Ricks Best Things from 2014

These are things I discovered in 2014.  They may have been created before, I found them in 2014.  So, they were all new to me. Television shows that were great this year I trimmed it down to two.  New music was mostly new songs not new artists.  However an old favorite came back in full force.  I was only going to do ten, but why limit myself?  These are in no particular order.

Penny Dreadful

I enjoy good Victorian era or Steampunk fiction.  The League of Extraordinary Gentleman first two graphic novels were great.  The film was somewhat of a let down.  Penny Dreadful on Showtime is what a cinematic version of the League should have been.  It is very gothic, eerie and supernatural.  Multiple monsters and literary figures are present.  It has a wonderful cast.  It is dark and moody, but serious fun to watch.  It is also a very mature audience type of show.  2014 saw the first season and it was renewed for 10 more episodes.  The last season was only 8.  The show is following the British and premium cable television models with a shorter season.

Rat Queens

Rat Queens is a wonderfully down and dirty fantasy comic.  The Rat Queens are an all female adventuring group in a fantasy world influenced by fantasy table top role-playing games. The series is seriously bat guano crazy.  It has an Elven necromancer, human cleric of a Cthuloid elder god, Dwarven fighter, and a Smidgen (part Halfling part Gnome) thief. It is very mature audience material with violence, language, sexual content and intoxicant/substance use.  It reminds me of every rowdy gaming group I have played with.

Guardians of the Galaxy & Big Hero 6

There were three major Marvel Films in 2014, Captain America: Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Big Hero Six.  There were two others based on Marvel properties, but Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past were produced by other studios through licensing agreements.  Captain America: Winter Soldier was great, however Marvel proved that did not need a top tier property to kick posterior with both these movies.  People forget the first big Marvel cinematic property was Blade, a C-List supporting character.  Before Guardians came out people were predicting it may flop.  It did the opposite. It brought back a crazy by the seat of your pants style space opera.  It used a 70’s ht song playlist as its soundtrack.  All of this could have crashed and burned.  Instead we ended up with a funny, exciting action adventure Sci-Fi romp.  If you have not seen it, please remedy that.  Then you have Big Hero 6.  It is, like its predecessor Pixar’s The Incredibles, a super hero tale and one about family at the same time.   It has the right mix of action, humor and emotion.  Unlike Guardians of the Galaxy, Big Hero 6 was produced by Disney Studios proper.  They still took an obscure Marvel property and did an amazing job.  These two are a perfect Double Feature.  One would start with Big Hero 6 and finish with Guardians of the Galaxy.

Hollywood Theatre

I have lived permanently in the Greater Portland area for close to thirty years.  In that time I never saw a film at the Historic Hollywood Theatre in Portland.  This year I resolved that, I saw Santo versus the Martians, To Be Takei, Galaxy Quest, and Monster Squad.  The first film I saw was a classic Luchador film, in fact a Santo film.  That is another Pop Culture genre I finally experienced.   The third film, Galaxy Quest, was seen as part of a Portland Geek Council series.   Finally Monster Squad sponsored by PSU with the director.  It is a wonderful old theatre that just finished its renovations last year.  I enjoyed the venue a lot.

Comic Book Central

This Podcast is interviews with people involved with Film and Television adaptations of Comic Book Properties.  The host, Joe Stuber is knowledgeable and does his homework before each interview.  He digs deep and always has fun doing his interviews.  If you are fan of the various adaptations both old and new, Joe has the interviews for you.

Corelle Global Stripes and Oneida Lincoln

I know these are two items, but I will count them as one.  These are my dishes and flatware.  I left my 90% of kitchen stuff when I left the old life.  This year I was gifted these.  The folks who gifted them had me chose my pattern.  I have come to the realization that I have a Diesel Punk style.  That is a retro-futuristic style based on the 1930’s to 1950’s.  Films like Brazil and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow are example of this aesthetic.  It is nice to have my own things.  These both have an Art Deco feel to them.     

Charles de Lint- Wildlings Series (Under My Skin and Over My Head)

Both books were released before this year.  I read them this year.  The idea is kids in a Southern California suburb are discovering they are shapeshifters, they call themselves Wildlings.  In the lore of the novels they are descended from the cousins or First People, the animal people of various Native American legends.  I enjoy the story and some humor.  A fairly large in human form Wildling has a very small animal form. 

Weird Al Yankovic- Mandatory Fun

Weird Al came back in 2014 for his final album.  He said from now on he would only release single or smaller collections.  The Internet and specifically YouTube have kind of stolen his shtick.  This was his first Number One album.  The previous album I was not that familiar with the songs he was parodying.  This time around I knew more, thanks to my renewed observance to pop culture.  His originals are deliciously wicked and fun.  The Weird one is not so much back he never left, but he definitely is at the top of his game.  

The Flash

DC Comics in the fall of 2014 launched three of their four shows for the season.  The fourth is scheduled to debut in early 2015.  I found Gotham good, but I am not a Batman fan so it really did not blow my socks off.  I love Constantine and I did not choose it for here, because it covered some of the same kind of ground as Penny Dreadful in Dark Fantasy/ Horror.  The 2014 version of the Flash was everything you want from a Superhero show form a character that debuted in the Silver Age.  The producers found the right balance between realistic and bright, shiny, hopeful four colored world.  There are Easter eggs galore for both fans of the Flash and DC Comics fans.  Even fans of the Justice League animated shows and direct-to-DVD films would get some of the Easter eggs.  They even got the actor who played the Flash in the 1990 TV show on board as Barry Allen’s father. Wonderful cast, great scripts, this show is hitting on all cylinders.

Chef

Yes, I am a bit of a foodie.  Hell, I was that before that term became so trendy.  That means I love good food, both eating and making it.  This Film hit the sweet spot on my love of food.  It is the story of a guy who lost his way in his vocation, cooking, and with his family.  The Movie is about reconnecting to things important in one’s life, one’s passion and one’s family.  This movie also resonated with me as I am also reconnecting to many of my passions and redefining myself.  John Favreau hit this one out of the park.

More Podcasty Goodness

More Podcasty Goodness

As we enter in the last quarter of 2014, I realize there are a few podcasts I have not covered yet. A few of these I discovered this year and others I just forgot to include them.  This will be the shortest of the Podcast write-up articles.  That is because most of the really good stuff has been covered earlier on the blog. 

The Disney, Indiana Podcast

http://disneyindiana.com/

The Disney, Indiana Podcast is hosted by husband and wife team Scott and Tracey Morris.  As the title implies they are podcasting from the state of Indiana.  They offer listeners residency to the imaginary town of Disney, Indiana.  I even have an address and it is 1957 El Camino del Zorro, Disney, Indiana.  The show is about all things Disney: the parks, the resorts, the cruise line, Disney proper, Marvel, Pixar, the Muppets, Lucasfilm and many more divisions and properties of Disney.  From time to time they present audio from Park attractions and music from anything under the Disney banner. They have a great time with each other, the subject matter, and the show.  They are a fun Bi-Weekly podcast.

The Alton Browncast

http://thebrowncast.libsyn.com/  (The first 49 podcasts)

http://altonbrown.com/altonblog/the-alton-browncast-podcast/ (The succeeding podcasts starting with episode 50)

Alton Brown from Food Network had a podcast on the Nerdist Network.  His last show was in June of 2014.   The show returned in October with a new feed.  He started with multiple segments then became an interview show.  He does not just interview Chef and television personalities.  He has interviews with people in the culinary world with unique and interesting perspectives.  The show is worth a try to anyone interested in cooking and food.

Christiana Ellis/ Space Casey/ Nina Kimberly the Merciless/ Shallow Thoughts

http://christianaellis.com/

I have mentioned Christiana before as a panel member of The Beyond the Wall Podcast and the Consumption Podcast.  I had encountered her before with her Podcast novels in Podiobooks and her Shallow Thoughts podcast.  Nina Kimberly the Merciless is a Fantasy Comedy podcast Novel and Space Casey is Space Opera Comedy.  She is known for her irreverent humor and definitely is a fan of Monty Python.  Warning eating and listening to Christiana can be hazardous to your health.

The Worlds of Abigail Hilton/ The Prophet of Panamindorah

http://www.abigailhilton.com/the-worlds-of-abigail-hilton-p/

http://podiobooks.com/title/the-prophet-of-panamindorah-book-i-fauns-and-filinians/

http://podiobooks.com/title/the-prophet-of-panamindorah-book-ii-wolflings-and-wizards/

http://podiobooks.com/title/the-prophet-of-panamindorah-book-iii-fire-and-flood/

I mention Abigail Hilton’s Guild of the Cowry Catchers podcast of that series of books.  I forgot to mention the first set of books she podcast set in the same world as Cowry Catchers.  The Prophet of Panamindoroah is a young adult style trilogy where as Cowry Catchers was a mature audiences series.   Most folks discover this first.  Sorry I forgot to mention the first series.  They are very different, but same world and same author.  The Worlds of Abigail Hilton Podcast releases two shows a week.  The first is an old but not forgotten piece of podcasted short fiction.  Her second podcast of the week is discussion, fan feedback and personal updates.  Abbie is thoughtful and interesting.

Comic Book Central

http://comicbookcentral.net/

Comic Books Central is a podcast about what its catchphrase says it is, “Where Comic Books come to life.”  It is an interview show with folks who have brought Comic Book Characters to TV or Film in either live action or animation.  The host is Joe Stuber, also from the IndyCast.  He interviews actors, producers, directors, and show runners of these adaptations.  He has interviewed Erin Gray, Lou Ferrigno, William Katt, Stan Lee and many more.  A good deal of it is centered on the 70’s and 80’s TV and Film, but he has covered more including the Marvel Films and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.   It is a great interview show.

1951 Down Place

http://1951downplace.com/

1951 Down Place is a Hammer Horror film podcast.  Its hosts are Derek Koch, of Monster Kid Radio and formerly of the Mail Order Zombie podcast, Scott Morris, of the Disney, Indiana Podcast, and Casey Criswell of Cinema Fromage, Bloody Good Horror, and the Instomatic Podcast.   Hammer Films are films produced from Hammer Studios in the U.K.  They are mostly known for Horror from the 50’s to the 60’s.  Derek and Casey are the old veteran fans and Scott is the newbie.  They discuss a new film every month.   As of October of 2014 they have covered 37 films.  It is wonderful discussion of everything that made Hammer interesting.

Radio Free Nerdcore

http://www.dangerouskids.net/

Radio Free Nerdcore is from Jeff “DJ Switch” Sorensen of the Dangerous Kids Podcast.  This podcast is about Nerdcore, Nerd flavored Hip-Hop, and Nerd/Geek music in general.  It includes interviews and music with folks involved in the Nerd/Geek music community.  Switch usually asks his guests to give the audience a top ten list of their favorite Nerd/Geek songs.  It is great stuff and from time to time Switch learns something new.  The joy of discovery from him is fun to experience. One learns that the host loves this variety of music. 

Geek Remixed: The Podcast/ Geek Remixed

http://podcast.geekremixed.com/

http://geekremixed.com/

Not covering this podcast was huge oversight.  Bobby Roberts, of Cort and Fatboy Show and Welcome to That Whole Thing, uses the moniker of Fatboy Roberts for his remixes.  He remixes Television, film, and Video game themes.  He also has done a few mash-ups as well.  He did a podcast from August to November of 2012 that ran down the whys hows and whatfors of his process of making that music.  It is informative and he even includes what versions of what songs he used to mix his work.  I have both the link to the podcast and his music here. 

Rachel and Miles X-Plain the X-Men

http://www.rachelandmiles.com/xmen/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYO80X1Mz3B9Z_muBsm_nbA

Rachel Edidin and Miles Stokes try to explain the convoluted and wonderful continuity of the X-Men.  They start with the Silver Age and move forward. They also have a YouTube show Rachel and Miles Review the X-Men where they do video reviews of most of the X titles. They are fans sharing their love of everyone’s favorite Uncanny Mutants and all their various offshoots.  If you are a old hand or a novice, if you love the X-Men this is for you. 

Amusement Parks & Me

My history with amusements parks is storied.  I grew up in Ventura County California, near three top tier Parks on the west coast.  I also went to one park that back then, the mid 1980’s that was still considered second tier park and had not been elevated to first tier yet.  I went to these parks from 1970 to 1985.  Having attended these kinds of Amusement Parks with permanent attractions, I have always been leery of county/state fair rides and carnival rides.  It has always been a safety concern to me.  I am going to break it down by park.  There is also a big local institution on the list.

Disneyland

This was my first Amusement park.  It was my favorite as a pre-pubescent kid.  As a tween and teen I found it a little too kiddie, especially Fantasyland.  The first few visits were during the old Coupon or ticket system.  You had to buy tickets for each ride.  In the 1980’s when I started going almost regularly, from 1982 to 1985, that system was replaced by the park day pass.  I have not been back since 1984 or 1985.  I know the park has changed considerably in almost 30 years.  I loved The Enchanted Tiki Room, Bear Country Jamboree, Mister Toad’s Wild Ride, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, the Jungle Cruise, The Matterhorn, The Pirate of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion the most.   I know of those, the Country Bear Jamboree, one is no longer there.  It is at Disney World.  There are many attractions gone from my day, mostly from Tomorrowland (Mission to Mars, People Mover, Skyway to Fantsyland, Rocket Jets, Submarine Voyage, Adventure through Inner Space, America Sings Circle Vision 360, and more).  There are many newer attractions I never got the chance to experience. I have not been east of Utah, so that Park is not one I am familiar with.  In the 1980’s there were very few non fast food type places, from what I understand that has changed.  I have fond memories of going with My Great Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends during those years.  Since I left Southern California, they added a new park to Disneyland and there are Disneylands all over the world.

Six Flags Magic Mountain

This park was the closest to my hometown of Oxnard, California.  It was less than an hour drive to this park.  My family first went here for my brother’s fifth birthday in 1976.  It was more a thrill ride park than Disneyland.  It stated with its own in house characters, after it was purchased by Six Flags in 1979 it moved more towards Warner Brothers’ Looney Tunes characters, at least for the area dedicated for the smaller kids.  Between the ages of 12 and 17, I preferred Magic Mountain.  I was even thrilled to find out they filmed the Wally World scenes of National Lampoon’s Vacation there. As a 12 to 17 year old, I had few vices, but thrill rides were among the ones I had.  Magic Mountain was known for its thrill rides.  There is also a category of rides where you spin around in a circle in various ways; I called these rides spin and pukes. In the eighties they had concerts that were free with admission to the park.  Bands that played were Flock of Seagulls, Cheap Trick, Quiet Riot, Berlin, and more. Since I left they have branded a section of the park as DC Universe and renamed many of the rides after DC superheroes.  The concerts from what I heard were toned down after gang issues in the 1990’s.  In August of 2014 they closed the Colossus, one of the largest wooden roller coasters down for a refit.  Like with all of Southern California, I have not been back since 1985. 

Knott’s Berry Farm

Of the top three Amusement parks, I considered Knott’s Berry Farm number three.  When I left, it had not licensed the Peanuts characters for it younger kids’ section.  It had Montezuma’s Revenge, a rollercoaster that was a single loop de loop that repeated multiple times forwards and backwards.  It was a decent park, but was not as thrilling and teen oriented as Magic Mountain or as family oriented as Disneyland.  Since then, they have done more with the old west theme and the kids themes with Camp Snoopy.  From what I have been able to find out lest that 30 percent of the attractions from my day are still there.  Knott’s also did concerts and teen events during my day.  There were a number of good thrill rides including the roller coaster called the Corkscrew, which has since been replaced.

Universal Studios Hollywood

In the 1980’s, Universal Studios Hollywood was called Universal Studios Tours.  It was mostly the Tour ride with a couple of live shows.  At the time it was a tier two Amusement Park.  Since 1985, the expansion of the Lower lot, in 1991, it has grown to become the fourth of the Southern Californian Tier One Amusement Parks.  When I went at 17, I was not impressed.  This was after years of Disneyland, Magic Mountain and Knott’s.  From what I understand that has changed considerable in the close to 30 years since. 

Busch Gardens, Van Nuys California

I only went once to the Busch Gardens in Van Nuys, California.  It was in 1974.  We went with my paternal Great Aunt and Uncle.  I believe we went, because it was the only Amusement Park with a beer garden.  This must have been difficult for my father who was 3 years sober at the time.  There were some attractions, but they were tier two or three variety stuff.  The gardens and the bird sanctuary were fun, but not what a 6 year old would find fun.  I have very vague memories of the place and would find it hard to describe the rides.  The Amusements closed down in 1976 and the whole park closed in 1979. 

Enchanted Forest, Turner, Oregon

Enchanted Forest is just south of Salem, Oregon.  It has always been a kid’s oriented place, especially under 10. It was opened in 1971 and the family who built still owns it.  I went at 10 or 11, so for me it was a little cheesy.  It does not have the money behind it like the other parks mentioned here, so it may not be as polished.  It is a still fun little park.  It is more like the smaller parks found in the mid west and east coast.  During the 90’s to early 2000’s next door was a thrill ride park called Thrillville USA.  That has since closed.  I did not visit Thrillville, hence why it does not have its own entry. Enchanted Forest does the best on the budget they have, which is still fun.  I remind folks I have only been once.   

There you go my history with Amusement Parks based on a Park to Park basis.  That Has Been My Not So Humble Opinion.

Some Reflective Material

December 12^th is the Anniversary of my present path; I left a lot of heartache and sorrow three years ago.  This year has been a struggle.  I have been unemployed, and struggling with finding a job.  When I stated this journey, I went from two jobs down to one, now I have none.  I have been dealing with something I did not know was a major concern, my health.  In gaining as much weight as I have, I have found out I have high blood pressure and low endurance.  Not to worry, I am being monitored by health care professionals.

One thing I have discovered is who my true friends are.  I discovered a Facebook group started by my favorite author.  It has been an outlet for discussions I do not know I needed. It also introduced me to dear online friends.   I have two friendships that have shockingly been wonderful and desperately needed.  Eric B and Mary thank you for being there and being my friends.  I discovered that many of the friendships I thought I wanted were not what I needed.  The ones I got surpassed any expectations.

As to my goals, due to lack of a job and therefore money there were many things I was unable to do.  That was mostly the larger events.  The things I did get to do were more appreciated by me.  I did a few Monster Kid Radio Crashes.  I went to two Funemployment Radio Network Events.  I saw my friend Wilton perform with his bands at least once.  I find myself parting with more of my things; I am even considering parting with some of my Action Figures.  The Geek Community things are right now not at the forefront of my thinking.  I enjoy being there with my friends, but I have trouble with large noisy situations. 

Funny enough, I had only planned to write 12 blog articles.  The rest of the year was supposed to be about fiction writing.  With this piece I have 32 pieces under my belt, including a poem from my University days.  As of this writing the Recovering Ubergeek Blog has 4,431 hits.  I repackaged some of my work from my Shadowrun Shamanism Website days.  That started in April and ended in September of 2014.  In it short run it had, as of this writing, 1,268 hits.  My plans for the Recovering Ubergeek blog in 2015 are uncertain.  I still have at least 3 more articles in the pipeline.

I did get to fiction; I finally finished my first piece of fiction in 16 years.  I have many pieces I started, but never finished.  This was a piece I wrote for a friend in their setting.  It is a very nice and welcome beginning.  Years ago I said I would never play in someone else’s sandbox.  This case was someone I knew, not some impersonal, uncaring corporation.  It fit best in their setting and was an idea I have been play with for 16 years as well.

I have done two things I am proud of, begun an exercise regimen (walking a mile every other day) and being more regular with hygiene.  In the old, life I gave up, that included taking care of myself.  I have learned to love who I am and where I am going.  I still struggle with caring what others think, specifically those not in my direct circles.  I am caring less, but for me it takes constant work.  I am discovering what kind of people I want to surround myself with.  With what I have been through, I am quite a picky person on that particular subject.

Things I wish to accomplish in 2015 are going to Rose City Comicon and Ory Con, writing more fiction, getting things figured out for a possible return to college (I have 4 years and no degree),  finding work, moving to the immediate Portland area instead of the outskirts (where I am now), and maybe drawing again.  Things that I am toying with are the possibilities of beginning my own podcast, working as a civil rights activist, and culinary school.  Those possibilities are contingent on other things.  For a podcast I need a newer computer and sound equipment. Culinary school is only going to happen once I finish my degree.  The civil rights work, I am not sure with where or how to begin. 

I needed this year to rethink things.  I needed to see that what I needed and what I wanted or expected were not the same things.  2013 was about me getting out into the bigger world.  2014 was about me learning what was truly important and what I needed.  I may find out in 2015 things about myself and where I am headed that may amaze me.  That is more than likely since it happened in the preceding two years.