Whats the Buzz...

Gary Coleman died yesterday. He, probably more than anything or anyone, was at the centre of 1980's nostalgia (well maybe Reagan and/or the "Where's the Beef?" lady), and that means that 2 of the 3 kids from Differ'nt Strokes are gone. You had a hard life with your kidney problems, Gary, RIP.

I was watching another episode of (surprise!) Buffy last night, the one where Angel kills the computer teacher. Wasn't that just an inglorious end for a character that was becoming a part of the show. I really, really wish that Buffy had actually killed Angel, the mooning over him does get sooooo tiring...(are teenage girls really like that? All the teenage girls I remember never talked to me, lol). This can't be a healthy relationship. I mean the age difference, the whole beat the crap out of each other everytime they get together...Spike as the third wheel in all of Angel's relationships...

As I write this, it is 7 a.m. local time. My son woke up screaming again. What is it that plagues them that they must wake so early on a Saturday?

The Order of the Stick has been very interesting for the last couple of weeks. The story feels like it is finally progressing. I know it was mostly because Rich Burlew did not update the strips often for a long period of time during the whole Vaarsuvius-is-possessed-by other-evil-wizards thing, but it was beginning to drag with the whole Roy is dead thing. (I feel I can comment, I have actually bought OOTS stuff, and not just read the free stuff...Xykon's origin story was good or what, am I right?) The guy is great, it is just a personal wish for more stuff.

(It's amazing sometimes what spell check lets through; Vaarsuvius was OK. I must of written about him/her before. And does anyone else remember "It's Pat" from Saturday Night Live?)

I still get bad chills from the hair removal scene in the 40 year old Virgin.

Have a great day

The Mattcaveman.

Where the Down Boys go....

I am listening to Warrant as I write this. I saw them in concert way back...I think it was 1989. I got hit in the head that night so it is kinda of a blur (they had Danger Danger with them and they played that little building where the 67s sell tickets.) There were a lot of concerts I have gone to over the years, and I'm going to see Roger Waters do the Wall later this year at Scotiabank Place.

I am going to do it. I am going to wean myself off of Farmville. (Collective Soul is playing now, gotta love random in Windows Media Player!) I have decided that I am only going to try to check it once a day for a while, because the constant slowness of the program is driving me up the wall.

I am also going to try to be more positive in life. Everything seems to be bad right now, but I have to wonder if that is only my perception of it. My work has slowed down, which is something I have been looking forward to (as I have caught up and am now ready for the next wave), but the uncertainty of the move and stuff is getting to myself, as well as my co-workers. I just want to move on. For the record, I do not work in a secret government lab making secret things to take over the thoughts of Icelanders...we are trying to take over Luxembourg.

Isn't astronomy fun? I wish I still had the telescope I had with my dad when I was younger. We always looked at planets and that to me was the coolest thing imaginable. Unfortunately, most of the time that we saw Saturn (1980-82) the rings were mostly edge-on across the equatorial regions to us here on Earth. It was the same now (the rings were not very visible in 2009), which means in about four years (around the time I get to interest my son in the planets), we may get a full side view of the rings in the telescope. As Ottawa is at 45 degrees North latitude, we are in a great spot to see most of the variation in the night sky.

(Now Helter Skelter is playing; I've got blisters on me fingers!)

I have been thinking a lot of education for my son. I really wish I knew now what kind of direction to sort of push him in (I really want him to go into physics/engineering...), but anything he wants to do is fine with me. I started trying to teach him natural numbers tonight, but all I got from him was "yes", the only thing he says clearly right now.

I think I'd like a snack when I'm done writing for tonight. No new TV, no hockey guess I'll just put on my wrist braces and continue reading "The Great Hunt" (Second book in the Wheel of Time series for those that don't know...) Have a great day.

(Today' column was in honour of Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo (1956-2002)).

Whoa!

Sheldon had a date! With Blossom! I'm surprised that they didn't get Six to make an appearance as well. (Tepid water, please.) Leonard should just forget about girls for awhile. Penny should stop going to their apartment, and let them geek out like they're used to.

Philly has moved on, as well as Chicago. This to me shall be the most enjoyable final since 2007, and before that, 2001, when Ray Bourque finally got to raise the Cup. I think that Philadelphia will be a tougher team than all the experts are saying right now. A lot of people picked Philly to be there so I don't understand the surprise. The 'Hawks of course have been a favourite all season, so no real surprise there. I think the biggest surprise is that the Sharks made it this far.

Can anybody else believe the price of comic books these days? I don't know how anyone can afford to collect them anymore. I used to get 15-20 books for 20,00$, now you are lucky if that buys four.

I have a friend who has finally had enough of Farmville. He says it's boring and repetitive (or is that pedantic?). I complete agree with that, so why can't I just stop? Yesterday, because of downloading issues, I must have spent the better part of two hours over the course of the day just dealing with Farmville. It's not like I enjoyed going to Facebook much anymore. It seems to me that only the same six people are ever posting, which coincidentally are the same six people that I hear from the most (or their husbands/boyfriends anyways. I will say that yes Mrs. Mattcaveman is one of them ;)) I mean, I could spend the day just reading D&D adventures/manuals/magazines, and I would be completely happy (or as happy as one can be without actually getting to play the game, or watching geek TV, or reading sci-fi/fantasy).

I took my family out yesterday for dinner at Boston Pizza in Gatineau after we bought our son some new shoes. What a horrific experience. The waitress forgot my son's order, so by the time we got it, we had already fed him from our plates and he wasn't hungry anymore. She also brought the wrong appetizer to the table and my order sucked. I had the 7 cheese ravioli, and it tasted like it came from a Chef Boyardee can. The garlic toast was really warmed bread (some of the butter had not melted on it) I don't get it, as this place is usually good. I also found the potato skin appetizer (once we received it) to be slightly undercooked and the "toppings" were very frugal. IN MY OPINION (note this, lawyers), I will never go back there again, as this was terrible. I will leave it to anyone actually reading out there to decide whether they wish to go or not, and form their own opinion.

Happy news

I would like to try everytime I am here to say something positive at the end of every entry. So here it is: I am really glad we have central air conditioning.

Thank you, and good night!

It's too early...

to be up on a Saturday on a long weekend. Why is it when you have kids, they just can't sleep in. Why don't they come with servants, in order to properly have the energy levels to raise them?

My cats are extremely jumpy this morning, I think they are seriously in the middle of spring fever.

My son is watching Toupie & Binou again, he really seems to love this cartoon. I find that Toupie has the intelligence of a head of cabbage, but he really likes it. I wonder what age group this is supposed to be for?

Why are obsessions so damn....obsessive? I am so hooked on Farmville and I am ashamed of it (well, I can't be that ashamed because I write about it here). I want to quit. Is there a Farmville Anonymous that can we join to break the habit? I know that everybody has a time-waster, but...I mean, this game takes forever to load, and its servers can't handle the amount of people they have playing...yet I CAN'T STOP! Where is David Crosby when you need him?

I know this comes with a little bit of Sour Grapes, but I am so glad that Chicago is up 3-0 and Dany Heatley will hopefully be out of the playoffs soon. One reason I am glad that he left town is that his interviews make Toupie look like an intellectual genius. I have never seen a man who gives off so many cliches in my life, in a world that is dominated by cliches. I wish that interviews would just stop. When is the last time any player had anything to say?

I got to play D&D last night. I missed it so. I was DMing and i am currently taking two people through an update of G1: The Stedding of the Hill Giants updated into 3.5. These are two characters, and their tactics took down a major battle involving 12 ogres, 20 hill giants, 3 stone giants, and 1 frost giant, with no casualties. This was a significant achievement (although the characters in question are 12th level, now 13th...) I don't know why Israel bans D&D from their army barracks, it seems to create more military geniuses. I guess they are afraid that they'll use d20s to fight, instead of rifles.

Anyways, take care and have a great long weekend, Canada.

And now for something completely different...

I am just going to rhyme off random things tonight...

I miss dice rolling, I haven't had a D&D game in weeks or a Warhammer game in months. I need to play soon, as I am doing some serious Jonesing for it...

Watching Ms. Hart sing O Canada tonight (and butchering it) I am reminded again that Ottawa currently has the most distinctive anthem singer in Lyndon Slewidge. (The late Roger Doucet is still the best). And why is Bob Cole doing this series when the top team is supposed to be Jim Hughson & Craig Simpson?

I would like to go to Medieval Times again. I saw on TV that all tickets are now priced the same (although I would still get green if I could to be consistent.) This time I would pay to get knighted, becasue frankly, I deserve a title. The crap I put up, I need something to make myself feel superior to somebody. This time, I think I'd buy the cutlass as well. I used to handle one in Sea Cadets, they have a nice feel and balance to them, then say a longsword. Now those are awkward to handle if you don't have any strength or training. You also really need a strong and quick wrist, which you don't see much of in movies.

I have always loved swords. I got this interesting book from my godson last Christmas that showed many different types of swords. Swordmastery is a dying art; even the small fencing that still exists is only for about seven types of swords (all of them made for competition and stoppered in order not to do any permanent damage. Wouldn't the Olympic fencing events be better if the loser died?) They only make collector swords now. If I could afford it, I'd fence. Not with a foil though. As cool as the fight between Ignacio and Westley in the Princess Bride is, foils take a lot of effort for such a small blade. If the hilt wasn't so big, the bastard sword would have a great balance for a guy like me. (Mostly because I like any excuse to write "bastard".)

(1-0 Philadelphia. I think Montréal is in for a spanking again.)

I read an article today about the Star Wars kid, and how he has grown up now and is running some sort of charity in Trois-Rivières. Yet, they still call him the Star Wars Kid. I guess this means that the Internet truly is forever (and if you haven't seen the Star Wars Kid footage by now, see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPPj6viIBmU ) and that you can't escape your destiny. Just like Luke Skywalker.

Isn't Luke Skywalker like the biggest whinebag in history in "A New Hope". If I was Uncle Owen, I would have let him go to Toschii Station to pick up those power converters just for some peace and quiet. Hey here's soemthing for Fox to show: "Celebrity Whining" Sydney Crosby vs. Luke Skywalker. Can you just envision Darth Vader's hand closing now after finding Crosby's lack of faith disturbing?

And one last thing...

Mentioning the Princess Bride makes me want to watch it again. Inconceivable!

Have a great day, folks!

Debates can be fun

We had a good one at work today, arguing over who was better, Buffy or Faith (guess which side I was on...) The fact is, Buffy won and Faith came crawling back in the end. And for the record, I had my most productive day in weeks. Apparently, we amuse others when we engage in these debates.

Listening to some Green Day right now.

I was a little sad to hear of the passing of Ronnie James Dio, even though I wasn't a huge fan. For those that don't know who he was, he was Ozzy's replacement in Black Sabbath, and allegedly the inventor of the heavy metal hand sign. Anytime one of the old heavy metal guys gets called home it reminds me how long ago it was, and how much that cheesy hair metal was a part of my life. To Ronnie, rock in peace.

Am I the only one that finds computers frustrating, yet so alluring? I can't stop playing with them, but everyday I get reminders thrown in my face about how little I know. Technology is the best thing that humans have invented (wow, that has to be the dumbest statement ever!) When are we going to harness the power and go out further into space? I know most people say we should cure hunger, poverty, bad breath, ear wax, etc...before we spend more on resources going to the stars, but can't we dream just a little. It's going to be private enterprise that colonizes space first anyways. Governments have too many stakeholders to justify the expense further than spying on other governments here on Terra.

Yes I wrote Terra. I think that should be the official name for our planet. It's Latin for
"Earth" (how original). But no one speaks Latin anymore; therefore no one gets offended and then we wouldn't have to have the sign "Welcome to Earth" with the French three times bigger than every other language just to make Quebec happy. (Hey would a big-ass sign be an eyesore, or do you think it would help tourism from say, Zeta Reticuli? We can even boast free parking on Luna, as no government would have jurisdiction to send meter maids! Yet, I bet Luna would still qualify for Canadian equalization payments. )

And another thing, remember when Jean-Luc got offended when Riker called French archaic? The Americans just can't resist any digs at those cheese-eating surrender monkeys. (To quote Willy!)

Anyways, I'm on for today. Good night BONNE NUIT!

I forgot how bad...

the original first couple of seasons were, writing and animation-wise, on the Simpsons.

Kudos has to go out to the Habs, they did something I thought would take a couple of years, eliminated the Flightless Birds. Go cry in your Timbits, Sidney...

(hmmmm...timbits....)

They showed a rerun of the Big Bang Theory last night. It was the episode where they discover the One Ring movie prop in a box of junk. It was hilarious when Penny punched Sheldon. I also really enjoy the way that they had the four-way holding contest on a small necklace...classic.

(I really could use some Timmies right now...)

I am beginning to discover one of the downsides of being the father of an 18 month old. The repetitiveness of the songs and DVDs are getting to me. I found myself discussing them with other parents at work, because they get in your head and just linger like really bad pop music. (Womanizer...you're a womanizer...uh uh repeat48 times...I bet it's now in YOUR head...)

(I think Britney would like to have some Timmies too...)

Here and there

I miss Gil Grissom. He made the CSI team what it was. Will he ever return?

Has anyone ever read the Superman vs. The Flash race across the universe comic? I like how neither one won in the end (it all came down to the angle you were looking at the finish line), of course after fighting an evil super-villain.

Raj was right, you can take down both Green Lanterns with a number 2 pencil.

Apparently the braces you have to wear for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome don't stop you from typing, it just makes it harder. Yes I have it, too much computers, guitar playing, modeling, sleeping on my hands, etc... I have to wear these braces at night for at least 2 months to realign my wrists properly and to have the tendons get back to normal. I guess my latest set list has to wait.

I love random thoughts, it keeps my brain from filling up too much.

(Still want Timmies, why can't they deliver?)

Have a great day, CSI is about to come on, and it needs my undivided attention (Langston is pretty good, though).

Yaarrrrr!

Irregular Webcomic had a pirate themed strip today, the first one they have had in a long time. I approve, because Dr. Morgan-Mar puts in true pirate sounds (in print), which is more than I can say for the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies. I mean, come on, they are pirate movies! Where is the noises?

Don't forget to put International Talk Like a Pirate Day on your calendar (September 19 for those landlubbers who have no clue) and remember, drive your spouse/significant other nuts that day!

I like Irregular Webcomic; it reminds me how much I love both Lego and bonhommes. I love this strip because not only are the themes different everyday, the humour is usually quite good, and he does a great job explaining jokes that may be a bit over peoples head. I also suspect that he spends a lot of time on Wikipedia. Read this strip! (Same guy who does Darth&Droids)

I have started to paint my Vampire Counts (Blood Red, there's a real surprise) this week. I have begun with a necromancer because I think I am more likely to get it done if I do one bonhomme at a time.

I managed to get a superfluous Star Wars quote in today (slightly modified). It did the trick because Mrs. Mattcaveman gave me the evil eye. The evil eye is scary, folks. Seriously, don't quote Obi-wan with your son as the recipient.

The Big Bang

One thing to say about last night's episode. What does that say about Sheldon if he is the only one that a nymphomaniac physicist doesn't try to sleep with? (Also, notice the subtle way we discovered that Howard and Bernadette are no longer together?) OK, maybe two things about the episode...do you notice how much Raj is starting to drink? I think we are going to see an episode down the road where HE might drink to much (as opposed to Sheldon, when they slipped liquor into his drink when he gave the speech it was PRICELESS, why didn't Jim Parsons win the Emmy?) I really want to see Sheldon end up with Leonard's mom.

Final thing...

I wish my cats could have a conversation with me. I'd like to know what cats consider stressful.

My son had his first "Happy Meal"

They grow up so fast...

Just watching some Buffy reruns right now, and seriously, that Kendra chick was the most wooden character ever shown on this show (apart from the actual wooden dummy from the first season, of course). My wife is a real big fan of Spike, she really hates the way he just "dies" at the end of the series. Giles has to be the strongest nerd to ever live. I also really like that daemon who hangs out with them during the sixth and seventh season.

One other thing: how does a zero like Xander get chicks like Cordelia and Anya? And which would not want to have a girl as eager as Anya?

I think I'd like to read the Buffy Season 8 comic book series. I'd like to know what the continuation of Buffyverse is like. I hear Xander looks pretty coll drawn with his eye-patch. (Ah, the Nerf Herder theme is playing right now.) Grrr Arghhh!

Anyway, enough today about my true "love". Tomorrow is Mother's Day, where guilt is queen. (Just kidding). Hug your mom if you can, she probably put up with a lot of crap bringing you up.
And if you can, but your flowers today before the price doubles tomorrow.

Nuts and bolts.

I have just finished my first complete read-through of the 4th edition Player's Handbook of D&D. This would for the most part make for an interesting game if it had any other name than D&D. This system changed too much of the guts of the game that had managed to be the best in the world for 34 years before this change. There were some interesting changes I would use as optional rules (if any of my current campaigns were at the beginning). For example I like the change with regards to critical hits, and combat seems simpler than 3,5. I just don't like the new spell system; it seems that the first-level wizards actually have the power to survive to level 2 without much effort from the other characters.

I notice that a lot of these changes were used in the Star Wars RPG Saga Edition. The details differ naturally, as one is fantasy based and the other is sci-fi, but the concept (same company) is apparent. At least in Star Wars, you can play an Ewok Jedi who can pilot an X-Wing (Yub-yub!)

(I forgot that John Ritter was on Buffy.)

Other news

After speaking with an employee from Games Workshop (Bayshore), I have managed to learn that the new edition of Warhammer (8th) Rulebook is about 200 pages larger than the current edition. I hope that's all optional rules and photos of bonhommes because I am just starting to get the hang of the current rulebook (2006) after four years. At least they aren't changing the Army lists yet; I haven't had a chance to play with my Vampire Counts yet.

Last note of the day

My son really loves grilled cheese.

Thank you, and good night.

It's been a while....

since I last posted, life has been too busy and I have felt too sick.

The moment you have been waiting for. Movies.

Terminator 1 - Romance was vital to the plot as Reese is John Connor's father. However, this didn't need to be seen (unless James Cameron enjoyed having everybody his then-girlfriend Linda Hamilton topless.), and I found that it ruined a part of the movie. They could have just had Reese say I love you, a quick kiss and cut to next scene.

Lord of the Rings - (especially the Two Towers). All romance scenes in the trilogy were made up by the filmmakers. They felt like they were serious pandering to female viewers. Especially the scene in Two Towers where Aragorn is having the fantasy while Brego comes to find him. I guess that is passes for "wet dreams" on Middle-Earth. Again unnecessary.

Superman II - Did they really need to send Lois and Clark to Niagara Falls? And then the lovemaking scene at the (now misnamed) Fortress of Solitude. The only good thing that came out of this scene in the end is the plot element used in Superman Returns. That was good writing. And see people, it also proves that you can have asthma even your father is Superman.

At least for the most part, they kept romance out of the Indiana Jones movies (only very brief things were shown...)

And finally, the WORST romantic scenes ever belong to ATTACK OF THE CLONES. I know it is essential to the plot that Anakin and Padme end up together, but this was the most hack-eyed, stilted, romantic dialog ever written. And think about it, she falls in love with a guy who kills Tusken raiders (including children) out of anger, who thinks levitating fruit is impressive (how childish!), and can't keep a lightsaber for more than five minutes without losing it or breaking it (this is only the Jedi's most sacred and recognizable symbol; talk about showing no respect). Come on "I deeply, truly, love you" has to be the worst line delivered before an on-screen kiss outside of pornographic films ever!

It's getting really dark outside. I wonder when the storm will hit....

I have to say, the most unexpected exchange ever that made me laugh the most when I saw it for the first time in a movie was when Deanna Troi turned to Beverly Crusher in Insurrection and asked if she noticed her boobs getting firmer, followed by Data asking Worf the same question. I laughed for a long time...

I leave with this question; can a lightsaber stop a phaser beam? We will never know...

Did anybody else smile...

as the Habs were brought back to Earth last night? It would make me feel even better if they lose in less than six games.

Finding time to keep this up is hard. It isn't just thinking about things to write, which actually comes at in so many different topics it's harder to narrow down what you wish to talk about. For me, it is about finding the time to devote everyday. Those that can, I salute you.

I have discovered that having the fantasy music of Radio Rivendell playing in the background is more relaxing that I ever imagined. It truly is like having your own soundtrack, and my son seems to like some of the stuff that's played (thus making me MORE likely to put it on) and it sure beats having the television on as background. I think that probably is a better thing to play classical music for your child than have the TV on, right?

Without even knowing it, this month has become so busy so fast, and I don't know I'm going to keep up with it all.

Today I wish to tackle the important topic that has everybody losing sleep at night. I, of course, am referring to the relationship between Leonard and Penny on the Big Bang Theory. My wife has informed me (Spoiler alert) that they are going to stay broken up. To me personally, I think it's great. The show lost a little of it's humour after Leonard got what he wanted, as he wasn't as available to play the foil to Sheldon much anymore. And to make matters even more amusing (once again, Spoiler!) appaently Sheldon is going to have a....wait for it, this will be legendary!....LOVE INTEREST. Who knew he was capable. I am all a-tingle to find out. (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the closest thing to a soap opera you will ever find on these pages. And I still think Rachel should have walked away from Ross!!)

Speaking of Rachel, I still think she's hot. And yes, I know she's not actually Rachel, I am referring to Jennifer "I smoke 3 packs a day" Aniston.

The next time I come back, I think I will tackle the biggest, most important issue of our time. This is (drumroll, please) movies and television shows that were ruined the most by romance. Stay tuned.

Same Matt place, same Matt channel...