tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9600255676944094202024-03-13T08:21:33.437-07:00Synapse Misfires and Other Mental RamblingsShawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-76255084756291254852012-07-25T17:55:00.003-07:002012-07-25T21:28:15.990-07:00<br />
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
DragonCon: A Beginners Guide and Checklist (Updated for 2012)</h3>
<div class="post-header" style="color: #959595; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7769301177408920914" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 578px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6UT9AC9Wu0xR7Kd5Tzucp0nGqQGz7aCQNMQWp-zd0efi6Xoy7QxITzZoze9ASni1yueMbB8nP9-OuoEdjcZ8bV6J3qMB_rUZmRbL2GREX4bxqQZ6J4YfFNkC5cRerhqie_w5NX3qqpmX/s1600/dragonconlogo.png" style="color: #6060ca; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618122856488359026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6UT9AC9Wu0xR7Kd5Tzucp0nGqQGz7aCQNMQWp-zd0efi6Xoy7QxITzZoze9ASni1yueMbB8nP9-OuoEdjcZ8bV6J3qMB_rUZmRbL2GREX4bxqQZ6J4YfFNkC5cRerhqie_w5NX3qqpmX/s200/dragonconlogo.png" style="border: none; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 126px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; position: relative; width: 148px;" /></a><br />
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">
Below is advice I've collected from many friends, blogs, and my experiences over the past few years at Dragon*Con. Feel free to let me know if I missed something.</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><br /></strong></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Things to bring:</strong></span></div>
<ol style="font-size: 15px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>A Lanyard or some type of rope/necklace to hang your badge from</strong>. The badges only come with a clamp clip by default and those are easy to get knocked off. You lose your badge and you're toast and out another $100 for a new one.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Backpack or Messenger Bag</strong> - You WILL find something you want to purchase</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Camera</strong> - Trust me, you'll need one</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Extra Camera batteries and memory cards</strong> - See #2</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Money</strong> - Walk of Fame Celeb autographs go from $35-$50 which includes the Glossy 8x10 photo you pick for them to sign. This is in addition to all the incredible art you will find in Artist Alley. This is your chance to get some original pieces directly from the creators. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Manila or Plastic Folders</strong> - to store autographed photos in while inside your Backpack</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>8x10 photos of any celebs you REALLY want to meet in case you bump into them walking around</strong> - Most will sign something for free in that situation but be brief, quick, and try not to cause a scene. The last thing they want is a huge crowd pouncing on them when they were just taking a break from a panel or something. NOTE: It is not necessary to have these for people on the Walk of Fame, they'll have many to choose from and its included in the signing fee.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Cellphone/iPhone/Laptop/Camera charger plugs</strong> - when you take a break to sit and People Watch you will want to use the time wisely and feed your devices. The last thing you want is to meet your favorite celeb for an impromptu photo op and have your device die on you.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Costume</strong> - DragonCon welcomes ALL types of cosplayers, if you feel like it then go for it. There will be all types of costumes from cardboard and duct tape to high end professional looking stuff. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Bottled Water</strong> - The Con has water stations all around but plastic cups are sometimes AWOL (Thanks Stephen)</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Things to do:</strong></span></div>
<ol style="font-size: 15px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Parade - </b>The Parade is one of the biggest events you'll find. It is usually at 10a on Saturday but always check the schedule to be sure. Hundreds of cosplayers braving the Georgia Heat and Humidity to march and display their costumes. You'll see full Stormtrooper brigades, a Spartan Army, Zombies, Predators, and more Super Heroes than you can count. <i><b>NOTE: If you have seen the parade before and not too interested in being in the heat THIS is the time to hit the Walk of Fame. Many celebrities that have insanely long lines have no lines at all due to everyone being at the parade.</b></i> </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>See Celebrities (Walk of Fame) - </b>Many celebrities from all eras of Sci-Fi and Fantasy, shows and films show up to this Con. They do autographs in the Walk of Fame (Hilton) and are there to hang out and interact with their fans. It is not uncommon to see them walking around from place to place. There is no fee to just meet them but if you want an autograph it'll cost you anywhere from $25 to $75+ depending on the celeb with the average price for last year (2011) being $40. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Panels Panels Panels</strong> - Once the schedule is posted (probably in a few days) you can check it for a Panel of your favorite show, celebrity, writer, or group.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Gaming</strong> - There are groups that meet to play various different games from D&D to CCG to whatever strikes their fancy</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Book Signings</strong> - many authors will be present to sign their books for you. Some have copies for sale but you'd be better off planning ahead and taking a copy with you just to be sure.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Meetups and Tweetups</strong> - If you're not on Twitter you're missing out on a valuable tool for knowing about gatherings and events that celebs decide to do at the last minute. Many of the Dragon*Con attendees or their followers are on Twitter and may post up something like "I'm hanging out at the Hilton Bar for the next 30minutes if anyone wants to come hang" Some Meetups are planned in advance and may require a fan club ticket or something so check the schedule and get on Twitter and get it on your phone so you can stay up to date.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Parties</strong> - Some groups host parties for their user base. Some are private Invitation Only events and others are just open to whoever hears about them. There is always a party going on somewhere at Dragon*Con. Fark.com and Reddit.com are having a Party at 1p Saturday the 4th in the main lobby of the Hilton to the left of the Concierge Desk. Marian Call will be playing a set for us so definitely get this one on your TO DO list.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Shop</strong> - The Dealer Room is FULL of both easy and hard to find props, shirts, comic books, art, clothing, and anything else you can imagine. If you are a collector this is your Graceland. If you are looking for a little something to put on your desk then you can find it here too. Some Dealers put their stuff on sale Monday so they have less to carry/ship home. Don't count on it but sometimes it happens.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>People Watch</strong> - you will do TONS of this whether you want to or not. You won't be able to help yourself. When you're taking a break just find a good seat and enjoy the show.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>ENJOY YOURSELF - </b>No matter what your job/position/status/etc in life you'll fit in at Dragon*Con. Have a great time and meet all sorts of new and interesting people.</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Where to hang out:</strong></span></div>
<ol style="font-size: 15px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>The Sheraton</strong> host many panels and events and is the main location for badge purchase and pick up so not a lot of hanging out goes on there.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>The Marriott Marquis</strong> is the main central point of Dragon*Con. On Friday and Saturday nights this is the place you want to be. It will get CRAZY crowded as the night wears on so if you plan on hanging out for a long time and you find a seat NEVER leave it unless someone holds it for you. Seats near a plug are GOLD and you should acquire them and guard them as best you can.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>The Hilton</strong> is where the Walk of Fame is. This is your autograph for a fee location. Lines are plainly marked on the floor with tape so stick to the line you are in so you don't get some fan boy frothing mad at you for cutting. The longer the line, the bigger the star. I found last year that at the beginning of his allotted time, Joe Flanigan's (Stargate Atlantis) Line was long, like out the door long so I skipped it. After making a few rounds and getting other autographs the line was down to 8-10 people and I got right in. Patience and Timing are key.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>The Hyatt</strong> is where you find the Artist Alley and Art sections. This is where your favorite webcomic artist, comic book artist, or artist in general will be set up. In the area outside the Artist Alley you will find many good photo ops of costumes and groups setup that do some serious cosplay.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>The Westin</b> has been slowly becoming the Browncoat and Steampunk event/panel hotel over the past few years. Look for those type of panels and events here but always refer to the published schedule to be sure.</li>
</ol>
<ul style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.4; list-style: square; margin: 10px 0px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">NOTE: The Hyatt in the past has pulled out some draconian "fire hazard" rules and has goons walking around to get in the way and stop you from taking pictures in their Main Lobby in the evenings. If you happen to be going through their Main Lobby and see a good photo op, be incredibly fast or they goon squad will show up and pull their power trip on you.</li>
<li style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">NOTE: Panels and Events take place in all of the 5 major Host Hotels, the above list is just for general info of what else you'll find at each</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>What to Expect:</strong></span></div>
<ol style="font-size: 15px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">A visual treat you won't ever forget.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Crowds - LOTS of crowds</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Good ol Georgia Heat and Humidity. If you venture outside be warned. Heat will hold you down while Humidity beats you to death. </li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Costumes of all shapes, sizes, and topics. Some people get VERY creative with skills that rival Hollywood as well as people that spawn thoughts of OMGWTFBBQ MY EYES!!!!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Lines - the more famous or currently "hot or in trend" the celeb, the longer their line will be. Count on getting in line an hour (or hours) before a particular even if you want to be sure to get in. EX: if you want to hear an Adam Savage talk you better be in line 2-3 hours ahead of time. In 2010 I went an hour ahead and the line was already wrapped around a full city block. Only 1/3 of those in line would actually fit in the auditorium so I had to skip it.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">Meeting new and interesting people</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;">If you are in costume people will want to take a picture of you. If you have a "squire" to take the picture for them so they can be in the photo it makes people happy. Squires also come in handy for holding said necessary gear. (Thanks Stephen)</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<strong><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline;">Cell/iPhone Battery Saving Tips:</span></strong></div>
<ol style="font-size: 15px; padding: 0px 10px 0px 25px;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Turn off WiFi</strong> - odds are you won't be in range anyway and if you are so are 20,000 other people</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Turn off Bluetooth</strong> - unless you're using it it's just a battery sucker</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Turn off 3G and use Edge</strong> - face it, the cell network is going to be HAMMERED during the con. 50,000 people in such a small area always saturates the cell network. You're not going to get 3G speeds anyway.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><strong>Stick to text messages to stay in touch</strong> - repeatedly trying to make a call that doesn't connect just pushes your battery closer and closer to death with each attempt. Text messages are short burst and will often get through just fine even when the network is clogged or sluggish. They just queue up and send when they can.</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<b><u>Avoiding ConCrud:</u></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
You know what I'm talking about. You're in closed spaces with 50,000 other people, many with questionable personal hygiene habits or a complete lack there of. You're GOING to be exposed to someone else's germs that should have stayed home but Noooo, they toughed it out to avoid missing the Con and showed up with a raging fever and illness. A few days after the Con you start to feel the scratchy throat, followed by a headache or runny nose and then BOOM! ConCrud sets up residence in your body for a few days making you wish you could find the specific person that triggered it and flail them to death with their own severed limbs. If you could just get out of bed that is.</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
To battle and hopefully precent this you'll want:</div>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<ol>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Hand Sanitizer</b> - Face it, you'll be touching all sorts of handrails, doors, and elevator buttons that you have no clue what might be on from a previous touch. Use it regularly.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Multivitamins/Vitamin C/Zinc</b> - whatever your preference, dose up on your preventative medication of choice starting a week before the Con so you have a good base built up and maintain that regimen throughout the Con.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>HYDRATE!!!!</b> - As mentioned many times above. STAY HYDRATED! It helps your body flush out all that unwashed geek germy crud thats floating around.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b>Take regular showers</b> - wash off all the germs as often as you can. If you're heading back to the room to drop off some Art or a purchase or just changing costumes, take a quick shower and rinse off the funk. (<i>I know, this isn't an alien concept to most people but after going to a few Cons you too will realize its never advice that is followed by all</i>)</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-83532933460726233902012-03-09T12:41:00.009-08:002012-03-09T13:39:36.846-08:00How Syfy (or another Network) can save Terra Nova<img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sl-kQTwQO2Lqf9eYSanoATi7ORl3NnCILJnSjIy3nzX-RNyl_LLZnIBLtvFpUeX-e214F0wV5cWhv4-lcWRmuEst3JIKdPtdEdTwVlaV4Y5bMNi1s5F3QssmUDuJxSBI4UGSRzNs-LuT/s200/Terra+Nova.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718001595156869186" />Well, as expected, FOX decided to cancel yet another good Sci-Fi show. No specific reason was given. People involved with the show said it made money so the only valid reason left is that it didn't make ENOUGH money to satisfy the greedy network execs. <div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">It is a known fact that Terra Nova is an expensive show to make. Dinosaur CGI isn't cheap. Especially after Jurassic Park set the DinoCGI bar way up into the stratosphere. In addition to the Dinosaurs the citizens of Terra Nova took their high tech gadgets with them. Holographic heads-up displays and interfaces in all the labs makes just panning through Medical a Post-Production expense heavy scene. For all the expense incurred on those fronts they definitely saved money elsewhere. Some of the weapons used in the show are just Nerf guns painted to look real. The vehicles were seriously low-tech looking and at first glance looked more like something you'd throw together for a Mad Max reunion. They didn't look bad, just not "expensive" so I'm filing them under the "didn't cost too much" category. Besides the standard wardrobe for the citizens the military garb is also recycled from other shows and very low tech. </div><div style="font-weight: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">Taking all of this into account you end up with the conclusion that if they could reduce DinoCGI and holographic heads-up displays and interfaces then the cost of the show could also be reduced. The writers, unknowingly, gave us the answer with the cumulation of Season One's main plotline. .</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">.</div><div style="font-weight: normal; ">. </div><div><b>SPOILER ALERT: If you've not watched the show and plan to do so you might want to stop reading now.</b> </div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>.</div><div>The writers unknowingly solved part of the "expensive to make" problem at the end of the season. They blew up the "bridge". The link between the Future and the Past was destroyed. This means no more pilgrimages, no more tech, no more supplies, no more anything, period. The colonist are officially on their own. They are now in the ultimate situation of survival. They have to conserve at all cost. This would naturally mean an immediate cease and desist on using any technology that had an expendable power source. Energy consumption would need to be reduced to maximize the lifetime of the devices in question. There are no replacements coming. Ever. </div><div><br /></div><div>So how does this make the show cheaper? Simple. No more expensive panning shots in Medical. They used all their tech every day because they had it. As shown in the episode "Nightfall" (with the pulse that wiped out the technology chips) they could revert to Frontier Medicine except for live threatening situations and even then it doesn't need to be on camera for long. The focus of the story could shift to survival. Less indoor time and more outdoor time. Less high-tech, more frontier medicine based on what they studied or ran test on "the night before" aka "off camera".</div><div><br /></div><div>But what about the DinoCGI problem? That too is simple. Less dinos. As we've already seen in episodes they can present the threat of a dino without actually showing it. Save any DinoCGI for major plot line issues or cliffhangers. Just use sound effects to set the mood when necessary and just elude to the fact that the dinos are there. The teased plot for Season Two is "WTF is in the Badlands and WhyTF did the bad guys make a bee line for it when they lost". Besides a little dino interaction randomly for effect, a good portion of Season Two could center around the tracking of the bad guys and the quest for what is in the Badlands. </div><div><br /></div><div>With these simple modifications to production the show could save a good bit of money which would allow another network to save the show. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another cost saving idea is shorter seasons. Terra Nova Season One was only 13 episodes long with the first and last being 2 parters. TV Shows don't have to shoot for 20 episodes any longer. Focus on a quality story and do shorter seasons and you have a good model for success. Do MORE shows of 10-12 episodes like this and instead of trying to glue people to the TV for a single 20 episode season. A network can gain fans and viewers by having shorter shows that survive rather than longer, more expensive seasons that end up getting cancelled. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope another network does decide to pick up Terra Nova. This was one of the shows we watched every week as a family. We all loved it even with the critiques others have thrown at it. Logan cried when he found out it got cancelled. For this reason alone, if I ever meet a Fox Network Exec, I will punch them in the throat. I would say I'd kick him in the nuts but those are already reserved for canceling Firefly and I aim to misbehave should the situation every present itself ;)</div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-37540449449611629762012-03-04T10:00:00.012-08:002012-03-08T18:13:56.620-08:00Zombie Run 5K 2012<span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k3pviqXj0sSgGiI2lPGDBMqxiJo6Tpe9S3c0Wp7Dq1m-Y0WM954FrZdUVjL64jzdNPce6nj6q44sKaA0824zcfJntFeoFHUd_1Ax39TXEZ2gZcE18zG3vUhYberWFa-utq-xUs8nbn0T/s200/RunForYourLives.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717592257863904258" />This was the Inaugural Zombie Run 5K for Georgia and the first Zombie Run of the 2012 season. Being the first year of an event (here in Georgia) it had some complications and areas for improvement but overall was a very fun and enjoyable event. </span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">The location wasn't too far to get to and there was plenty of parking available. The line to get in and park moved at a decent pace and, providing you listened to the arrival instructions and got there 1-2 hours early, you weren't delayed in getting to the Check-In area. Parking was $10 which is typical and expected. There were more than enough signs to remind people to "Get out your wallet!", "Take out $10","Roll down your window!" etc... The guys handling the money and parking kept things moving right along very efficiently. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Once we parked we had a few hundred yard walk to the Check-In area. I was expecting mud on the course but not 3-4inch deep mud covering every square inch of the Check-In and Spectator areas. This was incredibly annoying. From you minute you entered the gate you were constantly under the threat of slipping and busting your ass. Not to mention all the spectators that showed up to "watch" and had no plans to get muddy. I saw countless outfits and shoes ruined by all the mud. The mud was no big deal for those of us that showed up prepared to get filthy but this area shouldn't be your first Obstacle. It is my hope that next years event corrects this problem. The mud should start at the Starting Line and not before. It should definitely not be all over the Spectator Area. Granted we did have a serious storm the night before so the entire area did get a deluge of fresh rain and minor flooding. Still, that was some serious mud for a Spectator area.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The Check-In area, besides being muddy beyond belief, was rather poorly run. Lines were long for some last names and non-existent for others. My line was only 5 people deep including myself and Jessica and it still took far longer than it should to get our packets. Part of the problem was that the Staff was having to fight to stay upright on all the slippery mud just like the rest of us were. The race shirts were still in boxes near the back of the tent nowhere near the tables requiring a walk back and forth or a yelling for a particular size then a wait for it to be brought over. So much time was wasted just waiting for the shirt and bag with race info. Besides getting this area away from the mud next year I hope the race organizers separate the race packet hand out and shirt pick up if they don't figure out a way to speed up the combined process. It would also benefit them to have extra safety pins available, I had a broken one and it was damn near impossible to get someones attention to get a replacement. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The start was creatively set up into 3 lanes. Appetizers (<9min/mi), Entrees (9-12min/mi), and Dessert (>12min/mi). I found this to be a brilliant idea that other events should look to adopt. I've run in many adventure races and the bottlenecks that occur are usually because too many "Desserts" are in the front of the pack when they shouldn't be. I'm no "Appetizer" but I'm not a "Dessert" either. I don't fault anyone for doing these events no matter how fast or slow you run but if you're a "Dessert" you don't need to be at the head of the corral when your wave starts. You just cause bottlenecks and injuries as faster people try to weave around you. The 3 different corrals utilized by the Zombie Run still requires honesty on the runners part but at least they are trying. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The course was muddy, seriously muddy. I'm talking so muddy that you could barely run without gravity showing you who your daddy was. THUD! SPLAT! There were times when you could get a slow jog in but those were few and far in between. The previous nights monsoon of a storm didn't help matters any. I feel this course was overly muddy and hazardous at times because of it. I was nursing a bruised and twisted left ankle so I wasn't moving at a record setting pace anyway but all the mud made matters 1000x worse. There isn't much the organizers could do about this. I'm sure the course was planned to be muddy and nobody could have predicted the effects of the previous nights storm. I just hope next year that we don't get that monsoon and the course is only muddy in the areas where it should be and not every single step of the way. If we had a dry week prior to this I'm sure many of the flats and hills would have been much more manageable while the obstacles and low parts would remain muddy as intended. We'll see next year I guess.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>What would a Zombie Run be without Zombies right? The course was littered with them. There were batches every so often with "breaks" in between to let people catch their breath or slow down for a bit. At obstacles requiring you to crawl over/under/through they had a few Zombies either in the obstacle or just after. When you came upon them on the path they were spaced out so you usually only had to dodge one at a time but sometimes they'd team up. It was times like this when it paid to be in a larger group. Like penguins on the edge of the iceberg we'd wait until someone made a move to draw them off and then the pack would break away and haul ass. Some people, many actually, would slip in the mud and become another distraction for the Zombies. Sometimes it was the Zombie that would slip and fall giving us all a window to get through. It was all good fun. Jessica lost her flags earlier on and decided to be my meat shield for the remainder of the race. It worked out pretty well and I finished "Alive" with 2 flags.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>My only problem with the Zombies started near the end of the course. The rules stated that we were not allowed to touch or knock down the Zombies and they weren't allowed to touch or knock us down. They were only allowed to grab for our flags (1 on each hip and 1 mid-back). If you lost all your flags then you were "Dead" at the end of the course. If you had any left you were "Alive". I saw many Zombies, usually guys, deliberately take runners down hard. These weren't accidental slip and falls, these were deliberate body check and tackle moves. One kid got grabbed around the neck and thrown to the ground. These Zombies were clearly violating the rules and they didn't care. As I got closer and closer to the end of the course the attempts to throw or knock me to the ground increased. Zombies wouldn't just grab for my flags, they'd grab onto the belt holding the flags and then yank to try and throw me down. Near the end of the course I was no longer dodging Zombies that got in my way. THEY got into MY path so they were fair game for a body check and I did knock a few down. If the organizers want to push codes of conduct onto the runners they need to make sure their staff of Zombies adhere to the same code. This batch of Zombies definitely didn't get the memo about contact. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">When we reached the end of the course we were split into 2 paths. Dead or Alive. The only difference is that the Alive line crossed another timing pad to register your time. I guess if you were Dead then they didn't care what your course time was. The paths converged again right after the Alive timing pad and everyone got the same award medal. I think there should be separate medals for each path. It doesn't make sense to track who made it if everyone gets the same medal. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>After we got our medal the line began for the "Decontamination" Showers. Basically it was a PVC construction with holes drilled in it at stages up on a platform of pallets. The "showers" were piss trickles at best and quite ineffective. You'd have to stand there for an hour to get clean. Add to this the fact that there wasn't nearly enough room to accomodate the masses. It was a single setup about 12' across by 6' deep. You could fit maybe 16-20 people at a time up on the platform and that didn't leave any room to try and scrub mud off of yourself without elbowing someone behind or next to you. Most people just gave up after trying in vain to get clean. Next year I hope they have a wider "decontamination" area and more "shower" outputs with stronger force. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Getting into clean, dry clothes after the run felt great and definitely got you warm again but if you were planning on hanging out at the After Party it was an exercise in futility. You were going to get muddy all over again if you spent any time in the Spectator Area. The Entertainment selection wasn't bad. Sure you can't please everyone with a music selection but the MC running the show was friendly, engaging, and energetic at all times. He engaged the crowd and kept the mood upbeat even when it was pouring rain. He and the bands did a great job. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>The food and beer selection at the After Party was the best selection by far of any event I've every participated in. ShockTop was on Tap and so so yummy. They had 2lb Turkey Legs that were incredibly flavorful (even better than the ones at the Ga RenFest), and they had menu items for </span>Vegetarian<span style="font-size: 100%;"> and Vegan runners. This part totally surprised and impressed me. It's about time an event consider EVERY persons eating habits instead of just us </span>carnivores. Having a vegetarian option was a nice bonus for Jessica. The Veggie Burrito she got was damn tasty too. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Overall, for a first year event, I'm considering the <a href="http://www.runforyourlives.com/">Run For Your Lives</a> Zombie Run 5K a Success. I am hoping for a survey to be sent out so I can provide my feedback directly. In the mean time I'll just hope the organizers see this post and consider my feedback for next year and future events.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>TL:DR - Zombie Run was a really good, fun time and I'll definitely do it again next year. It's got room for improvement but what event doesn't?</span></div><div><span> </span></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-87320727938614268322012-02-12T11:12:00.000-08:002012-03-06T13:00:01.314-08:00Tough Mudder Georgia 2012<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 128px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDMnva49ysHud10GJtseqO81Y_cTm9NMCBZ_SXXb7NhA9H_3ADOy29iljng1p9ANnqCodJ0rjf9BbOxSqeQhz6J9jPEqYcCfO0Z7o2NPqiC1AlVLdgnymf5TCDu5qUohAaBvgL0caC1AG/s200/Tough+Mudder.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716865929195937250" /> "</span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; ">Tough Mudder events are hardcore 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, half a million inspiring participants, and more than $2 million dollars raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world."</span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">This year was my second time running in Tough Mudder and let me say, it was quite different from last year. Last year it was held in early March and for some reason they moved it up this year to early February. Of course we have been having an abnormally warm winter right up to the day before the event when temperatures plummeted and the wind decided to show up with a </span>vengeance. While it was warm when the Sun was out the wind pretty much negated that benefit. Add to that the water and ice we were tromping through and it made for a rather painfully cold day. The temps were in the low 40's but wind chill and being wet took the "feels like" temp down to the low 30's. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><b>THE PEOPLE: </b></span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Team Twinkle Pony represented but due to a vehicle breakdown started in 2 separate waves. I ran with Abel and Elizabeth who both have the patience of a saint. They stopped repeatedly along the course to wait for me to catch up again and again. Why? On the first obstacle "Devil's Gaps" I took a rough tumble and landed sideways on my left ankle twisting it badly. Those of you that know me know that me twisting an ankle is nothing new so I trudged on with just a slight limp once the pain subsided. It wasn't until later on before the end of Mile 2 that I twisted it again on a slippery patch of mud. This time I felt and could swear I heard the crunch. It was bloody painful beyond words. I stopped and just hung onto a tree to balance myself for a few min and then, slowly and with a more pronounced limp, kept going. Many fellow Mudders stopped to make sure I was OK and didn't need any assistance. That's one of the things I like about events like Tough Mudder. It's not about time or me first, it's about having fun and helping others complete the course when they need help. Some obstacles require teamwork while others can be done solo with just the encouragement of the Mudders around you. <span style="font-size: 100%;"> It's all just a massive group of people working together to get to the Finish. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b>THE LOCATION:</b></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">This year's event was at a much better venue than last year. For one, it wasn't a dry county so we could actually have Beer at the Finish. That part SUCKED last year. This year's venue was also much flatter than the mountainous terrain of last year. This made for a much faster trip through the course with less fatigue which was a real bonus. Some of the hills last year were meant to only be climbed with off road vehicles, running them on foot was a pain. While this year's location was flatter and appeared more spectator friendly it wasn't fully. The course spanned 2 open areas that had a large wooded zone between them that prevented spectators from getting from one zone to the other without a huge out and back again walking path. Because of this Jessica missed many opportunities to photograph us at the obstacles. There is a whole batch of obstacles where she lost us due to the long walk between zones. Luckily she found us again near the end because we really needed the supplies she and Logan were carrying for us.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><b>THE OBSTACLES:</b></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">This year had the usual repeat obstacles with the addition of a few new ones. Funky Monkey was there as was Hold Your Wood, Walk The Plank, Twinkle Toes, Boa Constrictor, Spiders Web, and the Berlin Walls (taller this year) but we had some new obstacles to conquer. Devil's Gaps, Arctic Enema, King of the Mountain, Trench Warfare, a second set of Boa Constrictor, Log Jammin, Electric Eel, Hanging Tough, Dong Dangler, and Everest were all new obstacles for Georgia this year. I liked some of the new obstacles and hated others. My hatred of them wasn't their difficulty, it was more the lack of thought put into them. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Electric Eel</b> was rather pointless to me, it wasn't muddy, it wasn't difficult, it was just a reason to wet us down and make us crawl through dangling electric fence wires. It was sadistic and nothing else. I won't miss this one if it disappears in the future.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Hanging Tough</b> was great in concept but poorly planned out. It had too few lanes to accomodate the flood of people coming through the event. When we arrived the Tough Mudder Staff had a guy on a bullhorn telling people it was a long (30min+) wait and it was OK to skip it. We did because waiting in the howling wind freezing for 30min would have pretty much knocked us out of the rest of the course due to our muscles seizing up. This event should have been much wider, with more lanes, and not as long across. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Dong Dangler</b> was about the lamest "obstacle" of the day. It was basically just a walk through waist deep water holding onto a rope. If it was meant to be crossed differently there were no signs or Staff around to explain it.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Trench Warfare</b> was just us crawling through a tunnel that twisted and turned a little bit, nothing difficult about it. No water, little mud, and not much effort required.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> </span></span></div><div></div><div><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Everest</b> looked awesome but if you didn't have people already on the top it was incredibly difficult if not impossible. The addition of a water trench right in front of it to muddy up the area didn't help either. I heard there were Staff at the top helping for a bit but I guess they go too cold because when we arrived there wasn't a soul on the top and nobody was having any luck getting up it. Hypothermia was beginning to set in at this point so we skipped this one.</span></div><div><span ><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span><b>Electroshock Therapy</b> is always the final obstacle and a terrifying yet thrilling obstacle to dash though. This year though, some genius decided to lengthen it and add rows of hay bales to hop over. Add to this the fact that it was set up in a heavy mud zone and you have many unnecessary injuries and shocks. I saw at least 2 or 3 guys run through, trip and get zapped only to land and get zapped again and again and again until spectators or some other runner pulled them out. The hay bales were a mistake and shouldn't have been added. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Other than these critiques of the new obstacles everything else was excellent Tough Mudder grade fun. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span ><b>THE FINISH and AFTER PARTY:</b></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Once we finished we discovered they had greatly improved the finish line support area from last year. We got Water, Juice, Fruit, Cliff Bar, our Shirt, an Emergency Blanket to wrap up in and then our much earned Beer. Last year we got a Cliff Bar, Water, and NO BEER. They had plenty of fire barrels all around the area to huddle around and warm up which helped but was no substitute for just getting into dry clothes and getting the heat cranked up in the car. We didn't hang out long at the after party but it seemed like others were enjoying it. The cold wind really impacted people's desire to stick around I think. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span >Most people wonder why I participate in such crazy events. To be honest I don't really have an answer besides It's Fun! It's something that I never thought I'd do and now I'm doing it annually in addition to doing copy-cat smaller events like <a href="http://www.warriordash.com">Warrior Dash</a>, <a href="http://www.runforyourlives.com">Zombie Run</a>, <a href="http://www.spartanrace.com/">Spartan Race</a>, etc... It's an opportunity to play in the mud again and just have a great time with family and friends. </span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Plus there is beer at the end. :)</span></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-13541124602114797692011-09-07T11:00:00.000-07:002011-09-11T19:07:02.419-07:00DragonCon 2011: A Review and ObservationsThe ultimate "come get your geek on" weekend has passed. DragonCon 2011 is over. Bags are being unpacked, Laundry is being done, and some are finally sobering up to wonder what exactly they did for 4 days. Pictures and Videos have begun to flood every known social media and photo sharing site and fans from all genres and walks of life begin to plan next years costumes and parties.<div><br />
</div><div>On to the review:</div><div><br />
</div><div>I was expecting this year's DragonCon to be much "bigger" than it was. Being the 25th year, you would think that more of an effort to make it huge would be present but outside of a fancy new DragonCon Logo with the 25th year part added the Con was just your typical DragonCon. Don't get me wrong, it was still awesome but there wasn't anything to really set it apart from every other DragonCon to date. You would have thought that with the increased price of Badges they would have at least thrown in a 25th Anniversary Lanyard or something. Those cost less than a buck in bulk and would have been a really cool treat to separate this one from the others. No such luck though. </div><div><br />
</div><div>The Guest list was a bit light on the "big" names front but there were a good many A-list names present. Just not as many as I'd expect. There were many new names on the list this year too. Celebs that have never Con'd before and some full Cast showing up to promote new seasons. It was great meeting them. There was just far too many cancellations this year for various reasons.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The Comics and Pop Art Alley area was nowhere near as full as last year despite a few artist being told they were full and not taking any more applications for artist tables. I also heard rumor of the table cost skyrocketing but have no facts or first hand information to back that up. Some of the Artist that were present seemed to bring their "B" game setup instead of their "A" game backdrops and displays. I found this to be rather weird and it made the room look sparse instead of the towering displays of awesome in years past. Display size aside, there was plenty of incredible art to be had. I'm running out of wall space for all the cool stuff I've acquired.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Security at this years Con was interesting to say the least . APD was all over the place due to a rumored threat that was posted on some message boards a few weeks prior to the Con. Extra security and more APD were in place in the Walk of Fame at the request of Eliza Dushku because it was her first DragonCon and she didn't know what to expect. Plus, she brought Rick Fox with her so they felt like they needed more Security. (WHY bring a sports star to a scifi/fantasy convention is beyond me though. The few times I went through the Walk of Fame he was lineless and just playing on his smartphone or talking to his handler)</div><div>The flip side to legitimate security concerns was the new policy of checking for badges and/or room keys to enter the Host Hotels at night. This makes perfect sense if it was just implemented properly. Sadly it was implemented poorly and turned into a royal clusterfuck of epic proportions. The reason for the new policy stems from events of DragonCon 2010 when a bunch of ignorant, drunk frat boy football fans decided that a skimpy costume gave them full license to harass, grope, lick, and corner Con attendees against their will. There were many instances of sexual harassment as well as borderline assault all centering around the drunk idiot football fans as the instigators.</div><div>I agree with the new policy but their implementation of it makes ZERO sense. Con "Security" personell were stationed at the Sky bridges between the 3 main Host Hotels and were checking for badges or room cards. This is all well and good but when you're NOT checking the Host Hotel perimeters it's pretty fucking pointless and does nothing but create unnecessary bottlenecks in areas that are already overburdened with crowds. To put "security" on the sky bridges and not at the doors of the Host Hotels is beyond stupid. It's not security at that point, its just the DragonCon staff being assholes because they can. If they had just secured the hotel perimeters then skybridge checks wouldn't be necessary.</div><div><br />
</div><div>All in all it was a great Con with just a few points of abject stupidity and planning but that is to be expected with any major convention. No event run by a power tripping committee can ever be fully successful and painless to the attendees.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Does any of this mean I won't go back? Oh Hell No! The ego, arrogance, and superiority complex of the DragonCon planners is well documented and known. Next year I'll just be a Con attendee instead of helping with an exhibit and I'll have more time to get my geek on. I might even be bringing Logan for his first DragonCon next year. We'll see.</div><div><br />
</div><div>357 days and counting.....</div><br />
<br />
UPDATE: I almost forgot one of the most annoying and stupid examples of DragonCon Staff doing shit just because they could. <br />
<br />
Peace Ties <br />
<br />
White or Clear zip ties around the handles of plastic guns. Plastic, non-functioning guns. You had to go to "Security" to get your guns "peace tied" for entry into certain areas. When I questioned them about this policy they said it was because APD wanted the guns "peace tied". I stopped and asked 3 separate APD Officers and they all said the same thing. It wasnt their policy. Georgia Law for realistic looking weapons is that the front 1/4" of the barrel must be bright orange. They said they have no policy or requirement for "peace ties" at DragonCon. They all said it was just DragonCon staff blaming them for a policy that they (DragonCon Staff) were choosing to implement. <br />
<br />
So you had to have your plastic, non-functioning replica guns "peace tied" but the guy behind you in line with the 8' REAL barb tipped spear could walk around without question (no shit, true story). Also unquestioned was my REAL M9 Bayonet on my belt, yet my plastic non-functioning P90 replica, that IF working could at most give you a really bad bruise, had to be "peace tied". <br />
<br />
The kicker though, "peace tying" a weapon does not mean "rendering inoperable". All the dumb shits did was wrap a white zip tie around the handle so what exactly is the fucking point of it?<br />
<br />
Just another example of egomaniacal DragonCon staff pushing stupid useless rules onto others simply because they could.Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-77693011774089209142011-08-24T09:30:00.000-07:002011-08-25T07:26:12.890-07:00DragonCon: A Beginners Guide and Checklist<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6UT9AC9Wu0xR7Kd5Tzucp0nGqQGz7aCQNMQWp-zd0efi6Xoy7QxITzZoze9ASni1yueMbB8nP9-OuoEdjcZ8bV6J3qMB_rUZmRbL2GREX4bxqQZ6J4YfFNkC5cRerhqie_w5NX3qqpmX/s1600/dragonconlogo.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6UT9AC9Wu0xR7Kd5Tzucp0nGqQGz7aCQNMQWp-zd0efi6Xoy7QxITzZoze9ASni1yueMbB8nP9-OuoEdjcZ8bV6J3qMB_rUZmRbL2GREX4bxqQZ6J4YfFNkC5cRerhqie_w5NX3qqpmX/s200/dragonconlogo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618122856488359026" border="0" /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Below is advice I've collected from many friends, blogs, and my experience at last year's Dragon*Con. Feel free to let me know if I missed something.</span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>
<br /></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>
<br /></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>
<br /></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>
<br /></strong></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Things to bring:</strong></span></p><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; "><li><strong>A Lanyard or some type of rope/necklace to hang your badge from</strong>. The badges only come with a clamp clip by default and those are easy to get knocked off. You lose your badge and you're toast and out another $100 for a new one.</li><li><strong>Backpack or Messenger Bag</strong> - You WILL find something you want to purchase</li><li><strong>Camera</strong> - Trust me, you'll need one</li><li><strong>Extra Camera batteries and memory cards</strong> - See #2</li><li><strong>Money</strong> - Walk of Fame Celeb autographs go from $20-$35 which includes the Glossy 8x10 photo you pick for them to sign</li><li><strong>Manila or Plastic Folders</strong> - to store autographed photos in while inside your Backpack</li><li><strong>8x10 photos of any celebs you REALLY want to meet in case you bump into them walking around</strong> - Most will sign something for free in that situation but be brief, quick, and try not to cause a scene. The last thing they want is a huge crowd pouncing on them when they were just taking a break from a panel or something. NOTE: It is not necessary to have these for people on the Walk of Fame, they'll have many to choose from and its included in the signing fee.</li><li><strong>Cellphone/iPhone/Laptop/Camera charger plugs</strong> - when you take a break to sit and People Watch you will want to use the time wisely and feed your devices. The last thing you want is to meet your favorite celeb for an impromptu photo op and have your device die on you. </li><li><strong>Costume</strong> - if you feel like it</li><li><strong>Bottled Water</strong> - The Con has water stations all around but plastic cups are sometimes AWOL (Thanks Stephen)</li></ol><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Things to do:</strong></span></p><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; "><li><strong>Art of Akira</strong> - One of the major displays this year is the Art of Akira exhibit redubbed the Golden Age of Anime - Come check out the largest collection of Akira animation cells in the world. The collector and leading expert on Akira, Joe Peacock, will be on various panels as well as presenting his exhibit to the masses. If you are a fan of Anime or just a fan of excruciatingly detailed animation, we're talking stuff hand painted with a single bristle brush, then you owe it to yourself to check out this exhibit. </li><li><strong>Panels Panels Panels</strong> - Once the schedule is posted (probably in a few days) you can check it for a Panel of your favorite show, celebrity, writer, or group. </li><li><strong>Gaming</strong> - There are groups that meet to play various different games from D&D to CCG to whatever strikes their fancy</li><li><strong>Book Signings</strong> - many authors will be present to sign their books for you. Some have copies for sale but you'd be better off planning ahead and taking a copy with you just to be sure.</li><li><strong>Meetups and Tweetups</strong> - If you're not on Twitter you're missing out on a valuable tool for knowing about gatherings and events that celebs decide to do at the last minute. Many of the Dragon*Con attendees or their followers are on Twitter and may post up something like "I'm hanging out at the Hilton Bar for the next 30minutes if anyone wants to come hang" Some Meetups are planned in advance and may require a fan club ticket or something so check the schedule and get on Twitter and get it on your phone so you can stay up to date.</li><li><strong>Parties</strong> - Some groups host parties for their user base. Some are private Invitation Only events and others are just open to whoever hears about them. There is always a party going on somewhere at Dragon*Con. Fark.com and Reddit.com are having a Party at 1p Saturday the 4th in the main lobby of the Hilton to the left of the Concierge Desk. Marian Call will be playing a set for us so definitely get this one on your TO DO list. </li><li><strong>Shop</strong> - The Dealer Room is FULL of both easy and hard to find props, shirts, comic books, art, clothing, and anything else you can imagine. If you are a collector this is your Graceland. If you are looking for a little something to put on your desk then you can find it here too. Some Dealers put their stuff on sale Monday so they have less to carry/ship home. Don't count on it but sometimes it happens. </li><li><strong>People Watch</strong> - you will do TONS of this whether you want to or not. You won't be able to help yourself. When you're taking a break just find a good seat and enjoy the show.</li></ol><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "> </p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>Where to hang out:</strong></span></p><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; "><li><strong>The Sheraton</strong> host many panels and events and is the main location for badge purchase and pick up so not a lot of hanging out goes on there.</li><li><strong>The Marriott Marquis</strong> is the main central point of Dragon*Con. On Friday and Saturday nights this is the place you want to be. It will get CRAZY crowded as the night wears on so if you plan on hanging out for a long time and you find a seat NEVER leave it unless someone holds it for you. Seats near a plug are GOLD and you should acquire them and guard them as best you can.</li><li><strong>The Hilton</strong> is where the Walk of Fame is. This is your autograph for a fee location. Lines are plainly marked on the floor with tape so stick to the line you are in so you don't get some fan boy frothing mad at you for cutting. The longer the line, the bigger the star. I found last year that at the beginning of his allotted time, Joe Flanigan's (Stargate Atlantis) Line was long, like out the door long so I skipped it. After making a few rounds and getting other autographs the line was down to 8-10 people and I got right in. Patience and Timing are key. </li><li><strong>The Hyatt</strong> is where you find the Artist Alley and Art sections. This is where your favorite webcomic artist, comic book artist, or artist in general will be set up. In the area outside the Artist Alley you will find many good photo ops of costumes and groups setup that do some serious cosplay. </li></ol><ul style="list-style-type: square; margin-top: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; "><li>NOTE: The Hyatt pulls out some draconian "fire hazard" rules and has goons walking around to get in the way and stop you from taking pictures in their Main Lobby in the evenings. If you happen to be going through their Main Lobby and see a good photo op, be incredibly fast or they goon squad will show up and pull their power trip on you. </li><li>NOTE: Panels and Events take place in all of the 4 major Host Hotels, the above list is just for general info of what else you'll find at each</li></ul><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; "><strong>What to Expect:</strong></span></p><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; "><li>A visual treat you won't ever forget.</li><li>Crowds - LOTS of crowds</li><li>Good ol Georgia Heat and Humidity if you venture outside</li><li>Costumes of all shapes, sizes, and topics. Some people get VERY creative with skills that rival Hollywood as well as people that spawn thoughts of OMGWTFBBQ MY EYES!!!!</li><li>Lines - the more famous or currently "hot or in trend" the celeb, the longer their line will be. Count on getting in line an hour (or hours) before a particular even if you want to be sure to get in. EX: if you want to hear an Adam Savage talk you better be in line 2-3 hours ahead of time. I went an hour ahead last year and the line was already wrapped around a full city block. Only 1/3 of those in line would actually fit in the auditorium so I had to skip it.</li><li>Meeting new and interesting people</li><li>If you are in costume people will want to take a picture of you. If you have a "squire" to take the picture for them so they can be in the photo it makes people happy. Squires also come in handy for holding said necessary gear. (Thanks Stephen)</li></ol><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; "><strong><span class="fbUnderline" style="text-decoration: underline; ">Cell/iPhone Battery Saving Tips:</span></strong></p><ol style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 25px; "><li><strong>Turn off WiFi</strong> - odds are you won't be in range anyway and if you are so are 20,000 other people</li><li><strong>Turn off Bluetooth</strong> - unless you're using it it's just a battery sucker </li><li><strong>Turn off 3G and use Edge</strong> - face it, the cell network is going to be HAMMERED during the con. 50,000 people in such a small area always saturates the cell network. You're not going to get 3G speeds anyway.</li><li><strong>Stick to text messages to stay in touch</strong> - repeatedly trying to make a call that doesn't connect just pushes your battery closer and closer to death with each attempt. Text messages are short burst and will often get through just fine even when the network is clogged or sluggish. They just queue up and send when they can.</li></ol><div><b>Avoiding ConCrud:</b></div><div>
<br /></div><div>You know what I'm talking about. You're in closed spaces with 50,000 other people, many with questionable personal hygiene habits or a complete lack there of. You're GOING to be exposed to someone else's germs that should have stayed home but Noooo, they toughed it out to avoid missing the Con and showed up with a raging fever and illness. A few days after the Con you start to feel the scratchy throat, followed by a headache or runny nose and then BOOM! ConCrud sets up residence in your body for a few days making you wish you could find the specific person that triggered it and flail them to death with their own severed limbs. If you could just get out of bed that is. </div><div><ol><li><b>Hand Sanitizer</b> - Face it, you'll be touching all sorts of handrails, doors, and elevator buttons that you have no clue what might be on from a previous touch. Use it regularly.</li><li><b>Multivitamins/Vitamin C/Zinc</b> - whatever your preference, dose up on your preventative medication of choice starting a week before the Con so you have a good base built up and maintain that regimen throughout the Con.</li><li><b>HYDRATE!!!!</b> - As mentioned many times above. STAY HYDRATED! It helps your body flush out all that unwashed geek germy crud thats floating around.</li><li><b>Take regular showers</b> - wash off all the germs as often as you can. If you're heading back to the room to drop off some Art or a purchase or just changing costumes, take a quick shower and rinse off the funk. (<i>I know, this isn't an alien concept to most people but after going to a few Cons you too will realize its never advice that is followed by all</i>)</li></ol></div><p></p>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-61733448426576277902011-05-31T20:03:00.000-07:002011-05-31T20:13:16.386-07:00Inspiration never comes when you're readyI think I've mentioned this before but it bears repeating. Things to write about never seem to come to me when I have the actual opportunity to jot them down. I'm always in the car driving, out on a run, hiking, or just sitting somewhere with nothing to write with. I absolutely loathe hand writing stuff. My thoughts go faster than my hand can write and it just pisses me off which then sparks another train of thought and derails the first. Now take that and amplify it by 1000 because typing on an iPhone is worse when you're trying to get a lot of info out at once. I guess I need to power through those moments and get better at jotting stuff down or at least making notes to follow up on later. <div><br /></div><div>A friend of mine keeps saying the best way to get started at something is to just start it. I need to start listening to him more. Despite some of his self observations to the contrary, he's actually pretty wise at times. I should listen to him more often. </div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-33250445324249790192011-04-03T11:52:00.000-07:002011-04-03T12:17:38.824-07:00218 and still more to go...The first quarter of 2011 is already behind us and I'm rather proud of what I've accomplished so far on my personal quest to get fit and hopefully stick around on this planet as long as possible. On Jan 1, 2011 I weighed in at 252. Before that I think my highest was 258 sometime in early 2010 (before the Half Marathon training began). On April 1st,2 2011 I weighed in at 218.2. I personal best (so far) and a weight I've not seen in 15 years or more. A few people have asked me what I'm doing for my weight loss. My answer? Nothing special really. Just five things:<div><br /></div><div><ol><li> I'm using the <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/iphone-calorie-tracker/">Livestrong App on my iPhone and iPad</a> to keep a daily record of what I shove into my mouth. You'd be surprised how fast stuff adds up when you document it. It really makes you stop and think. </li><li>Realizing that food <b><i>package</i></b> size does not equal <b><i>serving</i></b> size. This is where I believe America's problem lies. We are constantly presented with "snacks" that are packaged in what is assumed to be a "serving" never thinking that it could be more than one. In truth all food labels show the nutritional information for just one serving which misleads people into thinking the "snack" they are consuming is not as bad as it really is. I believe that all snack type items should be made to be in single serving packaging but in today's age that'll never happen. People want bang for their buck and a tiny package of 15-18 chips doesn't look anywhere near as good as the typical "snack" bag we are sold today. Usually containing 2 or 3 servings per bag. </li><li>For items not packaged for individual "snack"size consumption I've taken the same approach. I pour myself a <b><i>cup</i></b> of milk instead of a <b>glass</b> of milk. A <b><i>cup</i></b> of cereal instead of a <b>bowl</b> of cereal. I was surprised at how much a true serving of cereal was. For years I've been presented with full heaping bowls of cereal in TV commercials and on the front of the cereal boxes. All of those images are bullshit. They are showing you 2-3 servings minimum either deliberately or through manipulated perception by using smaller bowls/cups/utensils. Cutting back to actual servings works wonders.</li><li>Getting off my ass. Sounds simple enough right. That's because it IS. Some people, myself included, need a motivator to get off their ass. I use money. I have been keeping my schedule full of races that require non-refundable fees and getting them registered and paid for so I have money to lose if I don't get off my ass and train to make those events. Money is a great motivator in this respect. Try it, it works. For training, find a local run group, hashing group, bike group, etc... When you have a group event to routinely do every week it helps get you going because you have people you want to see and that are looking forward to seeing you.</li><li>Drinking more water, less sodas and sugary stuff. Yup, here's another simple one. It's as simple as it sounds. I'm not a soda guy. Never have been really. I'm a sweet tea guy. So instead of sweet tea, I now order unsweet. If no unsweet is available I order water. </li></ol></div><div>This is about all I've done to alter my habits in the past 3 months and so far its working. I've still got many miles (and pounds) to go and I'm not giving up.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-12386954506214214262011-03-31T15:01:00.000-07:002011-03-31T15:25:51.369-07:00You don't sound like you're from hereI hear that phrase a lot. People I've known for years are shocked to find out I'm a native southerner and grew up in Athens. To that I say, Mission Accomplished. I don't have a "southern" accent and have made it a point not to. What I do have is a subconscious habit of adopting the accent/dialect of the person or people I'm talking to and dealing with at the time. It just happens and most of the time I don't even realize I'm doing it. It served me well when I was working in Golden Pantry (convenience store) since the spectrum of clientele was very diverse. How a customer responded to you is often kick started by how you sound to them when you greet them as they enter the store. It worked out pretty well. <div><br /></div><div>This thought and post came to me as I was commenting on a friends Facebook photo of his girls and he on a lake in their canoe. I made a "quest for the White Whale" joke and then remembered a situation in High School where accent played a key role in a situation. I was on Academic Team (yup, was a geek then and still am except now it pays the bills) and competing in a meet one evening. The teacher reading the questions for our meet was a native southerner and I'd never noticed the accent before until she got to a question for me. The question was something along the lines of "What literary story revolves around a white well?". I had never heard of a story focused on a well much less a white one so I asked her to repeat the question. She read it again and put some emphasis on the word WELL. She probably shouldn't have but she did. She had a look on her face like I should know this and was shocked that I didn't. I asked for a repeat of the question again and once again she said the same thing. What literary story revolves around a white WELL? After my time expired and the question deemed unanswered, therefore wrong, I was told by others who had been twitching in their seats that the word was WHALE. She butchered the pronunciation of WHALE so bad that to me, and many others, it came out WELL and caused me to miss an easy question. During the repeatings I even repeated the question back to her as I heard it and she didn't catch that I wasn't interpreting her correctly. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's just one of the reasons I don't have a southern accent. There are others but that is one of the biggest that still hangs about the ol noggin randomly popping up when I least expect it.</div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-66265637016887543272011-03-15T08:50:00.001-07:002011-03-15T13:29:12.266-07:00I'm a Tough Mudder<center><div style="width: 155px;text-align:center;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans;font-size:12px;"><br /><iframe src="http://basno.com/pgsvhzsd/embed" style="padding: 0px; margin:0px; border: 0px none; width:155px; height:180px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 5px;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></center><br />This past weekend I participated in the Tough Mudder. A 14.1mi adventure race/obstacle course at Highland Park in Cedartown Ga. This was, quite possibly, the most difficult race/run I've ever done and the most difficult Tough Mudder they've ever held. Originally listed at 10mi, it changed to 11mi the week before the race. We arrived to discover that one of the 2 Mystery obstacles was an additional 3.1 miles and a second trip through the middle course track and obstacles. Yay! This made the Georgia Tough Mudder a Half Marathon plus 1mi. Ouch!<br /><br />From www.toughmudder.com:<br /><br />"Tough Mudder is not your average lame-ass mud run or spirit-crushing ‘endurance’ road race. It’s Ironman meets Burning Man, and it is coming to a location near you. Our 10-12 mile obstacle courses are designed by British Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie. Forget finish times. Simply completing a Tough Mudder is a badge of honor. All Tough Mudder sponsorship proceeds go to the Wounded Warrior Project.<br /><br />WARNING: Tough Mudder is 3-4 times longer and MUCH TOUGHER than a typical mud run such as Warrior Dash. Only 78% of participants at Tri-State 2010 finished. Only those in strong physical condition should enter."<br /><br />They are NOT kidding. This race made me push harder and farther than I ever though I'd ever go. I had a great team of friends with me, Team Twinkle Pony! Don't let the name fool you. We sign up for insane shit and finish it! Together we conquered every obstacle, climbed every hill, trudged or crawled through every mud bog and pit, scaled every wall and we all finished it.<br /><br />One thingthat had that helped us more than anything was our support crew. Twinkle Ponies that, due to illness or guardian duties, could not compete. Joe, Jessica, and Merril were our saviors. They met us at key points in the race with Gatorade, Protein Bars, GU Gels, and words/cheers of encouragement. Without all of these we would never have made it. Despite carb-o-loading and fueling up before the race we were all empty and starving long before each time we met up with our support crew. They really made the difference in addition to photo-documenting our adventure.<br /><br />Pictures of Team Twinkle Pony at the Tough Mudder can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnrhill/sets/72157626138454083/">HERE</a><div><br /></div><div>Next up for myself and some members of Team Twinkle Pony: <a href="http://warriordash.com/register2011_georgia.php">Warrior Dash!</a><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><br /><br /></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-47110942426847726302011-02-07T05:48:00.000-08:002011-02-07T06:03:41.847-08:00What do you fuel up with?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYypVSro_C_QLVaXwzKAfDSDaI-icVuCKfTfhJh4kBYHjyXXD10guaEj6402Y1zhiSKRpWyYGVn6KOQkN20lHcFnnBQJ-NSvYwWt_7k1E-K5j8gUhzRfgzVVhxd53E06Z560RUQt6xP-uN/s1600/Chocolate+Outrage.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 111px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYypVSro_C_QLVaXwzKAfDSDaI-icVuCKfTfhJh4kBYHjyXXD10guaEj6402Y1zhiSKRpWyYGVn6KOQkN20lHcFnnBQJ-NSvYwWt_7k1E-K5j8gUhzRfgzVVhxd53E06Z560RUQt6xP-uN/s200/Chocolate+Outrage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570948028396157682" /></a><br />In training for the various things I'm hoping to accomplish this year I've started using energy gels and gummies to give me the extra fuel I need for the workouts. A friend of mine is doing a giveaway on his blog <a href="http://blog.262quest.com/2011/02/i-am-running-with-gu-do-you-want-to.html">26.2 Quest for a sampler pack of GU Energy Gels</a>. I've tried the GU as well as other energy gels and GU is so far the best of the bunch. They're like eating something that is the consistency of cake icing and depending on your taste buds they taste about the same as (whatever flavor you're eating) icing. They definitely help keep you moving and are small enough to keep an extra in your pocket or in your belt back for another dose on a long run. When we do a long run around Stone Mountain I share one with Logan when he starts to get cranky and it definitely helps quash his grumpy mood which is usually induced by a lack of energy and fuel. (He rides alongside of me on his scooter while I run.) If I didn't share a GU with him he'd finish the grumpy evolution into a full fledged melt down. Dead rising from the graves.....Dogs and Cats living together.....MASS HYSTERIA...... Ok, maybe not that bad but you get the picture. A grumpy 9 yr old is not something you want to let fester for long. One shot of GU and his inner energy reserves are replenished for the rest of the long run. Well, long run for me, long scooter ride for him :)<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span> <div><br /></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-65612816782335223232011-01-17T09:19:00.000-08:002011-01-17T11:21:53.678-08:00Still alive...We've been snowed in for the past week which has put a dent in my training but school starts back up tomorrow and the house will once again be mine for some personal time to train. I've kept up with my workouts as best I could and have been routinely hitting the treadmill even though I hate it. For running I need to be outside and actually covering ground to feel like I'm accomplishing anything. Plus, when I'm out running and getting further and further around the pond/path/mountain or whatever I MUST keep running in order to get back and get home. On a treadmill I don't have that additional drive and motivation to keep going since I can just stop and hop off. At this stage of my life and fitness I'm self aware enough to acknowledge that I require that motivation to help me force myself to keep going.<div><br /></div><div>Diet is going well so far. The Livestrong App on the iPhone and iPad is really helping me keep track of what I shove down my gullet. I rarely go over my allowed calories and at last weigh in had lost over 5 pounds so something is working :) I want to lose another 20-30 pounds overall but I know that won't happen by the time the Princess gets here or Tough Mudder. We'll see though.</div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-11944686171598223352011-01-04T11:21:00.000-08:002011-01-04T18:18:48.794-08:00And I thought the Fit Test was bad.....Ugh...<div><br /></div><div>Ouch......</div><div><br /></div><div>Ow....</div><div><br /></div><div>Day 2 of Insanity! (Plyometric Cardio Circuit) completed and I'm wondering what the frak I was thinking. I did it, but man it hurt. I took a few small breather breaks here and there but kept up as best I could. I can already feel the burning muscles in places I've never felt before so it appears to be working. </div><div><br /></div><div>I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh wait, yes I can.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-88334295188954778972011-01-03T10:56:00.000-08:002011-01-04T11:20:35.455-08:00I went a little bit Insane today.Some friends and I have decided to run the <a href="http://www.toughmudder.com">Tough Mudder</a> and <a href="http://www.warriordash.com">Warrior Dash</a>. Both are muddy nasty trail runs with obstacles every so often. The Tough Mudder is 10mi and the Warrior Dash is 3.1mi. Naturally, with Murphy's Law being around, the shorter event is the 2nd one and not the first one that comes up. No matter which comes first I've got to get in shape. To work on that, today I started the Insanity! program. Insanity! is an intense cardio exercise program that is aptly named. The Fit Test consist of 8 base exercises that you do and count your reps. The Fit Test is repeated every 2 weeks to track your improvement. I'm a bit nervous about the rest of the program because the Fit Test kicked my ass. <div><br /></div><div>Here are my counts for the exercises:</div><div><ul><li>Switch Kicks : 43</li><li>Power Jacks : 26</li><li>Power Knee : 60</li><li>Power Jumps : 15</li><li>Globe Jumps : 3</li><li>Suicide Jumps : 6</li><li>Push-Up Jacks : 6</li><li>Low Plank Oblique : 30</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Based on the people doing the exercises in the video I did so-so to incredibly shitty depending on the exercise. Granted, the people in the video are actually in shape and have been working on the Insanity! program longer than me so I have no delusions that I should be up to their level. Its going to be tough to make myself do this but I'm motivated and sticking to a good diet so I might not like it but I'm going to do it. :) </div><div><br /></div><div>I guess we'll see what my numbers look like in 2 weeks. </div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-87387395881770365892010-12-08T10:15:00.001-08:002010-12-12T19:47:52.474-08:00Have you checked in?Like all things, Social Media is evolving. <div><br /></div><div>At first you just posted to Twitter or Facebook that you "just got to Target" or "finally hitting Starbucks for some much needed coffee". Then Twitter added features to allow you to post your location along with your tweet but you still had to tweet where you were. The location feature just posted a link to the map coordinates of where you were. This created a gap in the Social Media landscape that Location Based Check-In services evolved to fill. <a href="http://www.gowalla.com">Gowalla</a>, <a href="http://foursquare.com">Foursquare</a>, <a href="http://loopt.com">Loopt</a>, <a href="http://yelp.com">Yelp</a>, and now <a href="http://www.facebook.com/places/">Facebook Places</a> are examples of this Social Media evolution. Each has its own unique take on the Check-In process but all are generally the same at a base level. Opening each app begins the location portion of the service and you are then presented with a list of Businesses, Venues, Restaurants, etc... that you can Check-In to if you are close enough. Each app has a form reward system for being the person to check in the most at a particular location. <div><ul><li>Gowalla has a general Leader Board for each location but focuses more on random virtual goods that you "find" by checking in. You can collect these or drop them at locations to become a "Founder" (for the first few to check in) or swap items to find rare ones that you don't have in your collection. Gowalla tracks your achievements thought Stamps in your Passport for things like posting pictures, achieving a certain number of check ins, and unique stamps for each State you check in to. </li><li>Foursquare awards "Mayorship" of a location if you're the one to check in the most number of times in a particular period. You also earn Badges for certain goals similar to Gowalla's Stamps. </li><li>Yelp is more of a Review site but recently added Check-In ability and awards titles of Duke or Duchess for those that check in the most at a location.</li></ul><div>I don't use Loopt or Facebook Places frequently enough to know what their reward system is like but so far I've not heard of one for either.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Since Yelp is already established as a general review site/app, Gowalla and Foursquare are the leaders currently duking it out for supremacy in the Location Based Social Media game. Foursquare is rapidly being embraced by the Business Community with deals, discounts, and specials offered to the Mayor of a location or simply for checking in. Gowalla recently entered into a deal with Disney and will award you unique Stamps/Buttons for check ins to each of the Disney Attractions. Gowalla also has a feature to allow users to post travels that people can recreate by following your check ins. (sort of a "follow me" tour of an area). This feature was also part of the Disney deal. </div><div><br /></div><div>I see neither service rushing out to be an overall leader. Instead I see each becoming a leader in their own arena. Foursquare is looking to be the leader in the Business end of things while Gowalla is looking to become the leader in the Recreation arena. The Disney deal gives Gowalla a strong lead on that front and other parks and venues will probably follow suit. Add to that the fact that the new Gowalla v3.0 iPhone app now uses the Facebook and Foursquare API to allow you to use one App and check in to all 3 services as well as post updates to Twitter. That fact might help push Gowalla into the lead a little bit since nobody wants to use 3-5 different apps just to get all your check ins done. I like the new Gowalla v3 app and use it as my main one for check-ins. One App to rule them all as some would say :)</div></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-28310988432483949842010-12-06T10:03:00.000-08:002010-12-06T10:51:48.292-08:00iPad = Star Trek Geek's Ultimate Toy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVdAidp5Fi7UcryXNU753nk4rdrUrwNJ1k3S455ncU-MhVTTViDh9zxm_EmtUTaAmkoyacM9xfEZXlanRJcTzw2e5n45ktMX8P0SfjFa96fyWxyMeOkwN9tvAfAbvmLZppOD1kRUSMNWI/s1600/LCARS.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVdAidp5Fi7UcryXNU753nk4rdrUrwNJ1k3S455ncU-MhVTTViDh9zxm_EmtUTaAmkoyacM9xfEZXlanRJcTzw2e5n45ktMX8P0SfjFa96fyWxyMeOkwN9tvAfAbvmLZppOD1kRUSMNWI/s200/LCARS.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547638287001748386" /></a>The iPad is quite possibly the coolest Geek Gadget I've ever owned (so far). Its exactly what Gene Roddenberry foresaw as one of the futures of mobile computing when he created Star Trek. A thin, portable, powerful, touch screen interface to access the worlds information. Kudos to Apple for making his dream a reality. <div><br /></div><div>Of course it was only a matter of time until someone took the Star Trek LCARs interface and wrote an app to literally turn your iPad into a Star Trek PADD. The most interactive and useful one I've found so far is called <a href="http://lcarsreader.com/">LCARS Internet Media Reader</a> by the guys at Krueger Systems [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lcars-internet-media-reader/id366238562?mt=8">iTunes Link</a>] ($4.99 USD). Its mainly a Reader app for now without the ability to post but updates are hopefully in the works once they get some annoying legal issues worked out with the Studios. </div><div><br /></div><div>A few other LCARS related apps that I've found and like are:</div><div><ul><li><a href="http://www.cedesoft.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ID=15">LCARS Clock</a> by Cedesoft [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lcars-clock/id379909486?mt=8">iTunes Link</a>] ($0.99 USD)</li><li><a href="http://www.cedesoft.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ID=16">LCARS Calculator</a> by Cedesoft [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lcars-calculator/id394940288?mt=8">iTunes Link</a>] ($1.99 USD)</li><li><a href="http://www.parkbenchsoftware.com/iphone/diagnosticpadd/">DiagnosticPADD</a> by Park Bench Software [<a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/diagnosticpadd/id290895150?mt=8">iTunes Link</a>] ($0.99 USD)</li></ul>I am ever hopeful that Paramount will get their head out of their collective asses and put a Dev Team on LCARS Application Development. They are missing out on a Metric Ass Load of revenue from the Star Trek Fan Community. The above apps are rather inexpensive and focused on a single or short list of features. The money is in the Official, Licensed versions that would be feature rich and supported rather than independent apps that could disappear via C&D order from the studios any day now. </div><div><br /></div><div>Come on Paramount! Where are the Official apps? You have no problem having <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?entry_id=60618">Captian's Log yanked from the App Store</a> yet you haven't given the fans what they are obviously willing to PAY for. </div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-56029804788463075042010-12-03T10:24:00.000-08:002010-12-03T12:19:11.866-08:00Seriously? WTF Denver?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV4HDiSYZD9iK7o6gTv1Mz8QFrRNdjy2Y_6rI7DDHkHrowEI9N-0qA7zfQG65rHM4-XIc4Xb615F3wxpOmUm78-sOwcsAkXjongTU_qZhewfDcVMM_BYKCZKlqoT7h_oyFrD043nEAbH4/s1600/OMG-BOMB.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGV4HDiSYZD9iK7o6gTv1Mz8QFrRNdjy2Y_6rI7DDHkHrowEI9N-0qA7zfQG65rHM4-XIc4Xb615F3wxpOmUm78-sOwcsAkXjongTU_qZhewfDcVMM_BYKCZKlqoT7h_oyFrD043nEAbH4/s200/OMG-BOMB.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546528205815587602" /></a>Face it. The terrorist have won. <div><br /></div><div>The whole point of terrorism is to strike fear and discontent into your enemy disrupting their everyday life. To cause them unrest through acts of violence that lead them to constantly expect another one to occur. To breed paranoia into their daily life and make them eventually self destruct. Like <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16752786">this event</a> the other day in Denver. Someone mounted a TOY robot to a pilar around Coors Field. Nobody knows why the toy was cemented in place but some mental giant sees it and immediately thinks BOMB!!! It never occurs to them to look at it and see its a FRAKIN TOY ROBOT. They simply panic and alert the Bomb Squad. This leads to fear and panic plus hours of traffic jams. All for a TOY ROBOT. Someone was so caught up in all the Right Wing media Fear and Suspicion propaganda that they saw this TOY ROBOT as a threat. This person was so blinded to common sense that all they could see was a potential bomb. <div><br /></div><div>Here is the kicker. We'll never know who the "concerned citizen" was that caused all this needless waste of tax money and police time. Since it turned out to be "a whole lot of nothing" the idiot that called it in will scurry away and hide from the limelight and reporters. </div><div>If this had actually turned into some form of bomb or threat that same person would be front and center with every reporter and TV camera crew they could find so they could tell the world how they spotted the threat. He/She would end up on Talk Shows and Radio Programs to tell what they saw and how they reacted to save people. Hell, Hollywood would make a frakin movie of the week around the entire event. All of which is total bullshit. Spotting a threat and making a phone call does not a Hero make. People that call in bogus threats like this need to be named and opened to the ridicule that they deserve. He/She pushed their fear and paranoia onto the public causing disruption and panic for no legitimate reason. They saw a boogieman in the shadows and wanted to make sure everyone else saw it too.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's shit like this that prove the terrorist have already won. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-39306734830927354602010-10-15T12:31:00.000-07:002010-10-15T13:37:22.909-07:00How many outsourced folks does it take to screw up a new laptop?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2IoukXRA_Ecd_Njhg_30EjugcHSidGXg7zMJeAAb9wKG9uDg4H8pB_mhG7RTdJIP-6hpKzPU5lko4bZrFN8j5MJQZeHCaNbNDKKsxmq-drWhyphenhyphenhrAqWKGIu9ekT-rTEo496eFWfsdto_p/s1600/thestupiditburns.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 176px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2IoukXRA_Ecd_Njhg_30EjugcHSidGXg7zMJeAAb9wKG9uDg4H8pB_mhG7RTdJIP-6hpKzPU5lko4bZrFN8j5MJQZeHCaNbNDKKsxmq-drWhyphenhyphenhrAqWKGIu9ekT-rTEo496eFWfsdto_p/s200/thestupiditburns.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528358909568067922" /></a><br />I got a new Laptop for work this past Wednesday. Since I am a full time remote-worker I had a former boss bring it home from the office and I picked it up from him. I got it home and tried the VPN connection and it stalled out about 3/4 of the way through the process. I retried many times to no avail so i opened a trouble ticket with our help desk since it was after 9p and nobody was online. <div><br /></div><div>That was probably my first mistake. </div><div><br /></div><div>Around lunchtime the next day I decided to call about my ticket since I'd not heard anything on it. I went through the normal Level 1 troubleshooting chit chat and explained the problem. Since the laptop was new and I'd never logged into it before I had no cached credentials to get logged in with; and since the VPN wouldn't connect I couldn't get logged in to cache them. Catch-22. The Level 1 person finally got someone from the VPN Client team on and they determined it was a corrupted VPN Client and I needed to reinstall the client, which I couldn't do since I had no way to login. Level 1 guy told me I had to go into the office and get on the LAN so they could remote to my machine and fix it. Ok, no problem. Annoying, but no problem. </div><div><br /></div><div>I drive in to the office today and give the Level 1 crew a call back. [+1 outsource person] Despite having all the notes in the ticket I still had to rehash everything that had happened before. Then he wanted to go through yet more troubleshooting to get right back to the same point. He needed to reinstall the client. 45min wasted to get back to this point. He then proceeds to attempt an uninstall then a reinstall of the client which tells him it can't because its already installed. Then he goes out to softpedia.com and pulls down some third party Windows Installer Fixer app to try and force windows to remove the old client entries. When he finally gets that done he then tries to put an old version of the client on my laptop. Not one or two revisions, 8 revisions back OLD. He stops when I point this out and gets the appropriate client files but is still unable to get it installed. He is stumped and reaches out to his supervisor [+1 outsourced person] He messes around with the machine for a bit longer and determines I need a local tech to come take a look and fix it. I explain to him I had until 1pm to get this fixed and he needed to escalate the ticket as necessary to get an immediate response. Another 45min wasted. </div><div><br /></div><div>After waiting for 30min for someone to show up at my desk I called back to ask WTF was up. I was under a time crunch and they were pissing away my time. I get routed, finally, to a Level 2 person [+1 outsourced person] who then goes to a completely different site to get the VPN files and proceeds to install it. Everything seems ok when the install rolls itself back when she got disconnected from my machine. She tells me thats normal and means the install worked if she got kicked off. I explain to her that I watched the installer roll back the installation and then delete the icon from the desktop. After the 3rd time explaining it she finally gets it. /sigh just kill me. She re-remotes to my machine and gets a good install of the client to run and tells me its all done and to try it when I get home. Yeah riiiight. I'm going to drive all the way home to test this. I don't think so.</div><div><br /></div><div>I go to the Lab and jump on one of our test DSL lines and fire up the laptop. It acts funky and won't let me select Remote Logon so I select Local and log in. The VPN Client then does some self configuration and pops an error about not having permissions to modify the Winlogon process. Oh boy. Not good. I ping the Level 2 lady and she says to click through it and I'll be fine. Ok, she's level 2 and should know what she's talking about. (Wrong again!) I click thru and it says to reboot so I let it reboot. </div><div><br /></div><div>BLAM!!! Blue Screen of Death!! Reboot, Blue Screen of Death, Reboot, Blue Screen of Death, Re....well, you get the picture by now. </div><div><br /></div><div>The botched install and apparent failure of the client to successfully modify the winlogon process has thrown me into a blue screen death spiral reboot loop. </div><div><br /></div><div>Safe Mode? Nope, no good since I didn't have a local logon</div><div>Safe Mode with Networking? Nope, Bluescreened as soon as it tried to load Winlogon</div><div>Last Known Good? Nope, Bluescreened as soon as it tried to load Winlogon</div><div><br /></div><div>I was toast and the proud owner of a brand new, shiny, HP boat anchor. </div><div><br /></div><div>I tell her that I need a reimage IMMEDIATELY and to escalate the ticket however she needed to in order to get someone down to me ASAFP! She initates that process and I head back to my desk. I arrive to find no Voicemails or calls but then get an email saying they tried to reach me and would be closing the ticket in 24hours if I didn't contact them back. WTF?!?!? </div><div><br /></div><div>I had had it. My time was almost out and I had wasted an entire day fraking with these outsourced, lowest bidder imbeciles who couldn't click their way to google without a detailed script and nice pretty pictures to show them how. I called the number only to get a Level 1 person who wanted to do all the troubleshooting over again. I explained that the machine was in a reboot loop and he was wasting time. After arguing with him for 20min I finally demanded he get someone down to reimage my machine as I would not perform any further (and useless) troubleshooting. He then takes another 15min to put in the Work Order to do what I asked them to do 2 hours ago. He said someone would contact me within 2hours to discuss the repair and I got the number from him and hung up. </div><div><br /></div><div>Taking the Work Order number with me I went up a few floors where the Techs sit and gambled that someone would be up there and able to help me skip the outsourced HELL that is the Help Desk. Arriving on their floor I discovered what I knew but didn't try earlier. The lady that set up my machine the first time was there and had time to get right on the work order. She still has the laptop but is re-imaging it and I'll pick it up on Monday. </div><div><br /></div><div>Lesson Learned: FRAK THE HELPDESK. Reach out and ping people directly skipping the morons in India. You'll save HOURS of time and actually get something done.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and the answer to the question? 4 </div><div>it takes 4 outsourced folks in India to take a functional laptop with one minor issue and turn it into a blue screening worthless boat anchor over the course of 4 hours. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'll smurf a cactus before I ever call the help desk again. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-77148052073801638542010-10-06T12:13:00.000-07:002010-10-12T18:46:03.091-07:0013.1 - My First Half-Marathon!<meta charset="utf-8">We did it! Jessica and I completed our first Half Marathon. The <a href="http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/rundisney/wine-and-dine-half-marathon/">Disney Inaugural Wine and Dine Half Marathon</a> in Orlando Florida. Jessica did great. She finished in 2:45:17. I finished but didn't do so well. My right knee blew out with a flair up of IT Band Syndrome just after the 10K mark. Up until that moment, I was running at a pace to finish around 2:58. Instead, I had to painfully walk the last half of the race and finished in 3:20 collapsing into a wheelchair with the help of the wonderful volunteers. I was wheeled away to the med tent to see the Ortho. She iced down my knee and wrapped it up. Jessica and I then got our medals and took a slow walk through epcot to head back to the hotel. <div>
<br /></div><div>Despite the knee problem, I had a great time and definitely plan on doing the Wine and Dine again. Its a night marathon and <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/fl/kissimmee/390128608409566090">running through Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and around the Boardwalk to finish in Epcot</a> was an incredible experience. </div><div>
<br /></div><div>Next year though, we're taking Logan with us and doing the Royal Family 5K Saturday Morning before the Half Marathon. </div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-81804049437761919212010-09-06T22:07:00.000-07:002010-10-06T21:09:59.338-07:00DragonCon 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVESKoe0btkudOfyh9l7bUnqZyBKi74WuGjjMR0e6q8A4R_504DSsq6RmZsT6_lUIyPPTL_WtZqiOrPw7OsaN5Tt_Ie1cdqS6qFHGuaP97tA9TZri4hYkhC4xrIfqqxd8ZsKVUvWYpa5Ds/s1600/dragoncon_logo.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 142px; height: 127px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVESKoe0btkudOfyh9l7bUnqZyBKi74WuGjjMR0e6q8A4R_504DSsq6RmZsT6_lUIyPPTL_WtZqiOrPw7OsaN5Tt_Ie1cdqS6qFHGuaP97tA9TZri4hYkhC4xrIfqqxd8ZsKVUvWYpa5Ds/s200/dragoncon_logo.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525137356623643250" /></a>After spending many hours in the car going back and forth from DragonCon to my house every evening, I decided this year to get a room at the Con. BEST decision I ever made. <div><br /></div><div>Why?</div><div><br />Because this year's <a href="http://dragoncon.org/">DragonCon</a> was HUGE for me:<div><div><ol><li>I got to help with my friend <a href="http://joethepeacock.com/">Joe Peacock's</a> <a href="http://www.artofakira.com/">Art of Akira</a> Exhibit</li><li>I got to meet <a href="http://www.mariancall.com/">Marian Call</a> in person and arranged for her to play the <a href="http://www.fark.com/">Fark</a> Party (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOnlyE1yy7o">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOnlyE1yy7o</a>) </li><li>I hung out with Colin Ferguson and Neil Grayston from <a href="http://syfy.com/eureka">Eureka</a> at the Wolf Pack Party</li><li>I wore my first costume (Stargate SG-1 off world uniform w/ vest and weapons)</li><li>I got to meet many Stargate Celebrities and show them my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnrhill/sets/72157622356675637/">Stargate Turtle Tattoo</a>, overall reception was really good, they loved it. (Ben Browder, Michael Shanks, Lexa Doig, Jewel Staite, Jason Momoa, Alaina Huffman, Paul McGillion, and Corin Nemic)</li><li>I had a wonderful and long chat with <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4973612616_d9487e001a.jpg">Alaina Huffman from Stargate Universe</a> (she was beyond cool!)</li><li>My explanation of the Stargate Turtle Tattoo to Alaina Huffman made it into the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2010/09/06/natpkg.dragoncon.behind.scenes.cnn">CNN Celebs at DragonCon Video</a> (Thanks @alainahuffman for sharing that link with me)<br /></li><li>I met <a href="http://twitter.com/EddieMcClintock">@EddieMcClintock</a> (Pete) and <a href="http://twitter.com/saulrubinek">@SaulRubinek</a> (Artie) from <a href="http://www.syfy.com/warehouse13/">Warehouse13</a> and got them to sign the Farnsworth Prop Replica I got from <a href="http://www.qmxonline.com/">QMX</a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7y0qQbKLH6oLEsieXb44vgxfQkwnW6yhY2lW6dxxD3uX-naRffINaD5SKfCCBRMNqZhXBNfKHXmwln2ZeUYsDBYNReYYZlkbFE2wI3sdBAX1WQmlHdUvr-8GqNbBPahAfwecNgCerWSN/s200/Farnsworth_signed.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525144083035550402" /></li><li style="text-align: left;">I got a <a href="http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Zat'nik'tel">Zat'nik'tel</a> prop for my Stargate SG-1 off-world costume<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZPXDPMbdGxt1Jp1SWPr17Klxuyal90eliIWYy24-h-qgCksUrbXMMSmh3iEteHepOSurXaENEl7ZfIddZP1a-3wwuXrR4gX7AAJdVIEEvHgFxJM1kSL5o8p1DDB6hlQvrLDqO9g1DmdZ/s200/zat.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5525147338476293634" /></li><li style="text-align: left;">I got to have dinner with Marian Call and her Guitarist Scott Barkan and helped them with their gear from the Fark Party to the Parsec Awards and then to the Browncoat Ball.</li><li style="text-align: left;">I bumped into many friends that I know locally, friends from years past, and made some new friends as well.</li><li style="text-align: left;">And of course I took a ton of pictures <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnrhill/sets">http://www.flickr.com/photos/shawnrhill/sets</a></li></ol><div>Overall, this year beat last year and I'm looking forward to next year beating this year. It'll be DragonCon's 25th Year and I'm hoping for some massive Celeb turnout and great times.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>See you there!</div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-26483587539236209902010-07-14T06:56:00.000-07:002010-07-14T08:08:19.672-07:00Are you a Geek?<div>Ever wondered if you were a "Geek"? Take a moment and answer the following questions and see how much of a Geek you are. (Keep a count of the "yes" answers) </div><ol><li>Do you count the days until a new show premiere date? </li><li>Are you constantly checking a convention website looking for updates to the guest list? </li><li>Have you ever gotten super excited when a celebrity has replied to you via email, twitter, or facebook? </li><li>Are you the "go to" person for most of your friends on a particular subject or event?</li><li>Do conversations in social situations often turn to you explaining one of your passions or hobbies?</li><li>Do you work movie quotes into conversations with friends, family and coworkers?</li><li>Do most of your friends quote right back?</li><li>Are you one of the first of your family/friends to adopt technology or new internet services?</li><li>Have you ever attended a midnight release of a video game, book or movie?</li><li>Have you ever dressed up for a convention or party?</li><li>Do you routinely use more than one social media site or service? (facebook, twitter, myspace, foursquare, gowalla, etc...)</li><li>Do you have more than one iPod or MP3 playing device?</li><li>When you pack for vacation do you have an "electronics and chargers" list?</li><li>Are the books you read routinely part of a series?</li><li>Have you gotten in line hours (or days) ahead of release time/date for a product or event?</li><li>Do you primarily interact with your friends via the internet?</li><li>Do you have friends you routinely chat with on the internet that you have never met in person?</li><li>Have you ever attended a tweetup or flashmob event?</li><li>When you get a mass email forward from a friend do you frequently hit snopes.com and inform your friend that they are forwarding a hoax?</li><li>Do you measure your computers storage potential in TB?</li><li>Do you have at least one MMO subscription?</li><li>Do you get most of your news and current events via Social Networking, News Aggregate sites, and RSS Feeds?</li><li>Do you still have a piece of technology thats popularity dates back more than 10 years?</li><li>Can you read a Binary Clock?</li><li>Have you ever hacked your X-Box, Tivo, AppleTV, or Wireless router?</li></ol><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Chart of Geekness </b>(How did you do?)</div></div><div><ul><li><i>0 = </i><b>End User</b><i> - </i>You probably still have a VCR and its most likely STILL blinking 12:00 from when you first plugged it in</li><li><i>01-05</i> = <b>Not a geek</b> <b>but you know one</b> - you scratched your head and said "huh?" to most of the above questions, you did know enough to use Google to try and answer some of them. </li><li><i>06-10</i> = <b>Category 1 Wannabe Geek</b> - You've probably been round a Category 3 or higher Geek enough times to have some Geekness rub off on you. With a little bit of effort you could attain Category 2 Geekness in no time.</li><li><i>11-15</i> = <b>Category 2 Geek</b> - You have a basic understanding of many Geek things and are on your way to becoming an authority in one of your passions or hobbies. </li><li><i>16-20</i> = <b>Category 3 Advanced Geek</b> - You are an expert in a particular field but are still working on others. Your thirst for knowledge and skills will take you far.</li><li><i>21-24</i> = <b>Category 4 Elite Geek</b> - Other Geeks value your opinion and often seek you out for sounding board sessions in an effort to figure things out. You work well in a group of other Geeks but your patience with end-users is thinning. </li><li><i>25</i> = <b>Category 5 Uber Geek</b> - You associate with mostly other Geeks, you are the frequent "go to" person for many Geek subjects and areas of study. You enjoy discussions with other Geeks but have little to no patience for end-user complaints and assumptions. </li></ul></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-39652179855773090302010-06-26T18:11:00.000-07:002010-06-26T19:50:54.979-07:00Is there an App for that?A few of my friends are recently new to the iPhone or will be getting one in the coming weeks so I figured I'd post up a list of apps that I have come to rely on over the past few years.<div><br /><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVc3TJNy8id4yqKfljP2EdenDNzb7wajlqOuZt0ZDNszN4nTz6vU6IbeJKf1lDKBZ7XEBCiMEWG3Q-jqzVfy7igPUaOMP967A7GiWD-2IypiKL_5KnsV5Q8s217CeYHJlGq1-ex41Gg628/s200/TweetDeck.png" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 58px; height: 56px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487263884597212626" /></div><div><div>If you're on Twitter and follow a lot of people then you know how hard it can be sometimes to catch up and keep up. <a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com/">TweetDeck</a> is the solution. TweetDeck allows you to sort your feed into multiple columns and then file the people you follow into the columns for easier sorting. TweetDeck can connect to Twitter, Facebook, Google Buz</div><div>z, Foursquare, LinkedIn, and Myspace. No more needing to check sparate apps or webpages for all your friends updates. TweetDeck puts them all in one, easy to configure, dashboard on both your iPhone and they also have Desktop versions.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4-C1mwHzOhK9MIgmXi6YfRS7hKZ_oz92BUYl_dbgeOz1AtYOSN40HQ3NDYAInd-BdQu-7jlQcGoTlZpl4zi7iXP6knrvNxZ2LJMVXp2r8A7Rne9DGhMwMO9FH698SjT-wAly2XISKqCZ/s200/Evernote.png" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 56px; height: 59px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487266754506947266" /><div>Need to write a quick note while you're out somewhere? Want to take a picture and remember where something was? Need to quickly dictate some notes to write up or remember later? Then <a href="http://www.evernote.com/">Evernote</a> is a solution for you. Evernote is a free service* that allows you to create those types of Notes and reminders that are then sync'd with their server and then sync'd with your home Mac or PC if you use their Desktop version. Its like having all your important notes, reminders, and lists in one location reachable from where ever you happen to be.</div><div>*Premium also available for more bandwidth and storage</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiqmcIhsHE1lhtJhA1rfeSfjNqgzKpA2Y9co0iXmLZfoqCIWvCl-7ONoR_K4DgEOnuoVyjzwQHmSW7pH1Wr8G_o7bUmzS8ciTUyOCGlY9rCFfyqV8IB8bk0lPr16WLKrouPbMGvfpMx21/s200/Geocaching.png" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 78px; height: 77px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487276372612963394" /><div>If you Geocache then the <a href="http://geocaching.com/iphone/default.aspx">Official Geocaching App</a> ($9.99) is a must for you. Its a</div><div>full featured Geocaching application with the ability to pull up nearby caches, load pocket queries, view cache details, and see posted pictures. Once you've picked a cache to try it can use the iPhone's built in GPS and Compass (3GS and 4 only) to guide you right to the cache location. Then when you've found the cache you can log field notes and directly upload them as your log to the Geocaching site logging your find in your profile. </div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXPkUMO7yOpK51yR3Bgzj1Voylh8_KbhYzGjfozwGZaKSLeH4U4PclWWWdRfmhpkpuhzuMkloM5RJQO0VLxNgNMVE_Ztkto39qpEo5-bLAoUeYt76n01aI2xBows3cbV4GTID0xmY12RYt/s200/MapMyRun.png" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 76px; height: 73px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487276678858393458" /><div>If you're a runner you might like <a href="http://www.imapmy.com/">MapMyRun+</a> ($4.99) [or the free MapMyRun] MapMyRun tracks your running by plotting your path on the map using the</div><div>iPhone's built in GPS. The app keeps up with your current and average min/mile, average speed, and your start and finish times. When finished with your run you can then choose to make the run Public or Private by uploading it to their server to share with your friends. It also has the ability to send updates to your Twitter or Facebook page. They have various levels of accounts on the <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/">MapMyRun</a> site but I've been quite happy with the free account type. I did upgrade to the MapMyRun+ app instead of the free MayMyRun so I could get in-app music controls but that's not necessary if you don't listen to music when you run. They also have a MapMyRide application for bike riders that want to do the same tracking. </div><div><b>NOTE: Thanks Dave for the recommendation on this app. I use it every run and am loving it.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguspPHAlPdIN4dtSsJJe89Q0FleQcPQQWGW-0MBNBidqRMQKQvOA8Fh_kTSHWCPaM3TdUBRk8yLoK11wEd0taeCrwFJRt5LBZsohsU7xNJjomtatHYKfTljPbar-dkkLKjLzj6a8Icntyj/s200/Redlaser.png" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 88px; height: 88px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487274515835642498" /></div><div>Ever been out at a store and see something you want and have this nagging feeling you've seen it cheaper somewhere else nearby? <a href="http://redlaser.com/">Redlaser</a> can help. Redlaser uses the iPhone's camera to snap a picture of the items barcode then it deciphers the data and performs an online search for that exact same item. It then shows you the prices of the same item online as well as nearby locations that it can find a price for (based on your location). I mainly use it for remembering stuff that I know I want to order online rather than pay an overpriced fee in a store. Redlaser has saved me tons of money since it came out.</div><div><i>NOTE: Redlaser was recently purchased by e-bay so what is to become of it and what its features will mutate into are yet to be disclosed by e-bay.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg757foE09g1Td5BMvL25wkdm7teQfcha6un_FB76tloBNFcLTp-XFBjrOW09dUGtU4b9m1h84Wb3yMEb1_sQKsI-c6z-xvTeV5QefN1fzkakaVE3ssI607bHTOmRlhCIoVHWyXqWzD76z4/s200/BeeJive.png" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 80px; height: 75px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487276076566352578" /></div><div>If you're into Instant Messaging and want to still be able to IM your friends while you're on the go then its worth the $9.99 to get <a href="http://www.beejive.com/iphone/">BeeJiveIM</a> for the iPhone. BeeJiveIM was one of the first to take advantage of Apple's Push service and allow your application to be closed yet still receive notices when your friends IM you. BeeJiveIM is a full featured IM Client allowing you to set up all of your accounts into one IM Client instead of multiple clients. With just this one client you can IM with your AOL, YIM, MSN, etc... friends while on the go. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course your iPhone wouldn't be complete without the Official <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/facebook/id284882215?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2">Facebook App</a>.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPPkBYDoiye8O1mezc14Ml8qoJ-kviTLWpHFcDLM7kjH7rvJRpDwmuurAGCIpEGLX_mlqvQnmxYjzW7UBdarBFei5TL6OnDM1Lyhfc9LCqZW6R35RF4qWyGMF2njIihv3_exw7uwxjQvVa/s200/Facebook.png" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 73px; height: 73px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487278638260067378" /><div>Gain full access to your Facebook profile and friends. Upload pictures, update your status, send and receive messages, respond to friend request, and comment on friends pictures and post. All the features of Facebook are available on the website are available in the application. A must have for Facebook junkies :)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>These are just a few of the slew of applications that I have on my iPhone4 today. <a href="http://www.mashable.com/">Mashable</a> has a <a href="http://mashable.com/2010/01/03/iphone-apps-2010/">huge list of over 700 app reviews</a> that you might also find useful for categories I did not cover. Feel free to hit me up if there is a particular app type you are looking for and I'll be glad to recommend what I use for that need (if I have one) or I'll do some searching and find one to fit your needs and let you know what to try.</div></div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-52871811695050078702010-06-24T10:08:00.000-07:002010-06-24T11:01:25.840-07:00Now we know why they invented "Bumpers"So the Geeks Are Sexy blog posted an article about the new iPhone4 and what appears to be a major flaw in its construction or design. <div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2010/06/24/new-iphone-antenna-design-sot-so-handy/">http://www.geeksaresexy.net/2010/06/24/new-iphone-antenna-design-sot-so-handy/</a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're right handed you typically talk on the iPhone with the phone in your left hand. Doing this puts the lower left metal border of the iPhone4 in contact with your thumb muscles of your palm. When this contact occurs you can watch your signal strength go from Full bars 3G down to nothing (Searching....) When you let go and move your skin away from the lower left of the phone metal border the signal returns. </div><div><br /></div><div><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ixIHyEPO5g&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-ixIHyEPO5g&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div>I have personally tried this experiment and performed the test and can confirm that it is indeed true. I was able to observe the signal drop and loss just like in the video. </div><div><br /></div><div>Conveniently though, use of the new Apple "Bumpers" on the iPhone negates this effect by putting a layer of plastic and rubber between your skin and the metal iPhone4 border parts. Thus this leads one to the assumption that this is why Apple suddenly decided to enter the "case" market with Bumpers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Come on Apple! This is the type of shit we routinely get and expect from Microsoft, not you. </div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-37491545835500145222010-06-17T12:28:00.000-07:002010-06-17T12:57:18.865-07:00"Like" or "Dislike"<a href="http://www.geeksugar.com">Geek Sugar</a> recently posted a question to twitter asking <a href="http://www.geeksugar.com/Facebook-Like-Button-8823608">Should Facebook have a "Dislike" button too</a>?<div><br /></div><div>My response is WHY? WHY do people insist on having a "Dislike" button? </div><div><br /></div><div>Last year I got into a discussion on Facebook with a guy I knew in High School about this same subject. He had posted the same copy/paste that I had seen going around at the time. It was something like "Post this in your status if you want a Dislike button, we need 1,000,000 people to make this happen" so I responded asking why. Why did he feel the need to express his dislike of something someone posted when he could simply ignore it and move on. Ignoring something by NOT clicking "Like" or commenting on it is effectively a "Dislike" since you were so indifferent to it you chose to not "Like" it. He argued that ignoring it wasn't the same because he wanted to be able to express his dislike of what some people post. Eventually he quit answering me after I kept pointing out flaws in his logic and shooting holes in his hate veiled as an excuse. Put simply, he wanted a method to express his anger, hatred, or contempt for stuff that people post but he didn't want to go to the effort to actually comment or talk to the person. Pretty pathetic huh?</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, as Geek Sugar points out, the point of her post is not for a general "Dislike" but more of a situation where you don't want to "Like" your friends post about their cat dying but you want a simple one click solution to show your dislike of the situation showing your sympathy for them. This idea is a noble one and one that would normally be ok but lets face it, 99.99999% of people that would use the "Dislike" button are not so noble. They want a "Dislike" button so they can express their opinion and disapproval of your post. Like the guy from high school, these same people lack the courage to post a comment and enter into a discussion on whatever the subject is that they "Dislike" or they'd already be doing that. They want a simple, anonymous, button to click to push their opinion on you in an effort to belittle your post or establish their self-perceived superiority over your post/opinion. </div><div><br /></div><div>A "Dislike" button would lead to nothing but abuse by those without the strength to own up to their own opinions. If someone keeps posting shit you don't like, unfriend them or hide their updates. Stop asking for a tool to try and oppress peoples updates and opinions. </div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-960025567694409420.post-23360488023058218142010-06-16T19:19:00.000-07:002010-06-16T19:48:55.832-07:00And so it begins...Today began my training for the <a href="http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/events/endurance/wine-and-dine-half-marathon/">Disney Inaugural Wine and Dine Half Marathon</a> scheduled for October 2nd later this year. This was the first time in I don't remember how long that I've actually run and something wasn't chasing me. I went 1.78mi and took 27:38 to do it averaging 15;32/mi and 3.9mph. To me that just plain sucks but others are telling me its not too bad for a first day. My hope is that once I shed some of this extra weight I'll actually enjoy running more than I do now. My shins and lower legs are the part of me that can't seem to take the running for long stretches. I'm only stopping to walk when my legs need a breather. I feel good that I didn't give up and even though I walked every 1/4-1/3 mile I pushed through and did the complete loop at Lenora Park plus a little bit. <div>If you like to check in on my pain and progress you can peek at my <a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/user/united-states/ga/loganville/scifideity">MapMyRun Profile</a> from time to time and see how I'm doing or poke me if I'm not doing enough. </div>Shawnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04492382249701282819noreply@blogger.com0