Gaming stuff

So, we did character creation for Deadlands: The Weird West tonight. As per previous agreement, all the players made Mad Scientists.

We have one who is a specialist in electromagnetic effects (heavy on the electro part), another who works on automatons (who has a chunk of Cave Johnson from Portal 2, personality-wise), an alchemist/medical doctor, and an aeronautics specialist who has said that his end goal is a heli-carrier (he knows he's not going to get there, but that's what he's shooting for).

And then there's my old Mad Scientist, Mortimer Q. Atkinson, who's going to be an NPC in this game, who has done things that shouldn't be possible according to the rules. Because at the time, we didn't have the books that said "You can't do this unless you do it this way." And we never changed him to fit those rules.

I have to wonder how long it will be before these characters leave a smoking hole where their laboratory(ies) used to be.

Yes, clearly Citizens United was an awesome decision

Gingrich backer prepared to spend $100 million on Gingrich's bid for the White House.

Of course, he says he's against this sort of thing, but he's going to continue doing it as long as he's able to, because hey, George Soros has been doing it for decades.

Yes, that's his reasoning.

You know, I almost hope he does decide to pound $100 million down the rathole that is supporting Newt Gingrich. One, he'd lose $100 million. Two, it would wake up a helluva lot more people to the fact that the Citizens United decision was fucking terrible and needs to be revisited. And three, it would be, on some level, funny as shit to watch a well-funded Gingrich Super-PAC still be unable to get Newt anywhere near the White House except as a guest.

upcoming movies

So, I saw "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" on Sunday, and I have to say that it was better then the first one. I know, I know, that's like saying something is better then "Catwoman" or "Elektra" or "Batman and Robin". It's not a high bar to jump over.

Mind you, it's not like you can use a whole lot of the old Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider villains in movies. I mean, the Orb? People would laugh their asses off and then leave the theater.

But of course, before the movie started, there were previews.

21 Jump Street (the movie) - this has Jonah Hill in it. Pass.

Battleship - pass. No really. I can't get past that it's based on a fucking board game. The special effects look good, the alien power armor looks awesome, but I'd be cringing the whole time, waiting for the "you sunk my battleship!" line.

Safe - Alrighty, this one looks interesting. Mobsters, gangsters, corrupt cops... and Jason Statham protecting a young Asian girl. Oh, there's going to be a lot of vicious ass-kicking in this movie. And hey, that's what I like out of a Statham movie.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation - Okay, look, the previous G.I. Joe movie was utter crap, but the prequel for this one looks awesome. Doesn't hurt that it has Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson as Roadblock in it. (Arnold Vosloo as Zartan is a nice touch too.) The movie may still suck, but at least they got the fucking preview right.

The Amazing Spider-Man - I'm still not sold on the actor playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man this time around. But they're using mechanical web-shooters, and the Lizard will finally make an appearance, so I'm probably going to have to see this one.

Prometheus - maybe. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of the Alien franchise, and let's face it, a couple of those movies really, truly stunk.

And although there wasn't a preview for it, the theater had this big double sign-board for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. I'm almost certainly going to see this movie. I liked the book, after all. And I had to ask the theater personnel if I could have the sign-board when they were done with it. (They didn't know... they might have to return it, and I should ask again when the movie is closer to release.)