I was going to edit this thing, until I realized that there isn't a single second of this promo I don't love. It's taken from UltraMantis Black's recently-disbanded stable, The Order of the Neo-Solar Temple's debut back in 2007 at "Showdown in Crisisland" in Wallingford, CT. Dig everyone's grooving at the outset (especially Hydra over there on the left). Dig UMB's usual genius delivery. Dig Crossbones hitting the ominous low noise at the end, and UMB's resultant BRILLIANT SKULL CHOREOGRAPHY.
EDIT: Dig also, during the close-up on UMB at the end, the sound of what I believe to be Hydra going for a high five, and everyone leaving him hanging.
EDIT EDIT: Upon closer inspection, Hydra is just sad that there isn't going to be any more Charlie Brown Christmas dancing.
Have a great weekend, everyone! (anyone?)
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tell Me More About This Vegan Hoagie
Right, so anyway, after the show last weekend, I and my compadres (Zandar and his brother) stopped into the South Philadelphia Taproom for some post-show vittles. I was fricking starving from having eaten (and subsequently not held down) three Fritos all day. Being pretty determined to enjoy a feast of mammoth proportions (no mammoth on the menu, unfortunately), I started rifling through the menu and compulsively ordering anything that struck my fancy.
I ordered some wild boar tacos that were really damn good. It's possible that these might otherwise appear on a menu as "pulled pork tacos" but let's not split hairs. I'm sure they put some really wild basil or something on it.
Following that I looked at their sandwich section, and they had a really appetizing-looking burger that had a six-or-seven-word description, uh hang on...here it is: "100% LOCAL GRASS-FED BEEF BACON CHEESEBURGER" How does that grab you, carnivores?
And yet, there, above it, was a modest two-word offering: "VEGAN HOAGIE". Underneath, in italics, the ingredients were listed as "grilled tempeh, marinated mushrooms and tofu mayo". Yeah, I really wanted that burger. But fresh after that awesome show, and shaking hands with the inspiration for this madness, I guess I figured that maybe I should catch a glimpse of the kind of grub that awaited me a couple months down the road. Plus, what the hell is tempeh, or tofu mayo for that matter?"
I ordered it with a side of macaroni and cheese, which I suspected might raise an eyebrow or two. Sure enough, when bringing it out, the food runner did ask me whether I was aware that cheese wasn't vegan. A conversation grew out of this, in which she explained that she herself had been a vegan for years. What brought her back? A hot dog stand in a Home Depot. Inspired, I also ordered a hot dog. It wasn't that good.
As for the hoagie? Not bad, I'd have to say. The tempeh kind of impressed me as lightly-fried cornmeal (Wikipedia tells me it's cake-ified soybeans). The tofu mayo was, frankly, indistinguishable from real mayo (which I admittedly rarely eat anyway). A recipe online says it's made from silken tofu, white vinegar, salt, dry mustard, and sugar. I didn't finish the whole thing but that's because I was totally stuffed by that point, and a shame it is because they had a nice-looking dessert menu.
Oh and hey, last post featured a pic of the Rocky Run. Here's a video of same! So sad I missed out.
I ordered some wild boar tacos that were really damn good. It's possible that these might otherwise appear on a menu as "pulled pork tacos" but let's not split hairs. I'm sure they put some really wild basil or something on it.
Following that I looked at their sandwich section, and they had a really appetizing-looking burger that had a six-or-seven-word description, uh hang on...here it is: "100% LOCAL GRASS-FED BEEF BACON CHEESEBURGER" How does that grab you, carnivores?
And yet, there, above it, was a modest two-word offering: "VEGAN HOAGIE". Underneath, in italics, the ingredients were listed as "grilled tempeh, marinated mushrooms and tofu mayo". Yeah, I really wanted that burger. But fresh after that awesome show, and shaking hands with the inspiration for this madness, I guess I figured that maybe I should catch a glimpse of the kind of grub that awaited me a couple months down the road. Plus, what the hell is tempeh, or tofu mayo for that matter?"
I ordered it with a side of macaroni and cheese, which I suspected might raise an eyebrow or two. Sure enough, when bringing it out, the food runner did ask me whether I was aware that cheese wasn't vegan. A conversation grew out of this, in which she explained that she herself had been a vegan for years. What brought her back? A hot dog stand in a Home Depot. Inspired, I also ordered a hot dog. It wasn't that good.
As for the hoagie? Not bad, I'd have to say. The tempeh kind of impressed me as lightly-fried cornmeal (Wikipedia tells me it's cake-ified soybeans). The tofu mayo was, frankly, indistinguishable from real mayo (which I admittedly rarely eat anyway). A recipe online says it's made from silken tofu, white vinegar, salt, dry mustard, and sugar. I didn't finish the whole thing but that's because I was totally stuffed by that point, and a shame it is because they had a nice-looking dessert menu.
Oh and hey, last post featured a pic of the Rocky Run. Here's a video of same! So sad I missed out.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
A National Treasure...Nay, an INTERnational Treasure!
Sunday I attended Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show. Big, big day.
I unfortunately was a late scratch for the first annual CHIKARA Rocky Run up the Philadelphia Art Museum steps. I had taken a number of head bumps the previous evening and wasn't feeling so hot, in stark contrast to the temperature outside, which was about 5000 degrees Rankine and humid enough to swim through. I was positive that adopting a pace quicker than walking would end in disaster. Which was a shame, because from the pictures it looked like quite a fun time:
(Image from chikarapro.com)
But I took a bunch of tried and true home remedies, and was in fighting shape by about 1:30, when Zandar and I rolled out towards Souf Philly. Clearly I underestimated the dedication of other CHIKARA fans because when we got to the ECW Arena at 2, there were about 40-50 people already there, hanging out in front of the closed gates. As was befitting custom from the old ECW and new ROH, we'd brought along a couple of adult beverages to enjoy while we waited. While nobody actually said anything, there were looks thrown our way, and when folks started wheeling in water and, yes, juice boxes, it became clear that the stark differences between CHIKARA and other promotions do not end at the ring ropes. Oh, and in the parking lot, tailgating activities included such things as 6-person Clue played on the hood of a car. A different breed, these fans.
I got in with the rest of the Chikarmy and shoulder-blocked my way to the merch tables, and scored a healthy pile of UMB stuff...including, of course, THE MASK! White on black, and despite my huge frickin skull it fits fine, although there'll be a good bit of exposed head in the back. No worries. So, phase 1 complete!
I understood that the wrestlers often ran their own merch sales so I half-expected to get to buy things from UltraMantis Black directly, but he had delegated to a subordinate prior to the show. At intermission, however, the man(tis) himself appeared to pose for photos and sign autographs, and as he had warned, he was not alone!
So I got to shake hands, get a number of glared/blurry iPhone photos with him, and shower him with superlatives, which he accepted modestly yet majestically. Amidst my gushing I completely forgot to ask how poor Crossbones is doing. Speaking of, I wonder who his new hooded goons are. Also, I thought his garb for the day very Peronist. Given the increasingly populist tone of his blog posts over at chikarapro.com, the descamisado look works well. ¡RUUUUDOOOOO!
I also met my 2nd-favorite rudo, Chuck Taylor, and bought one of his shirts (which is sure to get over with the LOST crowd). I mentioned to the Kentucky Gentleman that I was a big fan of his training video and tried to incorporate the regimen as often as possible. He laughed and mentioned that not only did it serve to carve him out of wood, but he'd gotten college credit for making it:
As I hope this post has clearly demonstrated by now, the stars of CHIKARA are very friendly, approachable, and all-around cool.
I won't go into great detail on the action itself, but it was just amazing fun from start to finish. We got to sit really close, and along the entrance "ramp", so I got a few good high fives. At the very first match, I tried to take one picture, it came out crappy, and I decided it was stupid to waste a great seat like that by trying to take pictures the whole time instead of yelling and high fiving--no sense in being too busy capturing memories to be able to create any.
CHIKARA and their official DVD creators/distributors Smart Mark Video, to their unending credit, also carried out the Herculean task of getting the DVD of Chikarasaurus Rex available the VERY NEXT DAY. Mine's already been shipped.
Another post soon on the dietary aspect of Project UMB. For the wardrobe aspect, the mask is acquired. Next up: the robe.
I unfortunately was a late scratch for the first annual CHIKARA Rocky Run up the Philadelphia Art Museum steps. I had taken a number of head bumps the previous evening and wasn't feeling so hot, in stark contrast to the temperature outside, which was about 5000 degrees Rankine and humid enough to swim through. I was positive that adopting a pace quicker than walking would end in disaster. Which was a shame, because from the pictures it looked like quite a fun time:
(Image from chikarapro.com)
But I took a bunch of tried and true home remedies, and was in fighting shape by about 1:30, when Zandar and I rolled out towards Souf Philly. Clearly I underestimated the dedication of other CHIKARA fans because when we got to the ECW Arena at 2, there were about 40-50 people already there, hanging out in front of the closed gates. As was befitting custom from the old ECW and new ROH, we'd brought along a couple of adult beverages to enjoy while we waited. While nobody actually said anything, there were looks thrown our way, and when folks started wheeling in water and, yes, juice boxes, it became clear that the stark differences between CHIKARA and other promotions do not end at the ring ropes. Oh, and in the parking lot, tailgating activities included such things as 6-person Clue played on the hood of a car. A different breed, these fans.
I got in with the rest of the Chikarmy and shoulder-blocked my way to the merch tables, and scored a healthy pile of UMB stuff...including, of course, THE MASK! White on black, and despite my huge frickin skull it fits fine, although there'll be a good bit of exposed head in the back. No worries. So, phase 1 complete!
I understood that the wrestlers often ran their own merch sales so I half-expected to get to buy things from UltraMantis Black directly, but he had delegated to a subordinate prior to the show. At intermission, however, the man(tis) himself appeared to pose for photos and sign autographs, and as he had warned, he was not alone!
So I got to shake hands, get a number of glared/blurry iPhone photos with him, and shower him with superlatives, which he accepted modestly yet majestically. Amidst my gushing I completely forgot to ask how poor Crossbones is doing. Speaking of, I wonder who his new hooded goons are. Also, I thought his garb for the day very Peronist. Given the increasingly populist tone of his blog posts over at chikarapro.com, the descamisado look works well. ¡RUUUUDOOOOO!
I also met my 2nd-favorite rudo, Chuck Taylor, and bought one of his shirts (which is sure to get over with the LOST crowd). I mentioned to the Kentucky Gentleman that I was a big fan of his training video and tried to incorporate the regimen as often as possible. He laughed and mentioned that not only did it serve to carve him out of wood, but he'd gotten college credit for making it:
As I hope this post has clearly demonstrated by now, the stars of CHIKARA are very friendly, approachable, and all-around cool.
I won't go into great detail on the action itself, but it was just amazing fun from start to finish. We got to sit really close, and along the entrance "ramp", so I got a few good high fives. At the very first match, I tried to take one picture, it came out crappy, and I decided it was stupid to waste a great seat like that by trying to take pictures the whole time instead of yelling and high fiving--no sense in being too busy capturing memories to be able to create any.
CHIKARA and their official DVD creators/distributors Smart Mark Video, to their unending credit, also carried out the Herculean task of getting the DVD of Chikarasaurus Rex available the VERY NEXT DAY. Mine's already been shipped.
Another post soon on the dietary aspect of Project UMB. For the wardrobe aspect, the mask is acquired. Next up: the robe.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Adobe Is What They Made This Computer From
Stupid YouTube appears to have updated itself to the point where a Flash update is required to play videos, and of course I don't have the authority to download and install software on my work computer. So, today's planned video hilarity will have to wait.
In dietary planning news, I went out to celebrate the birthday of a friend yesterday at the local sports bar and took the opportunity to sift through the menu and see what the deranged vegan could conceivably consume come fall. And it's daunting: chips & salsa, and the house salad with just about everything held. Oh well. I knew what this was.
In dietary planning news, I went out to celebrate the birthday of a friend yesterday at the local sports bar and took the opportunity to sift through the menu and see what the deranged vegan could conceivably consume come fall. And it's daunting: chips & salsa, and the house salad with just about everything held. Oh well. I knew what this was.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Christmas in July
Here's a promo from "Wit, Verve, and a Bit o' Nerve", a show CHIKARA did in Easton, PA back in March. UltraMantis Black is appealing to the tecnicos for some assistance in repulsing the BDK onslaught. Dig that pink-n-blackitude, dig those large, ornate, seasonally festive tattoos he's got on the upper arms (Santa Claus on the right, a snowman on the left).
It's Called "Fashionably Late", F*ckface.
A wonderful blending of my soon-to-be costume and my costume from two years ago. The image was created by Mark Sinclair for a fan-designed wallpaper contest at the CHIKARA website.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The OTHER Steelers' 4-game Suspension
As I gradually wrap my brain around what October is going to involve, little alarming truths come to the forefront. In this case, the 2010 NFL season (if there is one).
For several years it has been my habit to go watch the Steelers at sports bars whenever possible. Fortunately, it turns out that several (if not all) forms of alcohol are vegan, including all Miller beers and Jim Beam, which is all I really need to make it through. Also, while I rarely enjoy eating wings and meat sandwiches more than I do on game days, I think I can get by on chips & salsa and eggplant or whatever. But it's not even the foregoing of pub food that gets to me.
NO HEATH MILLERS! DAMN YOU, DAIRY MORATORIUM!
See, a Heath Miller (so named for the starting Steelers tight end, #83) is when you take a Heath Bar and use it to garnish a pint or pitcher of Miller beer. Drink the beer, eat the beer-soaked candy. It's better than you probably think.
Superstitious food and drink are important to all the sports teams I follow. Ask them and they will tell you. Especially the Pwnguins. 60% of the time, it works every time.
I am not quite as distraught about this sacrifice as I would have been in recent years or, hopefully, future years, because of the "blah" state the Steelers are in. They aren't terrible: Wallace, Ward, Mendenhall and Miller are a better-than-average platoon of skill players, the defense will remain monstrous despite an aging line, the Pouncey drafting finally began to address the O-line issues...but despite all this, even without the Roethlisberger suspension, I get the feeling that there's going to be one more mediocre year before another really strong run.
So I guess if I have to take the break, better to do it now.
For several years it has been my habit to go watch the Steelers at sports bars whenever possible. Fortunately, it turns out that several (if not all) forms of alcohol are vegan, including all Miller beers and Jim Beam, which is all I really need to make it through. Also, while I rarely enjoy eating wings and meat sandwiches more than I do on game days, I think I can get by on chips & salsa and eggplant or whatever. But it's not even the foregoing of pub food that gets to me.
NO HEATH MILLERS! DAMN YOU, DAIRY MORATORIUM!
See, a Heath Miller (so named for the starting Steelers tight end, #83) is when you take a Heath Bar and use it to garnish a pint or pitcher of Miller beer. Drink the beer, eat the beer-soaked candy. It's better than you probably think.
Superstitious food and drink are important to all the sports teams I follow. Ask them and they will tell you. Especially the Pwnguins. 60% of the time, it works every time.
I am not quite as distraught about this sacrifice as I would have been in recent years or, hopefully, future years, because of the "blah" state the Steelers are in. They aren't terrible: Wallace, Ward, Mendenhall and Miller are a better-than-average platoon of skill players, the defense will remain monstrous despite an aging line, the Pouncey drafting finally began to address the O-line issues...but despite all this, even without the Roethlisberger suspension, I get the feeling that there's going to be one more mediocre year before another really strong run.
So I guess if I have to take the break, better to do it now.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
No Money...
In the course of my preliminary research, I have come upon an interesting debate among the vegan community: is honey vegan?
There's a surprising amount of opinion out there on this, with substantial evidence to support both contentions. On the one side, you have those who say it is NOT vegan because it comes from beekeeping, which (I guess?) kills bees faster than it would in the wild and, in any case, exploits them for sustenance, which is hardly any better than killing and eating them.
On the other side, the argument is that, yeah, taking honey from bees is getting something from their labor, but the honey would be produced regardless of human consumption, and the bees don't use it for anything. Also, to follow the argument that beekeeping results in the killing of some bees would require not only a boycott of honey but of every other kind of food or activity by which insects are killed, like sugar or driving your car (which can only be powered by a 100% efficient cold fusion reactor) faster than 15 miles an hour.
A third camp thinks that both arguments are fine and you can choose to eat or not eat honey so long as you just STFU about it already.
Obviously, it is impossible for anyone to completely abstain from any activity that risks involving the death of anything in Kingdom Animalia, but the vegans of the former persuasion argue that it is better to simply be extreme as you can than to consistently define the principle by which you live as a vegan.
Usually, I would value the consistency of the principle above all other things. For this venture, and the reasons for which I undertake it, a consistent principle is absolutely necessary, yet also represents near-senseless extremism.
I am conflicted between the arguments, and will have to think on this carefully.
There's a surprising amount of opinion out there on this, with substantial evidence to support both contentions. On the one side, you have those who say it is NOT vegan because it comes from beekeeping, which (I guess?) kills bees faster than it would in the wild and, in any case, exploits them for sustenance, which is hardly any better than killing and eating them.
On the other side, the argument is that, yeah, taking honey from bees is getting something from their labor, but the honey would be produced regardless of human consumption, and the bees don't use it for anything. Also, to follow the argument that beekeeping results in the killing of some bees would require not only a boycott of honey but of every other kind of food or activity by which insects are killed, like sugar or driving your car (which can only be powered by a 100% efficient cold fusion reactor) faster than 15 miles an hour.
A third camp thinks that both arguments are fine and you can choose to eat or not eat honey so long as you just STFU about it already.
Obviously, it is impossible for anyone to completely abstain from any activity that risks involving the death of anything in Kingdom Animalia, but the vegans of the former persuasion argue that it is better to simply be extreme as you can than to consistently define the principle by which you live as a vegan.
Usually, I would value the consistency of the principle above all other things. For this venture, and the reasons for which I undertake it, a consistent principle is absolutely necessary, yet also represents near-senseless extremism.
I am conflicted between the arguments, and will have to think on this carefully.
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Sort Of Thing That Put Jack Paar Out Of Work
Here's a promo clip by some fly-by-night flimflammers who apparently exist to do nothing but tease me into thinking there's a full video at another site, only to find that said site does not exist. Nevertheless, edited though it is, it's a good look at UMB away from the ring. Try not to rewind the bit at 0:35 too many times.
EDIT: While the full version of this continues to prove elusive, a reader found a list of topics allegedly covered in the interview at Pro Wrestling Guerrilla forums. As if I needed bluer balls:
How UltraMantis got into the wrestling business
Polynesian pro wrestling
Wrestling without his mask
Garfield
Talking to UltraMantis before being UltraMantis Black
Wrestling Tracey Smothers
How to become a Neo-Solar Temple "Devotee"
His favorite match
Talks about being Vegan and his favorite foods
Preparing for battle
Trash talk on Hydra the J-brone
Thoughts on Crossbones' eating habits
UltraMantis' Grammy makes delicious vegan treats
Neo-Solar Temple's plans for Chikara domination
What/Where is the Neo Solar Temple
Poetry by UltraMantis Black
His dream team Cibernetico (alive and dead)
Orange Cassidy
Favorite Commentary Partner
Thoughs on the upcoming tour of Big Japan
Will Ultrazero ever team again?
Winner of our Revolucha DVD contest
'80s villains
Name Associations
Hydra's steroid scandal
.. and much more!
EDIT: While the full version of this continues to prove elusive, a reader found a list of topics allegedly covered in the interview at Pro Wrestling Guerrilla forums. As if I needed bluer balls:
How UltraMantis got into the wrestling business
Polynesian pro wrestling
Wrestling without his mask
Garfield
Talking to UltraMantis before being UltraMantis Black
Wrestling Tracey Smothers
How to become a Neo-Solar Temple "Devotee"
His favorite match
Talks about being Vegan and his favorite foods
Preparing for battle
Trash talk on Hydra the J-brone
Thoughts on Crossbones' eating habits
UltraMantis' Grammy makes delicious vegan treats
Neo-Solar Temple's plans for Chikara domination
What/Where is the Neo Solar Temple
Poetry by UltraMantis Black
His dream team Cibernetico (alive and dead)
Orange Cassidy
Favorite Commentary Partner
Thoughs on the upcoming tour of Big Japan
Will Ultrazero ever team again?
Winner of our Revolucha DVD contest
'80s villains
Name Associations
Hydra's steroid scandal
.. and much more!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
...Then Show Us Your Smile
So, appropriating the wardrobe of UltraMantis Black is the first order of business for Project UMB. There are several components:
1) Mask
2) Robe
3) Skull staff dealy
4) Neck adornment
5) Pants/Tights
6) Shoes/Boots
These are arranged roughly in order of their importance to the ensemble as a whole. Obviously then, we must start at the mask:
That is the sort of baseline prototype, but he has worn many variations:
Just to show a few. Now, as is often the case in such a personality-driven industry as pro wrestling, there is often merchandise of every conceivable kind produced in support of the wrestlers to bring in extra revenue. In CHIKARA's case, I understand that while the promotion handles most of this itself, certain wrestlers, such as UMB (and Delirious also, I believe) can and do create and sell their own merch. UMB has a personal website which had, at one point, many dozens of shirt designs available and, yes, masks. But the guy is so damn popular that these things always sell out fast. Case in point, last week he announced a restocking of masks, and as I frantically tried to get a paypal account set up, the entire run sold out.
Yet all is not lost!
I will be attending my first ever CHIKARA show, "Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show" at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 25. UMB has announced that masks will be on sale there. Anticipating similar demand as on his website, I will treat the event like Black Friday and camp out beginning the previous Wednesday.
1) Mask
2) Robe
3) Skull staff dealy
4) Neck adornment
5) Pants/Tights
6) Shoes/Boots
These are arranged roughly in order of their importance to the ensemble as a whole. Obviously then, we must start at the mask:
That is the sort of baseline prototype, but he has worn many variations:
Just to show a few. Now, as is often the case in such a personality-driven industry as pro wrestling, there is often merchandise of every conceivable kind produced in support of the wrestlers to bring in extra revenue. In CHIKARA's case, I understand that while the promotion handles most of this itself, certain wrestlers, such as UMB (and Delirious also, I believe) can and do create and sell their own merch. UMB has a personal website which had, at one point, many dozens of shirt designs available and, yes, masks. But the guy is so damn popular that these things always sell out fast. Case in point, last week he announced a restocking of masks, and as I frantically tried to get a paypal account set up, the entire run sold out.
Yet all is not lost!
I will be attending my first ever CHIKARA show, "Chikarasaurus Rex: King of Show" at the ECW Arena in Philadelphia on Sunday, July 25. UMB has announced that masks will be on sale there. Anticipating similar demand as on his website, I will treat the event like Black Friday and camp out beginning the previous Wednesday.
Coming Soon To The Stone Harbor Arcade!
I picked up a copy of the Playstation mag yesterday, and while the short article on Rudo Resurrection did not have any screenshots or new images, it did give us some more insight into the plot and gameplay.
Two games they likened it to were the old massive 4-6 player Avengers and X-Men arcade consoles, which I am hugely excited about since I LOVED those games. The general plot outline is that UltraMantis Black steals the life energy of the tecnicos to raise his undead army to fight the Chikara-invading Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (BDK), but it backfires and BDK gains control of them. It then falls to the Colony to fight the horde and revive the tecnicos (making them playable).
Yes. Yes, I am excited.
Two games they likened it to were the old massive 4-6 player Avengers and X-Men arcade consoles, which I am hugely excited about since I LOVED those games. The general plot outline is that UltraMantis Black steals the life energy of the tecnicos to raise his undead army to fight the Chikara-invading Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (BDK), but it backfires and BDK gains control of them. It then falls to the Colony to fight the horde and revive the tecnicos (making them playable).
Yes. Yes, I am excited.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Video Games Are The New Sunlight
As I mentioned previously, I’m on a four-year streak of strictly rocking video game characters for Halloween. And, while I would absolutely embrace Project UMB whether the streak would be kept alive or not, there is an excellent chance that by Halloween, UltraMantis Black will, in fact, be a video game character:
In charge of creating this masterpiece is Rogue Brains, a newly-formed game development company whose members have worked on such projects as Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War, Empire Earth III, Bully: Scholarship Edition, Red Dead Redemption, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lord of the Rings Online and others. Through the production blog on the site as well as their Facebook and Twitter feeds, the team at Rogue Brains has been running updates on their progress. They seem genuinely invested in the vision here, and I am certainly excited to see what they come up with.
The latest copy of The Official Playstation Magazine has an article on Rudo Resurrection which I’m very keen to read. Hopefully my local newsstand can help me out because I’m not subscribing to a magazine promoting a console I don’t own, nor will I ever own unless Rudo Resurrection doesn’t come out on XBox 360.
Initial reports said the game was slated for release in Fall 2010, but CHIKARA officials have made it known through their online forum that while that is the time frame they are aiming at, they will not release it until it is perfect. I'm glad their dedication to this game's quality stands equal to that towards the rest of their product.
In charge of creating this masterpiece is Rogue Brains, a newly-formed game development company whose members have worked on such projects as Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War, Empire Earth III, Bully: Scholarship Edition, Red Dead Redemption, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lord of the Rings Online and others. Through the production blog on the site as well as their Facebook and Twitter feeds, the team at Rogue Brains has been running updates on their progress. They seem genuinely invested in the vision here, and I am certainly excited to see what they come up with.
The latest copy of The Official Playstation Magazine has an article on Rudo Resurrection which I’m very keen to read. Hopefully my local newsstand can help me out because I’m not subscribing to a magazine promoting a console I don’t own, nor will I ever own unless Rudo Resurrection doesn’t come out on XBox 360.
Initial reports said the game was slated for release in Fall 2010, but CHIKARA officials have made it known through their online forum that while that is the time frame they are aiming at, they will not release it until it is perfect. I'm glad their dedication to this game's quality stands equal to that towards the rest of their product.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tell Me More About This Vegan Donut
All right, and now, the villain's (rudo's?) exposition. This is going to be a long post. Where to begin...
With Italian Magic Cards, You Can Play It As An Instant
Halloween might be my very favorite holiday of all. There's bracing fall air, and candy, and women everywhere may dress as sluttily as they like without the fear of being branded a tramp. All well and good. But the real fun for me is The Costume. I have to spend most of the year keeping my overly-fantastic imagination in check, but on that holiday I can indulge, selecting a new identity and assuming it as fully as possible.
In recent years I've been favoring video game characters. Last year I went as Ryu from the Street Fighter games, but mostly they're a bit more obscure, including Dan Smith (Killer7) Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes) and Albert Wesker (Resident Evil).
This year, I'm taking it in a bit of a different direction.
Is That An Inverted Fantastic Four Logo?
So I'm a fairly avid pro wrestling fan, but in recent years I've become somewhat bored and jaded with the mainstream offerings of WWE and TNA. With the exception of some standout moments from C.M. Punk, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels and a couple others, it's pretty forgettable stuff. In fact, the most fun I've had with mainstream wrestling lately has been watching the Hogan-Bischoff-Flair TNA regime just crash and burn and explode, giving us absurd, contrived, flash-in-the-pan plot twists and the unending laughable booking of Hulk Hogan as
A) FAR stronger than everyone else on the roster,
B) possessed of Solomon-like wisdom and jurisprudence, and
C) NOT an ego-driven front-running cancer to all that is pro wrestling in the last 20 years.
I hear they are negotiating to bring in Paul Heyman to be head booker. I'm almost disappointed because without the Russonian typewriter monkeys running that aspect of things, it'll become the same rushed-yet-boring mediocre paste that WWE is for the most part, seeing as how they've got 2 hours a week to somehow maximize their massive roster of buried indie talent and WWE substance abusers. What's a disenfranchised wrestling fan to do?
Happen across the magic that is CHIKARA PRO.
I won't spend too much time describing it, as it's really something that everyone should experience for themselves. One could describe it as comic-book superhero lucha libre. It's based in southeastern Pennsylvania, but lately they've been doing shows as far north as Massachusetts and as far west as Michigan. They don't do shows too often (once or twice a month), and have no TV contract, but every show is put out on DVD (with sweet unique cover art) and they support the events with weekly podcasts, promos, and updates (available on youtube). I think the booking and storytelling is great, and the action itself is top-notch. It has really reinvigorated my love of pro wrestling.
The Great And Devious
So, it stands to reason that this year for Halloween, I'm already planning on assuming the mantle of my favorite character from CHIKARA--and that would be the Malevolent Mastermind, the Angry Insect Evildoer, UltraMantis Black.
UMB is one of the founding members of CHIKARA (est. 2002) and, following a brief initial period as a tecnico (babyface/good guy), he turned rudo (heel/bad guy) and is the most senior villain in CHIKARA's locker room. I am resisting the urge to go into a full career bio at this point, but I've already given you the resources to Czech that out if you are actually interested.
What you need to know is that, as a model for a Halloween identity, UMB is without peer. Behold his garb and visage as he displays his olde-timey eloquence in pursuing his agenda:
And treat your ears to his brilliant and insightful color commentary on CHIKARA matches:
So you see, UMB is quite the total package when it comes to imposing spectacles. And as such, I can adopt no other identity for Halloween!
Stinkoman 20X6 Would Back Down From This
But this undertaking will truly be a challenge. In the first place, there is hardly anything commonplace about the wardrobe--specially designed mask, robe, the skull staff, etc. But the superficial trappings are really only part of it.
For you see, UltraMantis Black is vegan.
Nothing odd about that, in itself. Lots of people are vegan. Other pro wrestlers, even. Brian Danielson, widely regarded by smarks everywhere as the world's best, is himself a vegan. But the difference here is that veganism is actually a part of UMB's gimmick (as is cleverly done with the whole "insectoid" bit). (10/12/10 EDIT: Or not? Mantae are super-carnivores, as a couple of entomologists have told me) Observe:
So it is that I cannot truly attempt this undertaking by simply maintaining the outward appearance of UltraMantis Black, but rather that I must, as he implores fellow commentator Bryce Remsburg in the video above, "Live it!"
You get the gist. In order to method-act the hell out of this one-night-only (well, maybe two or three nights only, we'll see what the party schedule looks like) performance, I am going to adopt a vegan diet for the entire month of October (8/2/10 EDIT: Scope stretched out to the span between 20 September and 7 November). This will require a great deal of research and mental, physical, and psychological preparation. Since, as of now, I am a pretty big fan of eating dead animals of every stripe, I anticipate the experience will make those two Lents during which I quit smoking seem downright orgasmic.
Nevertheless, I'm excited for the challenge. It'll be great to have such an involved activity to shake up the sediment of life for the next couple of months. I look forward to learning many things I would not otherwise have learned, and almost certainly gaining a new perspective, or several. Not to mention a thing or two about the limits of the human body. Who knows, I might even wind up sticking to it (though that possibility is a remote one). But most importantly, I look forward to Halloween, when I'll be paying ultimate tribute to one of the most entertaining characters in pro wrestling today.
UltraMantis Blog
So the purpose of this blog is twofold: firstly, so that I have a firsthand account of the experience to laugh and shudder at for years to come; and secondly to make the whole experience known to others, so that failure to persevere is compounded by the threat of public humiliation.
Forward!
With Italian Magic Cards, You Can Play It As An Instant
Halloween might be my very favorite holiday of all. There's bracing fall air, and candy, and women everywhere may dress as sluttily as they like without the fear of being branded a tramp. All well and good. But the real fun for me is The Costume. I have to spend most of the year keeping my overly-fantastic imagination in check, but on that holiday I can indulge, selecting a new identity and assuming it as fully as possible.
In recent years I've been favoring video game characters. Last year I went as Ryu from the Street Fighter games, but mostly they're a bit more obscure, including Dan Smith (Killer7) Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes) and Albert Wesker (Resident Evil).
This year, I'm taking it in a bit of a different direction.
Is That An Inverted Fantastic Four Logo?
So I'm a fairly avid pro wrestling fan, but in recent years I've become somewhat bored and jaded with the mainstream offerings of WWE and TNA. With the exception of some standout moments from C.M. Punk, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels and a couple others, it's pretty forgettable stuff. In fact, the most fun I've had with mainstream wrestling lately has been watching the Hogan-Bischoff-Flair TNA regime just crash and burn and explode, giving us absurd, contrived, flash-in-the-pan plot twists and the unending laughable booking of Hulk Hogan as
A) FAR stronger than everyone else on the roster,
B) possessed of Solomon-like wisdom and jurisprudence, and
C) NOT an ego-driven front-running cancer to all that is pro wrestling in the last 20 years.
I hear they are negotiating to bring in Paul Heyman to be head booker. I'm almost disappointed because without the Russonian typewriter monkeys running that aspect of things, it'll become the same rushed-yet-boring mediocre paste that WWE is for the most part, seeing as how they've got 2 hours a week to somehow maximize their massive roster of buried indie talent and WWE substance abusers. What's a disenfranchised wrestling fan to do?
Happen across the magic that is CHIKARA PRO.
I won't spend too much time describing it, as it's really something that everyone should experience for themselves. One could describe it as comic-book superhero lucha libre. It's based in southeastern Pennsylvania, but lately they've been doing shows as far north as Massachusetts and as far west as Michigan. They don't do shows too often (once or twice a month), and have no TV contract, but every show is put out on DVD (with sweet unique cover art) and they support the events with weekly podcasts, promos, and updates (available on youtube). I think the booking and storytelling is great, and the action itself is top-notch. It has really reinvigorated my love of pro wrestling.
The Great And Devious
So, it stands to reason that this year for Halloween, I'm already planning on assuming the mantle of my favorite character from CHIKARA--and that would be the Malevolent Mastermind, the Angry Insect Evildoer, UltraMantis Black.
UMB is one of the founding members of CHIKARA (est. 2002) and, following a brief initial period as a tecnico (babyface/good guy), he turned rudo (heel/bad guy) and is the most senior villain in CHIKARA's locker room. I am resisting the urge to go into a full career bio at this point, but I've already given you the resources to Czech that out if you are actually interested.
What you need to know is that, as a model for a Halloween identity, UMB is without peer. Behold his garb and visage as he displays his olde-timey eloquence in pursuing his agenda:
And treat your ears to his brilliant and insightful color commentary on CHIKARA matches:
So you see, UMB is quite the total package when it comes to imposing spectacles. And as such, I can adopt no other identity for Halloween!
Stinkoman 20X6 Would Back Down From This
But this undertaking will truly be a challenge. In the first place, there is hardly anything commonplace about the wardrobe--specially designed mask, robe, the skull staff, etc. But the superficial trappings are really only part of it.
For you see, UltraMantis Black is vegan.
Nothing odd about that, in itself. Lots of people are vegan. Other pro wrestlers, even. Brian Danielson, widely regarded by smarks everywhere as the world's best, is himself a vegan. But the difference here is that veganism is actually a part of UMB's gimmick (as is cleverly done with the whole "insectoid" bit). (10/12/10 EDIT: Or not? Mantae are super-carnivores, as a couple of entomologists have told me) Observe:
So it is that I cannot truly attempt this undertaking by simply maintaining the outward appearance of UltraMantis Black, but rather that I must, as he implores fellow commentator Bryce Remsburg in the video above, "Live it!"
You get the gist. In order to method-act the hell out of this one-night-only (well, maybe two or three nights only, we'll see what the party schedule looks like) performance, I am going to adopt a vegan diet for the entire month of October (8/2/10 EDIT: Scope stretched out to the span between 20 September and 7 November). This will require a great deal of research and mental, physical, and psychological preparation. Since, as of now, I am a pretty big fan of eating dead animals of every stripe, I anticipate the experience will make those two Lents during which I quit smoking seem downright orgasmic.
Nevertheless, I'm excited for the challenge. It'll be great to have such an involved activity to shake up the sediment of life for the next couple of months. I look forward to learning many things I would not otherwise have learned, and almost certainly gaining a new perspective, or several. Not to mention a thing or two about the limits of the human body. Who knows, I might even wind up sticking to it (though that possibility is a remote one). But most importantly, I look forward to Halloween, when I'll be paying ultimate tribute to one of the most entertaining characters in pro wrestling today.
UltraMantis Blog
So the purpose of this blog is twofold: firstly, so that I have a firsthand account of the experience to laugh and shudder at for years to come; and secondly to make the whole experience known to others, so that failure to persevere is compounded by the threat of public humiliation.
Forward!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Project UMB: The Great Challenge
I'm at work, so I can't really go into much detail now, just wanted to get the first post up. Welcome to the fun!
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