What Makes a Blog Post

So this is a post that requires fandom fans input. I have been wondering for a while what it is that actually makes a blog post? I know that in general a variety is the best thing overall. When you think about it the idea of being a geek really is about all sorts of different things, so that isn't what has me wondering.

But what do you think a blog post is?

Popular geek blog sites make a whole post of something that I would include in a Tuesdays with Tarinae post where I have a hodge podge of all that information. Would you want to see more smaller posts? See some of the style of content that I share on the Facebook page here, on the blog?

Or do you prefer not so constant but relatively regular lost discussion-style thought provoking pieces? This houses all things from geek news, reviews, etc.

So what is it that you think makes a blog post? How should things go for The Fandomonium in 2014? I need your help! Only you can prevent [dullness binges].

Episode 8: Bite Me

TEGP: Episode 8

This is the episode of epic proportions! Well, they all are really but this one is where I fangirl about vampires! Vampires are something that we have enjoyed in a variety of lore. From Natasha swooning over Buffy to Leila girl crushing on Kate Beckinsale this episode covers the favorite lore to the least favorite moments and all the vampires in between!

Show Resources

 Etsy Shop: LeadFootLucy

GIS located this image at BeheadingBoredom.com

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If you have a question, comment, or want to say hi leave a comment below or email us at theeclecticgeekpodcast@gmail.com.

Tuesdays with Tarinae 1/14

I went back to look at how wonderful my blog was when I started Tuesday with Tarinae at A Healadin's Tear and I realized something. Everything about Tarinae is perfect. I rolled her in World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade and I never once thought about rerolling her (seriously a feat for me!). When I through together my blog after applying to write for WoW Insider, A Healadin's Tear was perfect. I redesigned the color scheme a lot but still perfect. Maybe I am only allowed to have that perfection once?

Speaking of WoW...

A couple months ago Lead Systems Developer for WoW, Greg "Ghostcrawler" Street left his posistion with Blizzard for another opportunity. It was a shock and quite a heartbreaking moment for all of GC's fans on the day he said So Long... but it appears he has resurfaced. Gaming sites across the web report that Greg has joined Riot Games (producers of League of Legends) as Lead Game Developer. 

I imagine the pace is quite different but as I have recently started playing League of Legends I couldn't be more happy to hear this news. I know that any game that has GC on their side is headed in the right direction. 

I would love to get him on the podcast! I could talk to this man for hours. He is also quite handsome. #fangirl

Game of Thrones Season 4 Trailer

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Drop a comment and tell me what you found out this week in geek life!

Cinema Feature: I, Frankenstein

January 2014 | Cinema Feature

January 24, 2014 | IMDB

Two hundred years after his shocking creation, Dr. Frankenstein's creature, Adam, still walks the earth. But when he finds himself in the middle of a war over the fate of humanity, Adam discovers he holds the key that could destroy humankind.

Episode 7: So Long 2013

TEGP: Episode 7

This episode brings a wrap up of everything that was 2013. From the best books, movies, games, and TV to a finale that made us say good-bye to the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith. Auld Lang Syne, my dears...

Show Resoures:

WarAge: Website | Kickstarter

Matt Smith Rumor Mill

Tuesdays with Tarinae 12/17

Tuesdays with Tarinae

Real Life Dolls

There is a new trend where girls are doing themselves like dolls. Valeria Lucanovya was the first and is proclaimed the real-life barbie doll. But it doesn't stop there. Venusangelic is a YouTube sensation known for her makeup tutorials. Here is the official video for her YouTube channel.

I Ship It

Well, shipping is just something that you do in a fandom. I'm going to leave this here.

Miraculous Finger Painting

Featured Read: The Geek's Guide to Dating

The Geek's Guide to Dating by Eric Smith

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Quirk Books (December 3, 2013)
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 208 (Hardcover)
ISBN-13: 9781594746437
Genre: Non-Fiction (Dating)

You keep your action figures in their original packaging. Your bedsheets are officially licensed Star Wars merchandise. You’re hooked on Elder Scrolls and Metal Gear but now you’ve discovered an even bigger obsession: the new girl who just moved in down the hall. What’s a geek to do? Take some tips from Eric Smith in The Geek’s Guide to Dating. This hilarious primer leads geeks of all ages through the perils and pitfalls of meeting women, going on dates, getting serious, breaking up, and establishing a successful lifelong relationship (hint: it’s time to invest in new bedsheets). Full of whimsical 8-bit illustrations, The Geek’s Guide to Dating will teach fanboys everywhere to love long and prosper.

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This book will grab any geek from the very first page of the introduction. Full of references and a conversational tone, Eric Smith teaches you how to get the girl and fly that geek flag high. There are references and pop culture Easter eggs throughout this whole thing and what a find they are!

Episode 6: Afternoon of the Doctor

TEGP: Episode 6

This episode is a little late due to Thanksgiving, moving, and The Day of the Doctor! But really that is what we're talking about. We're hear to ramble about the longest running sci-fi show in history: Doctor Who. We're both newvians and we are totally going gaga for The Doctor. We talk about our reactions to the 50th anniversary, we talk about our fondest memories and we share in hope for the Christmas special.

Show Resources:

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If you have a question, comment, or want to say hi leave a comment below or email us at theeclecticgeekpodcast@gmail.com.

Book Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (October 22, 2013)
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 526
Series: Divergent
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9780062024060
Genre: Dystopian
Author: Twitter | Blog
Series Reviews: Book 1 (5★)

One choice will define you.

What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

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This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.

Overview

The first part of this book was great nad had me eating out of the palm of Veronica Roth’s hand. However, by the halfway point I could see where we were headed in terms of pacing and I began to get discouraged. By the end, I was ready to climb through the pages of this book and mutilate all the characters in a fit of PMS rage. I was so disappointed with the decisions, the purpose, and outcomes. I can see why there was a backlash.

Review

If someone asked me if they should read this trilogy I would undoubtedly say, yes! If someone asked me if I liked this series I would contemplate and say yes. If someone asked if I were disappointed in this series, I again would say yes. When Veronica Roth released Divergent as her debut novel it hit the scene leaving a trail blazing behind it of awesome. It was the next best thing since The Hunger Games. While the hype remained in tact for each of the three books, the brilliance has faded.

The beginning of this book was fantastic. I was so excited to be taking the journey outside the city with Tris and the gang that I could barely contain myself let alone put the book down. I just had to know what was waiting for us. And what I found took me to a new level of disappointment. I was taken aback by the fact that within the city limits these people had no idea about the land surrounding them. When it came to light that they were unaware of what the United States was, I was shocked; I assumed that had been a given. They might not know what is out there know but surely they know where they came from. Regardless, I did not like having to drudge through an elementary level explanation of the rest of the country, its twisted government, and biased genetic wars.

Unlike any other book in the series this book is told in dual perspective from both Tris and Four Tobias This was a welcome change but not executed very cleanly. I really appreciated and loved how Tris changed fromInsurgent to Allegiant. She grew up, she figured out how to handle herself and her grief, and she developed a new foundation of strength. She was amazing in this and I am so glad she came back from the angsty twerp she was before. I also really enjoyed getting to know Tobias and being inside his head. This gave a depth to him and to his relationship with Tris which had not previously been present. With that said, these two individuals should each have very distinct and clear voices but the lines were very blurry in the alternating POV. There were several occasions where I had to reread passages after double checking the chapter heading to see who I was reading at the time.

My biggest problem with this book was the plot. Reflecting back, Divergent was full of intrigue and deception and it was powerfully awesome. Insurgent was just a lay-over for me in terms of connecting this series. But this, I had hopes for this and it comes down to America being Nazi-fied into genetic purity? This book loses points for its heavy descriptions of genetics, science, and continual use of GP/GD acronyms. This was a whole new aspect that had never been part of the story and it was handled poorly. The pacing of all the action was pitiful, by a certain point in the book you know the ending is going to be rushed and you’re thinking “How could this possibly be finished in 200 or less pages!” With that said, all this crafted action, tension, and intense plotting against the government the book just ends in this not-so-perfect-but-convenient ball. Sacrifices and decisions were made that had no outstanding resolutions and no evident spark of changing anything else.

Overall, I couldn’t imagine having not read this book and having the closure that I have now but in the end it was just another love affair that left me cold, lonely, and broken.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Watch It or Buy It DVD Review: Man of Steel

Watch it or Buy it Quickie DVD Review

This is not my Superman movie. There were so many things about this movie that irritated me and so many things that I could just pick apart and scoff. This is a disappointment because I actually enjoy Superman and I know how awesome he can but this isn't it.

Things that bothered me about this were Clark's ready acceptance of Jor-El and his heritage as a Kryptonian. He also just seemed to know everything there was about Krypton from a 5 minute conversation with the conscience of his dead father. And whoa, slow it down Kansas Cowboy, just because Lois Lane is your lore lover doesn't mean we have to force and rush something as awesome as your relationship with the candid reporter. And while we're on the subject of fast paced, how about how fast Zod and his minions absorbed all that yellow sun radiation in what took Clark years to absorb, manifest, and control!

This doesn't even mention the pointless destruction of Metropolis. We are talking billions of dollars in property damage here; and people got into a tiffy over how the Avengers left New York. But at least we got cool Krypton back story!

And in close, my open plea to Christopher Nolan et al. Please leave Henry Cavill with a beard. He is sexy.

Episode 5: Timey Wimey Bullshit

TEGP: Episode 5

So if last week was our speculations, hope, and dreams about Blizzcon this week is the coverage, possible let down, but extreme excitement over everything that was announced in Anaheim this past weekend. There is talk about the biggest annoucement of all the next World of Warcraft expansion: Warlords of Draenor. We also talk about Blizzard's new games Hearthstone (F2P CCG) and Heroes of the Storm (MOBA). We even have a few Warcraft movie details to discuss!

World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor

 

Other Show Resources:

Heroes of the Storm*

Hearthstone* 

Divergent Trailer

*Beta Opt-Ins are available through Battle.Net

Doctor Who Withdrawals

The Day of the Doctor is coming...

But if you're anything like me you are desperate to get your hands on anything that can sustain your overwhelming need for anything Doctor Who. Whether your Doctor is Christopher Eccleston or D10 or Matt Smith, there is still a love of who the Doctor is and these things are wonderful and enjoyable for all Whovians.

Comic Who

Comic Who is a lovely and exciting piece of fan art that comes as a comic strip featuring the Doctors in wonderful chibi cuteness. They have adventures and even cover super companions and have recently taken the Delorean back 50 years. This comic is worth checking out if you can handle squeeing!

Doctor Puppet

This is a fantastic Youtube series that features hand-crafted Doctor Who puppets filmed in stop-motion technique. This is produced in New York and you can follow them and subscribe to the Youtube channel for all the new episodes.

In Print Comic

In Print is another style of comic strip for Whovians to enjoy. Their "About" page wraps up the summary best:

Ever wonder what happens to the Doctor’s past selves when he regenerates? Well in the world of In Print they get saved into his own personal Matrix. All the previous models are in there, although the strip focuses mostly on the 7th and 8th Doctors as they were the highest profile Doctors during the Doctors run ‘In Print’. There’s not much to do when you’re a merely a memory stored in a post temporal psycho construct housed within the Doctor’s mind, so 7 and 8 tend to fill their time by snarking about the current incarnations adventures.

The Doctor Who Hub

This facebook page that features all sorts of wonderful, hilarious, and feel-inducing memes for Whovians. This page also engages fans with discussion questions and they have tendencies to travel the world and meet Whovians from all over. They have over 555K likes and they provide excellent materials that reach hundreds of thousands of those fans each day.

Episode 4: Warlords of the Dark Below

TECP: Episode 4

This episode was intended to be a light speculation on Blizzcon that would have been happening in a few days and some serious game talk but...it turned into full World of Warcraft expansion speculation and we are okay with that. So here is where we note the rumors, instill hope, and wait anxiously for the news!

Also....NaNoWriMo and NYT Bestseller Allegiant is discussed.

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If you have a question, comment, or want to say hi leave a comment below or email us at theeclecticgeekpodcast@gmail.com.

Tuesdays with Tarinae 10/29

Tuesdays with Tarinae bringing you things recently in geek...

League of Legends Gets Jinxed

LoL, the extremely popular MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) game of the moment, has released a new champion for players to utilize in their battles. Her name is Jinx. Jinx is an unhinged and outrageous. She is lewd, crude, and has major attitude. She is also an ammunitionist of sorts and her major attraction is the "Switcheroo" between a minigun and rocket launcher! Check out this amazing music video they did for her release!

Costumed Disney Princesses

Apparently I am currently addicted to Disney Princesses. I am approaching my birthday so perhaps I am regressing and reliving my childhood. But I am also celebrating Halloween and costumes and that is why I can't help but share this awesome collection of art by Isaiah Stephens that I discovered. You can see the full gallery here.

MovieFone Thor 2 Clip

This new clip from Thor: The Dark World features the sky battle action with Thor & Loki!

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Drop a comment and tell me what you found out this week in geek life!

Book Review: Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde

Vol'jin: Shadows of the Horde By Michael Stackpole

Goodreads | Amazon

Publisher: Gallery Book s(June 16, 2013)
Age Group: Adult
Pages (Hardcover): 352
Series: World of Warcraft #12
Source: Library
ISBN-13: 9781416550679
Genre: Fantasy | Lore Supplement
Series Reviews: Arthas (5★)

Shadows of the Horde follows Vol’jin to the lost continent of Pandaria, where the troll chieftain's loyalties are put to the ultimate test when a member of his own faction moves to assassinate him. . . .

Aided by the renowned brewmaster Chen Stormstout, Vol'jin takes refuge in a remote mountain monastery to recover from his wounds. His time there, however, is far from peaceful, as intense visions of the past assault the Darkspear chieftain, and the ancient Zandalari tribe mounts a series of attacks on Pandaria. In his struggle to make sense of what’s happening, Vol'jin must ultimately decide where his allegiances lay—a choice that could save or doom his people . . . and forever alter the fate of the Horde.

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Getting used to the writing style of Michael Stackpole was considerably interesting. The slow points in this book that were story and history based were on the slow side, this really captured that nature of the Pandaren but it also meant for a laborious read. But then in times of war and times of action his writing was action-packed and one blow after the other. This left me on a roller coaster of reading interest; while I absolutely loved this story and everything in it, I slugged through it at an unusually slow pace.

The character of Vol'jin is so critical to the World of Warcraft lore that this book is an integral part of the story. It connects the events in game of the Dagger in the Dark scenario and the 5.3 content patch Escalation. This book is inundated with amazing amounts of lore for both troll, pandaren and the mogu.

Stackpole did a wonderful job at fleshing out characters that we wanted to see more of including Taran Zhu, Chen Stormstout, and Li Li. He also did a wonderful job at introducing us to new characters including Yalia and Tyrathan Khort. He made the lives of these people jump off the pages and they held on to you with a vice-like grip.

If you're a fan of World of Warcraft novels this books is a must read in my opinion. I am a troll fanatic and I just love everything this book has to offer. I should declare that given its subject matter that is does speak in strong dialects at time but that is akin to Stackpole's great job of creating mood, voice, and setting!

Rating out of 5:

 

Watch it or Buy it: World War Z

Watch it or Buy it Quickie DVD Review

Let me just start off by saying that Brad Pitt did an amazing job in this film. I have always been a Brad Pitt fan and I think this movie highlights why that is. This movie had everything you would want from a zombie film including desperation, action, brutality, and gore. But it also had something else, it had motivation. Motivation and hope to cure the world.

One of my favorite things  about a dystopian setting is the reason things are the way they are. What I really enjoyed about this movie was the search for Patient 0 and the idea that they were really going to know what happened this time. The problem with this is that once you know where it is going, once you have seen it, the movie loses something and leaves you with a weird since of ending that perhaps isn't calling for more than one watch.

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Watch it or Buy it is The Fandomonium's attempt to save you time and money with real life reviews handed to you at the speed of light.

Episode 2: Hero Hype

TEGP: Episode 2

This week Natasha and I are talking comic book movies. We talk about our favorites and I dish out movies that are almost 10 years old and blubber through terrible pronunciations of names and calling people by the wrong name. This episode is full of silly and awesome all at the same time!

TEGP Giveaway!

You will need this as a reference, I promise:

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If you have a question, comment, or want to say hi leave a comment below or email us at theeclecticgeekpodcast@gmail.com.

Tuesdays with Tarinae 10/8

Tuesday with Tarinae bringing you this week in geek...

Desolation of Smaug Trailer

Warner Brothers released the official movie trailer for the second Hobbit film. This comes after a teaser trailer this summer and the movie is due to release on December 13. My first reaction to this trailer is that the proportions look tremendously better than in the first movie. A hobbit is tiny and dwarves are short; those are not facts you saw in the sizing of The Legendary Journey.

Matt Smith Musical

The 11th Doctor has been actively engaging in other roles and preparing himself to continue his career once his stint as The Doctor has come to an end. After shaving his head and ripping out, he had debuted his new look for the Ryan Gosling film, How to Catch a Monster, earlier this year. Now he accepted a role in a musical production of Ameican Psycho; he is taking on the role as Patrick Batemen who was played by Christian Bale in the 2000 cinematic version.

Ender's Game Clip

Summit Entertainment has released a full 40 second clip from Ender's Game that releases in Novemeber. The clip is Harrison Ford and Asa Butterfield during the scene where Colonel Graff assigns Ender to lead the Dragon Army.

Professor X

I found this really amazing fan art of Professor Xavier from Marvel's X-Men! It was done by artist Mark Kelly!

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Drop a comment and tell me what you found out this week in geek life!

Featured Game: Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

Release Date: October 29, 2013

Website | Pre-Order

New Era. New Assassin. New Rules.

It is 1715. Pirates rule the Caribbean and have established a lawless pirate republic. Among these outlaws is a fearsome young captain named Edward Kenway. His exploits earn the respect of pirate legends like Blackbeard, but draw him into an ancient war that may destroy everything the pirates have built.

Set sail on the high seas in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, a pirate-filled adventure in the Assassin's Creed saga. Become Edward Kenway, a charismatic yet brutal pirate captain, trained by Assassins. Command your ship, the Jackdaw, and strike fear in all who see her. Plunder and pillage to upgrade the Jackdaw with ammunition and equipment needed to fight off enemy ships as you venture out to discover the most diverse Assassin's Creed world ever created.

*Synopsis provided by IGN.com

Episode 1: Fall TV Preview

TEGP: Episode 1

This week Natasha and I discuss the things that are coming on the telly this fall. Conversation ranges from Once Upon a Time to The Witches of East End and everywhere in between. We also have our first segment of First Watch and a trailer talk! Give it a listen!

Like the show? Enter the celebration giveaway!