I noticed a bit of an uptick in traffic from Vermont and Massachusetts recently and then discovered that Shelby McGarry, Events Specialist for University of Vermont Medical Center Children’s Hospital (who we are supporting through Extra Life with the release of our Episode IX project), was kind enough to say a few words about us and our project that we’re using to help raise donations for their wonderful organization.  Thanks, Shelby!

We are indeed looking for more artistic volunteers to join our Star Wars radio drama to benefit UVM Children’s Hospital!  So if you are an Extra Lifer or not, feel free to Contact Us to find out more about how you can help out and become a part of our team!

I’ve been working with Extra Life in support of Vermont Children’s Hospital for six years now, and when you support Extra Life, you are making a direct difference in the lives of patients and their families at a time when they need help the most.  It’s a great cause, and we truly hope you’ll join us helping them with a charitable donation that goes directly to the hospital.  To find out more, click the link below; and thanks!

https://www.extra-life.org/participant/support-vch

Cortana proves that even in the distant future, they celebrate what happened a long time ago.

I, like many people, have a routine.

Step #1 is to wake up.  If I complete Step #1, no matter what, my day is going better than if I didn’t.  After that, I blindly eject my arm out of bed and start jabbing at the air to find my phone, which sits on my nightstand.

Upon completion of that task, I begin by checking my email accounts for anything of interest or urgency and then Cortana gives me my daily custom feed of various local, nation, global, and video game news.  I like to find out if we’ve attacked someone or been attacked yet before I get out of bed, because depending on that answer I may or may not do it.

And yes, I use Cortana, that’s because I have a Windows Mobile device.  Yes, I use a Windows Mobile device.  It just works so much better than the other two, app-gap be damned.  Now, now.  No teasing.  That leads to the Dark Side.  😉

Anyways, today I had a great greeting from “her” as I was waking up.  After unlocking my phone, Cortana offered up the best wake-up message I think she’s done yet; and that includes the “Happy Birthday!” she said to me just last weekend!

Check out how she said “Good Morning” to me today.  She shifted from her usual circular, or, dare I say it, “Halo” icon and morphed into the face of a very familiar Jedi Master.  What could be a better way to start your day with a smile then that?  Can one truly love an inanimate object?  I think quite possibly yes, as there’s always another reason why I love my phone.  🙂

Best headline for Cortana to wake me up to on my Windows Mobile phone.

But she wasn’t done!  She had one last notification before I was forced to either start my day or waste time talking to my phone’s AI about how fast Han Solo made the Kessel Run.

Ah, May the 4th.  The geekiest “holiday” fandom has. ^_^

But does it really belong to fandom?  Let’s take a little bit of a look into where May the 4th supposedly originated, what it means to us here today, as well as ways you can celebrate it here in Massachusetts.

Read More

As hard as it is to believe, Boston’s PAX East 2018 was just last week! It feels both like we just left and like it was ages ago.  Spending a few days immersed in the sights, sounds, and pure zaniness that is PAX will do that to a person.  If you attended this or any previous year’s PAX, I’m sure you know what we’re talking about.

This year, however, “Han Solo” himself was on hand for part of the event to walk the floor, meet the people, and spread the word about EpisodeIX.org to the masses.  If you were at PAX East this year, let us know if you ran into Han!  As you can see below, there was a touch-and-go moment between him and none other than Buzz Lightyear, but in the end, it ended up OK for both of them and they just went after cell phone cameras instead.  Phew!  A noble cause indeed.

Forget Greedo, the real duel is between Han Solo and Buzz Lightyear!

Han Solo and Buzz Lightyear decided they work better together and take on the tyranny of cell phone cameras.

Thanks to everyone at PAX East 2018 for all the kind words, support, and encouragement we received!

Until next time…

– “Han”