The Phantom Menace video release party

Posted on April 3, 2000 by Hazmatt

A great time was had by everyone who showed up to the Chicago Force Video Release Party hosted by James (FantmMes). There was an unholy feast of pizza and junk-food spread out for everyone. Long-standing donor (Joe) brought 4 cases of assorted chips. Big Tom provided a VAT of homemade chili-cheese dip. I took 8 pizza’s and a couple cases of ‘DEW.

The Party was almost postponed as, the night before in a terrible mishap, a telephone was accidentally dropped onto the 3rd Laser Disk in the set….cracking it and rendering it unplayable. But who needs to see the last 20 minutes of The Phantom Menace anyway…..right? Well, the person who accidentally broke the disk was immediately banished from the kingdom and told never to return. Next, our resourceful host went out early in the morning and found another (hard to find) copy of The Phantom Menace on Laser Disk. Disaster averted, party saved….The Force Was With Us.

By 4:30 everyone had shown up, we settled in front of James’ massive 64″ Super-Wide-Screen-High-Definition Television and watched the movie in Window-Shattering Earth-Pounding THX theater Surround Sound. Admittedly, a lot less actual watching was done and a whole lot of commentary and speculation was heard. It was virtualy “STAR WARS THEATER 2000”. Everyone on hand seemed to be a hard-core fan…and we all had some very interesting commentary and theories to share. I think every hidden-scene and “Easter-egg.” was revealed. I know I had about 20 missed things pointed out to me…from Ratts Tyerell being hauled away on a stretcher to Obi-Wan casually flipping his lightsaber (like the bad-ass he is) while approaching Darth Maul. I haven’t heard such involved dialogue on the movies since the conversations heard at the front of the line last May.

After the movie was over, we checked out James’ impressive Star Wars collection. I say “impressive” meaning that I haven’t seen a more impressive one since visiting the Star Wars exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute last year in DC.

Well, if this little get-together is any indication of how much fun our Reunion Party is going to be in 2 weeks…then we have a lot to look forward too. Sorry if you missed this one…but I’ll see you in two weeks.

I don’t see any dead imaginary animals…

Posted on February 1, 2000 by Hazmatt

These pictures are from the Dead Dewback Party held at Thom Solo’s apartment after Windycon 2000.

: Dave enjoys Dumb stuff

: Jedigal and MJS chat

: Everyone is tired

: Erica tries to sleep

: Dave IS asleep

: “No, really, I’m OK…”

: Shauna’s out

: Phil’s awake!

: Matt is confused

: That’s an evil look

: What a nice smile!

: What a buffoon!

: “What the hell do you want?”

: Minnesota and St. Louis represent!

: Tada!

Oh, the humanity!

Posted on January 31, 2000 by Hazmatt

During Windycon 2000, a con which will live in infamy, Chicago Force was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the insidious nature of styrofoam packing peanuts.

Chicago Force had held peaceful room parties and, until that day, was still under the impression that decorating a hotel room to look like the planet Hoth was a Good Idea™.

Indeed, one hour after the room party had commenced, there was no indication of any problem with the chosen decoration. While in hindsight this was an inaccurate assumption, Chicago Force was still in the midst of false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The packing peanuts were tracked around the room.

The packing peanuts were tracked down the hall.

The packing peanuts were tracked into the elevators.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.

Hostilities existed. There was no blinking at the fact that that our people, our reputation and our stay at the hotel were in grave danger.

With confidence in our forces – with the unbounding determination of our people – we gained the inevitable triumph.

Since the unprovoked and dastardly attack, a state of war has existed between Chicago Force and sytrofoam peanuts.