#illinois game con

[squeemcsquee]

Illinois Game Con, 2023

On June 24, @lechevaliermalfet​ and I went to Illinois Game Con at the Interstate Center. We’ve been to this event before. We both went in 2018, when it was the Bloomington Normal Video Game Convention, @lechevaliermalfet​ went solo in 2019, and then 2020, we went when they paired with Sixty-Six Games Expo. 

Entry was cash-only. And they were back to hand stamps for admission this year, instead of a physical ticket. Now, hand stamps are nice and cheap....but they wash off easy. Both @lechevaliermalfet​ and myself had to get our stamps re-done at least once.

As you can probably tell from the schedule in the above photo, this isn’t a con for panels. Nope, this is a con for spending money, playing old games, watching some character wrestling, and maybe trying your hand in a tournament. This is also a con that you won’t see too many cosplayers at - I think I saw maybe 5 over the course of the day, and we were there from about 1030-1530.

The venue isn’t a new one for the con, but it was new for us as we haven’t attended for a couple of years. It has its pros and cons. On the pro side, this had a good amount of space for the con to spread out and separate the retro gaming, tournament and artist area, vendors hall, and wrestling space into their own rooms. 

The retro game room held most of the console systems you could think of. It was nice to see young gaming fans get to try their hands at a TurboGraphx-16, a ColecoVision, or just a standard NES. There were some classic cabinets on hand as well, like Donkey Kong. Posters advertising nostalgic games were also posted on the walls around the rooms. 

From the retro game room, you passed through a doorway and into the tournament and artist alley. I call it the artist alley, because the majority of the vendors in this room were the crafty type vendors, though not all. 

The area was laid out decently well. But this is where one of the cons of the space was clear - the acoustics. Every announcement made for the tournaments was very loud and overpowering. It could easily drown out any conversation you were having with a vendor or artist. 

From the artist space, you went through a tunnel into the dealer hall. This is also where food was located. And that is another con to the building: if you did not want the food on-site...you were gonna be in for about a 10 minute drive. But! The food on-site was reasonably priced and tasty.

The dealer’s hall is also where we ran into the biggest issue with the building: the lack of signal. Most vendors were cash-only, because the Wi-Fi signal is so poor. One vendor accepted our payment via Venmo, but I had to step out of the building in order to have signal to send the payment, and then had to show that the transaction had cleared, before we could have our merch, Which, I mean, fair, I’d want to make sure I had my money too. Another vendor was able to complete a transaction with us only after about 10 minutes of fiddling with his electronics.  I totally get why many vendors went cash-only. But since this was a Saturday event and I suspect many attendees weren’t expecting to find so many cash-only vendors, the ATMs ran low very quickly. And banks in the area close at 1. We could overhear people exchanging info on where the next closest ATM was to the Interstate Center.

Illinois Game Con also had character wrestling on-site. This side event actually required it’s own separate admission price and hand stamp. I can’t say if they have partnered with this wrestling troupe before, since we missed the 2021 and 2022 events. It was fun, though it sort of sucked to have to pay another fee. But I would go see their show again.

All in all, it was a good day. If we’re able to attend in the future, we probably will. 

[subbyfoxelf]

gencon 2024 after action report, part 1: pregame (wednesday) & day 1 (thursday)

under the cut for anyone who doesn't care about all the cool indie rpgs i played over the weekend lmao.

the players!

me!

mommy! ( @vi-the-deer )

grammy! (my & mommy's partner)

cj! (grammy's husband, our metamour)

grammy & cj go to gencon nearly every year, and as grammy had accompanied us to magiccon chicago she figured she'd return the favor by having us along for this year's gencon!

mommy & i flew to st. louis tuesday night to meet up with grammy & cj. our hotel that night was pretty nice in a weird way, it kind of reminded me of a really upscale college dorm with a very modern/ikea aesthetic? it's one of those hotels that's trying really hard not to look like a hotel. but yeah, it was nice! not weirdly, shockingly bad. ([hbomberguy voice] foreshadowing is a literary device--). we belatedly celebrated mommy's birthday with some cake and got some rest to get ready for an awesome roadtrip followed by an awesome convention.

on wednesday we originally wanted to go to the st. louis science center, which i had been to & loved decades ago when i went to college in springfield illinois, but sadly it is not open on wednesdays! so instead we went to the st. louis zoo, which is apparently the biggest free zoo in the country? and i gotta say, it offers an experience that's pretty comparable to most non-free zoos i've been to. (also, yeah, i'm a bit ethically dubious about zoos, but my going to them or not going to them isn't really going to affect whether they exist or not, and from what i could tell this one was very well-run by people who genuinely care about the animals there.)

we saw a number of awesome animals, but i think my favorite part was probably the bird house as birds are among my favorite animals. we spent a few hours having a very pleasant (other than it being extremely hot outside) walk through the zoo, but eventually it was time to get on the road.

i'm not necessarily going to talk about everywhere we stopped for food, but i would be remiss if i didn't mention that our day 1 dinner stop was the burger king. no not a burger king, THE burger king, a tiny restaurant in a tiny town in illinois that won a lawsuit to keep its name because it existed before the larger chain that shares its name. (well, minus the "the.")

i will admit that while i lived in illinois for fully more than half of my life, and even having spent my college years in central illinois rather than the comparatively more progressive chicago area, i was somewhat unprepared to be back in a small town in the middle of nowhere where 90% of the population is white and it feels like you're being stared at when 3 of the 4 of you are very visibly trans. it kind of felt like being back home in a not entirely pleasant way, but no one was outright hostile. and to be honest if you like extremely unhealthy cheeseburgers you can do MUCH worse than the original burger king. the food was kind of incredible.

anyway, we got back on the road, and crashed at a hotel most of the way to indiana. this was another totally normal hotel that wasn't weirdly bad with a staff that was weirdly preemptive about it being weirdly bad. (foreshadowing is a literary dev--)

we got up super early thursday morning, and headed for the con. i've actually been to indianapolis for multiple conventions because when i used to live in chicago the two furry cons (yes i used to go to furry cons & it's not inconceivable that i will do so again at some point) it was the easiest for me to get to were midwest furfest (which was in chicago and huge) and indyfurcon (which was in indianapolis and not nearly as huge, especially considering i went to the first few iterations of it, no idea what it's like these days if it's still a thing). this is the first gencon i've ever been to, and it's markedly larger than any other con i've ever been to. i'm used to a con taking up a fairly large conference hotel or (at most) part of a city's convention center. gencon took up an entire convention center plus multiple nearby hotels plus a literal nfl stadium??? (see the pic above the cut lmao.)

that also wasn't even the only way in which it was larger than any other con i've been to before? it's also the first con i've been to that had a full slate of thursday events as well as the more typical all-day friday/all-day saturday/half-day sunday. heck, most furry cons i've been to don't even have all-day fridays since the first thing that happens is usually an opening ceremony in the early afternoon.

mommy & i booked a couple mtg events on saturday because of course we did, but i was really looking forward to playing a bunch of indie rpgs considering that we have a rather embarrassing pile of them at home considering we've never actually sat down and played one. (tbf i am working on a solo run of the almanac of sanguine paths, but i think that's the first rpg i've played that isn't d&d apart from playing like one session of shadowrun that ended up not going anywhere.)

the first thing mommy & grammy & i did on thursday was play a session of yazeba's bed & breakfast. already we were starting with a game that's drastically different than any i've played before. it's sort of a cozy, queer, story-heavy roleplay experience with predetermined characters & scenarios. you keep track of character progress by making physical changes to the book & character sheets with stickers and such, and you can "unlock" different characters & scenarios & features of the hotel as you play through various chapters.

the vibe of the game is very much that you're taking on roles of already-existing characters and playing through their choices in a storybook, and i have to admit that prior to playing this game i had never really understood the appeal of these sorts of games as creating a very specific character to express myself has always been a big part of the appeal for me with rpgs. this reminded me more of the kind of enjoyment i got from one of my favorite pc games, beacon pines. it's less of a big world where you have adventures and more of an already-written story that you get to participante in and shape with your choices.

the chapters in the book are intentionally given fairly arbitrary chapter numbers and arranged in the book in a pretty random order, which resulted in our gm saying the highly enjoyable words "we'll go ahead and start with the first chapter in the book, which is chapter 3."

each chapter starts with a pretty detailed prompt that reads like the opening few pages of a chapter in a book, ending with a jumping off point for the people playing to take over deciding what their character is doing. there doesn't seem to be any kind of initiative or turn order, but everyone at our table was pretty polite about making sure everyone was getting roughly equal chances to make their choices. the game is also diceless, with chapters having some kind of fixed way of resolving their various actions including taking & giving tokens, flipping coins, picking playing cards, etc.

after you've played through the chapter, there's a passage for the gm to read depending on how successful you were at whatever mechanic the chapter is based on, and you might unlock some boons for your characters, the hotel, or unlock new characters & chapters altogether.

the game also seems to actively encourage you trying out different characters. each chapter seems to have one or two mandatory characters and then allows you to pick any characters you've unlocked, though our gm was super nice and offered to let me use a character who wasn't technically unlocked yet because they had come up in my brief research of the game and i liked the sound of them, but i was too shy to take them up on that in our first chapter.

for the first chapter i played gertrude, and while she wasn't as natural of a fit for me, me playing a moody, anxious teenager also certainly wasn't the biggest stretch anyone's ever asked someone to make while roleplaying.

the character i really enjoyed playing, though, was the moon prince.

i know a big part of the game is probably "trying on" different characters, and i do genuinely want to give more of them a try, but i feel like if i get a chance to play this game a lot more i'll likely end up "maining" the moon prince in a similar way to how i mostly played mercy when i played overwatch but side-mained d.va or lucio at various points in my "career." (yeah, cannot imagine anyone else is out there comparing this rpg to overwatch, but it's the point of comparison i have for this specific aspect, leave me alone.)

i really do enjoy the vibes of this game so i do hope i get to play more of it! mommy did buy the book so there's a decent chance we'll be playing more of it. fingers crossed!

after this, which was our first scheduled game, we kind of flailed around looking for stuff to do. we did end up spending a good amount of time in the exhibition hall but that was hella overwhelming so i was only able to tolerate it for so long. we did get to see wyrmspan being demoed and i get what people are saying when they say it's more crunchy than wingspan. while "wingspan but draogns" is still a phenomenal concept for a game, i will admit that as i saw it being demoed no matter how cool the new mechanics seemed, i kind of found myself missing the cozy vibes & lightly educational aspects of wingspan? i especially wish they had replaced all the bird facts with fake dragon facts rather than just using the whole card for gameplay stuff, but ah well. i'm sure i'll enjoy it if i get around to playing it.

eventually we ended up checking out the "games on-demand" room, and ended up playing a game i've seen a bunch of times at work but never actually played, untitled ghost game.

this game is normally gm-less, but at the convention with players who had never played it before, we had a really awesome gm facilitating it for us. and honestly i think that was a big part of why the game went as well for us as it did, because mommy & i were matched up with an extremely normie couple one of whom unironically said "just don't call me late to dinner" when asked for pronouns which is basically the 20s equivalent of the 90s "i just don't see color" for those who are fortunate enough not to know.

that being said, we managed to tell a really great story together thanks largely to the guidance of our gm but also just... not to get too hippy-dippy (that's for a later game! you'll see.), but this really reminded me of the way games can often bring wildly different people together. everyone is just here to have a good time, and... i don't know, there's something really encouraging about that.

so yeah, basically you all take turns describing different aspects of the setting and then us as a ghost and then the person or place being haunted, you decide if you want to intensify the feelings that the person or place is having or if you want to help them overcome them, and then you flip a coin to see how you do. and in the case of our game we very quickly established an identity as a ghost who, while somewhat mischievous, really did want to help, and it ended up being incredibly wholesome.

i don't know that this is necessarily a game i'll come back to unless i end up thinking someone else will really vibe with it, but i really am glad i had the experience i had playing it. it was genuinely lovely.

once we finished that, grammy had finished her gm shift and it was time to meet up for dinner and chill until the first game all four of us were playing together, weird heroes of public access.

whpa is a 2d6 game in which the players take on the role of a host of a local public access tv host in a town that's about to experience some supernatural fuckery. your can host something like a cooking show, a variety show, a talkshow, etc. i named my character kenny kaiju and gave him a monster movie review show called kaiju kino.

our scenario saw the town being taken over by some kind of demon who was using the station to hypnotize its denizens into slaves. i had very normal feelings about this!

our gm (sorry, "station manager") was pretty cool and i had a lot of fun with this game. it wasn't my favorite of the weekend or anything, but i think it solidly delivered on its premise and i wouldn't mind playing it again sometime.

anyway, that was a wrap on day 1! i was pretty exhausted thanks to a combination of jetlag and getting up early to drive the rest of the way to indy, and i think all of us were in a similar boat (even though grammy & cj weren't dealing with jetlag, having only crossed one timezone). so we headed to the hotel which was... pretty awful tbh.

like, it's genuinely fine, it's not like we were going to spend much time there doing anything other than sleeping, but the weird preemptive defensiveness of the staff made it much worse. my favorite part was when we were surprised that there wasn't an elevator and the front desk clerk who was nowhere near us yelled that um actually this was built before the americans with disabilities act so it didn't need an elevator. um, ok, cool? really set a tone there. (they also made some really weird choices like actively removing chairs from the breakfast area on sunday like they were actively trying to shoo all the convention attendees out of the hotel faster. like, y'all, DON'T worry. we were NOT planning on lingering.)

again, it was fine, it wasn't wildly unsafe or anything, i don't want to come off like i'm being overly complainy. but i will say that it is NOT very obvious from their website that the hotel is completely inaccessible to anyone with mobility issues. which fortunately isn't really any of the four of us, but like... i've literally seen events be more clear about the accessibility of buildings they do not own than this hotel is about the place you're relying on being able to sleep at? (heck, i've ORGANIZED events at older venues that unfortunately weren't accessible, and we were always VERY clear about that in every form of advertising. as far as i can tell, literally the only way you can tell that about this hotel on their website is that there's a small tab on the features that's greyed out instead of white. i know most people with mobility issues likely check very closely for this kind of thing so hopefully no one has ended up in an unfortunate situation, but like... seriously, do better.)

and like, yeah i get that it would be kinda difficult to install an elevator in a building that wasn't meant to have one, but you know what's not difficult? adding as many power outlets as a modern hotel should have. having walls that don't have holes in them. having mattresses that aren't lumpy & stiff as fuck. bringing new towels a single time? or failing that, when we ask for more towels at the desk giving us towels rather than not being able to find any and just giving us bathmats instead??? having dressers that aren't literally missing all their drawers?????? this was a hotel owned by a large hotel chain. there is no reason it should be this crummy & depressingly poorly maintained.

again, it's fine, but absorbing all this while we were all super sleep deprived and overwhelmed from the con was kind of a... Moment. we did our best to take it in stride, though, and crashed to get ready for another day of gaming!

[cupidbedsy]

𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ; 𝘤𝘣98 ୨୧

➪ summary: connor's favorite thing about having his girlfriend in chicago is the nights he gets to come home to her

➪ warnings: none

➪ word count: 1.1k

➪ file type: fic - reupload

➪ sunny's notes: i completely forgot i wrote this. just a little fic (it's basically a blurb but i wrote like 50 words over a thousand so by my definition it's not) anyway, i hope you guys a short connor little thing today!

© sunflower-lilac42 ; do not copy, repost, or translate my work and designs on any other website or here

cb98 masterlist || nhl masterlist || new taglist || navigation

Dating the first overall pick was an experience, to say the least. Y/n and Connor had been dating since they were sixteen and she was by his side every step of the way through his hockey career. 

When they knew where Connor was going to be drafted, the two of them got this sinking feeling in their stomachs. They didn’t want to do long distance, it would be too hard on both of them. However, there was something that y/n never told Connor. 

She applied to the University of Illinois-Chicago on a whim. She didn’t think she would get in, so she didn’t see the point in telling her boyfriend about it. Yet, when she got her acceptance letter, she was troubled. She had never seen the campus, knew nothing about Chicago in general, she didn’t know what classes she would have to take. 

But, when she thought about the other schools she had looked at, none of them even compared to being just down the street from where Connor would be every day that he wasn’t on a road trip. None of them were worth being so far away from her boyfriend. 

A week after she got her letter she sat Connor down to talk. Connor didn’t like the way y/n sounded when she said, ‘I need to talk to you’. 

ू ₒ ु ୨୧ ू ₒ ु

“Con, I need to talk to you.”

Connor’s eyebrows furrowed and sat down on y/n’s couch holding her hand as y/n looked around anxiously.

“Are you breaking up with me?”

“What, no, of course not. There’s just something I have been keeping from you.”

“I don’t know if I should be relieved or more nervous now.”

Y/n laughed nervously, “No, uh. You know how we were talking about how we didn’t want to do long distance?”

“Yeah?”

“We might not have to.” Y/n handed the envelope to her boyfriend and watched his reaction nervously. 

Connor had a confused look on his face as he looked at his girlfriend and then at the envelope. He opened and his face was met with the UIC causing him even more confusion. 

“You applied to Chicago?” Y/n just nodded her head and urged him to keep reading. 

He only had to scan a few lines before he was standing up and looking at the girl, “You got in?”

“Mhm.” Before he celebrated he contemplated the situation. He didn’t want her to move to Chicago just because he was going to be there. He loved her and he wanted her to be there, but he didn’t want her to give up her life for him. 

“But what about-”

“‘But what about’ nothing, Connor. I love you and I want to be with you. And if that means going to Chicago with you, I will. Chicago has something no other school doesn’t.”

“What?”

“You, you big dope.”

ू ₒ ु ୨୧ ू ₒ ु

Connor was forever grateful that she kept that secret from him. If he knew that she applied to UIC and didn’t get in, he would be devastated. However, there were ups and downs to being there in Chicago. Connor rarely saw y/n despite her being just down the street from the UC. 

Any time he had an off day, she would have class and anytime she didn’t have class, he would have practice or a game. It was the luck of the draw when they got to be with each other. At points in time, they both thought it would’ve been better if they just stayed in their respective cities. 

Overall, those cons were outweighed by the pros. When Connor had a rough day he could literally walk to her apartment to the UC, though he never did. And when y/n had her rough days, she would call Connor and they could be at each other's places within minutes. Though most days when they had a night game, or any game really, Connor ended up staying at her apartment. 

That was what happened tonight. Y/n was watching the game from her apartment, she had lucked out with only getting one roommate and she had gone home for the break. It was the Friday after Thanksgiving and y/n didn’t particularly want to go home, spending time with Connor was enough for her. 

They had played the Leafs and Kevin scored the overtime goal with an assist from Connor. She had cheered so loudly that she was glad that almost everyone had gone home for the break. She watched post-game live including the interviews and everything that went along with it. When it was done, she turned on the Vancouver game as background noise while she added some food for her and Connor along with some cookies for later. 

She truly had no way of knowing when and if Connor was coming back tonight, but she knew him. She sort of blacked out from the end of the game to when Connor came in through the door, causing her to jump when she heard the sound of his bag against the floor. 

“Hey, Con.”

“Hi.” He took off his suit jacket and his hat, his cheeks rosy from the of Chicago. 

“Thought you guys would be celebrating.” Y/n turned around from where she was stirring at the stove.

“They offered but cuddling with you was much more tempting.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and dropped his head onto her shoulder, “Whatcha making?”

“Soup and I went out and got a bunch of stuffing, because why not.”

“Thank you.” She turned her head and kissed his cheek, “Always.”

Connor went to shower and change as she finished making their food. The two sat and ate dinner while watching the game, talking about whatever came to mind. Connor was going to go shopping with her tomorrow even though Black Friday was today. They were going to buy Christmas decorations so they could decorate her room and part of the main area of the apartment. 

When they were done and the game was done, they climbed under the covers of her bed, Connor wrapping his arms around her as she laid her head on his chest. 

“I’m proud of you.”

“For what?”

“Your OT goal assist. Con that was amazing.”

Connor shrugged and tightened his hold.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

And that’s how almost every game night is spent for Connor and y/n. Those nights were their favorite.

𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗚𝗢 𝗕𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗞𝗛𝗔𝗪𝗞𝗦 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧 ୨୧

@toasttt11 @chiblackhawks @pucks-goals-penalties @dancerbailey3 @petite-potato4 @absolutelyhugh3s @dyslecticdutchman

© sunflower-lilac42 ; do not copy, repost, or translate my work and designs on any other website or here

[heavenboundhotel]

✨"HUSKER"✨

Name: Leon Banks

Species/Origin: Sinner, Cat Demon

Gender/Pronouns: Male, He/Him

Sexuality: Grey-Ace, Gay

Year of Birth: 1900

Year of Death: 1974

Appearance:

Personality:

Leon is a grumpy, sharp-witted old soul, with a dry humor and a rough, sarcastic exterior. Though he seems detached, he’s highly perceptive and often catches things others miss, though he usually keeps his insights to himself. He prefers to keep people at arm’s length, largely out of self-preservation and a desire to avoid his own painful past. Despite his cynicism, Leon has a hidden empathy for others who have been through hard times and occasionally offers advice or a helping hand—though he’d claim it’s just to keep the peace.

Since becoming a cat demon in Hell, Leon’s picked up some cat-like quirks that annoy him to no end: his ears twitch when he’s annoyed, he occasionally “kneads” surfaces without realizing it, and he’s acquired a habit of curling up to nap wherever he can find a quiet spot—only to be embarrassed if someone catches him doing it. Worst of all, he even purrs under his breath when content, which he tries desperately to hide.

Though he doesn’t believe in Heaven’s Gate Hotel’s mission, he finds himself admiring Lithop’s optimism, even if he worries it’ll get her hurt. His years as an ex-overlord and con artist give him a knack for reading people and maneuvering through Hell’s dangers. Deep down, he’d like to live quietly, but his complicated ties to powerful figures like Alistair keep him reluctantly drawn into the messes of others.

Backstory:

Leon Banks was born in 1900 in Chicago, Illinois. Leon's was a family of swindlers and back-room dealers. His parents ran a bar that also served as a front to run con games and schemes on patrons for taking their money. Leon grew up surrounded by deceit and quickly learned the ropes; he developed a good sense of sleight of hand and took an interest in stage magic. He dreamed of becoming a magician, taking influence from the traveling acts he caught glimpses of from time to time, and would practice tricks on the customers of the bar when he could get away with it. But his parents had other ideas; more often than not, they'd be pushing him into their schemes and training him to be as sharp and cunning as they were.

Leon's ambition was cut short as he was summoned for service in the First World War. He had very little time in the war, but that time was life-changing. He incurred a serious injury at the beginning of his time in the war, resulting in the loss of his leg. Back in Chicago, he was discharged and struggled to adapt to both the experiences of trauma from his occurrences and the loss of his mobility. His dreams of doing magic dissipated and in their place came a purposeless bitterness that handed him over to the darker paths. Leon turned to alcohol to take the sting off his pain and developed a dependence on it that would plague him for the rest of his life.

During the 1920s, Leon drifted to New Orleans, where he was drawn into the vibrant atmosphere of the city and its underground scene. Here, he found the new thrill of gambling and facility to exercise his skill of deception and sleight of hand. Card games, dice, and trickery were the main preoccupation of his life, and soon he became a gambler. While at first he may have enjoyed the chaotic nature of the world of gambling, it actually perpetuated his aimlessness and isolation. By the 1930s, he took this ambition west to Las Vegas in hopes of finally turning his talents into something more lucrative.

Leon opened his casino in Las Vegas, continuing the family tradition of scamming others. He built a reputation as a smooth-talking, sharp-eyed casino owner who could read anyone who walked through his doors. But he was still as lonely as always, his life a constant round of drinking, gambling, and cheating others. Leon died alone in 1974 after he had spent his life attempting to "blow off" repression through constant thrilling actions; running away from his pain in life, leaving him with few close connections and not much to show.

Leon soon settled into Hell and rose through the ranks within the ring of Greed as one who could manipulate with mastery and gamble as easily. He picked up the nickname "Hustler" in next to no time. That would be his name, as he built up his strength through gambling with the souls of others, or through schemes and gained deals until he was a somewhat low-ranking but decently powerful overlord. Yet, his own pride proved to be his undoing when he challenged the wrong opponent- The Radio Demon - and lost his own soul. Now mocked as "Husk" or "Husker" by Alistair, serving as a constant reminder of all that he gambled away in life and death.

[almightyrayzilla]

I promise you, this is the only time I will ever willingly post AI generated imagery on any of my pages...but G-Fest is DEAD to me. I first attended in 2006, then again in 2009. I got my start doing artist alley tables at this show in 2010, then branched out to other shows. I even did the promo art for the 2019 show. I cannot tell you how much of my life was shaped from meeting the folks I have met because of this convention.

I'm not even mad. I'm sitting here along with my fellow artists, laughing our asses off. Not because it's funny, but because NONE of us are deeply surprised.

Let's go back a bit.

In 2018, the artist alley (AA) was moved to the lower floor of the hotel. Now I let this slide - the Crowne Plaza had just replaced the area that was used previously with the Caddyshack restaurant. Duh, we couldn't use that area anymore. There was some pushback, that maybe something else could be moved downstairs, but there was refusal to budge. Whatever, us artists actually did pretty good that year, despite a rather sequestered and tight space.

Then for 2019 - we were told a Toho rep was coming, and we were hit with a 30% limitation, which essentially meant that for every ten pieces of art we had, only three of them were allowed to be Toho related. Gamera, Ultraman, Kamen Rider - fair game. I mean, let's put aside that no one could enforce that (and no one tried) - the person in question wasn't even tied to Toho. And even if they were...they'd be more concerned about, say, bootleg DVDs and such.

Personally speaking, my sales were even better, so even with the limitation, people still did alright. Gee, it's almost as if AA is a big attraction at a convention, especially one as niche as this.

Then 2020, when our good friend COVID-19 came about. Someone decided it'd be a good idea to spread misinformation about the pandemic with G-Fest's Twitter page. Among those who spoke up were the artists who regularly attended through its artist alley. A Facebook page that was specifically set up for AA members to share info and whatnot was then told to no longer associate with G-Fest.

And for the record, G-Fest didn't happen that year because of a statewide mandate. No no, the con wasn't canceled it because they recognized the severity of things, it's because Illinois shut everything down.

Well, here comes prep for 2021 (which ultimately became the 2022 show, since it was pushed back again). That's when G-Fest hit us with the AA contract. It forbade artists from selling prints of Toho fan art (originals/commissions were okay, but not reproductions), unless we held a license to sell prints of that work. We could not sell Godzilla fan art prints at this Godzilla convention. We tried to speak with them, to see if there could be some compromise...which there wasn't. They kept saying that the reason for it was to stay on good terms with Toho, even citing a big C&D sweep Toho was doing (they were after bootleggers, not fan artists). Heck, even one of my good friends actually did get a C&D (prior to said sweep), and they have legal word that they were allowed to sell prints of Godzilla art. But apparently, that wasn't good enough for G-Fest. HMMMMM...

I was actually willing to abide by these tighter rules, even planning on trolling them with a few pieces of Jirahs and Gomess (though Jirahs without the frill might have been a bit too risky, lol). We were trying to talk with the head of the vendor room, who was not exactly being clear and timely with responses. Well, someone went to the head of the show to ask if they were being compliant with the rules - I guess they gave a different answer, because that's when the showrunners started bickering about not seeing eye-to-eye on some things, ultimately telling the artist it's best they not come.

That's when I backed out. A few of us had paid for our table/badge for the 2020 show, which was rolled over; with the option available, I asked for the refund. The head of the vendor room said the request was put in. Almost two weeks go by. I go to the showrunner, and within 20 minutes, I get the refund. Look, I know G-Fest isn't a big corporate show, and I try not to be a snob, but I expect SOME professionalism. that's why I've backed out and refuse to ever attend G-Fest ever again. But that's not where things stopped.

During the 2022 show, I was told an artist said screw it and put Godzilla prints out on their table to sell. I laughed and said, "Yeah, and how much of that was playing favorites?" I mean, G-Fest kicking this person out? That would be glorious. But someone like me? I'm pretty sure they'd have banned me on the spot. And I'm not even going to get into the vendor who was selling bootleg DVDs, so...yeah. And from what I hear, the 2023 show forbade ALL fan art prints, not just Toho IPs. I can't imagine how hard they're gritting their teeth trying not tell artists to get lost outright.

*deep breath* And that brings us to today's nonsense. After all that, they pull this. And of course they've turned off comments on the Facebook posts for these...pictures. I mean, after my turn in 2019, we had the idea of giving each AA artist a shot to do the promo art each year before all this crap reared its ugly head.

Like I said, I'm not even mad, I'm actually having a good laugh over all this. If I'm shocked by anything, it's how quickly this convention pulled its 180. The point of this post is to just be informative of what has been going on the past couple years, and why the artists who usually go haven't come back.

But most of all, if/when people ask if I'm going to G-Fest next year, here's the TL;DR version: NO.

[companionofthetimelords]

BG3 Actor Convention list from November through December 2024 and Beyond

Listed in Character Alphabetical Order and by convention start date. I apologize for any errors and will try to update as time goes on.

Astarion - Neil Newbon

Nov 1st 2024 Heroes Comic Con – Stockholm (2024) in Stockholm Sweden

Nov 9th 2024 Liverpool Comic Con in Liverpool England United Kingdom

Nov 22nd 2024 Milan Games Week in Milan Italy

Nov 29th 2024 Fan Expo San Francisco in San Francisco California USA

Dec 12th 2024 Anime Weekend Atlanta in Atlanta Georgia USA

Dec 20th 2024 Holiday Matsuri in Orlando Florida USA

Mar 6th 2025 Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle Washington USA

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Dark Urge - Neil Roberts

Nov 29th 2024 MCM Birmingham in Birmingham UK

Jan 18th 2025 MegaConLive Dublin in Dublin Ireland

The Emperor - Scott Joseph

Gale - Tim Downie

Nov 14th 2024 Sasnakcity The Gathering in Kansas City Missouri USA

Nov 30th 2024 Comic Con Stuttgart in Stuttgart Germany

Apr 4th 2025 Game On Expo (2025) in Phoenix Arizona USA

Gortash - Jason Isaacs

Nov 9th 2024 Liverpool Comic Con in Liverpool England United Kingdom

Mar 8th 2025 Lexington Comic & Toy Con in Lexington Kentucky USA

Mar 27th 2025 GalaxyCon Richmond 2025 in Richmond Virginia USA

Halsin - Dave Jones

Nov 29th 2024 MCM Birmingham in Birmingham UK

Jaheira - Tracy Wiles

Nov 30th 2024 Comic Con Stuttgart in Stuttgart Germany

Jan 18th 2025 MegaConLive Dublin in Dublin Ireland

Karlach - Samantha Béart

Nov 29th 2024 MCM Birmingham in Birmingham UK

Apr 4th 2025 Game On Expo (2025) in Phoenix Arizona USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Lae'zel - Devora Wilde

Nov 9th 2024 Liverpool Comic Con in Liverpool England United Kingdom

Nov 22nd 2024 Milan Games Week in Milan Italy

Nov 30th 2024 Comic Con Stuttgart in Stuttgart Germany

Dec 12th 2024 Anime Weekend Atlanta in Atlanta Georgia USA

Dec 20th 2024 Holiday Matsuri in Orlando Florida USA

Mar 6th 2025 Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle Washington USA

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Minsc - Matthew Mercer

Nov 23rd 2024 Heroes Dutch Comic Con 2024 in Utrecht Netherlands

Dec 6th 2024 PAX Unplugged Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Oct 9th 2025 NYCC in New York New York USA

Minthara - Emma Gregory

Nov 29th 2024 MCM Birmingham in Birmingham UK

Mizora - Tamaryn Payne

Nov 30th 2024 Comic Con Stuttgart in Stuttgart Germany

Feb 15th 2025 Capital Sci-Fi Con in Edinburgh Scotland UK

Narrator - Amelia Tyler

Nov 30th 2024 Comic Con Stuttgart in Stuttgart Germany

Orin - Maggie Robertson

Nov 2nd 2024 Collect-a-Con Houston in Houston Texas

Nov 29th 2024 MCM Birmingham in Birmingham UK

Raphael - Andrew Wincott

Nov 29th 2024 MCM Birmingham in Birmingham UK

Jan 18th 2025 MegaConLive Dublin in Dublin Ireland

Rolan - George Taylor

Scratch - Shaun Mendum

Shadowheart - Jennifer English

Nov 9th 2024 Liverpool Comic Con in Liverpool England United Kingdom

Nov 22nd 2024 Milan Games Week in Milan Italy

Nov 30th 2024 Comic Con Stuttgart in Stuttgart Germany

Dec 12th 2024 Anime Weekend Atlanta in Atlanta Georgia USA

Dec 20th 2024 Holiday Matsuri in Orlando Florida USA

Mar 6th 2025 Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle Washington USA

April 11th 2025 C2E2 in Chicago Illinois USA

Apr 25th 2025 LVL UP EXPO in Las Vegas Nevada USA

Wyll - Theo Solomon

Nov 9th 2024 Liverpool Comic Con in Liverpool England United Kingdom

Nov 30th 2024 Comic Con Stuttgart in Stuttgart Germany

Dec 12th 2024 Anime Weekend Atlanta in Atlanta Georgia USA

Dec 20th 2024 Holiday Matsuri in Orlando Florida USA

[dvnzook]

Working on a Mr. Handy mini to print. Planning on bringing painted and unpainted prints to the Illinois Game Con in June. Might work on some eyebots too.

[starmage-constellar]

anyone talking about the secondary musical reference in thisisnotawebsitedotcom?

i dare say i'm stretching it but

with a capital "T", and that rhymes with "P" and stands for "pool"? or, even, words like.. like "swell?" (trouble, trouble, trouble.)

or, if you want to go even further, he's got a girl in every county [...] and that's 102 counties!

the speech predates the musical by a whole 5 years but i think that's the least of our concerns

(more nerdass explanations down below)

if you're not familiar with what musical is being referenced here, i don't blame you. it was a broadway phenomenon in the late 50s-early 60s in america, later had a (rather stellar) hollywood adaptation, and an at-home movie adaptation in 2003.

it's called "the music man," and the only reason i even know of the musical is because it's one of my dad's favorites.

now, i could just stop here, leave you with the information, and go on my merry way. but as someone who is (for better or for worse) very well acquainted with the story of "the music man," you bet your bottom dollar that i noticed some parallels right quick.

the protagonist of "the music man," harold hill, is a traveling con man who's so well-versed at the art of sales that he can put up with the speedy advancements of society without an issue. he seems to have a particular scheme of promising to set up marching bands all around illinois, then running with the money before they get a chance to check him out for anything.

though, of course, professor hill proves himself not a con man for the sake of one person. a lovely librarian and pianist, marian paroo. she's a skeptic and sees professor hill for the scam artist that he is, and attempts to distance herself from him and prove he's a liar. sounds familiar, doesn't it?

(though, of course, ms. paroo doesn't set professor hill on fire, and emmaline doesn't start dating the pseudo-alive silas at the end of the story.)

now, there's already enough comparison to make here already, even if half-assed, but i'd like to take a deeper look at the specific song that silas was mentioning here. "ya got trouble."

professor hill, a little bit after settling into our story's setting of river city, illinois, is informed that the billiard room was just hooked up with a new pool table. this sets off his plan to rally river city to his side: convince them of the trouble that could arise from such "sinful" activities such as your teenaged kids sneaking off to... play pool!

"Just as I say; it takes judgement, brains, and maturity to score In a balkline game; I say that any boob Can take and shove a ball in 'a pocket And I call that sloth; The first big step on the road to the depths of deg-ra-day I say, first: medicinal wine from a teaspoon ... then beer from a bottle!"

the narrative of the song follows professor hill deluding the crowd into his point: don'tcha see what we've come to? the new pool tables here? heck, pool at all, for that matter! do you want your kids bein' enticed by sin like that, hm? influencin' their fickle, innocent minds with this sort of stuff when they can't fight against the devil, unlike us adults?!

(note, "mass-staria" is a portmanteau of "mass hysteria")

silas does almost the EXACT opposite, in terms of message. isn't conformity boring? society, law; it's all so mundane! conformity's made in order to hide what you're REALLY meant to be: a crazed, sinful animal! you were MEANT to act on your impulses, every desire you've had. stop following the flock, and follow those who renounce society, like me.

take a listen for yourself, too, i'm sure you could find even more to it if you looked deeper, dug further.

and i'm sure i have more thoughts, but i think i might've lost my own plot on this one.

[glitchartistscollective]

Art of Devin Larson - Out of bounds glitches of Zelda games. Getting these printed and framed in preparation for Illinois Game Con - 17/05/2024

Source: Glitch artists collective - Facebook

[jokingluna]

Whinny City Pony Con 2024

This upcoming weekend we shall be attending Whinny City Pony Con in Schaumburg, Illinois! As usual, we shall be spending most of our time in the Tabletop Gaming room. Come look for Armored Luna, and greet us wish a hearty Sister! Sister!

Some of our time not in the Tabletop room will be waiting in the autograph line to hopefully meet a particularly familiar Voice Actor, and obtain a voice recording of one of our jokes!

https://whinnycity.com

[reasoningdaily]

Understanding Words That Wound

Understanding Words That Wound

Written by leading critical race theorists Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, this volume succinctly explores a host of issues presented by hate speech, including legal theories for regulating it, the harms it causes, and policy arguments, pro and con, suppressing it. Chapters analyze hate speech on campus, hate speech against whites, the history

In the town of Skokie, Illinois, outside Chicago, where many Jewish people live, there was a Nazi march showing swastikas and Nazi uniforms (probably used the Nazi salute, as do the KKK groups, a lot of which are from Chicago and places unknown). The KKK do not go to predominantly black towns to show their allegiance to our right of being a white country. At least, we started out that way, then the blacks multiplied staring from the age when a girl had her first period so that her mother could draw welfare on the illigetimate child, over and over and over. Now, there are more of them than us; the joke is that the Latinos have infiltrated this country and they are the majority! Hate speech is not merely unpleasant or offensive. Sometimes it can be the truth couched in words not at all offensive, the truth finally being brought to the attention of anyone who will listen. Bigots suffer when their narrow, categorical thinking and expressions etches a little deeper. If you observe the way blacks treat the whites they think are dominant, you will understand why there are more of us speaking out -- and will continue to. They take care of their own to the detriment of the rights of others, because they are the wrong color. It happens here in Knoxville, Tennessee, every day with the bus system. Racial abuse can come from either or both sides. It's not the whites now doing the abusing; the blacks have been put into positions to take their hate out on little old ladies who are just the wrong color. They use the worst language and have nasty minds and mouths. They don't care who they hurt. So, to conclude, the blacks are not being abused. The Jews are not being abused. The tables have been turned, and now the whites are suffering for a few bad speakers and the elderly are fair game to hurt and harm in any way they can. Written by racial theorists, Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancie from the University of Pittsburgh, it explores a host of issues but not from the viewpoint of the person being abused. The abusers are never punished. They don't lose their jobs. They are not reprimanded. Free speech has turned into hate speech because the person doing the talking has been abused by the other group repeatedly. And nothing is done!

[longliveblackness]

In Illinois, where Fred Hampton was born, the police constantly harassed black people. Access to social goods too was made difficult, if not curtailed, in the areas with heavy black populations.

The party, a creation of Huey Newton and fellow student Bobby Seale, insisted on black nationalist response to racial discrimination. The party's Illinois chapter was opened in 1967 and Hampton joined in 1968, aged just 20.

When Stokely Carmichael's Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) split from the Panthers in 1969, Hampton headed the Illinois chapter of the Panthers.

Then a petty criminal, O'Neal was coerced by the FBl into helping them silence Hampton and the Black Panther Party.

And he did just that when he infiltrated the party and provided the FBI with a floor plan of the Chicago apartment where Hampton was assassinated in 1969.

His journey to becoming an FBl informant began in 1966 when he was tracked by FBI Agent Roy Martin Mitchell after stealing a car and driving it across state lines to Michigan.

He was told that he would forget about the stolen car charge if he infiltrate the Panthers for the FBl.

The Panther Party had then become infamous for brandishing guns, challenging the authority of police officers, and embracing violence as a necessary by-product of revolution.

O'Neal agreed to infiltrate the party and when he got accepted, he served as the group's chief of security.

Reports said he even became in charge of security for Hampton and had keys to Panther headquarters and safe houses.

He eventually provided the floor plan of Hampton's west-side apartment that was used to plan the raid that killed Hampton and his fellow Panther, Mark Clark.

Fred Hampton, was executed in his sleep by race soldiers, sleeping next to his pregnant wife, Akua Nieri.

O'Neal hardly spoke of his undercover years but in a 1984 interview with the Tribune, one of his last public interviews, he mentioned that he "thrived" on his work with law enforcement though in the end, he realized he had been "just a pawn in a very big game."

In 1990, William O'Neal, committed suicide.

•••

En Illinois, donde nació Fred Hampton, la policía constantemente hostigaba a la gente negra. Era difícil tener acceso a los servicios sociales, estos estaban restringidos en las áreas donde la mayor parte de la población era negra.

El partido, una creación de Huey Newton y su compañero, Bobby Seale insistía con una respuesta nacionalista negra a la discriminación social. El capítulo de Illinois se abrió en 1967 y Hampton se unió en 1968, con tan solo 20 años de edad.

Cuando Stokely Carmichael del Comité Coordinador Estudiantil No Violento se separó de las Panteras en 1969, Hampton dirigió el capítulo de Illinois de las Panteras Negras.

Luego un pequeño criminal llamado William O’Neal, fue obligado por el FBI a ayudarlos a silenciar a Hampton y a las Panteras.

Y eso fue exactamente lo que hizo cuando se infiltró en el partido y le brindó al FBI los planos del apartamento donde Hampton fue asesinado en 1969.

Su trayecto a convertirse en un informante para el FBI comenzó en 1966, cuando fue rastreado por el agente Roy Martin Mitchell, después de haber robado un auto y haberlo conducido por fronteras estatales.

Se le había dicho que se olvidarían de los cargos por el auto robado si ayudaba a que las Panteras fuesen infiltradas por el FBI.

El Partido Pantera Negra se había convertido en un grupo de baja fama que portaba armas, que desafiaba a la autoridad de los oficiales de policía y aceptaban que la violencia era un producto necesario de la revolución.

O’Neal aceptó infiltrar al partido y cuando fue aceptado sirvió como el jefe de seguridad del grupo.

Los reportes mencionan que incluso llegó a estar el encargo de la seguridad de Hampton y contaba con llaves para las sedes y los almacenes del partido.

Eventualmente brindó los planos del apartamento de Hampton, ubicado en el lado oeste de Chicago. Este mismo fue utilizado para organizar la redada que mató a Hampton y su compañero, también parte de las Panteras, Mark Clark.

Fred Hampton fue ejecutado por soldados raciales mientras que dormía a lado de su esposa embarazada, Akua Nieri.

O’Neal a penas habló sobre sus años como un informante encubierto, pero en una entrevista hecha en 1984 con The Tribune, una de sus últimas entrevistas públicas, mencionó que “prosperó” en su trabajo con el orden público, aunque al final se había dado cuenta que “simplemente fue un peón en un juego muy importante".

En 1990, William O’Neal se suicidó.

[opal-zamora]

basics.

full name — Opal Zamora faceclaim — Priscilla Quintana gender & pronouns — cisfemale, she/her age — 29 birthday — 4/1/1995 occupation — clerk at crystal clear/ "tarot reader for hire" (she's faking it) neighborhood — Cardinal Hill length of time in blue harbor — a few weeks marital status: single on this earthly plane. engaged to satan in the nine hells. moral alignment: chaotic neutral

tldr. tw: parental death, cancer (full bio can be found at the bottom of the intro)

opal was born sofia estelle zamora to a very young mother and an absent father. without family to fall back on, the duo suffered financially. this led to many odd jobs that barely made ends meet.

but crime pays, baby! 

a little petty theft here, a pickpocket there, some light manipulation and at least they went to sleep with full bellies

and like mother, like daughter, little 6 year old Opal began to dip her toes in the shallow end of the crime pool. because honestly, she’d just blink those big, innocent green eyes and they’d just assume she didn’t know any better

eventually, opal’s mom got an actual job– though they refused to give her full time which meant she got zero benefits– but opal didn’t feel it necessary to stop. she was good at it. and they still needed the money.

together, they managed to buy a house. it was the first real, solid thing they owned and it finally felt like they were getting somewhere

then opal’s mom got sick

without health insurance, treatments went unsought and bills went unpaid and when opal’s mom eventually passed, the state came for those unpaid bills in the form of her estate. 

left with absolutely nothing, opal moved (ran) away from miami, got a job as a cocktail waitress at a strip club in orlando, and called herself ruby.

and because gross old rich men are idiots, it was almost too easy when a patron took a liking to her, thinking himself clever as he gifted her a ruby. when she left town and pawned the gem, she’d hatched a new plan

the next place she lived, she was pearl and she found another sucker to fall into the same trap. and on it went: saffron, jade, diamond. it was too easy. and opal loved it.

the only real wrench in her plan was trying to run her little game on the wrong person in the beginning. he was not as stupid as he looked and instead of turning her in, he offered her a deal instead: work with him and he would provide all the fake documents and inside information she needed to make more money with less risk. it wasn't an offer she felt she could turn down, though it soured her work a little bit. instead of feeling like partners, she just felt owned.

it was at some point in atlanta where fate finally dealt her a hand she could play with. pure coincidence had the son of her mom’s old boss (that asshole that wouldn’t give her fulltime and health benefits? yeah, him) and so opal ran the con of her life. she made him fall in love, relished in every second of it, and then took him for everything she could as she slipped away into the night. her only regret? not being there to see his face when he realized what she’d done.

she made her way to nowhere, illinois, because her "partner" hadn't appreciated the fact that she'd gone rogue and now she's not only hiding from her last job, but from him, too. in this town, she's decided she's connected with the metaphysical and offers tarot readings, fortune telling, and the like to make a little bit of money. but old habits die hard.

she’s kinda evil and she kinda likes it

but she’s fun

come play with her

headcanons.

tba

wanted connections.

roommate

partner who is not happy with her atm

the last con she ran who is also not happy with her atm

anyone who she might do her fake little readings on

people who don't buy her bullshit

people who DO buy her bullshit

maybe a hook up or two. something that wasn't supposed to be complicated but is for whatever reason

more tba!

full bio.

tw: cancer, parent death

Sofia Zamora has worn many faces. Opal is simply the newest one, crafted and honed by years of learning to fight back against a system that was put in place to knock down people like her– and make sure they stayed there. 

Born Sofia Estelle Zamora to a mother who was barely eighteen and a father so far out of the picture he’d never been there to start with, Opal was not provided with the tools to succeed. She and her mother had no support system, no family to fall back on. Daycare was too expensive and no one wanted to take a chance on a high school dropout with unreliable child care– at least, none of the places that offered a living wage. Her mother tried to make it work for a while, having several jobs that were questionable at best with irregular hours. It felt as though no matter how hard she tried, it was always one step forward and two steps back.

So she took matters into her own hands. Opal grew up watching her mother lie, cheat, and steal her way to a life that just managed to scrape by. That was, until Opal turned six and she was deemed old enough to take care of herself. Her mother found a job, one that paid enough– though they refused her full time– and Opal fed herself Spaghetti-O’s straight from the can while she waited for her to return. But young and impressionable as she was, she’d begun honing her own craft of manipulation. A tiny hand finding its way into a purse on the bus? Well, who could be mad at the dirt smudged, wide and teary eyed little girl when she was caught with a few jewels or a small handful of cash? 

As Opal grew, so did her hauls, and she became the provider while her mother’s check was the supplement. It was a lot of responsibility that she wore on her shoulders, bearing down on her when money got a little tight. And then her mother got sick. 

Mary Zamora had always been the strongest woman Opal had ever known, but watching her wither away with cancer while she begged for full time work for the chance at healthcare that might help was excruciating. Opal couldn’t steal or con her way into enough money. While the bills piled up, she watched as her mother was worn down, etched into another creature entirely by the end. She’d worked so hard to provide a home for her daughter, had tried so hard to do right by her. She repeated the sentiment in a raspy whisper the night she closed her eyes for the last time. 

Opal felt lost and untethered without her mother and partner in crime. They’d been such a unit her entire life that she’d never imagined what it might be like without her other half. The home they’d created together felt both entirely too empty and far too small. But life seemed poised to take care of that problem for her. Those unpaid medical bills? They were to be paid for by her mother’s estate. The house that her mother had left her, the only thing she’d ever been able to provide– gone. Just like that.

So, left with nothing, Opal turned to what she was good at, the only thing she’d ever known: using her affinity for reading people to get what she wanted. She did a small stint working as a cocktail waitress at a strip club under the alias Ruby. An older gentleman and a regular patron of the club became a regular of hers, spoiling her with gifts if she gave him a little extra attention. When he gifted her with a real ruby (worth $8k– she checked), an idea began to form. Men were idiots– that she’d always known– and they always thought themselves clever. With nothing keeping her in Miami, she quit the club, pawned the ruby, and set off on a new adventure. 

She took on personas like Diamond, Pearl, and Saffron, and her targets always fell into that clever little trap. They lavished her with gifts, always thinking themselves the most charming and the most clever when they chose a jewel based on her name. And once she’d grown bored or gotten what she needed, she moved onto the next place. It was sustainable, and honestly? It was fun. 

And then life threw her another curveball. But this time she was poised to catch it. The company her mother worked for, who had denied her full time work and health insurance, had been based out of Atlanta. It hadn’t been a spot she’d sought for that reason, but fate had a funny way of working itself out. She’d been enjoying the spoils of her latest con, drinking a martini alone at the bar, when she was approached by her mother’s old boss’s son. It was as though he’d been offered up on a silver platter and it was not an opportunity she was keen to waste. She’d been Jade here, and introduced herself as such. He was young and handsome and incredibly naive because he fell for her hook, line, and sinker. And when she made off with as much as she possibly could, her only regret was that she hadn’t been there to see his face when he’d realized what she’d done.

The job hadn't come without its own set of risks, however. All it had taken was choosing the wrong person to con, someone who was far more insightful than he looked. When he caught her red handed, she'd thought for sure her jig was up. But instead, he proposed a partnership of sorts. He was a skilled hacker with a laundry list of vendettas. He would point her in a direction, give her all the information she could possibly need, and together, they'd ruin lives. It was a match made in heaven. Until she found an opportunity to take revenge for herself. She'd been in town for a different job entirely and he became irate when she went rogue. So with her latest job satisfying a blood lust she'd lived with for years and angering someone with far more resources than she'd ever imagined a person could have at their disposal, Opal adopted a new identity and decided to lay low in a middle-of-nowhere town in Illinois. Here, she'd be the fresh faced newcomer who was sensitive to the spirit realm. She'd believe in the power of crystals and the powers of the universe. She bought a tarot deck and schooled herself on YouTube. Maybe she'd even do some fortune telling for funsies. Her first reading is free: Beware the green eyed drifter with the saccharine smile. 

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 8.29

Holidays

According To Hoyle Day

Arbor Day (Argentina)

Bill & Frank Day

Black Book Clubs Day

Celestial Marriage Day (a.k.a. Polygamy; Mormons)

Clean Your Keyboard Day

Day of Loose Talk

Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine (Ukraine)

Fennel Day (French Republic)

Flag Day (Spain)

Galatea Asteroid Day

Gamer’s Day (Mexico, Spain)

Happy Housewives Holiday

Head Day (Iceland)

Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Day (New Orleans)

Individual Rights Day

International Day Against Nuclear Tests (UN)

Judgment Day (in the film “The Terminator”)

Marine Corps Reserve Day

Michael Jackson Day

Miners’ Day (Ukraine)

Municipal Police Day (Poland)

National Caretaker Appreciation Day (Canada)

National College Colors Day

National Day of Lesbian Visibility (Brazil)

National Monterey County Fair Day

National Police’s Day (Poland)

National Sarcoidosis Awareness Day

National Sport Sampling Day

National Sports Day (India)

Nut Spas (Russia)

Potteries Bottle Oven Day (UK)

Targeted Individual Day

Telugu Language Day (India)

World Day of Video Games

Zipper Clasp Locker Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Chop Suey Day

Gnocchi Day (Argentina)

International Peppercorn Day

Lemon Juice Day

More Herbs, Less Salt Day

National Swiss Winegrowers Day

Independence & Related Days

Hjalvik (Declared; 2020) [unrecognized]

Mivland (Declared; 2018) [unrecognized]

Popular Consultation Anniversary Day (East Timor)

Slovak National Uprising Anniversary Day (Slovakia)

Veyshnoria (Declared; 2017) [unrecognized]

New Year’s Days

First Day of Thoth (Ancient Egypt)

5th & Last Thursday in August

Cabernet Day [Thursday before Labor Day]

Daffodil Day (Australia) [Last Thursday]

National Banana Pudding Day [Last Thursday]

National Cabernet Sauvignon Day [Last Thursday]

Thirsty Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thoughtful Thursday [Thursday of Be Kind to Humankind Week]

Three-Bean Thursday [Last Thursday of Each Month]

Three for Thursday [Every Thursday]

Thrift Store Thursday [Every Thursday]

Throw Away Thursday [Last Thursday of Each Month]

Throwback Thursday [Every Thursday]

Weekly Holidays beginning August 29 (4th Full Week of August)

National Sweet Corn Week (thru 9.2)

Festivals Beginning August 29, 2024

The Blue Hill Fair (Blue Hill, Maine) [thru 9.2]

Chicago Jazz Festival (Chicago, Illinois) [thru 9.1]

Dragon Con (Atlanta, Georgia) [thru 9.2]

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (Lake Buena Vista, Florida) [thru 11.23]

Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival (Gatineau, Canada) [thru 9.2]

Hopkinton State Fair (Contoocook, New Hampshire) [thru 9.2]

Kamiah BBQ Days (Kamiah, Idaho) [thru 8.31]

Key West BrewFest (Key West, Florida) [thru 9.2]

Lindisfarne Festival (Berwick-upon-Tweed, United Kingdom) [thru 9.1]

Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival (Morgan City, Louisiana) [thru 9.2]

National Championship Chuckwagon Races (Clinton, Arkansas) [thru 9.1]

Peach Days (Hurricane City, Utah) [thru 8.31]

Rocklahoma (Pryor, Oklahoma) [thru 9.1]

Taste to Remember (Dublin, Ohio)

Volksfeest and Bloemencorso Winterswijk (Winterswijk, Netherlands) [thr 9.1]

Feast Days

Adelphus of Metz (Christian; Saint)

Beheading of St. John the Baptist (Christian)

Blobfish Day (Pastafarian)

Day of Loose Talk (Shamanism)

Dr. Lily Rosenbloom (Muppetism)

Eadwold of Cerne (Christian; Saint)

Euphrasia Eluvathingal (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church)

Feast of Agios Ioannis (Halki, Hittitie God of Grain)

First Day of Thoth (Egyptian New Year)

Gahan Wilson Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Gelede (Mask-Wearing Ritual; Yoruba People of Nigeria)

The Great Visitation to Guaire (Celtic Book of Days)

Hajime Isayama (Artology)

Hathor’s Day (Pagan)

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (Artology)

John Bunyan (Episcopal Church)

John Leech (Artology)

Maurice Maeterlinck (Writerism)

Medericus (a.k.a. St. Merry; Christian; Saint)

Midnight Muffins Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Nativity of Hathor (Egyptian Goddess of Joy & Drunkenness)

Oliver Wendell Holmes (Writerism)

Papin (Positivist; Saint)

Pardon of the Sea (Festival to Ahes, Pagan Goddess of the Sea; Brittany; Everyday Wicca)

René Depestre (Writerism)

Sabina (Christian; Martyr)

Sebbi (a.k.a. Sebba), King of Essex (Christian; Saint)

Sorel Etrog (Artology)

Thiruvonam (Rice Harvest Festival, Day 2; Kerala, India)

Thom Gunn (Writerism)

Vitalis, Sator and Repositus (Christian; Saints)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 241 [53 of 72]

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Unlucky Day (Grafton’s Manual of 1565) [38 of 60]

Urda (The Oldest Fate)

Premieres

At Your Service Madame (WB MM Cartoon; 1936)

Balls of Fury (Film; 2007)

Butcher's Crossing, by John Williams (Novel; 1960)

Cat-Tails for Two (WB MM Cartoon; 1953)

A Date for Dinner (Mighty Mouse Cartoon; 1947)

Definitely Maybe, by Oasis (Album; 1994)

The Early Bird Dood It! (Tex Avery MGM Cartoon; 1942)

4’33”, by John Cage (Modernist Composition; 1952)

The Fugitive final episode (Most Watched TV Show; 1967)

The Full Monty (Film; 1987)

Here Today, Gone Tamale (WB LT Cartoon; 1959)

Independent Women, by Destiny’s Child (Song; 2000)

It’s A Pity To Say Goodnight, recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (Song; 1946)

Kid Galahad (Elvis Presley Film; 1962)

Mary Poppins (Film; 1964)

Movie Mad (Ub Iwerks MGM Cartoon; 1931)

Move It, by Cliff Richard and the Drifters (Song; 1958)

One of Our States Is Missing (Super Chicken Cartoon; 1967) [#2]

Popalong Popeye (Fleischer/Famous Popeye Cartoon; 1952)

Pretty Woman, by Roy Orbison (Song; 1964)

Ridiculousness (TV Series; 2011)

Runaway, by Janet Jackson (Song; 1995)

Saint Errant, by Leslie Charteris (Short Stories 1948) [Saint #29]

Shanghai Surprise (Film; 1986)

Signing Off, by UB40 (Album; 1980)

The Skeleton Dance (Ub Iwerks Silly Symphony Disney Cartoon; 1929) [1st SS]

Twinkletoes in Hat Stuff (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1941)

Today’s Name Days

Beatrix, Johannes, Sabine (Austria)

Anastas, Anastasi, Anastasiya (Bulgaria)

Bazila, Ivan, Sabina, Sebo, Verona (Croatia)

Evelína (Czech Republic)

Johannes (Denmark)

Õnne, Õnnela (Estonia)

Iina, Iines, Inari, Inna (Finland)

Médéric, Sabine (France)

Beatrice, Johannes, Sabine (Germany)

Arkadios (Greece)

Beatrix, Erna (Hungary)

Battista, Giovanni, Sabina (Italy)

Aiga, Aigars, Armīns, Vismants (Latvia)

Barvydas, Beatričė, Gaudvydė, Sabina (Lithuania)

Jo, Johan, Jone (Norway)

Flora, Jan, Racibor, Sabina (Poland)

Nikola (Slovakia)

Juan (Spain)

Hampus, Hans (Sweden)

Candace, Candice, Poppy, Sabina, Sabra, Sabrina (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 242 of 2024; 124 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of Week 35 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Coll (Hazel) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 7 (Ren-Shen), Day 26 (Yi-Chou)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 25 Av 5784

Islamic: 23 Safar 1446

J Cal: 2 Gold; Oneday [1 of 30]

Julian: 16 August 2024

Moon: 18%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 18 Gutenberg (9th Month) [Black]

Runic Half Month: Rad (Motion) [Day 7 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 71 of 94)

Week: 4th Full Week of August

Zodiac: Virgo (Day 8 of 32)

[retrogamingreplay]

Tim Kitzrow is an American voice actor, comedian, and TV host best known for his energetic and iconic commentary in the classic video game series, NBA Jam. Born on August 17, 1960, in Illinois, Kitzrow discovered his passion for entertainment at a young age. In a panel at the 2023 Retro Game Con, Tim Kitzrow discussed his early career and the video game industry. https://youtu.be/wegBnE_eeCQ In the video, Tim Kitzrow discusses his early career and experiences in the gaming industry during a panel at the 2023 Retro Game Con. He shares insights into his journey as a voice actor, particularly his iconic role as the commentator in the NBA Jam series. Throughout the panel, Kitzrow reflects on the evolution of the gaming industry and how it has shaped his career. He discusses the advancements in technology and the increasing importance of voice acting in modern video games. Kitzrow also shares anecdotes about his experiences working on various projects and collaborating with talented individuals in the industry. His passion for his craft and his appreciation for the gaming community shine through as he engages with the audience and answers their questions. Early Career and NBA Jam Success Kitzrow's career began in the early 1990s when he started working as a voice actor for various commercials and video games. In 1993, he landed the role that would define his career – the commentator in the arcade version of NBA Jam. His enthusiastic delivery of phrases like "Boom Shakalaka!" and "He's on fire!" became instant classics and helped propel the game to worldwide popularity. The success of NBA Jam led to Kitzrow's continued involvement in the series, including the console versions released for Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, and other platforms. His voice became synonymous with the franchise, and he reprised his role in subsequent releases, such as NBA Jam Tournament Edition and NBA Jam Extreme. Apart from his work on NBA Jam, Kitzrow has lent his voice to numerous other video games, including Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey, NHL Hitz Pro, MLB Slugfest 20-04, and Mutant Football League. His unique style and infectious enthusiasm have made him a sought-after talent in the gaming industry. Beyond video games, Kitzrow has worked as a comedian, performing stand-up and improv comedy in clubs across the United States. He has also appeared in various television shows and movies, showcasing his versatility as an entertainer. Pop Culture Icon and Ongoing Legacy Kitzrow's impact on popular culture extends far beyond the realm of video games. His catchphrases from NBA Jam have been referenced and parodied in countless movies, TV shows, and online memes, cementing his status as a pop culture icon. Today, Tim Kitzrow continues to work as a voice actor, comedian, and TV host, bringing his trademark energy and humor to every project he undertakes. His legacy as the voice behind one of the most beloved sports video games of all time remains a testament to his talent and the enduring popularity of NBA Jam. Personal Pages: Tim Kitzrow's Official Website: http://timkitzrow.com/ Tim Kitzrow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tim_Kitzrow Tim Kitzrow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timkitzrow/ Tim Kitzrow's iconic catchphrases from NBA Jam have been referenced and parodied in numerous movies, TV shows, and other forms of media over the years. Here are a few notable examples: In the movie "Aliens in the Attic" (2009), one of the characters says "Boom Shakalaka!" while playing a video game. The TV show "Parks and Recreation" referenced NBA Jam in the episode "Telethon" (2010), where character Tom Haverford exclaims, "Boom Shakalaka!" after making a basketball shot. In the animated series "Regular Show," the episode "Slam Dunk" (2011) features characters playing a game called "Dunk Tank," with one of them saying, "Boom Shakalaka!" after scoring. The popular sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" made a reference to NBA Jam in the episode "The Bat Jar

Conjecture" (2008), where character Raj Koothrappali says, "He's heating up!" while playing the game. In the movie "Daddy's Home" (2015), character Dusty Mayron (played by Mark Wahlberg) says "Boom Shakalaka!" while playing basketball with his son. The animated series "Family Guy" parodied NBA Jam in the episode "Run, Chris, Run" (2016), where the characters play a game called "NBA Jams" and use phrases like "He's on fire!" In the movie "Pixels" (2015), which revolves around classic video games, NBA Jam and its catchphrases are referenced multiple times. These examples demonstrate how Tim Kitzrow's work on NBA Jam has transcended the realm of video games and become a part of popular culture, with his catchphrases being instantly recognizable and often used as a nostalgic nod to the classic game.

[companionofthetimelords]

Neil Newbon Convention List for the rest of 2024 as of May 16th 2024 (I will try and update it as more cons are announced.)

Apr 25th 2024 Calgary Expo Comics & Entertainment (2024) in Calgary Alberta Canada

May 3rd 2024 Fan Expo Philadelphia (2024) in Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA

Jun 7th 2024 Fan Expo Dallas (2024) in Dallas Texas USA

Jun 14th 2024 Fan Expo Boston (2024) in Boston Massachusetts USA Neil had to Cancel

Jul 4th 2024 Fan Expo Denver (2024) in Denver Colorado USA

Jul 12th 2024 Florida Supercon in Miami Florida USA

Aug 16th 2024 Fan Expo Chicago (2024) in Rosemont(Chicago) Illinois USA

Aug 22nd 2024 Fan Expo Canada (2024) in Toronto Ontario Canada

Aug 29th 2024 Dragon Con (2024) in Atlanta Georgia USA

Sep 26th 2024 FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention (2024) in Salt Lake City Utah USA

Oct 11th 2024 Retro Game Con in Syracuse New York USA

Oct 17th 2024 New York Comic Con (2024) in New York New York USA