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Journal bethanie's Journal: 'Tis the Season! 21

Journal by bethanie
...to MetaMod! Yup. Logged onto /. this morning and "got to" MetaMod. Does it usually happen that folks are set to M2ing before they ever get to moderate? Curious. Anyway, most mods were well-done. One guy got a troll for bashing what he perceives as the /. groupthink polics of supporting piracy -- I said that was unfair. He had a valid point.

In any case, that's not what I really came here to write about, but it added an interesting blip to my morning.

No, I really wanted to mention what I've been doing lately WRT my favorite holiday of the year, i.e. Christmas. I love the music, I love the goodies, I love the spirit of goodwill toward man, and yes, I *do* love the presents. Giving a good gift is the greatest high of the entire winter. Just an awesome idea can give me a buzz for weeks. Knowing that there's a good one down there, all wrapped up and ready to blow someone away... I just get giddy with anticipation! :-)

So I "finished" my Xmas shopping over Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday -- that covered the things I had to go "shop for" in person, 'cause I wasn't happy with what I was finding on the Internet. Only stuff I bought at the Mall were some candles for my friend who loves this particular candle store -- you *gotta* sniff in person, ya know? -- and a couple of ties for my brother. Yes, I know that sounds generic -- but he's a schoolteacher, and after checking out his class's website, I noticed that he wears dress shirts and ties to work every day -- I imagine he probably doesn't have a huge collection yet, so I got a couple that I think look impressively stylish... at a store that is also present on the West Coast, so he can return/exchange them if he doesn't share my opinion. It's a sign of respect and acknowledgement that my baby bro, the jock, has grown up... I don't know if he'll get the subtext or not (he IS a guy, after all), but it's there.

Another fun gift I'm putting together is a "crochet kit" for the 7-year-old daughter of another friend who has expressed an interest in learning to crochet. It's a tote bag complete with yarn, scissors, hooks, and a "certificate" good for crocheting lessons from yours truly.

So now I have a guest room full of presents waiting to be wrapped... Can't wait to get up there and get Kiddo involved. One of my warmest memories as a kid is helping my mom wrap Christmas presents. Felt like I was being let in on special secrets -- it was a good feeling to be trusted with the info, and *never* worthwhile to spill the beans. Maybe that's where I learned it!

Yesterday, I put together and Kiddo decorated her first Gingerbread House. I am *amazed* at what a wonderful job she did!! I know all parents are biased at the apparent genius of their children, but I have seen the artwork of other kids her age, and Kiddo *definitely* seems to have an instinctive eye for design and balance. Rather than get stuff all clustered up in one area, everything is really well-balanced and evenly distributed... and very colorful!! It may not make the most literal sense... but I actually appreciate a young child's ability to approach art like this -- that green, circular piece of candy doesn't have to "be" a bush... it's just a pretty thing in the yard. A half dozen mini candy canes can stick out of the chimney... 'cause they look funny doing that.

Also baked some Spritz last night. For those who don't know (I didn't before I found the recipe), Spritz are essentially little butter cookies -- you use a cookie press to put them out on the cookie sheet, so that's kinda fun for a kid. She was more interested in watching Finding Nemo, though -- she loves the seagulls ("eegulls," she calls them) saying, "Minemine? Mine? MineMine?" and can do a really good imitation of them. We always have a good laugh over it.

I think next project is another batch (or three) of English Toffee, so all those folks who have sent me your addresses, get ready for nirvana! ;-) Also need to wrap some gifts today, and there is more of the ubiquitous laundry, of course.

So that's how my life is going... Holiday stuff, regular workaday stuff... Thought we were going to get some snow (or at least sleet) yesterday, but it never got cold enough.

How are you gearing up for the holidays? Got any really good gift ideas you can divulge (either giving, or having received)? Post AC if you think there's a chance that the surprise might get spoiled!
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'Tis the Season! More

'Tis the Season!

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  • We have got our tree in the kitchen's dining area and loads of decorations but the weather doesn't seem right, see my JE for more details.

    Gifts? I don't get gifts, i'm the sort of person who buys things when I want them and by christmas I don't have anything I need or want. oh well.
    I still have to buy them!
  • I think to metamod, you just need to not be in the 10% newest of all users group. Once you're eligible, the metamod link will pop up every day.

    To get mod points, there's some convoluted semi-random system set up to determine who get to mod. I have yet to get mod points with my new account, although I've had M2 abilities for months now.

    • Re:M2 (Score:2)

      by turg ( 19864 ) *
      Everyone who is eligible to moderate gets to metamod (once every 8 hours or so). Whether you actually get mod points depends on a formula that includes whether you actually spend much time reading article and comment pages -- but not too much.

      Meta-moderating is actually more simple than most people seem to make it. The basic reason for the introduction of the moderation system is not to rate the quality of posts but to eliminate the posts that should not have been posted to that discussion in the first pla
      • I disagree with this a little. In M2, the point is the quality of the moderation, so I also consider the effect on the poster's karma. For instance, if I see a post that is marked as Funny, and it makes a positive contribution to the discussion, I always mark it as unfair. The poster deserves the karma that the Funny mod does not provide. And if you're going to mod a post as funny, it had darn well better be funny. Not just funny to you. So I generally end up marking 90% of Funny mods as unfair.

        IM

        • Re:M2 (Score:2)

          by turg ( 19864 ) *

          And if you're going to mod a post as funny, it had darn well better be funny. Not just funny to you. So I generally end up marking 90% of Funny mods as unfair.

          I don't think personal taste should be a factor in M2 -- it should only be marked unfunny if there's no way anyone would find it funny.

          IMO, the effect on a user's karma is an important secondary effect of moderation.

          I think that it's extremely important that karma not be considered when moderating or meta-moderating. The sole purpose in mi

          • I don't think personal taste should be a factor in M2 -- it should only be marked unfunny if there's no way anyone would find it funny.

            I take the inverse view - it should only be marked funny if anyone would find it funny. Still no personal taste involved, and it might cut down on the noise. "Funny" comments rarely make a discussion more readable.

            I see your point about competing goals. I'm not sure that I completely agree, mostly because karma has the potential of affecting all of a user's post
          • OK - the one "funny" M2 from this morning that I remember is one where the guy just had a one-liner that linked to something that had TOTAL bearing on whether or not it was funny... and the link was broken. So I said "unfair." I mean, if the link is broken, the humor of the post is completely lost.

            Does this sound right to you guys? (turg & john? and, of course, anyone else who cares to chime in.)

            ....Bethanie....
            • I suppose it would depend on whether the link was broken when the conversation was active. I wouldn't have voted on that one (you can skip comments in metamod -- just leave the middle radio button selected)

    • Re:M2 (Score:2)

      by Tattva ( 53901 )
      I've got some mod points right now. I get 5 about once a week around Thur or Fri. I believe I was allowed to metamod before modding. If your karma is really good you'll be asked to metamod twice in one day. Metamod in the morning and see if the link comes back later in the day. That is a sign, I think, that you are close to modding.
  • I intend to, from my favorite candy shop [sees.com].
    • Quite familiar with Sees, m'self. But the candy I make (various kinds of fudge, and English Toffee) is better than theirs. I just had a sample of their "toffee-ettes" at the mall on Tuesday, and while it's good, it just lacks a certain "oomph" that mine has. I imagine it may have something to do with a lack of preservatives and a much higher level of freshness... and real butter. Lots and lots of *real* butter! :-)

      ....Bethanie....
  • I had Meta-Moderation ability long long before I ever got mod points.

    As for gifts, I've done some shopping-- my dad finally told me what he wants and that's been ordered, I've done some for my mom. Still need to shop for my roommate.

    Then there's the girl in Ohio :) I've bought her one thing she knows about, one thing she doesn't, and I have a really really good idea that doesn't seem like it's going to pan out, but I am still hoping.

  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • You know, I hate to say it, but in your own way, you're getting as sappy as TL!! :-)

      You guys are so sweet when you're in the lovesick puppy mode...

      And I'm refraining from pointing out that your implication is that you'd like to be on the receiving end of an HBI... And let's not even go into your having been a dick this year. (As if it's ever any different!) ;-)

      ....Bethanie....
  • I have only one gift so far, but I think it will be well received. When I was in the new employee brainwa^H^H^H^H^H^H^H orientation session, I noticed that they had a stack of something related to the BAU football team. Initially I ignored it because I was sure that other people would enjoy it more than I would. Then it occured to me that the younger of my nephews is a big fan of BAU's football team, and in fact, plays for a junior high team with the same mascot. That nephew thinks I've "seen the light"
    • "Crank up the fudge factory"???

      Dude, I know your fudge is yummy... but that sounds pretty gross. :-)

      But I think I'll head into the kitchen right now and do the same -- got some folks I owe some toffee to!! :-)

      As for cheap gifts... homemade stuff is always from the heart. I don't think anyone can fault you for that!

      ....Bethanie....
  • ...to MetaMod! Yup. Logged onto /. this morning and "got to" MetaMod. Does it usually happen that folks are set to M2ing before they ever get to moderate?

    Happenned to me too.:)

    Curious. Anyway, most mods were well-done.

    Yeah, from the amount of complaining that goes on, you'd think all mods were drugged-up nazis with a sociopathic bent.^-^

    One guy got a troll for bashing what he perceives as the /. groupthink polics of supporting piracy -- I said that was unfair. He had a valid point.

    I got to me
  • Metamod- I don't waste my time with that shit. They took away my mod points (prolly for modding up trolls I thought were hysterical) so they can get stuffed.

    As for candles You DON'T need to smell them in the store... [3dogcandles.com] this place is the bomb. I recommend the Nag Champa triple scented candles. Good schtuff. (though their JAR candles are problematic... too many wicks so they drown!)

    Other than that- I'm doing everything online (as per usual). Currentcodes.com, styleforfree.com, and its 10-20% off, free shipp
    • What do you mean I don't need to smell them in the store? Of course, I still need to smell them. NO matter what their names are, I still gotta sniff. The whole *deal* with candles is the way they smell... I didn't see any click'n'sniff links at 3Dog, so your point is moot. Next!! ;-)

      I agree with you about shopping online, though -- just a *couple* things to browse in person isn't too much; had to go to the Mall to have Kiddo sit on Santa's lap, anyway.

      .... Bethanie....
      • no no no. Order them. Receive them. Smell them. Return the ones you don't want. Its the same thing with ordering clothes.

        I do not go to malls; it simply isn't done.

        Hmmm, maybe you can mail order santa...

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