Digging deeper into the connection between tabletop gaming, music, and pinball this week on @criticalhitparader.com

Dead Kennedys made like three records about it

Happy Belated Birthday to Clark Ashton Smith, whose only rival for the exquisite use of the English language in fantasy literature is Lord Dunsany.

Block instantly.

Fame and fortune awaits, but you only have 2 more weeks before submissions to Xcrawl Insider #3 close. Get brainstorming and send in your home brewed XCC RPG creations!

Y'all need to be Weird like me and Joey Royale. Now, you can do it for 25% fewer clams, but only this weekend. Turn your TV to Channel U and get weird!

I'm a big fan of Loan Sloane. Druillet's worlds are on par with Kirby's.

Machiste dropping truth bombs in The Warlord #8.

For no perceivable reason (aside from it’s a hell of a jam), Minor Threat’s “Salad Days” has been on repeat in my head all day. This baby is definitely no longer cute.

I've been so busy with work and the collapse of democracy that I utterly missed the debut of the 3rd season of Primal. AND, "Hide, Stone, and Bone: A Paleolithic Skirmish Wargame" ships on January 27th. Looks like I need to get back to work on my Steven Barber "Prehistoric Settlement" minis. #primal

Crowdfunding launches tomorrow! Follow the project for a FREE MONSTER special earlybird specials as soon as it launches! goodman-games.com/old-school-a... #DCCRPG

I love my players. First Vampire game of 2026 ended with the coterie possibly about to murder 12 humans at the whim of the Prince. 30 minutes after the game, one person had already created the “VtM NYE Massacre-rade” Spotify playlist of 1991 dance music for next game.

"The Lion in Winter" may be the most quotable movie ever produced. Some of those quotes are more timeless and true than others.

Angus McBride was really fucking awesome, wasn't he?

I'm really not hard to shop for. Something like this is fine for any gift-giving occasion.

I'm beginning to hear reports that Tim Kask, the first editor of Dragon Magazine, passed away last night after a sudden illness.

Well, my telephone rang, it would not stop It’s President Kennedy calling me up He said, “My friend, Bob What do we need to make the country grow?” I said, “My friend, John; Brigitte Bardot

On 25 December, T.A. 3018: at dusk, the Fellowship of the Ring sets out from Rivendell on the quest to destroy the Ring. The date of 25th December was chosen deliberately by #Tolkien. Artwork: "Moria Gate" by Anna Lee #ChristmasDay #MerryChristmas #BookSky

As a born New Yorker, Christmas always comes down to two songs: "Christmas in Hollis" & "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)". "Hollis" has the better intro jam, but you can't beat the Greatest American Band Ever. Merry Christmas to all celebrating.

Get off the bench and into the game! This is a great opportunity to get your writing in front of distinguished industry professionals like, um, @brendanlasalle.bsky.social and me. Or is that @brendanlasalle.bsky.social and I? Professionals, I tell you!

After 11 hours and untold losses to angry mobs and lag along the way, a few hearty souls made it from Hobbiton to Mordor. We even somehow managed to keep a level 1 hobbit alive the whole way through. #lotro #marchtomordor

Made it to the Last Homely House. #LOTRO #walktomordor

Walking to Mordor today in #LOTRO. Made it from the Party Tree across the Brandywine so far.

The #1 movie from when you were 10 years old is how your 2026 will go.

On Saturday, December 20th, I'll be participating in an day-long event in Lord of the Rings Online: "The Monumental March to Mordor" on the Peregrin server. This will be streamed live and open to all. Details to the Discord server with more info in the image below. #lotro #somegoodinthisworld

The passing of Anthony Geary made me realize that I can, at any moment of my choosing, stream the 1987 “comedy” Disorderlies starring the Fat Boys. Not sure if that means civilization has reached its apex or nadir.

Prepare your torches, sacks, and 10-foot poles: Mega Dungeon Month is coming.

Snowed in and my head’s doing a number on me today, so please direct any requests or inquiries to my Chief Executive Director of Shenanigans. Thank you.

As much as I love Jackson’s LotR films, part of me wishes they’d been less successful. His adaptation has become so monolithic that generations no longer envision Middle-earth via their own imaginations. Which means less opportunities to experience a Middle-earth like these:

Photographer Whitey Schafer shot this photo, entitled “Thou Shall Not” in 1940 to thumb his nose at the Hays Code. Included in the image are 10 things considered verboten by the Motion Picture Production Code.

“Saturday's child works hard for a living.” Boy, they ain’t kidding.

Jimmy Cliff has passed and I haven’t seen much about it in my feeds. Not only was he one of the reggae greats, but this movie and soundtrack only has one other equal (which is Repo Man, of course). Watch the film, then buy the album.

Happy 38th Anniversary to the Max Headroom TV Hijackers!

It's been a poor week, but at least the neighbor's landscaper didn't start leafblowing until the minute after I finished recording a 20 minute YouTube video. #littlevictories

I (dimly) remember watching this on VHS in 1991 while high as hell in a dorm room. Thinking about it now, this is the dystopia I'd much prefer rather than our current one. Can we get a do-over?

You have a date...with the WICKERTURKEY!

I may have some words about Pinball Crawl Classics if you're interested in such things. Tune in and find out!

I should be more frugal with the holidays coming, but I saw this button tonight and had to buy it.

I worked with Sally on a film back in 2001 and she was “a hoot and a holler” as they say. It was from her I first heard @brendanlasalle.bsky.social’s favorite “Mountain Man” joke. You did well, Sally. Rest in Peace.

Vaesen side game successful! Started "A Wicked Secret" last night wherein the Society investigates happenings in a secluded woodcutters' village. When buying souvenirs at the General Store was suggested, only one thing came to mind: local-themed t-shirts! #vaesen

In addition to my Vampire 1e game, the cosmos has been dropping so not-so-subtle hints I should also be running Vaesen. Since the Gary Vampires are down a player tomorrow, we’re heading to 1800s Uppsala tomorrow for some mystery solving.

I'm tremendously enjoying Röki, which mashes together Scandinavian folklore, old LucasArts' style "point and click" video games, and feels like an homage to Jim Henson's "Labyrinth." Plus, plenty of girl-empowerment from our protagonist, Tove. Available on Steam if this sounds like your kind of jam.

I've got a full plate of work waiting for me today, but somebody still has to wake up early to feed the tomte in Röki.

And I wouldn’t turn my back on the sheep either, just to be safe.

King Dragon, by Dick Hart for the book “Russian Folk Tales” (1967), looks pretty stylish. Every dragon needs a cool jacket with epaulettes.

Just checking Dick Cheney’s dead

Thanks to everyone who persevered through my annual horror marathon without blocking/unfollowing me. Here's the Top 5 films from this year's watch: White Reindeer The Boys from County Hell The Blackcoat's Daughter Even the Wind is Afraid Tumbbad We know return to our normal posting schedule.

Events submitted and approved for @garycon.com in 2026: All-new DCC Brutal Lands game (x2 sessions) Primal Aereth (my DCC/Primal mash-up for fun game) and, as an outlier for my own enjoyment, "And the Sea Shall Consume You" (New England-set Vaesen game)

Day 31: 28 Years Later 28 Days Later, 28 years later. Long delayed sequels are always a hard sell with me. 28 Years Later doesn't compare to the original, but doesn't do it disservice either. The last 20 minutes are most effective, but the last 3 almost ruin it. 💀💀1/2 of 5 #31daysofhalloween

Day 30: Tumbbad Greed and forgotten gods don't mix. Indian folk horror that's as far from Bollywood as India is from California. Evocative imagery, fairy tale feel, and a captivating, scary story. One of the best of this year's marathon. 💀💀💀1/2 of 5 #31daysofhalloween