Sam's Club Photos

As i was waiting for Sam's Club Photo section to upload my 15 photos (which is the most you can do) and to the side there is a notice that only 6MB files can be uploaded but may not exceed 200MB. I'm no math major but I can tell you that 15 pictures at 6MB each has no chance of exceeding even 90MB! Interesting.

Circuit City

UPDATE ** Circuit city as a whole has come through, The few (two) bad apples at the store I encountered were more than likely just uninformed or under pressure to pull through.. I got the promised 24/24 card promotion and all is well. I have been to the same store since and have only been met with kind, knowledgeable service. I will likely stay away from the morning shift anyhow... Mom really wanted to get Aaris a Nintendo DS for Christmas. 160 bucks for the system and game was a bit much. So Emily and I decided to get one (or rather go in on half). So today I decided to try the great offer of Circuit City and have it ready for pickup by paying online. However the Citrus heights store was not ready and didn't care about the $24 and I was mad and on the way to work. So I wrote a letter.. In the end they did what they could. I just hope they talk to the specific store to stop future problems. (And I will return to the Arden one which has always impressed me.)

I was impressed by the offer to have a order ready in 24 min. of the item being ordered. I happen to have a very busy schedule and looked at the website for a Nintendo DS and Mario Kart bundle. I made the purchase and went to the store on my way to work. I live about 20 Min from the store in Citrus heights CA. I only had time for a ten min detour. I noticed they had a 24 min. Sign hanging in-front of the web order checkout. I went up to the clerk and presented my Credit Card and ID. He went in the back for about 5 min. I asked the other Clerk jokingly how can anyone know that their order is ready and not being gathered when they come in? He replied that that is how it worked, you get it within 24 min. of coming to the counter. 'Otherwise' he said 'you might make the order at home and come 24 min later and demand the reward.' I should have got his name, but he had a white shirt instead of red. Apparently that is how the Citrus heights store runs it. A few min. Later I got my item as he found it and he scanned it in to the computer and printed a ticket. I left angry at myself that I didn't read the fine print. On a whim I called the Arden store and asked how the promotion worked. If I came in a half an hour after ordering would it be waiting for me? They said that if I come in after 24 min. and it isn't waiting for me on the rollers, behind the counter, etc. then they would give me a gift card. I asked what stops me from coming in at 24 min. and demanding my card for the few min. it takes to get the item. They said that the rules cover the fact that waiting in line does not count. Please check Order 4427-2378469 if it was scanned in at 24 min. I don't think it was but I may be wrong as I live only 20 min. away from the store and they could have found it and scanned it in the back in that 4 min. I would like to know the time because they did not give me any receipt with a time-stamp on it. Least of all I feel that Circuit City has deceived me or at the least mislead me if the 24 min. Actually starts from the time you enter the store. Thank you Jeff Holdaway

The response came today, it was {SURPRISE} a form letter.

Dear Jeff Holdaway: Thank you for writing to www.circuitcity.com I understand your concern regarding our 24/24 In-Store Pick-Up Guarantee. I apologize for any inconvenience caused while seeking assistance at our store. The following exclusions are posted on the website and in the store: 24 Minute Pickup Guarantee applies from timestamp on order confirmation email until the time order is ready for customer pickup. Guarantee excludes customer wait time in store lines. Offer valid on orders placed at circuitcity.com or by phone during pickup store's normal operating hours up to 30 minutes prior to closing. Guarantee not valid the day after Thanksgiving, 12/26 or 12/27. $25 minimum purchase. One $24 gift card offered per qualifying in-store pickup ticket, which must be claimed at time of pickup and is good for future purchases. We hope this information is helpful. For further questions, please feel free to contact your local store. You can find the store nearest you by using this link: http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/locator.do. Thanks again for writing to www.circuitcity.com Sincerely, Virendra K. Customer Support Coordinator Contact ID Number: xxxxxx

I responded with this.

Thank you for the form letter. Surprisingly it DID help me; to decide that I was LIED to by the store manager and have no reason to believe that if I "contact [my] local store", as you suggest, that I will not be met with the same response. Please find out when the order 4427-2378469 (ticket number 442702378469) was scanned into whatever it is to tell the time it took to fill the order. Please let me know when it was as they were extra careful to only let me see the pickup ticket and not any papers that may have a time stamp. And to clear up any misconception i had not "Inconvenience.. seeking assistance at [your] store" as you put it. I WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE. The item was not ready and the only question is if it was ready within the 24 min. time period as they would only tell me the time it took them to find and pull the item and not the time it took from the order conformation. Thank you Jeffrey Holdaway

Today they reinstalled my faith in the store. I may have rather been treated well and honestly but they did respond quickly and kindly today (on christmas?) good will towards men I guess.

Dear Jeffrey Holdaway: Thank you for writing to www.circuitcity.com I understand your concern regarding the experience you had at our store. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced at our store. In light of your situation, I have requested that a $24 gift card be sent to your home. The gift card will arrive via United States Postal Service. We appreciate your patronage and hope to serve you again. Please quote the Call ID number or IM number provided at the end of this e-mail for any future correspondence. Thanks again for writing to www.circuitcity.com Sincerely, Utkarsh T. Customer Support Coordinator Contact ID Number: xxxxx Call ID Number: xxxxxxxxxxxx IM Number: xxxxxxx

Holliday season is upon me

I always feel a bit of pressure the holiday season. This year there is school classes to fight for, work every day, shopping to get done, and more. Although I still love Christmas time. Here are some pics from gingerbread houses saturday. i hope to get the caroling photos from my cousin(s) as i left my new R817 camera at home.

I really need to have let someone else have the camera from time to time.. I'm never in the shot :P

Teen's blog confession forces him to plead guilty plea in fatal crash

Teen who caused fatal car wreck surprised that admitting to guilt on his blog may be bad for his defense I think the following passage explains blogging to a T...

The institute estimates 4 million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 write blogs, a term derived from the phrase Web log. About twice as many regularly read the online ramblings. Bloggers often use photos, graphics and music to convey mood and personality. The trend baffles the parents of the teens involved in the crash. "I think it's dumb," said Tina Nagy, Robinette's mother. "I don't want 3 million people in the world knowing what I do or what I think. But that's today's teenagers."

It is a new phenomenon, being able to write a public version of the private diary. It still remains quite private as the article said, more blog then read blogs.. I think this type of diary blogging is different then a journalistic/political/news/informative blogs that are read by thousands. I know i used it myself to look back over this year for our family christmas newsletter.. I had forgotten much of what happened this year.

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Google Zeitgeist '05

Google just released their Zeitgeist 2005 with all the top searches and interesting search trends. One i found interesting is how tight the WMD campaign and interest in WMDs were. After the campaign the term dropped back to normal almost overnight. (and it is interesting to note how interest declined throughout as well.


it was also interesting to see how terms I live with every day, like ipod and podcast are only recently becoming publicly known.


Although Star Wars fans will argue that the dark side is part of the force it is a cute chart :P I would like to see more in the movie section next year.


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Screenshots of Windows Vista 5259

My thoughts are: 1. Goodbye Outlook Express! And good riddance! Maybe the fresh look can be as clean as Mail.app 2. 3D Flip, its about time. How I survived before expose and topdesk I don't know. Alt tab was rarely bearable to use. 3. Paint? Microsoft, please.. Take a look at the program Paint.NET if you need ideas. 4. IE7: Firefox your days may be numbered. Keep working on version 2 (deerpark) 5. overall I have my checkbook out.. I wonder which version i will get, Pro or Ultimate.. Please label the full version pro like XP. It makes life much easier.

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Do-able Nano Case

I drop everything. My powerbook is either cursed or blessed.. it has been dropped twice and the edges are mangled, but the screen and hardware survive to fight another day. (I don't drop my Pentium4 XP desktop because I haven't moved it for ages) And my iPod thanked me last month for having apple care as I dropped it till the disk went kaput. Now this might convince me to flip my current ipod for a nano if a hard shell case can keep me from sitting on it and snapping it like a twig.

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Bill Nye the NUMB3RS guy. Nye explodes tomorrow on CBS.

You might remember him as the science guy. Friday, December 16, 10PM ET/PT "Bill Nye the Science Guy" guest stars on Numb3rs as a expert on fire. Does he just help or is he the arsonist? I'm hoping for evil Bill, but any Nye is good Nye. Question: Is there any crime that can't be solved with TV Math?

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Remembers criminals can hack closed wireless

Defendant Argues Someone Else Tapped Into Wireless Network...Paramount has looked at all four computers in Lee's home, alleging he had one of them cleaned to erase evidence. He is in-trouble because the internet connection (IP) he uses is the offender. There is no evidence against him personally, just his internet connection which he had open to anyone. Now in our family home we have an open connections, visitors, friends and family all can use while staying at our home. I do not think its right, nor will I take responsibility for any criminal act committed with a tool we use legitimately. If someone borrowed our shovel which we use to garden with as a weapon, It would be the fault of the user, even if it was found with "property of ..." on the rake. Or if we lent our car out often, which we do. And a hit and run was committed by someone else should the owner of the car go to jail if there are numerous primary drivers? which there are. The problem is that the internet is not something that is used by one person at a time, when someone borrows our car we know. I hope a lack of evidence can still keep an innocent person from unjust laws. Oh well, just my thoughts on the subject..

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Kingdom Hearts II

Well Square-enix has finally launched Kingdom Hearts 2 sections of kingdomhearts.com just in time to keep the game from becoming vaporware. Along with the site we discover that "Port Royal" will be one of the worlds. Now the news of PoTC movie inclusion, and the photos seen of the world of Tron, it is evident that the KH series will now include live action Disney Movies. What a deal. (just keep it action flicks is all I ask) I must say goodbye to my Dr Who desktop wallpaper, helloooo Kingdom Hearts 2! Via Joystiq | Kingdom Hearts II

Christmas list time

Well my hope of seeing Kingdom Hearts 2 or legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess up on the store shelves for this season failed to be realized. However Games shall not be absent from my highlight this year. First is the "HP Photosmart R717 Digital Camera with HP Instant Share and 50 Free Prints from Snapfish.com" on HP.COM well this is no longer on my christmas list.. because i bought it... Today I wanted to track my package and went back to HP.COM (Academic pricing of course) and the camera was another ten percent off.. Darn them.. So i bought it again.. well not the R717 exactly but the R817. I thought that i would like the extra megapixal but after looking at the 5.1MP photos I have, I cannot imagine needing them bigger. So the R817 is supposed to be a better quality but only 5.1MP and a higher res video (which is what i think is great! The video is what sold me actually. Now I will have to return the original when it gets here.. which normally (for online stores) requires me to pay for shipping. Oh well.. It ended up I got the R817 for the price of the R717 minus the 256MB SD Card.

Second would be the games I am hoping for. Mario & Luigi: Partners in time and also Animal Crossing. Both are from NINTENDO and are for the Nintendo DS system. (I just hope I can pry the system from Aaris's hands to play the game.) If I had to choose I might say I need Mario more than Animal Crossing as I have followed the Mario RPG Series since the beginning with Square.

3) World of Warcraft 60 Day Pre-Paid 4) iTunes Music Store Gift Card
5) CD / DVD Sleeves, 100 Pack, White (6.99 at compusa.com 2.99 (for 50) at fry's electronics)
6) Voice Recognition software $40 IBM ViaVoice Simply Dictation For OS X http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=598665
7) 1GB SD Card $42.99-69 FRY's Special from time to time can be as low as 42.99 http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4652858?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG 8) USB iMic $29-39 or Headset $34 (MAC OSX)
Griffin iMic USB Audio Interface : 9066-IMIC2 http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71902/wo/X33HNj141W9F3TGoFBFYBn96yHF/15.0.19.1.0.8.25.7.11.7.3
Logitech Premium USB Headset 350 http://www.academicsuperstore.com/market/marketdisp.html?PartNo=730237&qk_srch=usb+headset
9) Chronicles of narnia Soundtrack

Mario Kart DS

I got Mario Kart DS today. It has been out for one day. Why so long to get it? Well every retailer in Sacramento were not getting their games till today as tuesday is the usual day for game releases. Also Nintendo rarely gets things out on time. The micro was not seen in most stores for about 2 weeks. As long as they are on time with the revolution I will be happy. I expect to be playing the revolution on the release day, (Mario 128 would be nice.) Anyhoo here is my friend code to add me to you're game if you want. (you should add as many codes as you can find so there will be 3 other players when you want to play.) 382311564144

Some Random Stuff

My new favorite Quote: After a shaky, underpowered start, this machine [mac] matured into a well-integrated system which was not only very powerful, but a real pleasure to use... However, the Macintosh is not the last word in interface design, and if Microsoft had been the innovative company it calls itself, it would have taken the opportunity to take a radical leap beyond the Mac, instead of producing a feeble, me-too imitation. - Douglas Adams 1995. I got a 53 words per min. at typingtest.com With a 98% accuracy (I put a period instead of a comma) Give it a try! Use 1-800-Free411, strategic advertising pays for this free service, brilliant! I think a 63.5% is my lowest test grade ever. But I guess the entire class did horrible because after the curve it came to 79%. Im hoping to make it 82% because one question I marked C (which is correct). Unfortunately it was keyed "Both A&B are correct" as C was A before the test was randomized Get it while it's hot.. Only 2.99 a year (thats where I got this domain) at smallbusiness.yahoo.com Reason #214 Why I enjoy the disneyland resort: They reversed my 966$ charge for forgetting to cancel 3 room reservations. Mom and Aunt Judi say they know I canceled, but if any 2 people have memories as bad as mine it would be them. :)

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?"

Movies, The good, the Bad and the ???

First off is the Chicken Little movie.
Other than Shrek, the non-pixar theaters have had trouble making a critically acclaimed all CGI movie. But as always I hope for the best with Disney. It would be nice if this and Toy Story 3 both came out as hits, enticing Pixar back. But as we all know, CGI failure at the Disney Studios will make Pixar smug. They will remain insistent on demands Disney can't grant. On the other hand if the Disney Studios do show they don't need Pixar, Disney may not want to renew their relationship.

Second are the sequels/remakes
The Mask of Zorro was not that great. I loved the movie but it wasn't that great, just campy. Sequels are hard to make especially when it was a perfectly done first movie. Such is King Kong. It may have been a wonderful idea of a movie in 1933 but watching that movie now is painful if your not a old movie buff. However if anyone can make it work it is Peter Jackson. Now all the sequels/remakes about to be released can make moviegoing suck. However if Batman Begins showed us anything it is a sequel can be fresh. And as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory proves, only a pre-prejudice to the original can ruin a genius redo.

The worst is going to be DOOM.
This movie was originally going to be a blockbuster budgeted movie from Warner. When Universal was able to grab the rights of this fast track property in 2004 it quickly laid out a schedule which even with a 2 month extension took only a year from start to screen. To put this into context choosing a script and director, filming, and post production can take a year and a half each. This movie took a year and a half from the grabbing of the DOOM property to the screen next month.** This isn't a list of the worst movies, but a list of movies I would like to look forward too that might not live up to my hopes. Well, I may be painting a bleak picture but the future is not that bad. I mean Harry Potter and The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe is also just around the corner. On my watch list of posable good movies is Serenity and Mirror Mirror. (Speaking of Serenity, the TV show Firefly was on a short time and I never got into the story-line. Mirror Mirror looks way weird but in a good way. And I love Henson stuff. I'm so looking forward to The Power of the Dark Crystal) **I found it interesting after watching months of interviews back in 2001 and 2002 with "Dwayne Johnson" the Serious Actor he became "The Rock" after only the first round of Scorpion King focus groups.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

It happens to be the International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrrrrr what be a better language? I heard of this most interesting of days when Dave Barry's column used to be funny. I still find him funny at times but not enough to read his articles (which are on "hiatus"). My favorite pirates are A. Captain Jack Sparrow and B. The Dread Pirate Roberts. Now as it is unlikely to have a new adventure with the Dread Pirate Roberts (as the sequel "Buttercups Baby is more like a running joke by the author William Goldman) I will have to look forward to PoTC:2 and PoTC:3 But for you who want to Type like a pirate Here is a keyboard for you...

books and movies

I posted some songs I have in my iPod a while back.. I thought I would post the movies i have on my shelf and the books i can find around here.. Books So many I can't recall. But the ones in my iPod right now are the books Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini, The Artemis Fowl books, The Traveler (John Twelve Hawks), Harry Potter books, The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Wizard of Earthsea Series by Ursula K. LeGuin Enders Game books by Orson Scott Card (including the shadow series) All vampire books by Anne Rice, All books by Douglas Adams, Dan Brown Books (starting with Da Vinci code.) All Michael Crichton books. The Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind, Dean Koontz books, The Butlerian Jihad Series by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, Achk too many good books out there. (why is the two thickest / longest ones (Eragon and Harry Potter books) considered children's books?) Some movies I have: Bugs Life, Aqua Diaries, Beatlejuice, Brother bear, Edward Scissor hands, Fantasia 2000, Harry Potter Movies, Lord of the rings movies, Hocus Pocus, Joseph and the technicolor dream-coat, legend, Lilo and Stitch, Little Shop of Horrors, Mary Poppins, Monsters Inc, Moulin rouge, Mulan, Newsies, October Sky, Pee Wee's Big Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, Sleeping beauty, Spider-man 1&2, Spirited Away, Star-trek first contact, Star-trek 4, Strangers with candy, Tarzan, The Black Hole (cause its so bad its good) The dark Crystal, Emperors new groove, Lion King, Little Mermaid, Nightmare Before Christmas, Sword in the Stone, Witches, Toy Story, Tron, Twister, Xmen. Batman Begins (future) Charlie & the chocolate factory (future)

Happy Birthday Mario

Happy 20th Birthday Mario (Sept. 13, 2005) Although I never made it to level 8 on Super Mario Brothers I have loved and completed every other major Mario Bro. game, Mario World game and Mario RPG game. Apart from his own game Mario has starred and appeared in many sports, action, and other video games. Some even chalk up Nintendo's survival to their franchise games. (I know I'm looking forward to Mario 128 and Zelda: The Twilight Princess.)

Interests

AP HOLDER JUNE 4, 2005 - JUNE 3, 2006

This is my 3rd or 4th round with a Annual Passport. But this time as an AP holder I haven't returned. I'm thinking October.

NIGHT ELF DRUID DEC. 25, 2004 - PRESENT

Still playing. though not as often. But as the host for the guild website even when I don't play I stay in the game a little.

iPOD MAY 2003 - PRESENT

I am currently on my second iPod, used the first to death.. Also have a shuffle, want a Nano. This relates a bit to other interest: Audiobooks. Audible and ipod is great for audiobook lovers. I have 70 or so unabridged audiobooks. That many would have cost around 2-3 thousand dollars. I have probably spent only 200 bucks (20x10months) your first month you get 5 books and you have no obligation for more months. And ever month you resign up you can get 3 books. At 20 bucks a month its the best deal out there. (And ipods are the best for audio books, CD Quality with the the place saving convenience of cassettes.)

MAC OS X AUGUST 2004 - PRESENT

Well after loving my iPod (and being an apple fan-boy forever) I decided to make the "Switch" which sounds scary isn't that bad. My powerbook has changed my life so much. It is also not incompatible with life as Microsoft has led everyone to believe. Now in the past it may have been so. I have seen past mac operating systems and OS X blows everything else out of the water, even XP. (But i still keep my XP PRO desktop and end up using it often, especially as I can only create images on the dead program "Microsoft Image Composer". (I really need to learn my Adobe/Macromedia products.)

NINTENDO 1986 - PRESENT

I say 1986 but I don't remember when I got my first Nintendo. I do know it was shortly after the NES came out. Currently Im a Nintendo DS player. The Nintendo Micro looks very attractive, but its hard for me to buy GBA (Game Boy Advance) games because my first gameboy advance (my first portable game system at all) was stolen with tens of games. For some reason its just frustrating to buy a game for the second time. (plus I need to save up for the revolution in 2006)

EVERYTHING TNBC AND TIM BURTON 1993 - PRESENT

I've been fan of Tim Burton from the beginning.. One of the few that liked TNBC (The Nightmare Before Christmas) from the moment it came out in theaters. Not all of his movies are masterpieces but most are good enough to own. (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is going to be a pre-order) Incidentally I'm a Danny Elfman fan through Tim Burton's movies. Pee Wee's Big Adventure couldn't have been such a classic without the both of them. (P.S. here is to hoping that the corpse bride is another TNBC)

TV SHOWS: USA NETWORK/COMEDY CENTRAL/E!/G4

I seem to spend all my TV time on 4 channels. And all but USA has only one show I watch religiously. Although I do like Reno 911 on Comedy Central too. And I must admit that I press record whenever I see CSI: Whatever or Law & Order: Whatever on the schedule grid, with the hope of one I haven't seen. I wonder if you put all CSI and Law & Orders back to back if it would last over a year... (P.S. Although TiVO will always have a place in my heart I am loving my Dual Tuner on my Comcast DVR.)

WEBSITES

I enjoy creating websites. I have one for my guild (thedungeonmasters.com) and one for my family (howtonfamily) my work one (PCFOCUS.NET) and a few others. Im not a good coder, got a C in Java/perl class. But I do pretty good HTML and can recreate almost anything on frontpage. Also im learning to customize PHP websites and forums.