Friday, 21 December 2012

Geek and Sundry is my tv!

Hello dearest readers,

There may be two posts this week as I have the means for it.

There will also be a new Clog on my youtube channel today, so watch out.

But for now I want to tell you why geek and sundry (http://www.youtube.com/user/geekandsundry) is an amazing youtube channel that you must watch.

So they have 7 shows along with various Tuesday night hang outs which go from guys playing old romancey type games to girls discussing romance and erotica.

I love the shows my favourite being a show based on an online gulid, it based a lot on WoW and those who play a lot of online games will recognise much of yourself in the characers. There are now 6 series and they are all amazing and get better and better. It's written by Felicia Day and as you know I'm a fan.

You can watch season one here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSC2TMwyqzg
They also have run throughs of the last 5 series as 6 is still airing.



My other favourite is Table Top. Now I have been a gamer all my life, but before I started my WoW escapades and my Xbox addiction I played table top games. I remember many a Christmas, Easter or random Friday night playing an epic game called Talisman. It's kinda like dungeons and dragons but a board game that requires less roleplay...unless you're me and always get way into it.

Now Table Top on Geek and Sundry is hosted by Wil Wheaton (another reason I like it, I'm a massive fan, safe to say I may have had a Wesley crush when I was younger).

Every episode Wil talks us through an amazing game and then invites his friends over to play it. By friends I'm talking Rod Roddenberry, Amber Benson, Steve Jackson, Felicia Day and CEO of Blizzard and thats a tiny selection.

It is massive fun watching people I love on tv and gaming all get competitive while playing the best games such as Munchkin, (which I have blogged about here; http://cozibizzle.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/as-promised/) Gloom (http://cozibizzle.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/the-sky-is-gray-the-tea-is-cold/) along with many others like Settlers of Catan, Fluxx, Zombie Dice and more. I do own most of these lol.Here's the link; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj6C1CBXPvc&list=PL4F80C7D2DC8D9B6C&index=1



There are other shows like Written by a kid which is stories that a kid tell and get made into little films, Space Janitors is a new show which you kinda get the jist from in the title. There's Dark Horse Comics animated comics, watch them and then there's Sword and Laser, a fantasy and adventure type book club;



You can watch the shows on the geek and sundry youtube page which I linked above. Also they have a website with forums, ventrilo chat and live chat where all the links to the shows are along with links to get cool clothes and stuff based on the channel; http://geekandsundry.com/

So that is my weekly tv, others watch strictly and stuff, I watch fun videos that are basically my life in ten minutes.

Hope you are now more educated, at least about me and my craziness.

Love to all darlings, seasons greetings.
xxx


Monday, 10 December 2012

I'm making Biltong

Hi dearest darlings,

I am back. Had a few issues, blah blah winge winge.

But I am here and this is a little tutorial for people who may or may not want to make their own biltong. Now for those  of you who do not know biltong is a snack made of hung and dried beef strips popular in Africa and South Africa. My Mum was born and partly raised in Zambia which is as south of Africa as you can get without being in South Africa. She used to make it out there, they tend to just hang beef in sheds out there but here the air is too damp and it would just mould.

So in this fabulous country we use a box designed to make biltong in, it looks like this;



 It's basically a box with polls across it. There are small holes in the lid and then a fan and lightbulb that can be seen there to plug in. The fan and light are needed for heat and air flow as the beef needs t dry out.

You then have spices that you use to flavour the meet;

And then you need hooks to hang the meat on;


The way you make it is, a bit of vinegar and the spices rubbed into the meat and left to marinate for at least 4 hours, we usually do it over night.




Then when that's done, hook through the top of the strip and hang it. It shouldn't touch the bottom and the pieces should be spaced apart so they don't touch.

It's then a case of waiting. Hang it in the box, turn the fan and light on and leave. Small thin strips take about 36 hours but the big strips take between 3 days and 5 days to fully dry out.


 Depending on taste you can eat it when ever as beef is edible 'rare', we tend to eat it mostly dry so there may be a bit of pink/red on the very inside but it's mostly dry and chewy.

I planned on taking a picture of it completely done but it didn't last that long and was consumed. So yea, that's making biltong.

 I would blog more about my cooking but my macaroons aren't very good at the moment and most things are common so if I do another random type food thing I will definitely blog it.

I will blog again soon providing that Dragon age and world of Warcraft don't eat up my time. There are new clog (my video blog) episodes up. There are more to follow, one on Castle and one on Zombie stuff.

Promise I will try to update more often but not doing anything means I rarely have interesting things to tell you.

Goodbye for now my loves.
xxx

Sunday, 11 November 2012

Random NaNo procrastination

Hello darling readers,

I am vehemently procrastinating as I am participating in NanoWriMo which is short for national novel writing month where you write 50,000 words in a month as a novel. I managed this last year, however this year it's very very difficult  I am like 14,000 words behind already which is rubbish. And yet I am still not doing it even when I get the chance.

I have an excuse today though, I'm having negative after effects of alcohol, which is rubbish cos the effect last night I enjoyed, but that's the price you pay. On the upside my family have been nice about it, however they have also been mocking my condition.

Yesterday two of my close friends tied the knot, it was a great day. I'm half jealous of them while the other half of me really doesn't want to have a day where I'm the centre of attention. Guess time will tell.

How have you all been?

I have many plans of things to learn and do this month, however I'm not actually doing them which is a bit lame. I just need to get my act together.

Thats about it. Stay tuned for some of my nano making it on this blog.

xxx

Monday, 8 October 2012

The reason I write Fanfiction.

Hello dearies,

I know it's been a while, I could explain but it's private and depressing so I won't bore you. I've been out of my usual internet circles of late so this is actually the first blog/vlog, since then.

Just to let you know I am part way through editing a vlog which should be up sometime this week I hope.

Anyway, today's topic; fanfiction.

Now most of you probably have an idea of what this is, and woe betide anyone who immediately jumps to 50 Shades of Grey cos that is the worst advert for fanfic in the whole of the universe. I mean really!!! Gah, I can't even - eugh! Why - just ew -no.

Sorry minor spaz, no right, fanfiction is writing using already established characters. Fanfic comes in many forms, there's shippers who write couples from shows, books films games etc, these are people invested in a relationship from their chosen place. Slash, which is usually the homosexual versions, and normally ones that aren't canon except to them, I have a couple of these cos I get angry at the universe when something obvious isn't shown *cough John and Sherlock cough* And then there's people who like to make up new adventures for the sake of it but love certain characters or cba to make their own up.

And then there's people who are published fanfiction writers, for instance ever read a world of warcraft book, assassins creed, doctor who...I could go on. These people write fanfiction but for the show, although not strictly cannon they don't change the relationships and history etc.

Now all this information is purely my interpretation, fanfiction does not have rules, that's the beauty of fandoms, people write because they love to, they love the characters or the universes whatever.

I write fanfiction. Some people knew this, others didn't well I have been writing it for about 4 years and I've been reading it a lot longer, published and internet based. I have a few pieces of my own work online and I write it for 3 main reasons;

1. I love the characters and their relationships (granted I do slash couples,)

2. I love to write and using pre-made characters that people are already invested in does make it easier and it does get read.

And 3. My life is boring. Well no, I just tend to escape through writing or reading because on screen romance is so much better than real life. It's easier to write a whirlwind romance using an established tv couple than trying to find and live one yourself.

Plus climbing mountains and throwing a magic ring into a volcano just isn't something you can get from a package holiday :P

So thats my small and hopefully informative blog today, if you're interested in fanfic there are many a site. But please please check the rating before you read it, if it's above pg-13 I'd be careful. Also find out what acronyms mean for instance if you don't want a risqué 18+ peice steer clear of PWP cos it means; and I apologise for the crude wording; Porn Without Plot.

Okay so that's my warning, key sites for fanfic are around I am a member of Livejournal (not just for ff) and many people use Fanfiction.net self naming really.

Any questions or whatever I can always be reached by email; cozi.blog@live.co.uk

Speak soon my lovely readers
xxx

Monday, 24 September 2012

The REAL Unnatural Axe

Hello darlings,

So my first ever blog on Blogger, it's a whole new experience for me. Moving makes it a lot easier to keep on top of my youtube channel, G+ and blog posts. So, here it is.

This week is my making of Unnatural Axe from the game Munchkin (tutorial can be found at cozibizzle.wordpress.com)

It's all part of my outfit for London Comic con where I am going as the female munchkin character. Hopefully there will be a vlog about it but due to life situations all my social networking stuff is running late.

So anyway, the axe looks like this on the card;


So I started with an enlarged picture and some cardboard;


I drew round my axe head and cut it out, twice.


It needs to be a sturdy so thicker cardboard is best. You need a handle so I chose bamboo as I had it. Stick the bamboo to the axe head, one on either side of the bamboo then use masking tape to connect the blades.



 Now comes the messy messy fun. Paper mache!!! :) Cover the whole thing, let it dry for a day, usual drill.


Keep doing it, do as many layers as you want. To add horns use cones of paper and tape it on the axe. Use a lot of tape if needed, masking tape is best as paper mache stickes to it. You only need tissue/thin paper and a pva - water mix. I did several layers so the axe was really solid. For any lumps or points fashion out of rolled up paper or foil, tape and layer the glue/paper mix letting it dry between layers.

It's very tedious, I got very frustrated with the waiting.

But then you get to paint, awh yea;


Gotta love the painting. Always put paper down when doing messy things, it avoids parents/housemates getting angry at mess on the carpet (although if you're quick soap and water gets any accidents off.)

Onve dry and you've done as many coats as you like use marker or paint to detail your weapon. And you're done;


I used pva to cover the finished axe just for a shiny finish. And I am part way there for my outfit.

Hopefully my vlogs will be up by Friday, one of which is about my complete outfit, or more me prancing around in it.

Loveage to all who read my waffle!

xxx








Tuesday, 18 September 2012

the sky is gray, the tea is cold...


I'm moving my blog, well, I'm gunna blog on two sites until I've converted all my followers. This was Mondays!
Happy Monday everyone!
Here’s the plan, I am trying to do a new blog every monday about my weeks activities or stuff I like and every Friday I will post another Clog episode which will be something game/craft/review related. This Friday it’s a review, to find out what of you will have to tune in :P
Anyway, today’s topic is a game I have had fun playing all week called Gloom. http://www.atlas-games.com/gloom/
Wil Wheaton has done it on Tabletop which is why I shalln’t be doing a tutorial, for how to play watch his show, it makes it easier;
Today I am simply gunna tell some stories about the Gloom universe that have appeared in games I’ve played this week, first off meet the families.
This is Castle Slogar; we have Melissa Slogar – The Cadaverous Child, Lord Slogar – Brain in a Box, Professor Helena Slogar – Eccentric Inventor, Grogar – Work in Progress and Elias E. Gorr -Itinerant Gravedigger.
Here is Blackwater Watch; The Old Dam – Murderous Matriarch, Willem Stark – Disturbing Handyman, Balthazar – the Unfaithful Hound, Cousin Mordecai – the Red-headed Stepchild and Angel – Starry-eyed Serial Killer.
Hemlock Hall; Butterfield – the Lurking Butler, Lord Wellington-Smythe – Dumbfounded Duke, Goody Zarr – Nefarious Nanny, Lola Wellington-Smythe – Wild Child and The Twins – Adorable Tots.
And the last family: Dark’s Den of Deformity; Samson O’Toole – the Bearded Man, Elissandre DeVille – the Illustrated Lady, Darius Dark – Sinister Ringmaster, Thumbelisa – the Diminutive Diva and Mister Giggles – Creepy Clown.
Now each player has a family. I’m gunna play with the Den of Deformity as they’re my favourite to mess up. And here goes.
So, Thumbelisa is a small singer in the circus. But like every girl she wants t go to prom, she wants the dress and the dancing and the handsome man on her arm. So she’s on her way when she bumps into some people from school. They’re what we call midgets, and although she tries to walk past them without them noticing they spot her. They start to laugh at her gown which she thought was lovely. The laugh at the lace along her chest and laugh at the sleeves she’s wearing. So she was mocked by midgets!
Thumbelisa doesn’t give up, she goes to the dance where she waits by the punch bowl. Her date said he’d meet her there, although she had no idea who he was yet. She was stood waiting a while when all of a sudden the punch started to bubble. It grew like something was emerging from within. After an agonising minute of staring it burst. It flew all over her dress that had been mocked. As she turn away in sodden shock she saw the schools local heart-throb watching her with the group of midgets all around him. They were all throwing their heads back laughing. So she was disgraced at the dance!
So her prom plan had failed. Thumbelisa slowly made her way out of the dance hall. She moved though the corridor with tears and make-up streaming down her face. She stopped just outside the school and sat against the wall crying. After a few minutes she stated rocking. To and fro, to and fro. She thought about those who had laughed and as their faces flew through her mind she felt he sanity leaving her. She went mildly mad!
She managed to pull herself together for the short walk to the train station. Boarding the late train she took a seat in the corner of the room and sulked. No sooner had they got out into the country when the train let out a huge metallic screech. The whole train lurched forward and ground to a halt. Looking out of the window into the darkness, Thumbelisa started to cry, her night was getting bad. She was trapped on a train!
She sat silently. Fog looming through the darkness. The train was creepy and black. Nothing moved. Nothing could be heard. Thumbelisa stared into the blackness, not only of the train but also of her life. |She’d been laughed at and completely disgraced in front of her peers. She had no idea how to get through this. As she lay her head against the seat she closed her eyes. As she did she could feel consciousness leave her.
Thumbelisa died of despair!
See this can be so much fun. I got loads of pathos points for that death. :) Now to my next; I was gunna do all five but it’s a little pic heavy already. So Darius Dark;
So Darius Dark, pretty well off guy. He owns his own circus, and named it after himself. Unfortunately its a complete flop. He has a bearded man and a illustrated lady who is so modest she doesn’t show any of her skin other than her eyes. No wonder it was going so badly. Darius kept putting money into his dream but just wasn’t making money. One night he was walking back from the bank, they’d just refused another loan. He strolled through the local graveyard that made a shortcut to the big top when he stopped and looked around.
Suddenly he had a brilliant idea. He sprinted back to the tent and yelled for Mister Giggles to come help. Both men hurtled back to the graveyard shovels in hand. When Darius stopped and pointed. With a nod both men began to dig at a grave. After about 45 minutes of digging they struck gold. Literately. Darius held up a huge, slightly dirty, golden goblet. Grinning the two men exchanged looks as Darius stashed the cup in his jacket. Darius stole from a stiff!
 Now, being a small village, the word about Darius’ new-found wealth had got out. He was becoming wealthy and powerful. So naturally he became an MP. Within a few short months he had become the most popular man in the kingdom. Darius was popular in parliament!
Now Darius was on top of the world. He would often take a horse and carriage around the village, just so people knew who it was riding through. He would enter a room with such presence that everyone would stop and stare. One morning Darius came out of his caravan and took a deep breath of air. He looked across the moors where the early morning mist was rising. He looked toward the village and decided a morning walk was in order. He set out at a slow pace admiring the scenery as he went. He was barely into the graveyard when he heard movement. He stopped and listened hard. After a minute of not hearing anything he carried on.
All of a sudden he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. The blow sent him cascading to the ground. More blows followed. Through the commotion of wooden bats, limbs and flailing to get out of the way, Darius saw his attackers were dressed in the ugliest, dirtiest clothes he’d ever seen. He was being beaten by beggars!
The attack didn’t stop when Darius lost consciousness. He was aware of movement and sound as his hearing cleared. His eyes fluttered as he realised he was propped up next to a tall wooden pole. It reminded him of his circus ring and all of a sudden Darius was filled with a poignant sense of remorse. He wanted his old life back, no money, no fame. As he came to this realisation he decided whatever happened to him would be relief.
The last thing he thought was about his life when he started the circus. How happy he’d been. How happy the group of them were, laughing and drinking together after shows.
The last thing Darius felt was the screaming agony of his arms and legs protesting as the joints popped like chicken bones. Before he had time to scream his eyes blurred and went dark, he lost reality and with his final strength he smiled. Darius was torn limb from limb!
So that’s my post on Gloom. Gotta say I did get distracted by the story telling. I’d be great at writing to pictures, I need an artist friend.
Hope that wasn’t too morbid for you all, it’s only a game after all.
Tune in for the Clog on Friday. And have a fab week.
Love to all
xx