I just finished writing up my last paper of the semester. Now the only thing in my way to the greatest Christmas vacation ever is the 12 to 14 hour drive to Utah. It’s 3:30AM and I am considering just leaving right now. Anna sure would be surprised if I got there a few hours in advance, and it would be nice to not just have to go straight to bed when I get there. That’s it, I’m packing right now and I’m on my way. Utah and California — here I come!
Author: Jeff Milner
The Walmart Stampede
I didn’t want to write about the so called Walmart Stampede where Patty VanLester was apparently trampled by frenzied shoppers. I figured the story was a bit suspicious. Whether or not she was trampled isn’t as interesting to me as the coincidental fact that this is not the first time for something like this has happened to poor unfortunate Patty VanLester and her sister. They should have learned over the years not to shop at such dangerous and negligent stores.
Update: November 29th, 2005, I hate it when newslinks go stale. I’m sorry I never copied the articles and placed them here. Anyway from what I remember about the story (this happened in 2003) she was trampled when the doors opened and customers rushed inside to be the first to purchase items that were on sale for the first [so many] buyers. This same thing happened to her previously in another store where she fell, got trampled and sued.
I don’t know much about the newest Walmart Stampede other than what I saw on the news the other day. It didn’t look like anybody got seriously hurt, but I had to wonder if this new batch went down on purpose in the hope of a lawsuit.
Via Fark:
“Man steals cop’s gun during fight, runs away, changes his shoes, gets shot, refuses to die, so police run him over with a truck.” I wish the article would have been more specific as to why they hit him with the truck but anyway I am posting this for two reasons, one because I am going to Salt Lake tomorrow and secondly because I used to live a couple of blocks away from where it happened.
I’m done my net.art final project. It’s not much but let’s not forget what’s truly important – it’s done.
Nickname
The swim team likes to say, “It’s Milner-Time” right before I swim. It’s kinda my nickname – if you can call it that. It’s a good thing they don’t speak latin or my new nickname might be Colymbosathon ecplecticos. It’s a sub-one-percenter (less than 1% of the people reading this will get the joke).
Christmas
You know, this phone is what I really want for Christmas, but a new DVD burner would also be cool – and probably a lot less money. Just posting this in case anybody that cares wants to know what I would like for Christmas.
All About Mormons
South Park ran a hilarious episode in November titled “All About Mormons”.
From the South Park Studios Website:
“A Mormon kid moves to South Park and Stan has to kick his ass. But when Stan and his dad meet their new Mormon neighbors, they become fascinated with how genuinely nice they are. Meanwhile the other boys mock Stan relentlessly for wimping out.”
If you’re in the United States (or have an IP address in the United States) you can watch the episode here:
Or if you want, you can check out the “audio only” version in 4 parts:
- SouthPark – 712 – All About Mormons1small.mp3
- SouthPark – 712 – All About Mormons2small.mp3
- SouthPark – 712 – All About Mormons3small.mp3
- SouthPark – 712 – All About Mormons4small.mp3
I think pretty much the greatest thing about this episode is that is gives people who don’t know anything about the church a background into how the church started. As someone that knows from personal experience, they tell the Joseph Smith story pretty much just like they do if you were to have the Mormon Missionaries come into your house and tell you the story, except for the part where they call Martin Harris dumb. Mormon Missionaries would never call him dumb — unless they were calling him dumb because he gave his wife the unpublished transcript, then they might but other than that — no way. This episode also portrays what nice people Mormons are — based on some of the Mormon families I know it’s so accurate it’s scary.
Another Project Done
I just finished my final script for Writing for New Media. It’s not an entire story, just a couple of scenes. I need to run and print it now, but I’m really getting close to be done for REAL!
3 Days and Several Projects to Go
Only 3 more days and a few more school projects stand in my way for leaving to Utah. Anna wants me to bring the dog – which pretty much means I’m bringing the dog. I’m really sick of the dog. Would you like a really nice dog? I just don’t have time or interest in giving her the attention she needs.
Jim Hill has an interesting conspiracy theory about how Roy Disney and Stanley Gold have reportedly recruited members of the Jim Henson family to help out with their bid to oust Michael Eisner.
From Jim Hill Media (archived):
You see the strategy that’s emerging here? “Michael Eisner can’t get Steve Jobs to agree to a Pixar contract extension. But Roy Disney — who’s a friend of John Lasseter — can.” And “Michael Eisner missed out on closing a deal to acquire the Jim Henson Company (again) in May. But the Henson family is willing once more to do business with the Walt Disney Company … provided that Michael Eisner is out of the picture.”
This is really an ingenious strategy on Roy and Stanley’s part, don’t you think? Getting Disney shareholders to overlook the modest gains that the corporation has made over the past year by pointing out how much better the Walt Disney Company could theoretically be doing if Michael Eisner weren’t in the hot seat.