Now then this week's edition 02/13/2017 is to update and publish new blog posts now with that dune! Were moving along and editing this website and putting more content up!

For those who don't know me, I am Earl C. Hedges Jr. I am currently working on gaming updates for various conventions going on this year See Other Blog Posts and Hobby pages for more info on those Items.

 I wanted to talk about those that influenced my life through the following, which are my favorite quotes.

Favorite Quotes:

“Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.”
― Gene Roddenberry

“The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

“Until we meet again, may the good Lord take a liking to you.” Roy Rogers

Have a good Day every one I am dune blogging for a while!

Memories Are Not What They Used to Be July 14, 2016 reposted here

When was the last time you had to memorize a telephone number?

for me it was jut this last year as my old phone broke and i had to go get a new one the company 

I had at the time wanted to charge me $250 dollars for the new phone and service plan so I went to another company. I finally found what I was looking for $150 dollars not what I wanted to pay but 

felt I had to pay to get a new phone and number. Now i finally got it memorized after almost six 

months of having it.

For thousands of years, human beings have relied on stone tablets, scrolls, books or 

Post-it notes to remember things that their minds cannot retain, but there is something 

profoundly different about the way we remember and forget in the internet age. It is not 

only our memory of facts that is changing. Our episodic memory, the mind’s ability to 

relive past experiences — the surprising sting of an old humiliation revisited, the thrill 

and discomfort of a first kiss, those seemingly endless childhood summers — is 

affected, too.

I now spend an average of almost nine to twelve hours a day staring at my phone, computer, Ipad, 

or television, and when more of our lives are lived on screen, more of our memories will be formed 

there. We are recording more about ourselves and our experiences than ever before, and though 

in the past this required deliberate effort, such as sitting down to write a diary, or filing away a 

letter, or posing for a portrait, today this process can be effortless, even unintentional. Never 

before have people had access to such accurate personal histories — and so little power to rewrite them.

Games Workshop Specialist Games Officially Discontinued, now making a comback!

Specialist Games from Games Workshop have always been a hit or miss situation. Many though have been fantastic games in their own right over the years, from Mordheim, Necromunda, Blood Bowl, Battlefleet Gothic,Epic, Warmaster, and Inquestior. My personal favorites....Were at one time or another all of them I had collected all the war-bands for Mordhiem, including making up my own terrain for it, All the Gangers for Necromunda, and buying the extra terrain pieces for it. Collected all the Blood Bowl Teams of which I found I still own 8 of the original teams collected. I had collected all the Imperial Ships for Battle Fleet Gothic and even got into the epic scale and warmaster sidelines of the game. I was a GW addict at that point and had to play, collect and paint the latest game from them.

So while we have been following their demise on occasion in my old blog posts from yester years, which are no longer on the web but I still have my backups, I think we can officially wrap these up as gone, despite rumors. Yes, we could see a one shot all inclusive game release, but as far as a supported game in their own rights, the party was over.

For me perosnaly the oarty was over in 2005 when I lost my home and became homeless I lost allot of my GW stuff with the house. I emailed GW in 2008 and resettled in Las Vegas to switch over my subscriptions to the new address that I had to have them hold they informed me then that most sideline games were going buy buy for good and to buy what I could when I could by 2013 their sidelined divisions was gone.

That ends a long era, of variety and adventure in the worlds of both Warhammer Fantasy and the Dark Millenium.  Epic in particular has a long pedigree within Games Workshop and served as the incubator for so much of the fluff and details of the universe.  The Horus Heresy, titans, and so much more came around via Epic, and it will be a sad day to see the old girl fade away.  Battle Fleet Gothic’s demise marks the end of spacefaring  gameplay in the 40K universe, and also served as the wellspring from which so much of the  naval detail and backstory came from.

Forgeworld themselves wouldn’t have all those sexy titans to sell us if not for Specialist Games…

A bigger question is why now?  This final nail in the Specialist Games coffin brings GW at last down to three core systems.  In order of importance, 40K, Fantasy, and LotR.

It was always a long-shot to ever see those ranges get moved over to finecast, but somehow the lack of those fiddly, esoteric systems, makes Games Workshop seem so – ordinary, normal.  Like a building that has painted over all its previous intricate detailing to put up a clean, tidy appearance.

I for one am sad to see them go..............................Capatin Hedges 2013

Present Day Fans Got a shock to learn that an all new specialist design studio will be tasked with the return of bringing back, and re-vamping some of our old favorites. As Games Workshop stores just announced the return of Specialist Games! In what seems to be a co-ordinated roll out, several Australian and an American Games Workshop stores have posted the image below that seems to indicate the return of Specialist Games the division of GW that handles fan favorites such as Blood Bowl, Necromonuda and BATTLEFLEET GOTHIC, as well as continued support for LoTR!!

Needles to say, I got a shock to discover after Christmas of 2016 our local game stores had got-tin in copies of Blood Bowl, Space Hulk, and Warhammer Quest. So it is official their coming back!
You can find them under their Boxed Games Tab Found Here

Yours Captain Hedges

Recap of my personal and new professional gaming life form 2014 to present hitting the highlights.

Sense the passing of my family and my battle to just being able to feed myself and clothe my self and have a place to live, I kinda of got out of gaming till 2014 concentrating on rebuilding my life from scratch again with no money, no job and no family to help me out. I came to Tucson to start my life over again at 43. It took me a while however thanks to Salvation Army and Primvera Foundtion they help me to pave away out of my poverty. I would show up from time to time to play games and run games for local game stores in town. But nothing like I had been doing in previous years.

In 2014 a new game store opened and I went to offer my serves as a game master for team to run games, my time was ending at Primivera and I needed to find a new place to live. Andrew Kallen offed me a roommate situation with him in June of 2015 I have been his roommate up until now. He is one of the co general managers of Isle of Games where i now run a weekly D&D game every Wednesday night from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM located at 7747 E. Broadway Blvd, Tucson AZ 85710.
Link found here to their website aboutisleofgamesaz
Link found here to their Facebook events

I am currently running on Wednesdays Bards Gate Lost Lands From Frog God Games Found here

Then in October 2015 I got involved in the convention scene trying to provide good gaming content to a struggling convention a local Scfi, Fantsy and Horror convention known as Tuscon. So I volunteered to run rpg games for Tuscon 42 and they accepted my help. They then invited me to come to a meeting of the Baja Arizona Science Fiction Association (BASFA), a Southern Arizona section 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. The primary focus of TusCon is science fiction, fantasy and horror, but we also pay attention to art, animation, science, media and gaming.  TusCon is an annual science fiction convention sponsored by the Baja Arizona Science Fiction Association (BASFA). So I becomae a member and was made staff to head up Table Top and LARP for Tuscon 43. However just prier to that convention they gave me the title of Table Top and LARP Game Coordinator  for Tuscon 43 and have retained me for Tuscon 44 happening November 10th thorugh the 12th of 2017.
You can find updated information here

If you want to get Tickets for Tuscon 43 go here to Tuscon Registration. Also In order to maintain TusCon's atmosphere as a small, friendly, quality convention experience, memberships for TusCon 44 are limited to 500 total. Once this cap is reached, registration will close, and no more memberships will be sold.

I strongly recommend purchasing your membership(s) as soon as they become available, to avoid disappointment should memberships sell out before the convention.

Your TusCon membership/ticket covers all three days: all of our panels, special events, art show, dances, demonstrations, concerts, contests, gaming, autographs, dealers room, artist alley, round-the-clock video room, snacks and drinks in our ConSuite, as well as other activities.

For my part go to the table top gaming page found here I also encourage you to explore the other tabs on the website as well.

Moving on to the next convention I guess word gets around of what a good gaming track i put to gther for Tuscon I was contacted by the Chair of Westercon70 during Tuscon 43 to email her if I was interested in becoming the Game Coordinator for the Job of Westercon70's for 2017. Well yep you guessed it I am going to Westercon70 this year as their Game Coordinator this year.

More information can be found here

Here is where you can find the latest news about
westercon70's gaming track in the Gaming Hall go hear

I wont have time to update the blog that much so long live long and prosper
Yours Captain Hedges.

It's been 8 years Today since we sat and watch Dad pass away. The Griefs deep within and never subsides, loosing you was so hard to take and the hurt is always there. I think about you everyday and dream about you too, still wish you could be here with us just like the old days too.
But i know that you are watching us as a Heavenly Angel from the Sky!

Missing you so very much Dad and i Always will. Say hi to Grandma Kirk for me i am sure you are both having a whole lot of Fun up there!

Mr. Hedges passed away Monday, June 15, 2009. He was born July 2, 1936 in Sedona, Arizona. His family moved shortly thereafter to Flagstaff. He was a life long resident of Flagstaff.

Mr. Hedges is survived by his wife, Joan Hedges. They were married on December 12th, 1964. Mr. Hedges is also survived by his son, Earl Clinton Hedges, Jr.; his brother, Clifford Ray Hedges; sister, Shiryl Kay Cruver; niece Kathryn Adele Cruver and nephew Milton Clinton Cruver.

Mr. Hedges is predeceased by his father, George Clinton Hedges; his mother, Mary Kathryn Hedges; his brother, George Ray Hedges; and his sister, Shirley Kay Hedges.

Mr. Hedges proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1957 to 1961.

Mr. Hedges was affectionately known by his loved ones as “Earlybird”. He enjoyed motorcycles, hunting, fishing, radio electronics and leatherwork. He was a gifted motorcycle mechanic and munitions handler. Mr. Hedges was retired from the Navajo Army Depot.

A visitation will be on Monday, June 22 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm followed by funeral services at 2:00 pm, both at Norvel Owens Mortuary Chapel, 914 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, Arizona. There will also be a graveside service on Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at 10:00 am in Cook’s Cemetery, Sedona, Arizona.

From the Archives of Sheveport Cabin

 

[ARCHIVED HISTORICAL REPORT: JUNE 23, 2016]

Collateral Damage: How the Fan Film Guidelines Threaten the Wider Web

By Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. Shreveport, LA

The Hook: Beyond the Screen

While the headlines today are dominated by the "15-minute rule" for filmmakers, a quieter, more pervasive fear is spreading through the digital frontier. For those of us who run fan-based websites, forums, and archives, the 2016 Guidelines aren't just about movies—they are a shot across the bow for the entire "Maker" and "Blogger" culture.

The "Big Forge" of CBS and Paramount has released a document that, while ostensibly about film, contains language that could dismantle the infrastructure of the fandom itself.

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Section 1: The War on the "Maker" Community

One of the most overlooked "Commandments" in today’s release is Guideline #4, which targets the physical world of fandom. It states that if a production uses uniforms, accessories, or props, they must be official merchandise and not "bootleg items or imitations."

For the dozens of fan-based websites that act as hubs for prop-builders, costume-makers, and 3D-printing enthusiasts, this is a nightmare.

• The Death of the Artisan: Websites that host tutorials on how to sew a screen-accurate uniform or build a prop phaser are now technically promoting "bootleg imitations."

• The "Official" Trap: By mandating that only store-bought, licensed plastic toys can be used, the studio is effectively trying to erase the "Maker" community. These websites, which have spent decades perfecting the craft of "recreating" the universe, are now being told their work is a liability.

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Section 2: The Fundraising Freeze

Guideline #6 is the most direct threat to the survival of fan websites. It strictly prohibits the sale of any unlicensed merchandise or services to fund a project.

• No "Perks," No Community: Many fan sites stay afloat by selling small items—lapel pins, patches, or fan-art prints—to pay for server costs or to fund small community projects.

• The $50,000 Hard Stop: The new guidelines state that fundraising must cease the moment it hits fifty grand. For a website that hosts high-traffic archives or video content, server costs over several years can easily eat through that. By capping the "gift-giving" economy of the fandom, the studio is ensuring that no fan-run site can ever grow into a professional-grade media outlet.

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Section 3: The "Chilling Effect" on Critical Commentary

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of today’s announcement is what is unsaid. By creating such a rigid, "family-friendly" (Guideline #8) and "non-commercial" (Guideline #6) environment, the studios are creating a "Chilling Effect."

• Self-Censorship: Website owners are already panicking. Do they have to take down their gallery of fan-art because it features a "recreated" uniform? Do they have to delete their "How-To" guides for prop building?

• The Loss of History: Many of these sites act as digital museums for the last fifty years of fandom. If these sites shut down out of fear of a lawsuit, a massive chink of our shared history disappears into the soot of the forge.

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Conclusion: The Fall of an Empire, The Rise of the Forge

As I sit here at the Shreveport Cabin, looking at the glowing screen, I see a community in shock. The "Star Trek" brand is being pulled back behind a high-security fence. For me, this isn't just a theoretical crisis—it is the final nail in the coffin for my digital legacy in the Trek universe.

Now you know why the Star Trek Voyage Earl, the Earl of Borg, and the Galaxy Sci-Fi Store websites owned by me were shut down. The risk of maintaining those massive archives under these new, hostile corporate "Commandments" became too high. The studio wanted to own the air we breathe in their universe, and I refused to give them the satisfaction of a "cease and desist."

Instead, I have made the choice to pivot. I am converting my efforts into a whole new gaming-free blog for RPGs, utilizing the OGL (Open Game License) and SRD (System Reference Document) frameworks. These open-source tools provide the "Freedom of the Forge" that the corporate giants are trying to kill. By moving into the world of original tabletop development, I can build my own worlds—like Zimrala and the Tygerian Isles—on a foundation that no studio can take away. The corporate gods can have their fenced-in stars; I’ll be building a new multiverse from the ground up.

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Product Identity & Legal Notice

Product Identity of Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. / The Adventures of Captain Hedges: The world of Zimrala, the Tygerian Isles, the Ether Dragons, the Tiger Force Shadow Saga, and the specific "Hedge Wizard" persona are original creative properties.

Copyright Disclaimer: This report is a historical archive from June 23, 2016. All references to Star Trek and the CBS/Paramount guidelines are for critical commentary. This is a non-commercial fan-created document. This site utilizes Open Game Content under the OGL v1.0a and the D6 System SRD.

© 2016 Arthur Earl C. Hedges Jr. All rights reserved.

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