All of the above listed fast food feeding stalls stay open well past midnight (McDonald’s’ drive through stays open twenty four hours around here. I assume it is standard throughout the McDonald’s empire). So why don’t they just go ahead and stay open all the time?

That’s what you want, isn’t it? Food at any hour? Right now, if not earlier? In a society which thrives on “faster, faster” mentality, I don’t see why these corporations don’t cater to the late night crowd.

Restaurants like IHOP, Waffle House, and Huddle House all stay open twenty four hours and they have little or no trouble meeting or exceeding their sales goals.

Just a thought.

Yesterday I posted that things were fine. This is not so. I’ve since had some time, roughly 24 hours or so, to think things through, and I’ve detirmined that things are not fine.

I am still unemployed. I’m on the verge of posting my resume on this blog in a vain hope that some potential employer will see it and think “I need this guy to work for me” and hire me straight away. I know this is a false hope and so I will not do it.

Despite the lack of employment, I think everything else is working as it should. It seems that gainful employment is the only thing lacking in my life, at this time. All else awaits the final piece to fall into place.

Truly, I am blessed to have a wonderful wife who is understanding of my plight of unemployment and who is, herself, employed. We do not starve, at the least, for her good works bless our table with grub.

Still, still there is a darkness about my heart that seeps in without regard for the greater need which abounds. A darkness I must banish, if I am to make a stab at a normal life.

Here, I have rambled enough.

Onward! To brighter glories!

Goon

Goon

— On Sat, 7/26/08, NULL FIELD wrote:

From: NULLFIELD
Subject: Nostradamus
To: NULLFIELD
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2008, 2:11 PM

Goon,
Have you read any of the predictions of Nostradamus? Most of his predictions have indeed come to pass just as he said. Well, it was recently brought to my attention that he predicted the Rapture would occur in 08. Some say it will take place this August. 8-8-08. Even the scientists are saying the end of the world will occur on December 21, 2008. August 8th is only 13 days away.

Love,
MotherGoon

My response to her is as follows:

MotherGoon,
You ever notice how, whenever a triple number (like 08-08-08) comes up there is a rash of predictions of the end of the world? Let’s see, the world didn’t end on 01-01-01, 02-02-02, 03-03-03, or 04-04-04, like everyone said. Likewise no end of the world on 05-05-05, or 06-06-06. I don’t recall hearing about Jesus’ reappearance on 07-07-07 either. I think it MIGHT have been mentioned.

I’m guessing He won’t appear on 08-08-08 either. I seem to recall a passage in the Bible that read (and I’m paraphrasing here), “I shall come as a thief in the night and no man (presumably this includes Nostradomus) will know in advance.” (No, I don’t know the actual book or verse, though I believe its in Revelations.)

In other words, this is just hype to distract you from whats really important. So don’t get caught up in it. It’s crap. Okay?

~Goon

P.S.- Incidently, whoever is sending this “information” out is FEARMONGERING. He or She is creating TERROR. Don’t be a party to it. You are SMARTER than that.
—End of Email—

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPHS ARE MY FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE SUBJECT

What is it about this Nostradamus character than snookers so many people into believing his “predictions?” Are we that starved for news of the future that we have to invent things to believe in?

Nostradamus, I feel, was a crackpot who’s gotten MUCH more attention than he deserves. His “predictions” are nothing more than a fanciful distraction meant as “entertainment,” and poor entertainment at that.

So, no. I don’t believe in Nostradamus’ predictions. No one knows the future, because nothing has been written yet. We create the future by our actions. We cannot gaze into the future. If we could, I would’ve won the Lottery a LONG time ago.

Trust me.

I’d like to open this topic up for discussion. How many of you reading this believe in Nostradamus’ predictions and how many of you take the opposite belief? Do you believe in some of them? Or is belief in the works of Nostradamus an either/or proposition (you either believe or don’t)?

Goon

Right now, I feel like I really want to talk with someone, either through a chat program or on the phone. I want to COMMUNICATE with someone and feel like I am getting my point across. I NEED to feel like I am not alone.

Living where I live now, I am far away from anything. It’s not like I can hop in the car and visit my local Waffle House anymore (not that I would, mind, but you know what I mean).

It’s 4:15 AM as I write this, so I am sort of rambling right now. I don’t want to fight anymore about who is right about the Pagan Community. The only thing I’ve learned about the so-called “Pagan Community” is that there is very little “Community” out there. And around here, in the middle of Jesus-land, there is virtually none. I think my wife and I ARE the pagan community.

My mind is flittering about from one thought to another like a butterfly from one flower to another with no chance of settling for very long.

It’s during these quiet times that I hear the ghosts of the past talking. They have a lot to say and I can’t listen fast enough. How refreshing it would be to quiet the voices and stop the insane dribblings of mouths who chatter to satisfy their own morbid sense of self-worth. It is the worst form of mental masturbation I’ve ever witnessed, except at LARP events. This bespeaks the pattern of most blogs (including this one, it would appear).

An ill wind blows across my heart and the yawning pit of blackest despair opens its cavernous maw to accept my twisting form into its belly of doom. My fall is slow, however, not at all quick and merciful. NAY! I fall slowly as to prolong my agony. A truer form of delicious torture was never devised by any interegator of men.

Would that it would stop and I be free of this melancholy state. But alas, no. My torture continues unabated.

I feel wretched.

I saw a Christina Ricci film tonight. We ordered in on Pay-Per-View. It was called Penelope and if you’ve not seen it, do so as soon as possible. It was a good movie, surprisingly. I thought it was going to be horrid, but I was wrong. It featured (in addition to Christina Ricci) James McAvoy, Reese Witherspoon, and some other folk (none of whom I recognized or remember; sorry to those actors, I have a poor memory).

Anyway, it was a good movie about a girl who has a pig snout and ears (she was cursed by a witch (surprise, surprise) to have the pig nose until she found someone who would like her who was her own kind. I can’t explain it in much more depth than that as I am really tired and am about to place my face into my keyboard with such a force as to wake the dead.

Alright. That’s enough for now. If you’ve gotten this far, I salute you. You have more of a stomach for bullshit than anyone I know. If you’ve got a tick, leave me a message telling me how pathetic I am. I like those comments. (That’s sarcasm for those who can’t recognize it for what it is).

Depressingly Yours,
WonderGoon

Goblins: Life Through Their Eyes is one of the best online comics (webcomics) around. The creators, Tarol Hunt (writer/artist) and Danielle Stephens (colors/editing/moral support) are a fantastic creative team who bring to life the adventures of the Goblins.

“Goblins” is about a group of five goglins who are engaged in an adventuring party. (Think D&D, but with goblins as player characters instead of the normal humans/elves/dwarves etcetera). The comic is violent, so those who prefer non-violence and no blood in their comics should probably look elsewhere (or tough it out; it’s worth it.)

The art is superb and lends itself very well to the theme and pacing of the story. Mr. Hunt’s art is a refreshing change from the often horrible art that “graces” many other webcomics. Like a lot of webcomics, the early strips of “Goblins” is somewhat rougher than the current strips. Done before Danielle Stephens came on board as Colorist, they are in black and white. This is no way detracts from the story, however.

“Goblins” has a wry wit that, while somewhat stiff in the earlier strips, has “grown up.” Almost like a person who has become comfortable with his job, Mr. Hunt has come into his own as an online artist. The quality of “Goblins: Life Through Their Eyes” reflects that.

Mr. Hunt and Ms. Stephens should both quit their day jobs and work on Goblins full time.

What else can I say about Goblins? It’s excellent. You owe it to yourself to check it out. I will be reading the adventures of Dies Horribly, Fumbles, One Eye, Big Ears, Chief, Thac0, Complains-of-Names, and all the other characters (there is a large supporting cast), hopefully for many years to come.

The comic often breaks the fourth wall, in that the characters know they are adventurers in a Dungeons and Dragons game. They make references to game mechanics, like feats the characters possess (something the characters would not know), their levels (most are about 3rd level in the current story), and magical bonuses on weapons (sword +1) that sort of thing.

At times this is funny and lends itself well to the story. Other times it detracts from the story and breaks the flow of the carefully crafted tale that Mr. Hunt has so expertly crafted. If “Goblins” took itself slightly more serious, it would be an even better comic than it is.

Overall I would not hesitate to give “Goblins: Life Through Their Eyes” four and a half Goons (out of five) and highly encourage you to give this excellent webcomic a read.

Cheers,
WonderGoon

Goon

Blessings,
WonderGoon

Farewell all. I hope to see you soon.

This is WonderGoon, signing off. . . . .

Dungeons & Dragons creator E. Gary Gygax died Tuesday. I just found this out today, almost a week after the fact. I want to take the time to share my personal Gary Gygax story with you. It’s not a good story, nor is it very impressive. It is, however, mine.

Sometime during the mid ’90’s, I was invited by a friend of mine to help playtest the new RPG Dangerous Journey’s, created by Gary Gygax. Needles to say, I jumped at the chance to play test it. I went along with my friend to the first session (first for me, at any rate) and made up a playtest character named Chuck D. Weamercrafter.

I remember the characters name because at the time there was a rapper named Chuck D. (At least, I think there was a rapper named Chuck D. I remember the character, but not the rapper.) and I think I had just seen an episode of Yo! MTV Raps! (Yeah, I watched that show. Don’t laugh.)

Anyway, we had a good time with the playtest and later that year, we went to Dragon*Con (a local converntion held every year in Atlanta; click here for more information on Dragon*Con) to promote the new game at the convention. During that convention, I was invited to a party held for the playtesters and the higher ups at the company that was publishing the Dangerous Journey’s game (though, in all honety, I don’t remember the company).

Amongst the attendents was one E. Gary Gygax and his lovely wife Gail, who said not one word to me the entire time. In all honety, I was too, scared, and I guess, nervous, to say anything to him. Gygax was a legend amongst Gamers, and not someone you casually go up to to talk about your latest exploits in the Tomb of Horrors, or how while in the Village of Hommlet, you killed sixteen first level player characters in one sitting (a story that is still talked about around our gaming table!)

No, I simply nodded to him, and he nodded back. There was no exchange of pleasantries beyond the simple greeting. I’m sure he quickly forgot me. But, I never forgot him. He created something which I am not afraid to say I still play today.

I started playing Dungeons & Dragons in the Summer of 1982. I was 11 years old and my brother and I were visiting my dad and grandparents in Reno, Nevada. There was a kid across the street named Kevin who had all the D&D books. We played in his garage while my dad was at work (he didn’t want us playing; he thought it was stupid. Not evil, mind, just childish and dumb.) We were rebellious children, though, and we never listened. Lucky me.

My first character was chosen, not with an eye for effectiveness, which would come much later, but with and eye for logic. It set the stage, I see now, for a lot of my characters to come. The first character was a Human Fighter (back then, only humans could be a fighter, a cleric, a magic-user, or a thief; all the other races were also classes) though I don’t remember his name. Fighters at that time rolled the largest die for hit points; a d8. I remember I had a pretty decent Constitution score, so I wanted losts of hit points so I could hang in a fight longer. That move payed off later when I watched my brothers character, an elf, get slaughtered by a pair of skeletons. (The elf class rolled a d6 for hit points, so he had less than I did.)

We had great fun playing the game and that fun continued into my adult life. It shaped who I am today and my thought proccesses, the values I hold, and the imagination I have. All because E. Gary Gygax created a simple game for the entertainment of millions of geeks everywhere.

Without E. Gary Gygax, I would’ve had a very boring childhood and a worse adulthood. I’ve met a lot of good friends, both real and imagined, because of a small red box with with artwork by someone named Erol Otus on the cover. (Erol Otus’ art was iconic in and of itself).

So, from me, and all my alter ego’s, Farewell Dungeon Master. May Bahumat welcome you warmly in the Seven Heavens. Save a place for me at the Celestial Gaming Table.

Signed,
WonderGoon, Tel’Avin, Rikus Soth, Thenin Ravenbeard, Janwyn Bloodblade, Flavius of Mythus, Ylum of the Vale, Gowron Bard of Ill Repute, Lord Kregstan, Loreseeker, Kivan, Illbrahn, Torg, Kelrissa, Pryntor, The Songster, and all the many hundreds of NPC’s of all the various campaigns I’ve run.