CoffeeBear.net » christmas

I’ve Been Up To…

Mark — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:32:16 +0000

Celebrating Obama’s election.
Trying to work my way through 100 push-ups, but having to restart a couple of weeks. Especially week 4 which I’m currently on restart #3 due to holiday & snow-shovelling madness.
Panicking over the economy.
Beating my head against wxPython & Py2EXE.
Twittering
Enjoying a very Horrible Christmas¹.
Reading a lot.
Pining for a new camera.
Buying new shoes as the sole of my old shoes had worn away enough to leak water in under the ball of my foot.
Attending holiday festivities with friends.

Update: Forgot to mention I was also participating in DrawMo, which is like NaNoWrMo but for artists. Well, I was sort of participating. In that I tried to draw something new every day but didn’t quite make it every day (but I did catch up on later days) and I’ve yet to scan/post my sketches for it. *shrug* Oh well.

¹ Highly recommend both the soundtrack and the DVD, 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, etc, etc…

I’ve Been Up To… © Mark McKibben, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.

Happy Holidays

Mark — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:33:09 +0000

We here at CoffeeBear.net wish you and yours a happy & safe holiday season.

Also our good friends¹ over at Aperature Science wish you a Happy .

The video currently playing over at Aperature Science is a nice holiday gesture and heavily loaded with easter eggs. The ones I noticed were:

The presents under the Christmas tree are all orange boxes.
The gnome on the fireplace is from Half-Life2.
There’s a crowbar leaning up against the fireplace.
There’s a turret from Portal lurking in the shadows.
The “boxes” on the right are all ammo boxes from Half-Life.
The stockings hanging from the fireplace all have logos from various games by Valve.
The ornaments on the tree are characters from Team Fortress 2.
The sign above the fireplace is a parody of the signs in Portal.

And that’s all I noticed, leave a comment if you find more. :)

¹ No, I don’t personally know anybody who works for Valve Software. I just really enjoyed playing Portal.

Happy Holidays © Mark McKibben, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.

Merry Christmas!

Mark — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 05:00:56 +0000

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Merry Christmas! © Mark McKibben, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.

Happy Christmas!

Mark — Sun, 25 Dec 2005 17:02:26 +0000

May your day be full of joy and happiness. May you join your friends & family in safety and love.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Happy Christmas! © Mark McKibben, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.

Ain’t Dead Yet

Mark — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 04:50:43 +0000

Today marks the completion of my third decade on this planet and I am quite pleased to be able to announce that I ain’t dead yet. :D But worry not gentle reader, I’ll not be subjecting you to some passÃ© retrospective about my life. Instead, I’ll just recap today and today alone.

I was up playing Wild Arms 3 till about 3 am as I just couldn’t sleep. Most likely due to an excessive amount of munching on holiday goodies while downing glass, after glass of soda¹. I found one monster to fight that took around an hour to defeat but it jumped my characters up 4–7 levels! *grin* Then when I eventually got to bed; I slept poorly. Our apartment is just too dry this time of year and our little humidifier stopped working. This causes me to keep waking up with sinus headaches and a terrible thrist. I got out of bed about 8:30 — 9 and went back to playing the video game a bit more. Shortly there after, Michelle got up and gave me my birthday present.

What’d she get me? A case of blue ~~balls~~ Bawls. Then after lazing around most of the day; we headed out to the local mall to meet some friends.

I’d foolishly asked a bunch of friends to join us in watching the Narina movie with a follow-up plan to eat dinner together. There was one point that I’d not factored in these plans. This year, my birthday fell on a Saturday. Just about the last Saturday before Christmas. Traffic was insane and people all around were grouchy, though we did run across some nice people that helped us get around the parking lot². We went over to the mall a little early and bought a new humidifer and then headed down to the theater. We got tickets, met up with our friends and went in to watch the The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

*whew* What a movie! While not perfect, it was probably as good as we could hope for from a Hollywood production.
High points:

The actress playing Lucy was spot on. Most of the other actors cast in the movie were also quite good
The backgrounds were gorgeous.
The addition of the Nazi bombing run at the beginning of the movie really helped to give context to the time of the story.

Low points:

The costuming on the witch. Her outfits were ugly and just didn’t work with the imagery I have in my head for the character. Though I do have to admit the black , soulless eyes did work for me.
The witch was not nearly as afraid of Aslan as she should have been. In my memories of the book, the witch was terrified of Aslan but the movie seemed to put them on a more even footing.
Maugrim’s voice. The actor doing the voice did a fine job, but being the only character without a british accent really stuck out and annoyed me.

Overall, I’d say it was worth seeing in the theater and it is something I’ll be adding to our DVD collection when it becomes available.

After the movie was over, we headed to the restaurant. Oh, I should mention we had called earlier in the day to try making reservations but were told they don’t do that for parties of less than 8. And that they would have plenty of room for the 6 of us. When we got there; we were told it would be a 2 hour wait. We decided to switch to the Oyama Sushi restaurant. They seated us within minutes of our arrival (even though they were already pretty packed). Then they plied us with drinks until our food was ready³. We had a jolly time chatting and drinking (non-alcholic, for the most part) but all good things do come to an end and eventually we all headed home. It was a very good day and while I ain’t dead yet; I am a bit tired so good night, sleep tight and don’t let the space bugs bite!

¹ a.k.a. pop to you heathens.
² A few people threw their cars into reverse to open up bigger areas for us to drive through and things of that nature.
³ It turns out this weekend contains not only my birthday and practically the last weekend before Christmas but it’s also graduation weekend for the University! No wonder everything was so packed today! This also explains why it took so long for our food to arrive.

Ain’t Dead Yet © Mark McKibben, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.

Discover your secret Santa name

Mark — Thu, 09 Dec 2004 15:42:21 +0000

Don’t tell anyone but my secret name is “Sneezy Dancing-Cracker”, at least that’s what this article on the BBC is telling me.

Everyone has a special, secret Christmas name.

It works like this: When we are born, Santa needs to know who we are and where we live.

Because we all use so many different languages and have different names it gets really confusing for poor old Santa Claus.

…

Kudos to Les for the link

Discover your secret Santa name © Mark McKibben, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.

Dear Santa

Mark — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 06:37:27 +0000

It has been many years since I’ve written you a letter; for that I am sorry. As it turns out, I’m absolutely rotten about keeping up my correspondence with people and I really should try harder at it. Hopefully, this doesn’t put me on your naughty list and I’d rather not find coal in my stocking this year. Enclosed you will find a list of things that I would like for Christmas.

Best Wishes,
Mark

P.S. Do you prefer chocolate chip or sugar cookies?

Mark’s list of Christmas Wishes

An end to all war.
Food for the hungry.
Shelter for the homeless.
Clean air and water for the future.
Anything on my Amazon.com Wishlist.
15inch Apple Powerbook
30 inch Apple Cinema Display to use with the Powerbook when I’m at home.
A Mini Cooper like this Link is a PDF file, 811.18 KB in size.¹
An all expenses paid, first-class trip for 2 around the world, to last not less than 3 months.
Forty million US dollars, in small unmarked bills.²

¹ Said PDF file was autogenerated by the MiniUSA.com. While I’m generally against websites relying so heavily on Flash; their site just rocks. Plus, I’m lusting after their cars. Too bad my site is so unknown that I can’t get them to uhhh, sponsor me with a free car. *grin*
² Forty million just has a nice ring to it and is something of an in-joke to me.

You Know You Grew Up…

Mark — Tue, 23 Nov 2004 21:42:51 +0000

You Know You Grew Up In The 80’s or Early 90’s If:
1. You’ve ever ended a sentence with the word “SIKE“
2. You watched the Pound Puppies.
3. You can sing the rap to the “Fresh Prince of Belair” and can do the “Carlton”. I can’t sing the rap but FPoB was dope, homeboy!
4. Girls wore biker shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy. I’ve no idea what it flet like but I remember seeing stupid people on TV dress this way.
5. You yearned to be a member of the Baby-sitters club and tried to start a club of your own.
6. You owned those lil’ Strawberry Shortcake pals scented dolls.
7. You know that “WOAH” comes from Joey on Blossom
8. Two words: Hammer Pants *laugh* At the time, I thought these were the coolest pants. EVER! I wanted a pair so bad, but my Mom would never buy them for me. These days? I think I owe her a bigger Christmas gift because she never got them for me. *grin*
9. If you ever watched “Fraggle Rock“
10. You had plastic streamers on your handle bars and “spokey-dokes” or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect
11. You can sing the entire theme song to “DuckTales” (Woo ooh!)
12. It was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
13. You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.
14. You saw the original “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” on the big screen and still know the turtles names.
15. You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school. Well… to be perfectly honest, I got super-excited when it was computer day in class at school.
16. You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.
17. You played the game “MASH” (Mansion, Apartment, Shelter, House)
18. You wore stonewashed Jordache jean jackets and were proud of it.
19. L.A. Gear, need I say more?
20. You wanted to change your name to “JEM” in Kindergarten. (She’s truly outrageous.)
21. You remember reading “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” and all the Ramona books. In truth, I don’t remember Ramona but I have found memories fo reading TofaFGN.
22. You know the profound meaning of “WAX ON, WAX OFF“
23. You wanted to be a Goonie. Wanted? I still am one! Huh, what’s that? I’m a goober? Oops! My bad
24. You ever wore fluorescent clothing. (some of us, head-to-toe)
25. You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off and his cheeks shifted.
26. You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.
27. You took lunch boxes to school and traded Garbage Pail kids in the schoolyard.
28. You remember the CRAZE, then the BANNING of slap bracelets.
29. You still get the urge to say “NOT” after every sentence. I remember this but I think I hated it then too
30. You remember Hypercolor t-shirts. These were the bomb! I wish they still made them (because now I could actually afford them! *grin*
31. Barbie and the Rockers was your favorite band.
32. You thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up.
33. You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets.
34. You ever owned a pair of Jelly-Shoes. (and like #24, probably in neon colors, too)
35. After you saw Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure you kept saying “I know you are, but what am I?“
36. You remember “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!“
37. You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.
38. You ever got seriously ! injured on a Slip and Slide.
39. You have ever played with a Skip-It.
40. You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.
41. You’ve gone through this nodding your head in agreement.
42. You remember Popples.
43. “Don’t worry, be happy.“
44. You wore like, EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high top Reeboks.
45. You wore socks scrunched down (and sometimes still do, getting yelled at by “younger hip” members of the family)
46. You remember boom boxes. . and walking around with one on your shoulder like you were all that.
47. You remember watching both “Gremlins” movies. The 2nd one sucked.
48. You know what it meant to say “Care Bear Stare!!” *shudder* Unforunately, I do remember this.
49. You remember watching “Rainbow Bright” and “My Little Pony Tales”.
50. You thought Doogie Howser/Samantha Micelli was hot. Didn’t really think either was all that hot, but can remember wanting to be a genius like Doogie.
51.. You remember Alf, the lil furry brown alien from Melmac.
52. You remember New Kids on the Block when they were cool, and don’t even flinch when people refer to them as “NKOTB”. Almost, I thought their music sucked and flinched whenever I heard anything to do with them.
53. You knew all the characters names and their life stories on “Saved By The Bell,” The ORIGINAL class.
54. You know all the words to Bon Jovi — SHOT THROUGH THE HEART.
55. You just sang those words to yourself.
56. You remember watching Magic vs. Bird.
57. Homemade Levi shorts (the shorter the better)
58. You remember when mullets were cool!
59. You had a mullet! Thank God, I can honestly answer this saying that I never had a mullet!
60. You still sing “We are the World“
61. You tight rolled your jeans.
62. You owned a bannana clip.
63. You remember “Where’s the Beef?“
64. Y ou used to (and probably still do) say “What you talkin’ about Willis?“
65. You had big hair and you knew how to use it.
66. You’re still singing shot through the heart in your head, aren’t you!!! Nope, I’m still stuck on “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”.

I’ve marked the ones I remember in bold and made notes in italics.

Oh and here are a couple they missed:
67. You ever watched Punky Bruster.
68. You thought G.I. Joe was cool but now you wonder how all these heavily trained soldiers were completely unable to shoot anybody; while still being able to take out helicopters from half a mile away with a crossbow.
69. You remember your family getting their first VCR.
70. You went trick-or-treating and actually ate the homemade candy that you got.
71. You were completely thrilled when you beat Zelda for the first time.

Kudos to Matthew Mullenweg for the link

QotD: Top 100 Movies

Mark — Wed, 07 Jul 2004 16:29:11 +0000

I was feeling bored at work (big surprise) and was doing a quick read through some blogs I like when I ran across this article over at Erik J. Barzeski’s blog reading How many of the 100 highest grossing movies of all time have you seen?

So I counted them up and found to my surprise that I’ve actually seen 86 out of the top 100. The ones I’ve missed or skipped¹ are in bold.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Titanic (1997) — $600,779,824
Star Wars (1977) — $460,935,665
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) — $434,949,459
Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace (1999) — $431,065,444
Spider-Man (2002) — $403,706,375
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The (2003) — $377,019,252
Passion of the Christ, The (2004) — $370,025,697
Jurassic Park (1993) — $356,784,000
Shrek 2 (2004) — $356,211,000
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002) — $340,478,898
Finding Nemo (2003) — $339,714,367
Forrest Gump (1994) — $329,691,196
Lion King, The (1994) — $328,423,001
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) — $317,557,891
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001) — $313,837,577
Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones (2002) — $310,675,583
Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983) — $309,125,409
Independence Day (1996) — $306,124,059
Pirates of the Caribbean (2003) — $305,411,224
Sixth Sense, The (1999) — $293,501,675
Star Wars: Episode V — The Empire Strikes Back (1980) — $290,158,751
Home Alone (1990) — $285,761,243
Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) — $281,492,479
Shrek (2001) — $267,652,016
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) — $261,970,615
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) — $260,031,035
Jaws (1975) — $260,000,000
Monsters, Inc. (2001) — $255,870,172
Batman (1989) — $251,188,924
Men in Black (1997) — $250,147,615
Toy Story 2 (1999) — $245,823,397
Bruce Almighty (2003) — $242,589,580
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) — $242,374,454
Twister (1996) — $241,700,000
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) — $241,437,427
Ghost Busters (1984) — $238,600,000
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) — $234,760,500
Cast Away (2000) — $233,630,478
Lost World: Jurassic Park, The (1997) — $229,074,524
Signs (2002) — $227,965,690
Rush Hour 2 (2001) — $226,138,454
Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) — $219,200,000
Ghost (1990) — $217,631,306
Aladdin (1992) — $217,350,219
Saving Private Ryan (1998) — $216,119,491
Mission: Impossible II (2000) — $215,397,30
X2 (2003) — $214,948,780
Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002) — $213,079,163
Back to the Future (1985) — $210,609,762
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) — $205,399,422
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) — $204,843,350
Exorcist, The (1973) — $204,565,000
Mummy Returns, The (2001) — $202,007,640
Armageddon (1998) — $201,573,391
Gone with the Wind (1939) — $198,655,278
Pearl Harbor (2001) — $198,539,855
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) — $197,171,806
Toy Story (1995) — $191,800,000
Men in Black II (2002) — $190,418,803
Gladiator (2000) — $187,670,866
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) — $184,925,485
Dances with Wolves (1990) — $184,208,848
Batman Forever (1995) — $184,031,112
Fugitive, The (1993) — $183,875,760
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) — $183,405,771
What Women Want (2000) — $182,805,123
Perfect Storm, The (2000) — $182,618,434
Liar Liar (1997) — $181,395,380
Grease (1978) — $181,360,000
Jurassic Park III (2001) — $181,166,115
Mission: Impossible (1996) — $180,965,237
Planet of the Apes (2001) — $180,011,740
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) — $179,870,271
Pretty Woman (1990) — $178,406,268
Tootsie (1982) — $177,200,000
Top Gun (1986) — $176,781,728
There’s Something About Mary (1998) — $176,483,808
Ice Age (2002) — $176,387,405
Crocodile Dundee (1986) — $174,635,000
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) — $173,585,516
Elf (2003) — $173,381,405
Air Force One (1997) — $172,888,056
Rain Man (1988) — $172,825,435
Apollo 13 (1995) — $172,071,312
Matrix, The (1999) — $171,383,253
Beauty and the Beast (1991) — $171,301,428
Tarzan (1999) — $171,085,177
Beautiful Mind, A (2001) — $170,708,996
Chicago (2002) — $170,684,505
Three Men and a Baby (1987) — $167,780,960
Meet the Parents (2000) — $166,225,040
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) — $165,500,000
Hannibal (2001) — $165,091,464
Catch Me If You Can (2002) — $164,435,221
Big Daddy (1999) — $163,479,795
Sound of Music, The (1965) — $163,214,286
Batman Returns (1992) — $162,831,698
Bug’s Life, A (1998) — $162,792,677
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) — $161,963,000
Waterboy, The (1998) — $161,487,252

¹ I’ve purposely avoided seeing the Passion of Christ because the marketing of the movie offended me. Specifically, I thought it was extremely bad form to offer pendants made to resemble the nails that were used to cruicfy Jesus.