Still Trying, At Least

Haven't been posting much lately. Just haven't felt up to it.

Picture Post: Last Of The Big Fishing Tackle Boxes. Part One

This turned out to be a bigger project than I thought it was going to be, so here's part one of two.

Not Terribly Clear Headed

In spite of the last few days, I haven't been getting much of this done lately.

Small Projects

I think I need one or two to get back in the habit of using my thinky bits in my off time again.

Just Nonsense

Used to post things like this all the time, then kinda quit.

Not The Lost Materials I Was Looking For

I found some things I'd been looking for, but it wasn't what I remember mentioning here before.

Almost Immediately

I seem to have fallen off my own schedule almost instantly.

What Counts As Local News

It must have been a slow news day in my area the other day.

Not As Planned

This applies to a few things, some of them obvious, others, not so much.

Well Shit...

Apparently we didn't learn our goddamned lesson between 2016 and 2020.

A “For Now” Schedule

Given some of the things I've been writing about lately, I figure I may as well at least try to take some of my own advice here.

A Good Year For Positives

This has been a pretty good year for me, in terms of this Internet stuff I do, and it's not quite over yet.

More Than MiSTings

I think I may have mentioned in a few places that I've written fan fiction outside of Mystery Science Theater style stuff, but I keep forgetting to tell people where to find it

Hints And Pointers

Seeing as how I've recently inspired somebody to get into this blogging madness, I figure I may as well take a little time to do one of these things about a few of the things I've learned over the years I've been doing it myself.

Another Plan Sort Of Thing

This started out as a somewhat different idea, but I think this may be a better direction to go with it.

Old Pancake Mix

This is a followup post to one I made back in June.

Picture Post: Apollo Era Bash-Kit Models

Here's a kind of screwing around I wouldn't mind being able to make a little time for every now and again these days.

The Short Version

I'd been working on a longer, rantier version of this for a couple days, and then decided to scrap it because the situation had improved slightly.

“N-C-C-1-5-0-1”

“No bloody A, B, C, or D!”

Coffee Time Companion: October Once Again (October 6, 2024)

I said I was going to do something like this, and I at least tried to get to it in a timely manner.

Picture Post: Old Tackle Boxes, Part 5: Trout Fishing Stuff

Once again, it's been awhile since I've done one of these, but I've had a lot going on since the first of the year.

Personally Lost Media

Perhaps “misplaced” would be a better word for it.

Plans And Considerations

So this is just a little late night musing about just what my plans are for all this stuff going forward.

TEXT PLAY: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation, 2000, Square-Enix): Issue #092: Epilog: Eight Years On

Seriously, though, Isn't This Where I Came In with this game?

TEXT PLAY: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation, 2000, Square-Enix): Issue #091: Endgame, Part Two

This one's coming out in a somewhat more timely manner.

Making Time Again

It seems like this is a common theme when I'm not doing video games any more.

Final Fantasy Tonight: Isn't This Where I Came In...?

I'm probably going to mention this when I finally finish my playthrough of Final Fantasy 9 after going on eight years now, but I may as well make it it's own post as well.

TEXT PLAY: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation, 2000, Square-Enix): Issue #090: Endgame, Part One

This isn't like Star Trek: Voyager, and I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

It's Been Awhile

It's about time for an update on a few things.

Trying An Old Recipe: Vanilla Deluxe Pudding

Be Dylan Hollis?

TEXT PLAY: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation, 2000, Square-Enix): Issue #089: So I Jinxed It

Remember how I commented on maybe doing this more regularly again at the start of the last one of these I put up?

Just For The Hell Of It

I didn’t really have much to write about when I wrote this post.

Found Work Pants

I guess it's a good thing I started cleaning out the dresser in my bedroom.

A Few Ideas In The Works

And some other updates as well.

A Slow Month

This has been a slow month for me on a lot of fronts.

Picture Post: The Old Picnic Basket

This one has been awhile in coming. From what I understand, this is an item that's been passed down in my mom's family for awhile, as well.

MiSTing: DigiDefenders Episode 7, Part Three

I was going to start this part off with a joke about being wrong about it being longer than I had intended between these posts, but then it actually happened. The part about having IRL stuff get in the way is still true, of course, but I've gotta keep my bills paid before I get to the stuff I hope other people think is as cool and fun as I do.

As to this issue itself, I gotta say, I can really relate to Jorge's leg injury. I've had a few myself over the years. While none of them has been quite that bad on their own, but the damage has really added up, and that cumulative damage has not been done any favors for the excess weight I've got on me, either.

The host segment we'll be ending with this time goes into what I'd call “Yeah...” territory, which was not an uncommon thing for me, and perhaps most folks writing these things, back then. But I'll say more about that at the end so anyone willing to brave the screwball formatting can see what I mean first.

See you then.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

[jump]

[Double doors open to theater.  Seating arrangement is same as before.]

>
>"Jorge, come in.  Jorge, do you read me!  Hello?  Jorge."  Ashley sighed in >frusteration as she looked up from her D-4.  "Jorge won't answer his D-4."
>
>"Mari won't either," Eli said.
>
>"You don't think something happened to them, do you?"

JESSE: Can't you guys just turn those things off if you'd like?
RICK: I don't know, really.

>
>"We can track them vie their D-4," the Commander said.  She sat at one of the >control consols and activated a mapping program.  "That's strange, I'm not getting >anything."
>
>"What does that mean?"  Eli asked.
>
>"Well it means one of three things happened: one, we're looking in the wrong area.  

JESSE and RICK:[Larry and Shemp] Yes, yes?

>Two, the D-4's are destroyed, or three..."

JESSE and RICK:[Larry and Shemp] Yes, yes?

>
>"Yeah," the two Digidefenders echoed.
>
>"Three, something is blocking the scanners from connecting with the D-4s."

JESSE and RICK:[Larry and Shemp] No!

>
>"Is someone blocking us?"  That was Ashley.
>
>"No, the computer would know if it was artificially created.  No, it's more likely >the result of something natural.  Either a rock, or a mountain or a cave."

ELI: Or a thunderstorm.
JORGE: Or a sunspot.

>
>"We should get over there," Ashley said.
>
>"Yes.  I'll contact Rick and Chi.  They'll join you en transit."

JESSE: They can just dash on over.

>
>"Right.  Digi-port open!  Data-link to India!"
>
>
>"Hey.  Hey kid, you dead?"

JESSE:[Jorge] Not quite!
JORGE: And just then, I was tempted to work on resolving that.

>                                               A voice, a strange voice was >calling out to him.  Who was it?  With great difficulty, Jorge opened his eyes.  >Mari was standing over him, gently shaking his shoulder.  Was that concern in her >voice?  No doubt if he asked her, she would deny it.
>
>Instead, he asked, "Mari?  What happened?  Where are we?"
>
>"The blast must've knocked us below ground.  I was just revived myself."
>
>"What happened to the Digimon?"  Mari held out Gotsumon's card.  The fall must've >caused him to dedigivolve and turn back into his card form.  Jorge placed the card >back into his case.
>
>"Come on, El Luchadore, let's find a way out of here."
>
>"Right."  Jorge placed his weight on one leg and pulled himself up.  No sooner >that he placed his other foot down, then his entire leg erupted in pain.
>
>"AAAHHHH!"  Jorge cried.  He fell down clutching his leg.
>
>"What's wrong?"  Mari asked, startled by his yelp.
>
>"My leg... I can't move it."  Jorge said with tears of pain streaming.  Mari rolled up his >pant leg and pulled down his sock.  The area around his calf was swollen and blue.
>
>"That doesn't look good," Mari commented.  "It must be broken."

ASHLEY: Broken?  It looks like it's an inch from falling off!
JESSE: Probably feels like it, too.

>
>"Now what do we do?"
>
>"I'm going to have to go get help."
>
>"But what about me?"
>
>"You're staying here.  You can't get anywhere on that foot and I'm not about to >carry you."  Mari was three years older than Jorge but was almost twice his >height.  She could probably carry him, but of course, Mari had to protect her >reputation before helping others.

JESSE: Plus, no point in making a bigger mess of the leg than necessary.

>
>"Don't worry, Roberto, I won't forget about you."
>
>"My name is Jorge," he said between gritted teeth.
>
>"Yeah, yeah, whatever."  Waving her hand in dismissal, Mari ran off.  Jorge >thought about his predicament.  It's possible that Mari couldn't get to help in >time.  Even if she did manage to get out of the cave, she would have to tranverse >the mountains into China.  He was the only one of them with a D-Pilot.  He would >have to rescue himself.

RICK: Oh, sure.  One cool toy and you think you're all that.
JORGE: Well, what would you have done?

>
>Jorge rolled over onto his front.  He began dragging himself by the hands in the same >direction as Mari.
>
>
>Ashley materialized in the same place as Mari and Jorge did.

JESSE: It must be a good beamdown location.

>
>"Penguinmon, digimerge!"  Penguinmon stood before his Digidefender partner.
>
>"Ashley, what's the haps?"
>
>"We need to look for Mari and Jorge.  Let's digivolve and take to the sky."
>
>"Fine by me."
>
>Ashley activated the digivolving function on her D-4.  "Digivolve!"
>
>DIGIVOLUTION
>
>"Penguinmon, digivolve to... Saberdramon!"
>
>Ashley climbed onto Saberdramon's talon.  They were about to take off when Eli >appeared along with Rick and Chi.

JORGE: Well, everyone's showing up for this, aren't they?
ASHLEY: We were worried about you.

>
>"We were about to search from the sky," Ashley informed them.
>
>"Let me get Mekanorimon out and we'll come with you," Eli said.  "Hagurumon, >digimerge!"
>
>DIGIVOLUTION
>
>"Hagurumon, digivolve to... Mekanorimon!"

ELI:[durring digivolution sequence] It looks cool, but it somehow gets old fast.
JESSE:[durring digivolution sequence] You guys don't actually see any of this when you actually do it, do you?
RICK:[durring digivolution sequence] No.  The Digimon just sorta start glowing and geting bigger and stuff, really.

>                                                                         Eli climbed into Mekanorimon's cockpit.
>
>"Wait for me," Chi said as she climbed into the cockpit next to Eli.
>

JESSE: Aren't you guys a little young for that?
ELI: Oh, be quiet!

>"Rick, you can come with us," Ashley offered.
>
>"Thanks," Rick said climbing onto Saberdramon's other talon.

RICK:[singing to tune of "Ghetto Superstar"] Fly away with me, to another place...
ASHLEY: You're worse than Mr. Tacky Shirt over there, Rick.

>                                                                                                            Saberdramon and >Mekanorimon took off.
>

JESSE: You know, I think I'm starting to read a bit much into this.
ELI: How so?
JESSE: I keep seeing cute couples.

>
>Mari had been walking for about ten minutes.  She was getting annoyed at these >caves.  She was beginning to wonder if she was walking in the wrong direction.  >Suddenly she heard a small scuffle.  She quickly ran around a corner and braced >her back against the wall.  It sounded like someone groaning and scraping >something along the dirt.  Finally, the scuffling stopped and silence echoed >through the cavern.  Mari took a risk and peeked around the corner.
>
>It was Jorge.  Somehow he managed to get this far with only the use of one leg before >he passed out.

JORGE: But then, you can only scrape off so much skin before you do.

>
>"Kid's got more spunk than I thought," Mari said to herself.
>
>
>Footsteps penetrated Jorge's subconscious.  With effort, he pulled himself into an awake >state.  Mari had one of his arms draped across both of her shoulders and one of her arms >was around his waist like a soldier escorting a wounded comrade across the battlefield.
>

RICK:[hums a line of "Yankee Doodle"]

>"What?... How long was I out."
>
>"About ten minutes.  I've been dragging you for the past nine."
>
>"Oh... Thank you, sorry for the trouble."
>
>"Well if you want to thank me, you can get your dino friend to carry us the rest of the >way.  You're heavy for a kid."
>
>"Dino friend?... Oh, Monochromon.  Right, I forgot.

ASHLEY: I would think it would be hard *not* to forget after dragging yourself through a half kilometer of rubble.
RICK: Not to mention with that kind of pain.

> Gotsumon, digimerge!"  The card glowed for a brief second then went back to its original form.
>
>"What happened?"  Mari asked.
>
>"I guess Gotsumon hasn't recovered enough power to digimerge," Jorge figured.
>
>"Looks like I'll just have to take care of this.  Floramon, digimerge!"  Just like >Gotsumon's, Floramon's card flashed for a moment then returned to normal.
>
>"They must still need to recover their energy from that attack," Jorge figured.

JESSE: Are you sure it was the attack that did it and not nearly being crushed to death in a landslide?
JORGE: OK, and after the landslide, too.

>                                                                                                                             "They >won't digimerge until then."
>
>"Looks like we're walking.  Come on, Pablo."
>
>"My name is Jorge."
>
>"Whatever."
>

JESSE: Well, what say we take one last break before the end?
ELI: Good idea.
[All exit theater]

[Lobby]
JESSE: You know, I'd have to say the series official pairings are beginning to at least form up.

RICK: Why do you say that?
JESSE: Well, I'd definately call this adventure a "bonding experience" for Jorge and Mari.
JORGE: Hey, I hadn't thought of it like that.
ASHLEY: But then, you *did* save each others' lives...
ELI: And I think we may be looking at another pairing.
RICK: Really?  Where?
JESSE: Well, look who you're standing next to.
[RICK and ASHLEY look at each other for a second and then step apart a little bit]
RICK: Did that just happen?
ASHLEY: I don't know...
JORGE: Aw, come on!  You two make a cute pair.
ELI: Yeah.
RICK: Anyway...  Jorge and Mari, huh?
JORGE: Well, she *has* started to lighten up some.  At least to me.
ASHLEY: I suppose so.
JESSE: I think my capacity to take things too far may be kicking in on this one, though.
ELI: How come?
JESSE: Well, there are five guys on the team, right?
RICK: Yeah.  And?
JESSE: That means there are only three girls.
ASHLEY: That would be right.
ELI: I think I see where you're going with this.
JORGE: It's actually kinda wierd.
RICK: Gross is more like it.
JESSE: I think I'd better just stop with this line of thought.
RICK: Yeah, us too.
ASHLEY: Let's just get back to the movie.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

Like I was saying at the beginning, that last host segment was at least bordering on the not-so-great. I've always tried to be at least a little bit self-aware about that sort of thing, to the point that I'll even have my characters acknowlege what's going on when it fits. It might not have been the best look ever back then, and I suspect having an additional twenty years on it doesn't help.

As for the posting schedule, I'm hoping to have the next part of this done in a more timely fashion, but as this one has proved, that's still in flux. As always, no promises, because my real-life concerns need to come first. If all goes to plan, the next part of this will be up next Saturday, but as we've seen, thing happen that cause delays.

At any rate, see you with something along the way, hopefully before the next one of these comes out.

Electronics Recycling

Two bits of electronics to recycle at once for a change.

Low-Res Art Show, May 12, 2024

All these can be found on my deviantArt page as well.

Personal Update, May 6, 2024

Got a couple things to cover here, but I think it's mostly good news.

New Mattress

Finally got one after far too long.

MiSTing: DigiDefenders Episode 7, Part Two

Like I was sayint in the previous part of this, I think this episode as a whole has one of the larger in-theater casts I ever did, with five. I can think of only one or two where I might have done more, but I can't recall which ones they might have been. Five was a bit much anyway.

As I was writing the draft for this intro, I started to wonder if I hadn't used the joke about the huge drink in an earlier episode as well. Things like that were getting silly even back then and have only gotten moreso in the twenty years or so since I wrote this bit.

Something I'll address more at the end is the bit about the rules to the actual card game. I'd intended to at least try to learn them, but for various reasons, it didn't work out.

For now, though, here's this week's bit:

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

[jump]

[Theater.  ELI has farthest seat in, then JESSE, JORGE, RICK, and ASHLEY on the aisle.  The silhouette of ASHLEY's drink is the first gag.]

>Digimon: Digidefenders
>
>Episode 7: Two Of A Kind/The Mountain Adventure
>
>The Headquarters of the Digidefenders was unusually quiet.  Today, the Commander >summoned Jorge, Eli, and Ashley there.  They arrived there but the Commander was >nowhere to be found.

RICK: What about the technicians?
JESSE: Don't want to know what the Commander was doing...

>                                        So to pass the time, Jorge and Ashley taught Eli the Digimon >card game.  Jorge himself learned from Rick after their battle against Golemon.

JESSE: Oh, hey.  I found a copy of the rules on the Internet.  I could use some help figuring them out...
RICK: Sure

>
>It was twenty minutes after the three arrived that the Commander walked in.

JESSE: Yeah, not nineteen minutes or twenty-one minutes, but *exactly* twenty.

>                                                                                                                              Ignoring >the mess of cards on the floor of the control room, she handed each of them a palm >pilot.
>

JESSE:[to ASHLEY] Wait.  Didn't you already have one of those?
ASHLEY: Yes, but it got rained on the day I got back from my first visit to headquarters.  It quit working right away.

>"I understand you three don't have access to computers so you can't use the Digiport.  >These are rigged up to a satellite that's currently not in use.  You can use them >whenever you can't get access to a computer."
>
>"What are these things?"  Eli asked, turning it over in his hand.
>
>"They're called the D-Pilots.  They function as a portable Digiport.  With these, you can >go places where there are no computers."

JESSE: So now you've got *both* the cool Digimon *and* one of the Digi-copters?
ELI: Well, I guess I just got two good breaks in a row.
RICK: How do you figure?
JESSE: Well, Hagurumon's a robot Digimon, which is pretty cool.
ELI: Yeah, and now I can do remote access, too!

>
>As the Commander explained the use of the D-Pilots, a proximity alarm went off.  The >sound was quiet at first so they didn't hear it until it got loud enough for them to hear.
>
>The Commander sat at the terminal.  "There's a Crossover.  Apparently it's in... the >Sakorgi Mountains near the India-China boarder.  Jorge, I want you to take care of it.

JESSE: Now, there's an obscure location for you...

>
>"Commander, I'm not sure I can..."
>
>"Don't worry, Jorge," Ashley said.  "Most of the Digimon we've been battling are >Champion or Armored, the only exception being those four weird Ultimates that Shinji >and Chi encountered in Tokyo.  You'll do fine.  Good luck."
>
>"Thank you.  Digi-port open!  Datalink to India!"  Jorge disappeared in a flash of light.

JESSE: So you're like Q or something now?
ELI: Only we don't give James Bond neat tools.

>
>
>Jorge materialized in a dense forest.

JESSE:[imitates transproter sound from Next Generation]

>                                                              The satellite that picked up his data from the >Internet and dropped him off worked like a charm.  He activated his D-4's tracking >system but it picked nothing up.  

Jorge moved it around but still picked nothing up.

JESSE: Sounds alot like the Black Mage's luck in the web comics...

>                                                                                                                                 He >was just about to walk in any random direction when his D-Pilot began to glow.  A thin 

>figure appeared.  It was Mari LeChon, the Digidefender of France.
>
>"Mari, what are you doing here?"

ASHLEY:[Mari] Being slightly stiff and a little bit bitter while I help you.
RICK: Don't let her hear you say that.

>
>"Well I appeared just as you left.  The Commander told me what was going on so I 

>immediately came here."
>
>"So you came to help me?"
>
>"Heck no, I came here to defeat the Digimon and send him back to the Digital World.  I 

>only appeared out of your mini computer thing."

ELI: So, Mari was there so *you* could help *her*, Jorge?
JORGE: Well, that's how she said it.

>
>"It's called a D-Pilot," Jorge said annoyed.  "And the Commander asked me to do it."
>
>"Well if you get to him before I, then so be it, but I'm going to find him first so you 

>might as well go back to Mexico or wherever you came from."

JESSE: Boy, Mari just can't learn to be nice to her teammates, can she?
RICK: She's getting better, though.
JORGE: I think this adventure really helped her with that.

>
>Jorge had a hurt look on his face.  Mari noticed that.
>
>"Look, Pedro, nothing personal, but you're not a fighter.  It takes someone with guts and >skill to do this job.  You probably have lots of guts, but as for skill, few people have >that.  I just happen to be one of those who have both.

JESSE: At this point, it looks like you still lead in brains, Jorge.
JORGE: Thank you

 Now, if you want to watch me put >him away then go right ahead, but stay out of my way."  And she turned and went off.
>
>Jorge fumed, thankful to any and all deities out there that there were no more people 

>like her out there in the world.
>

JESSE: I can think of *one* other person like Mari.
JORGE: Who?
JESSE: Her name is Rika.
ELI: But what's her *real* name?
JESSE: Rika.
RICK: No, really, what's her name?
JESSE: Seriously.  It is!

>
>Mari peeked behind her to see if Jorge was following.  She felt sorry for the kid, but she >never sugar-coated things.  People deserved to live in reality, not relish in some sort of >pretend fantasy world.

RICK: I don't know about that.
ELI: Well, it's a balance of extremes, really.
ASHLEY: Yeah, plain corn flakes are good, but it's nice to have the ones with frosting every once in a while.

>                                         The kid would just have to live with it.
>
>Suddenly her D-4 went off.  The Digimon was very close.  Very close.

RICK: *Very very* close.

>                                                                                                                Mari went >forward about five paces and bumped into something.  She looked up and saw a huge >dark shadow.

JESSE:[hums theme to *Dark Shadows*]
RICK: Heh.

>                            It's general size and shape was that of a human, but the color was pure >black.  It was almost like a living shadow.

JESSE: Never a Vorlon around when you need one.

>
>"So you're the Digimon," Mari said.  "Well you got ten seconds to head back to >wherever you came from before I get medieval on you."
>
>The Digimon laughed.  It was a deep bellow laugh.  "Oh please, what can you do?"

ASHLEY: Why do they always ask that?

>
>"Well I'll just show you," Mari said getting ready to Digimerge Floramon.
>
>"No you won't," the Digimon came back.  "Midnight Blaster!"  A ball of energy formed >in his hands and launched at Mari.

RICK:[Goku] Ka.... *ME*... ha... *ME*...

>                                                            The girl just dodged it in time.
>

ELI: Ha!

>{Whoa, this guy isn't fooling around,} Mari thought as the ball of energy destroyed the >ground behind her.  {I better take him out fast or I'll be taken out.}

JESSE: That would be one wierd date.
ASHLEY: *This* is turning into one wierd date.

>
>"Floramon, digimerge!"  Mari slid her card through the slot on her D-4.  The card came >alive.
>
>"Careful," she said to Floramon.  "He isn't a pushover.  Time to give you some extra >power.  Digi-Download Boarmon data!"  Floramon's hands become energized with fire.

JESSE: I get the feeling things are going to get confusing from here on.

>
>"Boarmon Fire Blast!"  As the name suggested, beams of fire lanced out at the >Digimon.  He stood firm and took the blast head on.  The blast was absorbed by his >stomach.

JESSE:[turns head slightly]

>
>"Try again," Mari commanded.
>
>"Boarmon Fire Blast!"  Again, the blast was absorbed by the Digimon's stomach.

ELI: That's hard to watch.
JESSE: You're telling me.

>
>"Try another attack."
>
>"Rain of Pollen!"
>
>"Midnight Blaster!"  The sphere of energy absorbed the pollen attack.
>
>Jorge heard the sounds of battle and ran towards the source.  Once he saw Floramon >locked in battle with this Digimon, he stopped in his tracks.  He looked at his D-4.
>
>------------------Digimon--------------------------------------Database-----------------------
>
>Name: Nochemon
>Level: Ultimate
>Type: Phantom
>Attribute: Data
>Attacks: Midnight Blaster, Shadow Attack
>
>Jorge: Nochemon.  Yikes, he's an ultimate, no wonder Floramon's having so much >difficulty.  His body is so dark that it makes him a living shadow.
>

RICK: He was no bueno Digimon.
JORGE: No.

>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>"Despite how tough Floramon is, there's no way she can handle him alone.  Mari is >going to need some serious help.  Gotsumon, digimerge!"  Gotsumon appeared.  >"Gotsumon, digivolve!"
>
>DIGIVOLUTION
>
>"Gotsumon, digivolve to... Monochromon!"  Monochromon rammed Nochemon from >behind.

JESSE: So now he's Proctomon!

>
>"YEOW!"  Nochemon cried, he jumped twenty-five feet into the air, rubbing his butt >in pain.

ASHLEY: Who wouldn't, after a living rock pile rams you there?

>
>"Hey Barrio Boy, I thought I told you you couldn't handle this."
>
>"You don't know Nochemon," Monochromon said.  "He's an ultimate, and a real >powerful one too."
>
>"You don't say.  Now I know what to do."
>
>"Too bad you won't get a chance to do it," Nochemon said.  "You and your little friend >are going down!  Midnight Blaster!"

JESSE: It spells "Die, Mari, die" as it shoots toward her.

>
>"Volcanic Strike!"  The two attacks collided with each other with a shockwave that >shook everyone back.  The ground began rumbling a little, then stopped.
>
>"This ground looks shaky," Floramon said.  "Mari, we might want to move this >battle someplace else."
>
>"I'm not retreating."

JORGE: Let's not trust Mari to do the tactics for awhile, OK?
OTHERS: OK.

>
>"You won't be, you'll just be... changing the battlefield."
>
>"If we don't finish him now, we'll never get to finish him.  Do you still have >Boarmon's data?"
>
>"I think so."

JESSE: So, that data transfer thing works kinda like Final Fantasy Eight's magic system, then?
RICK: I suppose it does.

>
>"Good.  You and Monochromon combine your attacks.  I decided to allow you in on >this, Pedro.  Go to it!"
>
>"Wait!"  Jorge protested but it was too late.
>
>"Volcanic Strike!"
>
>"Boarmon Fire Blast!"
>

JESSE: [Worms 2] Stupid!

>"Midnight Blaster!"  The three attacks converged with a devastating backshock.  The >ground underneath the Digidefender began to give away.

JESSE:[to tune of *Dragnet* theme] That was dumb, that was really dumb...

>                                                                                                >Because it could no longer support the combined 

weight of Mari, Jorge, Floramon, >and Monochromon, the Digidefenders fell into a deep chasm.
>

ASHLEY: Can we take a break for a couple?  I guess this drink was too big after all.
JESSE: Sure.
[All exit theater]

[Lobby.  RICK and JESSE are studying a Web page on the laptop.  The others are nowhere around]
JESSE: You sorta gotta know your Digimon to buy from this site.  That's not me.
RICK: I could use this one, though.  Looks like they've got alot of good ones up for trade.
JESSE: Sure does.  I just wouldn't know how to use them.
RICK: Have you found a place that sells starter kits?
JESSE: Oh, yeah. [clicks the laptop's mouse] There's this website here, but I'm not sure if I want to spent that much on it.
RICK: But that's only seven bucks.
JESSE: Yeah, but then they'll want at least another five for shipping and handling.  And at least five more to register for their service.
RICK: That does kinda add up.
JESSE: Especially when I think I saw a couple places here in town that sell them for six and a half after sales tax.
RICK: I guess we could do a quick onceover of the rules.
JESSE: Sure, why not.
RICK: Well, if there were an actual game going on, there'd be a game board on the counter, and we'd each need our own decks.
JESSE: Right.
RICK: The exact number would depend on the specific type of game, called a deul, being played.
JESSE: There's more than one type?
RICK: Yep.  Street and Arena.  But the rules are pretty much the same.
JESSE: Sounds interesting.
RICK: It is.  Anyway, once the cards are drawn, there's a coin toss to see who gets to select power ups first.
JESSE: Then it's onto the fight or whatever?
RICK: Exactly.  Whoever's cards have the highest ratings the most often wins.  Then there's a regroup stage.
JESSE: Sounds confusing.  Kinda complex, too.
RICK: It can be, at first.  But I think you'll get a handle on it as quick as anyone.
JESSE: Well, hey, thanks.
[The other Digidefenders can be seen going into the theater in the background]
RICK: I suppose we'd better get back in there, too.
JESSE: Yep.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

As I was saying in the intro, when I was writing this episode originally, I had thought about trying to get into the card game the anime series was based on. I'd found the rules online someplace, and I'd even bought a pack of the cards themselves It wasn't meant to be because by then, I was back at my current day job and also taking classes to be a medical transcriptionist as well. Between that and all the other stuff I had going on at the time, it turned out that it just wasn't meant to be because I'm not sure I would have been able to find anyone to play with even if I'd had more time for it.

I still have the card set on the bookshelf in my office, and just may do an Odds And Ends And Stuff video about it at some point. That is, of course, if I don't wind up in a position where I've overextended myself again, because I still tend to do that the same way as I did back in the day.

Next time, we'll get to Three Stooges jokes, references to my own health and a few others. Until then, stay tuned for more of my usual content as well.

Another “Still At It” Post

Because I've had a bit of creator's block lately.

MiSTing: DigiDefenders Episode 7, Part One

This is a good deal later than I'd intended it to be. A little more than a year, really. I'm finally getting to it, though.

This episode orininally came out in spring or summer of 2002, which was coming close to when the series would end, sadly. That's a topic for later, though.

This part specifically is just the shorts that lead into the main feature. The thing that I think seems most apparent now is that I hadn't read these as well as I thought I had when I claimed them on the Web Site Number Nine dibs list back in the day, considering how they're virtually identical.

The opening host segment references Babylon 5, since I was, and still am, really, a fan of that. It seemed an obvious route to go, calling the person in charge of the team of “Chosen Ones” Ivonova, since in the stories, she's just called “The Commander”. As for the web comic my character is reading, that would be early 8-Bit Theater pages, since it was still just beginning, and I was a fan of that, too.

Anyway, here's part one of Episode Seven of Digimon: DigiDefenders on JMST3K.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

While I'm Thinking

This is sort of an addendum to a YouTube video I put up a couple days ago.

One Piece Of Art

It’s maybe not the greatest ever, but it’s about the usual for me.

Final Fantasy Tonight: March 24, 2024

I was making some decent progress on the gaming front ten days ago.

Another No-Topic Post

I guess I don't have a “real” topic to write about at the moment.

TEXT PLAY: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation, 2000, Square-Enix): Issue #088: Lore Dump, Part 5

I just may start doing this more consistently again, if things keep up like this.

TEXT PLAY: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation, 2000, Square-Enix): Issue #087: Lore Dump, Part Four

I'm back at this after just shy of a month this time.

MiSTing: GOOD NEWS YOUR URGENT RESPONSE IS NEEDED

 Here's a quick "bandwidth waster" Mystery Science Theater thing I did recently, based on a piece of junk email I got towards the end of last year. Like I have my character say right at the start, there's not much to this, but it is good for filler, if nothing else.

And before we get to the actual thing, here's a link to a YouTube video with all the Brad quotes from Grand Theft Auto 3, for a bit of context.

++++++++ ===== +++++  =========  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Getting Ahead Of Myself

I keep thinking I've got plans for what I want to do when I'm done with some of my current projects.

Another Leap Day

Every four years.

Going For One A Week

I'd like to do more than that going forward, but this month, it looks like one post a week is all I'm going to manage.

TEXT PLAY: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation, 2000, Square-Enix): Issue #086: Lore Dump, Part Three

After another month and a half, I'm back at this again.

Sick Again

On top of having been busier than I really wanted to be the last couple weeks..

Not So Fun Anymore

This isn't as much fun as it used to be.

Most Recent DeviantART Uploads

Yeah, I still do that every so often.

End Of Notebook

Or yellow pad, in this case.

But Where To Begin...?

That's the question, as always.

Still Recovering, I Guess

I guess I'm still recovering from whatever it was I had the last half of November and most, if not all, of December.

Start Of 2024

It's not the best title ever, but it will serve its intended purpose.

Text Play: EarthBound Beginnings [Mother (Famicom, 1989)/Switch (2022?)] : Issue #006: End-Of-Run Wrap Up

This is a great game, from what I've played of it so far. I'm just not going to be able to finish it properly here.