U.S. Condemned For Pre-Emptive Use Of Hillary Clinton Against Pakistan

Well yesterday I had a unique opportunity to be an extra along with my son in a minute scene or more of a C or B movie called Dead Start. We found out about it by answering the call to try to break the zombie record. Sadly we fell way short. I say we had about just over 200 or so participants but it was no less fun being there. It was an interesting experience to say the least and we met some great people.

 

 

My son and I arrived at the set which happens to be the Watertown Stardust Drive In (one of the greatest little drive ins around) at 8:40 AM. We thought we were late because the call was for 8 AM. To our pleasant surprise we were right on time. After arriving we had to check in . I hope the guy that was manning the computer got my name right. He seemed to have that one finger typing skill and like myself looked like he had 10 thumb syndrome. Many of time I seen my info butchered with such technique to warrant a pessimistic view . Anyway we were then prompted after we passed the table set up to sell T shirts and pre order DVD's of the event ( my guess is that was part of the funding of the movie ) to the make up tent. Where my son (Cody) and I waited online to get zombified. The process which was quick and painless was one of dabbing a grayish ash type of substance with sort of base to stick on you to all the exposed parts of your face , arms , and what not.

 

 

After the make up we were sent to a section of the drive in dubbed the zombie school where you learned the basics of walking and talking like a zombie. And no not a single soul broke out into the thriller dance. Though I bet you it ran into the mind of many there while waiting to get bloodied.

 

 

I got to be honest there were those that showed up that already had great costumes and had the zombie walk and talk all down perfect. There were a couple in particular that come to mind. A women and her baby in the stroller . A group of three all decked out the women with no eye standing out the most out of the three . A girl that had a bloody teddy bear with her. A woman in a wedding dress. Another that had a rat on her shoulder. And one of the oddest of them all was a guy with the thorny crown of Christ on his head . Matter of fact his long hear and beard looked like the western depiction of Christ. Heh I guess that is one instance when you would say .. Ohhh Christ !!! Someone actually answered or turned around.

 

 

After all that it was time to get bloodied. Again waiting in line for the make up effect artist can finalize that I did not get any sleep because I have children that are insane plus my life sucks zombie look . You know that look that everyone at one time or another has experienced even if they refuse to admit look . This was a two stage process . There was one person with a bottle of blood and proceeded to poor it on your neck and shirt and even offered to poor it in your mouth and most likely any orifice that was legally permitted. I refused the mouth part. After you got showered with blood you stepped up to a person with a spritzer bottle and finalized the total look by spritzing it in your ear , hair and other areas. The end result . I be a ZOMBIE !!!!!! Heh what else is new.

 

 

At last we were ready for the big scenes. We shot a total of 2 scenes . Most likely about 5 or so minutes of film. But first we song a happy birthday to the filmmakers son the only way the living dead could sing . Man I wish I had a camcorder for that. It was fantastically hilarious. After the chorus of the dead was through we were about to begin. That is until we noticed that for some odd reason our group attracted the attention of buzzards. Of course the film maker could not resist putting the scene on hold until he got a shot of the curiously fitting occurrence.

Now we were ready to get into the first scene included an actress of the movie being chased by the horde of zombie stopping in front of the camera. Wiggle and jiggle and let out as the director directed one of those classic awful screams. We did that one in 2 or 3 takes.

The second scene included Terry Kiser of Weekend at Bernies fame. matter of fact it was Bernie himself this time alive and well and playing a news man reporting on the zombie invasion. Here we had to walk towards the car as zombies do and attack . Our motivation. He was zombie bait. And we were starving. After the scene was over he was kind enough to take some pictures with younger zombies in the crowd. My son included.

 

 

That there as they would say was a wrap. The only other thing that topped that experience was driving a half hour back to my house still in make up. I realized that few even noticed and most was oblivious. One particular to note was a small girl whose jaw dropped while her mother spoke on a cell phone and never noticed the I even existed. Now I know where writers get that inspiration to write that in some movies.

All in all in was great day and I have to thank those of the Stardust Drive In and the production team for allowing us to participate in one of those you do not do often events. It was a memory that will live for a long time and most of all it was one of those father and son times that not to many dads get to spend with their kids. Even though mine took off and played with the other children.

For more shots of the day check out my photo album of it HERE .

                               This weekend I packed the family for an over night stay at Pigeon Forge. One of those places in Tennessee if any one ever comes to visit must see along with Gatlinburg also know and the mecca of the south. Not much to do in one day except go to the areas most popular theme park Dollywood and spend a whole afternoon riding some rides , watching shows and stopping by the many craft shops that are all over the park.

The park itself is a hidden gem that if you are not from the area or know any one that has gone there you will never have heard of. It scenic grounds are full of water wheels , water clocks , fountains ,  picturesque buildings from modeled after the old country town , and its home of hand crafted artisans that carry on the age old traditions of wood working , glass blowing  , black smith and more.

 

                                         

It also in my opinion happens to be a great bargain for half the price of most parks of such caliber you can enjoy live entertainment , great rides such as the Tennessee Tornado, Thunder head ( a real classic of a wooden roller coaster one of the best , see Youtube video I found on it ) , Timber Tower and much more , and really good food for a theme park. A lot of southern home cooking style which is done right. The great part of this it is not one of those parks that you have to waste time and rush here and there you can actually relax and have a great time. It is very kid friendly and also has much for the adults too. A real plus is the staff is one of the most friendliest I have ever come across in my life.  They are there to help and serve and no attitudes. Water is free in the park unlike some other major parks . As you can tell we had a blast. But this outing in the park almost did not happen because of a terrible booking we made for a motel. 

 

                               

                               

 

Found this on youtube it gives you a great idea of how the coaster rocks.I got to give who ever shot this video credit they held the camera all through this ride and riding it myself can tell you that hitting those turns  they did a great job

 

 

As you can see we had a blast here . 

Nightmare in Pigeon Forge

The week before all this trip my wife and I looked on line for a good cheap motel considering we were only going to stay the night. So we searched the trip advisory rating list which is usually on the money. We came across the Green Valley Motel and from all the ratings it had we decided well we will take it. For 80 a night it was not the cheapest and we expected it to be an OK motel. Well those ratings were wrong , the people who said the rooms were clean must of been on crack. When we got there the motel was aged. you can tell , nothing new. I have stayed in old hotels and motels before. Sometimes those have a certain charm to it. When we open the room the room smelled of stale cigarette order the type that is embedded into the walls.

The ceiling had water damage and the rugs were filthy. What is worse we complained about the room smell and was told that there was no smoke odor that is until I decided to say we were not going to stay then they wanted to switch us to another room. I had taken a peak into other rooms on the way to ours from open windows and doors while they were in the middle of being cleaned and found them no better then the ones we had. So it was no go in my book.

In the end we got lucky as we called around and found the Red Roof Inn had rooms. Always clean and dependable for the most part. The bad part is we may have to eat the price of the first motel because we ordered from Orbitz and they have this no refund policy which you know we are going to fight .

So all in all we had a great time even if there was a bumpy and head spinning start . If any one reads this I advise you to avoid such mistakes and go with highly recommended and proven establishments .

 

 

 

Last night I kicked backed and watched Caprica on DVD the pilot movie for the new soon to air prequel series of Battle Star Galactica.  If you are looking for a SCI FI tale with exploding ships and lots of action I think this series will not be for you. It more is like those nite soap dramas with the sci fi twist. Also the DVD is not for kids . Trust me I almost absent mindlessy let my 10 year old watch it with out reading the content first. Well I could not anyway got it from netflix .. The opening sequences depicts a virtual world where teens meet and could do anything like sex , sacrifices to gods , fight rooms where they beat the beejezus out of each other. All of course done in a virtual world  much like going on to the net and going to different pages in a site or chat rooms.  A cult is rising about the one God which in this series is against the rules because there are the 12 colonies are polytheists.  And a fantatic act of terroism starts the plot and the destiny of the Adamas (Joseph Adama is the father of future Battlestar commander William Adama) and the Graystones a family that eventually it seems will be the creators of the Cylons (Cybernetic Lifeform Nodes - clever right).

 The story happens 58 years before Galactica which kind of throws off some of the story line in Galactica if you ask me. Especially with the origins of the Cylons.  That may get tied up some how to fit but not perfectly IMO.

A short Plot summary with out giving too much up is as follows from the pages of wiki.

 The Twelve Colonies are at peace, 58 years before the reimagined series, when an act of religious fanaticism brings together Joseph Adama, a lawyer with ties to the underworld, and wealthy technologist Daniel Graystone, both of whom lose family members. Grief-stricken by the loss of his daughter and fueled by obsession, Daniel sets out to bring her back, using his considerable wealth and sprawling technology corporation. Offered the chance of his own daughter being restored, Joseph wrestles with the notion until he comes face to face with its reality .

 

Now I will add to that. The daughter of  Graystone happen to be a computer genius who figures out how to store her brain patterns in the virtual world. Her father discovers that. he also is in charge of creating a cybernetic war machine. You guessed it the Cylons. But can not get it to work. His daughter Zoe and friends set off a bomb on a train killing a mass amount of people. Grieving the father finds Zoes image in the virtual world and then plots to restore her as a cyborg the first attempt is used on a prototype Cylon. Which at first seem to fail but yeilded results in the success of the military contract of the Cylons development. But somehow Zoes life force holds on and reinserts itself in the form of a Cylon. And thats pretty much how the pilot starts and ends

 Now was it worth watching . Well that depends on the person I thin. This is not one of those I will recommend to everyone especially adventure seekers but the premiss is solid and it could be a great medium to explore social issues. I found it entertaining and thought provoking on some levels and boring in other areas. I say wait till the TV series that is unless you like the nude seens in the beginning and the blood and guts then get the DVD.

 

                      

 When I first join Twitter I found it kind of awkward like I do many of the social networks. It is just not what I am comfortable with. I can be very clumsy with when it comes to things like that .. heh it figures I would run one right .... Anyway I found another and great use for Twitter . Research and news.  That is right . I have come across some great news and tech sites that keeps my geekness going and also keeps me up to date of all the latest in web development with Joomla , phpBB 3 not to mention Open Source and other great areas . Heck I even get my Apple news alerts and iTouch application alerts from Twitter now.  Of course it is not limit or do I limit myself to just tech. There is Sci FI and Sci Fri that tweets any science news flashes ... I even found William Shatners tweets.. CNN , and other news. Then of course there are those friends that makes it all worth it.

 

 Here are some of the ones I follow 

For Joomla 

Rocketheme

Azrul

Joomlatools

Rhuk

Joomlacommunity

Joomla Tips

TechJoomla

Joomladalasvegas

Joomla

JoomlaDeveloper

Jomsocial 

1joomlaGuru 

 

For phpBB 3

phpbbweekly

phpbbnews

phpbb

 

For Apple

apple_app_store

digg_applenews

mactweeter

 

Then there is

php_net

osnetwork  

ossupportdesk

 

For fun

William Shatner

TheCuriousMind

SCI Fri  This is an interesting one stands for SCIENCE FRIDAY.

 

Thats just a few that I have mention. There are tons more. But those are the ones that I keep an eye on. As I become less of a twit on twitter that list will most likely grow and be refined.   I just now love lurking and learning in twitter and also of course saying hello to everyone from time to time.  

 

iscussion on Joomla and bulletin boards here in the blog where I can utilize the code. Here is a short list of boards and bridges that I have found in my quest for what board should go here. The Best boards for Joomla

Component Boards

Boards that run native in Joomla

• CCBoard
• Joo!BB
• Agora (Agora actually is punBB made into the component its revival of an old now defunct component that based its core off of it )
• Kunena (updated post Fireboard is no more but there is fork of the project with many bug fixes)
• Simplest Forums

Bridged Boards

Boards that have a bridge component that connects them together but each system is actually a stand alone.

• PhpBB 3
• SMF
• Vbulliten
• punBB

Bridges that I know of right now.

This is not a full list but there is not a huge one to start with.

• Jfussion Supports phpBB 3 , SMF , Vbulliten , punBB
• RokBridge For phpBB 3 and joomla 1.5
• CBConnector Works through Community Builder
• LastVB
• Simple joomla 1.5 /smf 2.0 bridge

I finally got around to decorate the front for Halloween . My second favorite holiday other then Christmas. I just started the other day so I do to have the full effect up and with everything going on it seems like time has become a hurtle that's about ten feet too big for me to handle of late.  But needing something to keep my mind and self busy I started with the graveyard and some porch decorations Mind you the full effect will be me dressed in the grim reapers outfit with two fog machines and a couple of small strobe lights going on

 

Here are some snaps of what is up so far

 

 

 

It works .; I just made sure that on the front page of the blogs and the side bar you only see the code. I did not want to stretch the sidebar out. But if you click ointo the link you will get the poll. THe same method you use for the forum applies here, see how to

 http://m8-2.com/home/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=58&func=view&catid=80&id=5669&limit=6&limitstart=0ᘥ

 

{PollDaddy id=991010}

If you have not been up on the news Nashville has run out of gas do to hurricane Ike, panic buying and scummy merchants trying to gouge the public. So when this little film on Hitler came to me via another Davidson County and Wilson County resident I had to laugh. The war room with Hitler is the perfect backdrop for this sad commentary on the times. Plus I could imagine the Metro police attacking the neighboring county of Williamson on bikes. LOL brought a chuckle to a crisis. Sometimes its the morbid things that make it bearable. So with out further delay here is poking a little fun at my home towns situation starring the Führer himself . You have to live here to appreciate this one but you do not have to live here to enjoy a sarcastic twisted sense of humor .

A few years ago I had the honor of proposing to my wife at the most gorgeous house in the US the Biltmore House in North Carolina. Heh before any of you gag I figured she deserved the best considering she would be stuck with me the rest of her life :P.

 

But seriously this house is a magnificent structure that  is worth visiting at least once in a life time. We use to be season ticket holders until it got a little pricey but every now and then at the end of August we make a pilgrimage to there to celebrate an anniversary. 

 Another reason is they have a fantastic winery there and a great bistro with fine foods. Its nice to kick back once and a blue moon and pamper yourself even if its a budget breaker.  But also if you have a touch of romantic blood in you and want to spend a day with your other half in a setting that not to many plaes can compete then this is the place. Even with the kids in tow we found it extremely romantic. Says something about the scenery. 

 Of course we took a tour of the house and the winery . The house is amazing it has 244 room its approximately 12 square acres in size. That's bigger then some neighborhoods. There was one room that was a dining room that was over 5000 square feet. It was tall and wide enough to fit my house and a half with some room in it. 

The tour was restricted to only a handful of room that were restored but it was amazing never the less. this house had plumbing and electricity before any really did. An indoor pool and bowling alley plus many many many more features that I do not know where to start. One downer is that photography is not allowed in the rooms themselves but you can get a peek at them from the many pictures that you can find online.

  The winery is the other plus on the tour. You get to tour the grounds then go to a complimentary taste testing of the wines. I always found their winds extremely reinvigorating and tasty .  Unfortunately I end up always buying several bottles to bring home when I promise not too. Oh well :)

Here is a little rundown from wiki on the House 

Biltmore House is a French Renaissance-inspired chateau near Asheville, North Carolina, built by George Washington Vanderbilt between 1888 and 1895. It is the largest privately owned home in the United States at 175,000 square feet (16,300 m2). Still owned by Vanderbilt's descendants, it stands today as one of the most prominent remaining examples of the Gilded Age. In 2007, it was ranked eighth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

 

More photos of the House and Grounds