Spike the Wave ~ The Life & Times of Dave

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Wish List 2013 - Smartphone and Tablet Edition

For those interested, here is my birthday/Christmas wish list for 2013. I will update this post through the remainder of 2013.

Things I Always Enjoy Receiving

These are not in any particular order.

chocolate chip cookies, soft & chewy, with walnuts
gift cards: Barnes & Noble, restaurants (Red Robin, Logan's, Culver's, Outback)
cheese puffs (not the crunchy ones)
sausage, cracker & cheese gift packages... if you prefer a DIY version try summer sausage, regular Ritz crackers and sharp cheddar or aged white cheddar
instant cappuccino mixes, various flavors
mixed nuts (NO peanuts)
M&Ms... prefer seasonal flavors
Reese's Pieces
peppermint-scented jar candle

Things I Would Like

movies & TV

DVD is okay unless Blu-Ray is specified. Though Blu-Ray is preferred. :)

Tim Hawkins Greatest Hits & Greatest Bits - $20 at Rockshow Comedy Products (Not familiar with Tim Hawkins? Check out this video: Cletus Take The Reel at YouTube)
Brian Regan Standing Up - $17.99 at MusicToday Brian Regan Store
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Extended Edition) - Blu-Ray $19.96 at Amazon
Psych - any season
Up - Blu-Ray 4-disc: $19.35 at Amazon
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - 2-deluxe edition: $5.49 at Amazon
An American Carol - $4.74 at Amazon

video games

24: The Game for PS2, $16.25 at Amazon
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures for PS2, $11.44 at Amazon
Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest for PS2, $4.28 at Amazon

music/audio on CD

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Special Edition - $19.84 at Amazon
Rockshow Comedy Tour by Tim Hawkins $10 at Rockshow Comedy Products
All By Myself by Brian Regan $12.99 at MusicToday Brian Regan Store
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Symphony II - I STRONGLY prefer the Target Exclusive version as it includes extra tracks - $9.60 at Target
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Celebration - I'd prefer the Target Exclusive at includes extra tracks, but it may not be available anymore - $9.61 at Amazon
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Live - $7.28 at Amazon
Chip Davis Presents: Renaissance Holiday - $9.33 at Amazon
A Midwinter Night's Dream by Loreena McKennitt $11.99 at Amazon
An Ancient Muse by Loreena McKennitt $15.13 at Amazon
A Mediterranean Odyssey by Loreena McKennitt $13.98 at Amazon
The Wind That Shakes The Barley by Loreena McKennitt $10.88 at Amazon
Troubadours On The Rhine by Loreena McKennitt $11.98 at Amazon
Nights from the Alhambra (2 CD + DVD) by Loreena McKennitt $24.18 at Amazon
Christmas Songs by Anuna $11.18 at Amazon
Christmas Memories by Anuna $4.40 at Amazon

books

The Tyranny of Cliches: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas by Jonah Goldberg - $19.74 hardcover at Amazon... alternatively, I'd be interested in the unabridged CD audiobook... paperback's okay, too
No, They Can't: Why Government Fails-But Individuals Succeed by John Stossel - $19.06 hardcover at Amazon... alternatively, I'd be interested in the unabridged CD audiobook... paperback's okay, too
Try Rebooting Yourself [Dilbert 2011] - $11.28 at Amazon
Cubes and Punishment [Dilbert 2011] - $13.73 at Amazon
This Is the Part Where You Pretend to Add Value [Dilbert 2011] - $11.51 at Amazon
What Would Wally Do? [Dilbert 2006] - Amazon
Your Accomplishments Are Suspiciously Hard to Verify [Dilbert 2011] - $12.00 at Amazon
Teamwork Means You Can't Pick the Side that's Right [Dilbert 2012] - $11.45 at Amazon
How's That Underling Thing Working Out for You? [Dilbert 2011] - $10.12 at Amazon
Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! by Scott Adams - $9.98 hardcover at Amazon
Your New Job Title is "Accomplice" [Dilbert 2013] - $10.79 at Amazon
I Sense a Coldness to Your Mentoring [Dilbert 2013] - $10.92 at Amazon
Dilbert - A Treasury Of Sunday Strips: Version 00 [Dilbert 2000] - $17.09 at Amazon
I Can't Remember If We're Cheap or Smart [Dilbert 2012] - $12.09 at Amazon

misc

lightsaber
no calendars
I don't buy anything from iTunes

big ticket items

60" plasma or LED 1080 HDTV having PC port, composite input port (shared with component is okay), HDMI and USB ports, and display at least 120Hz... do not bother paying extra for a "smart" TV... ambient light sensor would be nice but not a big deal
Mr. Coffee BVMC-FM1 20-Ounce Frappe Maker - currently $44.99 (list $79.99) at Amazon

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Tech Support - How We Computer People Actually Do It

Like most technically-oriented computer people, I have friends, relatives, co-workers and acquaintances who are not computer people... they tend to regard computers, and software running on them, as difficult-to-understand mysteries.

This view of computers and software is especially noticeable when they want to accomplish something specific but cannot immediately determine how to do it. The non-computer person will then ask the computer person for assistance. The computer person then, often, "magically" provides a solution to the frequent amazement of the non-computer person...

"How did you do that/figure that out?", asks the non-computer person.

For the benefit of all the non-computer people I know, here's an explanation from the xkcd webcomic on how we work our magic:

source: http://xkcd.com/627/

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Wish List 2012 - Hobbit Edition

For those interested, here's my birthday/Christmas 2012 wish list. Be sure to check back here often, as I will update it through the remainder of 2012.

Updates

12/28/12 - crossed out sausage, crackers, Dilbert: The Complete Series and The Hobbit music soundrtack

Things I Always Enjoy Receiving

These are not in any particular order.

chocolate chip cookies, soft & chewy, preferably with walnuts
gift cards: Barnes & Noble, any restaurant
cheese puffs (not the crunchy ones)
~~summer sausage + Ritz crackers + block cheese~~ (sharp cheddar and aged white cheddar are good choices)
flavored coffees... sampler sizes are okay (i.e. those teeny tiny 1.5oz packages)... especially seasonal or holiday flavors
instant cappuccino mixes, various flavors
mixed nuts (NO peanuts)
M&Ms... right now they have a chocolate cherry/cherry cordial flavor that is SUPER tasty! Chocolate Mint is good, too.
Reese's Pieces

Things I Would Like