Had Tex-Mex to mark the occasion. Got my hair cut, not to mark the occasion.

The United States Of America

July 4th 2026, 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, laying out promises and hopes for what a new nation could be.

The US has been so culturally dominant in my lifetime, and so welcoming when I’ve visited and lived there, that it feels normal to think of it as a place to go, and as a setting for modern games. And I’m sure it will be again.

The nation of Apollo 11, Hollywood and New York, superheroes and Westerns, the Blues and rock and roll and rap, Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, and RPGs.

I hope to return there one day.

Titivillus Ex Machina

If Autocorrect was a man I would be in maximum security for what I’d done to him and all the other murderers would look at me with wary respect.

Greg Stolze

All the best

Haven’t done a wedding or other huge fancy party episode in a while. Hope it goes well!

SCHISM!

SCHISM!

Was not expecting one of those today.

Let alone one where the people being booted out are the bad guys.

Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026

The Film Festival brochure is up, Ewan McGregor and a Trainspotting reunion, some possibly interesting midnight movies, but most tempted by the Connery-induced juxtaposition of a retrospective screening of The Rock at Filmhouse.

No Chillo

Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo!

Ring a dong! hop along! fal lal the willow!

Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!

Bombadilly dooly dillow

Bom de dillow hillow willow

Willow be dong dillow fillow

Tom be jugglin' an armadillo

Goldberry prefers a firm pillow

It's just her little pecadillo

Dong ding dong dillo dillo

Off we dance to Amarillo

Pillow dillo dee dong dillo

La dee dee dee willow pillow

Bong biddly bong bee hillo villo

Dongy ding dong dillo

By Bully The Little Stuffed Bull, after J.R.R. Tolkien

#RPGaDAY2026

#RPGaDAY2026 prompts are out, as as shared at Autocratik and FAQed at Runeslinger

Single words on the infographic but also an option for questions - I will likely do both.

And while some of the words suggest the glorious workers’ struggle, as the first word is Discipline and there are a few more like that I might well give the single word prompts to Vampire.

July

Happy Canada Day for one thing!

Dialogue note

Possibly influenced by a recent forum joiner

“You’re new here so I’ll give the benefit of fuck off.”

Another present

After the Photoshopped image of Cara and the resulting CGI toy pictures, a ’shop photo of the time she got sent into a Technicolor romance version of the 1950s as an attempt to get rid of her, and a CG figure pic too.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse - 401K

Death cult megacorporation Pentex hits differently these days.

“Gotta serve the Wyrm, it’s inevitable, you don’t wanna get left behind do you?”

WoD Discord thoughts:

Sharkey: Pentex is so fascinating because in addition to it being a straight up evil corporate entity concerned with profits above all else, its board of directors are knowing actors. They are spiritually aware enough to understand the same cosmology the garou understand, and they choose to pledge themselves spiritually to the Wyrm for benefits and their goals. They are themselves animistic occultists they just do so in the boardroom rather than around the bonfire.

Weird corporate retreats where you hunt the most dangerous game, where you have the junior associates fight with rusty knives for the delight of the executive class, dark rituals deifying Fly and begging for his patronage. and endless, unceasing, paperwork.

Thanatos: Well maybe if the Werewolves offered at least Dental, we would help them instead

Me: I think if they did, werewolf dental would be pretty good. New teeth every lunar month.

Mel Brooks at 100

The creator of the 2000 Year Old Man is getting there.

Labyrinth at 40

Though it came out here the following December. I mean, not long at all...

Dark Shadows at 60

Dark Shadows began on this very day in 1966. The animated series reveal could have waited a day, if not for animation festival timing.

S is looking at the episodes daily on Bluesky.

Most startling bit of that article - the big format change followed a threat to cancel the show if ratings didn’t pick up significantly in six months’ time.

I presume the animated revival will follow every other one and go for the monster rally the show became after its first year, but redoing the original idea could be fun too.

Free RPG Day

Hoping to see some things in PDF as the UK was hit by shipping issues.

I found the map and someone was able to get a book as a result. Pleased, not at all jealous!

Buffy and Angel comics interview

kelly Thompson talks to Fangoria about the initial arc and further plans, with a little new interior art too.

Presents 2026

Ready or Not (2) Here I Come, Maxxxine and Superman on shiny disc

Doctor Who: Once Upon A Time Lord

Two books, Thirteen Storeys and Lost In The Garden

Pizza

Cake

Dark Shadows: The Animated Series

Yep! I'm afraid to say too much lol but they announced it at Annecy today <3 I hope I'll get to share some of the work I did on this project in the future :D

ABIGAIL LARSON

Birthday 2026

I am...

Editing out the blurb about being as addictive as any good TV series, not to brag.