GAMING NEWS: Happy Fantastic Four Fathers Day!

.Happy Fathers Day to all!

Hi All,

First and most importantly:

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

May my Father, all my friends who are fathers and the rest of that whole fathering gang have a great one!

To learn more about the history of Fathers Day, please check out this link:

http://wilstar.com/holidays/fathers.htm

The Fantastic Four, eco-friendly carbon-neutral and enough wooden acting for all!

And my second public service announcement is that I saw the new Fantastic Four film yesterday with my baby sister and it stunk. Don't see it. Wait for video. However, it is a good enough excuse to feature some "gratuitous babe" shots since while Jessica Alba's acting skills are on par with a random hunk of rock, she is very easy on the eyes.

It's a sad movie when a computer-generated character is the best actor.

The movie introduced the Silver Surfer character (...voiced by Lawrence Fishbourne run through a few voice machines) to the silver screen, and despite the silver CG character stealing the movie away from the other actors, the film still couldn't be saved. The movie was almost like a giant contest to see who could be most wooden. Despite the intense competition, Jessica Alba probably won hand in fist.

Jessica Alba is like... a really serious actress, yah know?

And the movie took at least one cheap shot at the US military, intimating that since the Silver Surfer, who had been captured, isn't human that human rights conventions don't apply to him so he could be tortured by all those awful US Army Guantanamo Bay folks... I served at Guantanamo Bay. I know differently.

I've never liked how Hollywood not-so-subtly injects its' world views into our entertainment. It was almost as bad as the last Superman movie in which the big guy went from fighting for "truth, justice and the American way" to "truth, justice, and... all that stuff." My advice to those interested in the new Fantastic Four film: wait for DVD so you can skip over the boring parts. Someday Hollywood will get the message that the plot of a film is at least as important as the special effects. I have now fallen asleep during both Fantastic Four films. Woo hoo!

Jessica has acting talent, worthy of... daytime soap opera.

And here's the short AAR (After Action Report) on yesterday's MWS meeting:

In short, yesterday's meeting was alot of fun and I had a great time!

A HUGE THANKS to all who came and hosted, played, or otherwise contributed to the general happiness.

The 15mm Battle of New Orleans went much as it did historically and the great sea walls made by Mark C. were appreciated and admired by all. Bernie did a great job hosting and Mike O. was very generous to lend his figure collection and terrain to the game. A special thanks to Keith who brought home-baked goodies, "Blondies," to share with everyone!

I hear that Jessica loves Pig Wars and the Dark Ages!
You go, girl! She's like... historically knowledgeable!
That's her "take me seriously" look or something like that...

The 28mm Pig Wars game was simply a BLAST! I think we must have had about eight players / game participants... However, the BIG WINNER was Keith whose Scandi-who-vian Norveggi Vikings took the day with over 40 points of loot! Mazel Tov, Keith! It was a great game and there was much bloodshed and looting that took place throughout a Dark Ages village. Mikos and Vince hosted. The game also saw a rare appearance by local gaming great, Mike Ward of Viking Hobby!

P.S.

I did take photos and will put together a photographic battle report when I get a chance.

P.S.S.

The new club membership cards were also distributed.

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And again, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

Shalom,

Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures / videos: These are not all my images and videos. I am using various images and videos from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images and videos under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

PERSONAL NEWS: Happy Fathers Day (18 June 2006)!

Hi Everyone and especially the fathers among us!

First of all, Happy Father's Day to all!

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Secondly, things have been very busy on the home front...

I'm still gaming and have the materials for several more gaming session reports, but I've been kept busy with the job search... earlier this year, I got on with the State part-time, but there was no chance for uch more than part-time so I moved on and ended up working for CBT / McGraw Hill, an educational company, and not the best job in the world, but a decent filler job until something better comes along...

The last few months, I've been obsessive with the job search... applying all over the place and very often at that... on the 27th of this month, I'll FINALLY get another chance at a State job... they finally opened examinations again after having what's been at least six months of a hiring freeze and very likely longer.

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I also have two weddings coming up in July... the first for my friend Jon Compton and the second for my baby sister... alot is going on.

http://joncompton.com/

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I'm still gaming and looking forward to ConQuest SF coming up in about a month or two and, in the meantime, am still gaming at A-1 Comics on Sunrise just about every Wednesday evening and occasionally elsewhere.

http://avalonconventions.com/conquestsf/

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The gaming group has been busy too...

Kurt and Mark are addicted to on-line computer gaming crack...

Kimbo is getting over a move and a phobia that the dice have it in for him...

Dave is in a weird sort of malaise although well...

Dick bought a new Toyoya Prius and is trying to salvage the MWSS gaming club...

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/M_W_S/

Mike O'Brien is looking for a better job and taking care of his lovely girlfriend, Donna, or maybe the other war around...

Tony recently hurt his leg and is getting over that...

Mike Warde has been very busy lately... his son Conor is getting ready to head off to Bible camp...

Chris has been around quite a bit lately... I'm really getting to know and like him.

Nils is vaccilating between building a 10mm and a 6mm WWII miniatures set...

Joe Riddle has been doing some amazing things with his 15mm HOTT armies...

George has hosted several games lately and is out of his cocoon...

Vynnie is well and kicking...

http://www.recon-in-force.com/

Marcus has put up a web site for his wonderful beer & pretzels skirmish game, Skank:

http://www.skankgame.com/

And the rest of the gang has plenty going on as well!

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And concurrently , I've been on a quest to drop some pounds at the gym and actually HAVE! It must be close to six months now and I've lost at least ten to fifteen pounds and gained a ton of muscle mass... The hardest hurdle for me has always been making working out a habitual part of my life and I've been at it with success for a long time now... just need to keep it up.

http://www.24hourfitness.com/html/

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I'll be trying to update the blog sometime in the next week or two... I have drafts for a number of posts ready and just need to get them finished. I also added a link to my Photo Bucket gallery on the right side link lists of my blog and most of my photos are posted there for public perusal... even though they haven't found a post to belong to yet.

http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f23/Maksim-Smelchak/

I'm wishing everyone well and would be happy to hear from anyone wanting to drop me a line!

Happy Father's Day again!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.