Category: Uncategorized

Today, July 27th, is the birthday of E. Gary Gygax, the father of Dungeons and Dragons. I misspent a good number of teenage afternoons as a DM or shopping at the old Mr. Gameway’s Ark on Yonge Street just south of Bloor, and it’s all thanks to him.

I got my start when someone gave me the Basic Dungeons and Dragons set (the 1981 edition), which was simple enough to get you started:

It featured a set of dice (not all that hot, but okay enough for newbies) and the introductory module, The Keep on the Borderlands, written by Gygax himself:

There are still little details from this module that are still etched into my brain, such as the fact that “bree-YARK” is Kobold for “Hey, rube!” (And I’m not the only one.)

I graduated to AD&D, and this was my ever-present companion:

Can’t…resist…reposting…this excerpt:

Ah, the Random Harlot Encounter Table. Good times.

Gary reached 0 HP four years ago. His influence still abounds today — you may even feel his presence at the upcoming Fan Expo taking place here in Accordion City in a few weeks. Let’s raise 1d20 ounces of our favourite beverage, and salute Gary!

Seriously, guys: it sometimes doesn’t feel as satisfying as upper body day, but the “chicken legs” look will never be “in”, and it’s not healthy, either.

Graph courtesy of Mother Jones. Click to see the original.

Thanks to Siobhan O’Flynn for the find!

Rice to Riches is a rice pudding restaurant in New York’s NoLIta neighbourhood, and they’re not afraid to tell the truth. I wonder which three flavours they’re talking about.

I’ve been gone for a while, so my popping up at my old haunts may be as surprising as this:

I love this comeback to Mitt Romney’s PR tweet disguised as a eulogy for Sally Ride:

Click the image to see the tweets.