If you’re anything like me, you may find rather appealing those wonderful fantasy worlds depicted in video games, comics, TV and film that bend and twist what we humans call reality. More often then not, these fantasy worlds are more appealing then the real world itself. Some more salient examples of the most popular fantasy worlds at present are the virtual lives we live online via IM, myriad social networking sites and those downright addictive MMORPG’s. These worlds can prove so immersive, that some of those immersed forget to attend to the basic maintenance needs that these rather fragile bodies we inhabit require. The rash of deaths from MMORPG players in Asia over the last few years is a notable example of this. Even single player games, like Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, create a world that is so incredibly detailed and immersive, it can be difficult to get up the nerve to turn it off.

Fortunately for those who are helplessly addicted to virtual or fantasy worlds, the real world may not be as mundane as we think. In the past two weeks, scientists have made some startling discoveries that prove the lines between our worlds of fantasy and reality are starting to blur. I submit the following examples for your review.

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Chicago, IL (April 17, 2007) - The April 28th episode of Shots in the Dark will be recorded at the Shots in the Dark Launch Party at Hero Headquarters! The episode will include the usual geek news, as well as interviews with Tim Demeter, Mike Norton, and Skottie Young. You can participate in this week’s show just by attending the party and saying hi! The party will be from 10am - 9pm on Saturday, April 28th at Hero Headquarters, 1530 W. Lake Cook Rd. in Wheeling, IL.

Other activities at the launch party include gaming of many different kinds including Heroclix, raffles and auctions of signed goods from Brian K. Vaughan, Robert Richardson, Sean McKeever, Eric Wight, and Geoff Johns, as well as original sketches and pages by creators such as Phil Hester and Ande Parks. Half of the proceeds from the auctions and raffles, as well as 100% of the proceeds from any sketches done at the event will be donated to the Hero Initiative ( www.heroinitiative.org). The Shots in the Dark launch party also kicks off the Grand Re-Opening Week of Hero Headquarters which will culminate in their own celebration on May 5th!

Don’t forget there are now THREE great Shots in the Dark episodes available for download on the Shots in the Dark website, including the gang’s interview with comics legend Jeph Loeb!