DanTaylorBlog

I discovered yesterday that the search terms that seem to bring the most people to my blog lately have been “bazinga klingon” and “klingon bazinga” and “what does bazinga mean in klingon”. While I have mentioned both the term “bazinga” and “klingon” in my postings, I have never combined the two — until now.

Behold the Bazinga! Klingon T-shirt (available in both black and white). While I’m not one hundred percent sure that any true and honorable Klingon warrior is likely to pull a prank and follow the act by proclaiming “Bazinga!”, I do know that there are folks surfing the web that have put the two terms together in their Google searches.

When designing the Bazinga! Klingon T-shirt I had to make a decision on what font to use. I went with the Klinzhai font. And, while it might not be exactly canon, the font serves its purpose of displaying “alien-looking” text. (I had to throw in the exlamation point.) While the pIqaD font may be the more accurate or “official” Klingon font, I needed a “z” that Klinzhai provided. Now, I am aware that this would mean that Sheldon Cooper (of The Big Bang Theory) probably would not wear this t-shirt because it is “non-canon.” And, he would be quick to point out that Klingons are not not to be pranksters, or utter such declarations as “Bazinga!” But, the Bazinga! Klingon White T-Shirt and Bazinga! Klingon Black T-Shirt were fun to design nonetheless — and it also provides a resolve for those querrying “klingon bazinga” or “bazinga klingon.” Qapla’!

 

If you haven’t discovered Zombieland yet you must make it a priority. Here are the essentials…

Zombieland is a horror/comedy “road picture” with gore and humor battling each other out to claim the title of classifying this flick as either a horror or comedy movie. Either way, the viewer wins. A foursome of survivors, who battle and bicker among themselves when their not fending off bloodthirsty zombies, traverse across the country in search of sanctuary from the living dead.

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Abigail Breslin
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Screenwriters: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
MPAA Rating: R (for zombie violence/gore and language)

Zombieland ranked second only to Star Trek as my favorite movie of 2009. (The Hangover and Inglorious Basterds rank third and fourth in case you’re curious. I still haven’t seen Avatar.) Now, I dig my zombie movies, but the highlight of this flick is Woody Harrelsonwho plays Tallahassee (the four main characters use names from where they’re from as opposed to their actual names in order not to get too familiar) — a one man zombie exterminating badass hellbent on finding the world’s last Twinkie. Harrelson was recently nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® for his role in The Messenger. But, I believe that the nom nod is actually for his role as Tallahassee — the Academy members just couldn’t bring themselves to give a zombie movie an Academy Award nomination. (Much like the Academy did when they nominated actor Dennis Hopper for his role in Hoosiers instead of his portrayal of Frank Booth in Blue Velvet.) If there ever needed to be an action figure based on a movie character it is is Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee.

Any horror movie that injects humor to try to lighten the mood and make a fun flick runs the danger of becoming outright silly, ridiculous, or just outright a waste of time. It is the clever and quick witted dialog — along with the running gag of “The Rules of Surviving Zombieland” — written by screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick that contributes to making this movie great.

The DVD and Blu-Ray relases of Zombielanddropped on Tuesday, so get your ass to your favorite DVD/Blu-Ray retailer (or click on one of the recommended links provided below) and grab your copy now. In other words — “Nut up or shut up.”

Yesterday was a busy day for my geekdom. Besides the announcing of the Oscar® nominations, the release of Rob Zombie’s new Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Zombieland DVD, and Planet Hulk DVD, a new MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) for a “little” sci-fi franchise officially launched — Star Trek Online.

This post doesn’t serve as a review of game as I’ve hardly scratched the service of the exosphere in regards to playing. Since I’m still settling into the new digs since the move, and I’ve got a couple of obligations to complete in order to afford the rent of said “new digs” I haven’t played as much as I’d like in the some thirty-six hours or so since the game went “live.” But, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t dipped my toes into the supposed immense ocean that is Star Trek Online. I spent last night running my character — a Klingon (I opted for the playable Federation Klingon buy-in) engineering ensign through the game’s tutorial to whet my appetite for more.

I’ve played a few MMORPGs in the past, including World of Warcraft, Star Wars Galaxies, and Ultima Online. I am, after all, a product of the old-school role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons. So, it’s only natural that a nerd of my geekness would jump on board a recreational (I promise to keep it recreational) time consumer based on one of my all-time favorite franchises. I’ve been a trekkie for over thirty-six years and played my first role-playing game over thirty years ago. (Sorry ladies, I am taken.)

I’ve never been a serious or hardcore gamer when it comes to MMORPGs. I’ve never had the time nor the hardware to log the legendary hours that many players do. As it is now I’ve had to lower a number of the video and graphic setting in order to play Star Trek Onlineon my brand new computer. And, it’s hard to create and write the next future franchise that gaming software companies will be clamoring to produce a MMORPG based on if you spend too much time playing. So, for now I’ll be playing an hour or two here and there and remain envious of the other online players that have characters of umpteenth level with all the neato gadgets and weapons.

But, hey… I am running around in the Star Trekuniverse — phaser in one hand and my hot female Andorian first officer at my side while we explore strange new worlds and seek out new life and new civilizations (while blowing up the bejeezus out of the Borg). What more can a Trek-geek ask for? (Besides a better video graphics card.) Stay tuned for updates on my STO adventures.

Bonus T-shirts this Tuesday! I woke up this morning and the first thing that I did was jump online to find out what the 2010 Oscar® nominations were for the 82nd Academy Awards. This year, in the infinite wisdom of the Academy, the best picture catagory nomination was doubled from five nominations to ten. My understanding was that this was done in order to include a few noteworthy and popular movies — such as Star Trek and The Hangover (which won the Golden Globe for Best Picture – Musical or Comedy) — that might otherwise be looked over. Now, I don’t mean to take anything away from the ten movies that were nominated for Best Picture (even The Blind Side), but where in the hell is Star Trek?

In fact, Star Trek did not fair very well at all in regards to this year’s Oscar® nominations. Sure, the film received four technical awards that weren’t a surprise — Visual Effects (up against Avatar, ouch.), Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Makeup (at least Avatar wasn’t nominated for makeup). I wasn’t expecting Star Trek to sweep the nominations, but it is in my opinion that Star Trek’s ommision from the nominations for Best Picture is an oversight — or a snub. So, I was prompted to create the following T-shirts this morning…

 

Be sure to show your support for Star Trek and your disappointment with the voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. You can order your Snub Trek Black T-Shirt and/or Snub Trek White T-Shirt (as well as other “Snub Trek” items) at the GeekPunk Zazzle Store. “Set phasers for snub!”

To follow up on my declaration from yesterday I’m slapping up a second post in as many days, as well bringing back what I hope to be a more regular feature. The DanTaylorBlog.com T-Shirt Tuesday catagory rises from the dead — so to speak. And, it seems only fitting that this edition of T-Shirt Tuesday features “rising from the dead” subject matter.

Got zombies on the brain? Nowadays, who doesn’t? The zombie phenomena continues to spread like… Well, like an unchecked zombie infestation. Zombies are fashionable. Step into the rank and file of the walking dead and let the living know that you “Brainmunch Zombies.” The I Brainmunch Zombies T-shirt is also available in white. And, don’t forget your I Brainmunch Zombies coffee mugs (for those of you that aren’t quite morning people) and bumper stickers (for those of you that brake for the undead). Check out the GeekPunk Zazzle Store for more info.

Check out the T-Shirt Rack for other T-Shirt designs. And, speaking of zombies… The new Rob Zombie (a personal music guilty pleasure) album, Hellbilly Deluxe 2 and Zombieland (one of my favorite flicks from ‘09) DVD both drop today. Expect upcoming posts regarding both.

As of today, February 01, 2010, I am officially moved in at my new place. This also means that I am officially living with my girlfriend and we have begun to play house. And, with a new place begins an opportunity to get organized and establish new routines. So, I am once again I’m jumping on this blog with the hopes of establishing a more frequent posting schedule. I aspire to post something new at least once a day, but you know, and I know, that likely not to happen.

But, with the new digs comes my new home-office. Or, as my beloved co-inhabitant refers to it — “my mancave.” (I will provide pictures of my new lair once I’ve gotten it put together, including having the comic book spinner rack properly stocked.) I haven’t had my own true workspace in over five years. And honestly, my output in regards to my writing over the last five years has been affected. Now that I once gain have an office that I can call my own I hope to be inspired to churn out page after page of stories, comic book scripts, screenplays, designs (including t-shirt designs), artwork, etc… And, that includes regular postings on this blog, and maybe a few more “specialized” blogs and sites. I’ve got a ton of ideas bouncing around in my size 8 1/4 skull (Yes, you read that right. I’ve got a huge melon.) that are feverishly attempting to escape. With any luck my new creative retreat will provide means in which for these ideas to break loose.

If anything, dantaylorblog.com should serve as a daily warm-up with my writing while sharing my views and thoughts regarding my geek/nerd interests. Stay tuned.