In My World

I had a little fun with the script of Pulp Fiction.

Taking a break between classes, I ran into into Threadless.com again. I say again because I have been to that website many times before, but never really surfed it all. With sometime before my next activity, I ran through some designs.

Over an hour later, I picked out a few of the best designs on the site. Again, these are my opinions, not everyones.

(Click to view comic in full size)

I haven’t noticed much of a difference in the TV world because of the writers strike. Actually, I’ve seen an upside in all this. Let me explain.

First off, I barely watched TV before the strike. I hate commercials, I hate the announcer guy/gal announcing other shows and I hate reruns. There are only a few good programs on TV anyways. My list is pretty short.

• Family Guy (FOX On Demand, hulu, OPENhulu)
• Simpsons (FOX On Demand, hulu, OPENhulu)
• American Dad (FOX On Demand, hulu, OPENhulu)
• Top Gear (British Show)
• The I.T. Crowd (British Show)

Aside from the two British shows, I only watch 3‚Äìyes, count them, three‚ÄìAmerican shows regularly. Sure, I watch Lost and Mythbusters when I’m with friends, but that’s usually it. Heroes has never caught my attention and I doubt it ever will.¹

Now, how am I catching the shows I actually watch? Easy, the companies that run them actually stream their shows online. Most of them are on their own website, but there are websites like Hulu² that do a better job. Hulu works with the TV studios so there is nothing illegal about it. Very nice I might say. Also, The I.T. Crowd’s producer has put the whole show online. He believes that it should be watched by as many people as possible and I do also.

Aside from lack of quality television and new shows, the writers strike has brought more quality online media to the forefront. I watch more hours of video podcasts than I do streaming TV shows. A few are simply amazing. For example, Channel Frederator which is by far the best cartoon podcast/channel in the world. I would also suggest checking out Ask A Ninja, and TED Talks.

1. Side note: When bored, I do love watching Law & Order and/or Law & Order: SVU. [↩]
2. Or the alternative: OPENhulu [↩]

A short note, but it seems like either Flickr had a hiccup or a huge site linked to one of my pictures. The problem is that I can’t see which picture it is. If anyone knows if this is a hiccup or what, do tell.

From Ze Frank:

‘The Most Terrifying Video’, posted on the web six months ago, made a novel argument for taking action on global climate change, and has garnered over 4 million views on various websites. Reading the 6000+ comments on that video—most of them critical—allowed me to hone my argument, so that now it is—as far as I’ve been able to tell—undeniable. Repackaged in ‘How It All Ends,’ the argument is backed up by over 6 hours of ‘expansion pack’ videos, anticipating and answering every single objection that I’ve been able to elicit from skeptics. Sounds impossible, yes. But then, I’ve been maniacally thorough.

While I sit here listening to my new favorite band, Beruit, play their amazing melodies for me, I decided to work up some old pictures I took at “Mifflin Street” last year. I stumbled on a picture that I did edit but never shared with anyone.

I started to think about the child sitting there, enjoying the music, not a care in the world. I remember seeing him dance, letting loose and just having a blast. The band was amazing. It was a festival for all to enjoy. I wonder what the child was thinking. Was he thinking about anything at all? Did he care one bit about what was happening two blocks down? Did he care about what he was going to do later that night or his life? I hope not.

What every happened to all our dreams? I’m not saying this to provoke anything other than thought. Step back and look at yourself as if you were a younger version looking at yourself. Would you approve? Did you follow your pointless, silly dreams?

I did this, and I believe I did. No, I know I have. Next time you’re out and you see a young child, think about yourself at that age. You may be surprised that life’s best pleasures are the simplest. Dance in the street; Sit on the street and listen to a band; Say what you want to say; Let loose.

Now tell me, what did you want to be when you were young? Does the younger version of you approve of where you are now?

A few days ago, I was in the photography studio shooting for my final project. A close friend of mine showed up with a group of his friends. They were looking, I believe, for someone to take pictures for them. From what I understand, my friend was going to take the pictures, but after some quick chatter, I ended up getting the job. The three siblings posed for 3 pictures for my project and then I switched to doing what they wanted.

They came into the studio with the intention to get some pictures for their mother for Christmas. My brother and I did something like that for our parents (not as professional) a few Mother’s Days back. My parents loved it, and I believe their parents will also.

After shooting around 50 shots, we went into lab and I imported the pictures, fixed them up, etc. I then gave them a full digital, not resized copy of the portraits they chose. I did not have them fill out a release form or anything. I also told them if they tried to print it and the printing company gave them trouble, they could call me.

After they left, another photographer in the same room stated that I should have charged for my work and time. Personally, I don’t think I should have. It was for their parents, and I felt generous. Plus, I don’t believe I did too much work being that I already knew what I was doing.

My question to the world is, should I have charged? I have no regrets and I don’t think I would charge if I was put in the same situation again. What are your thoughts?

I was on the road with my father and grandfather. Both of them are always there to give me amazing advice about life. Please forgive me if the translation doesn’t flow perfectly in English being that it’s my rendition of what it means. Also note that it’s a proverb, it might not make perfect sense, but there is a moral.

“There was a young man who falls in love with a young beautiful woman. He asks her to marry him but she says no. She says that the only way she will marry him is if he kills his mother then brings her his mother’s still warm liver. The stupid man does so. While walking to show the woman the liver, he trips on a rock. Suddenly he hears his mother’s voice from the liver he was holding; ‘Oh, my baby.’”

Moral of the story; We will never understand how much our mother’s love us.

Sitting in a decent hotel currently, reflecting on the day past, I believe it would be wise to spread a small tip on how to spend/plan your day at Noah’s Ark Waterpark. Being that they are “American’s Largest Waterpark”, one will notice that there are huge lines at all the rides. Talking to a vast range of park go-ers, I have come down with a list of things one should consider doing when attending.

Note: This is at the time of the post.

• Get an all day locker. While storing you’re own stuff in the car is cheaper, it’s an inconvenience. On the other hand, the park has three types of lockers: A small $0.50 locker, a larger $1 locker, and the largest, a full sized locker for $4 but is yours for the day. Depending on how many people are in your party the selection may vary. Our party was 4 adults and we spent more money using two $1 lockers during the day rather than get a $4 all-day one. The park’s trick is that you pays every time you access your locker. So every time you need to get money, put in your towel, or anything else, you have to pay another cycle. Our party did this around 6 to 7 during the course of the day.

• Use AAA card for a discount. Like many other businesses around the nation, Noah’s Ark offers discounts for being a AAA member. If you are an AAA member, by all means, use it for a discount.

• Go during the week. Families and other tend to go on the weekend. It’s easier to plan that way. However, if you can plan during the week, do so; Tuesday or Wednesday are the best. Try to skip the days before or after holidays also.

• Go early. Be sure to go as soon as the park opens. The sun won’t be fully out, so you will not get burned. The ride lines are usually very short and the workers are more enjoyable. The workers deal with a lot of park go-ers during the day and it does pay a toll on their attitudes. Be nice to them; you will go far.

• Stay late Noah’s Ark tends to stay open until 7, at least. The vast crowd dies down after 4. Families want to go home for dinner, the kids are tired, there is a long drive back, or other things.

• Leave for lunch. Like all tourist locations, food costs an arm and a leg. Plus the food is crap for flavor. Either bring a cooler yourself, or leave for lunch. You will save a ton of green and stomachs will be happier also. Our group went back to the hotel and took a short nap. This was because the park is the busiest about lunch time.

• Go the the newest rides early in the day. Every year or so, Noah’s Ark tries to introduce a new ride. The new ride is fun, sure, but everyone wants to get their share of it. The lines for these new rides fill up real fast and they get longer during the day. They don’t get shorter as the day dies down either. If you want to ride the new rides on your visit, be sure go on them very early in the day.

• If you live more than 1 hour away, get a hotel. Simply don’t try to drive in, actually enjoy your visit, and then leave in one day. As you have read in the previous tips, getting in early and staying late are keys for an enjoyable visit. Also, don’t get an hotel in Wisconsin Dells, being that it’s a tourist town, the rates will be high while the quality is low. On the bright side, there are a few nice cities surrounding Wisconsin Dells which offer lower rates and better quality.

• Don’t try to ride EVERYTHING. Not every ride is for everyone. Some enjoy just relaxing in the “Lazy River”, while others want to ride the fastest ride over and over. Everyone has their own taste, go with it. Some rides are for children so they aren’t enjoyable for adult visitors. Also, if you are bringing children, be sure to know there are high regulations for rides. I noticed that being 48 inches tall gets you into most rides.

• Come with a friend or a group. The park is not fun alone. Most rides require 2, 3, or 4 people. Come with a group and have a blast.