Archive for May, 2010

Tom Cruise slowly earning back his “cool points”

0
3 years ago
by Tom in ,

NOW DANCE MONKEY!

EDIT! THERE’S A SECOND ONE WITH THAT TWILIGHT KID! LOL

Testing the technology

4
3 years ago
by Tom in

Next week I will be stepping outside the United States for the first time in my life (with the exception of Miami.)  My tether to the Interwebz will be the unlimited international web I have activated on my Palm Pre for the duration of the trip.

In case I have issues finding a good wifi spot for the laptop, I have installed a WordPress editing app on my phone.

This morning’s post is just me testing that tech from my phone.

Each day cellular phone technology reminds me more and more of something…

Geek Conventions & Cosplay… circa 1983!

0
3 years ago
by Tom in ,

Hey kids!  You think your weirdness of going to your local fan convention is unique to your generation (or the young adults of the 1990s)?  Think again!  This video shows an event called the Sci-Fi X-Po from 1983.  That’s right – some of you weren’t even born.  As a matter of fact, some of the people dressed up in this video could be your parents…

If your parents lived in the Seattle, Washington area in 1983.

NOTE #1: Why does no one cosplay as Judy Jetson anymore?  That was awesome!

NOTE #2: This video taught me what we’re missing at fan conventions of today: sparkling curtains for stage backdrops.

(BotCon) Bigger isn’t always better, kids!

52
3 years ago
by Tom in

In December of 2009, I took the time to send an email to the organizers of BotCon 2010 about the possibility of bringing “DARE! The Transformers Panel Ultimate” to their convention.  For those of you that are not as entrenched in the fan convention scene: my pal Joey Snackpants and I have been hosting a Transformers Panel for fan conventions since 2003.  The panel/show has appeared a number of times (under various names) at Anime Express, Anime Festival Orlando, DreamCon, Fitcon, Florida Supercon, the FX Show, Yasumicon, and others. In all, we’ve hosted it (literally) dozens of times and have featured the following fun:

  • Transformers Time Trials (how fast could you convert a Transformer correctly… complete with prizes!)
  • Transformers G1 game demonstration on the PS2 (never released in the US, by the way!)
  • Transforming sound effect contest (with prizes!)
  • Japanese Transformers theme songs you wish you never heard.
  • TF: Revenge of the Fallen Toy Giveaways sponsored by Hasbro (before the movie even came out!)
  • Guest Host: Gregg Berger (the voice of Grimlock)
  • Guest Host: Stan Bush (he had The Touch!)

We even elevated our geek status last year as Transformers Super Fans by singing backup for Stan Bush in concert during the song “Dare!”

This year – “DARE! The Transformers Panel Ultimate” is slated to appear at events outside of Florida including (tentatively) Anime Weekend Atlanta and Gen Con.

So back to the story… we contacted BotCon, the Official Transformers Convention, back in December of last year.  I have followed up each month with a polite “are we in” email asking about whether our unique brand of Transformers fun would be welcome.  I would get a polite response back, but it was always a “no decision has been made.”

Having not heard anything for another month, I emailed them again yesterday because (in case you haven’t noticed) the convention is less than one month away.

I mean, this is an officially licensed event – so they must have all their ducks in a row.  At least more so that the other local fan conventions in and around Florida… right?

This has been quite an eye opener for me because the answer is a resounding no. For those keeping track, BotCon tickets went on sale just eight days ago. As of this post, less than thirty days out, there is no information under “Seminars & Panels” and “Special Events” on BotCon’s official site.

Maybe I’m just jaded from going to so many amateur conventions that announce things more than six weeks out… who knows.

Either way, we got the email yesterday that states

…at this time I don’t think we have a slot for you.

In short: No Transformers Panel from the locals.  I’ll still most likely attend BotCon, but it’s just disappointing to be reminded that the professionally run national conventions don’t seem to be any more organized than your local “mom and pop” anime con.

C’est la vie.

The LiveJournal Project: June 2003

0
3 years ago
by Tom in

Reading through June 2003, though, is the first time I’ve run into the issue of photos that were placed in the posts no longer existing.  As I continue the project, I will replace photos with suitable substitutes (when available) or a note about what the missing photo was.

I don’t really cosplay that often, but…

0
3 years ago
by Tom in ,

When something this fun is dropped in my lap, it’s hard to pass up.

This past weekend Shannon and I went to the Swap Shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  For those that have never been, the Swap Shop is a giant flea market that doubles (in the evening) as a drive-in movie theater… one of the last in the U.S.  I have been visiting it since my grandfather first took me there over twenty five years ago.  The place is a unique mix of the Latin culture of South Florida and the collection of “things that fell off the truck” that you find for sale from vendors of every variety.

This past weekend, we went shopping for things to use for the Mint Chocolate Chippies and The Wasabi RetroCade.  As we navigated our way around the vendors we found a military surplus booth.  As I looked through all the camouflage jackets, I found this:
just spent $5 on his next cosplay... patches already attached!

Yes – that is a Stargate SG-1 patch on that jacket.  There a Stargate program patch on the other sleeve, too.  What made it odd is that it was the ONLY jacket with patches.

How much, you ask?

The guy wanted ten dollars.  I started to walk away – and he changed his offer to seven.

Shannon replied back that she only had five dollars.

He took it.

That’s right folks – $5 FOR THE WIN.

Expect to see me wearing it as some sort of throw on costume while hungover at Dragon*Con this year.

The LiveJournal Project: May 2003

0
3 years ago
by Tom in

Wow… seven years ago.  May of 2003 was my third month blogging and it seems the two most important things going on for me in pop culture were the final episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and seeing (and being disappointed by) The Matrix Reloaded.

Go to Top