While home in London for the holidays, James Corden picks up his friend Adele for a drive around the city singing some of her classic songs before Adele raps Nicki Minaj's "Monster."..(Read...)

Adam Driver hosts Saturday Night Live on January 16, 2016 with musical guest Chris Stapleton...(Read...)

According to Neil, "The Starship Enterprise would wipe its ass with the Millennium Falcon." Can't imagine how'd that upset people...(Read...)

The winter is upon us! While the weather outside might be too cold or simply too rainy for comfort, you should stay inside and curl up with a warm novel until the weather becomes a little more hospitable. Now is a great time to discover your new favorite author.

Maybe you’re looking for a cool new take on the post-apocalypse? Or maybe a heist story with some Mass Effect-style fantasy characters. We’ve got it all in this winter literary roundup.

Nnedi Okorafor: Who Fears Death, The Girl with the Magic Hands

Nnedi Okorafor’s excellent writing covers the trifecta of science fiction, fantasy, and magical realism; sometimes weaving between the three in her stories. She tackles the genre with a love for all things fantastic and uses African culture to create settings and characters with clear identities and complex motivations.

Who Fears Death in particular is a fantastic reimagining of the post-apocalyptic story, weaving familiar tropes of the wasteland in with strange magic, and complex racial and gender politics for a heroine born of two worlds. It’s an intense read, but if you’re looking for a book to bring you to a fantastic new world, this certainly is the one.

Tanya Huff: Enchantment Emporium, A Confederation of Valor

Here’s a one-sentence pitch for Tanya Huff’s Enchantment Emporium: it’s the only book to namecheck the excellent “Joss Whedon is my Master Now” t-shirt. That alone should get you excited.

But in all seriousness, Tanya Huff should be chalked up with one of the great genre writers of this day and age. Her pacing’s frenetic, her dialogue snappy, and her characters incredibly charismatic. Enchantment Emporium could read like Buffy the Vampire Slayer if it was all about Witches, and her Confederation of Valor books bring life to the Space Marine genre by paying homage to classic war stories with a sarcastic cast of characters constantly fighting by the skin of their teeth.

Mark Lawrence: The Broken Empire

You thought Game of Thrones was brutal? You know nothing John Snow. The Broken Empire trilogy puts a dark spin on everything you knew about Fantasy by telling a story about the murderers, scumbags, and dark overlords who usually fall prey to noble heroes.

Prince Jorg Ancrath, wandering vaguely around a part of the world formerly known as Europe, has had everything taken away from him—his mother, his brother, and even his right to the throne. But with vengeance on the mind and a keen realization that something strange is going on in the world, he rallies a troop of bandits and brutally slaughters his way across the countryside. Jorg is absolutely the character you’d normally root against in a fantasy story, but once you begin to understand the world he’s born into, you’ll begin to root for the only character who seems to have some idea how to keep it all together.

Patrick Weekes – Rogues of the Republic

You actually may have heard of Patrick Weekes before. He’s one of the people responsible for this:

Image Source: EA/Mass Effect

In any case, Patrick Weekes, currently Bioware’s lead writer on all things Dragon Age, is also a stellar fantasy novelist. His Rogue’s Republic trilogy is absolutely Dragon Age meets Ocean’s Eleven, complete with recruiting sequences, romances that could drag the team down, unexpected twists, and a complete right-turn into prophecy land that throws the entire casino heist vibe up on its head. Each book is like a great game of speed chess, and when Locke and her companions finally play their trump card, even when you’re looking for it to happen, you’ll cheer with delight.

Willow Wilson: Alif the Unseen

Alright, you’ve definitely heard of G. Willow Wilson—she writes Ms. Marvel!

But have you read her other books? If you haven’t, start with Alif the Unseen. It’s the story of a young arab-indian hacker named Alif in an unnamed Middle-Eastern city who goes a bit off the deep end after finding out the girl he loves is set to be married to the head of state security. In a feverish haze, he codes a program so that he doesn’t have to see her presence online any more. Then, he meets a djinni and the entire state security comes down on his head.

Alif’s adventure takes him across the many tableaus of his own city, but also into the world of djinni, and other creatures from Arabian folklore now adapting to live in the digital age. What starts off as a cyberpunk-fantasy romp slowly over time turns into a meditation on divinity and spirituality that’s accessible by people of all backgrounds. Alif is absolutely an adventure for all types, and when you put it down, you genuinely may have a new way of looking at the world around you.

So there you have it readers! You can grab these authors on Amazon or at your local independent bookstore—be sure to tell us if you’re reading any, or if you have any book recommendations for us!

Feature Image Credit: Who Fears Death/DAW

 

Zaschitniki, a Russian superhero film feature about four different super-powered humans. The release date for the film is listed as December 2016 for Russia, likely sometime in 2017 for North America...(Read...)

Spoilers from Star Wars: The Force Awakens ahead.

…but seriously, why haven’t you seen Star Wars yet??

The Force Awakens has been blowing the doors off box office records since it first hit theaters, and it seems that there is always something new and awesome coming out on social media or in stores for Star Wars fans, be it Daisy Ridley deadlifting 176 pounds or a new BB-8 toy that you can basically control with The Force, there’s something for everyone. There’s also something for the snarky, smart-ass part of the fandom.

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard of the ridiculously hilarious parody account, Emo Kylo Ren, by now. His inquiries to Hot Topic, retellings of his adventures with Hux, and the strained relationship with his father is Twitter gold. But just in case you’ve started to get tired of Kylo’s angst-filled rants (though I highly doubt that’s physically possible), there’s another Force Awakens parody account on the block: Very Lonely Luke.

I’ll never forget my words to Leia before I left forever I looked in her eyes and said, “Don’t touch my stuff.” I bet she touched my stuff

— Very Lonely Luke (@VeryLonelyLuke) January 6, 2016

Wondered what Luke was up to since he went missing after Kylo’s turn to the Dark Side? Well, this Twitter gives you a bit of an insight…or, at least, it chronicles how the solitude has slowly driven him mad.

“You will be my friend” No reply “You WILL be my friend” No reply “YOU WILL BE MY FRIEND” This rock is immune. I move to the next one. — Very Lonely Luke (@VeryLonelyLuke) January 6, 2016

If nothing else, Very Lonely Luke is a hell of a lot chattier than the actual Luke from Force Awakens. Though, Rey’s definitely about to have a super awkward conversation with Luke about the state of his buddy Han…

Everyone in my family gets murdered: Grandma – sand people Aunt & uncle – stormtroopers Dad – emperor Mom – Dad At least Han & Leia are OK

— Very Lonely Luke (@VeryLonelyLuke) January 4, 2016

Seriously, this Twitter is the best thing ever. I highly recommend shotgunning Luke’s tweets with an Emo Kylo Ren chaser (or vice versa). Just be careful when showing it to friends who haven’t seen Force Awakens yet, since there are definitely spoilers sprinkled throughout–but seriously, if you have a friend who hasn’t seen the movie yet, take them to see it.

Have you followed Very Lonely Luke yet? What are some of your favorite Lonely Luke tweets? Let me know that and your other favorite Force Awakens parody Twitters in the comments!

 

Image credit: JPRart/DeviantArt.com

Pet Peeves: School Edition - Aaron's Animals..(Read...)

It’s time! That’s right, you’ve been looking for a new way to geek up your home and we’ve found it for you. The passing of time no longer has to bring a sense of dread to your heart. Instead of watching the hand tick on that boring clock as you countdown to your favorite movie or comic book to be released, you can watch the hand tick by the Avengers or Death Star. Don’t call it a comeback, but if you thought vinyl records were a thing of the past, here’s a new way to keep things retro. Now you can unironically own a vinyl record carved into your geeky obsession like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings and it’s a clock so no one can say you’re buying more “useless” collectibles. It’s utilitarian and totally awesome. Check out a few of these neat clocks below.

Photo Credit: Etsy / CreativeTimeStudio

Turtles may have a reputation of being slow but the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are anything but. Check out this vinyl record carved into silhouettes of the brothers.

Photo Credit: Etsy / CreativeTimeStudio

So will these geeky vinyl record clocks survive the next technological battle? Only time will tell.

Check out the gallery below and let us know which clock you’re planning to buy in the comments!

Featured Image Credit: Etsy / CreativeTimeStudio

I see a lot of ideas online for things to do with your child, but most of them are a lot of work.  Many of them involve an unnerving amount of craftiness and/or require going out to buy things.  Almost all of them involve moving around which, many days, is fine, but some days can be pretty […]

There's no catchphrase that Samuel L. Jackson can't make his own...(Read...)

I wrote this comic while I was working at a corporate office. The Mullet Boss character wasn’t really based on any one specific person, and his look was basically me with a poorly drawn moustache, chin, and mullet.

After I wrote this comic and put it on my site, the office got a new boss. He was a guy from Arkansas who tended to wear suit jackets but no ties. I always got along well with him.

Later, Basic Instructions started running in Seattle Weekly. The editor selected this comic as the first one to run, even though it was a few weeks old at that point. I was absolutely delighted, right up until I had to have the awkward conversation with my new boss explaining how I had written the comic before I’d even met him. (He didn’t have a moustache or a mullet, but as I said, he was from Arkansas, which made him sort of sensitive about both of those hair choices.)

Question from Missy: Didn’t he still believe that it was based on him anyway? And he kind of liked that?

Note from Scott: Yeah, he never truly bought it, but it seemed to amuse him.

 

You can comment on this comic on Facebook.

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

Did you love Netflix’s original series about Marvel’s blind badass as much as we did? Well then we have some good news. The trailer for the upcoming second season just dropped, and you can watch it above.

Have you clicked the video yet? It’s okay, we’ll wait.

Done? Good. Now you see that it’s really more of a teaser. We have artistic renditions of moments from season 1 painted on a church’s walls and ceilings a la the Sistine Chapel as “holy music” plays softly in the background. The characters share their thoughts of how dark the city is and how “Hell’s Kitchen needs to die before it’s reborn.” To sum things up, things are not all fine and dandy after season 1. But being a superhero/vigilante, nothing ever really is.

We hear Matt Murdock speaking with a priest towards the end, wondering why he still feels guilty after all he’s done. The priest surprises him by saying, “Guilt can be a good thing. It’s the soul’s call to action, the indication that your work is not yet finished.” And then SUPER COOL EXPLODING GLASS WHAAAA!!!! PSHEW! PSHEW!

Like most teasers, we get a whole lot of nothing, plot-wise. From what we’ve read, Punisher and Elektra are supposed to make an appearance. Showrunner Marco Ramirez commented that after the fan reaction in season 1, the show plans to stay dark and gritty, but also offer more flashbacks for deeper character insight. Despite the lack of information, the trailer is still a reminder of how cool the series is, and yes, we should be excited.

Daredevil season 2 arrives on Netflix for all your binge-watching pleasure on March 18.

Feature Image Credit: Netflix/Marvel

Any minute now the weather is going to remember that it is January and it should be snowing. What better way to bunker down for the imminent winter chill, than with a bunch of great books? When it is blustery and cold, I love to delve into a good series, only coming up momentarily for air and hot cocoa. Here are some of my favorite series that you may or may not have heard of, but definitely top my book loving charts.

The Cinder Spires

Image Credit: Jim Butcher

This is the newest series to hit my shelves, but I am already hooked. Jim Butcher is a fantastic writer who has the chops to create an amazing series. Just take a look at the Dresden Files or the Codex Alera to see what I’m talking about. The Aeronaut’s Windlass is the first of The Cinder Spires series and it spins a steam punk tale of a mist covered planet, air ships battles, and talking cats. In the past, humans have retreated from the hostile surface of their planet to giant spires stretching miles high. The story starts with several unconnected characters getting thrust together amidst a burgeoning war between two spires. The book has a swashbuckling, Victorian era feel to it and shows great promise for the rest of the series.

Detective Inspector Chen

Image credit: Night Shade Books

I haven’t met many people who know Liz Williams‘ Inspector Chen books and it is a darned shame. These novels blend Chinese mysticism and sci-fi into a buttery smooth series of detective novels that I cannot put down. A friend of mine turned me on to the series and I read all of the books back to back. The series is named after the main character Detective Inspector Chen of Singapore Three’s police department. He is what is called a Snake Agent; someone who deals with supernatural cases. He’s partnered with Seneschal Zhu Irzh, a vice agent from Hell (Yes, he’s a demon). The unlikely pair work cases ranging from illegal soul trade to power hungry Goddesses. This series is such a refreshing look at the sci-fi/fantasy genre. If you are a fan of Asian mythology and mysteries, you really need to give this series a go.

The Long Earth

Image Credit: Doubleday

Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter teamed up to write this sci-fi trilogy. Terry Pratchett was one of my favorite authors, but I had never read Stephen Baxter’s work before. Now, I feel like I have shorted myself. The Long Earth books are fantastic. They take a look at what might happen if, suddenly, everyone in the world could easily and cheaply craft a device that would allow them to jump to alternate earths that were previously untouched by humanity. With endless space and resources now at our fingertips, what does mankind do? This series runs with the idea of travelers exploring a familiar yet alien frontier of our own world and makes us take a long look at our own humanity. It is chilling, awe inspiring, and beautiful and you need to read it.

Memoirs of Lady Trent

Image Credit: Tor Books

This series by Marie Brennan is a real treat for me. I’m a sucker for natural histories and adventurers like Roy Chapman Andrews (the real Indiana Jones), so reading faux memoirs about a Victorian-era woman becoming the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist hit the spot. The first book takes you through her childhood where she first became obsessed with dragons all the way to her first expedition when things go afoul. The books are beautifully illustrated with diagrams of dragons and sketches of her travels. If going to the Museum of Natural History and imagining wings on all the dinosaurs is your jam, then you’ll really enjoy the Memoirs of Lady Trent.

Featured Image: Swantower/TOR Books

What is your favorite series? Do you prefer sci-fi or fantasy to comfort you through these chilly months? Let us know in the comments below!

Time Lapse of Crowd Control in Tokyo Japan for Comic Market.  The footage, which was compiled from photographs taken at intervals of 5 seconds, was filmed on the last day of Comiket from around 1:30 AM to 2:30 PM from the balcony of the nearby Washington Hotel...(Read...)

2015 was an amazing year for geeky movies, but now it’s time to get ready for 2016! We’ve scoured through the trailers, wikis, and interviews to bring you the 13 geeky films we are most looking forward to in 2016.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

In 19th century England, a mysterious plague has run rampant, leaving the land overrun with zombies. Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) must unite on the battlefield with Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) to rid their country of the undead menace and discover true love. This trailer had us as soon as the Bennet sisters first appeared in their 19th century garb and holding weapons. Awesome.

Release Date: February 5, 2016

Deadpool

One of the most highly anticipated movies of 2016, Deadpool is sure to have a great opening weekend.This movie follows Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) who, in an effort to cure his cancer, was experimented on and is hunting down the man who nearly destroyed his life. Based on the trailer, this adaptation of Deadpool has the amazing dark sense of humor fans of the comics love!

Release Date:  February 12, 2016

Zoolander 2

The world’s most beautiful musical celebrities are being assassinated and there’s only one former male model who can save the day! In the sequel to Zoolander, Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel McDonald (Owen Wilson) are recruited by Interpol to infiltrate the new world of high fashion. Meanwhile, an enemy of the past seeks revenge.

Release Date: February 12, 2016

Batman v Superman

This is the first live-action film to feature both Superman and Batman and the very first to feature The Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Wonder Woman. Based on the title, it seems clear that DC is hoping Batman v Superman will be the first of many Justice League movies to come!

Release Date: March 25, 2016

Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War is the newest “Avengers” movie to hit our screen. Adapting from the comic books, the Avengers team becomes fractured into two opposing factions after extensive collateral damage prompts politicians to pass an act regulating superhuman activity. The tension was set up in Age of Ultron and will continue until we can finally see what happens in May!

Release Date: May 06, 2016

X-men: Apocalypse

A new X-Men movie! This time, the story focuses on the return of the first and most powerful mutant, Apocalypse. Disillusioned with the modern world, Apocalypse recruits a team of powerful mutants to destructively “cleanse” humanity and create a new world order. Can the X-Men stop Apocalypse?

Release Date: May 27, 2016

Warcraft

It took a while but World of Warcraft finally has a movie! Warcraft is a film adaptation of the video game series and novels set in Azeroth. The plot will focus on the origin story and initial encounters between humans and orcs. Not much is known yet, but we’re excited that the movie is actually trying to look at both sides of the conflict, rather than favoring one over the other.

Release Date:  June 10, 2016

Star Trek Beyond

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

The Star Trek Beyond trailer left Trekkies feeling a little confused, but we’ll hopefully be getting some new views as 2016 progresses. Simon Pegg told us to hold on, and that there was more Star Trek stuff that definitely shown in the trailer, and we trust Simon Pegg. The release of the film will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise, so there’s always that!

Release Date: July 22, 2016 release.

Suicide Squad

There’s been a lot of info released and rumors spread regarding Suicide Squad. Some of the stuff we’ve seen is great and some of the rumors… well, not so much. Yet, this trailer is beautifully put together and makes us excited to see what the movie has in store for this group of misfit antiheroes.

Release Date:  August 5, 2016

Gambit

Image Credit: Sia 1965Pak

Gambit, with his explosive card tricks and Cajun accent, is a beloved character from the Marvel universe. Almost no information has been released yet, but we do know that Channing Tatum is slated to play Gambit. Some fans have expressed doubts at this casting, but, based on the fan-made picture above, we’re excited to see what he can do with the role!

Release Date: October 7, 2016

Doctor Strange

Benedict Cumberbatch is featured in multiple movies on our list this year, but we are most excited to see him play the enchanting Doctor Strange. The general plot for this movie is that Stephen Strange, the world’s top neurosurgeon, is injured in a car accident. This ruins his career but sets him on a journey of healing. A journey that will introduce him to the Ancient One…

Release Date: November 4, 2016

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

After years spent in Harry Potter withdrawals, it’s back! This story focuses on Newt Scamander, author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Newt accidentally lets numerous creatures escape a magical briefcase, threatening magic and non-magic political relations. Set in New York City, 1926, the movie is sure to wow us with a myriad of creatures and rich plot.

Release Date: November 18, 2016

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Image Credit: Disney

Rogue One is the first film in the Star Wars Anthology series, a collection of stand-alone stories set in the Star Wars universe. The story is set in between the events of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope. In the movie, the Galactic Empire is established and a sinister plot is afoot to enforce the Emperor’s rule. A group of rebel fighters must come together to steal the plans for this horrible creation, the Death Star…

Release Date: December 16, 2016

 

And there you have it, the movies we are most looking forward to in 2016. What movie are you excited for?

 

Featured Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

There’s a surprising amount of board games that are devoted to video games, and not just Donkey Kong Jenga or the highly collectible Zelda Monopoly. But there’s a big difference between board games that are branded with video game licenses, and games that actually take the essence of said games and make them their own experience. Luckily, we’ve found five such games that make for some truly great dice-rolling.

Bioshock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia by Plaid Hat Games

Image source: Plaid Hat Games

Based on the awesome first person shooter, The Siege of Columbia closely follows the events that unfolded from that adventure. Players choose between either the Founders or the Vox Populi as they attempt to gain control of the city of Columbia. Along the way, they’ll have to deal with certain objectives around the city, such as assassinating leaders, destroying strongholds and completing objectives that can immediately have an effect on the other team.

The goal of the game is to get to ten points first, but that’s not always easy. Not only do you have your enemies working against you, but random events occur as well, mainly with video game’s lead characters Booker and Elizabeth causing havoc. Plus, you never know when the Songbird is going to show up.

Made for players age 13 and up and supporting between two to four players (though recommended for two), Bioshock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia is a fun continuation of the series. And you don’t have to worry about catching anything Elizabeth throws at you.

Gears of War: The Board Game by Fantasy Flight Games

Image source: Fantasy Flight Games

Gears of War: The Board Game follows the events from the video game series, as the Coalition of Organized Governments (COG) and its soldiers go to battle with the invading Locust Horde.

Built over the course of seven randomized missions (so that it’s different each time you play), Gears of War recreates many memorable moments from the video games, but in board game form. This includes working alongside fellow soldiers to fend off incoming attacks by any means necessary, whether it’s from afar with blind fire, or up-close-and-personal with your Lancer chainsaw blade. The tactics can change up quite a bit in the game, so it helps to be on the same page of your team. It’s for survival, after all.

With consistently changing scenarios based on card draws and intense battles (not to mention the savvy design of Corey Konieczka) Gears of War is a must for those looking to keep their battle wits about them while awaiting the arrival of next year’s Gears 4. It supports between one to four players, but in this scenario, the more the merrier.

Sid Meier’s Civilization by Fantasy Flight Games

Image source: Fantasy Flight Games

This board game follows most of the principles brought forward by the game series. Your job is to start out from humble beginnings–a single city, an army figure, and a scout to guide you–and work your way up to a powerful empire. You’ll guide your established civilization through various ages, grasping onto resources along the way to guide them, choosing from technology, economy, culture, and military. Be warned, however–no matter what you choose, you’ll find obstacles ahead, including opposing players who are trying to create their own civilization in the process.

There are numerous roles to fill as you play through a good two to three hour-long session of this game, including partaking in epic battles to keep your people alive, creating cities and buildings for your culture to thrive, exploring new technology to become more advanced in battle, and advancing your own strategies to lead your group to greatness. You’ll also run across various historical characters in the game, including Cleopatra and Abraham Lincoln, on your way to greatness.

Although its strategy levels may not be for everyone, Civilization is a must for those who have played Sid Meier’s previous offerings. It’s a great time for up to four players, ages 14 and up.

 

XCOM

by Fantasy Flight Games

Image source: Fantasy Flight Games

Based on the popular series of the same name, XCOM: The Board Game utilizes similar strategies, as you use a special military team to battle against a horde of enemies. Unlike most board games, however, this one revolves around the use of a free digital application, which helps you track your turns, as the order you and your friends play in can change up each time. This can allow UFO’s and aliens to pop up unexpectedly, forcing you to change strategy on the fly.

The goal of the game is to launch Interceptors at these UFO’s, while keeping soldiers assigned to key missions in order to avoid an enemy takeover. Along with that, however, you’ll research alien technology and adapt it to your own strategy so that you can defend your base when it comes under attack. Just remember to defend the rest of the world while you’re at it, otherwise, you could be the only thing left standing.

With excellent turn-based tactics and innovative use of the coordinating app, X-COM definitely stands out from other games of this type. Plus, its battles are second-to-none–but any fan of the series could easily tell you that.

The Witcher Adventure Game by Fantasy Flight Games

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Image source: Fantasy Flight Games

Finally, for those who are devoted fans to CD Projekt Red’s epic adventure series–as well as its accompanying Gwent card game–The Witcher Adventure Game is for you. This two-to-four player adventure puts you in the shoes of different characters from the games, including the powerful Geralt of Rivia, sorceress Triss Merigold, dwarf warrior Yarpen Zigrin, and the bard Dandelion as you tackle a variety of quests, which range from hunting down dangerous monsters to making alliances with unique characters.

As you play, you’ll gather a number of development cards which changes the variety of ways that your character can mature each time you play. This includes enhancing how you utilize Witcher Signs, or perhaps even learning something new about combat by mixing together powerful elixirs. The choice is yours, and it provides abundant replay value, so you learn something new each time. In addition, some characters can also call upon allies, such as Yarpen’s army of fellow dwarf warriors.

Most people may feel that playing Geralt in a game based on The Witcher may be the way to go, since he’s the main star and all, but the truth is that each character has something spectacular to offer during the adventure, and it never hurts to see what each one can accomplish. With a play time of about two hours, The Witcher Adventure Game is a splendid way to pass the time. Well, when you’re not playing The Witcher III: Wild Hunt, that is.

Cover image source: CD Projekt Red

Learning about sex through trial and error is one of the many ideas that started as a bit from my standup act that I could never get to work. I had an awful lot of those, a fact which speaks for itself.

I think one way to diminish teen pregnancies would be to make a horror movie in which a couple has a baby that then turns evil and tries to kill them. I only saw Jaws once as a kid, but I couldn’t swim, even in a pool, without thinking about it for many years after.

 

You can comment on this comic on Facebook.

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

Just when you thought the level of adorable animal items had reached its peak, dinosaurs have come back from extinction to prove you wrong. You now can own a cool candle which as it melts appears to be hatching a tiny baby dino. I mean, come on you’ve basically been waiting your whole life for this. As a frequent reptile pet owner, I’m excited to add to my personal collection. Here’s how to properly welcome your new dinosaur into your family.

STEP 1: Casually light this unassuming candle.

Set the mood by lighting this standard egg-shaped candle in your living room or bathroom. Invite some dino-loving friends over to watch Jurassic World or The Dinosaurs.

STEP 2: Watch your guests freak out.

As the wax melts away, an adorable velociraptor will begin to appear to hatch out of the candle and potentially terrify your guests.

STEP 3: Enjoy your new pet.

As more of your new pet is revealed, you and your guests can all breathe a sigh of relief. It is friendly and ready to check out this new world.

Once fully hatched, you have a brand new porcelain pet to enjoy until the next ice age. You can acquire this awesome candle online from Firebox.

Let us know in the comments where you’ll be keeping your new baby dinosaur!

All Images Credit: Firebox

H/T: Mashable

The Hugo Awards are one of the biggest events in science fiction and fantasy. While there was a bit of controversy this year, the fact remains that some truly amazing individuals who took home the coveted award. Let’s talk about these amazing individuals, their work, and what makes them so awesome!

Best Novel

The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu, Ken Liu translator (Tor Books)

Cixin Liu is a well-loved science fiction writer in China, but this is one of the first time American readers have been able to engage in his books, and they loved it. Why? This book is crazy imaginative, and a beautiful story. In the midst of China’s Cultural revolution, the military sends a group into space to establish contact with aliens. When the aliens the group contacts decides to invade earth to save their dying species, the earth must decide to surrender to the alien beings or fight to survive. The book is a crazy ride. Grab yourself a copy of the book, and check out Ken Liu’s website to see some of his other work!

Best Novelette

“The Day the World Turned Upside Down”, Thomas Olde Heuvelt, Lia Belt translator (Lightspeed, 04-2014)

This story is crazy, and focuses on the life of Tony, when his world figuratively turns upside down after his girlfriend, Sophie, dumps him–promising to retrieve her pet goldfish the next day–and then the world literally turns upside down. Understandably, the sudden reversal of gravity causes several deaths and injuries, but Tony and the goldfish survive. Tony then searches to find Sophie and see if they can’t reconcile in a world literally turned on its head. This story is imaginative and poignant, and it has a fun, almost dream-like feel throughout the story. You can check out the story in Lightspeed Magazine, and you can follow Thomas on Twitter and on his website.

Best Graphic Story

Ms. Marvel Vol. 1: No Normal, written by G. Willow Wilson, illustrated by Adrian Alphona and Jake Wyatt, (Marvel Comics)

If you haven’t had a chance to read G. Willow Wilson’s Ms. Marvel yet, let this reminder that it won a Hugo this year be the final push to get you to grab a copy. In this iteration of Ms. Marvel, the hero is played by Kamala Khan, a Pakistani-American teenager turned superhero. Kamala is relatable, she’s kind, she’s brave, and apart from her superpowers, she’s portrayed as a regular teenager in how she acts, speaks, and dresses. You can’t help but be inspired as you watch her go from awkward teen to an amazing (though still a bit awkward) superhero. Like I said, if you haven’t read Ms. Marvel yet get yourself a copy, and be sure to follow G. Willow Wilson on Twitter and on her website. 

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Guardians of the Galaxy, written by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, directed by James Gunn (Marvel Studios, Moving Picture Company)

Much like Ms. Marvel, this movie got a TON of press and a huge fan reaction, so it’s no surprise this movie won. Guardians blew fans out of the water, and won the hearts of comic book fans, MCU fans, and non comic book fans alike (though, to be fair, it’s super hard to hate anything with Andy Dwyer Chris Pratt in it). If you haven’t, be sure to get yourself a copy of the movie (and any other merch your heart desires), and follow the film on Twitter to get the latest info about what’s next for the Guardians franchise.

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

Orphan Black: “By Means Which Have Never Yet Been Tried”, ” written by Graeme Manson, directed by John Fawcett (Temple Street Productions, Space/BBC America)

Yeah, Clone Club! Orphan Black has proved to be a stellar show for its past three seasons, but the Hugo Award-winning episode was the show’s season 2 finale when we got our first look at the male clones from Project CASTOR, Sarah escapes from Rachel’s clutches by using the old pen-in-the-eye trick, and all of the clones get together (with Felix, obviously) to have a bit of a clone sisterhood bonding dance party. The episode is poignant, sweet, and keeps you on the edge of your seat–basically like the whole show does. Learn more about the show on its website, and follow Orphan Black on Twitter!

Best Professional Artist

Julie Dillon

Dillon’s work in science fiction and fantasy art easily won her the Hugo this year. If you haven’t checked out her work, head to her website. Her work is intricate, breathtaking, and always gorgeous. She brings so much imagination and creativity into everything she does, that it’s no wonder she was recognized as this year’s best professional artist. Her work has been featured by all sorts of names you’ll recognize like Tor Books, Wizards of the Coast, Penguin Books, and Fantasy Flight Games (just to name a few). If you want to keep up with Julie, follow her on Twitter or Facebook.

Best Semiprozine

Lightspeed Magazine, edited by John Joseph Adams, Stefan Rudnicki, Rich Horton, Wendy N. Wagner, and Christie Yant

If you’ve never heart of Lightspeed before, allow me to introduce you to one of the coolest magazines for sci-fi and fantasy fans. Lightspeed features science fiction and fantasy stories (like the Hugo Award-winning story “The Day the World Turned Upside Down”). They cover all ranges of topics, and features a wide array of authors. Even better, you can read the mag for free online on their website, but if you do want to subscribe you can unlock cool stuff like the eBook version with a few bits of subscriber-exclusive content. Be sure to follow them on Twitter and Facebook!

Best Fanzine

Journey Planet, edited by James Bacon, Christopher J Garcia, Colin Harris, Alissa McKersie, and Helen J. Montgomery

Journey Planet is a fanzine dedicated to science fiction and fantasy that covers just about anything you could imagine in the space. From editorials to fiction pieces, this team brings you whatever your heart could possibly desire in the world of geekery. For instance, their 25th issue talked about Nanowrimo, while the issue prior to that talked about Richard III–like I said, they cover it all. You can check out the magazine on their website, where you can read the mag for free!

Best Fancast

Galactic Suburbia Podcast, Alisa Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce, Tansy Rayner Roberts (Presenters) and Andrew Finch (Producer)

Led by intrepid hosts Alisa, Tansy, and Alex who are an indie publisher/engineer, fantasy author/mom, and reviewer/teacher respectively, you can expect anything from book talk to feminist history, to cyberpunk chat, to conventions, Australian speculative fiction, and more. They cover SO MUCH in their podcast, and they manage to do it in a fun, interesting, and engaging manner. You can check them out on Podbean, or you can subscribe on iTunes.

Best Fan Writer

Laura J. Mixon

Mixon is a science fiction writer and environmental engineer. She’s written a lot in the cyberpunk movement, and she writes a lot about technology’s impact on personal identity. Mixon has written novels as well as several poignant non-fiction essays. If you want to engage with her, you can follow Mixon on Twitter, website, or the website of her pen name, M.J. Locke (the name she’s used to write many of her fiction titles).

Best Fan Artist

Elizabeth Leggett

Elizabeth Leggett is a breathtaking science fiction and fantasy artist. Her work is imaginative, intricate, and stunningly beautiful. Each one of her pieces is incredibly unique from the last, and she’s able to create diverse and detailed worlds in each picture. It’s no surprise she was this year’s Hugo winner, as you can’t help but be captivated by her work. If you want to learn more about her and connect, you can head to her website and follow her on Twitter.

The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer

Wesley Chu

This award is given to the best new writer in science fiction or fantasy. This year’s winner is Wesley Chu who has written books like The Lives of Tao and Time Salvager (you might also know him as the gentleman sharing a hot tub with his partner and a mariachi band in an Orbitz commercial). Regardless of his hot tubbing activities, Chu is a masterful writer, and the world he created in the sci-fi, time-travelling Time Salvager series is amazing. Check him out on his website or follow him on Twitter.

 

Feature Image credit: Disney/Marvel

The holidays have never known the power of the dark side... until now...(Read...)

Decode your baby's cries with Dunstan Baby Language like I saw on Oprah. Learning the five words of a baby's language can help with a super fussy baby.

Continue reading Activity #330: Study baby cries from the woman on Oprah at Rookie Moms.

Your liberal arts degree may not have secured you a job, but it probably equipped you with some mean debating skills. Brew some coffee, gather your frenemies, and unleash your intellect with these debating games.

Super Fight

Image Credit: Superfight

As far as popularity goes, Superfight reigns over tabletop gaming’s storytelling genre. All players do (“all” being a mark of pride, since the more rules-heavy a game is, the more constrained its storytelling) is pair character cards with attribute cards to create a fighter and then argue about which creation would win in a fight. This modular minimalism exemplifies what these games do best: showcase player argumentation with just enough structure to remove arbitrariness. Like Cards Against Humanity, the content in Superfight is topical, irreverent, and fun; offering characters such as “Obama” and “Boy band” along with attributes such as “Hasn’t slept in three days” and “Had tiny T-Rex arms.” As players add random attribute cards to their fighters, the narrative challenge rises with the hilarity.

 

The Resistance

Image Credit: Indie Boards and Cards

In keeping with the Mafia and Werewolf tradition of social deduction games, The Resistance tasks players with sniffing out the traitors in their midst, this time in a cyberpunk dystopia. The game begins by secretly assigning players with a role: you’re either a freedom fighter combating a fascist regime, or one of its spies sabotaging the rebellion. Rounds consist of “missions” to bring down the government, which succeed or fail depending on how its team members vote (if a mission fails, you know someone on that team was a spy). Rooting out the rats requires strategic team assignments, elimination logic, and careful observation of your shifty friends. Accusations fly in all directions, and somewhere in that chaos is the truth. Did Becky’s voice jump an octave for no reason? Out her as a likely spy, but beware the attention you incur by making the choice.

 

Last Word

Image Credit: Buffalo Games

This didn’t try to be a debate game. In fact, the debate you’ll have, without fail, every single time stems from insufficiency in the game’s design. That should exclude it from this list in theory, but that debate is itself interesting, and, whether intentional or not, a key route to victory. In each round of Last Word, the table gets a category – something like “All about beaches” or “Professional sports teams” – plus a letter of the alphabet; while a random timer runs, players shout members of the category that start with the given letter, the winner being the last valid entry shouted before the timer runs out.

Validity, as Last Word‘s designers failed to regulate, is a nebulous thing, and spirited defenses of clear and egregious garbage will demand refutation. The rhetorically skilled can use their powers in Last Word for good or for evil, thwarting pedantic entries or defending their own. It takes wit, social awareness, and at the illusion of consistency.

Finally, it’d be wrong of me to omit my own offering to the storytelling genre: check out Roots: A Game of Inventing Words, for the creatively inclined.

What did I overlook? This isn’t the biggest genre, but I left out some gems. Let us know your favorites in the comments below.

Image credits: filmfisher.com/12 Angry Men

I feel bad for my doctor. Really, for doctors in general. We all focus on the fact that many of them make really good money, but we don’t think much about what they do to earn that money. I’m not even talking about the pressure, which has to be unbelievably intense.

It can feel silly to try to tell a doctor how your symptoms feel, but the doctor has to listen to your vague, idiosyncratic descriptions and try to figure out what “it feels like my brain is vibrating” means. Nobody likes giving a urine or fecal sample, but would you really rather receive the sample? And don’t get me started on the prostate exam. Guys act like it’s this terrible experience that the doctors force on them, but they don’t think about the fact that the doctor doesn’t enjoy the prostate exams either. I promise you, if it didn’t actually have the potential to save your life, the doctor would probably avoid doing them at all cost. And yes, there are times when the problem you bring to the doctor is humiliating for you to discuss, but the doctor has to listen to you discuss it, then probably ask to see it, or if they’re particularly unlucky, palpate it.

Doctors earn their money.

 

You can comment on this comic on Facebook.

As always, thanks for using my Amazon Affiliate links (US, UK, Canada).

Happiest Star Wars Reaction..(Read...)

Here's the set of Batman v Superman posters direct from Warner Bros featuring the three major characters, and the characters themselves just look cool...(Read...)

Count the Star Wars puns in Sian Welby's weather report...(Read...)

For serious guys. Spoiling Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Geek & Sundry base is punishable by torture, and in extreme circumstances, death. We take this super seriously, guyz. Han blabbed, and look where that got him:

Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney

To help you avoid the faux pas of spoiling the movie for others, we’re put together a set of rules for discussing The Force Awakens in the safest way possible:

Rule #1: Written consent to participate in The Force Awakens content discussions is mandatory. Forms must be filled out in triplicate, notarized, welded shut into a 3-inch thick steel box, then buried at a minimum 15-foot depth and covered in cement.

Rule #2: The discussion area must be soundproofed, sterilized, and able to resist a four metric-ton blast. Discussion must never be allowed to escape via osmosis through the walls. This is vital.

Rule #3: All participants must undergo mental and physical evaluation to ensure they are capable of discussing The Force Awakens without risk of spontaneous combustion.

Rule #4: Participants shall deposit their respective cell phones in a basket outside the discussion room to avoid accidental butt-dialing. This basket shall then be set on fire so that no communication containing spoilers can breach social media safety barriers.

Rule #5: All participants shall be processed through a thorough decontamination procedure after the discussion to ensure that no spoilers remain on the skin, clothing, or hair. Midi-chlorian levels will be measured before and after the session with e-meters provided by the Church of Scientology.

Rule #6:

Image credit: Columbia Pictures
Featured image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney

Here's a fun little mashup in honour of Frank Sinatra's 100th Birthday and the release of The Force Awakens. Happy Holidays!..(Read...)

These are the lightsaber rear windshield wiper covers designed and sold by WiperTags. They come in a bunch of different colors and hilt styles and cost $15 - $17. The company, WiperTags, also makes a bunch of different non-Star-Wars rear windshield wiper covers, like daggers, swords, and chainsaw...(Read...)