What ever happend to those fantasic prizes? Lost to time? Sold unaware at a yard sale? Or, are they safely kept and worshiped in only a manner befitting of such a glorious haul?

In other news... "Leonard Nimoy signs on as a guest for the 2010 Emerald City Comicon." Your thoughts?

Speaking of MOTF:V1 - 23|08 01|20 19|20 08|05 11 05 25? I am up at nights, I have emailed your friend who designed the book - I can't figure it out. Is it "Wesley"? Seriously, please give me a hint Wil. Please.

Well, you need to get her on stage when you come up to Seattle for the ECCC. I think a little late night shindig is in order.

Don't forget her birthday is the 23rd of this month. Everyone needs to wish her a Happy Birthday!

23|08 05|11 01|20 05|25 09|19 20|08 Please. Need to know. Soooo close.

Please Wil help me! First block - intro, says "Wesley." Can't figure the rest. Can't sleep. What is the key? Or is there one????? Hint please!!!!

Thanks for your time Wil. You keep writing 'em, I'll keep buying 'em. See you at ECCC.

I bought the book. I own the book. The book has arrived. I am reading the book. I should finish reading the book tonight. The book is good. Very good. The book says everyone should by the book. The book will take care of you. Buy the book. Read the book. Let the book consume you. You will be one with the book. Question #1: Any place we can post reviews of the book (Lulu, here, maybe a reviews thread???) Question #2. How many of these are you planning? At nearly $20 a book (and I am not complaining because the book promised not to burn my comic collection if I bought all of them) I may be personally financing your kids higher education.

So, are you planning 2 trips next year???? "PAX looks to expand to Boston as gamers flood big Seattle event" Organizers of PAX, as it’s known, plan to satisfy at least part of that demand with a new conference, PAX East, scheduled for March 26 through March 28 in Boston, at the Hynes Convention Center. Highlights of past years included a 2007 keynote address by Wil Wheaton, the actor who played Wesley Crusher on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” He delivered what amounted to a colorful State of the Union of video games, and reminisced about growing up playing games in shopping-mall arcades and on home consoles. For the whole article: http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2009/09/as_seattle_game_conference_overflows_organizers_plot_boston_expansion.html?surround=lfn

"Here's health to you and to our Corps Which we are proud to serve; In many a strife we've fought for life And never lost our nerve; If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heaven’s scenes; They will find the streets are guarded By United States Marines." To all that have served.... Semper Fi.

I certainly don't say geek HAS to be inherited, I only state that in my case it was. In fact, I pose the question to investigate for yourself whether it was Nature or Nurture in your case. If you have the time I would love to see how you define the categories above. A geek debate about what is geek, that, my friends, defines geek!

Nerd. Dork. Dweeb. Spaz. Freak. Geek. Nature or Nurture? I only remember 4 things from the Intro to Psychology class I took 17 years ago. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Pavlov's experiments with stimulus and response (ring a bell?), the Id, Ego, and Superego, and Nature vs. Nurture. Actually, I am pretty damned surprised I remember that much. Back to my thought.... I was sitting here, reading this post when the thought hit me, "What makes me a Geek?" Is it what I do, what I say, how I act, or is it just who I am? Was I born to this strange fate or was I somehow influenced by my friends, family, or social circles? Am I genetically predisposed to Geekiness, or did my upbringing somehow poison my fragile mind and bend it to the dorkside? Let's investigate, shall we?!?!? Let's look at all of the labels that could have been put upon me while growning up (this would have been the late '70s and the '80s): Nerd: (ref: did you know the word first appeared in the Dr. Seuss story If I Ran the Zoo!) No, not me. Nerds are socially awkward, a bit single-minded, not very physically inclined, and can be a bit oblivious. They are usually too smart for their own good and don't understand why the world doesn't see things just like they do. Most Nerds have interests or hobbies that are deemed strange, unusual, or just plain weird to the general populous. Nerds tend to live within themselves and only associate with other Nerds. As for me, I seemed to fit in, for the most part, in school. I was no outcast or pariah. I did play a number of different sports and did have an understanding of social circles and where/how I fit in. Dork: A Nerd who doesn't understand the basic points of social interaction and truly believes that what they like is actually of interest or importance to everyone else. They just can't keep it to themselves, to the incredible annoyance of others. I played D&D, arcade games, read comic books, and enjoyed watching cartoons. I did not, however, dress up as Gyrhawk, the 12th level half-elf Ranger/Paladin on days other than Halloween, nor did I argue in public with my friends on the "legality" of using a pencil between your fingers when playing "Track and Field" in the arcade. Sadly, however, there was a point in time where I actually played "Gotcha" or "Assassination" while in school (you may have called it something else; a bunch of guys with dart guns sneaking around campus trying to "assassinate" each other). That aside, I was not a Dork either. Dweeb: This is an interesting one. In my book a dweeb is just an undeveloped, or underdeveloped Nerd. A little Nerdling. Can't be a Dweeb if you weren't a Nerd. Spaz: Take a Nerd or a Dork and add a strong dose of ADHD and Voila! No, I did not qualify as a spaz either. Freak: You remember this guy. He was the one that sat in the back of the class, obsessed with reptiles, pouring Elmers glue on his skin, letting it dry, and then peeling it off like a second skin (I sat next to this guy, I think he is an Accountant now). This was the weird kid everyone was actually a little scared of. No, not me either. Geek: May be a bit awkward socially, doesn't really have friends outside of their social circle, has a single minded focus on things that are outside the social norm and is associated with that obsession; may be known as a "comic book geek," "computer geek," "band geek," or "a/v geek." Geeks can be athletic, good looking, and socially normal, they are just labeled by their devotion(s) to that which is seen as different, unusual, or strange. Harmless in the pursuit of their interests, they may even be looked upon for help under unique circumstances by others. Ahhh... this feels like home. Let's go down the list: - read comic books - was in band - played D&D - dinked with computers early on - played sports - acutally dated (albiet I was 16 before I could get anyone to pay attention to me) - was ALWAYS raising my hand in class to be the one to thread and run the filmstrip projector - hung out with others like me - Everyone knew I was guilty of all of the above So yes, by definition I was a Geek. Now, I ask myself, and you, why? My Mother and Step-Father were certainly not Geeks; a stay at home Mom and an Auto Mechanic. My Step Sisters - nope. My Step Brother - career criminal and redneck, about as far from Geek as you can get. Early on in school I remember associating with all kinds of kids and having friends across the spectrum, but as we got older and developed socially my friends seemed to be more and more like me. I started in the school band in 5th grade. Everyone was either required to take band, choir, music theory, or wood shop, so I was forced into band, but I stuck with it through high school (and loved it, by the way). Did the Geekiness of my band mates rub off on me or was I inclined to remain? I could have quit after 5th grade. Most did. I stayed because I liked it. I didn't have friends that just happened to play D&D, I had friends that were friends BECAUSE they played D&D. I certainly wasn't exposed to the latest and greatest in technology growing up, so that exposure certainly wasn't a positive in the nurture column. My strange adept ability with all things audio and video? I certainly didn't grow up in a TV repair shop. The more I think about it, the more I am coming to realise that I was predisposed to be a Geek. This may not be you, but in my case, it has got to be genetic. I won't be shocked if 20 years from now scientists, very geeky scientists, somewhere discover the "Geek" gene in our DNA. So ask yourself, what brought you to this point? Was it nature, or was it nurture? Do you believe, as I do, that geekiness can be inherent and that you are predisposed at birth, or do you see social factors that influence you into this life, this calling, this existence some may know as Geek. My fate, it seems, was sealed at birth. Thank you Mom and Dad. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Too early...too early to get names right.... Wil. Wil.... one L.... only one.... must get coffee......

Currently I have in my basement: Simpsons Bowling Gauntlet Dark Legacy Operation Thunderbolt Iron Man Ivan Stewart Super Offroad Offroad Challenge Defender Donkey Kong Jr. Cocktail Lethal Enforcers You would be suprised on the cost of the classics these days. We have collectors here in the Seattle area that have all of these. Ballpark on the costs: Robotron - $300 to $600 Spyhunter (sit down version)$500 - $700 Galaga - $400 - $800 Tempest - $400 - $700 Of course you picked some of the most expensive games out there. You can find most of your classics between $50 and $300. Will, I know you don't usually make it down this far in the thread, but if you have any games you want to play at Emerald City just shout. I can get them there for you. More nostalga fun? Try www.klov.com for the Killer List of Video Games.

Well, business is business I guess, it just makes it hard on us West Coasters to get in on the fun. I checked at 0715 this morning and they were already gone. Do you post launch times for stuff like this?

$15? SHENANIGANS! SHENANIGANS I say (again)! Wil, put a stop to this!

Wait, it was $10, but because it is popular they jack the price up 50% to $15?? Um, I understand the priciples of supply and demand, but that is egregious to say the least. I am calling SHENANIGANS! SHENANIGANS! I like you Wil, but I don't like the way woot is doing business. I would rather give you the $10 and call it a day.

I checked at 0715 PST and it was gone. I failed my saving throw. Sadness engulfs me.....

Sold out!?!?!?!??! Say it isn't so! So much for Proper Prior Planning.... How long must I wait Wil? Must I do a saving throw vs. sadness and despair?

I am not jealous, becuase you have picked me to be the winner of your impromptu "Fly your ass down to LA at the last minute so you can spend the day with Wil Wheaton and bask in the awesomeness along side me at the Watchmen preview and other fun stuff" contest! Thanks Wil! Which airport should I fly into?!?!?

Wil - You need to get some ISDN lines installed in your house, or at least some good gear and produce MP3s. You should be doing all your voiceover work from home (which you may already be doing, in which case you have to let me in on what you are using). My little league story - 10 years old, pitching - I throw a pitch, next thing I know I am on my back. I caught a line drive right in the face. Spent the next day vomiting with a concussion. Not fun.

Are you going to have anything new in time for the Emerald City event?

Just hit "Add to Favorites." I'll share one of mine with you - the Marvel Podcast http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.1622.Marvel_Podcast_Central This is where I get all the skinny on what is coming up in the Marvel Universe. It is only updated every so often, but it keeps you up to date on what is going on. Cheers.