Airy Nothings

We have moved to adaddyblog.com

2010-09-09T16:22:00.004-05:00

Thank you so much for visiting Airy Nothings. Please note: this blog has moved to adaddyblog.com and will no longer be updated at this location. Please visit the new site and let us know you found it okay. Also, you may follow us on Facebook and Twitter... and thanks again for your support of A Daddy Blog!

Why watch the Super Bowl?

2010-02-05T12:30:00.001-06:00

Okay, I suppose my question presupposes you do in fact watch it. If you do, why? Is it the gladiatorial spectacle of manly men in spandex patting each others butts between attempts to move a bit of leather up a field? Is it hopes for a wardrobe malfunction during the halftime show?

Or is it the commercials advertisers shell out big bucks to air during this oh so pricey time slot? Me, I'm not a big "sit on the couch and watch sports on TV" kinda guy, but I do get a kick out of some of the ads. Here's one from 2004 that blends my interest in medieval history with soccer. ;)

So... what are your plans for Sunday? And if they include the Super Bowl... why do you watch?

Doctor Who Versus Yo Gaba Gaba

2009-11-24T08:30:00.000-06:00

Okay, not actually Doctor Who, but David Tennant, the 10th and most recent actor to play the Time Lord, is going to read five children's stories to pre-school age kids for the CBeeBies Channel. Not a channel we get here in America, sadly.

I've spent a fair bit of time lately watching NickJr on cable TV with my young daughter. Unfortunately I expect it may be quite a while before Mr. Tennant spares me yet another episode of Yo Gaba Gaba, and graces American TV with his equally ecclectic, high energy presence; well American children's TV at least.

The actor will be seen for the last time on BBC as Doctor Who in a two-part story over the holidays. And then I understand Tennant is set to make his US television debut in the lead role in the NBC comedy drama "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer".

No mention of whether Rex owns a sonic screwdriver or takes a TARDIS to work.

A Thank You on Veterans Day

2009-11-11T11:00:00.002-06:00

Regardless of one's personal feelings about the necessity of today's or any other wars, let's all take a moment this Veterans Day to remember the sacrifices made by generations of our men and women. My wife wrote the following in her blog today, and I could not have said it better. (I just added the family photos)

My Late Grandfather (in helmet)
Shannon wrote: "Thank you to all the men & women who have served our country in the past, and those that are doing it on this very day. The incredible courage and bravery you show by going to work each day, to protect the rights and freedoms of the rest of us - is awe inspiring."

My Late Father
"Please know that your sacrifices for our country are not unnoticed. And though we do not always thank you as often as we should, know that you are in our hearts and minds not just today. And to the families of these courageous men and women - thank you for all the sacrifices you make as well. You are unsung heroes."

May God protect and bless you all on this Veterans Day, and always.

Looking for a place to get a flu shot?

2009-11-10T14:30:00.003-06:00

A new Google tool...

Have you decided you want to get a flu shot (either regular or H1N1), but don't know where to go? The CDC has set up a site intended to help, though it's not as easy to navigate as one might hope. That site is here: flu.gov/individualfamily/vaccination/locator.html. Here's an alternative:

Another brand new tool has been made available by Google. Yes, I know Google is taking over the world, but that's a topic for another blog. Right now if you've decided to get a shot (that too is a topic for another blog) here's a way to easily find a location, should they ever get any supply:

Google has created a flu shot locater map that makes it easy (when supply becomes available) to find a location in your area. It shows locations offering both H1N1 and regular flu shots. It's quite simple to use, and indicates both locations and if they have any in stock. The URL is google.com/flushot.

According to the company, users can now visit Google's new flu shot Google Maps page to find out if there is any vaccine available in their area. It partnered with "the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services, their Flu.gov collaborators, and the American Lung Association on the flu shot finder," the company wrote in a blog post.

Google says they are currently working with the Centers for Disease Control, state and local health agencies, and other organization to add more vaccination locations to its maps. So far, it has received "data for locations of flu vaccine directly from 20 states and counting." Texas does not appear to be one of them.

To expand its coverage, Google is also working with chain pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS to add more vaccination-availability information for all 50 states. And here in Texas those two pharmacies are the only sites currently shown on the Dallas map above.

Do you plan to get either flu shot? Regardless, here's wishing you a safe and healthy flu season.

Texting & Driving - What's the Big Deal?

2009-10-28T10:15:00.000-05:00

NOTE: At least one person thought I was being serious below. To be clear, this was written with my tongue firmly lodged in my cheek. NOBODY should text while driving. I strongly recommend headsets for talking, as well. Okay... now enjoy my clearly ineffective attempt at the use of irony & sarcasm:

Okay, the traffic light is red... gotta type fast. Texting while driving has been in the news quite a bit lately. Honestly I don't see what the big deal is. Sure 93% of Americans in a recent poll are against it, but I bet they polled only really old people... you know, like more than 25 years old. Old people just don't have the multi-tasking skills of today's youth. Oops, the light changed... [STOP HONKING... I'M BLOGGING HERE]... I'll be back in a minute.

Where was I? Oh, yeah. Kids these days grew up texting with one hand, killing bad guys (or good guys, depending on the game) on their X-Boxes with the other, and typing on the computer with their toes. It's just us old folks who can't focus on multiple things at once. Sure we've been driving longer, but they've practiced jacking and racing cars on video games since they were three. So it's old folks with Blackberries at whom these laws should be aimed.

Next thing you know they will make it illegal for school bus drivers to text while driving. And then what? They are adding internet access to planes; are we going to ban pilots from updating their Facebook pages while flying? This is America! What's the country coming to, restricting our basic human rights like this! So what if texting dramatically increases the odds of an accident. It probably won't be your family in the car they hit, right? Txt if ur with me!

Oops, the light's green. Gotta go.... that idiot is honking at me again.

I'm Not in My Right Mind

2009-09-25T12:59:00.004-05:00

When you look at image above, what do you see? A girl spinning? Which way is she spinning... clockwise or counter-clockwise?

Supposedly if you see her spinning clockwise it means you are right brained, and if you see her spinning counter-clockwise you are left brained. And if you see both, I suppose it means you are schizophrenic? Here are the purported characteristics of people with dominate right or left brain hemispheres:

Left Brained: Counter-Clockwise = "Rational"

Responds to verbal instructions
Problem solves by logically and sequentially looking at the parts of things
Looks at differences
Is planned and structured
Prefers established, certain information
Prefers talking and writing
Prefers multiple choice tests
Controls feelings
Prefers ranked authority structures

Right Brained: Clockwise = "Intuitive"

Responds to demonstrated instructions
Problem solves with hunches, looking for patterns and configurations
Looks at similarities
Is fluid and spontaneous
Prefers elusive, uncertain information
Prefers drawing and manipulating objects
Prefers open ended questions
Free with feelings
Prefers collegial authority structures

So, what do you see? Does the direction you see her spin and the corresponding description above describe you? Post your comments below. And if you ask real nice, maybe I'll tell you how to see her spin the other way. Oh, and if your wondering what the direction really means, I'll be happy to tell you that, too... later.

But first... what do you see?

Okay, here's my opinion on all the above
(added Friday, September 25, 2009)

A few thoughts on the graphic. First of all, it really isn't rotating at all. It's a 2-dimensional set of still images, that when viewed in sequence (as an animated GIF) are translated by our brain as 3-dimensional movement. And it could be viewed by ones brain as rotating in either direction.

In fact, one person said they saw it rotate half-way one direction, stop and rotate back the other direction and repeat each time. I'm a bit concerned about what that says about that person's brain, but it's an entirely possible and valid way of seeing the image.

As Shannon said below in the comments, it is (or at least may be) possible for most of you to control which direction the image turns. The best way to do this is to focus on the lower foot only. Imagine it going the other direction, and you will likely see it do so.

Once that's happened, the entire image should rotate the other direction, of course. If you have trouble seeing this, put your hand over all but the lower foot and focus just on it. Then once you see it change direction move your hand. See it now?

As for whether this says you are left or right brained... I doubt it. In fact, the generalizations of characteristics for those with brain hemisphere dominance on one side or the other is... well... a generalization. We all, unless brain damaged, rely on cooperation between both halves.

So... can you do it? Can you change directions? Post a comment and let us know.

The French Kiss is Dead

2009-09-09T14:56:00.004-05:00

I'm not talking about that type of French kiss, though I suspect it may be impacted as well. No, I'm referring to the effect the virus formerly known as Swine Flu is having on the French custom of "la bise". You know, the way the French greet their friends, family and coworkers. La bise starts by bringing one cheek close to the others cheek and simulating a kiss on the cheek. After the first kiss on the cheek, the maneuver is repeated at least once on the opposite cheek.

Anyway, Swine Flu has a new casualty: "la bise". Not only do the French need to remember to cough into their elbows, but now they need to skip "la bise". The bise ban was first implemented in the town of Guilvenec in Brittany where the mayor told teachers and students not to kiss anymore. "I felt the protections sought to wash hands regularly, not throw used handkerchiefs around, and not cough any old way had no meaning if we let the kids keep kissing," the mayor said.

To help the populace cope with this deep cultural change, they are being encouraged (for health purposes only) to smoke more cigarettes and drink more wine. Okay, I made that last bit up. So, should we ban kissing in our schools?

How to Create a Good Password

2009-09-02T13:32:00.005-05:00

My work email system has been bugging me for a few days that my password is about to expire. I hate changing my password, but do realize in today's world it has become quite critical to come up with secure passwords and change them often. But how do you create a good password?

Without giving anything specific away, do you have a method you recommend? I used to think I was clever. Here's what I DON'T do any more: make passwords from common words or names and simply swap out some letters with characters that look similar, like "sh@nn0n".

So a while ago I did some research on ways to come up with a better password. I'm certainly no expert, and would love you to share any good ways you've heard of creating and remembering a good one. Since I have to change my password today, I thought I'd share my process.

What I do now is come up with a sentence that I can remember, for example: "Three blind mice see how they run." This I turn into "3Bm$#tr." Okay, it's certainly not the best password, but it's much better than most I used in the past. Of course, don't use a common quote.

Make up your own sentence. Something you can remember, e.g. "My baby girl Sally is one year old" becomes "MbgSi1y0". Have a favorite book? Use the third sentence in the third paragraph in the third chapter to create your password. Just be sure you can remember or look it up easily.

Once you've picked it, make one or two letters upper case. Then change one or two letters to be numbers. And insert one or two non-alphabetic characters, e.g. .(period), !, *, %, &, or #. A few sites restrict use of non-alpha characters, but if they allow it, they increases security greatly.

A few other suggestions:

The longer the password the better; with at least eight characters a minimum. Do not tell anyone, do not write it down, do not save it in a file, etc. Even if someone can guess the words, it will still be hard to guess your password. Putting it on a sticky note on the front of your computer, though, is a very bad idea.

Clearly, don't construct a password from your name, family names, addresses, phone numbers and such. Also don't use words one would find in the dictionary, as some password cracking software starts there. Oh, and writing words backwards doesn't help. If you can think of it so can they.

And don't use the same password for different sites. If you do and one site is compromised they all are. I know it's a pain, but they all need to be different. At least if you must use only one, make it a good one, and add a site specific letter, e.g. insert an extra "f" for Facebook or "y" for Yahoo.

If a website uses password recovery questions, if possible create your own. Don't use things like your mother's maiden name or what city you were born in, etc. Too easy for people to find! And use different questions on different sites, so if one is compromised, they all aren't.

Okay... enough stalling. I need to go create a new password for my email. Do you have any recommendations on a good method?

Are You a Hat Person?

2009-08-31T12:28:00.010-05:00

Have you ever noticed how some people look great in hats, and on others they simply look silly? I'm not really sure if I'm a hat person or not, as I've never much had the desire to cover up my lovely head of hair with a hat. Oh, did that sound vain? Sorry, but knowing and accepting the good and bad about oneself is healthy. Can I help it if I've been blessed with so much good stuff to accept?

As usual, I digress. The point of this blog is not to discuss my glorious mane of flowing blond hair, nor the fact that J.K. Rowling based Professor Gilderoy Lockhart's hair upon mine. No, the point of this blog is to gratuitously post photos of my baby girl wearing hats. For she, as one can clearly see, is a hat person! So without further ado or unnecessary elaboration let the oohs and ahhs begin:

So... Molly can definitely work a hat. Am I right? These photos are all pretty old, as it's not been hat season lately, of course. Though, you best prepare yourself for the onslaught of new Molly-in-hat photos as the weather starts to cool. ;) So, how about you... are you a hat person?

Hans Christian Who???

2009-08-14T13:19:00.013-05:00

So I went to Google for my daily vain (and in vain) search for my name, but today I searched on someone else's instead. Now, I'm not sure if I was alone in this, but I didn't understand today's google doodle. You know, the image that temporarily replaces their standard logo on significant events such as the Presidential Election, Independence Day, Christmas and Hans Christian Ørsted's birthday. Wait... who?

I'm not a real geek, but I play one on TV... and even still I was totally unaware of this guy. I didn't even get him a card. Maybe I can send him an eCard? Oh, he's dead? Apparently this Danish physicist and chemist discovered (accidentally, but hey, accidental discoveries still count) that electric currents create magnetic fields. Now don't you feel bad for not knowing him? Glad I could be here to enlighten you.

Have a happy birthday Hans! And to all of you readers (all two or three of you) have a great weekend!

Time to Boycott Disney?

2009-08-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

Call me a prude, but as a parent I’m wondering if Disney hasn’t lost its way. I didn't watch the recent Teen Choice Awards, but it's been well publicized (see the attached photo) that the girl behind Disney’s Hannah Montana performed what some have referred to as a “pole dance” on national TV. To be fair, 16 year old Miley Cyrus’ performance was likely more tame than the image those words may conjure. Nonetheless as the anointed role model to a generation of tween girls it concerns me just a bit that Disney’s flagship TV product (albeit sans Hannah’s blond wig and aw shucks attitude) is sending a message I’d rather not have my daughter receive.

Sure Disney has always had a bit of a dark side. In countless animated films they killed off the protagonist’s mother or father (or both) in the opening scenes. Still, in the halcyon days of my distant youth it was easy to know which characters to root for. It clearly was not the puppy pelt wearing villainess or the poisoned produce pushing Queen. The dark, negative characters were always balanced by positive, virtuous role models who prevailed in the end. Sure, Disney is a global, for-profit corporation with shareholders to whom it must answer. But it also has an implied contract with the parents of the world. Our responsibility as parents to censor our children’s viewing notwithstanding, when we pop in the latest Disney DVD or turn on the Disney Channel we expect wholesome fare.

Now I understand Miley Cyrus is a real person, not the character she plays on Disney, and as such she (Ms. Cyrus) may make choices professionally and personally that some might find inappropriate for a 16 year old. I bear her no ill will. Her alter ego Hannah Montana has to my knowledge never pole danced on the Disney Channel. And while I’d like to think Disney might police the off air antics of its on air talent, that is probably naive. Controversy generates publicity, aka: free advertising, so we really can’t expect them to be motivated to reign in their star. So, it’s down to us as consumers to do something. If the Disney Channel’s ratings were to decline due to decreased viewership, and if parents were to boycott the products advertised during Hannah Montana, the aforementioned shareholders might feel the pain.

Where could we as consumers start? My wife would kill me if I suggested boycotting her beloved Disney World, so I have an alternative. As you may know, Wal-Mart and Disney Consumer Products partnered to sell Hannah Montana items in their so called "Hannah Montana Shops". I read they are part of 700+ Wal-Mart stores across the U.S. and sell a variety of items like purses, bedding, cosmetics and video games. Due to allegedly unfair labor practices Wal-Mart’s reputation is already suspect at best. Perhaps Wal-Mart should reconsider which role-models they promote to our youth. We can vote our dissatisfaction buy taking our business elsewhere. Money talks. While I love a bargain as much as the next person, at the very least please, if you must shop at Wal-Mart, try to refrain from purchasing the Miley Cyrus pole dancing action figure, okay?

So, what do you think... am I just a prudish old fogy or a validly concerned parent... or both?

Looking for a Sign?

2009-08-04T12:20:00.002-05:00

Blog Update - August 4, 2009: I feel compelled to update my blog below after receiving a comment concerning some slightly less comforting London signs (above) that popped up in 2002. They reference the 1.5 million CCTV police cameras installed by authorities in the UK.

Like the signs below, I'm sure they were meant to be comforting in a crime prevention sort of way, but are rather creepy and Orwellian instead. More and more of these police cameras are appearing in the US, too. Not sure how I feel about them. What do you think?

Original Blog - July 6, 2009: So, I was thinking recently. Now don't look so surprised! Anyway... I was thinking: "One of the reasons I love London are the ubiquitous signs they are wont to post in public places." Necessary or not, I find them rather comforting.

For example while standing on the platform in The Tube (aka: The London Underground) preparing to board the next train, a sign on the pavement cautions you to "MIND THE GAP" between the platform and train.

After completing your transit on the Underground and exiting the train (once again minding the gap) you are greeted by an ever so comforting sign: "Way out →". How often in your life have you needed one of those?

One final example from London are the hand painted signs at the curbs telling you which way to look for traffic. If you aren't accustomed to cars driving on the "wrong side" of the road, this can be a life saver, literally.

We all can use a little guidance now and then, can't we? Have you ever found yourself looking for some sort of sign? What "signs" (literally or figuratively) do you look for? What might be helpful or comforting to see or hear?

The CIA: Fun for the Whole Family

2009-07-30T11:54:00.010-05:00

Kid's Page - Central Intelligence Agency.

First of all, let me say. I love my country (that's the USA, in case you are a first time reader) and appreciate the efforts of all those in the trenches (literally and figuratively) who keep us safe. And I have no desire to get my name on any sort of list. So if any of those aforementioned first time readers are employed by a government agency of some kind, please note this blog is posted in good fun. There are plenty of bloggers who are happy to leap into the debate over whether the actions or inactions of our various spy organizations are a good or bad thing, or somewhere in between. Often that seems to depend upon one's views on the use of assorted tools like water assisted conversational prompters... or party lines where all parties are not aware of all parties on said line. Sorry if that last sentence didn't make sense. I'm trying to avoid setting off any flags in government web-crawlers. ;)

Me, I'm not going there. I'm just happy to poke fun at their latest endeavor at winning the hearts and minds of our people... in this case our young people. To be accurate, their kid's site isn't really new. It was created in 2007. It's almost as if they had some foreknowledge of the need for a bit of image reconstruction. Oh, wait... that's right... they're spies. They see stuff coming way in advance. Okay, back on subject, they created a cute (well, I'm sure it's meant to be cute) kid's page with links for kids in K-5th Grade, 6-12th Grade, and Parents & Teachers. Oh, and games... did I mention their site had games for your kiddos? In fairness to them (the slightly disturbing recruiting effort on the 6-12th Grade page notwithstanding) it does have some helpful info for parents who want to keep their kids safe on the Internet and how to get them to say no to drugs. It also includes lesson plans for teachers on subjects such as:

Examples of Problem Solving
Gathering and Analyzing Information
Myths About CIA vs. Reality
Intelligence's Role in War
Codes and Code-Breaking
The Importance of Accurate Communications

To quote from the introduction on their kid's page, "The CIA is an independent US government agency that provides national security “intelligence” to key US leaders so they can make important, informed decisions. CIA employees gather intelligence (or information) in a variety of ways, not just by “spying” like you see in the movies or on TV (though we do some of that, too). On the following pages, you can read more about us, play some games, and help us solve some puzzles. Throughout this section, you’ll also see some top secret things you won’t find anywhere else."

Anyway, a twitter message with a link to their Kid's Page floated across my screen, and something about it struck me as both funny and slightly disturbing. So what do you think? Is it cute, helpful or just a little creepy? Well, there's a black helicopter hovering over our house. Gotta run. Have a day.

Who Wants to Be a Guinea Pig?

2009-07-22T16:18:00.005-05:00

Nope, it's not the latest in Reality TV.

Per the attached article from the Associated Press, "The government and vaccine makers are seeking thousands of volunteers, from babies to the elderly, to roll up their sleeves for the first swine flu shots - to test whether a new vaccine really will protect against this novel virus before its expected rebound in the fall."

Ready to do your bit for Uncle Sam? Apparently (and I quote) "the studies will track the typical vaccine side effects - redness, swelling, fever, allergic reactions - and any unexpected immediate reaction." I'm assuming said unexpected immediate reactions include... say... death? So, shall I save you a spot in line?

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Can the Italian's make GREEN sexy?

2009-07-08T12:30:00.003-05:00

Unless I'm casually leaning on it while sipping an espresso on the Piazza Navona with my lovely wife on my arm, I don't think there's any way I could look sexy on this hybrid scooter. That said, if I wouldn't get mowed down by one of Texas's ubiquitous ½ ton pickup trucks as soon as I pulled on the road, one of these would be all I'd need for my short work commute... and I wouldn't even have to start the engine.

In a press release yesterday The Piaggio Group introduced the MP3 Hybrid (no it's not an iPod killer)... it's the world's first hybrid scooter and a vehicle they say is destined to revolutionise [sic] urban mobility. This is not just a "scooter with two powerplants", but a highly advanced vehicle supplements a low environmental impact conventional internal combustion engine with a zero emissions electric motor, summing the advantages of the two units.

"Adopting uniquely exclusive technology - this is the first vehicle in the entire automotive sector using lithium ion batteries, which can also be charged from the mains (wall plug) - Piaggio Mp3 Hybrid reduces both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50%, complementing the already enviable attributes in terms of technology, safety and rider enjoyment that make the Piaggio Mp3 - the revolutionary three-wheeled scooter - such a hit."

Take a good long look at the photo above. What do you think? Despite a decent marketing campaign, can one really look sexy on a three wheeled hybrid scooter? More to the point, can I look sexy on a three wheeled hybrid scooter? Because after all, global warming be damned, isn't looking sexy what really counts when purchasing transportation? ;) Now if I can just find a baby sit that will fit.

Social Networking Overload???

2009-07-07T12:57:00.000-05:00

Between MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, Linkedin, Reddit, Tagged, del.icio.us, Technorati.com, Digg, Flixter, Pandora, 12seconds, StumbleUpon, Blogger, LiveJournal and Jaiku (to name only a few) I often don't know if I'm coming or going... but apparently if I post my status in all the right places my "friends" will. ;)

Above are just a few popular sites. Are you starting to experience overload and burnout, too? Or do you thrive on all of this? What sites besides Blogger do you use and/or recommend? Okay, I'm climbing back under my rock. Oops, almost forgot to update my status on all of those sites: "Michael is now under his rock."

So Guys... Wanna Turn Heads?

2009-07-05T12:30:00.000-05:00

In keeping thematically with my previous "daddy needs a new ride" blog, I'm still mulling over what I should do transportation wise in light of today's gas prices.

Cars like the following Lamborghini Diablo that get a whopping 8 miles per gallon (down hill with a tail wind) are not a high on my list. Besides, even though it is sure to turn heads, its physical length and hefty price tag clearly shout "I'm overcompensating for something!"

Of course going to the other extreme, while avoiding the whole inverse-proportion overcompensation concern, may not strike quite the right chord either. I fear the car below screams something like, "Hi, I'm Mr. Bean!" So, what's a tree-hugging metrosexual on a budget to do?

I think I've found the solution. Ever since our friend Kurt posted a blog outing his secret lust for a retro Vespa, they have been popping into my head. At 60 miles per gallon or more, they appeal to my ecologically conservative side, and also to some nostalgic longing for the imagined simplicity of the 60's.

I grew up in Europe, so I saw people riding these everywhere as a kid. What do you think, can a real man ride a motor scooter? Okay, now that you've answered that... what about me... can I pull off a Vespa? I could put the baby seat in a sidecar? Okay... okay... a hybrid mini-van it is. Sigh....

These are Mulberry days

2009-07-04T12:30:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it’s nice with so much negative happening in the world to turn off the news and put on an old movie or TV show... and escape even if just for a short time to a slower, simpler place. For example, we own all of the "Green Gables" & "Avonlea" DVDs, and many others ranging from "Father Ted" to "Firefly". Are there any in particular you like to watch and can recommend to us? One of the nice things about our Netflix subscription is we can catch up on series we missed.

For example, in the early 90’s there was a sweet BBC series that ran only one season named "Mulberry" after the lead character played by Karl Howman. Shannon and I rented it recently. Mulberry, the grim reaper’s not-so-grim son, is sent to guide the cantankerous Miss Farnaby (Geraldine McEwan) into the next world. Young Mulberry finagles a job as her domestic servant, and unlike the other help, finds he is quite taken the feisty old lady.

By pulling a few strings, he manages to extend her time on earth... and helps ensures she live her last days with gusto. Some might find calling a show "sweet" small complement indeed, but I can’t think of a better word... and isn’t it something we all could use just a bit more of? Perhaps it’s best they never finished the series, as Mulberry never has to complete the final part of his mission. Anyway, if you ever get the chance, do check it out. It runs on PBS sometimes here in the US and probably on BBC as well. I find the theme song from the series, sung by Karl Howman (Mulberry), quite evocative and lovely... and the perfect bookend for each episode:

Some say they touch the sky
Some say they see the wind
A whisper of spring is near
Can you hear it say
These are Mulberry days
Some say they’ll understand
Some hold an open hand
A shimmer of moonlit haze
Can you hear it say
These are Mulberry days
These are Mulberry days

What movies or TV shows do you recommend we rent?

Daddy needs a New Ride

2009-07-03T12:27:00.001-05:00

The average price of gas in the U.S. has come down some, but we all know this won't last long. Yes, I know my friends in other countries have been paying much more for a long time, but here in Texas where we all have an oil derrick in our "back forty" and two F-350 crew cab pickups in the garage we have not had to deal with this yet.

Typical Texas Transportation

I drive a small Subaru and after 31 years in Texas never owned a pickup, but still... the price of gas is giving me pause. Do any of you ride a bike (pedal or motor) to work? I live close enough that I might survive the trip if one of the aforementioned monster trucks that prowl our roads doesn't pick me off.

How do you like my new ride?

What do you think... should I pump up the ol' bike tires, dodge traffic and drive to work under my own power? It'd probably take about 45 minutes each way. Sadly there is very little public transportation in our area so I don't think that's an option. How long is your commute?

The freedom of the open road's no longer free

Are you gonna cancel your all American roadtrip this summer? Should I fit my bike with a baby seat? OMG, pretty soon the price of gas will exceed the price of a small bottle of water, ounce for ounce. Hey, there's an idea... a car that runs on water! Wait... don't they already have one of those?

Can you run a car on Starbuck's coffee? That would be cheaper! Anyway, how is all of this affecting you?

Wordle: Words as Art, Literally

2009-07-01T16:53:00.000-05:00

Perhaps "art" is too strong a word, but if you've not tried the application Wordle (at wordle.net), you should. I plugged the text of several of my earlier blogs into this free online Java application, and this was the result... my words as art (well, sort of):

(click on image for to view a larger copy)

What do you think? You can tailor colours, letter orientation, font, etc. Give it a go!

Pod People: The Invasion has Begun

2009-06-30T13:35:00.000-05:00

Apparently I inadvertently tapped into a growing trend when I blogged about "nap pods" last year in my Sleeping on the Job blog. Recently my wife and I have been discussing what type of playhouse we might build for our daughter (now just 9 months old). Perhaps the answer is one of the concept pods demonstrated at this year's Grand Design Live show in London? The structures provide a small (literally and figuratively) green footprint and are 10% the cost of a traditional house (albeit also 10% the size). You may view the news clip below for more on pods designed for living, sleeping and playing. Is there a Pod in your future? Do you think they would sell better if a lowercase "i" was added at the start of the name? Hmmm.

Am I really "Mudflap Man"?

2009-06-29T12:36:00.000-05:00

Many of you have asked, and if there's one thing I've learned from the political scene lately is it's important to respond to allegations quickly. So, I feel I really need to respond to the suggestion out there on youtube and in the blogosphere concerning whether I did or did not pose for "Mudflap Man". What or who you may well ask is a mudflap man? Okay, for those of you living under rocks or perhaps in more civilized parts of the country or world, I will enlighten you.

On the highways and byways of at least the southern portions of this great country of ours you will find a myriad of trucks of many makes, models and sizes. A common automotive accessory installed in order to prevent damage to other vehicles by stones kicked up by a truck's tires is something called a mudflap. And this flap of heavy rubber hanging behind the rear wheels is often adorned with tasteful bits of folk art such as the oh so naturally proportioned woman pictured above.

Well, it seems that there has been a bit of a backlash to the whole "mudflap girl" thing. Okay, backlash may be a bit of an exaggeration. But bottom line somebody decided they could make a quick buck marketing a competing product to women. And in the interest of truth in advertising they wanted the product to most closely represent those manly men piloting the big rigs down our nation's highways. Well, you guessed it, that's where I came in. Yes, I am Mudflap Man!

I seriously think I've developed a bigger baby bump than my lovely wife when she was pregnant last year. And I'm pretty sure I felt some sympathy contractions at the time. I really need to go on a diet, and am going to give NutraSystem a try. The first box has not yet arrived. Nothing to do but sit on the couch, remote in hand, and wait. Hey, while I'm sitting here waiting will someone pass me a Twinkie?

Don't Text and Drive

2009-06-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

Distracted driving was to blame in 80 percent of car crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes, according to a study released by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute last year. The most common distraction? Cell phones, with 73 percent of drivers admitting they talk while they steer, the study found.

Text messages typed on phones phones or other wireless gadgets are growing rapidly in popularity. More than 1 trillion were sent worldwide last year, according to another study, this one by the DeGroote School of Business in Ontario. Cell phone use — hands-free or not — repeatedly has been shown to impair a driver's abilities.

So if just talking on a cellphone is increasing accidents — just think what texting while driving must do. Text messaging is even more of a safety problem than talking on a cell phone because it requires not just ears but eyes. There is no way you can keep your eyes and attention on the road AND the text you are writing or reading.

A study released in January by Nationwide Mutual Insurance showed that 37 percent of "Generation Y" drivers – teenagers and adults in their 20s – text or instant message while driving, compared to 17 percent of drivers in 30s and early 40s (Generation X-ers), and 2 percent of Baby Boomers in their 50s and 60s.

If you're an old fart like me you may not realize how very prevalent this is. And of course, young drivers are also the most likely to be in accidents anyway. Add to that the dramatically increased risk of cellphone use while driving, especially texting, and it gets really scary. Every time we leave the house we are surrounded by distracted dangerous drivers.

So what do we do? Some US states have "hands free" laws today (well behind many other countries) and at least three are working on text messaging legislation. I'm not sure how well that will work, but anything seems better than nothing. Personally (and I use my phone in the car right now) I'm starting to think cell phone use by a driver in a moving car should be illegal altogether.

I'll stop if you will?

Sleeping on the Job?

2009-06-27T12:56:00.000-05:00

Do any of you sleep on the job? Do you wish you could? With a six-month-old baby at home neither my wife nor I are always getting a full night's rest. Sometimes I'm so sleepy at work I think if I could just close my eyes and snooze for 20 minutes it would really help. I have an office with big glass windows, facing both inside the building and outside. I have seriously contemplated putting up window coverings of some sort and bringing in a sleeping bag and pillow. I could nap during lunch? Would 20 or 30 minutes do more harm than good? What do you think?

Here's a Newsweek article on this subject:

Asleep on the Job: Sleeping pods at the Empire State Building in New York

Says Newsweek: If Kristine Johnson gets fewer than seven hours of sleep at night, she barely makes it through the workday. So when that happens, Johnson, a 33-year-old San Francisco office manager, takes a nap. She's slept in a lawn chair on the roof of her office, in a locked private bathroom (with just a pillow for support) and in her car. Johnson naps at work only twice a month, but it makes a noticeable difference, she says. "It makes me more alert and better able to do my job," she says.

She's in good company. In March, the National Sleep Foundation reported that 37 percent of Americans nap during the day. About a third of the people surveyed by the NSF said their workplace permitted naps, and more than a quarter said they would sleep at work if their employer let them. Work-time napping has seen enough of a popularity boost to fill its own business niche: Yelo, a New York City store that opened last year, has private rooms with sleep pods for quick naps ($15 for 20 minutes). Its founder, Nicolas Ronco, plans to expand to three New York City locations next year and then to other cities.

Naps do more than make up for lost sleep. They increase creativity, memory and alertness, says Sara Mednick, a professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, and author of "Take a Nap! Change Your Life." A recent six-year study of 23,500 healthy adults by the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School showed that taking naps at least three days per week reduced coronary mortality by 37 percent.

So… what do you think? Is it time for a power nap?

Scarborough Renaissance Festival

2009-05-29T11:34:00.000-05:00

My wife, I and our wee baby girl have visited Scarborough Renaissance Festival near Dallas several times this year. We always find it quite entertaining... and it's almost over. So, join the King and Queen and all the villagers and guests on this the final weekend of Scarborough Renaissance Festival before the gates close on its 29th season!

As their website says,

"Step through the gates of Scarborough Village and feel your cares slip away. Thrill to the thunder of hooves and crash of lance on shield at the joust. Watch in amazement as birds of prey swoop just inches above your head at the command of the Royal Falconer.

Enjoy swordplay, comedy, music and other unique entertainment on 21 stages. Witness artisans create one-of-a-kind works of art. Browse 200 quaint shoppes for unique handmade jewelry, clothing, leather goods and other offerings. Feast like a King on food and drink from around the world.

Grab a turkey leg and stroll among the villagers of Scarborough. Spend the day in the 16th Century and have the time of your life"

To purchase tickets click here. Please note: I do not work for the faire, and my views may not represent those of its management, yada, yada, yada. And no, sadly they do not pay me for this free publicity. Must work on that. We are just happy customers, and wanted to be sure if you are in the area that you don't miss your last chance to attend this year!

Thank you for your comments!

2008-03-17T12:04:00.001-05:00