Nurture and Support

This week we tell a tale of Bulltoads, Towers, and World War I. Enjoy.

Mel’s Recommendation:

 

Game App: Dungeon Flicker by Gree Inc.

* This is a RPG Tower game that is FREE on both iOS and Android!

* Your anonymous hero advances through through each floor of the tower which consist of 16 rooms. But be careful, you only have so many moves to reach the exit.

* Work your way to the top, slaying monsters (like the Bulltoad), earn gold, and find new awesome gear!

* Did I mention it was FREE? There’s no power ups to buy either. Just Free.

 

Kelly’s Recommendation:

 

 

TV Series: The Great War Diary

* An 8 episode look at World War I available on Netflix.

* Tells the story of 14 people, both soldiers and civilians, told through diary entries and letters.

* It also shows how WWI changed the way warfare was actually done and the toll that took on the soldiers involved.

* Episode 4 deals with some brothel action. You’ve been warned.

 

Social Media Recommendations:

SURPRISE! We’re skipping these this week!

 

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

This week Kelly brings you some old school gaming that’s free, and Mel shares some The Princess Bride love.

Kelly’s Recommendation:

   

Webiste/Games: Archive.org MS-DOS Games

* Yet another treasure in the archive.org site

* Play 2400+ MS-DOS based games in YOUR BROWSER FOR FREE!

* No special set up required!!

* Wolfenstein 3D, Red Baron, Donkey Kong, and FROGGER!

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

 

Audiobook: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes with Joe Layden

* This is a charming love story about the experience of making The Princess Bride.

* It could also be subtitled “An Ode to Andre the Giant”

* Cary Elwes narrates the story with appearances by Rob Reiner, Robin Wright, and Wallace Shawn among others.

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Kelly: @ItsGrahamParker : The twitter account of previous Music Recommendation Graham Parker

 

It’s 2015 I’m told. May I remind youse… pic.twitter.com/fyzNlKzy7G

— Graham Parker (@ItsGrahamParker) January 3, 2015

  Mel: @emergency_capy: Cute pics of Capybaras aka ROUS’s!  

apple, how delightful pic.twitter.com/U7vD2Q0wxy — you need capybaras (@emergency_capy) January 6, 2015

 

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

After listening to this episode you might be able to enjoy a beautiful magna movie in your own virtual space!!

Mel’s Recommendation:

Movie: Space Pirate: Captain Harlock (2013)

* A beautiful movie based on the manga of the same title by Matsumoto in the 50s.

* It has Space Pirates that wear armor that looks like it could have come right off a Big Daddy from Bioshock.

* A young man must decide just who he will betray and how many times he will betray them in order to save the human race and return them to Earth.

 

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Gadget: Google Cardboard

* Build a Virtual Reality Headset out of CARDBOARD!

* You can buy a DIY kit or download a template, buy a few supplies and make it from all those Amazon boxes you have lying around.

* It is under $20 to by a kit and they say it only takes 20 minutes to complete (Kelly took 40 minutes, but he is “special”)

* Then download some apps to your phone, pop it in and AMAZING VIRTUAL REALITY ensues.

Social Media Recommendations:

Mel: @denofgeek: follow them for the Krull banner y’all. And the geekery…

 

Here’s our round-up of what we know about the Sherlock 2015 special, which is now filming http://t.co/JOSkXVsEid pic.twitter.com/UV64zu3OJb

— Den Of Geek (@denofgeek) January 8, 2015

 

Kelly: @treelobsters: a webcomic about lobsters discussing the day’s happenings. In a tree.  

Tree Lobsters! #648 Time Share http://t.co/hh5S7fKcCW

— Tree Lobsters! (@treelobsters) January 8, 2015

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

In this episode we revisit two of our favorite things… abandoned places and quirky sci-fi awesomeness.

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Series: Forgotten Planet

* Available on Netflix

* This series has 6 episodes that cover abandoned places. “Explore buildings and whole cities that have been cast off by humanity and forgotten by time. But why did people abandon these once-thriving places?”

* You will visit Chernobyl, Detroit (once considered “the Paris of the Midwest”), where the irradiated Bikini Island ships were brought to study (oops), Gary Indiana, and most importantly… THE SALTON SEA

* Fun fact 1: the crunchy “sand” you walk on by the shores of the Salton Sea is actually the vertebrae of some of the MILLIONS of tilapia that die off in mass each year and wash ashore.

* Fun fact 2: former recommendation Adamthewoo also likes the Salton Sea.

Kelly’s Extra Credit Assignment:

Kelly was so amazed by the Salton Sea and its story, that he scoured the interwebs for more information – and there is a lot of it including: an award winning  documentary film, Yelp reviews, articles, and videos.  The following is the best place to start…

 Documentary: Plagues and Pleasures of the Salton Sea

* Available on YouTube

* Narrated by John Waters

* You will meet “Hunky Daddy” (and be treated to a view of him you will not soon forget)

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

TV Series: The Librarians on TNT

* A new series based on some movies that TNT made starring Noah Wylie that started back in 2004.

* I definitely recommend you find the first movie in the Trilogy, “The Librarian: Quest for the Spear” as it sets up the whole story and is great fun.

* The gist: Noah Wylie is The Librarian. His job is to use his vast knowledge to protect all of us from possibly mystical artifacts that could do us great harm if bad people got hold of them.

* The series has The Librarian saving 3 other geniuses (who were also up for the job) from assassination by the Serpent Brotherhood. Like any good cult, they are determined to take over the world. The first step was to bring magic back into the world. This sounds really cool and all, but there’s a lot of magical whatnots that can kill all of us normals. So, the 3 Junior Geniuses become Junior Librarians and set out to handle the jobs The Librarian doesn’t have time for.

* This series has a great cast, many of which live tweet the episodes along with viewers.

* If you were a fan of Warehouse 13, you’ll like this one. THOUGH it should be noted that The Librarian was around well before Warehouse 13. So, don’t call it a copy or I will have to hurt you.

* Oh, and Bruce Campbell played Santa in the Christmas episode….

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Kelly: @BreathingMemes:

Introducing my dark form. 3D Printed Bane Cat Own one today here: http://t.co/tfOsHwFou6 pic.twitter.com/0VMsSHMlrx

— Heavy Breathing Cat (@BreathingMemes) December 12, 2014

Also:

Meet my brother Thorgi.

Another Creepy Cute story and the inevitable return of Alice Cooper.

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

 

Book: The Seventh Bride by T. Kingfisher

* Here’s another addition for the #CreepyCute tag!

* This is an adult story written by Ursula Vernon under the name T. Kingfisher. It is essentially a retelling of the folktale “Bluebeard”, only this one features an adorable hedgehog. Yes, a hedgehog.

* 15 year old Rhea finds herself engaged to a sorcerer who’s up to no good. Finding he has several other wives who aren’t all dead or even semi-dead, she’s not very keen on this idea.

* Available as an ebook (kindle, nook)

 

Kelly’s Recommendation:

 

Comics: ALICE COOPER Comics

So Many Alice Cooper Comics!

1979: Tales From the Inside by Alice Cooper

* a single edition 50th Marvel Premiere comic.

1984: The Last Temptation by Neil Gaiman and Michael Zulli

* also issued by Marvel and later by Dark Horse

* a special 20th anniversary edition was released in October 2014

2014: Alice Cooper by Joe Harris and Eman Cassallos

* The current comic issued by Dynamite Comics.

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Mel: @UsulaV: If these 2 tweets don’t make you follow her, I can’t help you.

This week Kelly brings you the ambient music of Brian Eno and Mel talks Necromancy.

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Music: Brian Eno’s Ambient 4- On Land

* After leaving Roxy Music (he and Brian Ferry did not hit it off), Brain Eno created solo albums, produced albums, and collaborated with and ton of artists from Andy Summers of the Police to Robert Fripp of King Crimson… most importantly, he put out four “ambient” albums.

* He described the ambient series as “As ignorable as it is interesting”.

* Ambient 4 – On Land is his “dark ambient” album, which sounds totally cool.

* Did you know that Brian composed the Windows 95 tone? He made 85 different versions!  He calls it “his most popular piece of music”.

* Brian produced and performed on three albums by Talking Heads, including Remain in Light, and produced multiple albums for U2, including The Joshua Tree.

* You can listen to all of the Ambient series (Music for Airports, The Plateaux of Mirror, Day of Radiance, and On Land) on YouTube; On Land is below. Or here’s Spotify if you prefer.

* Eno is Kelly’s favorite “album titler” for gems such as: Here Come the Warm Jets, Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy, Lady June’s Linguistic Leprosy, Small Craft on a Milk Sea, and Panic of Looking.

* Brains current work involves the blending of audio and video via 77 Million Paintings and a concept he calls “Generative Music”  (bonus link: make your own generative music!)

* “I guess I’m a Dark Ambient guy.” ~Kelly Thul

 

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

Books: The Eric Carter series by Stephen Blackmoore

* Necromancy, Minor Death Gods, Crazy Death Goddesses: Eric Carter is not having a good day.

* There are 2 books so far in this series, Dead Things and Broken Souls

* Eric Carter is a Necromancer who returns to Los Angeles after his sister is murdered to find her killer… and kill it. Things get a little complicated after that.

* Mel forgot to mention that the cover art for both books was done by Chris McGrath (a former recommendation himself)!

 

Social Media Recommendations:

Kelly: @BeccaFaceXO:

If I ever get kidnapped, my plan is to just talk non-stop about Lost until they see that I’m very annoying, and they return me to safety.

— Beccaface (@beccafacexo) May 28, 2014

  Mel: @A_Single_Bear: A Bear.

Having four legs does not make you a bear. Tables have four legs. Tables are not bears. I am a bear.

— A bear (@A_single_bear) December ...

This week we cover dragons, a Iron Bull, and a jedi!

Mel’s Recommendation:

Game: Dragon Age: Inquisition by Bioware

* If you haven’t played the previous 2 games in the series, make sure to go to dragonagekeep.com to learn the backstory of the world.

* This is a fantasy rpg where you can play as a Mage, Warrior, or a Rogue. You also choose from 4 possible races: Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Quinari.

* Freddie Prinze Jr. does the voice of a very popular character called The Iron Bull.  He’s a quite popular choice for the Romance story line. Regardless, he has some great dialogue in the game. I’m a glutton for punishment, so I went with Blackwall, the great bearded angst man.

* It’s a really big story with a lot of entertaining interactions with different characters. Make sure to talk to everyone; you never know who will trigger a new quest line.

* The combat system is pretty standard for these types of games, with the addition of a Tactical mode. This special combat mode pauses the fight and allows you to direct your attacks (or heals) more easily. It took me a while to get used to, but it’s quite useful.

* It’s available for PC (of course), and XBOX One/PS4 for you console players.

Kelly’s Recommendation:

TV Series: Star Wars Rebels on DisneyXD

A 2014 animated show that is part of the Star Wars canon that takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.

More Freddie Prinze, Jr! He voices the character Kanan Jarrus, former Jedi.

Has a diverse cast that even passes the Bechdel Test!

A lot of the characters are based on the Ralph McQuarrie sketches made for the original Star Wars script.

Jar Jar free… so far!!

And seriously, who doesn’t want this lightsaber?

Social Media Recommendations:

Mel: @pooblemoo: a true champion of The Hashtag Game on twitter.

Kelly: PewDiePie on Youtube: Fun, fun, fun gaming videos.

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)

We have been “sharing all the awesome” for ONE YEAR!  Thanks to all of you who have listened. commented, retweeted, fav-ed, etc…  we truly appreciate it.

 

Kelly’s favorite Mel recommendation: Loot Crate http://www.lootcrate.com/ (episode 3)

Kelly’s Top 10

* Viva Joe Strummer – The Clash and Beyond (episode 12)

* Monument Valley (episode 31)

* QR Codes Kill Kittens: How to Alienate Customers, Dishearten Employees, and Drive Customers Away (episode 1)

* Alice Cooper – Special Forces (episode 38)

* gifgifmedia.mit.edu (episode 15)

* Suck (episode 21)

* Attack on Titan (episode 32)

* Bean Salsa (episode 21)

* Escape From Tomorrow: Bad Things Happen Everywhere (episode 30)

* Captain Beefheart – Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) (episode 3)

 

Mel’s favorite Kelly recommendation: Suck (episode 21) Yes! I finally watched it and it was so awesome. I’d like to also mention that Kelly’s Bean Salsa from the same episode was a very close second though.

Mel’s Top 10

* The Martian by Andy Weir (episode 22)

We;ve got a Special Guest this week, Mike @OfficialPagan Bilinski! We talk about Bruce Willis movies, Big Hero 6, Alice Cooper, and eventually get all the way back to more Graham Parker.

 

Mel’s Recommendation:

Movie: Hudson Hawk (1991)

* Bruce Willis, Danny Aiello, and Andie Macdowell bumble, fumble, and sing while trying to save the world from 2 sociopathic megalomaniacs (Richard E Grant and Sandra Bernhardt).

* Seriously, Bruce Willis and Danny Aiello sing.

* It’s fun! It’s quirky! It has a fantastic cast! Who was in Hudson Hawk that was also in Firefly? Listen to find out!

* Bunny, ball ball.

 

Mike’s Recommendation:

You should already be following Mike @OfficialPagan since he was recommended by @TonySolo back in Episode 26. Here are his particulars:

Youtube: OfficialPaganMusic, here’s a direct link to Bitter ft Richard Fortus!

Live365: Loud N Loaded Channel: We’ll be joining the schedule soon!

Now for the ROBOTS!

Movie: Big Hero 6

* Mike Says it’s great BUT it has nothing to do with the Comic Book it’s supposed to be based on.

* It’s a good movie for both young and old that harkens back to “Old Disney”

* We also ramble amusingly about Robocop, Randy Newman, Alice Cooper, Dark Shadows, Animaniacs, Gene Simmons, Final Destination, and finally Avatar!

Kelly’s Recommendation:

Music: Graham Parker – Acid Bubblegum (1996)

* More Angry Graham Parker!

* Peppy little songs about hate!

* “I’m not selling molasses, I’m not selling tea”

* He snarls at his record label, Jane Fonda, Aretha Franklin, and accountants.

* “Jet lagged Jiminy Cricket”

* Listen to the Acid Bubblegum on Spotify!

 

Social Media Recommenadtions:

Mel: @TheClurichaun: Patrick runs a twitter group called Late Night Movie. They get together and Saturday nights and watch movies together in a chatroom.

Mike: @ChristianMenses: the bass player of Psychotica!

Kelly: @Sean_Schick: Sean and Kelly have a name calling contest going on twitter. Follow him and call him a “Jerk” for Kelly. #JerkWars

 

 

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (

We’ve got an album about Andy Warhol and an iOS Cube game this week. Then it’s all wrapped up with some Steampunk and a little bit of Francois.

 Kelly’s Recommendation

Music: Songs for Drella (Album) by Lou Reed and John Cale (1990)

* An Andy Warhol tribute album by former members of The Velvet Underground.

* Gives a chronological musical depiction of Andy’s life.

* Available everywhere: iTunes, Amazon, Google, Spotify.

 

Mel’s Recommendation

Game App: Cubes 3D Revolution by Simiotica

* Probably Mel’s oldest app on her phone.

* It’s a slick scifi themed iOS “Match 3” type game that involves rotating cubes to make your matches.

* It great fun, oddly addicting, and FREE!

* Sadly it appears that the app is no longer supported, but it’s free so enjoy it while it still works.

* Get it here on iTunes.

Social Media Recommendations:

Kelly: @karmic9: Kelly pointed out the fact that, while Mel doesn’t tweet often, when she does, it is AWESOME.  She will make your Walking Dead or bad SyFy movie experience better – follow her!  AWWWW!

Also go check out @thelipscombe: Jesse Lipscombe the actor behind #francoisproblems on Mutant World.

@kellythul that was fun! Cheers. You are on #teamfrancois forever! #francoisproblems #MutantWorld

— Jesse Lipscombe (@thelipscombe) November 9, 2014

Mel: @worldofsteam: The World of Steam on Youtube: they are making some really good Steampunk web videos.

 

Want to subscribe to the Nurture and Support podcast??   Our feed – http://nurtureandsupport.net/feed/podcast  iTunes – Nurture and Support Thanks for listening! Mel (@karmic9) and Kelly (@kellythul)