Checking in with a couple reminders: 1) If you're taken out, please report in via the form (bit.ly/ldbcform) and post an Elfie that captures the moment of your downfall. It's been a rough game thus far, with 61 of you reporting in thus far, but I know there've been more than that. /1

Oh, it's on.

Happy Thanksgiving, all. Just remember: after midnight, it's game faces on.

Beware He Who Walks Behind the Bows. (See what I did there? Awkward, ain't it? Barely makes sense, in fact. I am without shame.)

An early pre-game warning, faithful LDBCers: a bunch of you have mentioned that Etsy ad, which contains the dread tune. But according to Laura, below, you have time to dump out of it before the fatal notes strike.

OK, so normally I post the day after Halloween. This year, I figured we could only deal with one anxiety-inducing ordeal at a time, so I waited for the World Series to end. I hope everyone had a great summer. Just 27 days 'til we give our nerves a REAL workout. Spread the word.

You know, not to alarm you or anything, but it's almost September already. Just thought I'd mention that. But, y'know—enjoy the rest of your summer and stuff.

Let's put a bow on it, folks. This one starts with a gunfight where no one's shot and ends with tears at a funeral for a clown. Ready?

OK, people. Last call: fill out the form (bit.ly/ldbcform) with your win or loss if you haven't already (no dupes, please), and let's see your winning Elfies! (Make like Jon Gardner's kid, Donald Dulchinos, Holly Melton, and Maïs Non here; attach them as comments to this post.) For Mike!

Before I forget, a cool thing about moving to Bluesky is that I've picked up some great followers I never would've found otherwise. But I'd also love to see your posts on my year-round jawn, mainly used for author stuff and other random things. So if you like, follow me: @michaelalanpeck.com

He’s gone for the 15th time. Those of us who made it value our good fortune, and those who didn’t look to next year, when it all begins anew...

With a little more than 24 hours to go, the missus and I are still standing. Who's with us? Sing out.

Everything old is new again, so I have yet another warning for you. This video, which features a group of young men caroling and the caption "You can't judge a book by its cover" took down a number of people a couple years back. Now IT'S back. Don't watch it. That is all. For Mike!

An update. (Sick of me yet? Me, too!) LDBC-er Maï Non has helpfully pointed us toward Tunefind (https://tunefind.com), where you can search TV shows, movies, and more for LDB. Yet another useful tool for your box of eternal vigilance (https://bit.ly/LDBCtoxic). For Mike!

Another warning, this time from faithful LDBCer Angelique Ortiz-Kane: if someone sends you this, scroll on. "Just because." Because what? Because you're a myrmidon for The Boy if you forward this thing, that's what! But Angelique knows better. And now, thanks to her? So. Do. We. For Mike!

Alert: Thoughtful LDBCer Julianna Taylor-Gomia warns us that the Carpool Karaoke Christmas Special "has 1.5 instances of The Boy Who Drums" in it, which means you'll perish at time and a half. (No, my stupid joke doesn't make any sense to me, either. What, you thought I had standards?) For Mike!

The calendar says it's an unlucky day, and the calendar's never wrong. How about a periodic check-in?

Good news, depending on where you are. (Hey, I'll take my light where I can find it.)

Heads up, people! Thanks to eagle-eyed (eared?) LDBCers Sarah Boucher and John Ruckus Kittredge, we've been warned that episode four ("Go Bang Time") of Netflix's BLACK DOVES features Johnny Cash's take on LDB and will, fittingly enough for this show, kill you dead. Ever vigilant!

Heads up, Canadian friends—incoming! (And thanks to fallen LDBCer Joe LeClair for the warning.) For Mike!

Seems like just yesterday everyone was still in this Thing of Ours. OK, four days ago. Not anymore, alas. Time for a check-in!

A warning from stalwart LDBC-er Cathy D. Thomas, people. ALERT: AVOID ALL ADS IN MOVIE THEATRES Fathom plays ads on most US screens, and the show For King and Country — A DRUMMER BOY CHRISTMAS LIVE has ads there, on social media and tv/radio sites. Also, beware of YouTube...

It has begun. Let's do this thing.

If you see this, post a knight.

After midnight tonight, he roams.

Puh-rum-pum-pum-pum, people. Please welcome our new friends at AccuRadio to the struggle. They've created a whopping seven Boy-free channels for your enjoyment and safety in this year's game (which starts at midnight tonight)! You'll find the link in this blog post: https://buff.ly/4fK7MJd

Another reminder of the horror to come, people. (Hey, it's my job.) And an apology to blog subscribers. I unpublished some stuff due to a tech SNAFU. As I republish, you may get pelted with notifications about ancient posts. We regret the error, and we'll try to go slow. And now? On with the fear!

Introduce yourself as a TV character.