COOL STUFF: Talk Like a Pirate Day 2008!

Top: Cap'n Rackham's colurs...

Ahoy Mateys,

Avast me hearties...

Ye best be rememberin that 19 September is thee annual Talk Like a Pirate Day!

So's wherever ye are--at port, or out ta sea, or in the dungeon, don't ferget ta use yer best pirate voice at all times, or ye may end up tied to the yard arm, or in Davie Jone's locker at the bottum of da briney sea.

Aaarrrrr... ye scurvy dogs, ye best folla da Pirate's code, or suffer yer fate.

Avast scum!!!

Here be the link to the Talk Like a Pirate Web Site:
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

TOP: And it wouldn't be a proper Pirate Day without......a gratuitous wench or two! Yaarrggghhh!

Aaargh...Remember, those that go there during ye work time will have to waaaalk the plaaaank!!!

Yo ho ho...

Shalom,
Cap'n Maksim "Peg-leg" Smelchak.

P.S.
A hearty greet'ins to me mate, the right honurable Commander "Tas" of da Ozzie Navy!

P.S.S.
One more hearty greet'ins to me mate, Cap'n Stephan "Poopdeck" LeFeb... whatever! Ahoy, mate!

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).

FUN VIDEOS: "Dance Off With the Star Wars Stars 2008" (18 June 2008)

Hi All,

First of all, I'm sharing the above video, which I thought was really amusing. If the first two dance numbers are a tad annoying, please hold out for the third, Lord Vader comes out to do one of my all-time favorite Michael Jackson numbers (Forward to about the 3:00 minute mark if you want to skip the first two dance numbers). It worth it for no other reason than to see Lord Vader's head bobble in that characteristic Michael Jackson way...

I've also been keeping busy lately... but haven't forgotten gaming. The June MWS meet went really well with almost twenty attendees AGAIN!

We had three games:

1. Starmada
   (...in "starship scale" or some ridiculously puny number such as 1/3,000)
   [Vince had set up a scenario between Chinese and German future fleets.]
2. Advanced Squad Leader (ASL) for Miniatures
   (...in 6mm or 1/285 scale)
   [Eric set up a WWII Western Front scenario with Americans confronting dug-in Germans.]
3. Hordes of The Things (HOTT)
   (...in 15mm scale)
   [Joe set up a cool little series of games with Orcs battling Dwarf Kings laden with treasure.]

And despite not playing in any of the games, I had a great time. Gaming, for me, has always really been about friends, camaraderie, and having a good time. And the MWSS (Miniatures Wargaming Society of Sacramento) has really been delivering lately.

We have a new schedule too:

The new schedule for the Miniature Wargaming Society of Sacramento is:

Day / Date /Time:
Sunday = 7/13/8 = 10am-6pm
Sunday = 8/10/8 = 11am-7pm
Saturday = 9/27/8 = 11am-7pm
Saturday = 10/18/8 = 12am-8pm
Sunday = 11/16/8 = 11am-7pm
Saturday = 12-20-8 = 12am-7pm

All meetings at the Carmichael Library located at 5605 Marconi Ave in Sacramento

I'm looking forward to gaming much more this year with MWS AKA MWSS. I hope to host a few more 28mm pirate games, maybe a few 28mm WAB games, and possibly a 6mm Kaiju / Godzilla game soon among my other wishes and long shots!

I'm also excited to be going on a vacation trip to New York in the first week of July. I'll be visiting my uncle, some old friends, and even, perhaps, getting a choice game or two in. Here's hoping...

And one other quick news tidbit:

My buddy Tas in the land of Oz has re-started his old OGRE web site as a blog... find it here:
http://ogrerecognitionmanual.blogspot.com/

So, good gaming to you!
And have a great Wednesday!

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).

MINI WARGAMING: "Proud Wargaming Dad Moments!" (4 November 2007)

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TOP: Some things just do a Wargaming Dad proud!

Hi All,

I read several wargaming forums and I read this the other day ago and it made me smile. Hope it gives you naches (warm feelings of pride) too:

I would like to share a special Wargaming Dad moment with you guys.

I have been trying to get hold of some if the great WW1 Wings of War minis (1/144 scale) but here in Oz, they are rather scarce. Then along comes a friend in the States who buys some from his local shop and ships them to me in Australia.

When they arrived this week my six-year-old son helped me open the box, pulled one out one and said:

"This looks just like Biggle's Sopwith Camel in France"

And indeed he was holding a Sopwith Camel!

What a proud moment for a Wargaming Dad!

My buddy Tas in Australia is a great guy and talk of his family always brings a smile to my face. I really love our hobby. I almost wish I had children myself. Maybe someday...

Have a great Sunday!

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).

COOL STUFF: Talk Like a Pirate Day 2007!

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TOP: Raise the ol' Skull & Crossbones!
It be the day!

Ahoy Mateys,

Avast me hearties...

Ye best be rememberin that 19 September is thee annual Talk Like a Pirate Day!

So's wherever ye are--at port, or out ta sea, or in the dungeon, don't ferget ta use yer best pirate voice at all times, or ye may end up tied to the yard arm, or in Davie Jone's locker at the bottum of da briney sea.

TOP: A right proper tat helps a pirate make!

Aaarrrrr... ye scurvy dogs, ye best folla da Pirate's code, or suffer yer fate.

Avast scum!!!

TOP: Skippy the Pirate Dog says CELEBRATE!

...or else!

Here be the link to the Talk Like a Pirate Web Site:

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

TOP: And it wouldn't be a proper Pirate Day without...
...a gratuitous wench or two! Yaarrggghhh!

Aaargh...Remember, those that go there during ye work time will have to waaaalk the plaaaank!!!

Yo ho ho...

Shalom,

Cap'n Maksim "Peg-leg" Smelchak.

P.S.

A hearty greet'ins to me mate, the right honurable Commander "Tas" of da Ozzie Navy!

P.S.S.

One more hearty greet'ins to me mate, Cap'n Stephan "Poopdeck" LeFeb... whatever! Ahoy, mate!

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).

GAMING NEWS: Grimm's Lost World (4 April 2007)

. Visit exciting & exotic Grimm's World, home to the fauna and flora that time forgot!

Hi Everyone,

Ace Reporter Maksim-Smelchak reporting from Grimm Port, fantastic entryway to THE LOST WORLD!

There are many beautiful women on the island even if the clothing is at times lacking!

Solution: Don't wear ANY!

Continuing the Lost World theme running lately here at YIAWWS, you may wish to look up Grimm's version of it. Here are some lovely figures (...beautiful women, dashing heroes, salty sailors, etc.), beautifully painted and well photographed. Inspiring stuff!

Digging expeditions are available for the eggheads in your party!

You never know just what you might turn up!

And don't forget to check out his other very impressive galleries as well!

Find the site HERE:
http://grimm.backofbeyond.de/gallery_lost_world.html

In such a beautiful and pristine environment, the local animals really GROW!

Here, some locals are interacting with a cute and fuzzy animal!

Ace Reporter Maksim-Smelchak signing off!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
I crossposted this review from my friend's blog "Yours In A White Wine Sauce":
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/2007/03/grimms-lost-world.html

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images 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).

GAMING NEWS: Two PATs, Tamales, Pearl Harbor & Silly String, the Secret Weapon (7 December 2006)…

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Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to another installment of “6mm-Minis!” The past week has seen me keep busy, but enough of that and on to the content…

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PEARL HARBOR DAY!

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, that “Day of Infamy” on which a secret attack by the Japanese Empire on December 7, 1941 that sunk nine American ships, damaged another seven, destroyed or damaged over three-hundred aircraft and thus brought the United States into World War Two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

This may be the last time that the Pearl Harbor veterans meet too. It’s a sad day. Their generation was a great one that didn’t shirk their duties and their sacrifices paved the way for the prosperity of later generations. I’m grateful to them.

Check out this article about their possibly last reunion if you get a chance:

“Pearl Harbor survivors gather, maybe for last time”

http://tinyurl.com/ykun77

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YOU DO WHAT?

In other news more personal to me, my work is having a “team-building day” next week… when I heard that, I almost groaned out loud. I had terrible visions of sappy exercises where you have to fall down backwards and hope that your teammate will catch you… sort of like I had to do when I became a public educator. Without too much dithering, I hated those exercises… with a passion!

So, to my surprise, I asked my co-worker what we’d be doing and found out that… we’ll be making tamales for team-building… TAMALES? Yes, tamales. I guess that’s what happens when you work in a shop full of Latinos. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining and my family does make tamales, but I never imagined being paid to do it.

What a pleasant surprise!

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TWO PATs:

In gaming related news, I have to tip my hat to the Two Pats! The two Pats I’m talking about are Patrick Smyrl of the Patrick's Hobby Shed blog and Patrick Sweeney of Firefly Games. Patrick Smyrl writes one of my favorite blogs, Patrick Smyrl's Gaming Blog, and recently volunteered to help create material for another friend, Tas, an Australian Naval officer who is unfortunately deployed and unable to tend his blog, another favorite of mine, Yours in a White Wine Sauce!.

You can find both Patrick’s and Tas’ blogs here:

http://pshobbyshed.blogspot.com/

http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/

The other Patrick I’m talking about is Patrick Sweeney, the head honcho over at Firefly Games, maker of the ever popular Monster Island tabletop game. Patrick launched a new game earlier this year called The Faery’s Tale, which is simply an outstanding game, a sort of simply roleplaying game for children. Patrick specializes in simple, easy-to-play games suitable for children or adults. In an industry that tends to focus on adults, Firefly Games, is remarkable for producing games to introduce your favorite young people to.

Check out Firefly Games here:

http://www.firefly-games.com/index.php

And unlike this Pat:

These two Pats are assuredly male!

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SILLY STRING, THE SECRET WEAPON!

STRATFORD, N.J. — In an age of multimillion-dollar high-tech weapons systems, sometimes it's the simplest ideas that can save lives. Which is why a New Jersey mother is organizing a drive to send cans of Silly String to Iraq.

American troops use the stuff to detect trip wires around bombs, as Marcelle Shriver learned from her son, a soldier in Iraq. Before entering a building, troops squirt the plastic goo, which can shoot strands about 10 to 12 feet, across the room. If it falls to the ground, no trip wires. If it hangs in the air, they know they have a problem. The wires are otherwise nearly invisible.

Now, 1,000 cans of the neon-colored plastic goop are packed into Shriver's one-car garage in this town outside Philadelphia, ready to be shipped to the Middle East thanks to two churches and a pilot who heard about the drive.

"If I turn on the TV and see a soldier with a can of this on his vest, that would make this all worth it," said Shriver, 57, an office manager.

Check out the full article here:
http://tinyurl.com/saby6

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Have a great Thursday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images 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).

HUMOUR: Talk Like a Pirate Day 2006!

.
Ahoy Mateys,

Avast me hearties... Ye best be rememberin that 19 September is thee annual Talk Like a Pirate Day! So's wherever ye are--at port, or out ta sea, or in the dungeon, don't ferget ta use yer best pirate voice at all times, or ye may end up tied to the yard arm, or in Davie Jone's locker at the bottum of da briney sea.

Aaarrrrr...ye scurvy dogs, ye best folla da Pirates code, or suffer yer fate.

Avast scum!!! Here be the link to the Talk Like a Pirate web site:
http://www.talklikeapirate.com/

Aaargh... Remember, those that go there during ye work time will have to waaaalk the plaaaank!!!

Yo ho ho...

Shalom,
Cap'n Maksim "Peg-leg" Smelchak.

P.S.
A hearty greet'ins to me mate, the right honurable Commander "Tas" out at sea with da Ozzie Navy!

P.S.S.
Da wench below be fer all ye lecherus uns! Aaargh! Needs a meal, that wun does...

P.S.3.
One more hearty greet'ins to me mate, Cap'n Stephan "Poopdeck" LeFeb... whatever! Ahoy, mate!

HUMOUR: Doctors, Pirates & Ninjas... Oh my!

Hi Everyone,

My friend "Tas" who lives Down Under has been playing around with those silly quiz thingies and he motivated me to see which of the Dr. Whos I am so...

http://quizfarm.com/test.php?q_id=166656

And I scored as the third Doctor Who... Mr. Pertwee.

You scored as the 3rd Doctor.

3rd Doctor = 92%
9th Doctor = 75%
1st Doctor = 58%
4th Doctor =58%
A Dalek = 58%
8th Doctor = 50%
5th Doctor = 33%
7th Doctor = 33%
10th Doctor = 33%
6th Doctor = 25%
2nd Doctor = 17%
Davros = 0%

Bummer, the 4th Doctor, Tom Baker, was my favorite. I must be too straight-laced to score as him. Oh well, Pertwee wasn't so bad as they go.

I still haven't caught the new Dr. Who series... I keep trying, but it has been accidently deleted sveral times now after I set it to be digitally recorded. I suppose that's OK though since I'm in no hurry.

You can find Tas's site, which is mostly focussed on Victorian Science Fiction (VSF, but sometimes called Steampunk), here:

http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/

He also found this link and was wondering what it was about... I think I'm with him on this one. Super Geek or not, this site is pretty wacky.

http://www.piratesvsninjas.net/

Have a great Friday!

Chag Sameach and Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
I'd also like to promote Scott DiBartelo's new blog here. He's a Northern California gamer who has been hosting Man O' War tournaments since practically the beginning of time. He's a great guy and I'm happy to help promote his new site.

Check it out here:
http://nothingbutgames.blogspot.com/

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).

HUMOUR: What Kind Of A Die Are You?

.

Hi Guys,

Please check out this cool quiz:
http://dicepool.com/catalog/quiz.php

You are reading the blog of a:

D6

You are a good old-fashioned six-sided cube, otherwise known as a d6. Others know you to be plain, predictable, conservative, average, ordinary, and downright boring. You prefer to describe yourself as dependable, honest, practical and trustworthy. People usually know what to expect from you, since you rarely hold any surprises. You hate to make decisions, and if forced to decide, you'll always fall back on how it was done in the past. You always order the same thing at your favorite restaurant, and your jokes, while funny, are never too offensive. It seems that you are well liked, but maybe that's simply because there's nothing to hate.

Anyone that knows me can cite a few differences, but...

That was fun!

"You hate to make decisions, and if forced to decide, you'll always fall back on how it was done in the past."

Hah! I've rocked the boat more times than there are letters in that sentence!

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
The Epicomms discussion thread for this "quiz" can be found here:
http://www.epic40k.co.uk/epicomms/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST&f=10&t=6573&st=0&&#entry156371

P.S.S.
My friend Tas also took the quiz. His results are here at his blog:
http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/

Apparently, the D4 entry is even worse than the D6 one!

MINI WARGAMING: New Blog From Tas!

Hi Everyone,

My friend Tas has created his own blog now called "Yours In a White Wine Sauce!"

YIAWWS is primarily about Victorian Science Fiction (VSF), which is also called steampunk among other things.

Here's an intro from Tas:

Whats this humdrum all about Chaps?

Well, it's this new Officer's adventures in 2mm VSF wargaming and general ramblings about Aeronefs, Land Ironclads, Terranefs and all manner of contraptions and steam conveyances. It may not make sense, but there will be large quantities of claret and a nice cheese board at the end.

Tally-Ho!

It all looks like good fun and I'm happy to announce his new blog here!

http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/

Tas is an old friend as well as an Australian Navy officer and is best known to the gaming community for one of his previous web sites about SJG's OGRE game.

http://panpacalliance.tripod.com/index.htm

Watch out for the pop-ups at PanPac Alliance... it's an older free site that pays for itself though pesky advertizing. It hasn't been updated for several years and has some bad code, but Tas hopes to rebuild it someday.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

NOVELS: "Dune" by Frank Herbert.

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Tas, 22nd 2005 July, 05:25 wrote:
Dune:
It's a long story, but that movie got me into pic. It wasn't very good at all (as you know), but it led me to the book (to understand what the heck it was all about). As I was reading it, I got a flyer about some new game called Rogue Trader being released with cool Space Marines known as Angels of Death (who sounded like Sardaukar) - thus I bought RT, and so it led me, in turn, to other GW products and the rest is "Tas-manian Gaming History." The BBC Miniseries was much better, but I'll always have a soft spot for the Hollywood version. Even though it doesn't make sense unless you know the book! :)

Hi Tas,

I just finished rereading the Dune novel and have to say...

I was very disappointed in it. It is one of the few cases where I'd say the movie was better than the novel.

Herbert's prose is abominable. He could have easily cut Dune by fifty to a hundred pages and kept all of the plot arcs and removed so much of the superfluous pretension.

Also, his understanding of Middle Eastern cultures stinks. The Fremen are supposed to be based on Arab / Bedouin culture, but he clearly didn't understand either group. His Arab / Bedouin cultural characteristics are based on very crude and negatives stereotypes of both the Arabs and Bedouin. To my knowledge the only contact that Herbert ever made with either Arabs or Bedouin was through the sterile pages of a book and it shows.

I've come to the conclusion that Herbert was a few steps behind the scientologists.

That being said I loved the movie.

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).

FILM: I saw the Spielburg WOTW film today!

Hi Everyone,

I saw the Spielburg WOTW film today and LOVED it! Diana was a bit spooked, but I really liked the Martians and their tripods.

This review by Tas is spot on!

REVIEW: WAR OF THE WORLDS (Spielburg version)

Tas: Well I went last night with Lynette for my Birthday... Overall, I enjoyed it. The Tripods are AWESOME as are all of the special effects in their Hollywood glory as you might expect. A few creepy instances of nasty stuff happening just off screen and out of sight really fills in the blanks with the worst that your imagination can provide.

I agree that the Tripods were simply AWESOME! I also really liked how much of the really creepy stuff that Spielburg left off screen.

Suggestion is powerful part of a good scare and our imaginations will always be able to provide a scarier imagine than one possible on the screen. In this regard the film reminded me very much of a M. Night Shyamalan film. I just finished watching Shyamalan's "Signs" just a week or too back and it compared very well with this new Spielburg WOTW film.

Tas: Much more of the traditional Wells material was included than I expected. The artilleryman character is included (Although he is a paramedic... ), the collecting of people into baskets on the Tripods and blood injections needed by Martians as well as the red weed.

I have to diagree with you here, Tas. The paramedic takes the place of the vicar character and not the artilleryman. The red weed and the Martian need for blood were impressively displayed by the new Spielburg WOTW film!

Tas: The storyline is a "Survivor's" story: a man trying to survive with his two children as civilization crumbles. It's that simple! It starts rather hum-drummish, which I though was the worst part, but as soon as the Tripods appear with their heat rays, the film comes out with a
flourish!

I didn't mind the slow start because it really set the pace for the audience to be surprised when the time came...

The heat rays were very cool... really more of a very high powered electrical arc or discharge...

*** But... why did the heat rays disintegrate the bodies of those struck and not their clothing? ***

Tas: Now, there is Thunderchilde scene, chaps...

I was a bit disappointed by the Thunderchilde scene.

Tas: Yes, there are UUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAs!

The "UUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAA" was most impressive. Very eerie!

Tas: Overall, I thought it was a good visual movie with more of the traditional WOTW aspects than I had thought there would be. The film definitely had more of the H.G. Wells storyline than the 1953 George Pal movie had. The worst aspect of the film was a lack of storyline depth. The best aspect of the film were the outstanding special effects (And we all could have guessed
that... )!

I agree with you 100%.

Tas: I look forward to hearing what others think of the film!

Review by: Tas.

UUUUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

I liked it too, Tas!

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).