Turn Turn Turn

The song, if you like, or the karmic wheel.

2007 is done now, and the long night is turning into day again for a spell. I was happy to achieve my goals for the year, even if a few came in past deadline. One such was a move back closer to where I was born, for purposes of helping birth new things, meeting recently-birthed things, and birthing one of my own (on paper, not in flesh). That latter is just about outta me now and into the harsh light of day, so it was time to shift the cycle from nocturnal back to diurnal and depart the lonely home/womb office (so essential to grinding out the novel) for one where a flux of people move all around me every day.

Last but not least (to the tune of 22 kilometers not least) was the half-marathon, which I've run three times now - not to my satisfaction, but run nonetheless. It took a year of training to get to that point in the first place, of course, and it'll take a year more, I'm guessing, to get the finish time I'm looking for. That's why, when I woke up this morning to the following animated .gif on Etherbrian's blog, I was tickled beyond 8-bit pink. It's a friendly reminder that it takes time to turn the wheel.

But if you keep moving, things do change.

To every season, then. Through every season.



P.S. Brian accomplished a goal of his own this month, too - breaking into the ranks of printed Threadless T-shirt artists. I've been a fan of Brian's for over ten years and was happy to pick up a design of his through Zazzle shortly ago. Now I'm even more thrilled to be one of the first to shell out for his Interloper From Beyond The Heavens on starburst orange. Join me!

Genre Jumper

I'll be honest.

I have no idea how to eulogize Bob Clark, a fine director responsible for the most successful sex comedy franchise of the 80s (started by the most profitable Canadian film ever), an equally influential horror flick that's been recently (and crappily) remade, and what is, in my opinion, the best holiday film of any generation.



Those would be Porky's, Black Christmas and A Christmas Story, respectively. Taken alone, they represent a subject range most filmmakers wouldn't even attempt. Clark did it anyway. I'd argue his command of film language jumps genres so easily because it's less about cinema and more about humanity. Witness characters in any of the above films and you'll see real people, not contrivances. I don't care if his late-career projects were sub-par or uninspired. It doesn't tarnish these early achievements.



Bob Clark was struck on the PCH around 2:20 in the morning while in a car with his 22-year-old son. The drunk guy in the SUV that did the striking - only two years older than Clark's boy - got off with minor injuries. There's no point commenting on the circumstances of these deaths, but I will anyway.

They piss me off. They're sad.



What gets me most, though, is that I only skimmed the recent interview with Bob Clark in the Globe & Mail. My act, sadly, represents a common view (even a Canuck view) of the man: we have an awareness of him, even an appreciation for what he did...

But he was too often overlooked.

Blorthos Recommends

I am Blorthos Malamakk. You are not. So, I tell you what to buy.

Time of season come when you get thing for who not kill you.

Must get good thing, or should die.

Look close, see answer. Sing along if want.

Cousin Farblachht, pretty young one of family, model thing today.

First Day Christmas

Puny Hammer of Laughable Damage



Poky Knife of Silly Puncture



These thing waste of gold but good for child, maybe woman. Put in stocking for joke. Even pretty Farblachht not make look good.



Two Day Christmas

Stylish Dagger of Attractive Slaughter



Studded Mace of Sudden Whompage



Blorthos fell many Morden-Urg with set. All hit to ugly face and stinking body produce strong thud, good destruction of enemy. Cousin Farblachht like also.



Christmas Third One

Questionable Blade of Fluttery Slapping



Stupid sword look like fish. Still, kill easy most Ha'Ku, some Vulk.



Four Days Christmas

Generic Sword of Reliable Slashing



Your grandpa wield this stick, drop most ancient Bracken Defender, Boarbeast. Collectible, get two and maybe match well-dress cousin.



Five Christmases

Spiked Pounder of Certain Mangling



Put dent or hole in enemy fast, sometime see inside tunnel open spill. Good, recommend. HAHA look how small Farblachht look! He need two Pounder even graze Maltratar or Sand Reaper, never mind angry Kragen! HAHA!



Christmas Six

Serrated Paddle of Hesitant Reaming



What? More fish sword? Stupid, think. And right. But give shiny color, so fashion prince cousin like. Oh, I make him mad now! Want unleash rage on frozen enemy! HAHA, not hit me Farblachht, I on internet tube serie!



Christmas Time Seven

Horned Club of Sociable Battery



If attend special holiday banquet where give gift back forth, not do worse than two decorative club Farblachht like so much he rest on slumber mound with. Be talk of party, then slay quick all Thrusk, Scrub Boar, even Rotten Twisted Shail.



Eight Day

Legendary Pike of Absolute Wreckage



Name all. Jabbing Tharva. Tacklak Basher. Kurgan. Outcast Vasp. Sangor, Thrine, Naldrun. Lertisk, Flaypick, Durvla. Klask! BRALL!!! Not matter, any. All die if face Legendary Pike. Much gold, great honor. Why poor Farblachht look so sad? He not like backdrop. Pout lip like baby.



Somehow, this better. Now Farblachht pose with power.



Ten of Christmas

Piledriving Axe of Great Death



Stuff getting good. Blorthos stand behind recommend Piledriving Axe for dispatch Gorgak, Adolescent Taugrim mostly. Farblachht say Plagued Larvax, Boggrot too. Not agree, though if hit Kurtle or Skitter hard enough, explode like festive ornament. Weapon easy for wrap also, person never guess.



Christmas to Eleven

Dual Katana of Frenzied Dismemberment



Hurry fast and now. Katana fly off shelf. Many close relative sure be dead by daybreak when happy gift owner joyful fling about effective weapon. Cousin Farblachht so happy model glowing sword, he on top Christmas world!



Twelfth

Mammoth Sledge of Swift Flattening



Younger, prettier cousin get open portal to good vacation destination, no gold taken. Why not Blorthos deserve? Make whole post for human blog site, take long! No reward, not even health potion. Here stupid Farblachht model best Christmas weapon, Mammoth Sledge. It kill very good if any enemy near, but on island, nothing. So Blorthos recommend Farblachht hit self hard and again until make hit points zero, need magical lady for revive. Merry celebration.



Enough,

The End

All right, let's get this party started.

It's the end of 2006, and there's lots to celebrate.


Doug finished his first act, congrats!

Bill and Walt published their second book, wicked!

Tanya's moving to California, sweet!

Lisa got promoted, disco!!!

Julie's freelancing!

So am I!

Kevin found a team for spring!

Dave and Lena are pregnant!!!

Edie's smiling a lot!

Robs and Trevs are angling for a house!

Ryan's Outsiders is premiering!

Comrade's going strong!

Christen's teaching in the desert!

DJ's officially a Canadian!

Carl and Julianne are engaged!

Tara's joined us 30somethings!

Shannon's still in Canada!


And much, much more.

Good grief, what a year.

I've promised a Down South wrapup, and that's coming. After all, it's getting pretty cold here at Mini Nerd - all the more reason to say goodbye to fall.

I hinted at an update, and that's coming too. Thanks to Trevor for giving me a good excuse to make those posts I've been itching to for many weeks.

And all along, I've been plinking away at updating the site proper. Regular readers will notice more new functionality in the navbar. The F.O.R.G.E.'s been updated with several hundred new words for us Dungeons & Dragons knobs, plus it's been joined by Gruntage, a nod back in time to high school and a language my peeps and I forged to comment, ridiculously, on just about anything. Give it a click and try to pronounce!

Flirting on and off with a slideshow feature, I eventually discarded it because the thing was slowing down pageloads like nobody's business. In its place, we added a couple Videos (one from Down South, and the other a nod back to the early 2000s, when we made a grab for placement in the Big Rock Eddies faux beer commercial contest). I'll post it here, since it suits the season (snow and sauce, natch):



The "Geek Gifts" I've been steadily adding for about a month now are finally, fully live, comprising the comic books I really loved so far in my life and want you to love too, if only you'd take a chance and buy one from Amazon. Trust me, I wouldn't hawk 'em if they weren't cool. Got one open-minded nerd bone in your body? Then click, read and entertain yourself. There's some fun stuff.

For those who care, I can say with some certainty Big Nose Barney, Blorthos Malamakk, AND Lord Blooddyke will all make an appearance before year-end. They've each been absent from the Mini Nerd mainstage for a while, but ever watching from the wings and waiting for their moments of closure (or continuation).

Lastly but not leastly, up top right we've got the usual XML link for those of you who access Mini Nerd through your RSS readers - but this month out, it's accompanied by an XMAS link, which will get you a playlist I've compiled for your holiday enjoyment. It's appropriate for decorating trees, drinking eggnog (laced or not), shopping and wrapping, and of course, waking up Christmas morn with yer loved ones. Please partake. Christmas music always gets me weepy - especially the sacred stuff - and I've put some decent hours into compiling the best I could find. (You'll need Windows Media Player for the .m3u file to work, I think. Sorry!)

In closing; in opening:

Friends, folks, alla youse - let's send 2006 out with a bang, not a whimper. We're all one year older, one year wiser (hopefully). Dunno about you, but I'm ready for some festive. So bring it on. May the final four of this annum be ones to remember.

Cheers,
Steebn