Erik Scott de Bie

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091207/ap_on_go_ot/us_epa_climate

Two words: "Duh!" and "Finally!"

Cheers

Yay! The premiere of the FUA (friendly unsolicited advice) column!

Today's item comes something I learned with regard to my vegetarian friends, when I went shopping and bought something that you wouldn't think would raise eyebrows: Sour cream. In this case, Tillamook sour cream.

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I have a mortal nemesis, and he (she?) takes the form of an annoying yellow rodent that breathes lightning.

I speak, of course, of Pikachu--specifically, the Pikachu of the Smash Brothers series, the latest of which--Super Smash Brothers on the Wii--I spent a goodly bit of time playing over the long weekend.

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I was too busy eating and playing Wii to post--also Black Friday hellacious shopping. Sorry about that!

I'll make up for it with a joke.

If they call turkey made out of tofu = tofu + (tu)rkey = tofurkey, what do they call *duck* made out of tofu, and who doesn't love tofu + (du)ck?

Cheers

My good friend Derek and I have this regular thing where we meet up at one or the other's house (usually mine, as I have the backwards-compatible PS3 and the Wii) and play video games.

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Seems that I missed a reading by two friends of mine in the Realms: Jak Koke (Edge of Chaos) and Bruce Cordell (City of Torment). D'oh!

http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4news/november

I hope it went well for all involved! :D

Also, there are going to be two events in December (5 & 8) that have several of the big-time designers/authors attached. Check it out! (should be in the same article)

Cheers

I'm behind the game on this, but here are the first four story arcs (and part of the fifth) of one of my favorite comics/graphic novels ever: Powers, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Oeming. And it's all free and available--yays!

http://hiddenrobot.com/POWERS/PDAILY/

(By all accounts, this posting is completely approved and legit, with the blessing of the authors.)

The genre is, basically: Superheroes meets Police Procedural meets VH1: Behind the Music.

Really, really, kick-ass.

Cheers

I had to repost this, because it's just too funny!

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/11/character-sheet-resume-says-hire-me-im-a-geek/

Cheers

Two games done, carried off quite well, now quite tired. More report later!

Generally, however, a good time was had by all. Both of the games turned out very well. I used the Eye of Justice material from DDI last month for the 4e FR adventure, which consisted of three encounters including a cameo (and two freaked out PC wizards) by Shadowbane himself (star of my novel, Downshadow). The Pathfinder homebrew went well too, coming so close to sheer and utter disaster that the PCs were basically to the point of one lucky critical hit between success and TPK. But that's the sort of thing legends are made out of!

For those of you who were part of the game, thanks for playing! As discussed, I plan to write some story about the latter of those adventures. It'll be cool. For now, though . . .

(slump!)

Cheers

Do you ever glance through the titles of spam emails and chuckle?

Well, here are a few from my bulk folder that amused me:

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By the way, if anyone is creating a new character for my 4e FR Emerald City Gamefest game, here are your guidelines: 7th level 4e FR character--allowed books = PHB, PHB2, AV, AV2, Powers books

For my other game, a 4th level Pathfinder character will be provided. (I've got them all built, and they look snazzy.)

See y'all tomorrow!

Cheers,

Erik

Thank you, veterans. Your struggles and sacrifices are appreciated and honored. We take so many things for granted, and it is your blood and tears that have granted them to us.

And this day, we re-assert our part of the unspoken covenant we've made with you: that we will always, every day, do our utmost to ensure that your struggles are never in vain, and your sacrifices are only made in pursuit of a worthy cause.

You will never spill blood or shed a tear unless the mission is worth it, so long as those of us who respect your service can make a difference.

Cheers

Ever wanted to write a story along with your favorite author? . . . Or, well, me, in this case?

Well, now's your chance!

So I thought of a new, cool, collaborative writing project. More details to be unveiled as of this weekend . . . and for anyone who's going to be at ECGF, this is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor!

Cheers

So, NaNoWriMo is a big thing for a lot of my friends and fellow writers, and I wish you great success in your frenzied pursuit, you crazy, crazy people. :)

I am tragically unable to join the NaNoWriMo project at the moment for two reasons:

1) I have a major project that I'm working on, deadline end of November. :D

2) Shelley assured me in no uncertain terms that if I ever did NaNoWriMo on her again, I would come to regret it. :O

So I'll just shut my mouth and get working on that project of mine . . . and remind everyone (come one, come all!) that I am running two games at Emerald City Gamefest this Saturday (9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. respectively): http://emeraldcitygamefest.org/

Also, I had better start making those Pathfinder characters . . .

Cheers

http://www.theamericanscholar.org/the-decline-of-the-english-department/

Interesting article, indeed.

As I was reading, I strongly, STRONGLY disagreed with the author's assertions--finding them hopelessly high-academic (i.e., oh woe is English, which is so maligned by schools!)--until he got to the bit about the cost of education, where I was totally on the same page.

That, in my view, is the main reason fewer and fewer people study the humanities: financial reasons.

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I read this statement in a West Seattle Newspaper about Ref. 71--the domestic partnerships (NOT marriage) law hotly contested here in Washington. And I liked it quite a bit, so I'm reposting:


October 9, 2009
Dear Editor,

As religious leaders of West Seattle, we have come together to speak with one voice for all families. Religious leaders before us have spoken to end slavery, and to ensure equal rights to all persons regardless of gender, nationality, religion, and race.

Today, we feel compelled to speak out in support of Washington’s domestic partnership law, which provides essential protections to families throughout the state.

As people of faith, we oppose any effort to take away the rights and protections provided to families through our state’s domestic partnership law. As providers of pastoral care to families, we know that gay and lesbian couples form loving, lasting, committed relationships, raise children and grow old together.

These couples and their children have the same needs and deserve the same rights as their heterosexual peers.

We also know that the domestic partnership law provides important protections to non-gay couples where one partner is at least 62 years of age.

As faith leaders, we care about all families. We have seen first-hand the burdens on a family facing death or illness without important legal and financial protections, from access to healthcare, to the right to visit a partner in the hospital, to the right to make medical decisions for one’s own children.

We have felt the worry that exists when a parent who is a firefighter or police officer goes off to work each morning knowing that if something happens to her there won’t be support for her family.

We urge all to vote YES on Ref. 71, as a principled expression of our deeply held religious convictions. We urge our congregants to stand in support of all of Washington’s families.

In faith,

Rev. Kendall Baker, Retired, United Church of Christ
Rev. Peg Boyle Morgan, Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown, Tibbetts Methodist Church
Rev. Diane Darling, Alki Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Ann J. Eidson, Admiral Congregational Church
Rev. David Kratz, Fauntleroy United Church of Christ Church
Erik P. Kindem, Peace Lutheran Church
Rabbi Anson Laytner, Congregation Kol HaNeshamah
Rev. Mark Newton, Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Paul Winterstein, Calvary Lutheran Church

I am a believer in a a system where laws are built by and for the people. I think that system can work, and I am a true believer in democracy.

However, I think it sets a dangerous precedent when we are voting on basic human rights, specifically about whether a specific minority group can get them.

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It's Election Day! Get out and vote!

Particularly if you're in Seattle, and particularly if you're young. There is no excuse not to--this is our country, too!

Cheers

http://paulskemp.livejournal.com/264405.html

It would seem that (at least for the time being) we shall see no more Realms stories flowing from the pen of the most excellent Paul S. Kemp.

As I have said here in public and to Paul in person, I deeply respect and admire Paul's writing, and I think the Realms will miss his contributions of such a high caliber. He is clearly one of the best writers contibuting to the Realms, and his excellent legacy will extend on far beyond his time in Ed Greenwood's sandbox. His writing exercised considerable influence on my work, and I can't thank him enough for that.

There's no doubt in my mind that he will go on to bigger and better things, and I wish him all the luck in so doing. He has an upcoming Star Wars novel that is generating some serious buzz, and knowing him, it will be great. I hope he finds the story he wants to tell, his audience and the right publisher, and takes his rightful place among the great fantasy writers of our era. It's not an easy thing, but if anyone can do it, it's Paul.

I am also extremely grateful for the chance to befriend Paul and express my gratitude in person. He really is a great guy, and I can't recommend him enough to folks looking for a good story or a good friend.

Also, I intend to read all his books I can get my hands on. [:)]

Cheers

1) Number of parties attended: 1
2) Number of gratuitous sweets: 13
3) Number of fantasy characters dressed up as for Halloween: 1
4) Number of novel pitches sent: 1
5) Number of words written for my NOT-Nanowrimo project: 4750
6) Number of Final Fantasy Tactics battles fought: 6
7) Number of TV-on-DVD episodes watched: 14
8) Number of D&D sessions: 1

Cheers