jakebuck.com

• After digesting “My Apocalypse” I am even more excited about the new Metallica album. Never thought it would be possible after Saint Anger. #
• up. slept halfway decently last night. about time. #
• home. catching up on the days events. also finishing some podcasts. #

• home again. is it time for the jiggity jig? #
• Juno (http://blippr.com/t/2037): Saw this twice in theaters. Absolutely loved every minute of it. Soundtrack, dialogue, actors, all were … #
• Hard Candy (http://blippr.com/t/10327): One of the most intense movies I’ve ever seen, but it was truly great to watch. A rather chillin … #
• Bullet Witch (http://blippr.com/t/68659): Decently fun little third-person shooter. You play as a witch with some cool spells and a big … #
• off to bed in a bit. lots to do tomorrow. #
• well I had to mess with the layout a bit at jakebuck.com before I crashed. now it’s bed time. #
• awakened with a crick in my neck. suck. #
• Parking went up to 180 a year. Ridiculous. #
• waiting on first class to begin #
• books bought and ordered. next class in 20. #
• got some RAM and a new wifi adapter for the PowerBook on the way. it’s current capabilities are not acceptable for this semester. #
• At target buying supplies for various things including this weekend’s festivities. One more class at 6:30. #
• waiting on the last class to start. #
• the last class begins… #

• new metallica song is promising. I need to get some shut eye. have work at 8:30 in the morning. boo. at least I got a new SMODCAST. #
• awake. this going to work a half hour early is gonna suck. #
• Scars On Broadway (http://blippr.com/t/47760): Featuring two members of System of a Down, this album rocks out better than most. Very re … #
• home. food time #

Pictures have been posted from the concert.

Thursday night, Matt and I went to the House of Blues and watched Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters, as he calls his current band. They put on a phenomenal show! We were right at the front of the stage just to his right. We even got a handshake and our tickets signed in the middle of the last song, “That Mountain”. They played two sets and an encore. The first set consisted of his “Boxmasters” stuff which is more countryish. The second set and encore were more of a rock/country mix. The band wore different costumes for each set too. It just might have been the best concert I’ve ever been to. Really rivals the Dream Theater shows I’ve seen.

PS - I’m uploading pics now. Should be up tomorrow at the latest.

Well. This weekend was supposed to be an enjoyable experience for me and all us volunteers and con-goers. Supposed to be. That was the idea.

I guess things started to fall apart about a year ago when Keita, our convention chair person came down to look at the hotels here in Killeen, TX. After noting that there was only one real option that was A) big enough for all the expected con-goers and events and B) had a hotel attached for the guests and con-goers to stay at. Well, The Plaza, as it is called, is not a very good place to be. Or stay the night. Or the weekend. Or attend a convention at. Or hold a convention at. First and foremost, the hotel manager assured us that certain sections of the hotel, which were not air conditioned properly, would be repaired and updated to meet our standards. This was not done. Next, we had breakfast and lunch that was supposed to be served to our guests in their “Green Room”. This was not done in a timely manner and we nearly had to beg on our knees to get what we did.

Next, the rooms. What a nightmare. First, no wifi anywhere in the building. Wired LAN in each room, though it seems only half of them actually work. There were reports of shower heads breaking off, showers not draining properly, toilets overflowing, and even cleaner on the sheets causing allergic reactions. The hotel could not provide new light bulbs, working phones, alarm clocks, trashcans, tv remotes, pillows or network cables. Luckily the only problem in my room is the shower. It doesn’t get hot until it’s been running for about 4-5 minutes. Otherwise our room has been copasetic.

In continuation, another convention in town is booked for the same weekend and the majority of our hotel is filled with guests of that convention and not those of Animix. That turns away a number of people when they cannot reserve rooms more that two months before the con even starts. Then The Plaza over books the hotel and we are forced to cram as many volunteers into as few rooms as possible just to fit all of our guests in. I’ve slept on the floor on a sleeping bag I bought Thursday night for the last two nights. And I will again tonight and tomorrow too.

Furthermore, those that are running the con have never run a convention before. Not that they aren’t enthusiastic with all the right intentions. But it seems that a number of items have come up over the week that they were not initially prepared for.

Then there are the volunteers. There are some of us, maybe one-third of us, that have worked 10+ hour days with very little time to really enjoy the con. The few things I have attended, I ended up overseeing as well because no one else was there. I feel like there should have been a more strict and organized schedule for us so that all areas were covered when they needed to be.

In short, I think that even with all the shortcomings of this event, there is potential for a bigger, better one next year. I hope that Keita and her family that put this together will be able to learn from this year and be able to make next year’s Animix even better. I just hope that the guests aren’t too displeased with the hotel and the disorganization. I don’t want them to “blackball” Animix with potential guests of next year’s con.

I’m going to try to make another post on Monday when I get back with a final report on the weekends proceedings.

It seems like it’s about time for a post for this month. I think I’m going to rework the site in a major way soon. It appears to not be much of a functioning entity.

Anywho, I’m off to AniMix sometime next week. Not sure how soon I can go down there, depends on how many nights we have our rooms. Should be a blast though.

I’m seriously considering the purchase of a Palm Centro. I’d like a better PDA like device. My current one doesn’t have the battery life to live long off its tether to the wall. A hacked iTouch is a nice choice but it wouldn’t hold enough stuff to keep me entertained, causing me to carry my iPod as well, making it one too many items in the pockets. And an iTouch with enough disk space would cost way too much. I’ve found Centros on eBay NIB for as little as $200. A lot cheaper than the iTouch or getting out of my contract early to get an iPhone.

I’ve gotten back into playing the Diablo 2 mod Back to Hellfire. It takes all the great things about Diablo and Hellfire and merges them into Diablo 2. All new quests, creatures, weapons, character classes, items, and trasmutations (some from Diablo and Hellfire) make it a whole new (yet old) experience. The best bonus of all is the inventory, stash and “Horadric Cube” (now called the Alchemist’s Bag) are huge.

I watched all of Black Books last week. Great little show created by and staring Dylan Moran. The show focuses on Bernard’s (Moran) book shop in London. Insanity ensues when he hires an assistant that has a totally opposite personality. The neighboring shop owner is also Bernards only friend.

I started Dexter last night. It will be my next marathon show. I’ve only watched one episode but I rather enjoyed it. I can’t wait to see all the crazy stuff he gets into. What a wicked little character. He loves blood. He’s a vigilante. He hates people in general. But he interacts with them in a fake but socially perfect way. Everybody loves him. Except his boss of course. He’s just creeped out by Dexter. Should be a very entertaining series.

I’ve also been playing the crap out of StepMania. You know, that DDR game for your computer. Well I’m playing with my keyboard and I’ve gotten really good at Light difficulty, halfway ok at Standard, and there’s even one song I can beat on Heavy. I’m improving ever so slightly. I tried playing it with my Logitech Dual Action controller. Did ok but not as good since it is hard to thumb two buttons at once.

This is starting to ramble so I’m gonna post it now.

I have been watching degrassi and its pretty good for a Canada’s teen drama. Jay and Silent Bob are in 6 episodes and there great. Kevin plays him self in most of it and jay well jays just jay. By the way we are going to be moving back and i ready.

I’ve been officially selected to be on the volunteer staff at AniMix 2008! I’ll be working with Guest Relations, which was my first choice. I’ll be meeting and tending to these great guests and more: Tiffany Grant (Asuka in Evangelion), Jon St. John (Duke in Duke Nukem), and Monica Rial (FMP!, FMA, Negima!, Air Gear, and many others). I can’t wait! I’ll be heading down there on Thursday July 17th and coming back Sunday July 20th.

Click here for Pictures form A-Kon 2008.
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