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Tell us what fooled you, or if you did any fooling.

First thing in the morn my Ops Manager said 'You've got some upducky on you!' to which I predictably replied 'What's upducky?!'

I was relating this to my team in our meeting later, and before I could even tell them what I said one of my guys asked 'What's up ducky?' 

I went on to more serious matters, discussing various changes, new procedures etc, then went on to discuss a big push we're having on social media (true). I explained to tie in with this, we're working closely with Google, and was pleased to announce we're partnered with their big Google Maps Pokemon promotion today. I went on to add that if you Google Maps the company sites around the UK they'd find 5 ultra rare Pokemon at each, that would give them a distinct advantage in the Pokemon Master tournament on the 2nd.

They bought it hook, line and sinker, and two team members got really excited about it - 'ooh, which Pokemon are they?'

Their faces when I said 'April Fool' - priceless! I don't usually get off on making people look like gullible idiots, but I couldn't help but roar with laughter at their expressions.

So what were yours? Any good ones?

Cancer Research UK - Judge Pal and Jack Sparrow (pic heavy)

Hi all

I thought I'd post this here, as we had a great day, and got some fab pics.

Basically, Cardiff Sparrow (@CardiffSparrow) invited me along to a charity fundraiser in the centre of Cardiff yesterday.  With further help from Snow White and Rapunzel we raised £200 for Cancer Research UK.

Now I've got the balance between bucket jingling and intimidation right I'll aim for even more dosh next time!

Anyway, here are the pics:

So... anyone up for this?  I'm thinking 3/4 weeks from now.  Any takers/interested parties? 

I got one a few months back and so far, apart from one game, I have found it a bit 'Meh'.  I've looked at teh titles available or due for release, and there's not much coming out.  It seems Nintendo are having trouble getting third parties to develop games for it.  That's a shame, as loads of interesting things could be done with the controller/TV combo.

That said, I'm having massive fun with Monster Hunter Ultimate.  It's a title that strips away all the usually questing stories, and basically says 'there's the giant monsters - go fk 'em up, carve their skins, and make new weapons and armour.  Now there's a bigger monster - go do the same!'.  A lot of the fun is in the online play, which sees you and a squad of three others all hacking away at these beasts.  It's a bloody hard game - does not hold your hand at all.  Totally satisfying though.

Did anyone else get a Wii U?  What have your experiences been?

Hi all

I noticed new subscribers get a Slaine beanie. I subscribe digitally cos of space issues, so is there another way of getting one? I can't see it in the 2000AD shop anywhere?

Also, my Rogue Trooper one is getting a bit tatty. Any chance of a limited run of those please? I'll buy at least two - one for general wear, and one for best!

Any help much appreciated! Ta!

Howdy folks!  I have to wear some stars and stripes clothing for a works event on 4th July. 

I was hoping I could at last find a Dredd t-shirt with the flag, but so far my search has been unfruitful.  Can anyone help?

Ta!

I'm starting a topic for this because I am really quite excited to get the latest version, due out this week!

Eurogamer has posted a fab review (and it's score is very similar to that of many other established gaming websites) which I present here for your delectation:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-06-03-animal-crossing-new-leaf-review

I originally came to Animal Crossing on the Gamecube, and had to import a copy from somewhere to play it, as the UK release didn't come out until over a year later.  Both my partner at the time and I fell in love with the game instantly, and we've owned all versions of the game since.  Ever since the kids were old enough to have a Nintendo DS they've been playing it too.  Given the ability to go visit each others randomly generated towns, trade items, patterns, clothes etc etc etc it has been a blast to play it with my kids.

Everything that happens in Animal Crossing is set in real time.  Seasons come and go at the same time as hours.  Events happen, some matching RL events, and some made up specifically for the game.  It's full of funny animal characters who have their own houses, give you gifts and tasks, and have wacky conversations with.  There's also customisation of your house, trading at Nook's corner shop, collecting fossils, fish and insects for the museum, and also a coffee shop where KK Slider plays a new ditty every 8pm on a Saturday night.  My eldest used to beg me to be allowed up until 8pm so she she could listen to his latest ditty.  He'd also give her a mix tape to play at a later date.

When my first child was born my partner and I were stuck in one New Years Eve. No babysitters etc - everyone was out partying.  We really could not be arsed with Clive James or Hootenany, and instead fired up the Gamecube.  I said to her in passing 'I wonder what the animals in Animal Crossing are doing right now? '

We put the game on, and found they were all gathered around the lake waiting for midnight to strike.  they greeted us excitedly and begged us to hang around.  At the strike of twelve they set off loads of fireworks, all reflecting beautifully in the lake, and the mayor gave us party hats, poppers and presents.  It was brilliant!!   

So yeah, Animal Crossing really gets it's hooks into you, to such an extent that, in the absence of friends to party with, we actually enjoyed seeing in a New Year with computer game characters. How nuts is that?!?

Anyway....

Have you guys played it before?  Are you going to get this for your 3DS? 

I was reading the Fourth Faction graphic novel this weekend and noticed a superb homage to Edward Hopper's 'Nighthawks' (see below).  It got me thinking there must have been thousands of nods of this ilk over the years. Zombo, for example, is blatantly loaded with them.

In a previous post I mentioned a superb reference to Tom Lehrer that appeared in a post-Day of Chaos story a wee while back.  I'll try and repost it here later, as it's another great example of what I mean.

The question is, what have you noticed, subtle or not, obscure or obvious? Do you have any favourites you can show us here?

Can someone please tell me why this isn't a t-shirt?



Or has it already been one, and I just missed the opportunity to buy it?

Citizens of Calhab -Judge Pal will be giving out prizes for the best narks and informants at the Dundee Tattoo Convention this August!

More info here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dundee-Tattoo-Convention/337789499656072

My colleagues keep emailing me Dredd memes.  I thought I'd post them here.  Apologies if there's already a thread for this.

Please also post any you have come across!

Guys, do me a favour, can you suggest what you might do in this situation I'm in?

I live in the top flat of two in a terraced house.  The guy who lives below me is pretty cool - we're on first name terms and are friendly to each other. Also, he's fairly easygoing - he doesn't complain about the racket my kids make when they visit, nor when I get some serious practise in on a loud instrument.

However, a few weeks back I noticed a smell of cat piss in our communal hallway.  Nothing too bad, just a whiff every now and then. Over the last few days that has grown to a stench, and it now also pervades my landing and bedroom.  Occasionally as I have wandered past his door I have heard a 'miaow'.  There's a cat in there, and if his tenancy agreement was like mine, there shouldn't be.

This evening it got so bad I knocked on his door and asked him if he'd noticed the smell.  Instantly he said 'Yeah, of cats piss.' I asked him if he knew anything about it, and he said maybe a cat had been spraying our front door.  I didn't call him on the fact I'd heard his cat - I didn't want to rock the boat of our relationship, so I let it go.

I said I'd mop the hallway and throw some bleach down outside our front door, and see what happened.  He agreed that was a good idea.  I did, and it made no difference. Now I'm sat here typing this in a room that stinks of cat piss - I suspect the smell is seeping through the floorboards from his flat below.

So, your thoughts please.  Should I go back to him, say I've heard a cat behind his door, and confront him? Should I complain about the smell to the landlady?  Is there another course of action I could take that wouldn't necessarily piss him off?

What do you reckon?

Howdy folks.  Bit of a bizarre question, but I'm wondering if anyone has gathered from any old progs why Zizz is so addictive?  What does it do?  What are the effects on the user?  What are the withdrawal symptoms like?

Any help much appreciated!

As part of my 40th birthday bash, and also to celebrate not being told where I can go and what I can do anymore, I decided to hit Rome, to see what was there!

So, day one, and within 3 hours of arriving I am ferkin plastered!  It was largely thanks to these old waiters, who liked my money/repeat business.  To translate one of their comments from Italian 'Look at his face - of course he likes grappa!'


B
Here's the lovely grub/wine they served me:



Fishy fishy fishy FISH!



He went thataway!


Yep, I'm definitely in Rome:


Stay tuned folks! More monkey magic in Rome tomorrow!

Howdy folks. So another Samhain approaches.  Anyone doing anything interesting?  I'm hopefully strutting my stuff in my Judges outfit at the Cardiff Halloween Tattoo bash the weekend before, and then again at a kids party on the night itself.  There's also the possibility of a 'zombie' event at work, which will lend itself to some nice 'Dredd vs Zombies' pics.

How about you guys? Any plans? Or will you just be giving out sweets to the Trick or Treaters?

Hey all!

I've found a few nice online sources, but I am looking for a complete guide to the following in MC-1:

Locations
Landmarks (ie buildings, memorials, unusual places)
Shops of all varieties
Technology
Vehicles
Weapons
Consumer items
Clothes and fashion
Fads and trends
Laws (inc. their corresponding sentence)
etc etc etc

Anyone know where I can find/buy/browse a guide that includes all this stuff?  I need it to be as exhaustive as possible.

Is there a book out that covers all this?

Ow, my head hurts.  Made it into work on time though!

I'm reasonably sure a good time was had by all - judgeFett, MichaelVK, Oneworld, HouseofUsher, James Stacey etc - will try and post a pic later.

So, the demo is up.  I fired up my Kinect for the first time in an age to give it a go.

It's... actually not bad at all.

Long gone is the need for that massive controller on the original Xbox Steel Battalion: Line of Contact (shame, as mine is gathering dust atop a cupboard), and instead it's a combo of controller and motion activated stuff.

You're in a large cockpit with three other guys.  You use the motion control to interact with them, and to pull levers and switches.  You then kind of pull forward to see outside a wee viewhole, and use the controller to move the VT (vertical tank  )and fire.

Anyway, despite some dodgy moments with the motion controls, I actually quite enjoyed this.  I've never been an advocate of Kinect - it's only marginally better than the Wii in my eyes.  However, there was something that lent itself to this game.  I think it was the whole fumbling for controls in the heat of battle, and then bumping hands with fellow VT occupants when you score hits and stuff... it all just seemed to hang together well.

Plus then the actual combat was as hectic as hell.  That wee peephole was pretty cool - the glass cracked, got coverd in dust etc as the fighting ensued.  I could also stand up and raise a hand to my face to look through binoculars before steaming into action.  As well as enemy VTs there were infantry and motars, which all added to the chaos. 

Only one level in the demo, but it's a nice taster and has convinced me.  I loved the previous Xbox games, and although I really miss the massive controller, I'm prepared to give this game a shot based on the vibe I got from the demo.

FROM Software are turning out some good stuff lately, eh?

Howdy all.  Has anyone got this series?  I was very lucky a few years ago when someone offloaded all 28 volumes on eBay for £50, and I was first past the 'buy it now' post! 

Anyway, they took me months to read, and I devoured them so rapidly I'm sure I didn't absorb them as I should.  They need a reread, and soon! 

The plot is relatively straightforward - the Shoguns executioner is framed and dishonoured, and he has no choice but to tread the path of assassin.  The hook is his family is wiped out, except for his 1 yr old son, who he decides to take with him on his journey to revenge.

The books start off as a series of one story per volume, with his journey of revenge as an overarching theme, but as he gets closer to the source of the lies and corruption the books become very much episodes leading to a definite conclusion.

They are beautifully drawn, extremely well written, always exciting and interesting.  If you have read them, I'm keen to hear your thoughts on the series.  If you haven't read them, I recommend you do.  They are pricey, at about £10 each, but well worth it. 

Apologies if this has been discussed already - had a quick look, couldn't find a thread, so here's one.

I thought this deserved a topic after some tweets with Mike and JBurdis.

Basic premise of the thread, is 2000AD/Dredd suitable for children? If so, at what age? If not, why not? Do you think earlier Dredd is more suitable than recent Dredd? Is there a particular 2000AD story/series you think kids would love?

And finally, what has YOUR influence been on your children or other young family members, specifically with regards 2000AD?

My kids have slowly absorbed the fact I'm a huge 2000AD fan, and over the years have begged to look at my collection of annuals and graphic novels I keep on a high up shelf. Recently I relented by letting them read the Judge Dredd Mega Collection (with strict instructions to NOT bend, crease, or get jam on it). I figured I read it when I was a kid, it was freely available in a national daily newspaper for anyone to read, and it could be a lot of fun.  As such, it should be fine for my kids as an intro to MC-1.

They instantly absorbed it, and seem very taken by the occupants of MC-1. I've already mentioned their Judge names they gave themselves in another thread.  They ran around passing sentences on each other for various misdemeanors. One unfortunate thing was my eldest digging out nunchaku from an old ninja costume of hers, breaking the chain, and using the end result as daysticks, mostly on my head.

Besides the playing as Judges and general tomfoolery kids get up to, some quite serious conversations came out of it.  I asked them if they thought Dredd was a goody or baddy, and could see the confusion cross their faces. My more ebullient child thought he was a goody 'cos he protected people and put baddies in prison. My more thoughtful daughter said he was a baddy 'cos he jailed people for stupid things, and even jailed people who tried to help, citing one story with a Citizens Arrest.

I then asked how they thought the Judges compared to Police today, citing littering as an example crime.  The kids clearly made the distinction between a Judge and a Police Officer, saying the Police might tell you off, but that's probably about it.  The conversation then turned to our current jury system, and we compared that to the instant justice the Judges mete out. 

So overall, they came away having had some fun enjoying the comic and playing, yet also learning about how our current Policing and judicial system works. My slighty sore noggin was a small price to pay, I thought.

Next week I'll give them 'Portrait of a Mutant' and see what conversations we get out of that!!! 

Anyway, enough of me banging on - I'm keen to hear your thoughts about the suitability of 2000AD and kids, and your own experiences!