Friends, I've mentioned the following at the D&D3.5 "Vanished Lands," "Dimension Corps Online," and "Black SciFi/Horror/Fantasy Fan" Yahoo Web clubs (run by me, Steve M.R., and Cecil R.W., respectively), so I might as well gather them and discuss them here:

-Over New Year's weekend, David I.S. and I looked online to find when "Star Trek 2.0" is on television. Unfortunately, the remastered episodes of the classic 1960s space opera are airing in syndication late at night or early in the morning on weekends. We hope that Thomas K.Y. will be able to record some with his TiVo. http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/25835.html

-Dave and I watched the Cartoon Network's rebroadcast of "Hellboy: Sword of Storms," which we liked. Mike Mignola's angular style is well-suited to animation (as in Disney's "Atlantis"), and we have "Hellboy: Blood and Iron" to look forward to before the next live-action horror/conspiracy sequel, "The Golden Army."

-Cecil R.W. and I liked the premiere of "Afro Samurai" on Spike TV. I found it to be violent, somewhat derivative in plot and cyberpunk setting, but well-voiced by Ron Perlman (of "Beauty and the Beast," "The Name of the Rose," "Teen Titans" and "Hellboy"), Samuel L. Jackson ("Pulp Fiction" and Mace Windu in the "Star Wars" prequels), and Kelly Hu ("Scorpion King"). The animation was reminiscent of some of the better work in "The Boondocks." http://www.afrosamurai.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/blackscifihorrorfantasyclub/?yguid=59168706

-Other upcoming animated direct-to-video adaptations of comic books include Marvel Comics' "Iron Man," the D.C. universe's "The New Frontier," plus another potential "Star Trek" cartoon (http://trekmovie.com/2006/12/13/cbs-considering-new-animated-trek-series/).

The "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle" computer-generated flick looks promising, with dark back-alley creatures, nicely choreographed martial arts, and some goofy humor. General anime news can be found through the links at http://www.mania.com/53221.html

-Of live-action genre trailers now available, Frank Miller's "300," a loose retelling of the battle of 300 Spartans against the Persian "Ten Thousand" at Thermopylae, looks to be as stylish and bloody as "Sin City," with computer-generated backgrounds like "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow."

I also hope that "Day Watch," the second of three Russian horror films begun in "Night Watch," will be widely released. I expect "Ghost Rider" to be similar to spring genre flicks such as "Daredevil" in middling quality and box office. Speaking of modern fantasy, "Highlander: Origins" looks promising, if only to this fan of the first movie ("There can be only one!") and the well-made television series with Adrian Paul.

"Highlander: the Series" prefigured the story arcs, humor and drama, and writing of "Buffy: the Vampire Slayer" and the revived "Doctor Who," IMHO, just as "Hercules: the Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess" helped develop the creative conditions for the current renaissance in fantasy (filming "Lord of the Rings" in New Zealand, for example) and comic book movie adaptations (director Sam Raimi went on to make "Spider-Man").

In the coming weeks, I look forward to the return of regular genre television, including "Heroes," "Smallville," and "Stargate SG1." Speaking of metahumans and adventurers, David I.S., Kim A.G., and I didn't play "City of Heroes" this past week, due to postholiday catching up on other things. Here's another shameless plug of a friend's Web sites: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/dimensionalcorpsonline/

On the other hand, the face-to-face D&D3.5 "Vanished Lands: Halmed Desert" fantasy game is back up to eight role-players, including Paul J./"Rache," his girlfriend Bre, and newbie Doug H./"Dimgo," who replaced Otis D./"Ali" and Robert F./"Ubat!"

Byron V.O./"Kemosh" has successfully participated via videoconferencing, and he and Dexter V.H./"Faelonia" have plans for side adventures, while Greg D.C./"Janus'" play by e-mail also continues. We'll see how much time I'll have for this component.

That's in addition to the other regular Tuesday night guys: Beruk A./"Kunal," Brian W./"Mumtaz," and James B./"Ib" (and Greg as "Killian"). For more "Broken Chains" updates, visit http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/DnD3VanishedLands/

Janice and I have a relatively quiet weekend planned, since we've either been on the road or hosting friends and family every weekend for the past month or so! I'll try to discuss in greater depth my autobiographical information, genre preferences/reviews, and nongaming events in upcoming postings. Have a good weekend, -Gene

Friends, after several conversations with David I.S. this past weekend, I came up with the following lists (in no particular order) of things we like and don't like:

We like:

-Healthy food that tastes good, and routine meals (i.e., "second breakfast").

-Ethnic restaurants that are nearby, varied, and most of all, cheap! (See Harvard Square's "Border Café.")

-Space opera, even if the subgenre ("Star Trek," "Star Wars") is not especially popular right now, in comparison with horror, comic book superheroes, or angst-ridden drama.

-Terry Gilliam's fantasy/comedy movies, such as "Time Bandits," "Brazil," and "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen."

-Television shows with speculative fiction elements, a strong story arc, and sympathetic characters (see "Stargate SG1," "Heroes," and "Doctor Who").

-The second movie in a superhero series (see the "Superman," "Spider-Man," and "X-Men" franchises for examples).

-Video/gaming/music stores for browsing, even in the age of Amazon.com.

-Women who like/tolerate games of all kinds, as well as varied subcultures (SF fanboy, neoGoth, techie, etc.).

-In-character role-playing conversations.

-Old friends who stay in touch but respect one's time.

We dislike:

-Unhealthy but ubiquitous food (like holiday snacks at the office).

-Unmarked roads, especially at night or during bad weather and heavy traffic.

-Employers that refuse to commit to long-term career development.

-Ripoffs by insurance companies, money managers, and utility providers.

-The fallacy that everyone can balance family, career, and hobbies equally well, and the assumption of shared lifestyle goals.

-People who hide behind religion to perpetuate hatred and violence.

-Cranky computers.

-Impatient gamers (in videogames and face-to-face role-playing).

-Disappointing third movies in superhero franchises (see "Batman," "Blade," "Superman," and "X-Men").

-Television networks and other media outlets that often try to get ratings at the expense of their identities (see wrestling on the SciFi Channel, live action on the Cartoon Network, reality show competitions on the History or Discovery channels).

-The premature cancellation of programs that we like (such as "Space: Above and Beyond").

What do you think? Do you have any likes/dislikes to add?

Friends, I hope your holidays were happy and that the new year is better than the last one!

On Saturday, 23 December 2006, Janice and I drove to my parents' home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fortunately, the long drive from Massachusetts to Virginia was relatively smooth, since the rain could have been snow.

On the way, we visited Janice's grandmother in rural Pennsylvania for a few hours. I hadn't yet seen her apartment, which she moved into about a year ago after the death of her husband and the sale of the family homestead. We originally planned to have lunch at favorite local sandwich joint "Talarico's," but she topped that with barbecue (sloppy joes)!

On Christmas Eve, my younger brother Peter, his wife Kelly, and their toddler daughter Ava joined us from Alexandria, Va. As usual, my mother made sure we had abundant and excellent food throughout the weekend, including baked ham, egg rolls, artisan breads, and imported cheeses. My father's appetite has returned after radiotherapy and surgery, but he is still in pain and recovering his energy level. Alas, he also caught the bad cold we had been fighting.

We exchanged gifts then, since Peter & Kelly would be visiting her mother in Maryland the next day. Among other things, I got an astronomy book and the DVD set for Season 1 of the excellent animated fantasy "Avatar: the Last Airbender." Peter also brought gifts from Steve M.R. & Aleece Z.R.

Although the weather continued to be unseasonably warm, Kelly has been uncomfortable in the last months of her second pregnancy, and we didn't want to risk adorable Ava getting sick, so we played Uno. The simple card game has led to many fun hours for my family (see photo). Ava enjoyed the Lego Duplo zoo set we gave her.

Christmas was fairly quiet. I talked with my mother about our family in the Philippines and Belgium and with father about his latest book, travel, and politics. Unfortunately, I was unable to log into his wireless network with my work laptop. Janice read one of the books she had received, and we watched some European newscasts through my parents' satellite television.

On Tuesday, Dec. 26, Janice and I drove back to New England, stopping on the way at the new home of the Potenza family in Carmel, New York. High-school chum Damon F.P. showed off his spacious house, which he has been renovating. His wife Nicole prepared a nice cold-cut lunch, and her adolescent children Aaron and Katie have been growing like weeds!

We hit heavy traffic in Connecticut. Janice and I grabbed dinner at John Harvard's Brewpub near where I work in Natick, Mass., before unpacking and catching up on e-mail and phone calls. We haven't received as many holiday cards as in previous years, but a few friends such as Ron J.K. and Jim J.D'B. have sent thoughtful gifts.

On Wednesday, Dec. 27, I went into CW's offices to work, but fortunately, there weren't too many online news feed stories to copy edit. Janice and I also caught up on filing and went to the Emerald Square shopping mall near Rhode Island to use some gift certificates and coupons for books.

On Saturday, Dec. 30, David I.S. arrived from Upstate New York. Naturally, Dave and I stayed up late into the night talking about speculative fiction (more on that in future postings), games (mainly "City of Heroes"), relationships, and careers. We again ate well, thanks to Janice's chicken dinners. My college friend and I also enjoyed the rebroadcast of the animated "Hellboy: Sword of Storms" on the Cartoon Network.

The next day, we went to the shops in Central and Harvard Squares in Cambridge, Mass., as well as to "Border Café," our favorite Tex-Mex restaurant. Dave and I decided to pass on fantasy flick "Eragon," although the dystopian "Children of Men" looks promising. The deaths of musician James Brown, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and former U.S. president Jerry Ford also sparked conversation.

Thanks again to Damon F.P., Corbin A.Y., Ron J.K., Steve M.R., and David A.H. for their holiday wishes. Janice, Dave, and I celebrated New Year's Eve by watching heavy metal music videos. New Year's Day was relatively quiet, since the weather had turned damp and cooler. We also watched Dave's new DVD of "Time Bandits," one of my favorite Terry Gilliam fantastical comedies, but we missed the local broadcast of remastered episodes of 1960s "Star Trek" episodes.

Dave left this morning for New Hampshire, where he hopes to retrieve a drum set from Nate V.P., and my return to work has gone well so far. Tonight, the D&D3.5 "Vanished Lands: the Broken Chains" face-to-face game resumes, although we're again facing seasonal turnover.

Paul J. is back from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst for winter break, Byron V.O. is up for videoconferencing, and newbie Robert F. has dropped out because of scheduling conflicts. Another prospective role-player, Doug H., will be sitting in! We'll see how the "Halmed Desert" heroic fantasy scenarios go… In the meantime, take it easy, -Gene

I'd like to wish all of you Happy Holidays (a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Cool Yule, etc…) and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

While Janice and I have been getting over a nasty cold, we've been dealing with the annual preholiday rush of work, shopping, and travel preparations. I attended a depressing meeting regarding what we need to set aside for 401(k)s, but on a lighter note, I won a gift basket in a raffle during a fun party at work (see photo with co-worker Bob R.). There are far too many delectable snacks at the office! My holiday cards are once again going out late, but I've received a few nice ones and gifts from family and friends…

The traffic hearing I attended in Somerville, Massachusetts, last Thursday (14 December 2006) had a favorable result–I was judged to not be at fault in a fender-bender this past spring and won't be receiving points on my driver's license or additional state surcharge. Now, if only I can get through the coming winter without the annual damage and repairs to my aging car.

With most genre entertainment television now on hiatus, Janice and I have also been watching our DVDs of various animated holiday specials. Do you have any favorites? Ours include the "Claymation Christmas," "A Wish for Wings That Work," and the funky original British version of "Robbie the Reindeer." Of course, classics such as "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" are compulsory viewing.

On the Dimension Corps Online message board, there has been more debate regarding the merits of the SciFi Channel's latest season of "Battlestar Galactica" and other shows. I'm in the minority who think it could be much better in terms of tone and plot. Fortunately, there are enough other programs to watch.

This past weekend and last night, I successfully teleconferenced with Byron V.O. in St. Louis, Missouri, and Dexter V.H. in Brooklyn, New York, marking a new era in our role-playing. As noted at my "Vanished Lands" Yahoo/eGroups Web club, for the past 25 years, most of my "Dungeons & Dragons" games have been face to face, including the current Boston-area heroic fantasy sessions. However, role-play by snailmail has given way to play by e-mail, and now videoconferencing! In addition, the "City of Heroes" online party may soon grow, thanks to David I.S.'s promotion of the superpowered game.

Dave may be visiting us in the weekend before New Year's, and before that, Janice and I will be driving down to see my family in Virginia for Christmas. My niece Ava said, "Hi, Uncle," for the first time the other night! We'll be stopping to see Janice's grandmother in Pennsylvania on the way down and plan to see high school buddy Damon F.P. and family's new home in New York on the way back to New England.

Once again, may you and your families have a safe and happy holiday season, -Gene

Friends, I hope you've had a good fortnight. It's hard to believe that Christmas is only a few weeks away! I have yet to write my holiday cards, but in the meantime, here's my latest update.

On Friday, 1 December 2006, I met Thomas K.Y. and Byron V.O. after work for dinner at the "Minado" sushi buffet near CW's offices in Natick, Massachusetts. After moving to St. Louis with his young family this past summer, Byron was back in the Boston area for a conference. We chatted about work and travel.

Byron stayed at Janice's and my second duplex in Needham Heights, Mass., that weekend, but unfortunately, Dexter V.H. was unable to get babysitters in Brooklyn, New York, so he couldn't join us. Byron and I watched the SciFi Channel's Friday night lineup and prepared for the next day's D&D3.5 "Vanished Lands" heroic fantasy one-shot.

Greg D.C./"Janus" brought lunch from "Blue Ribbon Barbecue" in Newton, Mass., and helped set up my end of the videoconferencing through which Byron and others hope to participate in our regular game. The majority of the current role-players arrived by 3:00 p.m. and didn't leave until well after midnight, so I consider the session a success (see Yahoo photos). While not as cinematic as last year's Flying Citadel scenario, I hope everybody had fun.

The higher-level Player Characters successfully stormed a haunted castle containing a vampiric dragon, among other monsters, as well as an evil temple in a barbaric seaport! The once and future "Dragonslayers" (Byron's Paladin "Ibrahim," plus members of the "Liberators" and "Seekers of Lore") now have draconic allies of their own and are busy preparing strategies for the ongoing war in my campaign setting (see my Yahoo/eGroups Web site for more details).

I was also pleased that alumni such as Thomas/"Ahrad," as well as Paul J./"Tetsuo" and Alex J./"Vasec" (who came from college with Paul's girlfriend Bre) were able to attend. I was disappointed that Dex/"Faelonia," Carolyn M.P./"Grace," Brian W., and James B. didn't make it, but the regular, lower-powered "Halmed Desert" game resumes this coming Tuesday night.

Janice and I then caught up on housework and reading. We also watched recorded television dramas, including the excellent midseason finales of anime fantasy "Avatar: the Last Airbender," metahuman hit "Heroes," and youthful sleuth "Veronica Mars." The revisionist "Battlestar Galactica" and proto-Justice League "Smallville" haven't gone on hiatus, and I'm looking forward to the last few episodes of military space opera "Stargate SG1" sometime next month.

For Janice's birthday, I gave her some limited-edition figurines inspired by Brian Jacques' "Redwall" fantasy novels and took her to "Fuji," a local Japanese steakhouse. We had off from work and took the commuter rail into downtown Boston to the Museum of Fine Arts on Tuesday, Dec. 5. After lunch at one of Janice's favorite burrito places, we walked around and did some shopping Back Bay, the Prudential Center, and Copley Place.

The compressed workweek was again hectic, but we got through it without incident. Janice's parents came this past weekend to belatedly celebrate her birthday and for the Bay Colony Dog Show at the Bayside Expo Center. For animal lovers, the agility trials, breed judging, and "Best in Show" competition were all very interesting.

We then took Janice's parents to the animal shelter where she volunteers on Sunday mornings before grabbing dinner at "Firefly's," a Southwestern barbeque restaurant in Framingham, Mass., on their way home (we had received a new vacuum cleaner from them). Despite concerns about various ill family members on both sides, I look forward to seeing my folks in Virginia around Christmas.

This past Thursday and yesterday morning, I played in the "City of Heroes" online game with David I.S./"the Excoriator" and Kim M.E.A.G./"Lady Bewilder." Dexter V.H./"Dalance" and Steve M.R./"the Blazing Corona" weren't able to join our superheroes.

At Kim's recommendation, in addition to "Nightfall IIb" and other characters on the Champion server, I've now created "the Scarlet Saber" on the Guardian server, mainly for Thursday nights. Other than the occasional home computer or network slowdowns, I expect the team(s) of my college friends to continue their adventures!

Last night, Janice and I visited Cliff & Eliza Y., who are expecting their first child in the coming month, around the same time my younger brother Peter and his wife Kelly are expecting their second child. We sipped some cider, ate at the Bertucci's in Framingham, and chatted about politics, work, and travel.

Speaking of work, my latest brief profiles of award-winning information technology executives for CW's print and line editions were published today! Although I spend most of my time copy editing, it's nice to get a change of pace reporting occasionally.

This week, I'll be fighting an automotive insurance increase at a traffic hearing on Thursday. Although I haven't been the cause of any of the annual accidents involving my 1998 Honda Civic, the state still wants to penalize me, so I have to take a day off from work to go up to Somerville. Janice and I hope this coming weekend will be relatively quiet as we head into the winter holidays. In the meantime, take it easy, -Gene