Retro A to Z Challenge: D – Dream Theater 1992

Dream Theater – Images and Words – 1992

This was the first Dream Theater album with lead singer, James LaBrie. Images and Words really established the band as a progressive metal force. It has stood the test of time and remains a brilliant album.

1992 fun facts –
*Cost of average house - $122,500.
*Euro Disney opened in France
*First McDonalds opened in Beijing, China
*Washington Redskins beat Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl (The Bills went to four Super Bowls in the 90’s and lost all four times)
*Mall of America was built
*Summer Olympics were held in Barcelona, Spain

Movies released –
Aladdin
A Few Good Men
Unforgiven

Music released –
Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power
Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction

Games released –
Mortal Combat
Sonic the Hedgehog II
Alone in the Dark
Wolfenstein 3D

Why is 1992 special?
It was the year Tina and the Engineer got married on June 20!

Tina is one of the Challenge co-hosts and the one who keeps all of us in line. She’s originally from Sweden and moved to the USA when she was a kid. Tina is sharp, smart, and sassy. (She won’t deny that last one!) She’s also the most dedicated friend you will ever have and more fun that a barrel full of monkeys. (Or Swedish meatballs – take your pick.) Tina just rocks and I’m honored she’s my friend. Find her at Life is Good.

Ninja News!

Sean McLachlan’s Toxic World novelette, The Scavenger, will be free from today through April 8. If you enjoyed his book Radio Hope, you’ll dig this story. Pick it up for free HERE

Shah Wharton’s book, Finding Esta, was awarded the indiePENdents’ Seal of approval!

Crystal Collier’s Moonless is on sale for the month of April at $1.99, half its normal price. Buy it HERE

April Movie Preview – Part One

Here is part one of the upcoming theatrical releases for April! (Part two tomorrow.) As always, descriptions courtesy of the IMDB. Snarky comments by me.

April 4 –

Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and battles a new threat from old history: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier.
Directors: Anthony Russo | Joe Russo | Joss Whedon
Stars: Chris Evans, Frank Grillo, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson
It’s Captain Flippin’ America – what more do you need to know?

April 11 –

Rio 2
It's a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids after they're hurtled Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all: his father-in-law.
Director: Carlos Saldanha
Stars: Rodrigo Santoro, Anne Hathaway, Leslie Mann, Jesse Eisenberg
I’ve sat through stupid talking rats, cats, dogs, lions, and other critters – I guess I can manage another stupid talking bird film.

Draft Day
The General Manager of the Cleveland Browns struggles to acquire the number one draft pick for his team.
Director: Ivan Reitman
Stars: Jennifer Garner, Kevin Costner, Chadwick Boseman, Tom Welling
Like everything else associated with the Cleveland Browns, this film will probably be a train wreck.

Oculus
A woman tries to exonerate her brother, who was convicted of murder, by proving that the crime was committed by a supernatural phenomenon.
Director: Mike Flanagan
Stars: Brenton Thwaites, Karen Gillan, Katee Sackhoff, James Lafferty
Possible Katee Sackhoff boob shot. Enough said. (Blood, boobs, and carnage!)



Dream Theater fan? Following the awesome Tina? Picking up Sean’s book? Any April movies strike your fancy? (I’m seeing Captain America tonight!) And what do you remember best from 1992…?

Michael Offutt and Oculus, Libby Heily and Tough Girl, Ninja News, and Your A to Z Challenge Hosts!!!!

A lot to cover today! (Promise my posts will be much shorter during the A to Z Challenge.) First we kick off with friend and fellow science fiction author, Michael Offutt, who is here to entertain, amuse, and tell you why you need to buy Oculus, his latest book.

Steve Jobs would want you to buy Oculus

My earliest memory of board games started with Monopoly. I think that’s why my protagonist likes games too (don’t tell fans of hockey that it’s just a game). A little bit of us always shows up in our characters, right? Don’t answer that, but please indulge a few paragraphs of my insanity.

“My number on the squad is 11,” Jordan might say. “It’s my favorite, but this isn’t Craps. And three doubles in a row is bad, at least by the rules I play. If I say I’m a player, and I’m lucky is that a double entendre? I’m the lucky one, and this is not the third roll.

“I landed on Alex Cavanaugh’s blog with the dog. I always play the dog. It doesn’t shed and is all shiny out of the box. And Alex’s blog is Free Parking. You can’t argue with that. Ninjas never charge for parking. Not when they can slash your tires with a sword and can make you pass go without collecting $200. Do you have any idea how much that is in Ramen noodles?

“But it isn’t the happiest day of my life. That’s when I won $10 at a beauty contest. For a guy that’s pretty special. For a fake character in a real book, that’s redder than Emma Stone’s lips on Oscar night. And it’s doing pretty good. Shortly after that though, Kolin went directly to jail. Sometimes them’s the breaks. I feel bad for him…well partially bad. At least there’s no soap to drop and the menacing scowl behind the bars is just drawn on. You don’t want to drop the soap in a fake paper jail. The fake paper inmates have a tendency to shove you into one of the Fifty Shades of Grey books. For a fictional guy, that’s almost as bad as sitting through The Notebook.

“Still, there’s part of me that sheds the water works. I never liked that utility anyway. Water works are best done by chicks, right? But if you disagree, that’s fine. I won’t charge you if you give me your get out of jail free card. We all know you put out to get out, but your secret’s safe with me. I’m a black hole of secrets. Just remember, I see through you.

“Oh! You landed on Chance. I wonder what you’ll get. I guess that page is still unwritten. I hope you win $10 at a beauty contest. Then you could buy my story and feel validated at the same time. But don’t take it from me. Take it from Steve Jobs. ‘Oculus’ means ‘eye.’

“And anything that starts with “I” (iPad, iPod, iPhone) just has to be cool, or I’m not a character worth his ink. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it.”

At least…I think that’s what Jordan might say.

Investigate more about Oculus HERE
Find Michael here: Blog, Website, Goodreads, and Facebook.

Tough Girl now available!

Tough Girl by Libby Heily

Danger lurks everywhere in eleven year old Reggie's world—from the bully next door to the unwanted attentions of a creep at school. Raised by her mentally ill mother, Reggie is left to fend for herself in a rough neighborhood. She escapes in daydreams, battling aliens with her alter ego, Tough Girl.
When Reggie's mother disappears, her fantasy life spirals out of control and starts to invade reality. She is hunted by a creature of her own design, and even Tough Girl is not strong enough to stop him.
Will Reggie survive long enough for her mother to return, or will her dream world take over?

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Smashwords.

Libby’s book tour also kicks off today, so check her site for tour stops!

Ninja News

For those of you who’ve followed the wonderful Yvonne Lewis, she now has a new blog. Someone was stealing her poetry and she had to make some changes. You can find this delightful lady now at Yvonne’s Poetry Corner

M Pax, Suze, and Nicki are hosting the Back From the Future Blogfest on March 1. These ladies rock, so check it out.

VikLit at Scribblings of an Aspiring Author has started a new weekly meme – Celebrate the Small Things. Every Friday, Vik invites participates to mention something they want to celebrate that week, no matter how small. See her site for details.

Annalisa and Kyra are hosting the Imaginary Friend Bloghop on February 1. If you had an imaginary friend, check these charming ladies’ sites for details.

And the next book in Christine Rains’ series The 13th Floor is out now. She’s on tour for The Alpha, so check out her site for tour stops.

This Year’s Challenge Hosts!

I am honored to be a co-host again this year for the Challenge. The very first Challenge in 2010 changed my blog forever and I am in debt to Lee for creating this amazing event. There were only a hundred of us that first year, and now there are thousands. I hope that everyone can join us this year!

This year we have ten returning hosts and welcome Livia, Diane, and Nicole to the team!

Arlee Bird at Tossing It Out
Damyanti Biswas at Amlokiblogs
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Tina Downey at Life is Good
DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude 2.0
Jeremy Hawkins at Retro-Zombie
Shannon Lawrence at The Warrior Muse
Matthew MacNish at The QQQE
Konstanz Silverbow at No Thought 2 Small
Stephen Tremp at Breakthrough Blogs
Livia Peterson at Leave it to Livia
L. Diane Wolfe at Spunk on a Stick
Nicole at The Madlab Post

Keep abreast of Challenge news by following the Blog, following on Twitter - @AprilA2Z, or reading our Twitter Newspaper. You can also send us an email - infoaz2013@gmail.com

Any questions for Michael? Have you purchased Oculus or Tough Girl? Signed up for the upcoming blogfests? Ready for this year's A to Z Challenge? And did any of your football predictions come true? (Denver crashed and burned and Seattle blew it - told you my picks were suspect!)