Dec 13, 2004 - Christmas Tree Is Up

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We went out last Sunday and cut our own Christmas tree and set it up for the 10th anniversary of ChristmasCam. This year we didn't get the normal Douglas Fir. We got a Colorado Spruce. We read somewhere that this is a prickily tree that cats might not try to climb. We happen to have a hyperactive kitten in the house this year, so non-climbing is a good thing. I will report that the tree is Very Prickily. Gloves are required for any handling. I'll report on my luck with the kitten.

Dec 4, 2004 - Pile of Catalogs

I live in a zip code that is targetted by catalog companies. We get piles and piles of catalogs. I keep claiming that, if I had the right fireplace, I could heat the house with all the catalogs we receive.

Well, since June, I have been recording every catalog received at my home. Check out the catalog accounting page. We're up to 364 catalogs in the last 148 days. That's about 2.5 catalogs a day!!! I figure that's a pile about 5 feet high. For my one home. Think how many catalogs that must be for the whole neighborhood?

Dec 1, 2004 - Old Pictures

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My wife was cleaning out a box and came across some old black and white pictures. "Who are these people", she asked. "I have no idea, but look at them. They speak to you", I responded.

I love old pictures of people. Just looking at the faces and bodies of the people, you see some of their character. I wonder what became of them. What they grew into. I have stood before the camera and had my picture taken and people will someday look at my image. Will they see the person in the picture?

Nov 27, 2004 - Lights for Christmas

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Spent some of today digging through the Christmas boxes. The Christmas lights are out on the house and there are decorations collecting on all the flat surfaces of the house.

Merry Christmas!!

Nov 26, 2004 - Sticking with the Old Walt

A article at Boing Boing lead to the SaveDisney.com's plea to save Tomorrowland.

As a person who has visited Disneyland and Disneyworld many, many, many, many, many many many times, I am aware of what they speak. Tomorrowland is becoming more and more like the uninspired new lands that the corporation has built. California Adventure at Disneyland and the Disney Studio at Disneyland Paris are dull, lifeless and just not interesting to visit. Let alone having to pay piles of dollars to get in.

Part of me, though, is facinated by the battle between the people who want to keep Disney Disney and those who are making it into a modern, bottom-line, soul-less but profitable company. I have read several of the autobiographies on Walt Disney and I have come to the conclusion that, if he hadn't died, the company would be a lot different then the movie and amusement park company that most of the 'old timers' wish. Walt was passionate about his next ideas. First they were animated movies, then they were about the parks and his next project was changing how communities are created and how people live . If you've ever road the train around Fantasy Land in Disneyworld, you'd know that Walt-the-perfectionist was not focusing on the rebuilding of his last project.

Anyway, I cheer the 'make it like the old times' people. I especially liked the idea that the best replacement for Eisner is Steve Jobs. Now there is a fellow that is creative and can lead a creative company and can lead a technical company. That would be an interesting change.