Yes, I'm still here, but I was a bit busy this weekend, including filling in for someone yesterday in Titanic. I also couldn't get on-line at all on Saturday due to problems with my brother-in-law's internet connection, hence no posts from that day. I'll be around.
Oh, I bought and decorated a Christmas tree (3 foot artificial from Wal-Mart) yesterday. I have a couple pictures but am not sure when I'll be able to post them, hopefully soon though!
~Matt
Monday, November 27, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
I'm back
Yes, I am back, but Chris was back hours ago. He chickened out because he wasn't first and because he wasn't feeling well. Then Ryan and his friends hung out with more friends around the corner of the building so I sat by myself most of the night. I read for a couple hours, but then I was dozing and the parking lot lights turned off at midnight.
Ryan was camping out last weekend for a Wii and found out that the lights have been on a timer for a couple months after corporate ordered it. I guess they couldn't override it for one night. Anyway, I was in a sleeping bag at this point because my feet were so cold in my boots. Once out of my boots in the bottom of the bag they became quite toasty. I stretched out with my legs on another chair and eventually lay atop three different foldable chairs to form a serviceable "bed." I think I slept for a couple hours, then at three the lights came on as the first employees arrived. Many people at that point started taking care of things even though we had an hour until tickets (to reserve your copy of an item until noon) were handed out starting at 04:00 and two hours until the store opened at 05:00.
I kept the sleeping bag until it was nearer to four. It wasn't a bad night overall, and I did get a couple things. I bought a 2gig SD memory card for the PDA I think I'm going to get as well as two stacks of 100 DVD-Rs for only $5.00 a stack! (normal list price of $70.00!) Oh, and I bought a universal remote so that I can control the volume on the TV I'm borrowing from Chris to have hooked up to my DVD player. It has been quite annoying to have to walk up to the TV to adjust the volume as the movie goes up and down in volume.
That's all for now. I'm not yet sure if I'm going to sleep any more or perhaps take a nap later today or go to bed early. I'm at my sister's and haven't bothered to go home yet. What is the point? We entered the store right at 5:00 and were one of the first ones to the registers (we walked through a long queue area but didn't have to wait at all). Chris is playing Zelda on Ryan's Wii right now and I'm just browsing the internet...
Good morning!
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
Ryan was camping out last weekend for a Wii and found out that the lights have been on a timer for a couple months after corporate ordered it. I guess they couldn't override it for one night. Anyway, I was in a sleeping bag at this point because my feet were so cold in my boots. Once out of my boots in the bottom of the bag they became quite toasty. I stretched out with my legs on another chair and eventually lay atop three different foldable chairs to form a serviceable "bed." I think I slept for a couple hours, then at three the lights came on as the first employees arrived. Many people at that point started taking care of things even though we had an hour until tickets (to reserve your copy of an item until noon) were handed out starting at 04:00 and two hours until the store opened at 05:00.
I kept the sleeping bag until it was nearer to four. It wasn't a bad night overall, and I did get a couple things. I bought a 2gig SD memory card for the PDA I think I'm going to get as well as two stacks of 100 DVD-Rs for only $5.00 a stack! (normal list price of $70.00!) Oh, and I bought a universal remote so that I can control the volume on the TV I'm borrowing from Chris to have hooked up to my DVD player. It has been quite annoying to have to walk up to the TV to adjust the volume as the movie goes up and down in volume.
That's all for now. I'm not yet sure if I'm going to sleep any more or perhaps take a nap later today or go to bed early. I'm at my sister's and haven't bothered to go home yet. What is the point? We entered the store right at 5:00 and were one of the first ones to the registers (we walked through a long queue area but didn't have to wait at all). Chris is playing Zelda on Ryan's Wii right now and I'm just browsing the internet...
Good morning!
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Yes, we're going soon
to Best Buy. This is the third year in a row, but today is warm and tonight promises to be warmer than last year. I will definitely have pictures, and hopefully will be buying several things. I think I like the idea of a stack of 100 DVD-Rs for $4.99, and a 2-gig SD card for $30 will go well with the Windows PDA I want to buy.
More later...
~Matt
More later...
~Matt
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Thanksgiving forecast
Today is my last day at my day job this week. This does mean a bit lower paycheck, but I'm not complaining too much as I'll enjoy the time off. Friday (besides sleeping after staying up all night at Best Buy) will be my first completely work-free day in far too long. Thursday though I do have to work at bigg's since I've already committed to Titanic for Sunday the 24th of December--at least the shift only goes until 18:00. However, I assume I'll miss Thanksgiving dinner at my sister's place (unless she wants to wait for Friday to hold it? *hint* *hint*) as I'll probably head directly to Best Buy from bigg's.
I wish I were flying out to California this weekend though, it would be a good time to enjoy more time out there. Yet I have to keep up the now three year (if nothing goes wrong tomorrow) tradition of Best Buy line camping and I'm also helping to supervise Titanic this Saturday as the supervisor has to fill in elsewhere (like me she has multiple jobs and multiple positions at the Museum Center). I'll just try to wring what enjoyment I can out of the holiday, ;-).
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
I wish I were flying out to California this weekend though, it would be a good time to enjoy more time out there. Yet I have to keep up the now three year (if nothing goes wrong tomorrow) tradition of Best Buy line camping and I'm also helping to supervise Titanic this Saturday as the supervisor has to fill in elsewhere (like me she has multiple jobs and multiple positions at the Museum Center). I'll just try to wring what enjoyment I can out of the holiday, ;-).
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
Photobucket - someone wanted you to check out this image
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Addendum: Well this didn't work as well as I thought. I didn't like the fact that I couldn't include text with a picture upload, so I thought this could get around that. Apparently it won't work that way. Oh well...
~Matt
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
PortableApps.com
Check this website out if you move from computer to computer. 
These programs are an excellent way to keep your information private and to save all your settings as you move. You can install these programs (I would really recommend this suite to hold the programs you use). I use Firefox and OpenOffice.org especially. The first is my favourite browser (with all of my favourites and links kept intact from computer to computer) and the second is an open-source office suite. It may not always be as usable as MS Office but sometimes is better and is fully compatible with multiple formats and best of all is completely free. You can run these programs from a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a device like an iPod, or even from CD (of course you would lose any editing capabilities with the latter option). Check the site out, it is a fun place.
~Matt
These programs are an excellent way to keep your information private and to save all your settings as you move. You can install these programs (I would really recommend this suite to hold the programs you use). I use Firefox and OpenOffice.org especially. The first is my favourite browser (with all of my favourites and links kept intact from computer to computer) and the second is an open-source office suite. It may not always be as usable as MS Office but sometimes is better and is fully compatible with multiple formats and best of all is completely free. You can run these programs from a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a device like an iPod, or even from CD (of course you would lose any editing capabilities with the latter option). Check the site out, it is a fun place.~Matt
Say it ain't so
Apparently New Line Cinema has been involved in a dispute with Peter Jackson and has told "him that the company 'would no longer be requiring [his] services on The Hobbit and the prequel'." I'm not sure what the prequel is unless they mean a film adaptation of the Silmarillion (an interesting venture...)
Sure, I had a few problems with some decisions Jackson made in the adaptations of LotR, but overall they were fantastic. I hope the management responsible for this decision at New Line realizes what they are doing and doesn't screw up production...
~Matt :(
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
You can read the entire BBC article here.New Line Cinema, with whom he has been in dispute about income from the first Rings film, was not using him, [Peter Jackson] said.
Jackson had refused to discuss a Hobbit film until the case was settled but New Line said it now wanted to move on as it had "limited time" to make the film.
Sure, I had a few problems with some decisions Jackson made in the adaptations of LotR, but overall they were fantastic. I hope the management responsible for this decision at New Line realizes what they are doing and doesn't screw up production...
~Matt :(
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
Monday, November 20, 2006
I'm not moving to New Zealand
According to government supporters an anti-spanking (or smacking in NZspeak) law is to become official in New Zealand. Supporters are reportedly dismayed by a compromise that allows parents to physically restrain children for their own safety.
This makes it
obvious that the bill is outrageous and not an anti-child abuse measure. It actively seeks to undermine the authority of parents in the raising of their children and provide for further government intrusion. I wonder how many years away the US is from enacting something like this. I am sure we will see something first in the Socialist Republic of San Francisco or activist judges in Massachusetts. I shudder at the thought.
Akin to hate crime legislation in the US (but I imagine enlightened New Zealanders have enacted similar laws) this is merely another step in a broad (though not conspiratorially conscious) campaign to destroy biblical influence upon society and the family in general. Just look at Elton John's " ban all religion" or Richard Dawkin's New Atheism.
Of course you could take this verse out of context and say it advocates beating your child black and blue, but it does nothing of the kind. Rather it refers to discipline which may include spanking (it does not have to, but the option should be there because sometimes it is what works).
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
A parliamentary "committee rejected a proposal by National MP Chester Borrows for a different compromise which would have defined, and allowed parents to use, limited reasonable force.It would have allowed light smacking that did no more than cause "transitory and trifling discomfort" and did not cause bruises, welts, skin cuts or broken bones."
This makes it
obvious that the bill is outrageous and not an anti-child abuse measure. It actively seeks to undermine the authority of parents in the raising of their children and provide for further government intrusion. I wonder how many years away the US is from enacting something like this. I am sure we will see something first in the Socialist Republic of San Francisco or activist judges in Massachusetts. I shudder at the thought.
The bill will change the Crimes Act to remove the defence of "reasonable force" that parents can invoke if charged with assaulting a child.But the select committee that approved the bill yesterday has forced a compromise which will permit parents to use reasonable force to exercise necessary parental control.This would include restraining a child to prevent it from harm, or from causing others harm, or to prevent it engaging in disruptive behaviour.This may include, for example, stopping a child from running across the road, or forcibly removing one from a supermarket. But the law will say that such force cannot be used for "corrective" purposes.
Akin to hate crime legislation in the US (but I imagine enlightened New Zealanders have enacted similar laws) this is merely another step in a broad (though not conspiratorially conscious) campaign to destroy biblical influence upon society and the family in general. Just look at Elton John's " ban all religion" or Richard Dawkin's New Atheism.
Proverbs 13:24 ESV Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
Of course you could take this verse out of context and say it advocates beating your child black and blue, but it does nothing of the kind. Rather it refers to discipline which may include spanking (it does not have to, but the option should be there because sometimes it is what works).
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Culture Fest
One of my people in Evening Events was promoted at her main job and as a result was sent on a business trip this weekend. She found a replacement for the event on Friday (where I supervised), but couldn't find anyone today. As a result I took her place and helped out during the Museum's Latin American Culture Fest.
Each Culture Fest is a weekend long and involves various vendors and performers
occupying spaces in the building's Rotunda. I moved around between several different positions relieving volunteers and filling in where necessary. When I was in the crafts area I made my own paper bag piñata and also the two other crafts. Sure, I'm not a kid, but I like making things that I'm involved in helping others play.
Right now I'm also trying to staff other events at the museum--it isn't all going well. I'm really short for some nights--but I think that some details are coming together. On the second (of December) I will be at the museum from about nine in the morning until probably midnight.
I'll also be making some last minute decisions on the fly that night as to where certain people are stationed. I hope that my boss will have hired a third supervisor by that point, but I'm not holding my breath. I think of it as a critical priority, but he might not because he will soon have two exhibits as well as a third starting soon and his other duties (such as birthday parties). I think things will end up okay, but it is somewhat frustrating having to wait while things come together.
~Matt
Each Culture Fest is a weekend long and involves various vendors and performersoccupying spaces in the building's Rotunda. I moved around between several different positions relieving volunteers and filling in where necessary. When I was in the crafts area I made my own paper bag piñata and also the two other crafts. Sure, I'm not a kid, but I like making things that I'm involved in helping others play.
Right now I'm also trying to staff other events at the museum--it isn't all going well. I'm really short for some nights--but I think that some details are coming together. On the second (of December) I will be at the museum from about nine in the morning until probably midnight.
I'll also be making some last minute decisions on the fly that night as to where certain people are stationed. I hope that my boss will have hired a third supervisor by that point, but I'm not holding my breath. I think of it as a critical priority, but he might not because he will soon have two exhibits as well as a third starting soon and his other duties (such as birthday parties). I think things will end up okay, but it is somewhat frustrating having to wait while things come together.
~Matt
Saturday, November 18, 2006
TOS
I don't know exactly why, but I have barely seen any episodes of The Original Series previously. Tonight TV Land has a marathon of TOS episodes and I started watching at 21:00. So far I've watched Where No Man has Gone Before and I'm currently in the middle of The Naked Time.
Yes, they are cheesy in some ways, but they're also good vintage sci-fi. I'm really enjoying this and only hope that I can stay awake along enough to really enjoy things and develop a greater appreciation. I do know that CBS is producing digitally remastered versions of TOS episodes, I just don't know when they are airing or where. I would love to be able to compare the two and see if they are still good or if the enhanced digital effects clash with the props and costumes.
~Matt
Yes, they are cheesy in some ways, but they're also good vintage sci-fi. I'm really enjoying this and only hope that I can stay awake along enough to really enjoy things and develop a greater appreciation. I do know that CBS is producing digitally remastered versions of TOS episodes, I just don't know when they are airing or where. I would love to be able to compare the two and see if they are still good or if the enhanced digital effects clash with the props and costumes.
~Matt
Friday, November 17, 2006
What is free time?
The entirety of December I think I will be working a minimum of seventy plus hours a week. Three weekends I'll be supervising in the Titanic exhibit (2-3, 23-24, 30-31), on weekend I'll be in California (15-17), and there are numerous evening events at the museum as well. In some ways I don't regret it because I'll be busiest at the museum, the place that I love the most.
On the other hand it will make things like shopping difficult. I'm really not sure when I'll be able to fit in time to go shopping, especially as I go to one store in particular where prices are cheap. It isn't open 24 hours regretfully. I'm sure I'll find some way to make do, I just don't know what it is yet.
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
On the other hand it will make things like shopping difficult. I'm really not sure when I'll be able to fit in time to go shopping, especially as I go to one store in particular where prices are cheap. It isn't open 24 hours regretfully. I'm sure I'll find some way to make do, I just don't know what it is yet.
~Matt
--
"A room without books is as a body without a soul." -Cicero
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