Author Archives: Shawn Scott Smith

One Cool Thing 8-6-2020 Lower Decks Premiers

Star Trek has been expanding rapidly since launching CBS All Access, showing that CBS believes Trek is key to much of their subscriber base. Along comes Lower Decks an animated show from one of the creators of Rick and Morty. It won’t be for everyone and I can see some older Trek fans just shunning it completely but I enjoyed it for a fun half hour romp during the Next Generation era of Star Trek.

It’s silly, crude and a little bit not Trek, but then it deals with things on a Starship and contact with other species and adds some levity to it. It is Star Trek in one major way, its boldy attempting to go, where no Trek show has before. The first season consists of 10 episodes starting tonight and for the next ten Thursdays on CBS ALL Access. Enjoy.

One Cool Thing 8-5-2020 Like Hell I Won’t.

This is a fascinating documentary about Todd Mcfarlane, Creator of Spawn, founder of Image comics and McFarlane Toys. I wish the documentary would do more than gloss over his struggles including coming out of bankruptcy, but it’s a great look at his rise in the industry and the changes he made. I remember the boom that came with Image and then the fall of the comics industry that happened later, partly because of the success.

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One Cool Thing 8-1-2020 Chicago gets the 80th Worldcon

Chicago has won the bid for the 80th Worldcon to be held September 1st-5th, 2022 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Some notes on this.

Now known as Chicon 8, it is the 8th time the Worldcon will take place in Chicago, IL marking it as the most visited city. Of those 8 visits 5 have taken place at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, making that hotel home to more Worldcons than any actual city other than Chicago. For more details on the plans for the event check out the Chicon Website

The next Worldcon, number 79, Discon3 takes place next August 25th-29th, in Washington, DC. Details on that event can be found here

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One Cool Thing 7-31-2020 Star’s Feud

Today we have a new drop of designer toys by Mr Brad Rader (Battle Babies). These are part of his ongoing Star’s Feud line. We have a few of the Battle Babies line hanging around our house and it’s always neat to look at a toy on the shelf and know you have a one of a kind thing. Brad is also an awesome guy who just happens to make cool stuff.

These are up now but they will sell out so go take a look at his Shop and get yourself a one of a kind designer toy.

May the Star’s Feud be with you.
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One Cool Thing 7-30-2020 Drunken Dragon Hotel

Today in the mail I got a neat package fromĀ  The Drunken Dragon Hotel

For those who know the history of the Marriot Carpet and it’s relationship to the con, this site is the place to get your tiki shirts ordered.

But what made the package so cool other than the fact that it came in a gold foil package (classy) was the effort put into the mailing. I got a letter from the front desk welcoming me to the hotel, a lanyard for next con, a do not disturb sign for the hotel door and a blue postcard for memories of Dragoncons past.

What a fun way to jazz up a shopping experience. Check into the Drunken Dragon Hotel

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One Cool Thing 7-29-2020 Dragon’s Nectar

Dragoncon like everything else this year is canceled. But the fine folks at Monks Meadery in Georgia are still releasing their Dragoncon branded Dragon’s Nectar this August and you can order it online here .

There is even a sampler pack with the other offerings by Monks Meadery. I’m looking forward to trying the Butter Buzz. I know I’ll be cracking open a Dragon’s Nectar this labor day as I mourn this years con cancellation.

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