PERSONAL NEWS: Out Testing Today - Wish Me Luck!

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TOP: A darned weekend day at the office! Dagnabit!

Hi All,

Well, I won't be around most of today... I've got to take a big promotional test for work today... it means even more good money if I can do well on the chimeric beast of a test, but who knows? Why do they always seem to schedule these things on weekends when we don't get paid?

TOP: A "Chimera" of a test...

The Chimera Comic is from this fine web comic, which I adore:
http://yafgc.shipsinker.com/index.php

At any rate, please wish me luck and fortune!

Have a great Saturday!

And a hearty Gut Shabbos to my Jewish readers!

Shabbat Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures / videos: These are not all my images and videos. I am using various images and videos from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images and videos under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

WEIRD NEWS: Al Gore, Global Warming & Me!

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Hi Everyone,

On The Miniatures Page (TMP) today, I read Wyatt the Odd's comments (He's very likeable!) about the horrible cold spell facing California and... I'm pretty unfazed so far. I read the California state weather warning earlier this week, which sounded like we were going to get "The Day After Tomorrow" (Catastrophic disaster and tsunamis) and, instead, it's right pleasant. To read the warning, I was expecting much worse than has actually happened... at least, so far.

A link to the TMP post:

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=96583

Speaking of Global Warming, that reminds me of Al Gore…

*** Anyone know that he has his own television station now called Current TV? ***

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_TV

I only know because the other day ago, they were doing "interviews on the street" and they asked my friend and I for interviews on the way back to the office from lunch… we agreed and signed waivers.

It was pretty juvenile… very leading questions about prop 87 (taxing energy producers for being evil capitalists), mental healthcare and… the kicker:

*** "Would you rather see money spent on mental healthcare reform or Girls Gone Wild?" ***

I'm not kidding… they really asked that! I might expect that question from "Slick Willy Clinton TV," but Al Gore?

The "journalist" who interviewed us said that they'd call us if they decide to use our footage. I don't think I'll cross my fingers... I should have gotten more excited about "Girls Gone Wild" like the guys they interviewed before us. Have a great Sunday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
Here's a link to Prop 87 if you're really interested (pretty boring):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Proposition_87_(2006)

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

PERSONAL NEWS: Happy 2007 New Year!

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Hi Everyone,

So, I decided on my 2007 New Years Resolutions:

------PROFESSIONAL / BUSINESS / FINANCIAL:
- Get the next promotion and raise in my career path by the end of the year.
- Pay off all my outstanding consumer debts by the end of the year and go debt-free.
(My car's already paid off and almost everything else)
- Work out a new schedule with my new boss to get out early on Wednesdays so can join the guys for gaming again.

------PERSONAL:
- Go on 4 to 6 or more dates.
- Add at least 50 to 150 sit-ups, crunches or other abdominal exercises to my gym work-outs.
- Keep a cleaner house by doing a major clean-up at least once a month.

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HOBBY:

- Build 6mm urban metropolis terrain structure bases of at least 1'x1' area or more.

- Run a Monster Island game using the new urban metropolis terrain.

- But a new digital camera that works well for miniatures photography and photograph the Godzilla City Stomp'in Games.

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Have a great New Year celebration and all the best for 2007!

Shalom,

Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.

Here's a handy dandy flow chart in Russian if you need directions how to celebrate New Years:

If you can't read Russian, pretend it's Greek and say "It's all Greek to me!" ...or just ask me later and I'll translate.

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

GAMING NEWS: Two PATs, Tamales, Pearl Harbor & Silly String, the Secret Weapon (7 December 2006)…

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Hi Everyone,

Welcome back to another installment of “6mm-Minis!” The past week has seen me keep busy, but enough of that and on to the content…

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PEARL HARBOR DAY!

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, that “Day of Infamy” on which a secret attack by the Japanese Empire on December 7, 1941 that sunk nine American ships, damaged another seven, destroyed or damaged over three-hundred aircraft and thus brought the United States into World War Two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor

This may be the last time that the Pearl Harbor veterans meet too. It’s a sad day. Their generation was a great one that didn’t shirk their duties and their sacrifices paved the way for the prosperity of later generations. I’m grateful to them.

Check out this article about their possibly last reunion if you get a chance:

“Pearl Harbor survivors gather, maybe for last time”

http://tinyurl.com/ykun77

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YOU DO WHAT?

In other news more personal to me, my work is having a “team-building day” next week… when I heard that, I almost groaned out loud. I had terrible visions of sappy exercises where you have to fall down backwards and hope that your teammate will catch you… sort of like I had to do when I became a public educator. Without too much dithering, I hated those exercises… with a passion!

So, to my surprise, I asked my co-worker what we’d be doing and found out that… we’ll be making tamales for team-building… TAMALES? Yes, tamales. I guess that’s what happens when you work in a shop full of Latinos. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining and my family does make tamales, but I never imagined being paid to do it.

What a pleasant surprise!

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TWO PATs:

In gaming related news, I have to tip my hat to the Two Pats! The two Pats I’m talking about are Patrick Smyrl of the Patrick's Hobby Shed blog and Patrick Sweeney of Firefly Games. Patrick Smyrl writes one of my favorite blogs, Patrick Smyrl's Gaming Blog, and recently volunteered to help create material for another friend, Tas, an Australian Naval officer who is unfortunately deployed and unable to tend his blog, another favorite of mine, Yours in a White Wine Sauce!.

You can find both Patrick’s and Tas’ blogs here:

http://pshobbyshed.blogspot.com/

http://pauljamesog.blogspot.com/

The other Patrick I’m talking about is Patrick Sweeney, the head honcho over at Firefly Games, maker of the ever popular Monster Island tabletop game. Patrick launched a new game earlier this year called The Faery’s Tale, which is simply an outstanding game, a sort of simply roleplaying game for children. Patrick specializes in simple, easy-to-play games suitable for children or adults. In an industry that tends to focus on adults, Firefly Games, is remarkable for producing games to introduce your favorite young people to.

Check out Firefly Games here:

http://www.firefly-games.com/index.php

And unlike this Pat:

These two Pats are assuredly male!

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SILLY STRING, THE SECRET WEAPON!

STRATFORD, N.J. — In an age of multimillion-dollar high-tech weapons systems, sometimes it's the simplest ideas that can save lives. Which is why a New Jersey mother is organizing a drive to send cans of Silly String to Iraq.

American troops use the stuff to detect trip wires around bombs, as Marcelle Shriver learned from her son, a soldier in Iraq. Before entering a building, troops squirt the plastic goo, which can shoot strands about 10 to 12 feet, across the room. If it falls to the ground, no trip wires. If it hangs in the air, they know they have a problem. The wires are otherwise nearly invisible.

Now, 1,000 cans of the neon-colored plastic goop are packed into Shriver's one-car garage in this town outside Philadelphia, ready to be shipped to the Middle East thanks to two churches and a pilot who heard about the drive.

"If I turn on the TV and see a soldier with a can of this on his vest, that would make this all worth it," said Shriver, 57, an office manager.

Check out the full article here:
http://tinyurl.com/saby6

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Have a great Thursday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

PERSONAL NEWS: Many Missed Holidays!

.Hi Everyone,

Wow, it's been several weeks since I last posted. I hadn't realized that I've been that busy. Lots has gone on since my last post. The above photo is of me getting caught on my birthday, this past Halloween, at my office cubicle. I was half asleep and didn't get a chance to crack much of a smile... let alone wake up when this photo got snapped.

Firstly, we had a Halloween party at work and I wanted to share a few photos from that party:

The winning entry from our pumpkin carving contest.

Look Mom, I work with Johnny Cash!

Our IT wizard... for real!

Some of the participants in the costume contest.

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Secondly, Veteran's Day has come and gone and I wanted to wish a Happy Veteran's Day to all the veterans out there... including my father. Happy Veterans Day, Dad!

If it wasn't for veterans, we wouldn't have so many of the things that so many folks take for granted... intangible and invaluable things like freedom of speech, government stability, enough food and so many other things that too many folks elsewhere in the world aren't able to take for granted. May it not always be so.

I'm dedicating my much belated Veteran's Day post this year to Captain Jeffrey Toczylowski, 30 years old. Rest in peace, brother. He was recently killed in battle in Iraq.

He not only fought for what he beleived in, but made arrangements to throw a $100k party for his friends when his time came. A hat tip to Mr. AP. Read more about it here:

http://tinyurl.com/yggsbx

And here:

http://tinyurl.com/y9d89x

And his family and friends set up a tribute web site here:

http://www.jefftoz.com/

A quote from him:

“Don’t ever think that you are defending me by slamming the Global War on Terrorism or the U.S. goals in that war,” Jeffrey Toczylowski wrote. “As far as I am concerned, we can send guys like me to go after them or we can wait for them to come back to us again. I died doing something I believed in and have no regrets except that I couldn’t do more.”

God bless the folks willing to take action when diplomacy breaks down in the face of obstinacy.

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I spent the weekend before last down in Southern California visiting my girlfriend, Svetlana. We went out to the movies, saw Sony Picture's Open Season, which was a fun little animated flick. We also spent alot of time on the beaches...

She has a great apartment literally on the beaches of Hermosa Beach, Southern California. We also visited several other spots including Venice Beach, Muscle Beach and the Santa Monica Pier. It was a good time and it will go at least a little ways towards explaining my absence from blogging for that weekend... LOL :)

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And this past weekend, I spent doing chores... ironing, cleaning and that bane of all men...SHOPPING! After nearly two tough years, I had to bite the bullet and buy shoes again. It was dumb luck that Mervyns had a "Buy one, get one free" sale so I bought a pair of black leather business shoes for work and a pair of running shoes for the gym. I was pretty pleased and thanks to the sale, I got two pairs of good shoes for well under a C-spot. Grocery shopping also occupied me... don't domestic chores stink?

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Have a great Tuesday!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

Notes regarding photos / pictures: These are not all my images. I am using various images from around the web, mostly from public sources and/or private sources used with permission. I have tried to include only images under public domain, creative commons, or fair use. If I have inadvertently violated any copyrights, please inform me and I will remove your image/s (if it is indeed an infringement).

PERSONAL NEWS: Cro Magnon Softball Hitters (22 September 2006)!

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Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share a few photos from the company picnic we had at my new job on the 22nd of September (last month). We all got together and had a fine meal (BBQ galore) and then played a friendly softball game (the office split up into two teams, more or less).

First we sat down to a big meal (the above photo).

And then the game started... the above photo is of my friend Scott whacking the ball...

And then there's me getting a solid hit in my best Cro Magnon batting poise...

It was a good time... and I don't even like baseball much.

Have a great day!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

PERSONAL NEWS: Quick Maksim Update #2 (11 July 2006)...

Hi Guys,

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I'm still around... working on several new posts:

- Yehuda game meme post.
- Sister's wedding photos post.
- Microarmor ruleset review for Tas.
- A few new joke posts.
- ConQuest SF post.
- Possible movie review of "Munich"... or maybe not.
- Post about new Lebanese Armor "Blue Steel" book...
- Announcement of new local 28mm Westerns miniatures company...
- Announcement of new Firefly Games product "A Faery's Tale"...
- A few book reviews...

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I'm really looking froward to this week's "Wednesday Gamer's Night Out" at A-1 Comics on Sunrise. It will be Dick Mitchell's first night back ina while and I've missed him... can't get enough good friends like him. And it sounds like some of the rest of the "local posse" are getting jazzed as well... hope to see Kimbo and Dave Story among others...

Dick put up a new site for a local gaming club he runs:

http://www.freewebs.com/mwssacto/

Which also has a free Yahoo E-group:

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/M_W_S/

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And the good-looking redhead, who I met this past Saturday, and I are getting along just fine.... ran into her again yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed the company. It's wonderful when a good-looking woman takes a visible interest in you.

And, I'm getting close to a new State job so that's nice as well.

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Have a great day!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

PERSONAL NEWS: Quick Maksim Update #1...

Hi Guys,

I'm still around... sister got married yesterday... it was nice.

Working on and off on hobby projects...

Received a "Hammers Slammers" package yesterday from Ralph... Thanks, L-4!

Oh yeah, and I got to flirt with a good-looking woman I've had my eye on at the gym who I had thought hadn't noticed me... nice to be corrected.

And, I'm receiving "job announcements / invitations to apply" from various State jobs so that's nice as well.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

PERSONAL NEWS: Happy Fathers Day (18 June 2006)!

Hi Everyone and especially the fathers among us!

First of all, Happy Father's Day to all!

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Secondly, things have been very busy on the home front...

I'm still gaming and have the materials for several more gaming session reports, but I've been kept busy with the job search... earlier this year, I got on with the State part-time, but there was no chance for uch more than part-time so I moved on and ended up working for CBT / McGraw Hill, an educational company, and not the best job in the world, but a decent filler job until something better comes along...

The last few months, I've been obsessive with the job search... applying all over the place and very often at that... on the 27th of this month, I'll FINALLY get another chance at a State job... they finally opened examinations again after having what's been at least six months of a hiring freeze and very likely longer.

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I also have two weddings coming up in July... the first for my friend Jon Compton and the second for my baby sister... alot is going on.

http://joncompton.com/

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I'm still gaming and looking forward to ConQuest SF coming up in about a month or two and, in the meantime, am still gaming at A-1 Comics on Sunrise just about every Wednesday evening and occasionally elsewhere.

http://avalonconventions.com/conquestsf/

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The gaming group has been busy too...

Kurt and Mark are addicted to on-line computer gaming crack...

Kimbo is getting over a move and a phobia that the dice have it in for him...

Dave is in a weird sort of malaise although well...

Dick bought a new Toyoya Prius and is trying to salvage the MWSS gaming club...

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/M_W_S/

Mike O'Brien is looking for a better job and taking care of his lovely girlfriend, Donna, or maybe the other war around...

Tony recently hurt his leg and is getting over that...

Mike Warde has been very busy lately... his son Conor is getting ready to head off to Bible camp...

Chris has been around quite a bit lately... I'm really getting to know and like him.

Nils is vaccilating between building a 10mm and a 6mm WWII miniatures set...

Joe Riddle has been doing some amazing things with his 15mm HOTT armies...

George has hosted several games lately and is out of his cocoon...

Vynnie is well and kicking...

http://www.recon-in-force.com/

Marcus has put up a web site for his wonderful beer & pretzels skirmish game, Skank:

http://www.skankgame.com/

And the rest of the gang has plenty going on as well!

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And concurrently , I've been on a quest to drop some pounds at the gym and actually HAVE! It must be close to six months now and I've lost at least ten to fifteen pounds and gained a ton of muscle mass... The hardest hurdle for me has always been making working out a habitual part of my life and I've been at it with success for a long time now... just need to keep it up.

http://www.24hourfitness.com/html/

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I'll be trying to update the blog sometime in the next week or two... I have drafts for a number of posts ready and just need to get them finished. I also added a link to my Photo Bucket gallery on the right side link lists of my blog and most of my photos are posted there for public perusal... even though they haven't found a post to belong to yet.

http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f23/Maksim-Smelchak/

I'm wishing everyone well and would be happy to hear from anyone wanting to drop me a line!

Happy Father's Day again!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

PERSONAL NEWS: Not this time, Charlie (2 June 2006).

Hi Guys,

I, first of all, wanted to thank everyone who sent me positive vibes, but...

I didn't get the job this time and that's how the cookie crumbles. Bummer.

So, I'll be looking for the next opportunity.

And in the classic words of Arnold Schwartzenegger from "Commando":

"Stick around, Sucka!"

(After knifing said bad guy to the wall.)

Have a great week/end!

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

PERSONAL NEWS: Big Job Interview Today... Please Wish Me Good Fortune (25 May 2006)!

Hi Everyone,

Well, most of my friends already know me (and the primary readers of this blog) and know that I made a big choice last year to leave the Elementary teaching field... I wasn't teaching in my good conscience and I needed to move on. I still beleive very much in teaching, teachers and helping children, but a combination of the school administration and various regulations didn't allow me to do that. And I couldn't do that and feel good about what I was doing. And at the same time, the Teacher's Union is very much symptomatic of what can go wrong with the labor movement as much as old friends like Ada Brotman, a retired humanities professor friend, can see the merit that the labor movement once had in this country (the USA) and it could have in the future.

At any rate, I've been working a variety of jobs since, many part-time, and have been looking for a new "job" home. Well, I think I might have found it and today's the big interview so please wish me good fortune. I've already been through other interviews for the job (the process is a multi-part one) and this is the end-of-the-line, make-it-or-break-it part. And it's for a very good job, an executive management position with a good salary and full benefits. I have properly prepared for the job and my suit is prepped including my lucky silk tie, but it's always a little scary to go up for a big position. I'm both excited and nervous at the same time.

At any rate, I'm a strong beleiver in the power of positive thinking so please send me your good thoughts, well-wishing, positive karma, prayers and any other fortune that you might have. I always feel better when I know my friends are backing me.

Thanks for being a reader of my blog and I'll get a new entry about my regular Wednesday night gaming up ASAP.

Shalom,
Maksim-Smelchak.

P.S.
Todd and Crystal, the infamous TLC unit, had their last gaming soiree with us yesterday (moving to Texas) and I'll miss them alot. Good folks... they have my best wishes!