Abraham Lincoln: I shall kill them all!

If he was taking about the audience he succeeded. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter opened this weekend. I really was looking forward to this movie as I loved the book. I was disappointed. You guys will need to make your own call on this one but I can't reccomend it. One Floyd. Maybe the 3D version is better.

Gen Con

73 days until we make the pilgrimage to Indianapolis for GenCon. We have 2 rooms at the Fairfield Inn East. I looked at the True Dungeon feature event but there is very little room left to get in.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what will be there that wasn't at Origins. Wizards of the Coast and Fantasy Flight should have a huge presence. Hopefully there will be some newly released products that weren't available in Columbus.

I am planning on taking a cooler and a grill and saving some cash on the food bill. We will need to figure out who all is going and who is rooming with who if we need to keep the second room.

No Jon, Less Con, No Swag or JonCon /Origins 2012

Well it came, earlier than usual, and with little fanfare. And deservedly so. From Wednesday through Friday crowds were down. School as still in session so that probably factored in. The dealer room had fewer vendors with less new product. Some of the heavy hitters; Wizards of the Coast, Fantasy Flight, Flames of War were missing and it showed. And damn few photo ops as well. That aside we had fun, spent too much, ate to much (Mongolian Barbeque), walked too much and will probably do it again. Hopefully the Adventure of Doom can make a return next year. We did find a late fall con, in Charleston West Virginia that we will probably try out. More on that later.

We decided to take a shat a creating a miniature based game to run next year, just for shits and giggles. We are think Civil War based, probably a smaller battle. Everyone can help from developing rules, painting minis, terrain construction. What say you men?? The first meeting will be in August some time (maybe GenCon).

Speaking of GenCon; who is going? We have two rooms reserved at the Sheraton.

R.I.P Goober

George "Goober" Lindsey, most widely known for playing Goober Pyle on the iconic television series The Andy Griffith Show, died Sunday in Nashville after an extended hospitalization. He was 83.

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

Gettysburg Road Trip

Ok there has been some talk about a two night trip to Gettysburg this summer. We would need to get a date that would work with our schedules. A couple of us think that a mid week trip would be easier to plan. I am thinking maybe arriving early Wednesday morning and staying Wednesday and Thursday nights and heading home sometime on Friday.

It seems like camping is the preferred method of accommodation. Not sure if anyone wants to bring a camper or we all just can tent camp. I know of a cool campground, Drummer Boy Campground, that is close to the battlefield.

I checked into some pricing:

Campground (tents): $50 per night
Visitor Center: $12.50 per day
Licensed Battlefield Guide: $75-90 (depending on how many people go)
Haunted Gettysburg Tour: $11 per person
National Civil War Museum $10 per person

depending on how many people go it would be approximately:

$59.62 per person for 4 people
$49.70 per person for 5 people
$45.58 per person for 6 people
$40.50 per person for 7 people

** or**

Campground Cabin: $250 per night
Visitor Center: $12.50 per day
Licensed Battlefield Guide: $75-90 (depending on how many people go)
Haunted Gettysburg Tour: $11 per person
National Civil War Museum $10 per person

depending on how many people go it would be approximately:

$152.12 per person for 4 people
$121.70 per person for 5 people
$103.91 per person for 6 people
$89.07 per person for 7 people


** or **

Hotel in Gettysburg: $144 per night per room (2)
Visitor Center: $12.50 per day
Licensed Battlefield Guide: $75-90 (depending on how many people go)
Haunted Gettysburg Tour: $11 per person
National Civil War Museum $10 per person

depending on how many people go it would be approximately:

$185.00 per person for 4 people
$148.00 per person for 5 people
$126.00 per person for 6 people
$108.00 per person for 7 people

**or**

Hotel in Chambersburg (22 miles away) : $99 per night per room (2)
Visitor Center: $12.50 per day
Licensed Battlefield Guide: $75-90 (depending on how many people go)
Haunted Gettysburg Tour: $11 per person
National Civil War Museum $10 per person

depending on how many people go it would be approximately:

$135.00 per person for 4 people
$108.00 per person for 5 people
$92.50 per person for 6 people
$80.00 per person for 7 people



So far The Wallet Draining Lich, The Hairy One, The Sage of Southwood, Nautallica, Durwaine, and myself have been in the discussions. My brother-in-law, The Postman Who Only Rings Once, would probably go if we can give him enough notice. Hotel rooms are based on 3-4 per room. The total would be less if we only book 1 room so these are just guesstimates at best, based on last seasons prices.

What say you men??

Beware the Colonel

Sunday Civil War Link Dump

From the New York Times an article about Lincoln and an article about "Workin' on the railroad"

From the Montgomery Advertiser an article about Geocaching in Alabama

From the Dispatch an article about bringing back a wayward family member

From Indystar.com an article about the relevance of Civil War museums.

From the L.A. Times an article and link to a Civil War battlefield located in the Tucson Arizona area. Picacho Peak State Park

Happy Birthday Mr. President

Happy Birthday Abe!!!!

So long Legolas

I already knew I was going to like the new Hobbit movie. This might be my favorite elf of all time.

Read the article here

Sunday Civil War Link Dump

From the Dispatch an article about a Central Ohio born Rebel General.

From the Atlanta, Civil War Zombies?????

From the Courier Journal a history of Kentucky in the Civil War written for the centennial. That was fifty years ago Lich!!

200 days to Indy!!

Ok Boys. 200 days to GenCon Indy. Who is in?

What say you men?

Quirk of History?

From Yahoo News:

This story sounds too impossible to be true, but it is. John Tyler was born in 1790, and he was the 10th president of the United States in 1841. Believe it or not, he has two living grandchildren. For perspective consider this: When Tyler was born, George Washington was giving his State of the Union address. When Tyler became president, the Civil War was still 20 years away! But how is this possible? Here's some math for you: Tyler had 15 children, and in 1853 he was 63 when his son Lyon Gardiner Tyler was born. Lyon had six children, with two of them, Harrison Ruffin Tyler and Lyon Gardiner Tyler Jr., born when he was in his 70s in 1924 and 1928 respectively. Both men, now in their 80s, still live in Virginia with Harrison maintaining President Tyler's home place "Sherwood Forest".

President Tyler lived until January 18, 1862. At the time of his death he was waiting to join the Confederate States Congress as a member of their House of Representatives. His death is the only Presidential death not recognized by Washington, due to his allegiance to the Confederacy. More on President Tyler here.

Red Tails

I went and saw the latest movie about the Tuskegee Airmen, Red Tails. The movie focuses on the Airmen, already in the war, and their low level assignments behind the lines in Italy.

It highlights their battle as men at war, as black men in a very prejudiced Army, and pilots against the vaunted Luftwaffe.

It has a good cast, and some of the best dog fighting scenes of any movie. It also has some really corny lines and is dripping with cliches. For a movie that took George Lucas so long to make (he started this project in the 80's)he should have delivered more. The best part of this movie is the air scenes.

I overall enjoyed this movie but felt like it needed a little more in it. 2 and 3/4 Floyd's

Upcoming Comic Book Movies

It looks like there might be a Deadpool movie coming out in 2014.

This isn't really a Super Hero thing but check out Bilbo and Sting

Check out the Avengers Trailer. They will be in the theaters in May 2012.

Ghost Rider is back also.


So is Batman in The Dark Knight rises


And DC is once again giving us another Superman. This time called Man of Steel, it is due out some time next year. Hopefully this will lead into a Justice League movie.

MLK Day 2012

Sunday Morning Civil War Link Dump

From Yahoo news a story about the first Civil War submarine

A commemoration of the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War by the Smithsonian Institution. This has a wealth of info and cool links in it.

From the New York Times an article about Humor during the Civil War

From the Atlanta Constitution Journal an article about Civil War Museums.

From Yahoo news a Columbus related Lincoln article

The week that was 7 Jan thru 13 Jan

It was an interesting week for our group. It started with the World's oldest living Adventurer, the Sage of Southwood, the great and all knowing Keithstradamus, reaching a historic age. He turned the old double nickel, 55, on the 7th.

Condolences, thoughts and prayers then went out to the family of the great Wallet Drainer from Medina on the passing of his father. A pilgrimage was made to Norwalk where, while it was good to see everyone, it was a part of life we all dread when that time comes. Looking back it is so reassuring (to me at least) to know that your true friends will be there when you need them the most.

I can't wait until the next time we can all get together. Gettysburg in the Summer boys?

Happy New Year

Happy New Year brothers. Here is hoping 2012 is a great year for us all. I know for me personally I have limped to the finish line. I thank you all for being my friends

Merry Christmas

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Secret Santa Gift Exchange

This is something I have been involved with in the past through BoardgameGeek.com. It has been a lot of fun and I have received a lot of cool games. To get involved click here.

Sunday Morning Civil War Link Dump

An article that could have been really good but was either edited to mediocrity or poorly written about Ohio born Confederate Generals from the Columbus Dispatch.

An older article from USA Today about the descendants of famous Civil War participants.

From the Dalton Georgia The Daily Citizen an article about "The Sinews of War."

R.I.P. to one of the good ones

Rich's dad, John Romonosky, passed away Sunday October 2, 2011. Here is the Obit

Lest We Forget

Ready or not we are Indy bound

Well it looks like a few of us will be heading to Indy in a few hours. Not sure about the Sage of Southwood now. He may be coming later but he won't be making the caravan in a few hours from now. Anyway, bring on the days of bad eating, gamer funk, gamer foot, the opening day cattle call, black t-shirts and GenCon!!

Indiana Jones meets James Bond

Well not really but Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig are both in Cowboys & Aliens. An interesting sci fi twist I really liked this movie. A lot. Abigail Spencer is the leading 'lady" and is pretty easy on the eyes. Also look for Clancy Brown (Highlander) playing an old west preacher. Far cry from Kurgan. Anyway, I give it 3 and 2/3 Floyds. Had it not been for a really bad green screen scene it would have been higher.

We really need to do this one year. How about 2012???

We really need to do this. It is on my Adventurers Bucket List to go to DragonCon in Atlanta.

Avengers Assemble

I went and saw the latest Marvel comic book movie this weekend. Marvel once again kicked DC's ass as Captain America>Green Lantern. Captain America had a pretty good opening week end at the box office taking over the number one spot from Harry Potter.

Chris Evans does a pretty good job as the transformed 90 lb asthmatic, Steve Rogers. This isn't Chris' first Marvel Comic Movie. You may remember him as Johnny Storm in the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four Films.

Well he is all grown up, and bulked up, now and did a pretty good job as the First Avenger.

The movie did have some slow parts but they had to set up how the WWII hero would join his comic book brothers in the present day. And to that I say "Well played Mauer."

The Howling Commandos were pretty cool and the movie, at times, had a nice Star Wars feel to it. (You'll know these scenes when they come by)

Overall, I really enjoyed it and it sets up the May 2012 release of The Avengers perfectly. I'll give it 3 Floyds.

Sunday Morning Civil War Link Dump

From the Plain Dealer an article about Civil War Movies

Looks like Lincoln will be reviewing the troops this November.

An interactive post about paying for the war
a site to commemorate the Chinese who served in the American Civil War

Sunday Morning Civil War Link Dump

From the Washington Post an article about Bull Run

From the Boston Globe an article about South Carolina honoring the remains of 55th Massachusetts soldiers.

From the Montreal Gazette an article about their role in the Confederacy

From San Diego an article about a new Civil War novel

From Wheeling West Virginia

Wow, just wow

I can't even begin to describe this story. Although.... I might want this done at my funeral by the Adventurers. Read the story in the Dispatch here.

Wizards will have a presence in Indy

SEATTLE – (June 15, 2011) – Gen Con is pleased to announce that Wizards of the Coast will sponsor Gen Con Indy with a Co-sponsorship and TCG Hall Sponsorship in 2011. Fans of games and gaming culture come from around the world to attend Gen Con Indy and Wizards of the Coast is an integral part of the industry and that experience. At Gen Con Indy 2011 Wizards of the Coast will be debuting new products, showcasing classics as well as hosting popular tournaments for fans to enjoy.

“We are so happy to have Wizards of the Coast return as sponsors of Gen Con. Their long history with the show, as well as the popularity of Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons makes Wizards an incredibly important part of the best four days in gaming,” said Adrian Swartout, CEO of Gen Con.

Read more here

New Sherlock Holmes

Coming December 2011!!

Blue Jacket and Rehab

Allan Eckert, the Ohio author who penned the story that became the outdoor drama, “Tecumseh!”, has died.

CHILLICOTHE — Allan Eckert, the Ohio author who penned the story that became the outdoor drama, “Tecumseh!”, has died.

The Jesse Stuart Foundation, which worked with him on half of his 39 books, confirmed that Eckert died in his sleep at his home in Corona, Calif. on Thursday.

He was 80.

The author of the famed historical narrative, "The Frontiersman", Eckert was honored, along with poet Toni Morrison, as Ohio's favorite all-time writer in 1999. That same year, "The Frontiersman" was selected in open balloting as the state's favorite book "About Ohio or an Ohioan."

Eckert was nominated seven times for the Pulitzer Prize and he wrote the play that became "Tecumseh!" which has played in Ross County since 1973.

Anthony Stephens, marketing director at The Jesse Stuart Foundation, said Eckert was working on his latest book, "The Infinite Dream" at the time of his death

"It is another book in his 'The Winning of America' series and it should be out at the end of the summer," said Stephens.

Eckert wrote for 12 years and received more than 1,100 rejections before he was finally a published author.

"I figured I had something to say and someday somebody would realize that," he told the Gazette in 1996. "The first thing I had to do was properly learn how to say it."

As for the local outdoor drama, Eckert was originally asked to pen a drama about the life of Thomas Worthington, one of Ohio's first senators. He changed the mind of the Scioto Society and wrote about Tecumseh instead.

Eckert made regular visits to see the outdoor drama and his last visit came during 2010.
Read more here.
**********************************************************************************
Former First Lady Betty Ford, who captivated the nation with her unabashed candor and forthright discussion of her personal battles with breast cancer, prescription drug addiction and alcoholism, has died. She was 93.

Ford died Friday at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, according to Barbara Lewandrowski, a family representative. The cause was not given. Read more here.

In brighest day, in blackest night....

I waited awhile to see this one partially because of all the bad reviews it received. But when it gets down to it it wasn't that bad. Reynolds was acceptable as the cocky Hal Jordan. Blake Lively ranks way up on the hot superhero girlfriend list and Geoffrey Rush and Michael Clarke Duncan were pretty cool as Hal's mentor Lanterns. Like I said before it wasn't bad. It it wasn't the worst superhero movie. If you haven't gone I would say go see it. It is just a shame that DC comics haven't been working on a JLA movies ala Marvel and their Avengers prequels. Two and a bit Floyds.

Sunday Morning Civil War Link Dump

From the Dispatch in Columbus an article about Civil War day trips in Ohio

From the Skowhegan Morning Sentinel an article about Maine in the Civil War

From the Miami (Fla) Herald an article about This Week in the Civil War

From the Post and Courier in Charleston SC an article about the South Carolina Civil War Museum.

Happy Birthday America

Happy July 4th brothers

Sunday Morning Civil War Link Dump

From Civil War Times 1965 a baseball All star team

From the Washington Post some "what ifs"

From Atlanta researching shipwrecks with new technology

From Gettysburg some preservation news

A review of the book Indiana's War: The Civil War in Documents.

Adventure of Doom - food for thought

ye've been warned, just saying!

Captain America

Mission Impossible 4

Three Musketeers 2011

2012 dates for JonCon... and it is early next year

Origins Fans,

We have some great and important news about Origins and the schedule for the future. We are moving the dates earlier in the year, starting in 2012. Our new dates are:

May 30 - June 3, 2012
May 29 - June 2, 2013

I am really excited about the move. I have been coming to Origins as an attendee for more than 10 years before I became the Executive Director of GAMA. (Spending almost all my time as a GM & playing RPG's in the Hyatt) Origins is a great event and a time that we enjoy meeting with new friends and old while playing games we love.

We know it’s the convention where you actually play games, and we intend to keep Origins that way. It’s also always been a family-friendly event. I have been bringing my own children to the show for more than 5 years. As the Executive Director and a father, I promise that we will always be a family friendly event.

You, our attendees, have made Origins a success. We’re watching our attendance numbers grow each year. 2011 is the second year in a row that the Exhibitor floor has sold out before the event! Because of your support we’ve been able to add programs like the Author and Game Designer seminar tracks, expand the art show and artist seminar track. We run thousands of events each year and have been forced to expand our event schedules because so many companies want to run games for you at our show.

There are two main reasons we want to let you know about these changes. First, and most important, we want you to have a full year to plan for your attendance at the show. A lot of folks operate on automatic pilot and we don’t want you to miss the show by planning for a June trip when we’ve moved to May.

The second reason is the most important: we want to make sure you understand what the move means for you. Our move into May has allowed us to cut hotel costs for our attendees—both gamers and exhibitors. With more money in your pockets, you can afford to buy more of those games you get to try at Origins. With having to spend less money to get to the show and stay, companies can afford to bring more staff to run even more events. The move to May means we’re ahead of the prime travel season, resulting in lower gas prices and airline tickets.

As we looked at making these changes, I consulted with our Board and Sponsors. We did acknowledge that some schools may not yet have let students go for the summer, and this was a concern. Attempting to account for school schedules when you’re drawing fans from throughout the nation is an impossible task—and all the planning in the world collapses when a string of snow days adds class time to the end of the school year. The reason we wanted to give you a year’s notice on the changes was so you could more easily make arrangements to fit Origins into your schedule.

We also had to keep in mind the fact that the summer is full of conventions which game manufacturers find very important. Origins has traditionally been the lead-off event for summer gaming. Moving into May allows manufacturers to attend and have time to recover between shows like San Diego Comic-Con, Gen Con and Dragon*Con. By moving earlier in the year, Origins is positioned to get you the new games sooner, so you can enjoy them longer.

Aside from the years when Gen Con and Origins were run concurrently, we’ve always maintained a six week gap between shows. Most people think that we all get to simply select our dates, but when you have a city wide event like Origins or Gen Con, we really are given limited options as to what the venue, the hotels and the city can support. Because Gen Con has to work around events in Indianapolis like the Brickyard 500 and the opening of the NFL pre-season, in 2015 their dates got pushed forward to July 30-August 2; and that started us looking for dates earlier in the year, so we could maintain the historical gap.

As we looked at the last week of May, we wanted to see what kind of impact that would have on our attendees. In this economy, we are committed keeping your costs and expenses down while you are joining us for a fun weekend. Here is what we found:

* The end of May date let us bargain hard with our hotel partners. In 2012 we got the price at the Hyatt Regency down to $125 a night, a savings of $100 if you're with us for all five nights of the convention.
* We know that travel costs are a big part of any budget. End of May means we avoid the higher summer gasoline prices and airfares, making it more economical for you to come to Origins.
* Our companies appreciate the earlier lead time for marketing their new releases and enhancing their presence at Origins in their plans to release and market games for the summer.
* Origins attendees have long been known to be tastemakers within gaming communities. The new games that they bring back with them become the hits of the summer, which is why companies use Origins to introduce their best new games to you.

And the best part of all; if we help you save money on the things you have to spend money on, it gives you more money to spend on the things you want to spend money on at the show.

While we know we can’t please everyone—especially those folks who resist change simply because they don’t like change—this move is very important to continuing to make Origins the premiere gaming event of the summer. We have more ideas—more cost saving ideas—that we’ll be letting you know about after we recover from Origins 2011.

We thank you for being part of our Origins family.

John

I don't play the game but I find this really funny!! And very well done.