Take 5

This is perhaps the scariest video I've ever seen. It's not one of those trick videos where you're watching a peaceful scene and out of nowhere a mummy pops up full screen. This one is real. Not the mummy, but the fright, the emotion, the realism. Produced in Canada, it's a video about distracted driving, specifically driving under the influence of something. Please, please, please... If you have ANY doubt whatsoever that you are completely capable of driving a multi-ton bullet, whether you are under the influence of anything, or too tired, or too stressed, or for any other reason, don't get in the car! If you witness someone that you are not completely confident that they are competent to drive - take their keys! Don't let you or your loved ones, or even a complete stranger, be the subject of the next video.

Take five minutes and watch this video. I know it'll be hard, but so will losing someone if you can prevent it. Use this as a wakeup call and reminder.

So sad...

I've been working on my Family tree recently (duh!) and one thing kinda hit he the other day. I was typing in new relatives and came across a woman whose last three children were stillborn, or only lived a day or so. Granted, if I recall correctly, these were her 15th, 16th, and 17th children or something like that, but still...

As I was looking for grave sites on Find A Grave today, I came across many more that had lives that were very short. It's sad even just typing in the same date for birth and death (or even dates close together). You don't really think of that until it happens to you or someone you know (or know of), but I can't imagine losing one of my kids at a really young age. I just don't want to have to deal with the grief of that kind of loss.

Finally!

How will we keep in touch?!

Today's kids...

A picture is worth a thousand, well...

Your corporate identity, as expressed by your logo, can say a lot about you. Are you high-tech, or low-tech? What services do you offer? What are your strengths? What should someone remember about your organization? Are you a multinational conglomerate, or a small, home-town mom and pop shop? Do you sell books, or smoothies? That's an awful lot to accomplish with just a few pixels.

Graphic Design Blog has found several companies that have managed to create something that speaks volumes about their companies. There are creative logos that you'll recognize, but see in a new way from now on, and a few much less popular ones that that will make you think.

Fiddle dee dee

Just got back from seeing nearly 40 high schoolers rock the fiddles last night (well actually, violins, violas, cellos, drums, guitars and mandolins - and a few tap shoes as well!). It is not music that I choose to listen to often, but they were full of energy and, especially as younger performers, very entertaining. They've played at the White House and with several famous artists so other people think that they've got a wee bti of talent too. :-)

We had the older two kids with us last night as well and they both commented on how good the concert was. It's encouraging, but sometimes embarrassing, that these performers are so talented at such a young age. It takes a lot of dedication, practice, and probably some ribbing, to keep at it long enough to be at the top of their game.

We try to expose our kids to a lot of different things and then let them decide "what sticks," so to speak. My eldest son has tried the violin in the school band already and really liked it. He has an eclectic mix of music likes. I think that's really cool.

The Saline Fiddlers have more shows coming up in the area. If you get a chance to see them, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

A world without borders

Our world is defined by borders. Country borders. City boundaries. Job parameters. It's all about keeping us from one another. But what it those boundaries didn't exist? Could you still function?

Fat Morgana is a term specifically applied to mirages, but is used more generally by Damon Zucconi on this map page in which he has removed all of the normal boundaries, and lines, etc from a Google Map of the world. He's left the city labels, and even the road names, but everything else you expect from a map is gone. You interact with the map just like any other Google Map -- zoom controls, dbl-click to zoom, drag to pan, etc, -- he's just removed the borders.

I'm not sure of his philosophical intent when he created this site, if he had any at all, but it's an interesting exercize in what happens when the borders don't exist. It's a lot harder to navigate like this than you might think.

Though we should live our lives as though there were no boundaries in some situations (ignore the socio-economic, racial, class divides), perhaps some borders are a good thing.

Where are you Lee?

There's no great mystery to satisfying your customers. Build them a quality product and treat them with respect. It's that simple. -- Lee Iacocca

I am not satisfied.

The fat lady has not sung yet...

A crafty friend... Free. A little time... Free. A little water... (mostly) Free. Several evenings of explosive fun with the kids... PRICELESS!

Last year a friend of mine saw some plans online for a project that he thought his nieces and nephews would enjoy. He gave it a shot and built it. His nieces and nephews had a blast. He refined the project in a few stages and the thing just took off. In the end, he made one for my kids as well.

It was a water rocket! With a few pieces of PVC, a few miscellaneous parts, and a 2 liter soda bottle, he built a contraption that will send a rocket over 100 feet in the air – a FUN, SAFE, REALLY COOL contraption that will SEND A ROCKET INTO THE AIR OVER ONE HUNDRED FEET! FAST!

The kids and I have spent several hours launching the bottle, trying to get it higher, trying to catch it when it falls, showing off to neighbors, talking (if only for a few minutes) about the science behind the project, and generally just having fun – and getting wet!

Thought I haven't built it myself (yet), the plans look pretty straight forward and easy to follow. The parts are inexpensive and easy to find at any Home Depot, Lowes, etc. I think that the kids and I will try to make another rocket (maybe incorporating some of the suggestions listed on the sites) soon. I think that the building process will be almost as much fun, and give them a greater appreciation of how it all works.

Thanks again Jeff -- from all of us!

The original(?) plans can be found here on the This Old House site.

Recession Wallpaper?

My kids are always asking to pick up the paint chips at Home Depot or Meijer or Walmart or wherever we happen to be. Every once in a while I cave, but I generally turn them down because we only end up recycling them as soon as we get home. Every once in a while they use them for some craft (blanket for a creature, etc). I saw this one online the other day and I immediately thought, "Hmmm... Maybe..." :-)

Kinda cool I think.

I'm back...

Sorry for the long intermission. It's been almost three weeks since I posted last and even I have missed it. I've been slightly pre-occupied with a few other major things going on around here. We just got back from a great, week-long trip to the Mountains. Immediately prior to that was about two months of horrendous auto issues that I'm still trying to completely resolve. I'll spare you the gory details, but GEEZ! Add to that the prep work I was trying to get done on the Family Tree before our trip so that I could take advantage of some assistance available down in the Mountains. It just got too crazy.

I'll try to play catch up soon. Thanks for coming back.