Time To CONverge!

People have been asking us to come to Minneapolis* for CONvergence for years, and this weekend it’s finally happening. And next to being presented with our own TARDIS, we couldn’t be more giddy with antici….pation!

More precisely, here’s where we’re scheduled to be:

We’ll also post/tweet/FB any other activities we get mixed up with, assuming we’re not too loopy on Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters to operate a keyboard.

ARE YOU A COSPLAYER? If so, know that Storm has bravely/foolishly set a goal of having his picture taken with 1,000 cosplayers over the course of the weekend, to be posted in this handy Flickr Group. And even if you’re not dressed up as Slave Leia, Iron Man, Iron Leia, or any other character, please do say “hi”!

*yes, technically it’s in Bloomington, MN

Posted June 28th, 2011
By Storm | Posted in Latest News | Comments (1)

Show #114: Crushes on Muppets

The hunnerd14st episode of our podcast, Paul and Storm Talk About Some Stuff for Five to Ten Minutes (On Average), is now online.

This week’s episode: we finally get back to podcasting after a lengthy absence, and if our technical difficulties are any indication, we’ve pretty much forgotten how to do it. (Sorry about the audio quality on Storm’s track) Nonetheless, we find time to discuss Cray supercomputers and phones; choosing which animal to be eaten by; sitcoms set in the Sarlacc; our trip to the UK and Amsterdam; the smells of Diagon Alley; ramping up to JoCo Cruise Crazy 2; Storm’s attempt to have his photo taken with 1,000 cosplayers at CONvergence; Paul plots to cosplay as Sherman at Dragon*Con; and our recommendations of two new albums by “Weird Al” Yankovic and Tally Hall. Also: Storm wins gold on Reddit.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION ALERT: which animal would you choose to be eaten by?

Show #114: Crushes on Muppets

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nuggetman.com/podcasts/PS_5-10_114.mp3]
Posted June 28th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Podcast | Comments (13)

Show #113: A Little Sweaty

The hunnerd13th episode of our podcast, Paul and Storm Talk About Some Stuff for Five to Ten Minutes (On Average), is now online.

This week’s episode: we say a little bit about JoCo Cruise Crazy II without actually saying anything; squarefoot gardening, specific cleaning, and coming around to enjoying tasks; geek militias; contemplating what constitutes “success;” and reconciling one’s self to Facebook. Also: Paul disses Canadian snacks.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION ALERT: Are there any tasks/jobs you used to hate, and now enjoy/love?

Show #113: A Little Sweaty

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nuggetman.com/podcasts/PS_5-10_113.mp3]
Posted May 25th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Podcast | Comments (6)

“Fuzzy Man” Remix Contest

Slap yourself in the face to make sure you’re not dreaming if you need to, but YES,  you read that headline properly: we are holding the first ever Paul and Storm Remix Contest, for our newest song, “Fuzzy Man (Fuzzy Nation)“. (You know, the one we wrote for John Scalzi’s New York Times bestselling book Fuzzy Nation.

Yes, this is YOUR CHANCE to bring the noise, the funk, the RAWK, the beeping-and-booping, and whatever else you have laying around in your +5 Bag of Tricks to grab some awesome collectible prizes, and approximately 0.025 Wheatons of fame.

Intrigued? Here’s the deal…

  • Download the raw tracks from this link right here (the song is 90 bpm)
  • Make your own remix; the sky’s the limit, go nuts. HOWEVER, to qualify, the song must be at least 60 seconds long, and must contain at least one recognizable element from the tracks provided. (In other words, you can’t just go write and record your own version)
  • E-mail an mp3 of your finished remix to info “at” paulandstorm “dot” com before 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday, June 14th
  • We will post all submissions that meet the above criteria on this website, along with a poll for people to vote for their favorite remix
  • The remixes will also be judged by the two of us and New York Times bestselling author John Scalzi
  • Winner of the Scalzi/P&S judging will receive:
    • personalized, signed copy of Fuzzy Nation from John Scalzi, as well as signed copies of other John Scalzi books (to be named later)
    • random selection of signed Paul and Storm merchandise
    • John Scalzi’s voice on your answering machine/voicemail
  • Winner of the “popular vote” will receive:
    • personalized, signed copy of Fuzzy Nation from John Scalzi
    • random selection of signed Paul and Storm merchandise
    • a six-second custom song written about them and recorded by Paul and Storm
    • NOTE: if the same song wins both categories, then that person gets their choice of prize package, and the second place winner of the unselected category will receive the other prize package

I know, right? So fire up your AwesomeTron 8000 and get to remixing, already!

Posted May 25th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Latest News | Comments (1)

New Song – Fuzzy Man (Fuzzy Nation)

Sometimes we have the best job in the world. In this case not only did we have the opportunity to read a terrific book before its publication, which happened to be written by our friend John Scalzi, but he also subsequently asked us if we were interested in writing an “end-credits” song for it.

Well, DUH!

We’ve been dying to tell people about it for nearly six months, and at long last we’re proud to present “Fuzzy Man (Fuzzy Nation)“, a song of such epic proportions that it could very well usher in a new golden age for overwrought, bombastic, emotionally-charged rock power ballads.

You have several options for your consumption of this wonderful, wonderful song: you can purchase it (our personal favorite choice), read it, watch it, or just listen to it (see player below). Pick one or several:

[audio:http://www.nuggetman.com/songs/newstuff/FuzzyMan.mp3]

UPDATE: Also now available in various lossless/audio-nerd-friendly formats.

…and most certainly go treat yourself to a copy of Fuzzy Nation in the preferred media delivery system of your choice: hardback, ebook, and audiobook (read by WIL WHEATON (!)) are all available.

Mega-ton thanks to the star-addled cast of musicians who helped turn our rock anthem way past eleven:

Dave Hill – solo electric guitar
Scotty Lund – drums

and featuring the Heartwing Voices:
Sean Altman
Mike Lombardo
Kevin Murphy

And special kudos to Len Peralta for the “Fuzzy Man (Fuzzy Nation)” single cover art, which we look forward to having projected on a massive screen behind us as we collect our first Grammy.

Posted May 10th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Latest News | Comments (5)

Show #112: Boiled Leather, Scrimshaw and Heartwings

The hunnerdtwelfthfth episode of our podcast, Paul and Storm Talk About Some Stuff for Five to Ten Minutes (On Average), is now online.

This week’s episode: we are joined by bestselling sci-fi author John Scalzi for a chat about his new book Fuzzy Nation, for which we were commissioned to write the official power ballad. We also discuss: the rigors of touring; boiled leather; riding coattails; grafting songs onto movies; questions that suck; counterintuitive publishing practices; and Master Blaster and hastily-made headshots.

Post-show song: “Fuzzy Man (Fuzzy Nation)”, Paul and Storm

Show #112: Boiled Leather, Scrimshaw and Heartwings

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nuggetman.com/podcasts/PS_5-10_112.mp3]
Posted May 10th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Podcast | Comments (7)

Happy Mother’s Day!

In celebration of mothers everywhere, we are giving away our “Mother’s Day Song” for ABSOLUTELY FREES NO MONIEZ!

Click here to download (do the whole “right click/”Save as…” or whatever the hell)

[audio:http://www.nuggetman.com/free/MothersDaySong.mp3]

 

Posted May 8th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Latest News | Comments (2)

UK and Amsterdam! Soon!

After being Europe-less for all of 2010, we’re absolutely chuffed about our return to the UK with Jonathan Coulton for three action-smashed dates:

The London date will once again be at Union Chapel, a venue so beautiful that it would be worth going even if The Thing You Hate Most In The World was going to be there. But it won’t; it’ll be us and Jonathan, which is practically like having your three favorite iterations of The Doctor in one place at one time.

And because we like the sound of “2011 Windmills and Jaffa Cakes Tour*”, we’re also making our first ever appearance on the Continent:

I know! We can’t believe it either! And even though we’ve never been to Amsterdam, we hear that there’s no place in the world that likes American comedy music better. So look out, Venice of the North–we’re coming to comedy you down!

*not actually the name of the tour

Posted May 2nd, 2011
By Storm | Posted in Latest News | Comments (6)

Show #111: Nethercandies

The hunnerdleventyth episode of our podcast, Paul and Storm Talk About Some Stuff for Five to Ten Minutes (On Average), is now online.

This week’s episode: Storm is on braincation; we’re excited about our pending trip to the UK and The Netherlands; Orangina and odd European candies; a war of words over licorice; a million dollar idea of a couch monorail system; some quick battles involving technology and Muppets; soap operas old and new; our personal “first favorite songs;” free burritos and Peking duck; and bad advice. Also: Paul F. Tompkins‘ and David Rees‘ recapping goodness.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION ALERT: what (if any) soap operas do/did you watch?

Post-show song: “The Rain, The Park and Other Things”, The Cowsills

Show #111: Nethercandies

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nuggetman.com/podcasts/PS_5-10_111.mp3]


Posted April 15th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Podcast | Comments (21)

Show #110: The Tiny, Incompetent Colonel Inside Us All

The hunnerdtenthst episode of our podcast, Paul and Storm Talk About Some Stuff for Five to Ten Minutes (On Average), is now online.

This week’s episode: Storm’s new laptop and his innate klutziness; why Las Vegas makes us feel all oogie; food, dining and the Rule of Threes; plates and robots made of cheese; a question of sidekick/mascot categories; a formal request for wooden steampunk monkey robots; Abe Lincoln vs. George Clooney in an eating contest; and geek tourism.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION ALERT: which category of mascot/sidekick would you want: Monkey, Dragon, or Elf? Also, if you had to choose, would you choose to never eat again or never sleep again, and why? Finally, where are good destinations for “geek tourism?”

Show #110: The Tiny, Incompetent Colonel Inside Us All

[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.nuggetman.com/podcasts/PS_5-10_110.mp3]
Posted April 6th, 2011
By Paul and Storm | Posted in Podcast | Comments (20)