Hey gang. Yes, I’ve had a busy weekend. Some fairly interesting stories from LepreCon and the Nebulas — I’ll relate at least one of them in the next Deadpan episode.

I’ve gotten some very kind donations recently (thank you so much!) and some good submissions for Deadpan Episode #7, the no-interview zone. Keep ’em coming! But please note — if they’re really long, then I may have to edit them. Sorry. But the good news is: the voicemail line is up and ready and available now! 206-350-TOMI — it’s over there in the sidebar as well. Feel free to call and leave your VM submission. Or just to say hello. Or just to breathe heavily. Unrelated Thoughts, Highbrow/Lowbrows, Stolen Rap/Hip-Hop Lyrics, Stolen Comedy Lines, etc. (I may play non-sub Voicemails during future episodes…. still undecided. Feel free to call)

And finally — yes, it was painful to go into the hotel bar on Saturday and see the Devils losing 4-0 to the Canes, then 5-0, then 6-0.

Oh, apologies for the screwed-up header. We’re working on it.

OK, you’re here for the latest Deadpan — check the next post down.

For everyone in the Phoenix area, I will attending and paneling at LepreCon 32 this weekend. The Nebula Awards are also going on down in Tempe this weekend; I may stop in to say hello – but – I’ll definitely be at LepreCon Saturday and Sunday. I have morning panels both days, plus Live Duel of the Fates Saturday night. And I’m doing an autographing session Sunday afternoon! How exciting!

So as you may or may not have heard during Michael & Evo’s Wingin’ It! #59, Deadpan episode # 7 is going to be interview-free. Nothing but Deadpan skits and content. And that’s where you come in.

You’re familiar with some of the regular Deadpan features (if not, then listen to a few episodes dammit!); I want you to record your own Dumbass Memories, your own favorite Stolen Rap/Hip-Hop lines, your own favorite Stolen Comedy Lines, and your own Highbrow/Lowbrow jokes (I’d prefer that you stuck to the HB/LB formats I’ve already used, but hey, if you have a great idea — then go for it). Keep them relatively brief – but really, just have fun with the idea.

If you want to play, but have no way of recording yourself, then send me an e-mail. We can probably find a way (Skype, for example).  And yes – there is that voicemail line in the sidebar. That might work too. I’ll get on that.
Note to contributors: you are NOT required to speak in a Deadpan voice.

And there you have it. The episode will have lots of my usual crap as well. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. Don’t be shy! You know you have a great Dumbass Memory to share! Or a few stanzas of rap lyrics buring inside, demanding to be released.

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions.

Do you get IFC (the Independent Film Channel)? Have you seen the new Henry Rollins show? Great stuff. It’s actually a pretty similar format to the Deadpan podcast, except much more socially responsible:

Henry interviews cool people; Chuck D, Ozzy, Bill Maher, etc. — and he asks fantastic questions. Not scripted Tonight Show BS anecdotes, but the questions I’d want to ask.

Like Deadpan, he also drops in little satirical skits and rants – and then – finishes up with music. Of course, he has musical guests — – I don’t think he’s going to do any Rollins Band or Black Flag performances.
And because it’s on IFC, no commercial breaks and no ban on F-bombs.

Henry’s a wiseass, but he’s also a very smart, insightful guy. I’ve set my DVR.

Hey check it out!
My short story, “Sixteen Pieces at a Time“, has been posted over at SFReader.com. It won 3rd place in the 4th Annual Firebrand Fiction/SFReader Short Story Contest – 2005.

Give it a read. Check out the 1st and 2nd place winners too.

Don’t you hate messages that begin with FYI?

I used to tout my duelofthefates at@at gmail dot.dot com address as the way to get into touch with me. But – in an effort toward e-mail simplicity, I’m going to pack that one in mothballs. . . and only check very occasionally. If you want to get in touch with me, then use the e-mail addy listed over there on the sidebar. Don’t send stuff to the duelofthefates gmail address unless you’re ok with a long wait.
Thank ya.

Welcome all fellow MSTies!

Thanks to Chris Cornell for the heads up. (I don’t think it’s that Chris Cornell…)

Deadpan: Episode 2 has been linked on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 info page! Cool.

The button is just over there to the right, you see it?

No pressure, I’m just sayin’. . . I don’t have an iPod; I can only afford an iPoor.

Thanks.

(Yes, the Paypal account is still linked to my wife’s old e-mail address.)

Every year, I make predictions for the NHL playoffs. Every year, my picks are way, way off. Let’s see if this year will be any different.

Ottawa – Tampa Bay. I have to think back to all of those years I picked the Sens to do well in the post-season. . . and they choked. But – the Lightning were completely awful at season’s end. Ottawa in 4.

Carolina – Montreal. Carolina beat Montreal all 4 times that they played this season, by a combined score of 25 to 9. For that reason, I think Montreal will belly up and steal 2 games in this series. Canes in 6.

Devils – Rangers. I have to pick the Devils, because that’s what I want to believe. The Devs always manage to blow it in the playoffs against the damn Rangers though. . . Devils in 7.

Buffalo – Philadelphia. This should be an exciting series. As a Devils fan, I’ll be rooting for Buffalo, but I predict the Flyers to upset. Philly in 7.

Detroit – Edmonton. Every year, you expect the mighty Red Wings to falter in the playoffs. Sometimes they do. Every year (that they make the playoffs), you expect the scrappy underdog Oilers to turn it on and stun their higher-ranked opponent (usually the Stars). They haven’t done it yet. I can’t believe that they will against the Wings. Detroit in 6.

Dallas – Colorado. This is my big upset pick. I haven’t been that impressed by the Avs this year (sorry, no offense!), but I think they’ll find a way to upset the Stars. Avs in 6.

Calgary – Anaheim. Wow, the Mighty Ducks made the playoffs! I think it was all of those wins against the Coyotes that did it. . . Calgary in 5.

Nashville – San Jose. Remember how bad San Jose was for most of the season. How did they end up in 5th place? I like Nashville’s team, but I think the magic Sharks will win this series. Sharks in 6.

Hockey fans, feel free to pitch in your own picks. Just don’t grumble at me if you feel that I slighted your favorite team.

Click this link to learn about band name origins. Enjoy. Looks like some more fun info available at the links in the page header.
You’ll either quote Spock, “Fascinating.”, Johhny Carson, “I did not know that”, or Eminem, “I just don’t give a f**k.”