How Are You Spending Your Christmas Vacation? 303
Embedded Geek asks: "Instead of just spending Christmas break (or slowdown if you don't actually get time off) fixing up your house/car/server, are there any neat activities or events in your neck of the woods that you've been putting off? A museum exhibit? A cool new restaurant? An attraction in your hometown you usually only see with out of town relatives? Share your ideas with your fellow Slashdot readers! I, for one, plan to check out Barsoom to Blade Runner: Science Fiction in Southern California in my hometown."
First post, this late? (Score:1, Redundant)
Besides, who on the east coast can go anywhere with all of this snow?
Snow a problem? (Score:1)
Re:First post, this late? (Score:2)
The most basic root of Christmas is the Winter Solstice (roughly Dec 21), which almost any culture would assign a celebration. It's the shortest day of the year, and the beginning of days starting to grow longer.
Christanity stole lots of holidays, simply to help conversion. It wasn't necessarly to hide from being noticed, but to basically show they could celebrate, so you're loosing nothing by becoming Christian and believing in their "one true God".
From what I've read, Saturnalia is the celebration of the death and rebirth of Saturn. He was slowly dying through the winter, but this is his resurrection, and the days become longer.
Of course, I'm not 1000+ years old, so I don't know all the roots. I simply wasn't there (and I doubt any other
But, even the Jehovias Witnesses acknowledge that Christmas is a stolen holiday from Pagan roots.. I can't say they have a lot right, but they got that one right.
I'm not Christian, and I can't categorically say "Pagan", but generally Pagan beliefs have a stronger basis in reality than Christian. Shall we go into a deep religious discussion? I think it'd be us vs. the Christians..
Why didn't the Romans do a better job, and feed them all to the lions? hehe
BTW, I "celebrate" Christmas.. Well, I celebrate the Winter Solstice. But since everyone else is giving away free booze, food, and gifts, I'll show up to their parties.
Re:First post, this late? (Score:2)
In this case, virtually every religion has a celebration at or around the winter solstice.. So Christanity sees that people celebrate it. If you wish to assimiliate them, you have to keep their celebations. It makes things easier to get people to convert, if they don't believe they're loosing anything..
Say you were Mr. Pagan, and you had a great party every year.. The Christians want you to convert. But every winter your Pagan buddies are partying their asses off, wouldn't you want to be with them? It may even be enough to make you say "I don't really believe in your god any more..." yada, yada, yada..
I'm no theology expert, so I can't go too far into it, but it's well documented. Just go hunting for information...
I'm not asking anyone to just drop their beliefs, but blind faith is just asking for trouble. This great "Christian" holiday is a great example of how the Christian church has put a spin on their religion to wash over others.. Only a few people now will wish you a happy Winter Solstice (I'm one of them)..
Re:First post, this late? (Score:2)
I'm trying to be more informative with my responses lately on here.. Too many people just posting stupid messages.
Family/Friends (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Family/Friends (Score:2)
Re:Family/Friends (Score:2)
Oh, the joys of having a laptop. My compter is right here, in front of me.
- Sam
Re:Family/Friends (Score:2)
I'm working on my car. Or at least the throttle body. Damn brass screws won't budge. Soaked them in so much PB Blaster that my head is killing me now. I'll just drill to buggers out I guess.
I'm removing the secondary throttle plates, which were there just to keep you off the throttle when the engine is cold, and for the automatic transmission kick down. I'm smart enough to not floor it when it is cold, and there's not going to be an auto in the car when it is done. So off with their heads.
I don't plan on restoring the functionality of this throttle body ever, as I'm filling the holes where the rod that holds the plates in place is with JB Weld, so not like I'll need the screws in one piece.
So who's working on their house?
Happy holidays to all.
Well (Score:1)
Like Peter in the movie Office Space... (Score:5, Funny)
And I'm doing that right now...
Re:Like Peter in the movie Office Space... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:please explain (Score:2)
My Christmas. (Score:3, Funny)
The Fort Worth Modern (Score:1)
I'm spending it (Score:2)
Recently divorced, living by myself. Snow cancelled my trip to my parents today, and I just don't feel like moving.
Now, so I can live vicariously though others, how about some folks who've have a better Christmas?
Re:I'm spending it (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'm spending it (Score:2)
Reminds me of the dude with the sig:
Karma: Excellent (Hookers would be happy to screw you for cash)
Re:I'm spending it (Score:3, Interesting)
Also comes in "book on CD", where he reads his own stuff, also well worth it (one of the things that holiday money is going for!)
Lea
Re:I'm spending it (Score:2, Funny)
hmmm... (Score:2)
whistle while you work (Score:3, Funny)
Well... (Score:1)
Ah, vacations are good.
Nothing wrong with relaxing (Score:5, Insightful)
This perfect to do when there are no little ones in the family (our youngest is 18) and there is nothing like seeing little kids get wide-eyed over a toy.
--Joey
Re:Nothing wrong with relaxing (Score:3, Interesting)
Of course all that pasta went into the donation bin for the food bank. Yes, spreading the joy is an essential part of the season, and oh so easy!
Re:Nothing wrong with relaxing (Score:4, Funny)
I applaud you (Score:2)
Money is still tight, but for the past month or so, I had been ignoring the Salvation Army guy with the kettle outside the local Target store, and on Dec. 24, I slipped US$20 into the kettle.
O.K. So I always wanted to be able to afford to slip a $100 bill in there, but I figured this was a reasonable compromise between my family's welfare, and that of those less fortunate than us -- umemployment sends that message home pretty hard.
As for our plans, we are packing and planning a move. Sure, the $20 is a drop in a bucket, but I figure better that than nothing. Perhaps someday, I will be able to donate more, I had already donated a car to charity this year, before I lost the job.
Some will think me generous, others cheap. Frankly, I don't care -- I do not give for the sake of others' opinions. I do what I can, given my nature.
my list (Score:2)
Building my own slashsite.
CCNP certification.
Finding a girlfriend.
Sleep.
Ripping my parents' CD collection while I'm home.
Build a fireworks factory out of legos to save money next July 4th.
Christmas shopping for next year.
Skiing!
Re:my list (Score:3, Funny)
Re:my list (Score:2)
Don't chicks dig slash and cisco certified hardware?
Re:my list (Score:2)
Re:my list (Score:4, Funny)
me- "Hi, can I buy you a drink?"
her- "I don't know, can you?" *wink*
...one drink later...
her- "So, what operating system do you use?"
Not that I'm complaining, mind you. I play the truth card ("you know, FreeBSD, Linux, OpenBSD, I'm into the group thing") and have been laid more times than I can count in the last month alone.
Chicks dig unix.
Re:my list (Score:2)
I'm a geek myself, certainly, but I like to do other things too, and I know I'm not alone in that, or wanting to share that with my friends -- and my signifigant other had better be one of em.
Speaking of which, I'd better go back to drooling over a new lens, new board game, new pots, and new hip!
Lea
This combined with kinetic generators... (Score:1, Funny)
Gotta do some sports ;-) (Score:1)
Family (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Family (Score:1)
Re:Family (Score:2)
This is how /. should be... (Score:1)
I rather like what Christmas has done to /.; maybe it will continue. I can only hope =)
Re:This is how /. should be... (Score:2)
I rather like what Christmas has done to
--
RMS is a fucking asshole. [slashdot.org]
Oh yes, I can feel the love all the way here in Houston!
Re:This is how /. should be... (Score:1)
My Plans (Score:2)
Going to run... (Score:2)
Toy Assembly For The Boy (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Toy Assembly For The Boy (Score:2)
Brain Dead (Score:2)
I'll try to figure out a roadtrip to go to Fullerton for the science fiction exhibit. I've been planning on getting a huge back tattoo of art deco type sci-fi. Some sort of Alex Raymond/Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon type thing. If anyone has ideas email them to me gorn at nokill dot com. A friend of mine is a great tattoer and she said she'd do it for free. No one sees my back anyway.
After Fullerton I'll try to get to Vegas to see the Guggenheim motorcycle exhibit before it closes.
In an hour off to Davis to eat, drink and open Xmas presents at my sister's house.
Usually, I spend Xmas eve at a bar or drinking booze in a cheap hotel. This year was different.
The meter maids are out today. Man, they're worthless. A ticket on Xmas.
Making Gnutella Better! (Score:2)
They are watching a movie now though, so instead of that I'm on my parents new computer (P4 1.6 for only $400, wow!) editing a proposal that I recently submitted for review on the GDF.
I'm also answering personal e-mails and surfing the good old web.
Merry Christmas Slashdot!!
well... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:well... (Score:2)
In and out in three hours...did pretty good for a minor wounding over Xmas. Must have been quiet at the hospital.
Me, I spent Xmas by myself (well, the wife was upstairs sleeping off her nightshift at the hospital...), got a computer to set up RH8 on, a new ReplayTV to play with, and an all-day Thunderbirds marathon on TechTV. Not so bad.
My Christmas Holiday (Score:1)
Geocaching (Score:1)
There's some new geocaches [geocaching.com] in my area that I'm hoping to check out. The lack of tree cover reduces signal loss on the GPSR, and the winter weather kills off much of the undergrowth.
I always needed a "reason" to buy a GPS receiver... this hobby provided me with it!
Geek toys and outdoor activity! What a great combo!
I'm spending the time like everyone here... (Score:2)
What I'm doing (Score:2)
where have all the code freaks gone? :) (Score:2)
I don't think this is healthy, yesterday I had to stop because I kept seeing spots. Honest.
It's fun though, do this every christmas break.
I'm coding myself (Score:2)
I'm with family, but they are pretty low-key so pleanty of time to code away.
- Sam
Re:where have all the code freaks gone? :) (Score:2)
Funny.
Spelling changes depending on my mood.
Cambodia MotoCross (Score:2)
Ripped my toenail off, so not doing much. (Score:2)
no internet for me (Score:2, Funny)
Waiting for the power to come back on... (Score:2)
Winter, finally, so.. (Score:2)
Oh, as sys admin/tech support/everything I get plenty at work and have 5 computers set up at home.
But now I have the chance finally to take an older PC, jack the RAM and HD up on it, and install RH 8 which I downloaded awhile back. I'd put the latest beta on instead, but it just came out and I probably won't be able to dl it at work till the every quits hitting the mirrors so hard.
It will be a good chance to replace my older RH 6.2 machine (firewall/DNS/DHCP) on a 486/55 16MB with a 350 Pentium II and set up things like USB, CD Writer, and a lot of user type programs I had never gotten the chance to do.
In other words, this time off will be a learning experience. Can't be anything wrong with *that*!!!
Christmas Vacation? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Christmas Vacation? (Score:2)
Re:Christmas Vacation? (Score:2)
Happy holidays!
hmm... this post will make my signature look even more funny in context...
Working (Score:2)
But it's coming along nicely; one advantage to working on the holidays - no interruptions.
looking for work, fighting the snow (Score:2)
Looked online at job postings on CG/Animation web sites last night then watched LOTR.
I spent this morning helping the parents shovel the lane and then treated myself to some time in the hot tub. Jumped out once to make a snow angel. That was really cold. Now I am looking again for work.
I can't wait for HR departments to come back from break. Being layed off two weeks before Christmas makes it difficult to find work right away. Places are posting jobs but they aren't ready to get back to you until after the holidays.
Oh... and i was going to go to the grandparents with my family... but the snow got in the way.
-Tim
Learning more Linux software, and upgrading (Score:2)
I'm only on
Wine...GOOD! (Score:3, Interesting)
Now, I'm watching CNN and drinking some REALLY nice wine and reading Slashdot while my incredibly awesome wife is in her office, surfing the net and xfering her radio show to MP3.
Here's to a safe and happy New Year where I finally find a job! (unemployed since Aug 01)
Oh yea, it's snowing like crazy outside here in Act(i)on, MA., 25 miles west of Boston. Expecting 12-18"!!! May actually start up the snowmobiles tomorrow!!!
I'm the luckiest guy in the world. We've got our health, I've got a GREAT wife and a wonderful kid.
Coding (Score:2)
Family day (Score:2)
Today, we picked them up around 11 and went to brunch at the big hotel here in town. Dressed nice, took pictures. We've spent the afternoon relaxing, opening gifts (mostly for the baby - we really don't need anything ourselves), and playing with the little guy. In about 15 minutes, we're going out for a nice, traditional Chinese food dinner.
And then, afterwards, we'll drop them off at the hotel, come home, and hope that next year is the year that the whole world finally stops treating each other so crappy. Even though babies tend to generate optimism, I'm not holding out much hope on that one, unfortunately.
It'll be back to work tomorrow, with a decent amount of stuff to do before year-end.
How I am spending my Christmas Break (Score:2)
Unemployed.. sigh
Still searching for my daughter (Score:5, Informative)
Please help to give a geek dad the only thing he wants for Christmas -- Sabrina back at home. Please mod this up, and please visit FindSabrina.org [findsabrina.org]. Please tell your friends to look at her picture to see if they've seen her.
This Christmas has really sucked for me and my family.
(Sorry about the repeat -- that's my
Re:Still searching for my daughter (Score:2)
Your page (Score:2)
CmdrTaco, this is why anonymous posts need IPs (Score:2)
Once, and for all, this is why anonymous postings need to have their IP recorded so that assholes like this can not post this kind of bullshit without fear of retribution.
How would you feel if you had a missing daughter and someone posted something like this in reply to a plea to help find her?
Go ahead, mod me down. I have karma to burn.
As to the original poster: God knows who you are, and you will pay for what you have done.
- Sam
The Beach of course.... (Score:2, Insightful)
Doing Christmas stuff of course! (Score:2)
Hope all of you find yourselves well and with family having good times.
OT: (Sort of)
Ever wonder about the subtle change in language happening to discussion about these times? I noticed that the headline for this thread has the word Christmas in it. Usually Christmas is associated with a Christmas tree. Most of the media has been referring to this as a 'Holiday Tree' (probably because they are afraid of offending someone.)
To me this is wrong, and should get a little more discussion than it has currently.
Anyone out there seeing the same sort of thing?
Hoom, hoom! (Score:2)
Anyone looking for an Embedded Linux guy in San Diego?
Googlewhacking! (Score:4, Interesting)
Snowing and snowing and snowing here.... (Score:2)
One of our neighbors lives alone, so I took her over a big slab of eggnog cheesecake. It turns out the two friends who were supposed to drive over to have Christmas dinner with her had flaked out, scared by the snow. If I hadn't shown up with the cheesecake, she wouldn't have seen a single person today. I could see her table all set up for three people, two of whom would now not show up. She is about eighty, and I bet she worked at least as hard as I did getting ready for the big day.
My Christmas resolution is to spend some time getting to know this neighbor better. Also watch the extended DVD set of LOTR I got, and maybe go see Two Towers again.
I had surgery. (Score:2)
Whee. Codene is a fun drug. It makes you so dizzy and tired you can't even sit in front of a computer for very long.
Christmas vacation? (Score:2)
Watching the snow come down ... (Score:2)
Or: A day like any other.
Christmas, Chez Philman (Score:2)
I may drink a little too. But so far that's just a rumor. And we just got done having a stuffed Christmas Goose! Wonderful, delicious, yum.
If only my slightly deranged (it's cute when they go mad), oversexed ex girlfriend were here, I could have a truly lovely time. I'd have to hide the knives, of course, but I'm used to that.
Merry Christmas, everyone! And, a happy New Years, too!
Working... (Score:2)
(and a plug to help the one slashdotter find his kid in case you didn't read the website:
http://findsabrina.org/
)
Recommend gifts for those who got Xmas $$$? (Score:2)
*VACATION*? (Score:2)
The closest i get to one is going to Mitsuwa in Los Angeles to pick up this next year's Studio Ghibli calendar.
Who got a vacation? (Score:2)
Today... (Score:2)
Well... (Score:2)
Too bad I can't play Gamecube because I bought the girlfriend Animal Crossing. Whoops.
So now I'm reading and posting on Slashdot.
I got a slinky and new pajamas. Jealous?
Not much but a lot (Score:2)
So far. Christmas lunch at Mother-in-Law's next door. Played "Apples to Apples" [otb-games.com] with my teenagers. Played Cooperative Quake - "Hipnotic" expansion with son. Or rather I followed the carnage he left behind and still manged to get killed in all sort of creative ways. Went through all the papers that have piled up other past year. Sent off 8 forms/bills as a result! Still got a few US magazine subs to send off as well.
Stuff to do. Plan to volunteer tomorrow cleaning a large carpet. Get CD-Burning working. Fix GLX DRI problem on my son's PC. Solve Lothlorian and Kodiak newbie quests on 3k.org:3000 [3k.org] - what a tragedy my char Grin is. Last incarnation spent a total of 24 hours in Lothlarian alone. I can only dream of solving Attrition! Work my way through a few chapters of HTDP. Finish reading "My Name is Legion" and a few text books with tags 1/3 the way through them. Play golf. Set goals for 2003.Hmm. I'll be happy with all that.
The Quest for Monsieur Raymond's (Lost) Tomb. (Score:2)
... as for me, I'll be searching for the (presumably lost) tomb of a 17th century French traveller, Monsieur Raymond. Deccani oral history has, of course, completely Indianised "Monsieur Raymond"'s French pronounciation; the general area of his tomb's location is called 'Moosarambagh', literally, 'Moosaram's Park'. Just that, a) no one in the area quite knows where the tomb is, b) they haven't even heard of M. Raymond, c) two earlier trips to Moosarambagh have yielded only about three unpainted houses.
Not surprisingly, Google seems to have heard about it, even returned a picture [slashdot.org], which can only mean one thing:- it's waiting for my visit.
If only I can (accurately) figure out where it is.
Making up 4 being unemployed 1/2 the year? (Score:2)
I thought we were all underpaid; overworked cube monkeys? Must've been a student asking this question because I know of very few people that had off this holiday; and even those only had a couple hours on Christmas Eve and were very likely tied to their pager Christmas Day.
A what?? (Score:2)
Vacation? (Score:2)
I'm working extra hours. I get paid by the hour and in this economy I'm thankful for the opportunity.
My roommate finally got a break and is putting up drywall. I guess network programming jobs are slim.
Unemployed, jobless, no holday for me! (Score:2)
No job, can't buy presents for my girl friend, she is poor too, worried about finding a job before the cash runs out.
This year sucked.
See this for fun...
http://www.markfiore.com/animation/jobless.html
"Jobless" recovery is right. The top-siders are busy making up for lack of profits this year at the expense of the rest of the workers.
Reply here if you are jobless too.
Star Wars Fan Film (Score:2)
This year we won't have time restrictions, and it's already turning out better than last (more people, better weather, more props, more overall knowledge in production, etc). This one should definately be on TF.N.
Quality Time (Score:2, Funny)
Ask them if they can figure out what the acronyms mean!
Ask grandma if she knows who Jack Velenti is, and if so, did they ever have an affair? (seriously, I think if we all do this we may dig up some dirt)
Fun for the whole family!
And don't forget to check out Think Geek to see what you didn't get for X-Mas!
Re:Quality Time (Score:1)
Can't speak for him, though.
Re:Quality Time (Score:3, Funny)
cheers and merry xmas