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The light at the end of the tunnel is a train!

Okay, it's not really bad... in fact it's actually good news... I think. Our server got smacked around pretty good by a really big FOGClub (who knew FOG could hit so hard!). Okay, that was a really bad pun, but it's true. Man, that site can really kick up the hit count. I don't know if Dennis read the PR plea or not, but he's managed to direct a lot of people this way. I can't thank him enough. Dennis, You Rock! To the people who don't know what this is all about, go check out his comic at fogclub.keenspace.com. It's got some very interesting plotlines and Dennis is able to do updates way more frequently than we've been able to do.

The next bit of RD related rantage is that we've had a CafePress account for a while now, but we haven't really come up with any design ideas. So, since we want our readers to buy the stuff in the end, it seems only fitting that you have some input into the ideas. I started a thread in the forum about it, so feel free to post your thoughts and requests. Now, it would be crazy to promise that we'll make every single design suggested, but we will consider all the ideas posted (actually, Laura has the final say in all the designs since she's the one who will draw them).

Finally, someone suggested that I should keep my rants to three paragraphs (you know who you are). So, for the last topic I choose... "The Ring". This is a great movie with an interesting history (at least for me). It's based off of a series of Japanese movies which were themselves based off of a series of Japanese novels. A few years ago, I was randomly flipping through a book on asian cinema in a bookstore and read the description of the Japanese movie. It immediately piqued my interest. I tried looking for a copy of the movie, but couldn't find it anywhere. Then, when I first saw a preview for the English movie, I thought to myself "hey, wasn't there a Japanese movie like that?" After some digging and finding out that it was based off of the Japanese movie, I knew I had to go see it. I was not dissappointed. They messed around with the characters a bit so that a western audience can better identify with them, but the plot (as far as I can tell) is intact. I'm not a big fan of traditional horror movies, but this is definately not a traditional horror movie. I haven't been so on edge watching a movie in a long time (with "Signs" maybe being an exception).

Currently updated weekly every Monday.

November 4

• Page 25 is up

October 28

• Page 24 is up

October 21

• Page 23 is up

October 14

• Page 22 is up

October 7

• Page 21 is up

September 30

• Page 20 is up

To begin with, since I'm writing this rant after the actual update, I couldn't help but notice that today (Monday) our hits rose up to over 400 people and the day's not done. Wow. That's almost as many people as we've gotten in a month. A good deal of our hits seem to be coming from F.O.G.Club, which plugged us today. Dennis, you rock. Thanks for making us feel really good.

So anyway, I'm back. Not that I was anywhere else this week, but obviously I didn't do my little rant thing last week. Mostly it was out of shame for updating late last week(hehe) and I had been doing so well the last couple weeks (sigh). I wanted to behave myself since our readership has gone up a signifigant notch but I just wasn't feeling well last week, so I had been dragging my feet on the page. Sorry. But honestly, I don't always have something to talk about, so there will probably be weeks where I don't have much to say, but I try not to miss two in a row.

I'm so excited. I bought Wild ARMS 3 this weekend. I know that it's not that most remarkable or original series but it's combo of western and fantasy has a special place in my heart. It's been a little while since I bought a Playstation game, and even a little longer since I've actually played one. I picked up Grandia 2 a few months back, but I haven't had the urge to play it yet. And Toys R Us was a having a buy two get one free special on their games so I might just weaken and pick up three more games. I've been eyeing Devil May Cry for a while now, and with the sequel coming up, I should probably get in there and play that sucker. I've also been hearing good things about Suikoden 3, and I may or may not pick up Legend of Legaia 2. Wow, so many sequels....speaking of sequels, hear about FF X-2? What's up with Yuna? She looks so...Tomb Raiderish. I know that comparison has been made a thousand times since the promo images started appearing, but one can't help but think of Lara Croft. Not that it's a bad thing in itself, but it seems a bit out of character for Yuna (Her clothes and guns actually made me think a little of WA3's Virginia Maxwell, since they have that western flare). It's possible that Yuna's changed a lot in the two years that pass between the original game and the sequel, and as long as Square makes it believable I'll be happy. My only other concern was how much the actual story ties in with the original. I know that's probably not a concern for everyone, but I'm not sure I'd care as much about the story if it were entirely separate or had little to do with the events of FFX. I heard the reasons for Yuna's adventure have something to do with Tidus, so I guess we'll see. But seeing as Square owns my soul, I guess I'll be playing the game anyway, so what's the use?

Anyway, Halloween's almost upon us. Unfortunately the only thing I have to look forward to is being the dispatcher of candy to little hellions....er, the charming tots that go trick-or-treating. I live in the cultural pit (as I've grown accustomed to calling it) of NJ, so there's really not much else for me to do. I'm going to spruce up the house a bit (hello fake cotton spider webs) and carve some pumpkins (with oni faces!). Of course there is cable. There are a ton of cool movies on this weekend. AMC is having a Monsterfest, complete with a Godzilla mini-marathon (yay!) and of course, what Halloween season is complete without the Rocky Horror Picture Show?

As of lately I have especially had the urge to break out my Evil Dead movies. I love Bruce Campbell, I really do. Perhaps I've been thinking of him because he seems to be everywhere as of lately. He has a one page interview in the back of this month's Wizard magazine and he did a introduction for the TP of Dangergirl that came out recently. He also cameoed in Spider-Man, which I'll be picking up this Friday most likely. The guy's everywhere. He's just this cool king of everyman. I often find myself watching some weird sci-flick on TV and saying, "Hey, isn't that Bruce Campbell." He seems so down to earth (in a weird campy sort of way) and that chin! Of course, Bruce as Ash will always be my favorite.

So I think that about makes up for my missed rant last week. I hope you guys have a fun Halloween, and remember.....Shop smart, shop S-Mart.