July 2005 Archives

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

April and I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory this past weekend, and while it was good, we could have waited for the DVD release. So why did we go to the theater to see it? Well, because I asked her and she said yes.

I am not a movie-goer like I used to be, so going to the theater is not as fun as it once was. April and I do not go to the theater very much. With ticket and food prices sky high, it’s no wonder. I am not alone on this either. I recently read where movie theaters are losing revenue. There are six factors that are hurting revenue, according to the article.

Paying a premium price just to see a movie on a big screen is not a good reason to go to a theater. One of the factors in the article is social factors. When you go to a theater, you expect to have silence. Nice wish! Cell phones will ring (even though the theater will tell you to silence your phone, at least one moron forgets). Children will talk and even kick your seat. I remember when April and I saw Star Wars, there was a child kicking April’s seat. I was scared for the child as I thought April, with her short temper, would kick the child through the screen. Fortunately, the child stopped kicking and all was good.

We also saw The Ring 2 in the theater and had to hear stupid children scream at non-scary parts. I walked out with a headache and did not care for the movie. Children are not alone as adults are just as bad.

Another factor listed was the fact that commercials are now being shown in theaters. Not only do we have to watch this crap on television, but now we get to pay outrageous money to see the same crap. Oh Joy! We live in the age of advertising, because you cannot escape it.

Declining quality in mainstream movies is also a factor. This is where my scale comes in. I rate all movies as to whether to see them on the Big Screen or wait and see them on DVD. Lately, I would much rather watch movies on DVD. Less expensive, which brings me to the last two factors, higher quality experience elsewhere and content alternatives.

Higher quality means the latest boom in Home Theater systems. Why go to a theater with loud people and high prices when you can watch your movie in the comfort of your own home eating food you actually enjoy and wearing nothing but your underwear? Try doing that in a theater!

Anyway, for the content alternatives. Netflix is the leader of online rentals. Movies sent to your mailbox and when you are done, mail them back. Simple and effective. April and I were Netflix members for a while, but since the warm weather came we decided to spend time outside. Come winter time, we will probably renew our membership. Blockbuster also has a similar plan, but I am not a fan of them.

So what did I think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? I enjoyed the television scene and the tribute to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey. I could have done without the flashback sequences and didn’t like the man who played Grandpa Joe. The Oompa-Loompas were cool, but could not understand the songs. Willy Wonka was a little strange looking, but thought the part was played really well. I really enjoyed the 1971 version, so I was not too thrilled about this version at first. I was impressed, but this movie had an advantage over the 1971 version, special effects. I would recommend this movie, but would advise that you wait until the DVD release. Unless you enjoy spending lots of money for a crappy movie experience.

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Laptop computers are mobile in case you did not know!

If you use a laptop at work and you wish to utilize a laptop at home for business use, then it is assumed that you would just take the business laptop home. I mean, it seems logical. Maybe even common sense. How silly would it be to have a laptop at work and one for home when they are both used for the same purpose?

Well, a few days ago I was proven that there is a lack of common sense. I had a customer call me today asking that a new laptop be setup for their business partner’s home use. Of course, the administrative assistant had to call in because the big time executive is so busy.

The assistant also told me that the data from the current laptop needed to be copied over to the second laptop. What? This could be avoided if the executive actually took his laptop home. Also the company would save money from unnecessary expenses.

I cannot disclose names because I do not really remember the customer’s name. Dealing with over 50 people a day, you tend to forget who you talked to. Although, I can tell you that common sense really lacks at my job. Come to think of it, common sense lacks everywhere I look.

Of course the likelihood of this person coming to my website and reading this is slim. If that person did read this, they would probably agree with me and not realize that this rant is about them.

By the way, my name is Steve. This is not to be confused with Dave, which sounds very similar. Not only do people at my job have no common sense, but they also cannot hear.

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Another Apple Customer?

I just sold another person to the Macintosh platform. Take that Microsoft! Had a customer call and he was asking if it would be better to buy a Mac than a Windows PC for home use. I told him absolutely. I went on to explain the differences between the two operating systems and why a Mac would be a better option.

I told him that since Mac OS X is based on UNIX, it is more stable than Microsoft Windows. He also would not have to worry about virus attacks and spyware that has been infecting Windows for years.

Using both Mac OS X and Windows XP on a daily basis, I know how both systems work. I do computer support for Windows based computers, and the problems customers call in about are the same problems that I do not have to worry about when using Mac OS X. I would never recommend a Windows computer to anyone. Mac OS X is a more stable and smoother operating system.

I have family and friends who use Windows. If they have problems I am willing to help them. Of course I may try to sway them into buying a Mac. however, if they choose not to listen and continue to use Windows, then that’s fine too. A computer is a tool. What operating system it runs does not matter as long as the tool works well with the task at hand. I just happen to think that Mac OS X is a better tool to use for just about every task.

I have had no headaches with my Mac. Surfing the web does not scare me. Viruses, pop-ups, and spyware mean little to me. I get on my computer, do what I need to do and I am done. Spending more time cleaning viruses and spyware than actually doing work seems like a waste to me.

Macs are not just for graphic artists, they are for everyone. Hopefully that customer will remember what I said and will buy a Mac. He will not regret it.

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Web site redesign

I recently finished redesigning a web site for a nonprofit organization named ApplePickers. I am also a member of this organization. I used XHTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript to redesign the web site.

A little history on how I got this assignment. Over the past few months, the current president of the organization was asking for a volunteer to redesign the web site, which was in need of an update. I volunteered to redesign and as they say, the rest is history. I am the current webmaster for the organization.

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Sergeant McDaniel

April and I met up with an old friend today. Chris has been in the army for over two years and also spent about a year in Iraq. He has been back in the states for over a month now and we were luck to be able to visit. We went to Pizza Hut and spent about two hours chatting. It was interesting to hear about his experience in Iraq as well as the army life.

He also told us about how he survived a near fatal auto accident. After the story he told us, I was surprised he walked away with only a cut on his head. Driving is dangerous and there are lots of crazy people out there. It was good to know that he made it out with no problems.

He heads back to Fort Campbell soon and he told us that it may be his last visit for a long time. With that said, it was good to see him. Last time we visited was when he was about to go into the army. He informed us that he may be deployed to Iraq again, but is unsure. April and I may have our own opinion of the current war, but we respect the work that Chris does as well as the entire military.

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Congratulations to the Bride and Groom

Summer is the time for weddings, and yesterday was no exception. My cousin, Bobby Calvert, took the plunge for the second time and he was a little nervous. The wedding was located at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, home to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. It was a small ceremony on the second floor.

I would have taken pictures, but wouldn’t you know it, I forgot the camera. That was disappointing, but other than that it was still a nice ceremony. I got to see a few family members that I do not keep much contact with, so that was cool.

Marriage is a great thing. April and I have been married for 20 months now and I would not change anything. We wish the bride and groom many long years of happiness.

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Terror in London

Our thoughts and prayers go to those in London.

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Update on debt freedom

American Express is paid off! Woo-Hoo! However, this does not make not much of a dent in our total debt. April and I have not used a credit card for at least 2 years now. We only have one more credit card to pay off, which will be paid off by the end of the year.

Credit cards companies are evil and my advice about credit cards - do not get one!

We have also sold many items that we had no use for. We have created a written budget and we only buy something if we can pay cash. We have built up our discipline over time.

We have accumulated a bit of debt over time and we have finally decided to beat debt. I have been listening to Dave Ramsey for over a month now, and what he talks about is merely common sense. The hardest part about the journey to becoming debt free is trying to convince my wife that it will really happen.

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