Author: James

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Hunger Games Trilogy

I had the recent misfortune to finish reading the three books in the Hunger Games Series.  Before reading further, if you have not read them and you plan to stop reading now.  Final warning.

********Spoiler Alert********
I started reading them because they came recommended by many of my friends and family.  The first book was even mildly entertaining, if not very original.  The characters had potential and there was the possibility of getting to know a dystopian future with lessons to learn.  Ends up, the author was creative enough only to write the same book three times changing only the location and the names of the people killed.
And killing she did.  The author seemed to delight in finding new ways of describing death and killing.  The first book is not too graphic but each book after finds the author going deeper and deeper into a the dark impulses in her brain.  Also, I knew going in that kids would be killed, I just had no idea a person could enjoy writing so much in such detail about the pain and suffering.  I felt sad that the author could not find a better way to tell her story.
But then, she’s not a great story teller.  Each book is essentially the main character Katniss going through the games teaming up with people and killing others.  All the while we’re stuck in her adolescent head worrying about her feelings for two boys and not grasping her own worth.  One may argue the books were written for a younger audience; however, the level of violence depicted would only be suitable for someone over 17 by which time the reader should ready for 3 dimensional characters rather than poor stereotypes.  They should want a rich world and plots that don’t have huge gaps. 
The plot gaps were worse than the tedium of reading the same book three times.  Somehow, this is the only nation left on earth since the rest of the planet is polluted beyond habitation.  There is technology enough to have flying machines, tv, holo-maps and control of remote weapons of fantastic capabilities, but no satellites to make any of that possible.  They can create impossible biological creatures of mixed DNA fabricated to kill only, but somehow they can control the creatures.  Finally, there is the gaps in logic that are required just to move the story along.  Every time you think it’s bad the author makes it worse.  The final scene where the author just starts shooting kids and blowing them up, then inexplicably all the characters seem to lose their sense of sight and good judgment resulting in the killing of Prim, the younger sister that started the whole thing off.  My eyes rolled so far into my head I could see my brain shrinking from how useless that plot point was
.
It seems to me the author simply could not decide who she wanted to be; a young adult writer like Eoin Colfer or a horror writer the delights in killing main characters like Stephen King.   She could not decide if her main character was strong or constantly self doubting.  The only points that came across loud and clear is decadence, TV and wars are bad.  I just found these books to be worse.
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ENTJ or ENTP

I took a couple of Myers-Briggs like tests.  For those who are not familiar with this test, it is a tool used to identify one’s personality type.  The idea being, if you can narrow a person’s type down it would help in relationships and identifying possible career paths.  I have taken this test a few times over the years and I’m sure the traits have changed a bit as I have grown.

I found a couple of sites that offer the test and explanations for free.  Personality Desk was simplistic, but the explanation of the types also included a Dynamics portion which detailed how the dominant and weak traits interact.  Truity had a better test and much of the same info about the different types as Personality Desk.  After taking the test I came up with my type being either ENTJ or ENTP.  In most cases, I was very close on each element but the J & P were too close to call.  I read through both, and I really could not tell you which one I am more like.


From Personlity Desk: 
Perceivers like flexibility and spontaneity, and want to leave their options open. They prefer to:
  • Put off a decision as long as possible
  • Make the rules up as they go
  • Have the freedom to be flexible
  • Brainstorm options
  • Do things when inspiration strikes
  • Go with the flow and enjoy surprises
Judgers like structure and order, and want to make decisions and plan ahead. They prefer to:
  • Make a decision as soon as possible
  • Understand the rules and regulations
  • Set clear expectations
  • See a task through to completion
  • Adhere to a schedule
  • Create a plan and stick to it

In both cases, I can see myself.  I put off decisions. I tend to flaunt rules and generally like to keep options open.  I don’t always finish what I start, or at a minimum take a long time to complete.  I hate surprises and I prefer a routine most of the time in my day to day life.  But I don’t like having a schedule to stick to or making concrete plans.  

I enjoy the exercise of getting to know myself better.  I think it helps to improve myself and relationships with others.  If you happen to read this, which do you think I am?  What was your type?
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“Yellow Page” scammers

Here’s the scam…you get a call from Generic “Yellow Page” company.  They talk fast and tell you they have an outstanding invoice with your company.  They drop a name or two saying they have a contract and that it is about to go to collections unless you pay.  They send over the invoice and hope you just pay.  If you argue with them, they get feisty, tell you to calm down, stop yelling, and generally talk over you.  All in the hopes you’ll buckle and pay.

Last year, we got this call, it was for a very little amount and after some argument, the decision was made to pay them so they’d go away.

We got that call again.

It came to my AP, who very smartly told him no way, this is a scam and stop calling.  He called back, was told the same thing.  He called again and the call was sent to me.  I laughed and hung up.  He called again. At which point I told everyone of thy got the call it was to come to me.

I got that call again.

I laid into “Mr. Richard Walker” for calling and harassing my company.  He tried talking over me, but I only spoke louder and asked for his supervisor.  He tried all his scare tactics, to which I told him I had asked for his supervisor and by law he was suppose to transfer me.  More threatening me with legal action was met with requests to speak to his supervisor.

He hung up and I won.

We then received a fax with a “statement” of charges.  There was a phone number and address.  After a little research, it appear the address being used is not really theirs and the phone seems to be tied to Canada.  I spent about an hour reporting them to every agency I could think of and now I am putting their name here so the name, phone or address may get picked up and seen as a scam. If you are contacted by these people, do not give them any financial data and asked for the signed contract.  If threats ensue, keep asking for a supervisor until they get bored of you repeating it.

Yellow National Directory
1111 Lincoln Road, Suite 400
Miami Beach, FL 33139
1-800-493-0487
1-786-693-2792
Richard Walker

Update: I reported them to the BBB and they responded that they had “cleared our account”.  I replied we never had an account to begin with.  They replied with the same canned message and I closed the case.  Idiots

This company is a scam and it committing fraud.  Please be careful when dealing with these criminals.

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Halloween 2012

This year my oldest daughter wanted to be Captain Janeway from Star Trek: Voyager.  I thought that was a great idea, so I decided to make her the uniform and one for me with the science officer colors.  I purchased two patterns.  One was off eBay designed by Joseph Kerezman and the other was one from Roddenberry.com.  As usual, I got started late and had to polish my skills on the fly.  The patterns were challenging in that the sizing was a little off and the instructions were vague.  I did find a LOT of help from the community at starfleet1701st.yuku.com.  Many there had already been through many of the challenges I was having.

I started with my daughters using the Rodenbuerry.com pattern.  Besides the vague instructions, I also had to deal with pieces not being quite the right size.  As seen here, the yoke at the top and the front panels did not match.  There was a serious gap in the front panels.

So I redrew the piece I needed:

 

Next problem was needing to resize the whole outfit to her.  You have to take it out of the middle or the whole thing looks wrong.

I got all the pieces cut and reassembled:

Mine went together much faster since I had to do very few modifications (and I was running out of time).  It was a little snug, but otherwise fit well.  The under shirt for me was a Champion running shirt while my daughter wore my attempt at making one.  The badges were a bit gaudy and I could not work out how to add the rank pips on the collar.  Overall, I was pleased with the result and got the bug to make more costumes.

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Fandays 2012


I had the opportunity to volunteer at the latest Fandays put on by C2 Ventures at the Irving Convention center.  The group produces three of the best shows in Texas.  Officially, the Fandays in October is Star Wars themed.  Scifi Expo in February is a general science fiction convention and May is for Dallas Comic Con which focusing on the comic book industry and is the largest of the three shows.  Each show features loads of comic, toy, costume and other vendors.  Many artists come to the show to talk about their current work, visit with fans and do commission sketches.  One of the best parts are the visiting celebrities from the tv shows and movies where you can get autographs and photos.  These two to three day events are a lot of fun for the entire family.
Of course, you have to pay to get into these shows, or you can volunteer.  It would be impossible to put on shows this large and pay everyone working.  Volunteers give up about 4-6 hours in exchange for free entry.  You might wrangle lines of people, help selling merchandise, guard doors, etc.  However, after doing it a while, you might also get the chance to sit with and help visiting celebrities and artists.  They typically need help managing the money taken in for autographs and photos.
This past weekend, October 19-21, I had the opportunity to help out Dina Myers (Star ship Troopers, Birds of Prey, etc.) and Ray Park(Star Wars: Phantom Menace, G.I. Joe, X-Men).  I got to meet Sean Astin(Goonies, Rudy, Lord of the Rings), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers, Tarzan, Sleepy Hollow) and Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street, “V”).  I also had a couple more sketches put in my book by Ben Dunn, Frank Cho, Josh Howard, James O’Barr and Cal Slaton.  Finally, while I did not get anything from him, I got to see the talented Mathew Warlick again.
Dina is really sweet and a lot of fun to work with.  She is just a beautiful in person as she is in photos and on the screen.  She is very connected to her fans through twitter and spent some extra time with a few longtime followers.  Ray Park is just an awesome person to be around.  He took plenty of with each of his fans, asking about them and sharing stories and encouragement.  I was sitting close to Casper while helping Dina.  He is really funny and outgoing.  Sean is a great and humble guy also taking lots of time with each fan.  Each of the artists I got sketches from were nice and personable if not a little eccentric.
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39 years

This is the last year of my 30s.  I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating.  I have LOVED my 30s.  20s were ok, but there is the struggle to get married, get through school, get a job, get a house, get another job and get a house or two and make a family.  All with little money and no sleep.  After busting my rump through my 20s though, it has led to more comfortable 30s with it’s own set of challenges.  I’ll get all introspective next year when I turn 40.

This past year has been pretty darn good.  I’m the controller at my company, have a great boss, a loving wife, three healthy little girls and nice house and time to sit around writing journal entries.  I have a good set of friends, a little coin in my pocket and drink in my cabinet.  I understand who I am, what is important and the difference between problems and inconveniences.  In a word, my life is blessed.

If you are reading this, you had a hand in getting me here and you are important to me.  I love you and thank you.

Now…where the hell’s the whiskey?  I need to celebrate.

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Mineral Wells for a day

We decided to take the day and head out to Mineral Wells.  The first stop was Mineral Wells Fossil Park.  It is a little tricky to get to.  The turnoff from 180 comes up quickly after the sign for Indian Creek.  You go down a bumpy road that turns into a dirt road and then you are there.  We go there and with no one around and had the whole place to ourselves for hours.  It had rained the day before, so the ground was still damp, but the surface rocks were easier to find.  The day was cool and overcast which was perfect for being out a while.  We found stacks of fossils, mostly Crinoid columns, lots of colored stones and deer tracks.  The girls loved it and it was hard to leave.

Our next stop was Mineral Wells State Park.  We made our way to Penitentiary Hallow up on a bluff where there are large rock walls, small canyons and caves to explore.  We had lunch and headed out.  We had a lot of fun and Abby is such a little daredevil, we need to keep pretty close to her.  It is a fine line between being and overprotective parent and just making sure your kids stay say when you are out there.  Things were going fine until Abby tripped and bruised up her leg.  Even that would have been fine, but I had brought my large flashlight (four cell) and had it zipped in my back pack.  I bent over to help and the damn light found the 4 inch opening I had left, slipped out and smacked her on the head.  Of course, it was the slightly sharper lens edge and gave her a little cut.  Some panic ensues, so I carry her up out of the spot we were in, mom takes her to clean her head and see what we are dealing with.  They come out and we decide it is not back enough to warrant going home just so we go back down, but to the lake this time where we mostly just sit up on a rock and look out over the water.

I felt horrible.  Watching that damn light fall on her head made me feel like an idiot.  She’s ok and the day was fine, but just dumb things like that put a huge wet blanket on an other wise perfect day.

We finished by going to the little shop there.  I got them each a little candy and we fed the ducks.  The drive back was fine with only a few arguments breaking out.  By then end, we were all worn out which was what I really wanted.