Quote of the Week

You don't really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? - J.R.R. Tolkien

30 Days to Jon Con

Here we go boys it's all down hill now!

Happy Memorial Day Week End

I'm calling it a week end. Time to kick off the summer.
I hope everyone has a great Holiday Week end. Spend it with your family and friends. As we get our picnics and cook outs organized, our movie trips lined up get your flip flops and tank tops on and enjoy yourself. But always remember those who have come and gone through your lives. Take a trip to a cemetery to visit the graves of not only loved ones but also those who have served this Great Country. Go, not only to reflect on the past but to also contemplate the future. Pause some time during this week end to look back and remember the deceased, look out and love the living, look up and honor God.

I leave you with some words of General John Logan's order about the graves of soldiers; which helped create Memorial Day as we know it:

"Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and found mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic.

If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.

Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude..."

Memorial Day means War Movies

A long time ago General Sherman said "War is Hell", or something to that effect. So why do we glorify it? Why do we continue to promote it and the warriors who are, and were, involved in it? I'm not sure why but we Americans love war movies. And the funny thing is they don't even have to be about one of our wars. There are so many great movies that coming up with just a few turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would. With that in mind I proudly present my favorite war movies. Remember these are my favorites.


15. Braveheart - 1995

14. Wings - 1927

13. Bridge on the River Kwai - 1957

12. Sgt. York - 1941

11. Full Metal Jacket - 1987

10. We Were Soldiers - 2002

09. The Big Red One - 1980

08. She Wore A Yellow Ribbon - 1949

07. Gettysburg - 1993

06. The Great Escape - 1963

05. The Dirty Dozen - 1967

04. Patton - 1970

03. Saving Private Ryan - 1998

Who can ever forget the stunning opening sequence? Easily one of the most powerful movies I have seen in a theatre. At the end no one got up and left. Everyone just sat, some in tearful reflection,and thought of what they had just witnessed.

02. Das Boot - 1981

The ultimate WWII U-boat movie. And you have to watch the original version.

01. Glory - 1989

Give 'em Hell, 54th!! Awesome story about the 54th Mass, a black regiment commanded by white officers during the Civil War. Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. A true classic.

News from GenCon

Gen Con Indy 2008 Announces Wizards of the Coast as a

Co-Sponsor

The Best Four Days in Gaming Never Looked Better





INDIANAPOLIS (May 19, 2008) - Gen Con is pleased to announce that once again Wizards of the Coast, Inc., will be a co-sponsor of Gen Con Indy. Fans of all ages come to Gen Con each year to see and experience the latest in analog and digital gaming, and Wizards’ participation is a highlight for many fans. This year, Wizards of the Coast will be showing off their latest offerings, including the release of Dungeons & Dragons® 4th Edition.



“We are so pleased to have Wizards of the Coast once again be a sponsor of Gen Con. Its long history with the show, as well as the popularity of its products makes it an integral part of the entire Gen Con experience,” said Adrian Swartout, president of Gen Con.



At Gen Con this year, Wizards of the Coast will be celebrating the newly released D&D® 4th Edition by debuting the new Living Forgotten Realms® campaign as well as 20 years of the Legend of Drizzt™. New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore will be signing sample chapters of The Pirate King, the second book in the Transitions trilogy and sample chapters of The Stowaway, co-authored with his son Geno Salvatore.



Gen Con will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis from August 14 through 17. Celebrating its 41st year and going strong, Gen Con is no ordinary convention. Attendees do everything from browsing the aisles of the exhibit hall packed with over 300 booths to taking part in any number of the 5,000 gaming events happening 24 hours a day over the four days. Gaming activities range from interactive game play and computer gaming to big money hobby-related tournaments.


More about GenCon here

Quote of the Week

“Many will call me an adventurer - and that I am, only one of a different sort: one of those who risks his skin to prove his platitudes.” - Che Guevara

40 Days until JonCon

Time is really flying by. I'm hoping we get a good turnout and have a great time at our annual summer get together.

Summer Road Trip

After JonCon 08 in June what is next? I think an Adventurers outing is possible. I found this today (being home from a heart attack gives one too much time to look up stuff) and thought it has possibilities. Have any of you guys been there before? My initial thought is camp some where close to it. It looks a lot like the one we hit in the fall so it might be pretty good. Any one have a thought on this?

Quote of the Week

“The bold adventurer succeeds the best.” - Ovid

Happy Mothers Day

Make sure you take the time to wish all of the ladies in your life Happy Mothers Day. Appreciate them and take the time to show it, just not today but everyday.

Best Super Hero Movies

After going to see Ironman for the second time the group I was with started pondering a timeless question. What is the best Super Hero Movie of all time? Several titles were tossed out as "favorite" or "best" but no concensus was reached. So with no further adieu I give you my list of best Super Hero Movies (in no particular order). My only criteria was that the movie had to be based on character(s) from a comic book.

Ironman (2008) Marvel Comics

An incredible movie

Batman Begins (2005) DC Comics

DC gets back in the game with this one

Superman (1978) DC Comics

Very original and innovative for the time.

X-Men (2000) Marvel Comics

So much to take in and see. Has unlimited spin offs and sequels

Fantastic 4 (2005) Marvel Comics

I really liked this one

Batman & Robin (1997) DC Comics

The best of the early Batman franchise

Spiderman (2002) Marvel Comics

The Web Slinger. I liked it. Spidey works out well for Marvel

Ghost Rider (2007) Marvel Comics

Not a big Cage fan but I liked this one. Also Sam Elliot was pretty cool.

Superman Returns (2006) DC Comics

This saved the Superman franchise which had been doomed by earlier sequels.

Dare Devil (2003) Marvel Comics

Yeah I liked it. Me and maybe one other person

4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) Marvel Comics

The Surfer was freakin awesome and will deservedly get his own movie soon.


There have been a lot of this genre lately and a lot more on the way. I'm hoping they just keep making great movies. 2009 looks to be a huge year for the comic book nerds like me. Some of the ones coming up:

Dark Knight (2008)
Incredible Hulk (2008)
The Flash (2008)
Billy Batson and the Legend of Shazam (2009)
Thor (2009)
Wonder Woman (2009)
Captain America (2009)
Teen Titans (2009)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
X-Men Origins: Magneto (2009)
Justice League: Mortal (2009)
Ghost Rider 2 (2009)
Silver Surfer (2009)
Sub-Mariner (2010)
Nick Fury (2010)

50 days til JonCon 08

Hard to believe it I know.

Happy Cinco de Mayo

I hope you all get a chance to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in whatever manner you see fit. In what started as a regional Mexican Holiday it is fast becoming a very American Event. So grab your flip-flops and tank tops, some Corona or Tequila, lemon, limes and chips and salsa and have a great day!

And, for the record, Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day (that falls on September 16). Rather it commemorates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862.

Partido en aventureros. ¡Agarre el día y exprima a mujeres!

Quote of the Week

The true Adventurer goes forth aimless and uncalculating to meet and greet unknown fate. - O. Henry

Ironman

I went to see Ironman tonight. Always one of my favorite comic books I was really looking forward to this movie albeit with some trepidation. Could Robert Downey Jr. pull off the brilliant, but slightly flawed, Tony Stark? Would the modernized story line be any good? Would this be just another crappy adaptation of a classic comic book? The answers? Yes, Yes and a resounding Hell No.

This movie rocks from the opening sequence, set to "Back in Black", until the credits start rolling to the immortal classic title track by Black Sabbath. The driving music through out the entire show sets the tone and really gets your heart rate pumping (which in my case is not always a good thing). It was filmed in California but at times you really think you are in a terrorist camp in Afghanistan. The other actors are pretty good in their roles and the directors have seemed to have covered all their bases. Jeff Bridges gives a pretty decent portrayal of bad guy Obidiah Stane. Gweneth Paltrow is hot as Stark's assistant "Pepper" Potts. Terrence Howard plays a great Jim Rhodes. But Robert Downey Jr. pulls off the title character brilliantly in my humble opinion. He was pretty much how I remember him in the comics.

They set up the sequels very nicely and to be honest I can't wait for the next installment. This is a franchise that I believe will surpass Spiderman, X-Men, and Fantastic 4 as the cornerstone of the Marvel Universe. I don't want to give away too much but this is a definite must see for Adventurers. I'm up for another outing with any of you guys who want to go see it.

It has thrown down a big gauntlet to the next couple of Super Hero movies this summer, The Incredible Hulk (June 13), Hell Boy 2 (July 11), and the Dark Knight (July 18). I give it 4 Floyds. And do not, I repeat, DO NOT LEAVE before the credits are over!!!!

*****************************************UPDATE**************************************

I went to see this again, tonight with the Adventurers. And after seeing it again I have to change my rating of the movie. It was even better the second time than the first. I saw so many more things this time around. This movie was filled with a lot of fun subliminal references to not only the Marvel Universe but other movies as well. Pepper Potts has one heck of a stride in those spiked heels! I have to tell you to go see it again. And when it comes out on DVD and Blu Ray it is a must buy. This is quite possibly the best Comic Book based Super Hero Movie ever. Not only good for a Comic Book Movie but a pretty darned good movie as well. DC Comics needs to step it up to get back in this game. 5 out of 5 Floyds!!

RIP Wallet Draining Lich of Medina

It looks like the Wallet Draining Lich of Medina has been eviscerated and laid to rest. Our sources have not reported a sighting in the last 3-4 months. Retailers, local diners and restauranteers are reporting downward spirals in their profit margins the First Quarter of 2008. No one is sure when the WDLoM first came into being but we all have fond memories of our personal encounters with him.

As much as we all appreciate the gains to our own personal fortunes we miss the days of watching him over spend and us asking really stupid questions like "Should I get this? What do you think?"

Hopefully a successful resurrection role will be coming soon.

eerrllf roasted

Well the Second Adventure Roast took place this past weekend. Brother Ferrell was roasted, but not publicly, by Gary, Denny, Keith and yours truly. It was a shortened version and we did it in the privacy of Ferrell Manor but it was still fun. We also got to roll some dice as Keith DM'd some newbies for us. I'm looking forward to DMing again sometime soon and want to work up something for Duke & Luke and the Pirates so you all need to resurrect those guys and get me the info. If things get worked out we can play them at JonCon.

Belated Birthday Wishes

Happy Late Birthday wishes to both Gary and Denny. Things have been a little crazy around here due to my recovery but just wanted to try to make them both feel a little special. We turned to other sources who got top secret photos of them celebrating in private. You can figure out who is who. Happy Birthday boys

Registration Info

The Registration info will be available soon online. We here at JonCon anticipate the Registration Packets being mailed out on June 1st so register a.s.a.p after it opens. See you soon!

Top Ten List

Top Ten Signs You Play Too Much

1.Someone says "Why do you have all those numbers tattooed on your hand?", and you reply "Those aren't tattoos, they're die imprints."

2.Your elven fighter has had sex within the last six years - and you haven't.

3.You decide to play a zombie, just so you and your character can have the same skin color.

4.You've been surviving so long on Doritos, Coke, and pizza that your body now contains more plastic than your dice.

5.You can recite, verbatim, every single rule from the DMG….but you can't remember how many kids you have.

6.You sign personal correspondences with your character's name.

7.After months of work, you have made up the entire dwarven language - words, rules of vocabulary, the whole lot. You are bilingual, and can now speak fluid dwarven. Your friends stare at you strangely, and no one will sit on the same side of the table as you.

8.Drug addict and alcoholic friends of yours often stop you to say "Dude, get a grip".

9.Your "If I won the lottery" plans involve creating:
(a) a really cool AD&D room, or
(b) hiring actors to play monsters so that you and your friends can play AD&D for real.

10.You'd rather get a natural 18 when rolling character statistics than win the lottery.