Wish List 2008 - Netbook Edition

This wish list & buying guide is meant to help you in trying to decide what to get me for my birthday, Christmas, or any other occasion, assuming you want to get me something. However, if you choose decide to "go it on your own" and give me something more "creative" that would probably be okay, too.

This list is divided into three sections. Be sure to check back often is I will be updating this blog post through the remainder of 2008.

update 11/28 - added web links and more books
update 12/14 - struck an item someone got me, and added some movies and music CDs
update 12/16 - struck some more items
update 12/21 - struck another item 
update 12/23 - struck another item 
update 12/25 - struck more items 

Stuff I Always Like Receiving

In a hurry and just want to dash into a store and quickly grab something I would like? Then this is the list for you, baby! These are in no particular order.

• any kinds of nuts (except peanuts... they're not really nuts)
• summer sausage, box of crackers (e.g. Townhouse), and some hard cheese (e.g. sharp cheddar)
• my wife's homemade sausage lasagna with pepperoni
• big bag of M&M's, preferrably mint chocolate
• big bag of Reese's Pieces
• chocolate chip cookies, more soft than crisp... walnuts make them better
• large chocolate milkshake from McD's (no substitutes as theirs are really the best... seriously)
• gift cards: Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, pretty much any restaurant (so I can take my wife out on a date) 
• peppermint scented jar candle
  
• go to Wok In/Wok Out
  

Stuff I Want

• Dilbert books
• Positive Attitude
• Try Rebooting Yourself
• Cubes and Punishment
• What Would Wally Do?
• This Is The Part Where You Pretend To Add Value
• movies on DVD
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (three-disc Collector's Edition)
• Kung Fu Panda two-pack (second disc: Secrets of the Furious Five)... widescreen edition
  
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (two-disc Special Edition)
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (two-disc Deluxe Edition)
• Cars (widescreen edition) 
• The Simpsons Movie (widescreen edition)
  
• Dilbert - The Complete Series 
  
• music CDs
• Loreena McKennitt: Nights from the Alhambra (2 CD + DVD edition), An Ancient Muse
• Enya: And Winter Came
  
• Michael W. Smith: It's a Wonderful Christmas
• Josh Groban : Noel
  
• Sarah Brightman: A Winter Symphony
  
• Mannheim Steamroller: Christmasville, Fresh Aire 8 DVD
  
• books
• The Children of Húrin by J.R.R. Tolkien
  
• Liberal Fascism by Jonah Goldberg
• The Apologetics Study Bible: Understand Why You Believe
  
• The Lamb and the Fuhrer by Ravi Zacharias
• New Birth or Rebirth by Ravi Zacharias
• Sense and Sensuality by Ravi Zacharias
  
• video games
• PS2: 24 The Game (for this, shop around as some stores may be selling it at heavy discount)
  
• big ticket items
• Sony PlayStation 3 system
  

Be sure to check back often, as I will update this blog post through the rest of 2008

Matt Dancing Around the World

Your friends have told you about it.  You saw a report on the news about it.  You have even dreamed about it.  (Okay, maybe not that part.)  It was even a NASA astronomy picture of the day.  But you've never actually watched the world-famous "Matt dancing" video.

Well, here's you chance.  Enjoy!



And in HD:

new definition of racism

Racist—n.,adj. 1. Any person who performs any act, holds any belief or makes any statement that negatively reflects upon or adversely affects Barack Obama or his policies, positions, interests, conduct, associates, or holiness. 2. Any act, belief or statement that negatively reflects upon or adversely affects Barack Obama or his policies, positions, interests, conduct, associates, or holiness. Synonyms: conservative; Republican; red state; rural; churchgoer; gun owner.

from The Corner at National Review Online

"Star Wars" - an a cappella tribute to John Williams

Awesome. Simply awesome.



Here's a copy of the lyrics to "Star Wars" (so you can sing along) from here:

[Close Encounters of the Droid Kind]
You must use the force (repeat ad nauseum)

[Raiders of the Lost Wookiee]
Long time ago, far far away (repeat)

Kiss a wookie, kick a droid
Fly the falcon through an asteroid
Till the princess is annoyed
This is spaceships, it's monsters, it's Star Wars, we love it!

Come and help me, Obi Wan
X-wing fighter and a blaster gun
Dance with Ewoks, oh what fun!
This is spaceships, it's monsters, it's Star Wars, we love it!

[Super Han]
Get in there you big, furry oaf
I couldn't care less what you smell
I take orders from only me
Maybe you'd like it back in your cell
Your Highness, your worshipfulness, your highness, your worshipfulness

No one cares if you upset a droid
(nobody cares if you upset a droid)
That's because droids don't tear your arms out of socket.
(nobody cares)
I suggest a new strategy: let the Wookie win
That's because nobody cares if you upset a droid.

[ET the DiscoTerrestrial]
Now we listen to Luke whining:
One more season... One more season... One more season... One more season...

I was gonna go to Tashi Station for power converters
Now I guess I'm going nowhere.
It just isn't fair.

[Jaws: the Wookiee]
Wooookie (repeat)

Someone move this walking carpet (repeat)

Kiss your brother, Kiss your brother (repeat)

Princess Leia
Well I guess you don't know anything about women.

Who's your daddy? (repeat)

[Jurassic Darth]
Luke, I'm your father
(That's not true!)
It is useless to resist
(My hand!)
Come with me my son, We will rule
(I'll never join you!)
Search your feelings it is true

So you have a twin sister
Who Obi Wan was wise to hide
(Is that Leia?)
If you will not turn
Then perhaps she will
Give in to your hate
You are mine

Long Long Long Time ago... Far Far Far Far Away

Long Long Long Time Ago, Far Far Far Away (repeat)

Kiss a wookie
Kick a droid
Fly the falcon
Through an asteroid
Till the princess is annoyed
(She's annoyed!)
This is spaceships, it's monsters, it's Star Wars, we love it, it's true

Episode 3
Coming to you
In 2005

So Let's go
(go go go to the movies)
Stand in line
(buy buy buy me some popcorn)
Cause it's al-
(please I'd like extra butter)
most the time
(Join the dark side...)
May the Force be with you all

John Williams is the man

Based on music by John Williams, words from the original Star Wars trilogy by George Lucas
Arranged by J.S. Slagowski and Bryant W. Smith, adapted by Tim Y. Jones

General Zod is unhappy about the election's result, too

According to his presidential campaign web site, General Zod was quite displeased with the results of Tuesday's voting.

I was to step before you in January and become your new President. All I asked for was your allegiance! And all you own! All that defines you and your petty lifestyles! But I see before me that you have cast 65 million votes for this idol Obama and 55 million votes for the warlord McCain.

Below is a picture of General Zod's appearance at Obama's victory rally in Chicago's Grant Park:

Election 2008

We just elected a black man to the highest office in our country. Given our country's past, this is truly historic! (I really mean that)

Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton. I'm still astonished by that fact. And he beat John McCain. I genuinely congratulate him for that. Neither of these accomplishments are small.

But, let's not kid ourselves. Our country is in for four years of misery.

We have elected the least experienced person in many decades. Someone with proven extreme far left beliefs about economics, tax policy, education, the role of government in our lives, and free speech.

The people of our country have chosen to ignore troubling facts about someone who charismatically talked about "hope" and "change", and how socialism is really just about sharing and being fair.

My hope is that not too much damage will be done to our country. And, frankly, to the world, as religious extremists realize our new president will never stand up to them.

I have no doubt that the damage that is wrought to our country during the upcoming Obama administration will usher in a Republican landslide in Congress in two years. And bring us a Republican president in 2012.

If I do turn out to be wrong about President Obama, frankly, I would be grateful. Especially if he surprises me by actually recognizing that we are in a war we didn't ask for, and acts accordingly.

I genuinely hope that he will be a good president.  It's not an easy job.  And I will regularly pray that God will guide him.

Well, at least Vice President Biden will supply us with four years of amusing statements, speeches, and soundbites. :)

In the meantime, I am joining, as someone else wrote, His Majesty's Loyal Opposition.