Some quick commentary.

I'm way, way behind on my proposed re-read of the 1980's DC comic series SUICIDE SQUAD due to a number of factors. I would like to promote a few things, in which some are those I'm involved in.

The first of a series of articles I have planned for the KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE magazine publication appeared in issue #217 a few months back. This is the cover

and it can be found here. It's available in print and in pdf form.

In March, I once again attended GaryCon, the one and only game convention to honor Gary Gygax and his favorite pastime, table top gaming. I ran a number of games and had some prize support from a few good organizations for the players. Mythoard is an excellent monthly subscription service in the vein of Loot Crate, focused specifically on print role-playing games. There is some great product being put out these days and Mythoard definitely gets you in on that. Their support was exceptional and I cannot recommend them enough.

Rare Elements Foundry likewise gave me a large amount of their beautiful coin product to hand out to players, which I was more than happy to do. They are actual, minted coinage with gorgeous designs to suit whatever you want to use them for. Coming in May, Rare Elements will be offering a Kickstarter campaign to fund a printed adventure project, for your RPG setting. Find out more at the website!

Both Mythoard and Rare Elements have social media pages, which you smart folk can locate on your own. I don't twitter or use many of the others, so you're on your own.

Finally, I jumped on board of From the Hip, a podcast my friend Vinnie Agosta started, joining him with our mutual friend John Amenta. Some of you readers of A Leaf on the Wind will recognize Mr. Amenta as the impetus behind the world reknowned SPEED 2 Month, which is not all that far away. Give a listen to my first ever podcast here. When you're done, please listen to the previous episodes with Vinnie and John, they're damned good and you don't have me chuckling in judgement in the background.

More podcasts are planned and I'll post them here as they are released.

A Leaf on the Wind should resume regularly soon, so get excited!

Delays, delays. Mazes and Monsters.

An influx of income has caused some delays in the Pirates of Dark Water Rewatch, amongst other planned viewings. Enjoy this little tidbit while A Leaf on the Wind gets back on track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ac3CoyrbYM

15 Life Experiences Better Than the 121 Minutes of Speed 2

SPEED 2 Month continues! This is an edited version of an earlier weblog I wrote on November 13th, 2008. Enjoy the deepening feeling you get likened to the one felt near the end of SPEED 2.

1.  Carny Fist vs. Axe vs. Lawn rake Fight
Until you see this for your own eyes, you'll know that only Speed 2 can beat this experience.  That or watching your cat dig in the litter box.  Yes, you must live next to or near Carny folk to see it... my place, the affectionately titled Hovelhouse is available for sublet.
2.  Hawk vs. Opossum
I witnessed some kind of hawk pick an opossum off the road one early morning while working for a newspaper some time ago.  This stuck with me as only an event like it could.  Speed 2 reminds me of the possible 120 other things I could have seen during them like this hawk and this opossum.
3.  Beer-drinking Ho-bags

Go back, read the post titled the above, then come back here.  Beer-drinking ho-bags are worth more of my time than the wasted 121 minutes Jan de Bont (the director, remember that name) subjected me to. (Feel free to request the weblog mentioned here. I'll even update it.)

4.  Rubbing Alcohol vs. Grease
I spent the better part of a morning last week cleaning grease off a concrete floor with rubbing alcohol.  It was better time spent than the 30 seconds of comedy I graciously give Speed 2.
5.  Saab Dying on the Highway
On a wintery Saint Patrick's Day, my beloved Saab decided to blow a transmission on my way to Hartford.  I missed most of the Fighting Gollarny Brothers, most of the $1.06 breakfast and had to have my car towed away.  Still, I met a hot female trooper that would have made Jason Patric think twice about doing Speed 2.  Oops... guess he never met her.
6.  Late Nights at the Mohegan Sun Casino
Full of the worst of the worst boozers, hounds and characteristically indecent folk, the casinos of Connecticut tend to drop in quality of personality after 11 PM.  Watch the newly 21 year old college kids chase the underage girls!  Watch the gambling addicts rub their chips together and chase the underage girls!  Watch the underage girls shirk their parents and try to gamble!  I could go on and on, kind of like Speed 2 does when the ship hits, oh, what was it, 6 knots?
7.  Ricky Martin's Bon Bons

Uh... even the Spanish women I worked with thought he was gay.  Supposedly he isn't, but I think I saw a picture of Jason Patric's pouty lips in his dressing area. (Update: He is and they were right.)

8.  President George W. Bush
In retrospect, he wasn't that bad.  Seriously, compare him to Speed 2 and you'll see what I mean.
9.  Players, Player Haters and Pimps Party
AKA the Triple P Party or PPP Party, it was notorious as being the one to almost kill my Memorial Day bashes.  While it was disaterous in almost all possible ways, it doesn't come close to the disaster Speed 2 was to most involved.  Pirate Party followed up the PPP Party and killed any thought of eliminating the bashes.  Where is Speed 3?
10.  Girl Drama
I'd rather sit through days and weeks and months of girl drama than watch the endless scene of the boat hitting the dockside in Speed 2 again.  Then again, I have.  You girls can substitute this for Guy Drama, if you wish.
11.  Moosehead Beer

To date, the worst "beer" I've ever had.  I'll drink a six pack the next time I'm swayed to MST3K Speed 2.  It may even add to the experience... for all. (ohhh... I forgot about this. I wonder if I still can get Moosehead for the big review coming?)

12.  Dan Didio at DC Comics

For those that don't read comics, Dan Didio, the Didiot, is single-handedly slaughtering the DC Comics characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman.  His inane ideas and "editing policies" have made the majority of the titles published there unreadable and unrecognizeable.  In short, they are marginally better than the filmed script of Speed 2.  Trust me when I say that ain't much. (Coming soon: Sir Jon vs. DCNu!)

13.  New Coke

Truly, this shortsighted, bone-headed move is an irrevocable case of misunderstanding your market.  It tasted like sweetened Pepsi and was not all it was meant to be.  Speed 2, well you get the analogy.  New Coke is a much more positive experience as it solidified the now-titled Coke Classic as a force of consumer power.  Speed 2, not so much.
14.  C-Span 2

A sequel of one of the most boring cable networks on the air beats out a big-budget movie sequel?  Hell yes, it does!  C-Span 2 dares to do what few cable networks would, show the absolute drudgery of American, British, Canadian and statewide politics, author panels and discussions and bad morning radio (on cable!).  Speed 2 dared to make you pay for it.  Which do you think is better?

15.  Scrubbing Mold From the Shower
I hate it, but it gives a small sense of satisfaction that only breaking a copy of Speed 2 could beat.  Now, there's a thought!