Okay so after watching our traditional Christmas movies (A Christmas Story
So what did I get?
From mom:
- Bags and the like (1 purse, 1 tote, 1 keychain bag, 1 wallet, 1 pencil type of case)
- A paint by numbers faerie painting.
- An Eeyore shirt.
- A bracelet
- Vinyl that I wanted for sewing with but couldn't find easily online and forget to buy in the store -- then getting back to our local store is woah boy no way due to traffic in that area
From Brian:
Are you ready for my big surprise? A Kindle
I skimmed the store a bit. Decided I'd buy a book from my wishlist (Rapacia: The Second Circle of Heck
If you're a mass online book "window shopper" as I am -- I think the web site itself is slightly better for that. I always feel like I end up on random 100 click spree and that's how I end up finding stuff usually since I don't keep up with the must read stuff, I find it later or I find more obscure stuff or whatever -- like this, try that, then this, then that. There's some of that while shopping directly from the Kindle but since the navigation is obviously different -- well there's a bit less of that too but since you can shop from the Kindle or your computer -- either / both / whatever, who cares.
From my little time with it so far, no serious gripes. The ones I have are minor.
1 - I think some publishers are on crack when it comes to pricing. But that's their issue not Amazon's or B&N's or whoever you use to buy the books from. Not sure they remember that they don't have to print them on paper, ship them, etc. I don't expect free books -- but it shouldn't cost me the same or basically the same as it costs me to buy a hardcover book -- and those are the ones I won't be buying -- douchebags. Paperback prices? I'm cool with that. Hardcover? Screw you.
2 - On pretty much every page within the Kindle, the cursor thingie -- it defaults to the link that is on the top of the page. As you would expect on any computer page, browser, etc. But if you click within the Kindle store and go to an individual book -- usually the top link is one to be a read more within the description yet the cursor is always on the buy now by default. So you'd want to be careful not to press down on the erm pointer thingie when you go to scroll up or down as you go to explore that page right off or you might go to buy the book instead. I say this because as someone with a tremor, the first time I went to use that pointer thing I pressed down on it on accident when I went to navigate with it. So having it right on a BUY button first thing as it gets to a page is annoying. With my memory probs I already forget if I had to confirm or not. I don't think I did, but their site says you can contact them for mistakes at least and Amazon has always been good to me, so I'll believe them and hope I never have to find out.
3 - The one click purchase in general. It makes sense on the Kindle itself -- maybe it's a pain in the ass to allow you to log in, manage a cart, pick a card, etc. I'm okay with needing a default card stored for shopping directly on the Kindle. They'll disable it instantly if I tell them it's stolen. Etc. Cool. But if I want to buy books on the website for the Kindle or the Kindle app on my computer? I often like buying more than one book at a time. With 1-click Kindle purchases, you buy a book. BAM sale. E-mail receipt. What if I want to buy 3 books at once, I'm erm old school digital shopper, I kind of like the cart and picking how I pay for each purchase. Minor annoyance given I get them in seconds, no longer will have 100 cardboard boxes around my house, etc.
Brian thinks I'm crazy -- I do plan on buying a cover. He thinks I should just store it on my bookshelf as I have this one shelf that has a filing box in it. So the cats can't get into the shelf but it has room to set something like the kindle on top of that -- between it and the shelf. Erm, what fun is that. I read, sometimes a lot. Why store it out of the way all of the time. I'll want to keep it out where I am and not have to keep getting up, putting it over there for 10 minutes while I do something else, then go get it, etc. I want to keep the screen protected from ev0l kitties and keep it out where I'll be using it. Now my real tough decision? Do I go with something modern -- zipper and all
From Karina and Keegan:
- An Amazon gift card -- and in the words of the attached e-card:
"Unfortunately I am a broke ass bitch so hopefully there is something
both you and Brian equally want, its up to you though... you two can
agree on something, you can keep it for yourself or you can divide it
anyway you want."
I told Brian we could figure that out later -- he just said maybe I could send a Doctor Who book to the Kindle... lol. I was thinking well maybe there's some DVDs or something we'd want to order or something, but I should have known he'd want to play with my present -- he warned me. Then when I opened it, he was like no no it's your present, when would I read a book on it anyway, etc. Now... I had my time ;)
I'm still awake. The cats went crazy -- Santa brought them catnip and peacock feathers. Due to our late night, movies, new toys, I didn't work on those to mail this weekend stuff at all. Probably won't get to today either. Brian assures me it can wait til this week as it's a holiday and enjoying Christmas stuff was more important. Me? I kind of agree though I'm already way way way way behind. *shrug* We had a good time. Materialistic stuff was good of course. Did the charity stuff. Keegan will get his stuff today. Kitties had a blast. Lucky all around.
So, best as I can tell -- we'll open presents at midnight tonight as Brian's a big kid. In Brian's case I mean he gets to open the one left from me he hasn't already gotten since he already knew the other two (one he needed to open early and one he got today because he kept saying "presents"). For some reason he has been apologizing to me telling me that I will only have one present. Uhh I told him he wanted to buy something bigger then Kindle or Nook, if he wanted to buy something smaller then Amazon gift card -- I didn't ask for a bunch of stuff, I didn't expect a bunch of stuff. Silly man. And it appears I got the Kindle. So yeah. no apology needed as that kicks ass. Unlike him, I'm patient and not begging to open it early. Also we have the box that mom sent.
Then well after midnight when it's actually time for a Christmas dinner, we'll get something from Norm's as it seems Brian prefers that to his old tradition of holiday pizza. And if I feel up to it we're planning to see Avatar again.
Mom told me a story about Keegan. Seems he got his cat to shred one of his present's wrapping paper. Whether he bribed the cat or just looked the other way as it happened is in debate. Needless to say, he got a present early as the cat did a good job and now grandma has put the rest of the wrapped presents in a cardboard box. Uncle Brian appreciated his tactics, using the cat -- cats are ev0l.
Of course according to his mommy, Keegan is just as ev0l since I got this in e-mail tonight about his wanting a learn to draw program which his mean mommy wouldn't get him leading me to buying him learn to draw books --
"REALLY upset? MEAN MOMMY?! LMAO! He's never mentioned it to me once!! That little booger forgot to mention I bought him a how to draw pokemon and manga book!! I'll make sure he sends ya some original copies of some drawings, and definitely anything he creates I'll scan or save to file and put up on my myspace so you guys can see it! I think if he actually sits down, and focuses quietly (hahaha quietly..and focusing!) he will be really good! The tablet is a little confusing, but he's getting it slowly but surely! I think I am going to have to officially train myself on it and then give him a lesson."
Merry Christmas all.
Books:
Yes I am way behind on my reading, but still I downloaded the kindle version of InterWorld
People are crazy:
It seems that Brian's movie isn't the only movie under attack. The #2 movie in the country is also under attack. What movie is currently #2? The Princess and the Frog. Yeah... I did just announce that people are crazy. I don't even have the patience to follow this. I'm all crazy people'd out. Best I can tell from the 4 or 5 stories I skimmed -- if you have a movie with good vs evil themes and religious undertones, you need to flat out go ahead and put Jesus or Christians in it otherwise it's just VooDoo mumbo jumbo and bad for your good Christian children. Or something. I dunno. They lost me on this one since I haven't seen the movie though the clips I've seen and the reviews I've seen make it appear to be just your average kids movie. I mean seriously -- kids can't read HP because OMFG they might turn into ev0l witches! They shouldn't watch Princess and the Frog because it's not Christian enough? People are crazy! Where were you people when I was growing up? No one complained as I was watching this. And lemme tell you, that's scarier than anything that kids have now! But then these kids are smarter than their parents, they know that a movie is just a movie, that the bad guys aren't real, that the magic isn't real, etc. And it's not like these movies are porn or anything -- though I bet they let their kids on the net and they can probably find the characters from these movies in porn pics if they search enough. Bet their parents aren't monitoring for that.
Ya know sometimes when book shopping for myself, I have a tough time deciding. What do I really want to add to my collection next. Does that book really sound good -- or horrible. Etc. So when I suddenly have a kiddo that I love as if he were my own telling me that he might want to be an artist and would like to have something to help him learn how to draw, well I want to encourage him. And woah boy. Book shopping for something like that is even tougher than shopping for myself.
I thought going into it that I had it all figured it out. Just stock up on those $4-5 learn to draw your favorite character books for kids until I hit the free shipping rates. But then I started thinking to myself Keegan is above his reading level, so I don't need to dumb down the books TOO much. But they are art books, so they should be fun and it is those kids ones that are fun. But if all I get him is something like SpongeBob he's gonna be bored real fast even if they will teach him basics quickly. And hey, even I like those kinds of art books. So I settled on three -- then if he really puts effort in and shows he likes it and is trying well then we have some other ideas for later. But only if he really gets use of any of these and keeps going with the I want to be an artist thing. For now he's getting these:
Best of Nickelodeon (Nick How To Draw)
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Drawing Manga
Drawing for Dummies
I think he's set. A good late Christmas given all we already sent him for Christmas. I better get a signed piece of artwork someday.
So for all of the OMFG Avatar is the most stunning movie ever and the political debates about it, all I really cared about was one reviewer -- Keegan. He's a big Star Wars geek. His first favorite movie was Scooby Doo at about age 3. At 4 he graduated to Harry Potter. Since then he's been an uber Star Wars geek. He wouldn't know of or care about the glowing reviews nor would he care of the political drama, he'd just watch it with his young innocent eyes. His verdict?
He now wants to learn to ride the alien horses and "dragons" but he has a slight problem -- he's not sure he can grow a long ponytail with "tentacle things at the end of it". So Keegan, is it better than Star Wars? Yes. What's your favorite movie ever though? "Hmm." He paused, clearly thinking this one over. "Avatar." In the background his mom was trying to get my attention, "Yes it's DEFINITELY better than Star Wars." A sentiment she repeated when she got on the phone. Mom, like many found the storyline basic, and the visuals great. Unlike most though she did catch that not all humans were bad -- some were truly good. Probably because she's seen it.
I had been worried at the last second before they went to see it -- Umm the Na'vi speak in a native language, subtitled. Would Keegan be able to read it all? I couldn't remember if any of it would be above his level. But then I figured if it was above his level he'd ask him mom or grandma. Silly me, he's reading 300 page novels and only having to ask for help with words now and then. His teacher told them she wouldn't recommend this usually -- but he shouldn't be reading books from his grade level, but well above. Smart kid.
Some of you will remember that Keegan had plotted out his career choice years ago, after he and Brian drew robots together, he had decided that he wanted to build robots. He told me tonight he's no longer sure about that. Well he loves books and has written some Star Wars fanfic. So I guessed -- "You like to write, so maybe you've decided on being a writer then?" I asked him. Nope. One of the things he had decided was important about building robots was drawing them. Now he's thinking that instead of making real robots, he should work on his art. Make them on paper or the computer and when older maybe Brian can teach him how to do what he does so he can make robots in movies. But he's really upset with his mom because his friend found a learn to draw DS program and she won't buy it for him. So, even though he's got a hefty Christmas from us already I'm going to buy him some How to draw books geared at kids. He already has a tablet for his computer we bought him a few years ago. He says he did make a teddy bear on it by playing with colours but that he doesn't understand how to draw too well yet and feels he needs guides to help him get better. He saved his old drawings so time to encourage that.
Another new book:
Brian asked me if I wanted to go get coffee and to go to B&N. Hmm. DUH. Nevermind that I am quite backed up on reading, I always say yes to the bookstore unless I'm dying. Now, I'm sure I'm getting a Kindle for Christmas. I am backed up on books. I haven't bought a comic in ages. So, it makes sense to look at comics. Why add more books when I can soon do digital books, already have plenty of books to catch up on, and am overdue for a new comic? I have most of the good Superman and Batman books they carry. I've been thinking it's time to go for other Justice League characters. BUT, I'm loving Neil Gaiman books lately, so I went for The Sandman Vol. 1: Preludes and Nocturnes
Health reform update:
It looks like the Senate now has 60 votes to pass their version of the health care bill -- a very sucky bill which basically just says hey go buy insurance from companies that still have no real rules, won't have to really cover you if they say so, etc etc etc. Um, w00t, "reform" rocks. Of course, it won't mesh with the House bill at all. So how that plays out I've no clue. What happens if the House tells the Senate to screw off? The two bills are different.
Oh and since it hasn't been said enough -- Lieberman is a douchebag. Brian doesn't follow politics or news at all and even he thinks so, he's thought so since he was a teenager. When you're a politician and Brian knows enough of your politics to think you're a douchebag? You've really made a name for yourself. Good luck getting elected again. I don't care what party you are, when you suggest something yourself and a few months later so you're against it because this party is for it, you're a jackass. Since everyone of every party seems to agree Thomas Jefferson is an acceptable person to quote and I do so love him myself, Mr. Lieberman should learn from this one quote of his that I keep as my blurb on LJ -- "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." Apparently Lieberman has no sense of principles. Yes, people can change their beliefs -- but in a matter of months and essentially admitting only because this person and that person also believe what you believe in? Yeah, I don't believe that is standing like a rock -- it is perhaps your career sinking like one after being thrown into a lake. Gee I really believe that I shouldn't shoot people in the head! Oh, Sarah Palin does too? hmm well then I guess I should change my mind! Seriously how dumb is that? That's how Joe Lieberman's beliefs are formed.
Well that and there's the fact that so many insurance companies are based in his tiny little state -- and while I understand wanting to protect your state's industry, be honest about it. You work for the insurance industry, maybe even the people they employee in your state. You do not work for the people needing to be covered by insurance companies. You do not work for people who are sick and who need care. That's why you've done everything you could to turn this bill into a present for the insurance companies -- including debate yourself on the issue of buying into Medicare. You suggested it to pretend you were for the people. And when it was offered as a compromise to the Public Option -- POOF um uh well uhh I uhh umm I hate Democrats so uhh if they like I um yeah I'm against that. Solid as a rock?
Amazon:
So, Neil Gaiman posted a link to this Amazon thread
See, when shopping on Amazon I often window shop so to speak. I mean I keep a small wishlist (mostly pre-order stuff or this may be interesting someday stuff), but often it's just hey you need some new books now -- time to look around. And when I do this I look at everything when considering new book options.
Covers -- I'll buy a book that's a plain solid color BUT obviously something with an interesting cover is gonna grab my attention first.
Stars -- It's Amazon, if I see something with 1 star on say a list of books somewhere on the site surrounded by 4 and 5 star books? I'm gonna head for the 4 and 5 ones first and may never make my way back to that 1 star book.
Description -- Most important. Reading those makes me decide if I even want to waste my time on reviews or the look inside stuff, etc.
Look Inside -- If description, covers, stars all good and it has Look Inside available, then yup -- I start reading inside.
Reviews -- if still on the fence I skim the reviews. I don't have a list of reviewers I like or don't like. I just start reading and if they're well written and informative giving teasers instead of spoilers then I give weight to those reviews.
Comments on reviews -- if a review seems to have an usual number of comments, yes I will read that.
Seeing an author in reviews basically saying that only people who kiss their asses should review or at least those are the only reviews that people should trust as being accurate = I'll pass. And I'm a really generous star giver. I figure if it entertains me at all it's at least a 3. I can't think of anything I'd give a 1 to, though I try to buy things I know I'd at least not be pissed off by ;) Plus I always keep in mind I'm reviewing for the genre -- a comic book or my cheesy urban paranormal novels can be 5 stars. I hate the snobby types who think only classics should be 5s or whatever.
Brian:
In more gruesome news -- Brian had a really shitty day at work. Copters shining lights on their building and someone saying a jumper. And then -- a jumper indeed. Someone jumped off the 10th story roof and landed on the 2nd. He saw the body. I don't think that's how he wanted to mark his big opening day.
: James Cameron’s AVATAR is in theaters today. What about this movie interests you the most?
Sponsored by AVATAR. In theaters December 18. Buy tickets now.
Clearly the people who write these don't read me! ;) I saw it days ago so there's not much left for me to say. I guess now the most amusing thing is watching the right wingers send their minions all around the internet to cry about how horrible it is that this movie is anti-American -- like here. The problem with not thinking for yourself is that Drudge didn't tell them that America / Americans aren't mentioned in the movie. It's FICTION. It's set in the FUTURE. It's about humans, not Americans. It's a beautiful movie. Now I'm just interested in seeing the numbers and then up next is the DVD. The movie changed our lives -- it brought us to LA, got Brian into movies, having worked on it got him his current job and every job he's had in Hollywood really. Go Avatar!
I don't know how many of you will remember this but I posted awhile ago about David having a stroke. David basically being my uncle. It appears he created a goal for himself to create a blog to help others who have had strokes / care for those who have. A goal which he's now accomplished as he has his blog online. You can see it here.
Tonight was Avatar. I'd post about it -- but I'm worn out and am waiting for some names from Brian so I can do a proper post -- for now the short version is it was awesome. I'll do the proper post on this in a day or two. So sore and worn out.
The Muppets rule. Queen rules. Combine the two? You cannot go wrong.
