From the Publisher

Here it is, 2015. Happy New Year from Utah Geek Magazine!
So, what does Happy New Year really mean? For many its an
opportunity to set resolutions for the New Year. Regrettably,
many of those are broken within a month or so. For some, maybe
only a few days. For others, it may be a new beginning; an opportunity to start fresh. For most of us, it seems, its just another day
on the calendar.
For Utah Geek Magazine, its a new issue! When we started
Utah Geek Magazine, just a few months ago, we set a number of
goals ourselves. Albeit a bit early. We set these goals, or milestones, in order to consistently make a better magazine for you,
our readers.
The issue you are reading happens to be one of those milestones. First, were optimizing our use of color, but more importantly, were debuting our new recurring column, Girls Gone
Geek. Yes, it is a play on words. Yes, the women featured in
these columns are far from girls. Girls Gone Geek is a column
that provides an opportunity to feature women, in our community, who have excelled in a fields of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math). We hope these interviews
will be an inspiration to young women, as well as young men,
who themselves are striving to Go Geek!
As we continue to hit these milestones we have set for ourselves, we want to remind you that we are consistently striving to
do better. Your feedback in critical for this. We want this magazine to be as much yours as it is ours. For example, some people
have asked us why the main articles in our issues have focused on
similar topics. Well, its simply a matter of space. So far, each of
our magazines have had a theme set by the front cover and the
two main articles.
As Utah Geek Magazine expands in size we will be adding
more, and more diverse, content. Upcoming milestones for
Utahs only geek culture magazine include new featured and recurring articles, celebrity interviews, a Cosplay Centerfold, and full
color. And how do we fit all that into this little magazine? By
adding eight more pages to our next issue!
- Dennis Lundstrom,
Publisher & CEO

On the Cover:
Cover:
Illustration by Jacob Doughty. I'm an allall-around freelance art director, a
3D Modeler, Animator and Comic Artist, and ready to show my work to the
world. I finished my Bachelor's Degree in Digital Media at Utah Valley University, and hope to work in the animation industry in both movies
and gaming. jojo-bac.deviantart.com

www.UtahGeekMagazine.com

Publisher & CEO

Dennis Lundstrom

Executive Editor & VP

Adrian Broadhead

Contributing Editor
Ricky Alvarez

Contributing Writers
David J. West, Deborah Moore, Carter Reid,
Zac Johnson, Aldo Gomez, Keyra Kristoffersen,
Amanda Williams, Stephanie Sharp
Utah Geek Magazine may, or may not, agree
with the articles, interviews, ads, or reviews
herein. Copyright Utah Geek Media LLC. Reproduction without our expressed permission
is prohibited.
To advertise in Utah Geek Magazine, visit
ugeekmedia.com/advertise, or call Dennis at
801.839.4581
Website: www.UGeekMedia.com
Email: info@ugeekmedia.com

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook.com/ugeekmedia
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UGeek Media is currently seeking

talented people, like you, to contribute to
Utah Geek Magazine. We are looking for
help with:

*Ad Sales & Marketing*

Consulting
Distribution
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If you are interested in volunteering in any
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please visit:
UtahGeekMagazine.com/Contribute

Page 4

Raising Geeks
A parents guide to raising children in geek culture

Fun Cleaning Bedrooms

By Deborah Moore

There are some universal problems that all parents have

to deal with. One is getting your children to clean their
rooms. To make things run smoother at our house, with minimal eye-rolling, I have employed my own geeky methods.

When my children are having a hard time getting started, I

employ the robot method. This is generally geared toward
my five-year old daughter, Nelina, but sometimes my tenyear old, River, will play along. I give instructions for cleaning
the room in a robotic voice. Instantly, the chore is a game.
Once, I told my daughter she could push an imaginary
button on my stomach each time she finished a task. This is
not a method I would recommend for the faint-hearted,
though.
Photo: Matt Grommes, bit.ly/1vF4cCI, CreativeCommons.org CC BY SA

Some other advantages to the robotic voice is that it lends

itself to words that coincide with cleaning up. For example, if
you want your child to put their clothing away, you can tell
them to categorize them. Instead of nagging, you can give
directives. You can also ask your children to exterminate the
garbage on their floor. That is always a favorite at our house.

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Being a robot works much better than the mom voice. If

your children are teenagers, and they have a good sense of
humor, they might enjoy the robotic directives. Otherwise, it
might be embarrassing. They might agree to clean their
room, as long as you stop. Either way, you win.
A few months ago I was standing in my daughters room
and using the robot voice to encourage them to tidy up the
room. For a few minutes, I gave orders in the robotic voice,
but soon they wanted to join in on the action. River decided
to be R2-D2 and Nelina was a Dalek. They ran around using
their imagination to get the job done. I was so proud.
www.UtahGeekMagazine.com

Utah Geek Magazine and the Dungeon Crawlers Radio podcast

have teamed up! Tune in live every Thursday night at 6:00,
and join UGeek on the third Thursday of every month
at www.dungeoncrawlersradio.com
Page 5

By: Aldo Gomez

www.UtahGeekMagazine.com

Spider-man can be written by John Straczynski and drawn by John

Romita Jr. for two years, before switching to writer Dan Slott and
artist Humberto Ramos for a year. There are also colorists, inkers
and letterers dedicated to only speech bubbles. Conversely, manga
tends to rely on small, passionate, and dedicated teams that see a
series through to the end, so even popular ones like Dragon Ball,
Fullmetal Alchemist, and the recently finished Naruto only last a
decade or so.
The heroes, in addition to the medium, are also heavily influenced by their respective cultures. Typical western superheroes are
often analogues of Greek gods, as if they are placed on a moral
pedestal to represent a single aspect of humanity, and many stories
focus on trying to break that moral aspect. The dark brooding Batman is a symbol of human resilience and resistance to kill, and
most of his stories focus on the villains trying to break him. Superman is a symbol of honesty and moral goodness, and his tales revolve around testing his limits. Spider-man represents human intelligence and dedication, and his villains challenge those aspects.
Heroes in manga are just the opposite. In these stories, we
dont see an idol or a symbol. Instead, we see weak, unseasoned
kids, and follow them as they learn and eventually overcome their
obstacles. Goku from Dragon Ball might seem like a representation
of dedication and honesty, but he is only a nave fighter that has to
fight stronger and stronger foes and learn new techniques. His
story revolves around learning,
growing, and becoming a better
person.
Manga also likes to follow a formula called Slice of Life, where
the reader is following the day-today events of a character. So,
where a character like Batman
would keep skipping time as hes
searching for clues, a Slice of
Life series would show everything thats happening to him,
whether or not its important to
the overall story. Even if a series
is not considered part of the
Slice of Life genre, you can see
the prominent influence of the
genre throughout eastern comics
because they often focus on Character Development over story.
Of course, not all of these observations are concrete rules, and
there are always exceptions.
However, if youre looking for
something new to read, and you
want to follow the hero from their origin story all the way through
saving the world, start in the manga section. On the other hand, if
you just want to jump in and read about Superhero version 3.0
saving the world, again, start in the comic book section. Either way,
just be sure to look around, and dont judge a book by its cover.

Page 6

Photo: Niabot, bit.ly/13RCnPP, CreativeCommons.org CC BY SA

Comic books have been a staple of American society since the

1930s, and Japanese manga has been a staple of the Land of the
Rising Sun since the mid-1800s. They both offer a plethora of genres within them like cyberpunk, western, sci-fi, fantasy, and more.
And even though theyre culturally different, both mediums deliver
entertainment to young and old alike.
The first, and most obvious, difference is hardly worth mentioning, and that is the manner in which they are read. American,
or western, comics are read in in the same manner as any American
writing, from left to right. Manga and other Asian writing, on the
other hand, are read from right to left.
Each medium also differs in how they are sold. Comic books
are typically sold in single issues and feature full color art. Consumers have come, over time, to value them as part of their collections.
They hold on to the individual chapter which feels like they are
storing a piece of history, especially with first printings. Storylines
are eventually collected in trade-paperbacks, or graphic novels, if
sales of the single issues are strong enough. These are usually a
more economic option. They vary in format, such as hardcover or
omnibus collections that can contain up to fifty or one hundred
chapters.
Asians tend to value manga as bound collections rather than
individual chapters. As a result, they tend to favor tankbon volumes, which are akin to western
graphic novels. Instead of publishing separate books for individual chapters, they publish chapters in large, themed, weekly or
monthly anthology magazines
targeting a particular group.
They are sometimes referred to
as phonebook manga due to their
thickness, cheap paper, black and
white art, and disposability.
The length of stories and
character arcs also differ between the two mediums. Japanese manga typically favors long
stories with a definite beginning,
middle, and end, while western
comics do not. For example, the
iconic superhero characters like
Batman, Spider-man and Superman have had separate storylines, and side-stories, and even
entire reboots with new origin
stories, all with no definitive middle or end. DC comics Batman
and Superman have both existed
since the early 1930s, and each series has over 700 issues with no
end in sight.
One of the reasons American comics can last over 70 years is
that creative teams can change from time to time. This means that

Advertise In Utah Geek Magazine.

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Know How To Do It Better!

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Page 7

Producing Passion:
Valerie Cameron-Walker
By Deborah Moore
Valerie Cameron-Walker has an impressive resume in the
entertainment field. At 13, she
began teaching dance. Then at
the age of 21, she began her own
dance company. Currently, she is
a film maker and the events/
promotion director for FantasyCon.
If you want something, you have
to go for it, Valerie said. It isnt
always easy to follow a passion.
She admits that its been hard to
get where she is. Although it can
be tough, its not impossible.
She is thankful for living in Utah,
where there is an abundant amount of creative jobs. This is
something she is familiar with, since she has worked as choreography, the film industry and radio.

www.UtahGeekMagazine.com

In 2001, Valerie decided to open

her own dance company. She had
been working with another company, but wanted to do the choreography that appealed to her.
It gave Utah moms a chance to shake their butts, she said.
When the company had been running for a year, Valerie
called the Salt Lake Tribune to tell them about her dance studio.
She thinks that its important to be proud of your success, and
let others know. She admits that it can be a tricky balancing act
between being confident without coming off as cocky.
By speaking up about her abilities, the newspaper came out
and did an article on her studio. She thought it would be a short
blurb, but they ended up doing a two-page spread in the entertainment section. The article was seen by a woman who worked
for Disney, and subsequently asked to come to her studio.
Valerie was offered a job working with Disney as a choreographer. While there, she also worked at promoting Radio Disney.
She worked with them for seven years while they had a company based in Utah.
Her job with FantasyCon began by accident. She was invited
to go by a co-worker where she worked to talk with Josh Patel,
the creator of FantasyCon. The plan was to talk to him about
promoting Radio Disney. He asked her to volunteer for the convention. Valerie agreed. The more she did, the more it made
(Continued on page 14)

Page 8

The Fandom of
Fan Art
By Keyra Kristoffersen
Illustration by: Jacob Doughty

Charles Cabel Colton, a

19th century English writer, said, Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. We have heard this expression
used over and again. However, can it also apply to the art of
visual media such as comics, movies and video games?
Typically, fan art, or fanart, falls into one of two categories.
First, there are original adaptations of beloved characters in their
normal settings. This would be like the image above of Spiderman
swinging from a building, or like Aquaman swimming in the ocean.
This kind of art has a built-in audience ready to fall in love and buy
the heck out of prints at Comic Con. And second, there is the increasingly popular genre of mashing up two or more fandoms together, resulting in unholy alliances and fish-out-of-water tales.

artist, raise your claws, wands, and swords in the air! Ignore the
naysayers and create what you love! Dont be ashamed to create
something and get yourself noticed.
Unlike the aforementioned original adaptations, nothing has
grown in popularity quite like the mixing of universes. This form of
expression has gone way beyond the simple (ha ha) Marvel versus
DC crossovers, with their impossible multitudinous array of dimensions with every kind of outcome, death, and relationship that could
be devised by the fever dreams of a rabid monkey-liger hybrid and
cooked up in a basement laboratory. It goes so far beyond that.
With the advent of better technology, online sharing, and an endless
supply of newcomers, one common conclusion has been made:
mash up ALL the fandoms!

Original adaptations of popular characters will almost always

be desirable to fans. As an artist grows, his artistic style evolves, and
his art becomes more sophisticated. This helps grow the fan base,
and perhaps even lends credence to fan obsession. As more and
more people become infatuated with fictional stories and characWhoever you are, whatever you are into, there is a mash-up for
ters, the fan community grows. As these fan communities grow,
you. Are you a Doctor Who fan who loves Van Gogh? A quick search
they will enjoy a new found
of the internet and you can have actual canvas
power of influencing popular
A lot of professional comic book artists get paintings of The Starry Night, Caf Terrace at
demand.
their start by drawing fan art, and it is great Night, and The Yellow House, all including the
Fan art is pretty much the practice. Ive done a lot of fan art myself:
iconic blue TARDIS, hanging on your wall in 3-5
foundation of fandom, says
business days.
sketching, painting, digital illustration, and tJacob Doughty, this issue's cover
No fandom is safe from a good mash-up. Charlie
artist and fan art extraordinaire. shirt design. Its a good way to get your artBrown and his friends have all been reimagined
Even if the fandom isn't all that work noticed by editors and publishers.
as DC and MARVEL super-heroes, Disney princes
popular, when seen through
- Bill Galvan and princesses have all been Browncoats or other
someone's different take and
Archie Comics Firefly characters, and the Muppets have traveled
style, [it] can turn anyone into a
thought time and space in the same blue police
fan. The delight found in fan
box that has shown up in your favorite Van Gogh paintings. Disneys
art has led many independent artists to shy away from truly original
Alice is now Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Family Guys Meg Griffin is
works in favor of derivative works of popular characters, much to
Catwoman, Tarzan's Jane Porter is Lara Croft, and Disneys Tinkerbell
the chagrin of many Deviants, users of the DeviantArt website.
is Tarantino's Beatrix Kiddo. What is really fantastic is that the
According to Catherine, who goes by SilverDingDong on devispread of fan art, and especially mash-ups, is unlimited, it encomantArt, people who draw Fanart tend to have more watchers and
passes all mediums, and it even stretches beyond generational gaps.
more activity than people who don't, even if their art style needs
This parody of visual media we call fan art is ever-expanding
some improvement. This has long been the outcry of many artists
within geek culture. It affords a creative outlet to artists and enthuunwilling to sell out for a larger fan base. However, as Virginia
siasts themselves while drawing outsiders into their vision. From
Shelly, who goes by Master Planner, replied, Fanart has a built-in
mediocre to masterpiece, fan art can be found through a simple
audience: other fans of the franchise. Original content requires
search of prominent websites. From generic searches like Google
time, patience, and more effort and skill to gain the audience. This
images, to social media sites like Pinterest, and specialty sites like
means that while fan art may offend the purists of the art world, it is
DeviantArt, fan art is a place where art and passion can come tocurrently the best and fastest way to gain an audience, which is the
gether.
ultimate drive behind those who share their art. So, if you are an

www.UtahGeekMagazine.com

Page 9

by David J. West

http://david-j-west.blogspot.com

The story so far:

Kenaz, an information broker, can step outside his own body to
gather secrets. He has been blackmailed by multiple sinister parties. If he doesnt give them what they wanta powerful artifact
known as the Reliliqymany lives besides his own will pay the
price. He has less than a day to get it all together

Chapter 3. The Enemy of My Enemy

The sands are pouring out of the hourglass. By this time tomorrow, Im a dead man. With no other option, I went to speak
with the enemies of my enemies: the Black Seers, the apothecary
druggists, the muttering priests of the healing god, Dyzan, even the
back alley Zaubezi conjuring tricksters. Tragically, none could give
me hope on how to deal with even one of my trio of potent curses.
Disheartened, I stopped for a drink at the Slippery Eel, and saw
my friend, the fiddle-man. Hail, Master Burnside. By the gods, I
need a happy tune, I said, tossing a coin into the open mouth of
Shallum, an idol beside the front door.
Come on, man, call me Burnsie, he said hazily, before
putting his fiddle to his chin, and dashing off a spry ditty, reminiscent of something the Little People might dance to, before spiriting
you forever away to Unterland. Burnsie abruptly stopped just as
people were starting to enjoy it. Wait, Kenaz. Whats the matter?
Nothing, just that Im dying, I said, toasting him.
Thats not funny, man.
Im deadly serious.
Burnsie threw down his fiddle, glowering at me. I dont do
funerals! he shot, pointing his bowstring at me. And I dont like
those kinda jokes. You could see he regretted how he treated his
fiddle, but he was still sore at me.
If I dont accomplish something very difficult for three
separate parties, me and my family are dead, I said, as an apology.

the well-to-do Fairchild district of Tolburn. But he has a spider-web

of informants. Only I, with my unique gift, could surpass their
learning of secrets. I felt bodily weak but mentally alert as I made
my way to his home. The tugging in my arm, the brain worm of
Vavath, almost to my elbow wouldnt let me forget how dire my
circumstances are.
At the gates I rang a bell and a dark-skinned Valchiki sentry
stared down from his overlook. Yes?
I need to speak with Sal. Its important. Tell him its Kenaz.
The sentry didnt like my familiarity with his masters name.
After waiting a few tense moments, the door opened upon a pair
of tall Valchiki guards wearing crimson cloaks and copper armor.
They frisked me for weapons (which I dont carry) and then led me
silently in to The Salamanders inner chamber. It was much the
same as I remembered, though now it was kept even dimmer.
Sal was clothed in billowy, pale silks and wore dark spectacles
to hide his cataract-filled eyes. Kenaz! he said from beneath his
hooded face. Before we utter another word, sit and play a game
with me. He clapped his hands and shouted, Hounds and Foxes!
A servant girl brought out a marble-checked gaming board,
while a second brought the pieces. A third gave us wine and a
fourth yet strummed a gentle tune upon a harp. Sal made the first
move of Hound One to Quarter Moon. You look well.
So do you, I lied, as Fox One took Crescent Moon.
He harrumphed once as his belly fat roiled beneath his pale
cloak. Ha! Kenaz. I know what shape I am in. But you have matured and look quite the dashing young man, now. No more the
lean boy I trained. Hound Two flanked Fox One.
Apologies for my absence, but my need is great, I said, running Fox One to Full Moon.
The Salamanders brow perked and he gestured for me to stop
as he sipped dark wine. I know what troubles you. Hound Two to
Sun East.
I am not surrendering yet. Fox One to Comet Corner.

Burnsie shook his head ruefully, You gotta talk to The Salamander then, man. Leave it to my stoned friend to speak the most
sense I had heard all day.

My little birds and spiders tell me everything. Hound Three

to Sun West.

The Salamander was ironically an old friend of mine, but not

anyone I wanted to owe any favors to. But all other solutions eluded me.

Of course, he said. A triad of deaths await you from cruel

hands, and Im not talking about the Hounds. Hound Five to
Quarter Moon.

You know everything? Fox Four to Crescent Moon.

These days, The Salamander rarely left his veritable fortress in

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Page 10

Fox Five to Crescent Moon. Ive sought answers everywhere,

from every wise man and crank in the city.
He cut me off. I could have told you there is no solution without the proper spell and exact dosage for each known tribulation.
Usually only the agent in question knows the balance. If one of the
Zaubezi had attempted an antidote, you would be dead already,
said Sal dryly. You play too cautiously; sometimes you have to risk
it all. Hound Seven to Horned Moon.
Im too cautious? What can I do thats not risky? Fox Five to
Waning Moon.
He smirked. Besides retrieving the Reliliqy? Hound Three
bites Fox Three.
Fox Four bites Hound Three. Serve one, and I receive two
deaths from the others, not to mention the deaths of my family
members, thanks to the benevolent Torch.
Aye. We must kill the worm, turn the poison, and stave off
The Torch. There is always a way. Hound Five bites Foxes Four and
Five.
I grumbled at the loss of my pieces but acknowledged his maxim, then moved Fox Six to Waxing Moon.
How long has it been since youve played? He asked. Hound
Seven to the Rising Dawn.
Not since last time. Fox Six to Midday.

Now, said Sal, I am most unhappy with your circumstances,

but we must get the Reliliqy to save you and your family. I have a
way to neutralize the worm of Vavath, but it will take a little time.
As for Jadairs poison, we will just have to get him to tell us the
antidote.
I dont think he is the sharing sort.
The Salamander laughed, I have my ways. He clapped his
hands and bellowed to the Valchiki sentries, Bring out the warlock!
The sentries brought out a bruised and chained Jadair. I have
to admit that sight was satisfying. Perhaps I hadnt really let The
Salamander win Foxes and Hounds, he truly won and surprised
even me with this reveal!
Sal spoke calmly but with force. Warlock, please enlighten us
as to why you drugged my friend and vassal, Kenaz. And need I
add, give us the antidote, nay salvation to his pressing condition. I
understand Ymore extract is quite fatal.
Jadair snarled through broken teeth, I was paid, you know
that
With but a tiny hand gesture from The Salamander, a sentry
struck Jadair across the face, breaking his retort. Answer my question with respect, worm! What is the antidote?
Jadair yet managed a smirk, I wont say unless Im freed.

You must serve me exclusively once again. Going your own

way got you into this trouble. Hound Seven bites Fox Two.

And why, pray tell, should I believe that fools bargain? said
Sal, removing his dark spectacles, revealing fearsome pale eyes.

I am yours once again, I pledged, though this was a bitter

draught to swallow. Fox Six bites Hound Seven.

I know what you want, Salamander, and you wont get it

unless Im freed, said Jadair.

We havent been like family in a long time, Kenaz. Hound

Five bites Fox Six.

Sal put his spectacles back on. You have my word.

I know. Fox Seven bites Hound Five.

Sal chuckled. And yet you came to me in your time of need. I
am very pleased that I can help you. Hound Two to Crescent
Moon. I have thought of everything.
Fox Seven bites Hound One. Im desperate. Dont you ever
move Hound Four?
Sal chuckled. Any move and you are bitten by the other
Hound.
I furrowed my brow and studied the board a moment. If I
move Fox Seven, yes. But I still have Fox Onemy reserve. Sal
snorted his surprise. Fox One bites Hound Two.
You crafty bastard. Thats why I like you! said Sal, as his
Hound Four took Fox One.
Fox Seven to Horned Moon.
Sal continued, You but delayed the inevitable. Hound Four
bit Fox Seven.
You always were the master, I said, as Sal beamed in triumph. Never mind that I had purposefully sacrificed Foxes to give
him that edge.
Yes, I am.
It never hurts to let people win sometimes, especially when it
feeds their soul. And with The Salamander, I want him underestimating me and thinking he has all the answers.

www.UtahGeekMagazine.com

That means nothing. We know how many treacherous deals

have gone on here today, spat Jadair.
One of the sentries shook Jadair but Sal bid the man cease.
Perhaps I have earned your scorn, but you will say nothing more
that is not related to the matter at hand. Give me the antidote for
Kenaz, and you will be released unharmed, and without retribution. On my honor.
Ha! I need more! snarled Jadair. Give me a horse and I will
write it down and drop the note in my departure.
I dont trust him with a quill, I said. He stabbed me with a
poisoned one last night.
Duly noted, said Sal. Fetch Jadairs bag. A sentry brought
the bag and withdrew a quill and small alabaster jar. Stick the
warlock with the same dipped quill, commanded Sal. Jadair
braced and strained but was helpless as the sentry stuck him with
his own instrument. Whatever Kenaz has, you now have, said Sal.
What do we do to cure you both, hmm?
Sagging within his bonds, Jadair said, Light a brazier of NightVine and let each of us inhale it. Afterward we must perform an
invocation of the binding release of Apophis.
You worship Apophis? exclaimed a serving girl not far behind me. She was out of turn here in The Salamanders court but
voiced what we all wondered. Apophis is a vile god far beyond
those usually worshipped, even among the most wicked of dark
servants.
(Continued on page 14)

Page 11

eekGirls Corp was started by a couple of

girls in 2014 after Salt Lake Comic Con.
They both felt that a change was needed in the cosplay
community to help other females find empowerment
and creativity within themselves
and with their cosplay. They noticed how so many females locally were struggling to find the
confidence within themselves or
feel that they had a place to belong. Due to so much negativity
that can be surrounded in the
cosplay world, it was then the
girls decided they wanted to take
a stand. Founders Amber Dahl
and Dez Creepcore wanted to
help other females of all ages to
channel their inner geek and
come together with others who
feel they are struggling as well.
Even though they are aware the
struggles that males can have

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with cosplay
too, being female they understand the difficulties of being in the
geek culture and the bullying that can occur. They
feel strong about this message and are doing everything they can to spread the word and encourage
others. Currently the team has 5
members to help with cosplay
projects, managing, and social
media. They have already put on
their first charity event with more
planned in the future. Eventually
they will recruit other girls to join
them in future festivities to help
them find a place and embrace
their inner geek.
To learn more about GeekGirls
Corp, check them out at:
www.facebook.com/
GeekGirlsCorp
http://geekgirlscorp.com
Twitter: GeekGirls Corp
contact@geekgirlscorp.com

Page 12

By Amanda Williams

Shadows of Brimstone is an exciting new cooperative game from the mind of Jason C. Hill at Flying
Frog Productions. For those of you who love the Wild
Wild West and supernatural horror, this is the perfect
mash -up. It is set for 1 to 4 players, and admittedly, I was
hoping for more, but a max of 4 keeps the game hum-

ming right along at about 2 hours of play. That is fine for

an evening with friends or family, and dinner or snacks on
the side.
Set up takes about 10 to 15 minutes as you have lots
of fiddly-bits, but as you set them out you can learn what
they are for and I think it makes the game easier. Players
choose a class, such as Lawman, Saloon Gal, or even
Rancher. Then, you band together like a posse and go off
to fight whatever is bothering townsfolk, or to solve mysteries. What is truly lurking in that old mine shaft, and
what does that have to do with my cows disappearing? As
in all cooperative games, communication between players
is key because you must work together to survive. And
even that doesn't guarantee a win, but I tell you, loosing
is just as much fun as winning in this game. Personally, I
think that going out with the largest explosions and taking
all the monsters with you is just as fun as anything else!
And you won't play the same game twice!
There is definitely a lot to do. You have dice play,
card play, and loot to find as you make your way through
the adventures. I loved playing Call of Cthulhu and Deadlands RPGs and this is like a perfect mix made into a board
game! This high-quality game includes pieces that will
stand up to repeated play. The price reflects the quality
and is a good investment for durable, repayable entertainment.

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By Stephanie Sharp

By Stephanie Sharp

Announcers talk. Linemen block. And Techies?

They prank!
January is the month for bowl games, and the Rose
Bowl, played in Pasadena, California, is prime space for pulling off a great prank! History's shown that a lack of a football
team hasn't kept the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) from making their mark on college football history.
Their most famous prank - The Great Rose Bowl Hoax - was
pulled off in 1961 at the Washington vs. Minnesota halftime
show. The Huskies' cheerleaders led the crowd through a
series of stunt cards, not knowing that fourteen Caltech students had switched the instruction sheets. Images morphed
to add bucked teeth to the Huskies' mascot, spell Washington backwards, and culminated in reading out, "Caltech".
They managed to pull off this stunt in front of 100,000
attendees and over 30 million television viewers, and it
brought the entire stadium to a halt!
The 1961 prank inspired the 1984 Caltech students to
hack into the electronic scoreboard at the UCLA vs. Illinois
game. As the UCLA Bruins took the lead, the scoreboard
suddenly changed to read, "Caltech 38. MIT 9," giving Caltech the upper-hand in the game. Before the 2014 Rose
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Bowl, 100 Caltech students built a sign over the city that said,
"Pasadena." Just before halftime, as the sun went down, the
sign was lit. When the 6,300 orange lights came on, the Pasadena sign clearly read, "CALTECH!"
College traditions abound! And pranking are a big part of
Caltech culture. Techies play pranks on one another at a personal, house, and campus-wide level. From the most simple,
to the extravagant. A great prank is pulled off with style and
grace. It's about unwinding, gaining respect and admiration,
and giving everyone involved something to laugh about.
Alumni continue to support the Caltech Prank Club. We can't
wait to see what they have in store for the future!

Page 13

(Continued from page 11)

(Continued from page 8)

You worship what you can afford, said Jadair dryly, repeating
a Tolburn maxim.
Youve cast away your very soul! whispered the servant girl.
Enough, cried Sal. We do what we must to save Kenazs life.
What else, Warlock?
Jadair frowned answering, We drink a potion of Heavenly
Dew, mixed with sacred gold ore powder and it is done. Keep your
word this time, Salamander.
Sal smirked but nodded. Let it be done, he commanded as
we were all taken to the outer courtyard.
I generally avoid anything to do with the diabolic arts but it
seems this time I have no choice. Flames purged, wafting smoke
from the Night-Vine leaves, as Jadair chanted something profane to
the evil snake god Apophis. The heaving smoke and summoning
ritual brought weighty vapors to my mind and then all was black.
***
Awake, Kenaz, shake the dreams from your head and drink,
came a voice. I drank the offered cup and swallowed purifying water. One of your troubles is gone, said Sal.
I saw Jadairs lifeless body being dragged away. You killed
him? But your oath?
The Salamander laughed. Oh yes; he was too much trouble.
Oaths to devil worshippers are meaningless.
The realization that Sal did not keep his word even to a man
that sought to murder me was troubling, but I had other more
pressing worries. And the other two curses?
Lysandra here will help you succeed in both of them, he said,
pointing to the renowned and beautiful thief. She knows how to
rid you of the worm of Vavath, and afterward will assist in fetching
the Reliliqyyou still have to do that. But this time its for me!
Seems there is no escaping other peoples greed.

Next time:
Chapter 4. Burning Ice and Freezing Fire

About the Author

David has been writing as long as he can remember, winning a
number of secretive awards too prestigious for you to have heard of.
He lives in Utah with his wife and children. Among his other published works
are Heroes of the Fallen, Bless the Child,
Whispers of the Goddess, the sci-fi horror
collections of Space Eldritch 1 & 2, and
Weird Tales of Horror.
You can visit him online at:
http://david-j-west.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/David_JWest
http://davidjwest.tumblr.com/

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sense to work full time for FantasyCon.

For one month, she worked full time at the radio station and
full time at the FantasyCon. She had volunteered at conventions before this. Valerie made the jump knowing that, since it
was a convention, she might not have a job in July. It was
worth it to me, no matter which way it went, she said.
FantasyCon is more of a family based convention, but they
offer things that are enjoyable for all ages. Each different area
has something that is geared toward children, rather than having only one dedicated area, and Valerie oversees the volunteers, promotional events, security, floor layout and execution,
realms, and celebrity relations.
Along with other members of the staff, Valerie had planned
out events from the current time until September 2016. This
was all done before she knew for certain if she would have a
job. Now, they are being approached by so many people to do
events, that they actually have to turn people down sometimes.
Once a quarter, they do an event to promote FantasyCon,
but the rest of the events are all about being involved in the
community.
One of the events that they will be doing with the Salt Lake
City Library is a Teen Yule Ball. It is based on the Harry Potter
Books. On February Friday 13, FantasyCon will be having an
event calling the Bleeding Heart ball. It is for people age 18 and
over. The ball sponsors the American Red Cross and the Heart
Association. The focus of the event is on the heart. You dont
have to have a date for the event. Its all about getting together
in the geek community.
We are going to have some really cool additions to FantasyCon come 2016 that, I think, will broaden the doors, but still
stick with our branding, Valerie said. In Utah, she appreciates
that there are opportunities for people to be creative and get
paid for it.
As a mother, she has always felt that it is important to be a
positive role model for her daughter. This has involved finding
jobs with flexible hours and projects that she believes in. When
her daughter was younger, there was a time when Valerie had
five part time jobs with different hours so that she could have
time to be at home with her child.
Valerie has worked in many fields, which are dominated by
men, and continues to do so. This includes film making. In
spring of 2015, she will be producing her first feature film. It is
a western movie called Trails End. The production company is
owned by women. She is always adding to her resume and taking on different creative jobs.
Valerie feels that its important for women to build skills and
be willing to take chances. I think that its important that we
show our little girls that they can run a big company, she said.

Page 14

Reprinted with permission

1) Jayce is a planeswalker for which of the following

shards of magic?
A) Plains
B) Mountains
C) Islands
D) Swamp

6) In the board game Risk, how many bonus troops are

awarded for controlling all of North America?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 5
D) 7

2) (Select all that apply) Which of the following Marvel

Characters have picked up Thor's Hammer?
A) Iron Man
B) Captain America
C) Thanos
D) Professor Xavier
E) All the Above
F) None of the Above

7) In the Anime Series "One Piece" what is the name of the

character "Mr. 3?"
A) Eneru
B) Galdino
C) Kizaru
D) Tashigi

4) Which Champion in League of Legends cursed Warwick,

turning him into a werewolf?
A) Soraka
B) Singed
C) Kayle
D) Morgana
5) In the Warcraft lore, who was responsible for the death
of Lord Anduin Lothar?
A) Teron Gorfiend
B) Gul'Dan
C) Ner'zhul
D) Ogrim Doomhammer

8) In the game "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" who

is the Fairy that attempts to "help" Link on his journey?
A) Navi
B) Tatl
C) Ciela
D) Neri
9) In the Star Trek Universe, Who was the disgraced scientist responsible for creating the Android "Data" and his
brother "Lore?"
A) Lewis Zimmerman
B) Leonard McCoy
C) Noonien Soong
D) Julian Bashir
10) In the Star Wars universe, what was the original name
of the Sith known as "Darth Sidious?"
A) Jacen Solo
B) Sheev Palpatine
C) Count Dooku
D) Kao Cen Darach
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3) (Select all that apply) Which of the following are Nintendo Consoles?
A) Famicon Disk System B) Virtual Boy
C) Jaguar
D) Vectrex
E) All the Above
F) None of the Above

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