Embedded Videos Are The Worst

This evening, I was reading several older posts and noticed something pretty annoying. Of the posts I read having embedded videos, all videos hosted by non-YouTube sites (e.g. Hulu) no longer worked. So very frustrating. A lot of those videos were pretty funny, such as Christopher Walken's "Googly Eyes Gardner" from SNL (apparently now available on Yahoo).

The following will be futile, but here goes:

Dear Hulu, stop pulling videos from your service. Everyone hates it when you do that. Thank you.

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 

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/

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

movies

• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - 2-deluxe edition: $4.82 at Amazon 
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine - if possible, the Walmart 3-disc set, otherwise the Blu-Ray/DVD combo $9.96 at Amazon 
• An American Carol: $4.47 at Amazon 
• Dilbert: The Complete Series: $19.99 at Amazon 
• Up - Blu-Ray 4-disc: $29.49 at Amazon 

video games

• 24: The Game for PS2, $15.96 at Amazon 
• Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures for PS2, $17.98 at Amazon 
• Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest for PS2, $10.47 at Amazon 

music on CD

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Special Edition $17.98 at Amazon 
• A Midwinter Night's Dream by Loreena McKennitt $13.99 at Amazon
• An Ancient Muse by Loreena McKennitt $13.99 at Amazon
• A Mediterranean Odyssey by Loreena McKennitt $10.99 at Amazon
• The Wind That Shakes The Barley by Loreena McKennitt $10.99 at Amazon 
• Christmas Songs by Anuna $10.97 at Amazon 
• Christmas Memories by Anuna $6.71 at Amazon 
• Troubadours On The Rhine by Loreena McKennitt $9.99 at Amazon 
• Nights from the Alhambra - (2 CD + DVD) by Loreena McKennitt $23.47 at Barnes & Noble 

books

• Try Rebooting Yourself [Dilbert] - $10.39 at Amazon
• Cubes and Punishment [Dilbert] - $16.99 at Amazon
• This Is the Part Where You Pretend to Add Value [Dilbert] - $10.74 at Amazon
• What Would Wally Do? [Dilbert] - $12.71 at Amazon
• Your Accomplishments Are Suspiciously Hard to Verify  [Dilbert] - $11.55 at Amazon 
• Teamwork Means You Can't Pick the Side that's Right  [Dilbert] - $10.39 at Amazon 
• How's That Underling Thing Working Out for You?  [Dilbert] - $10.39 at Amazon 
• Stick to Drawing Comics, Monkey Brain! by Scott Adams - $6.00 at Amazon 
• The Tyranny of Cliches: How Liberals Cheat in the War of Ideas by Jonah Goldberg - $18.48 at Amazon... alternatively, I'd be interested in the unabridged CD audiobook
• No, They Can't: Why Government Fails-But Individuals Succeed by John Stossel - $17.30 at Amazon... alternatively, I'd be interested in the unabridged CD audiobook... paperback's okay, too

big ticket items

• Google Nexus 7 tablet 32GB version - $249 at Google

Wish List 2011 - New Fridge Edition

For those interested, here's my birthday/Christmas 2011 wish list. Be sure to check back here often, as I will update it through the remainder of 2011.

UPDATES

• 11/27/11 - added items under "Miscellany"
• 12/18/11 - crossed off some things, added music (audio CD)
• 12/26/11 - crossed off more things
• 1/2/12 - ditto

Things I Always Enjoy

These are not in any particular order.

• chocolate chip cookies, soft & chewy, with walnuts  Thanks!
• gift cards: Barnes & Noble, any restaurant (so I can go out with my wife)
• cheese puffs (not crunchy ones)
• summer sausage + sharp cheddar cheese + flavorful crackers Thanks!
• flavored coffees... sampler sizes are okay (e.g. 1.5 oz packages)... especially seasonal or holiday flavors Thanks!
• instant cappuccino mixes of various flavors
• mixed nuts (NO peanuts) Thanks!
• bagel shop bagels with appropriately-flavored cream cheese... I especially like cheddar jalapeño bagels
• M&Ms
• Reese's Pieces Thanks!

Things I Would Like

Within each section, items ARE in order.

Each item has a link for it to Amazon or another online retailer with their listed purchase price. This information is included just for comparison purposes.

movies

• The A-Team (unrated extended cut) $14.99 at Amazon  Thanks!
• Robin Hood (two-disc unrated director's cut with Russell Crowe) $16.50 at Amazon  Thanks!
• Sherlock Holmes (widescreen) $10.99 at Amazon   Thanks!
• The Lord of the Rings Trilogy extended edition on Blu-Ray: $49.99 at Amazon 
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - 2-disc deluxe edition (widescreen) $14.14 at Amazon 
• X-Men Origins: Wolverine (single-disc edition) $4.99 at Amazon
• Captain America: The First Avenger (2-disc Blue-Ray & DVD): $19.99 at Amazon 
• Thor (2-disc Blue-Ray & DVD): $19.99 at Amazon
• The Bourne Ultimatum (widescreen edition) $9.49 at Amazon  Thanks!
• An American Carol - $8.99 at Amazon
• Dilbert - The Complete Series - $18.49 at Amazon
• The Office: Overtime (Digital Shorts Collection) $7.49 at Amazon
• Up - Blu-Ray 4 disc $30.99 at Amazon 

Video Games

• 24: The Game for PS2 - $20.87 at Amazon
• Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures for PS2 - $19.99 at Amazon

Music on CD

• Mannheim Steamroller: Christmas Symphony: $11.88 at Amazon  Thanks!
• Andrea Bocelli: My Christmas: $12.85 at Amazon
• A Midwinter Night's Dream by Loreena McKennitt $13.26 at Amazon
• An Ancient Muse by Loreena McKennitt $16.16 at Amazon
• Nights from the Alhambra - (2 CD + DVD) by Loreena McKennitt $61.77 at Amazon
• A Mediterranean Odyssey by Loreena McKennitt $12.99 at Amazon
• The Wind That Shakes The Barley by Loreena McKennitt $11.99 at Amazon
• Michael Buble Christmas - Target Exclusive edition $16.99 ONLY at Target (NOTE: This "Target Exclusive" version contains extra songs not on the regular CD that's available everywhere)
• Christmas Songs by Anuna $8.99 at Amazon

Books

• New Birth or Rebirth? by Ravi Zacharias - $10.19 at Amazon (paperback would be okay)
• Sense and Sensuality by Ravi Zacharias - $9.98 at Amazon (paperback would be okay)
• The Chronological Study Bible - hardcover edition $24.49 at Christian Book

Dilbert Books

• 14 Years of Loyal Service in a Fabric-Covered Box - $10.39 at Amazon  Thanks!
• Try Rebooting Yourself - $9.84 at Amazon
• Cubes and Punishment - $12.87 at Amazon
• This Is the Part Where You Pretend to Add Value - $9.84 at Amazon
• What Would Wally Do? - $12.71 at Amazon
• I'm Tempted to Stop Acting Randomly - $10.18 at Amazon  Thanks!
• Problem Identified: And You're Probably Not Part of the Solution - $11.55 at Amazon  Thanks!

Miscellany

• snow globe - preferably a nice one, containing a winter or Christmas scene of some sort  Thanks!
• jar candles - peppermint, pine/evergreen/Christmas tree, apple cider, pumpkin pie/pumpkin spice
• Star Trek Warp Speed travel mug - $6.99 at StarTrek.com 
• Star Trek Command stainless steel travel mug - $15.99 at StarTrek.com
• Star Trek Klingon Cloaking Ship mug - $14.99 at StarTrek.com
  

Things Not Inexpensive

• Asus Transformer table at Best Buy's Black Friday Door Buster sales for $249 ($150 off... it's like an Apple iPad, except better) + keyboard docking station for an additional $100 ($50 off)
• Sony PS3 gaming console - $250 for regular 160GB model