The Frayed Ends of Sanity

Wikipedia, you never fail to entertain me.

So I'm watching the VH1 show "I Love The 80's" (OK, not so much watching, it was playing in the background as I did other stuff.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) (and really - who DOESN'T love the 80's?!?).  Anyway, they had a brief thing on about Max Headroom.  Damn!  Hadn't thought about him for *years*.  So, off to Wikipedia I go!  In the article, the "Max Headroom Pirating Incident" is mentioned.  Never one to turn down an interesting sounding link, I followed it.  Anyway, I won't spoil it for you, but do yourself a favor - go and be creeped out by this successful TV signal hijacking.  The actual video can be watched via some of the links in the "External Links" area. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Headroom_pirating_incident

Not linked from Wikipedia, but this article is my favorite:
http://xmbill.wordpress.com/2007/02/11/wttw-chicago-max-headroom-pirating-incident-11-22-87/

The coolest part about it?  The guy and his apparent cohorts were never caught!  Also interesting to note is that there hasn't been another incident of signal hijacking since.

Just wanted to share.

Oh, and I'm a big ol' geek for the Art of Noise, whom have a Max Headroom connection as well:

And no, I ain't talkin' about myself! I wrote this several years ago. It first appeared on the Fantasm message boards, as a Fantasm-specific advice piece. It was pretty well received, and I thought it was pretty funny. Sometime later, I converted it into a generalized "So you're going to a convention" type of a piece (paper? article?). In any case, after doing that change over, I don't *think* I ever reposted it anywhere. By that time Fantasm had (sadly) run it's course, and I haven't been to a true convention since then. I make the trip to Pennsic every year, but that's been about it.  Since it's getting to be "Convention Season"  (WABBIT SEASON) , I thought I'd throw this out there again, for your entertainment.  Or, you can point and laugh if you prefer.  As a note, in addition to Pennsic, I should be at Dracon Con this year, so look out!

And so, without any further ado, here's the "So you're going to a convention" uh, thing that I wrote many moons ago. Enjoy, and please, feel free to comment to your hearts content. 

(As a note, I tried and tried to do an LJ cut, but it simply would not cooperate, so fuck it - you have my apologies.  Apparently I've got teh dumb and can't figure out something as fucking basic as an lj cut.) 

Nevermind my above bitching - apparently it decided to work for some reason.

Edit #2: Ok, it's not working again.  I give up.  The article may, or may not be under a cut.  I just don't know...

Horked from

theladyskye

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
Er...child seat, WV window flag, sun shade

2. When was the last time you threw up?
Thursday - stomache virus.  Bleh

3. What's your favorite curse word?
FUCK

4. Name 3 people who made you smile today?
Drew, Theresa - that's about it

5. What were you doing at 8 a.m. this morning?
Drinking coffee, watching CNN

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Eating food

7. Where were you born?
Indianapolis, Indiana

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Er, uh...maybe one or two...

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
Don't remember

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Chocolate

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Coke

12. What are you wearing right now?
Jeans, DKM long-sleeve shirt

13. What was the last thing you ate?
Mickey D's chhicken nuggets

14. Have you bought any new clothes this week?
This week?  Try this year.  Answer is still no.

15. Where were you last?
McDonalds getting lunch

16. What's the last sporting event you watched?
Hockey (natch) - Lynx Vs. Gladiators

17. Who won?
Gladiators.  Boooo!

18. Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace?
Chee-rist, who knows?  I don't get onto MySpace hardly at all any more.  It was probably Shane though.

19. Ever go camping?
Every summer (Pennsic)

20. Where do you live?
North Augusta, SC

21. What song are you listening to?
Dio - Holy Diver

22. Do you have a tan?
Not if I can avoid it

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
When it comes from a fountain, yes.  Otherwise, no

25. What did your last text message say?
<sent> Bah!  Screw you!

26. Who's your best friend?
I'm lucky to have several

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Working

28. Where is your mom right now?
Working

29. Look to your right, what do you see?
Phone, "Catfish One" plastic cup, Transformus '06 ticket

30. What color is your watch?
Don't wear one

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
Crikey!

32. Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
Oh yeah!

33. What is your birthstone?
Uh, whatever the one is for August

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive through?
Go it... they FUCK you in the drive-thru!

35. What is your favorite number?
42

36. Do you have a dog?
Nope

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
Some idiot here at work

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Yep, several someones actually.  Favorite ones: Bruce Campbell and George Takei

39. Any plans today?
Hockey game after work (I work for the team)

40. How many states have you lived in?
4 - Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, South Carolina

41. Ever go to college?
Yep

42. Where are you right now?
Work

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
See above

44. Last song listened to?
Dio - Stand up and Shout

45. Are you in love with someone right now?
But of course!

46. Are you allergic to anything?
Nope

47. Favorite pair of shoes?
My old-school Air 1 Nikes

48. Are you jealous of anyone?
Nah

49. Is anyone jealous of you?
I doubt it

51. Do you love anyone?
Several someones!

52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yep

53. Do you eat healthy?
Not if I can avoid it

54. What do you usually do during the day?
Work

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
My co-worker

56. Do you use the word 'hello' daily?
Yep

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
38

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Yep

60. How did you get one of your scars?
Right thumb - installing speakers in my '78 Monte Carlo.  Wrench slipped and si gouged the back of my thumb on some jagged metal

61. What do you want for Christmas?
A new computer

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Has it been 4 years already?

http://www.bendovaho.org/jaime/default.html

Well, as the title implies, I'm back, and none too happy about it.

Despite the fact that it rained a lot last week up there, I had a great, great time.  Met some new folks, hung out with some old friends, got way too drunk one night - all in all, a basically perfect time.

Tomorrow, it's back to work.  

I can't remember having PCD (post con depression) this badly before.  Well, I guess this would be PPD (Post Pennsic Depression), but still...  Actually, I have my suspicions as to why PPD has hit me so hard this time around, but I'm keeping that to myself.  Suffice it to say, it'll take me a while to get back into the proverbial groove at work, and I'll probably be a grumpy bastard until that happens. 

I wish I was in the woods in Pennsylvania.

In no particular order.

Spent the better part of yesterday putting together a swingset my Dad got Drew for his (Drew's that is) birthday.  I will NEVER put another swingset together as long as I live.  I don't know if it was just the basic make of the thing or what, but every step of construction was a pain in the ass.  Drew seems to love it, so I guess it was worth it.  Just barely though.

I was potentially going to get a call and meet some friends at the Aiken Highland Games and Celtic Festival, but they didn't call, so I just built the aforementioned swingset yesterday.

Saw the play "Killer Joe" at Le Chat Noir in downtown Augusta on Friday night.  It was fuckin' awesome.  One of my Bendovaho Brothers was the lead, and he did a phenomenal job.  The whole cast did, actually.  It's running next week as well - I highly recommend it.
http://www.lcnaugusta.com

Afterwards I met with another friend at Red Hugh's (Irish Pub) for a couple of drinks.  It was a going away party of sorts.  See, said friend got a job as broadcaster/PR for the Peoria Riverman of the AHL.  We're really happy for him around here, but it sucks that he's leaving.  You see, in relatively short order, he's become one of my best, closest friends, and Drew thinks the world of "Hockey Tom".  We're going to miss him a lot around here, but it's on to bigger and better things for him, and we wish him only the best.
http://www.rivermen.net/

On Tuesday afternoon, I jet off to Philadelphia for the rest of the week.  Company trip, yadda yadda.  I should have evenings free, relatively speaking, so does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do whilst in Philly?