What a week.

You would think a trip to disneyland would be a thing to look forward to. Well in some ways it always is but this trip was almost more work then fun. It started with a $966 charge on my credit card the day before leaving. Three of the 4 rooms reserved back in may were never canceled, and they charge the first night for uncanceled rooms (rack rate). The hotel we did end up with was cheeper per night but the clerk, without asking, waited for 3 rooms together for us 3 groups staying there (each of which had a retarded and/or handicapped person). Well that took forever, then when we asked what was taking so long they said that we could have the rooms if we didn't mind they hadn't cleaned the carpet. Well why not wait another twenty min. per room after waiting hours already. 40 min. later nothing. We went and asked about the holdup. Only two of the rooms were done, what an idiot.. why not let us have the rooms that were ready. Aunt Judi, who has heart trouble, had some experiences to recall. It actually started with Indiana Jones. Lets just say that she puts the screams of the people on rollercosters to shame. And was in some sort of shock after getting off the tower. (and I didn't sugest she go. Unfortunately I also didn't object. After all, there was a 70 year old going on with us. But I'm sure to Aunt Judi it was the same thing.) From then on I made sure to exagerate the twists and turns on every ride. (And as it turns out even though the 70 year old afterwords agreed with me that it was a mistake, she [the seventy year old] must have not thought it overwelming as she went again later that day. And Aunt Judi, who stayed an extra 2 days showed up to turn in the rental car and the computers were down. After getting to the checkin at the airport they informed here the ticket was purchased for a wrong date and would cost 62 to upgrade. Well it was still fun to ride space mountain and all the fun rides. I didn't get to see the new "Talk with crush" but oh well. And long story short I got the charges from the disneyland hotel reversed and payed the extra 62 bucks so Aunt Judi didn't have to sleep in the airport. (dont tell her).

Phishers have changed bait

Well the public is getting smarter. Email's telling you that Amazon, Ebay, or Paypal need you to resubmit your personal information because there was a "problem" is no longer cutting it. The new trick is to send an email informing you someone is trying to steal your identity. Unfortunately the person trying to steal your information is the email sender. Take this email I received, supposedly from paypal. The link is actually but instead of "Click Here" it has [https://www.paypal.com/row/wf/f=ap_email] to make you think thats what it links to. A few tips for online protection. 1. Only give personal information like credit card number, account number, and social security number once. From then on only use passwords. If you lost a credit card you will have to give paypal or amazon the new number (Once only). If you get a request to resubmit such info report such request to the fraud division of the business or bank. 2. Banks and Credit Card Companies never request information from email and rarely from phone. If emailed, disregard email and go to your banks website without using a link. If called say thank you, I will call you back now, then hang up and dial the number on the back of your credit or ATM card for that financial institution. 3. If you have popups or computer problems, do use your credit card or account number. Some spyware can watch what you type. Never use a public computer to enter financial information ever. Online Banking: (follow all above steps plus...) 1. Sign up at the actual bank. That way only your password and username are used online. 2. If your social security number is your account number get it changed. 3. If your social security number is your password get it changed. (most banks no longer have 2 and 3 but some older accounts still have not changed to the new policies) It should be noted that online is still relatively safe. The VAST majority of identity theft is in the physical world and the average $$ lost is about 10 times more in the "real" world. For example the only family member who I know had such a problem was 2 $2500 purchases at home depot from their credit card in buffalo New York. The only place they stopped in Buffalo was a gas station, not surprising the card number stolen was the one used to purchase gas.

Augustus Gloop..

Now, I just listened to two podcasts about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. One (cinecast) thought Burton was trying to please his creepy story loving fans and his fun loving fans at the same time. They missed the point on two parts. First Burton wasn't trying to please fans but picked a story that was creepy. Second there are no two fan bases for tim burton. Even his "serious/dark" movies are nice and light, Sleepy Hollow for example. Also his "fun" movies are creepy if you get them. Pee Wee's Big Adventure for example. The other (Family Review) thought that this was a remake of the previous film, when actually it was an adaption of Dahl's book. "Why add all the 'Charlie' story?" They ask. Why didn't it end with the factory tour.. why all the story? Well Tim Burton is big on story and did a great job putting the book on screen. Although it is a personal preference wether you like a big screen adaptation. I know the Michael Chriton book Sphere was a favorite book, and the movie was almost exactly like the book but I didn't like it. And the Lord of the Rings movies were mostly like the book and I loved them. Anyway Here is one of the song/poems from the book... You can download the song from the movie Here and follow along with the red and green words. (green are words added/changed for clarity due to not being able to have the entire song.)

"Augustus Gloop..."

(from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) "Augustus Gloop! Augustus Gloop! The great big greedy nincompoop! How long could we allow this beast To gorge and guzzle, feed and feast On everything he wanted to? Great Scott! It simply wouldn't do! However long this pig might live, We're positive he'd never give Even the smallest bit of fun Or happiness to anyone. So what we do in cases such As this, we use the gentle touch, And carefully we take the brat And turn him into something that Will give great pleasure to us all– A doll, for instance, or a ball, Or marbles or a rocking horse. But this revolting boy, of course, Was so unutterably [Augustus Gloop so big and] vile, So greedy, foul, and infantile He left a most disgusting taste Inside our mouths, and so in haste We chose a thing that, come what may, Would take the nasty taste away. 'Come on!' we cried, 'The time is ripe To send him shooting up the pipe! He has to go! It has to be!' And very soon, he's going to see Inside the room to which he's gone Some funny things are going on. But don't, dear children, be alarmed; Augustus Gloop will not be harmed, [repeat] Although, of course, we must admit He will be altered quite a bit. He'll be quite changed from what he's been, When he goes through the fudge machine: Slowly, the wheels go round and round, The cogs begin to grind and pound; A hundred knives go slice, slice, slice; We add some sugar, cream, and spice; We boil him for a minute more, Until we're absolutely sure That all the greed and all the gall Is boiled away for once and all. Then out he comes! And now![but not] By grace! A miracle has taken place![repeat] This boy, who only just before Was loathed by men from shore to shore, This greedy brute, this louse's ear, Is loved by people everywhere! For who could hate or bear a grudge Against a luscious bit of fudge?"