On Friday, 16 December 2011, I picked up the registration for my new car and got it inspected. I also handed over the title to my old automobile. The next day, Janice and I met role-players Sara F. & Josh C. for lunch at Whole Foods at Legacy Place in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Director Guy Ritchie is still fond of explosions, Gypsy music, and slow-motion fisticuffs. Actors Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. John Watson appear to be having a blast playing up their “bromance.” Downey Jr.’s comedic chameleon owes at least as much to Peter Sellers‘ manic Inspector Clouseau in the Pink Panther flicks as it does Basil Rathbone or Jeremy Brett’s sleuths.
Jared Harris, the son of the late Richard Harris and already a villain on Fringe, acquits himself well as that “veritable Napoleon of crime,” Dr. James Moriarty. As with the original serialized fiction, women are merely in supporting roles in Sherlock Holmes 2. Mrs. Mary Watson (Kelly Reilly), Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), and fortuneteller Madame Simza Heron (Noomi Rapace) are involved in Moriarty and Holmes’ chess game as attractive pawns.
Noted Sherlockian Stephen Fry does get an amusing turn as Holmes’ older (and smarter) brother Mycroft. In A Game of Shadows, Sherlock Holmes, Watson, and Mme. Simza race across Europe to investigate anarchist bombings and a profiteering scheme to plunge the continent into war. This plot is surprisingly faithful to “The Bruce-Partington Plans,” “The Final Problem,” and the historical facts of how the Victorian era eventually led to World War I or the so-called Great War.
I’m not sure that Conan Doyle would recognize his world in this latest cinematic adaptation, however, with its steampunky emphasis on grime, crime, and pyrotechnics over erudite detection. Still, it’s worth remembering that the late 19th century was an era of technological change to match our own, with electrical street lights, the horseless carriage, telegraphs, and machine guns all changing daily life.
Overall, I’d give Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which is rated PG-13 for violence and innuendo, a B+, three out of five stars, or 7.5 out of 10. The movie is good popcorn entertainment, and another sequel is reportedly in the works, even though its box-office performance could have been better.
>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the “Blackbird:”
-“Syzygy” [Brian W.]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”
-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer
-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.
-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot
-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol
-“Scoop Chang” [Rich C.G.]-male Jovian “near-human,” interstellar reporter kidnapped by the Olvar; psi interested in First Contacts
-“Tariq Asrad Saladin” [Beruk A.]-male Terran “near-human,” seeker of enlightenment and investigator met aboard the Ma’ari ship “Cyan Horizon”
-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert
-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the “Blackbird”
>>”From the journal of Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus, 1 to 7 November 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” I and the rest of the crew of the Blackbirdprepared to leave the the Cyan Horizon, a “Talari” (ark ship) of the Ma’ari, pale, diminutive alien wanderers.
Syzygy had asked Kligba Onagan, a secretive Olvar (arboreal, mammal-like alien) colleague in the Kharvamid Alliance, about what to expect at Oasis Station. A Precursor faster-than-light (FTL) jump gate had recently been discovered near our destination. Lt. Reese said farewell to Ma’ari Capt. Lurandi.
Tela got help from Dr. Bucket and Kedar for installing and activating the Blackbird‘s cloaking capability. She was giddy to share engineering with another Tharian, and this stealth should help us in our exploratory missions.
My day began with a request from Syzygy to come to the med bay. He was waiting with Lt. Kevin Reese and Scoop Chang, who proceeded to perform an impromptu psych exam on me. They were apparently concerned that the Ma’ari might have implanted something when physician “Felana” [Jenna R.P./Non-Player Character] removed Black Box Security Co.’s cyberware.
The interrogation went poorly until I took Kevin aside, and he reminded me of our service together back on Mars. He seemed surprised that I was “strangely amiable,” but I was declared fit for active duty.
Aughest-vor… set a course from 96 Piscium and “Venice” toward GL 884 and Oasis Station, which is about 40 parsecs from Sol. Our pilot planned to avoid the nebula Kuvor’s Veil and Mozarik system in Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian pirate) space. Lt. Reese was wary of newcomers Tariq and Kedar.
In FTL Transit, the Blackbird‘s REM drive caused Tela, Tariq, and Kedar to hallucinate. The winged Tharians later said they imagined their homeworld, while the Terran martial artist saw himselfin a past lifeon a sailing ship.
Scoop was worried, but the rest of us said to leave the dreamers undisturbed until they were needed. The journalist had sent an encrypted warning about the Encegulans (slug-like slavers) and approaching Zarkonian Armada to a military contact near Jupiter, and Lt. Reese forwarded it to Mr. Gray, his superior at Interplanetary Patrol.
While still in Transit, we approached an ion storm, whose radiation and gravitic effects forced us to drop back into normal space for a time. Syzygy secured his unhappy cat Mr. Sniffles in gel. Tela and the spider drones were busy with damage control. We noticed other FTL vessels that had managed to avoid the storm, and we soon resumed our journey.
The Blackbird next dropped out of Transit near GL 884 for a planetary survey and a course correction. The small, red star had two barely inhabitable worlds, which Kevin nicknamed “Heat Miser” and “Cold Miser” after an archaic holiday video.
Xenologist Syzygy scanned and found no signs of advanced life. Aughest smoothly moved our experimental scout vessel into orbit for a closer look. Scoop researched from the Star League database that the Olvar once had a colony, which was evacuated for unknown reasons.
Using the Blackbird‘s sensors, Kevin detected a large base nearly the size of a city on “Cold Miser.” That’s when the FUBAR happened. Lt. Reese and I initially wanted to check out the frozen ruins for abandoned tech.
Civilians Aughest-vor and Scoop thought we should not delay our primary mission of getting to Oasis Station and finding a way to report on the Zarkonian threat to the United Earth Authority (U.E.A.). As the entire group discussed how to proceed, two-dozen unidentified ships arrived in the star system!
Tela and Kedar identified their FTL as unusual “warp bubble” technology. We then debated over the best course of action. Kevin and I wanted to use our cloaking device, while Aughest and Scoop preferred to parley. Syzygy and Tariq were content to cautiously observe, and our exchanges continued and became heated. Then Tela got bored, so she hailed the alien fleet herself, locking the rest of us out!
The alien ships stacked themselves in geostationary orbits and began beaming strange force fields at “Heat Miser.” Syzygy verified that they weren’t harming local microorganisms too much, and the aliens were apparently extracting exotic minerals and somehow refining them as they relayed them to the outermost craft in each stack.
After what was probably our strangest First Contact so far, Lt. Reese took the comm. The Cetarans [created by Byron V.O.] resembled extinct Terranplesiosaurs, with prehensile front flippers like those of some seals. According to the Olvar database, the Cetarans were rivals of the arachnid Nolath [see Team 2 notes]. Aughest prepared the Yoyodyne Overthruster in case we needed a quick getaway.
After exchanging pleasantries, Capt. Geyvvig made an interesting offer. He said that his people were neutral toward the Kharvamid Alliance and the galactic trade guilds, and he expressed interest in having humanity join a group of less-populous interstellar species in a non-aligned movement.
We told Capt. Geyvvig that we’d consider his offer and pass it back to our homeworld. Dr. Bucket noted that the Cetaran mining technology could be helpful in getting resources for Terrans from Tyche, which we partly owned. Tela, Aughest-vor, and Scoop were most interested in making new friends.
I surprised Kevin, who again wanted to retreat, by suggesting that we meet the Cetarans face to face. Although the Sol system needs allies as we begin expanding into the Milky Way, Lt. Reese said, we were outnumbered and potentially outgunned. Tariq was equally cautious, and three-armed Syzygy wanted to see how we Terrans resolved our differences.
We left the Cetarans to pop out from GL 884. Aughest-vor set a course for Hip 103039, another potentiallyinhabitable system near Altair and BD+15-4733 and on the way to Oasis Station. On the way, we resumed our debate over standard operating procedures.
Extraterrestrials Syzygy, Tela, and Kedar (and U.E.A. robot Dr. Bucket) kept busy running the Blackbird and watching us. Aughest and Scoop said that with an enlarged crew, we needed a protocol for First Contact between Terrans and aliens. Lt. Reese and I preferred a military-style chain of command for quick decisions in dangerous situations. Tariq saw the value of both diplomacy and tactical readiness.
Scoop argued in favor of talking first rather than initiating scans or threatening strangers by arming ourselves. He observed that Tela may have been out of line in hailing the Cetarans, but she did the right thing while we bickered. Kevin and I asked why we should trust him and Tariq, whom we met among the Olvar/REM and Ma’ari, respectively.
Aughest tried to mediate, noting that despite our differences, we’ve usually had one another’s backs in combat and made several successful First Contacts. Ultimately, we agreed upon the following steps for observation, assessment, and contact:
–Scans: Scientist Syzygy plans to check for life signs, I will look for direct threats as gunner/sniper, and Lt. Reese will monitor the surrounding space. Survival expert Tariq can observe the behavior of aliens and scout the area during planetfalls. Dr. Bucket may be helpful for coordinating scans. Reporter Scoop and his robotic camera EVE will record all encounters.
–Defensive posture: Engineers Tela and Kedar will ready the REM drive and power for sublight maneuvering. Pilot Aughest-vor will plot a course of escape using our afterburners, and Kevin can activate the stealth system. Tariq and I must also stand ready to repel boarders.
–Contact: If we are hailed, Kevin can initially speak on behalf of the Blackbird, with advice from Syzygy, Aughest, Scoop, and then the rest of us, depending on the situation. If the other party is hostile, Lt. Reese can take tactical command. Aughest recommended working out strategy in advance if possible.
I hope we’ll be able to develop our mix of diplomacy, canny force, and maneuvering as needed to protect the Trinoids’ interest in Earth’s future… <End journal entry.>
Thanks again, Jason, for this session’s title and your generous gifts! I’ll have mine for “Vortex” Team 1 whenever we meet next. See my other posts for our January 2012 schedule. Team 2, the crew of the Appomattox, will role-play on Dec. 19. We may have some one-shots around Christmas and New Year’s, and Team 1 is currently down for Jan. 9.
In the meantime, the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy team will virtually convene again on Dec. 30. May all of you and your families have a safe and happy holiday season! -Gene
On Saturday, 10 December 2011, Janice’s parents, her youngest sister Melinda, and Melinda’s children Amanda and Joshua came over to celebrate Janice’s birthday and to bake holiday cookies.
In addition to housecleaning and shopping for gifts for family, friends, gamers, and co-workers, I’ve been dealing with automotive issues. A few weeks ago, I had some expensive repairs and maintenance done on my 1998 Honda Civic coupe. On my way from the local dump to work yesterday morning, my car started overheating.
I called into work and brought my beat-up green car (which I had bought used in 2000) to Boch Honda in Norwood. I’ve had to postpone several meetings to later this week. Another coolant hose had come loose, and more problems were likely coming soon. While waiting for the assessment, I went into the dealer area and eventually bought a 2011 Honda Fit Sport.
My family and friends are much more excited than I am about the new vehicle, which I consider merely a means to get from Point A to Point B in relative safety and comfort. I’m not a fan of gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles and the distracted soccer moms or cellphone-using drivers behind the wheel. Still, the Fit is pretty stylish.
I had hoped to nurse the Civic through another harsh New England winter. Ice, salt, potholes, and tree sap take their toll. In 12 years here, I’ve been hit several times — never my fault — and the engine may have had another 100,000 miles in it. I was also in no hurry to begin making car payments anew, but repair bills were starting to become bigger and more frequent.
My red Fit has more passenger and cargo space than the Civic, despite being about the same compact-car length. Although most of my driving is stop-and-go, short-distance commuting with the occasional out-of-state trip to visit family, I hope to get good mileage. As of this writing, the four-door hatchback has only 17 miles on it so far.
What do you think I should name my new car? I’m asking only readers of this blog! I nicknamed my first car, a used red Chevy Cavalier, the Millennium Falcon for its utility and temperament. I sometimes called my Civic a “Runabout,” after Star Trek: Deep Space Nine‘s long-range shuttlecraft.
Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.36 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 4 December 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.
In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. After “Holy Steel‘s” journey to the distant empire of Khemet, another motley group gathered in the northwestern “Vanished Lands” to explore a world full of perils and wonders….
After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, an unlikely band of adventurers encountered the hostile Centaur followers of Vappu Lahja on the Plains of Sathendo….
>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of autumn 2011:
-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O.]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horses Onimusha and Gashmu; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 4
-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horses Wyth-Amoi and Meth-Fenna; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 4
-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 4
-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J./absent]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 3
-“Kovar” [Beruk A./absent]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 3
-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S./absent]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 3
>>”6 to 9 November 1229 B.C.E.:” The adventuring partylost nearly two months [of “game time”] and its steeds while enjoying baked goods in a Fey barrow. After resupplying at the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human border village of Tarken, the group rode north in search of its missing animals and companions. However, it found Onimusha and Genghis under attack by a strange monster.
The creature has the hindquarters of a wolf, long forelimbs ending in talons, and a steaming skull that resembles that of a rabbit. Asish whistles to his dog Genghis, while Jovinda sends horses Wyth-Amoi (“Wind Spirit”) and Meth-Fenna (“Silver Mane”) away. Kazuo circles around, between the scattered trees.
Jovinda draws her bow but misses, and Asish hits the attacker with a leaf-headed arrow. Kazuo runs up and unleashes a Flurry of Blows. Genghis is unable to pierce the monster’s hide, and horse Onimusha (“Demon Warrior”) backs away.
The beast, later identified as a Barghest, turns its red, glowing eyes at the Grugach and Nezumi, but they shrug off its Crushing Despair. Jovinda yells to divert its attention from Onimusha, and Asish fires more arrows. The diabolical Goblinoid grabs Kazuo and threatens to rip his throat out, but the Monk is defiant.
Jovinda casts Spiritual Weapon and backs up, as Asish snipes from the saddle of new warshorse Gashmu (“Noble Servant”). The Half-Elf Cleric and Tsucharim Ranger injure the Barghest enough that it drops Kazuo, who hits it with another Flurry of Blows.
Surrounded, the Barghest tries to blink to evade more blows, but the trio finishes it off. Although Asish wants to decapitate and burn the devilish beast, Jovinda notes that its pelt may be valuable for trade. Kazuo agrees with Asish, so the scout uses his katana and Bead of Campfire to incinerate the remains. They then scatter the Barghest’s ashes while wondering who summoned it.
Priestess Jovinda invokes her patron Mekkil, goddess of nature, to consecrate the area. Scout Asish is happy to be reunited with his animals and follows the Barghest’s tracks deeper into the Wisalef Forest. Martial artist Kazuo quietly sniffs for other predators.
Kazuo‘s keen nose leads the trio to a rocky hilltop clearing. Asish spots a lean-to shelter and creeps ahead. He hears pots and pans and sees an old woman who is apparently packing to leave. The Tsucharim rider returns to his companions and formulates a plan.
Jovinda noisily walks straight into the campsite and greets the short woman, whose greenish skin, toothy maw, and long, pointed ears mark her as a Goblin. Kolija Ventramin invites the young Grugach to sit with her as they trade tales and gifts.
Stealthy Asish and Kazuo creep forward, bow and siangham drawn. They look at each other and eavesdrop while trying not to be seen by the Goblin. The Ranger left the steeds behind at the edge of the clearing. Jovinda declines Kolija’s offer of food, and Kazuo smells something foul in the overstuffed cauldron.
Jovinda Detects Evil, but the witch is unperturbed, openly casting her own protection spells. Kolija knows the fairy tales of Vappu Lahja, a beautiful woman who rejected three princes and bargained her soul for unspecified abilities. Jovinda and company wonder if this is the same unaging woman gathering Centaurs near the town of Kedetura and inciting Fey folk against humans on the Plains of Sathendo.
Kolija also hints that Vappu Lahja may have “renegotiated” the terms of her power arrangement. The crone calls out to Asish and Kazuo, who reply that they are not afraid of her even as they back away. Jovinda decides that although the Goblin is evil, she isn’t an immediate threat and can be left alone for now.
As a former slave to Nannuattan (eastern Dark Elf) sorcerers, horseman Asish is reluctant to let Kolija live, but wise Jovinda and Kazuo agree to move on. The trio continues northwest, following maps of Ley lines and abandoned border forts. Asish hopes for time to bond with Genghis, and Jovinda considers sharing her abilities with Wyth-Amoi or summoning an animal companion.
That night, the adventuring party keeps watch as fog and frost roll in. Jovinda hears a merry hunting party and sees four Alvari (Sylvan Elves), more rustic than their urban Quelanthi (High Elf/Eladrin) cousins but less nomadic than the Grugach (Wild Elves). They ride slender Elven horses and are followed by Cooshee — swift Fey hunting dogs.
After waking Asish and Kazuo, Jovinda and Genghis hail the hunters. Dark-haired Delvalatar Juteriel is courteous but reserved, and fair Caliran Gelos handles the mounts. Green-clad Aelwyn Kisto looks suspiciously at “barbarian” Asish, but spear-carrying Feldostram Owedoc surprises Kazuo by addressing the rat-kin as an equal.
Noble Delvalatar explains that he and his band are hunting a dire boar and goat-horned stags in the woods. He and rugged Caliran say they have heard how Vappu Lahja’s sway has spread from Kedetura, and haughty Aelwyn expresses concern about human corruptibility.
Asish defends his honor, describing how he escaped from the armies of Gokuri after the destruction of the dreaded Flying Citadel (two years ago in “game time,” six years ago in real time!). Feldostram respects the Ranger’s story, and the Elves agree to accompany the human, Grugach, and Nezumi for a little while as they head toward the city of Alfendi…
Since we probably won’t have quorum in the next few weekends leading up to Christmas, the next “Vanished Lands” telecom game is tentatively scheduled for Friday, 30 December 2011. Let me know as your travel plans firm up.
In the meantime, Team 1 (the crew of the “Blackbird“) for the FATE 3e “Vortex” space opera meets next on Monday, Dec. 12, and Team 2 (the crew of the “Appomattox“) will play again on Dec. 19. Please remember to let me know when each of you will be available, weather permitting, in January 2012. May all your holidays be happy! -Gene
I’ve been a fan of the late Jim Henson‘s creations since watching Sesame Streetand the original Muppet Show as a child in the 1970s. Henson’s gentle humor didn’t talk down to children, nor was he afraid of including adult jokes that sailed over the heads of then-innocent younger audiences.
Janice has an Animal puppet, and I have a Kermit the Frog — both from before we met. We’ve attended exhibitions of Henson’s work at the Smithsonian Institution and other museums, and we met his widow and son Brian, among other puppeteers. Henson’s gifts of joy and wonder have continued to appeal for generations, but is The Muppets as entertaining as its predecessors? Also, are we able to enjoy our foam and felt friends as we once did?
The good news is that director James Bobin and actor and co-writer Jason Segal have made a strong effort to be faithful to Henson’s spirit and to keep the Muppets as wacky as ever. The Muppets is filled with celebrity cameos, allows us to revisit familiar characters and songs, and should be fast-paced enough for the children of original fans.
The movie follows brothers Gary (Segal) and Walter (voiced by Peter Linz) as they grow up and eventually visit the dilapidated Muppet Studios. Walter uncovers a plot by evil oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) to buy and tear down the Muppets’ former digs, so Gary drags his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) along for the ride to reunite the Muppets and hold a telethon to save the theater.
Segal’s love for the Muppets is apparent, and Oscar nominee (and future Lois Lane) Adams’ talents, first seen in Enchanted, are put to good use for various songs. The bucolic Smalltown is nicely contrasted with the Muppets’ latest road trip and the glamorous yet seedy Los Angeles. Cooper is surprisingly game as the villain, even breaking into a rap number, and Rashida Jones is an impatient studio executive.
Other cameos include the indefatigable Mickey Rooney, musician Dave Grohl, and actors Alan Arkin and Emily Blunt. Comedians Whoopi Goldberg, Zach Galifianakis, Jim Parsons, Sarah Silverman, and Jack Black also appear, continuing a tradition from the TV series and 1979 movie.
With iconic characters such as Superman, Mickey Mouse, and Bugs Bunny, their supporting casts grow over the decades and often overshadow them, so I was glad to see the focus back on Kermit in this year’s Muppets. Gonzo, Rizzo the Rat, and Pepe the Prawn are all present, but not dominant. I miss Henson as the voice of the friendly frog, but there were numerous visual cues to his ensemble variety show (one of the best, along with The CarolBurnett Show).
At the same time, I understand why Frank Oz — the original voice of Miss Piggy, Yoda, and many more — chose to step away from this production. I think the filmmakers tried to honor Henson’s idealism, but they were a bit down on the franchise, saying, “It has been years since we were together in the public eye,” even though Disney and Henson Studios have put out several Muppet movies.
There were a few times in The Muppets when Kermit seemed even more discouraged or Miss Piggy was even more of a diva than usual, but I think they were balanced out by the overall sweetness of the script and live-action supporting cast. To me, the moments that felt true included a barbershop quartet singing Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and chickens clucking Cee Lo Green’s “Forget You.”
We also saw The Muppet Show‘s opening credits from a new angle, Animal in anger management therapy, as well as old favorites such as “Rainbow Connection.” Overall, I’d recommend The Muppets to anyone who’s still a kid at heart. (The recent comic books weren’t bad, either.) The movie is rated PG-13 for humor and slapstick, and I’d give The Muppets a B+, a 7.5 out of 10, or about three out of five stars. I’m glad I was able to see the film with fellow fans.
My favorite Muppet movies are The Muppet Movie, Muppet Christmas Carol, and Muppets From Space (I’d put The Muppets on par with the last one). I’m less fond ofThe Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, and Muppet Treasure Island. There are also several fun holiday specials — I’m partial to Emmet Otter’s Jug Band — and other TV shows, such as Fraggle Rock and The Storyteller.
Like Segal and company, I’m not sure that many children with their noses in videogames or being shuttled from soccer to dance practice and homework will appreciate The Muppets, but as with classic Star Trek, I think it’s worth making an effort to expose them to Henson’s humanist values of playful curiosity, determination in the face of adversity, and most importantly, kindness and acceptance of all.
Despite an untimely death, Jim Henson left a legacy of family-friendly entertainment as well as more mythic material, such as Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, and Farscape. I’ve got posters of the Muppets and Farscape cast on my bedroom walls, “It’s Not Easy Being Green” on my lips, and a little bit of Henson in my heart.
Gene's Worlds 