a baby platypus.

When you were growing up, what did you call that piece of playground equipment that you climb up and then slide down? A former New Jersey resident recalls that when her family moved to Indiana, her playmates were startled when she called it a sliding board. They called it simply a slide. So is sliding board a regional term? Yes, indeed. Depending on where you grew up, you might have spent your childhood whooshing down a sliding pon, a sliding pond, or a sliding pot. Then there's the British name for it, chute, as well as Yiddish glistch, and Australian slippery dip.

You know the type: Those guys whose everyday wardrobes are the fashion equivalent of oatmeal, with nothing fancier than khaki pants and knit shirts. One such fashion minimalist wonders if there's a specific terms for guys like him. He puts the question this way: "What's the opposite of a clothes horse?" Martha and Grant try to come up with a suit-able term. "Label-agnostic," maybe?

Quick! That stuff under your bed--what do you call it? Dust bunnies? House moss? Beggar's velvet? Ghost turds? Those fluffy little puffballs go by lots of different names. But a caller is perplexed by his mother's term for those ever-multiplying dustwads: slut's wool.

Quiz Guy Johnny C--a.k.a. John Chaneski--works his magic with a new puzzle called "Three's a Charm." The object of the game is to figure out the one word that can be placed in front of each of three other words to form three new, understandable terms. Like this: What one word fits before the words "surgery," "history," and "exam"? We thought "rectal" might work, but turns out it didn't.

How about the phrase "on the ball"? A listener wonders if its origin derives from a landing maneuver on aircraft carriers. Does his theory hold water?

If you're of a certain age, you may be surprised when someone asks you "hit me up"--and even more so when it turns out he's asking you to call him on his cell phone. Grant explains how "hit me up" began to take on a new meaning.

If someone calls you a "notorious" singer, should you be flattered or insulted? An Indiana caller says he's hearing the word notorious used in a positive way, and wonders whether this adjective be reserved for describing things in a negative way, as in "a notorious criminal."

For this week's episode of Slang This!, we turn the tables on our other Quiz Guy, Greg Pliska. Greg has to figure out the difference between "dusting" and "simping," and between "johnny pump" and "reverse toilet." Those last two sound like things you definitely wouldn't want to confuse.

A biology student at Stanford University has a question that's surely on the minds of many listeners: Is there's an official term for "baby platypus"? He's heard the term "puggle" used to denote these cute little critters, but is unsure if "puggle" is a legitimate scientific term.

Martha reports on some listeners' neologisms for the north-south equivalent of "bicoastal." So far, their suggestions for people who make those long, longitudinal commutes have been limited to the left coast, including: No-Cals, Yo-Cals, Bi-Vivants, and Verti-Cals. Have a better word? Tell us here.

http://tinyurl.com/6ycaug

"Full fathom five thy father lies..." When the Bard wrote these immortal words, he was talking about the word "fathom" as a measure of distance. But a Chicago caller can't quite fathom the meaning of the verb "to fathom." The hosts help him get his arms around this term.

...

Get your language question answered on the air! Call or write 24 hours a day: (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673, words@waywordradio.org, or visit our web site and discussion forums at http://waywordradio.org. Copyright 2008, Wayword LLC.

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: media - podictionary 898

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:04:44 -0500

in the spirit of social media I invite you to use the comment space in the blog post for this episode to tell me, and tell each other, why you think that phrase "the media is the message" is so memorable.

GALACTICAST (Apple TV): A Commercial Break: Tony Moore!

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:40:06 -0500

Tony Moore: For kids of all ages! Starring Yuri Lowenthal Tara Platt Casey McKinnon Inspired by Tony Moore Executive Producers Casey McKinnon Rudy Jahchan Directed by Rudy Jahchan Written by Casey McKinnon & Rudy Jahchan Edited by Casey McKinnon Music composed and performed by Casey McKinnon With images by OZinOH Coolgal Tony Moore Joe Brent

The Secrets Podcast for Writers: The Secrets Podcast Series Five: The Future Episode three

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:40:43 -0500

The future of publishing is an empty warehouse.

All Games Considered: AGC 91 November 22 2008 (I Thought Turkeys Could Fly) (1:24:57)

allgamesconsidered@gmail.com (Mark Kinney, Mags, and Carol) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:48:31 -0500

With Mark Kinney and Mags. A little Trek and Who talk to start. Topps shuts down WizKids, but Catalyst is waiting in the wings. LucasFilm backs off of GenCon. Pyramid goes PDF! Smirk and Dagger up for an award for 3D Sidewalk Chalk. The Geek Chic Roadshow. Layoffs at Upper Deck. Games You May Never Have Heard Of: Redneck Life! Mark talks about sourcebooks for Colonial Gothic and The Battle For Hill 218. Interview with Tom Filsinger from Filsinger Publications, about Champions of the Galaxy. Gaming Turkeys! The Unmitigates, followed by our own bads, the quirky, and the failed good. Some updates on the political gaming front, and responses on Christmas-themed games. Coming soon, the New Years Show!

Download 64kbps mp3 (38.9 MB)

Show links
Crayola 3D Sidewalk Chalk
How The Chalk Works
Pyramid (Steve Jackson Games)
Redneck Life (Gut Busting Games)
Colonial Gothic: Secrets (Rogue Games)
Colonial Gothic: Poor Wizard's Grimoire (Rogue Games)
Battle For Hill 218 (Your Move Games)
Filsinger Games (Champions of the Galaxy and Legends of Wrestling)
Atrocities Game Reviews (Language Warning!)
Legacy: War of Ages (Black Gate Publishing)
Immortal: The Invisible War
TV Wars (Board Game Geek)
Unknown Armies (Atlas Games)
Over The Edge (Atlas Games)
Cults Across America (Atlas Games)
1960: Making of the President (Z-Man Games)
Sons of Liberty (Kallisti Press/IPR)
Paizo Blog (with Open Calls for Scenarios)
Free RPG Blog
Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men (Wicked Dead Brewing Company)
The Big Night (May Contain Monkeys)

Promos
Flinchy (The Seanachai)
Narrative Control
Wandering Geek
Arcadian Gate
Murder at Avedon Hill

Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)
agcprize@yahoo.com (Contest Address)

All Games Considered: Download Issues

allgamesconsidered@gmail.com (Mark Kinney, Mags, and Carol) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:48:31 -0500

It appears we're having some issues on file downloads. At least in Firefox and the RSS feeds, the episodes are hitting a redirect loop; I've contacted LibSyn about this, and hope to have some resolution soon.

If you can't wait for your episodes, though, I have found that if you deign to open Internet Explorer, you can right click-save as and grab the files. I haven't tried Safari or other browsers, so I don't know how they're reacting.

If it's not cleared up by the time I get home from work tomorrow, I'll be sure to make the most recent episode available through Ourmedia.

Thanks, and sorry for the problem!

LibriVox Audiobooks: 59 - Return

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:32:50 -0500

LibriVox Audiobooks: 60 - Agnes

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:32:50 -0500

LibriVox Audiobooks: 61 - I Am Shown Two Interesting Penitents

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:32:50 -0500

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: cash - podictionary 37

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:53:35 -0500

Money makes the world go round and cash is king. The word cash appeared in English right around the time of Shakespeare, and he, being right on top of this language thing, used it. Today’s podictionary word brought to you by GoToMeeting. Try it free for 30 days by following the link www.gotomeeting.com/podcast In Henry V two [...]

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: zaftig - podictionary 897

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:53:34 -0500

the Oxford English Dictionary's definition is "of a woman: plump, curvaceous, sexy."

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Veteran Who Stormed Beach At Normandy Still Getting Laid Because Of It

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:12:03 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Ghost Of Ted Knight Signs On As New Voice Of God

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:12:03 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Oncologist Keeps Variety Of Citrus Fruits To Use As Visual Aids

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:12:03 -0500

The Radio Adventures Of Dr. Floyd » Official Podcast: SONG “Thanksgiving On The Move!” By Dr. Steve & Fidgert

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:40:41 -0500

Brand New for Thanksgiving 2008!

Dr. Steve gets motivated to write a new Thanksgiving song after Fidgert plays him a recent voicemail message!

The Radio Adventures Of Dr. Floyd » Official Podcast: PROMO #054 “Doug Update!”

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 04:28:34 -0500

A quick update on Doug and the fundraiser! You can read more about it here - www.DoctorFloyd.com/doug! Thanks all!

The Sniffer: Trends: The Daydreaming Brain and Bad Posture Fix-ups

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:56:07 -0500

In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young mentions this New Scientist article about the brain. It seems that while daydreaming, the brain is actually intensely active. What is it doing, and what are we doing if we don’t allow ourselves space to daydream. New Scientist also has this sidebar which may answer Cathi’s query: is this the [...]

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: cantaloupe - podictionary 896

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:40:28 -0500

The scuttlebutt is that cantalupo is a name that means "howling of wolves" or "wolf song" but this etymology does not come from any recognized authoritative source so I'm treating it with a grain of salt.

Fear the Boot: Shadows of Cthulu

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:20:22 -0500

If you’re into tentacles…and not like that…have I got a game for you! I was just given a copy of Shadows of Cthulhu, a True20 rendering of Lovecraft horror. I want to open by mentioning this isn’t a complete RPG book; it’s a setting book for True20. If you buy this book alone, you might be [...]

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Phil's Party Reminds Area Man Why He Doesn't Go To Phil's Parties

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:04:07 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Bioengineers Outsmarted By Strain Of Intelligent Wheat

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:48:14 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Area Father Proves Tree Fort Is Not As Strong As Son Claims

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:48:14 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Fit Of Anger Turns Dairy Farmer Into Beef Farmer

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:48:14 -0500

Skepticality - Science and Revolutionary Ideas: Skepticality #090 - This One Time at Skepticamp... - Reed Esau on Skepticamp, Tim Farley on helping StopSylvia.com

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:12:13 -0500

What can regular skeptics actually do to enhance the appreciation of science and skeptical inquiry? This question has been an ongoing theme for Skepticality, and this week's guest has one answer to propose. In his audioÂessay, "Raising Our Game: The Rationale to Embrace Skepticamp," software architectÂReedÂEsau argues that "Skepticamps"Â(self-organizing peer conferences of intimate scale) can harness the potential of the "long tail" of the skeptical movement â offering a voice to all of us who have passion and expertise to share but who cannot take on the role of a "professional" skeptic.Â These meetings are anÂexperiment in the structure of a movement, and they are capturing the imagination of many new skeptics. What are the true implications for skeptical organizing? Is the advent of socialÂnetworking technologies really the moment when everything changed? Also Tim Farley of Whatstheharm.net talks with Swoopy about an effort to help out a fellow Skeptical activist in need.

Fear the Boot: Episode 124 - marketing RPGs

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:56:23 -0500

* This episode was recorded in Seattle, so I was away from my normal equipment. Tex and I were joined by Ed Healy from Atomic Array. * Kobold Quarterly’s place among gaming magazines. * Game days versus major cons. You can find information on the Emerald City Game Fest here. * A shout-out to Heath White and Shawn [...]

Fear the Boot: A Truly Dark Game

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:56:23 -0500

When setting the scenes of an enemies’ habitat — common to many fantasy RPG worlds — it’s important to really wow the players who are often veterans of many dark campaigns. Torture chambers are done. Corpses on pikes are played. Another gate to the unspeakable bowels of hell? Yawn. Narrate your players rounding a corner of [...]

The Signal: The Signal, Season 4, Show 21, November 18th 2008

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:20:07 -0500

Features include: Music Section (Mal's Song); Kaylee Maquette Review; Interview with Andy Gore; Badger's World (Pigeons); What's in a Signal (Sci-Fi Review)

Pulp Gamer Hard Core: Pulp Gamer Inside Track: PGIT 062: John Wick

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:48:06 -0500

Don spent some time with John Wick at RinCon in Tucson Arizona. The new Houses of the Blooded was a large part of the conversation, but significant talk was also given to Seventh Sea and Legend of the Five Rings. John is currently a co-owner of the Wicked Dead Brewing Company.

Pulp Gamer Hard Core: The Game Kennel: PGGK 024: Intrigue

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:48:06 -0500

Derek takes a close look at Intrigue. You will laugh and cry as your scholars are hired and fired in this game of backstabbing, betrayal, and negotiation. Talk it up right and you just might receive enough in bribe money to win the game.

Intrige
Publisher: Mayfair Games
Style: Negotiation
Designed by: Stefan Dorra
Players: 3-5
Play Time: 45 minutes
Ages: 12+
MSRP: $20.00

LibriVox Audiobooks: 58 - Absence

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:12:07 -0500

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: guppy - podictionary 895

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:32:27 -0500

"Very interestink" thought Dr. Albert Carl Ludwig Gotthilf Guenther, the zoology curator.

The Radio Adventures Of Dr. Floyd » Official Podcast: Dr. Floyd Voicemail #030 - (818) 332-3053

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:13:05 -0500

Dr. Floyd thinks he’s all alone to answer this next batch of voicemails, but he soon gets help weather he wants it or not!

Leave your own voicemail for us by getting your parent’s permission and calling (818) 332-3053. Portions of this episode were recorded live in front of a live internet audience via uStream! To be notified of our next live internet recording, be sure to follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter at: http://www.Twitter.com/drfloyd!

All Games Considered: AGCExtra 26 November 15th 2008 (Houses of the Blooded) (20:32)

allgamesconsidered@gmail.com (Mark Kinney, Mags, and Carol) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:20:06 -0500

Mark, Carol, and Mags discuss John Wick's Houses of the Blooded, followed by an interview with John Wick from GenCon 2008.

Download 64kbps mp3 (9.43 MB)

Show links
Houses of the Blooded

Contact Us!
allgamesconsidered@gmail.com
gamesyounever@yahoo.com (Ben Balestra)
carolatagc@gmail.com (Carol)
agcmags@gmail.com (Mags)

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: scale - podictionary 894

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:28:08 -0500

Weigh scales come instead from an Old Norse word skal that meant "a drinking bowl." So weigh scales came about because they are made with two pans or bowls, one hanging on each side.

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: ghetto - podictionary 34

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:28:08 -0500

English takes the word ghetto from Italian where getto means “foundry.” The reason is that in the 1500s Jews living in Venice were required to live on one particular island, which had previously been the site of a foundry.

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Intern Sent To Testify Before Congress For The Experience

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:40:03 -0500

Fear the Boot: The Emerald City

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:28:19 -0500

As I write this article, I’m flying back to St. Louis from Seattle. I’m also having my first experience flying first class. I’ve flown quite a bit for business and pleasure, but I’ve always done so in coach or third class (or whatever inoffensive name they’re using for it now). When I went to check [...]

Darker Projects: The Byron Chronicles: Byron S02E04: Autumn Twilight

webmaster@darkerprojects.com (DarkerProjects.com) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:40:09 -0500

The Byron Chronicles 2.04: Autumn Twilight

Vampire Trackers... In the night they stalk and hunt prey... Tonight, their prey is Byron.

Download (21:32, 29.6 MB MP3, released 2008.11.17)

Written by Eric Busby

Featured in the cast were

Cookie Colletti as Eloise
Elaine Barrett as Cynthia
Bruce Busby as Nicholas
Jules Ismail as Cullen Tate
Eric Busby as Edmund
Mellissa D. Johnson as Chris Sparrow
David Ault as Byron

Music by Midnight Syndicate
"The Dog's A Vapour" by Bauhaus
"Sacrifice" by Lisa Gerrard
Byron theme by Kai Hartwig

Produced and Directed by Eric Busby
Sound Design by Eric Busby

LibriVox Audiobooks: 56 - The New Wound, and the Old

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:56:31 -0500

LibriVox Audiobooks: 57 - The Emigrants

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:56:31 -0500

A Way with Words: A Year of Words - 17 Nov. 2008

words@waywordradio.org — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:20:16 -0500

It's that time again, when people start thinking about a 'new or resurgent word or phrase that best captures the spirit of the past year.' And what a year! We heard the words 'bailout' and 'lipstick' more times than we'd ever dreamed, and saw also the rise of invented words like 'staycation' and 'recessionista.' What are your nominations for 2008's Word of the Year?

'Do English-speaking foreigners understand you better if you speak English with a foreign accent?' A Californian says that on a recent visit to Armenia, he discovered the locals had an easier time if he spoke English with an Armenian accent. Is this okay or could it be seen as condescending?

'Buckaroo' is an English word adapted from the Spanish word <i>vaquero</i>, meaning 'cowboy.' Is there a specific term for the linguistic process whereby such words are adapted into English?

Martha nominates another Word of the Year candidate: 'Joe the,' as in 'Joe the Plumber,' and subsequent variations on the 'X the Y' formula arising from a certain drain-fixer's quarter-hour of fame.

Quiz Guy John Chaneski stops by with a quiz about superlatives. Naturally, his name for the quiz is 'Best. Puzzle. Ever.'

Why do we say someone's 'bright-eyed and bushy-tailed'? Your chipper, chattering hosts are ready with the 'sciurine' answer. 'http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=sciurine&r=66

An Indiana woman shudders every time anyone uses the expression 'comprised of.' She wants to know if she's right that it's bad grammar, and more important, is she right to be a stickler about it?

Martha and Grant discuss some other Word of the Year candidates, including 'hockey mom' and 'hypermiling.'

The term 'Chinese fire drill' can mean either a 'state of confusion' or the adoloscent ritual involving a red light and a carful of rowdy teenagers. But a caller who overheard the expression at work worries that expression might be racist.

This week's slang quiz challenges a Seattle video game designer to pick out the correct slang terms from a mishmash of possible answers, including 'hammantaschen,' 'party party,' 'play pattycake,' and 'get off.'

In 2008, is using the term 'jive turkey' politically incorrect, or just a little dorky-sounding? A Las Vegas schoolteacher jokingly used it with her students, then had second thoughts. Grant sets her mind at ease.

It's raining, it's pouring, but the sun is still shining. Quick--what do you call that? Some folks refer to it a 'sunshower,' and others call it a 'monkey's wedding.' But a woman says her Southern-born mother used a much more unnerving expression: 'The devil's beating his wife.' Martha and Grant discuss the possible origins of this expression and its variants, like 'The devil is beating his wife and the angels are crying.' Around the world, this meteorological phenomenon goes by an astonishing range of names. In Lithuanian, the name translates as 'orphan's tears.' In Korean, 'a tiger is getting married.' Here's a list of many more, collected a few years ago by linguist Bert Vaux: http://www.linguistlist.org/issues/9/9-1795.html

Which of the following three factors has the 'biggest influence on a person's accent'? Is it your geographic location, your family, or the media?

--

Get your language question answered on the air! Call or write 24 hours a day: (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673, words@waywordradio.org, or visit our web site and discussion forums at http://waywordradio.org. Copyright 2008, Wayword LLC.

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: You Now President Of Argentina

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:28:02 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: New Robot Salesman Practically Sells Itself

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:28:02 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Area Man Goaded Into Climbing Mt. Everest

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:28:02 -0500

Fear the Boot: When You Don’t Fit In

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:12:19 -0500

Recently, I was reading a thread online from a person whose character just did not fit in with the group dynamic. I had thought back to times when I had a similar situation myself. I once played in a Star Wars game a friend ran using a variant of White Wolf’s Storyteller system. Since it was [...]

The Sniffer: trends: dealing with mini devices and health checks

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 03:40:03 -0500

In this trendwatching podcast, while Cathi and Nora are still in the netherworld of downtown Toronto mall hell, Nora Young talks about New Scientist’s report on this intriguing Microsoft Research project: using infrared sensors on portable devices so that you can enter commands/interact with the device without having to touch it (Nora’s particularly happy because she [...]

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: felon - podictionary 892

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:04:08 -0500

t turns out that most fat dictionaries list two different words felon. One of these is an old word meaning a "big zit" or "enflamed pustule."

podictionary - for word lovers - dictionary etymology, trivia & history: disheveled - podictionary 893

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:04:08 -0500

Geoffrey Chaucer used the word dishevley in The Canterbury Tales and by it he meant "bald."

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Nebraska Lawmakers Ban Sex In Grain Elevators

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:20:04 -0500

The Onion Radio News: The Onion Radio News: Warren Buffett Finds 30 Million In Change In Couch

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:20:03 -0500

The Signal: The Signal, Season 4, Show 20.5, November 11th 2008 (Live at DragonCon 2008)

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:41:41 -0500

Live at DragonCon 2008. Features include: interviews with Jason Palmer and Scott Allie; Music from Emerald Rose and the Bedlam Bards; Badger's World.

Pulp Gamer Hard Core: Pulp Gamer Out of Character: PGOC 063: Stocking Stuffer Games

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:12:19 -0500

We were inspired with a gift basket question to start addressing small and affordable games for stocking stuffers, secret Santa gifts, or other office celebrations over the holiday season. This turned out to be quite a list. Enjoy looking more closely at these titles:

Catan Dice, Family Business, Megastar, Bison, Gloom, Once Upon a Time, Mad Scientist University, Fluxx, Are you a Werewolf, Chrononauts, Treehouse, Dungeoneer, Treasure Fleet, Liar's Dice (play online here), Coloretto, Set, Take 6, Iliad, Jungle Speed, Citadels, Management Material, Marriage Material, and playing cards from Gemaco.

Other games include Ron's review of Last Night on Earth. Mayfair has also announced a new train series by Martin Wallace, based on Age of Steam. We have also been playing Intrigue and To Court the King.

Our gateway RPG discussion continues with RECON, Microlite20, Tunnels and Trolls, and Tactics. The discussion on roleplaying tips also continues. Tim offers one of his blog posts for more.

RinCon is done for the year. Jess shows us some of her pictures. We have more excitement coming up. We will be starting to think about Phoenix Comicon very soon. Join us in Tucson to game by visiting SAGAgamers.com. The most recent game days added to Tucson's schedule will be taking place on Wednesday nights at Safehouse. You will definitely want to join us in the Caribbean, though. There is still time to register for this cruise.

We are in a winning mode. Jeremiah was sent a prize from the Wandering Geek podcast. Derek won a drawing sponsored by Game Daze at RinCon.

We also took a look at American Nerd by Benjamin Nugent. Jeremiah reads a small excerpt and have a good time with it, including shamelessly plugging the Ramsey County Public Library. Jeremiah also mentioned some Cthulhu Cycle books.

Fear the Boot: Bonus Episode 23 - listener GM profiles

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:56:18 -0500

We put out the call for listener-submitted GM profiles, and we got some excellent entries! Check out the show and then head over to the forum to vote for the profiles you thought were the best. A big thanks to Brian, Chris, Geoff, John, Keith, Nicholas, and Sam for their entries!

Fear the Boot: Dragonhelm’s Take on Star Trek: Voyager

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:56:18 -0500

In my last blog entry, I voiced my criticisms on Star Trek: Voyager. See the comments section for details. I was asked what my take would be, so I thought I would share it with all of you. Star Trek is the idealized and hopeful future. What if that concept is thrown on its head, [...]

Fear the Boot: Episode 123 - adversarial player-characters

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:56:18 -0500

* If you haven’t already, be sure to visit the blog! You can find Dragonlance Canticle here. * Chris and his photon torpedo. * John’s confession. * Tom Bombadil and other things regarding Lord of the Rings. * Chris gets a gaming date. * Playing music while you game. * Player-characters as adversaries. You can learn about the etymology of MacGuffin [...]

LibriVox Audiobooks: 52 - I Assist an Explosion

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:48:28 -0500

LibriVox Audiobooks: 53 - Another Retrospect

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:48:28 -0500

LibriVox Audiobooks: 54 - Mr. Micawber's Transactions

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:48:28 -0500

LibriVox Audiobooks: 55 - Tempest

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:48:28 -0500