The End of the First Half of 2014

We made it through half of this year. I say 'we' assuming that you were born before January 1 and, since you are reading this now, you are still hanging around reading blog posts. Did it go quickly for you? Jan-Jun, I mean. It certainly seemed quick to me.

Once upon a time, the Phoenix Suns brought in Charles Barkley in hopes of getting an NBA championship. While they did reach the Finals, they did win the title. Now, they are thinking to make noise again by pulling in LeBron James PLUS a player of HIS choice to get there again. What do you think? Is that a good idea?

Thanks to MBH for the idea for today's Clarity of Vision comic.

Do you like cheesecake? Do you like pretzels? Do you like potato chips? Do you like chocolate? I would not, could not in a box, but you might like them all combined in a single dish. You can see more about this Guy Fieri dessert right here.

Have you ever rated any of the apps on your smartphone or tablet? I have not, although I have really only been in the smartphone world for a month or so. Anyway, would you be tempted to lower a rating if the company displayed a window giving you only a 5-star rating or Remind Me Later choices? I think that I would be.

Oh, Dave Hax, you clever chef, you. Hey, how many of you have ever wanted to know how to cut a dozen or so cherry tomatoes in half WITH ONE STROKE? Well, that's a lot of you, so I will add the link into today's blog post.

Speaking of foods, Scotland wants to be able to import haggis to the US. It has been banned since the '70s due to fears of Mad Cow Disease. Then again, maybe that was just our cover story and the US wanted to ban it because...well, have you ever TASTED haggis?

Speaking some more about foods, haven't some of you been secretly wishing you could get your morning cup of joe, yet not give up your wakeup wine (I made this up, but feel free to use it)? Well, now you can have both...in a single drink. Look at the details here.

Ding Blast It! Once again, I forgot to upload my recent photos to my computer. Well, I would not have had them today anyway since I am writing this at work, but I need to get them off my camera. Maybe I will remember tonight.

I think I have more to say, but you have heard enough. Today seemed to mostly be about foods and sports, so let's label it a Guy's Post (if you are one who like to label things). If not, call it a Link-Fest and don't worry about the topics included within. And whether you call posts anything or not, let's call this one DONE.

But Don't Start Hating Fridays

It's Friday and you know what that means? Pop quiz! Did you complete your assigned reading? Did you do ANY reading? Well, you knew this was coming, and even if you did not, we are all taking the quiz together. Today's topic is "Which is healthier?"
Turkey Burger or Veggie Burger?
Agave or Honey?
Potatoes or Sweet Potatoes?
Instant Oatmeal or Steel-cut Oats?
Butter or Buttery Spread?
Brown Rice or Quinoa?
Frozen Yogurt or Soft-serve Ice Cream?
Potato Chips or Tortilla Chips?
Hummus or Guacamole?
OK. Got your answers ready? Let's review them. Veggie, Tie, Sweet potato, Steel-cut oats, Butter, Quinoa, FroYo, Potato chips, Guacamole. Did you do well? Want to know why any particular answer was chosen? Read the article here.

Speaking of healthy eating, MBH and I have a series of cooking classes in the morning. First, bulk cooking to ease the burden during the week. Then, planning a week's worth of healthy eating. Finally, how to make healthy dressings and dips. Good, I could use a bit more variety in my diet. I am about 8 weeks from completing a year as a vegan. Do I feel healthier? I don't know for sure, but I don't feel bad, so there's that.

The GRANDS (and granddog, too) went home last night. We had a great visit, and they were wonderful. Still, we all kind of crashed for the evening (well, after haircuts). We got to watch night two of Big Brother, our summer guilty pleasure (as opposed to Disney Channel where we have memorized every Jessie episode).

I meant to ask them some questions before they left. "Hey guys, what do you think goes at the end of these phrases?"
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you; cry and...
If at first you don't succeed...
Children should be seen and...
Where there is smoke...
A miss is as good as a...
Better to be safe than...
Daughter-in-love, you should ask them about these. If any of you wonder where this is coming from, I read this story about Proverbs from Fourth Graders. There are more than what I showed here.

I need to catch my breath. I just read a headline purporting to talk about Reality TV Hoaxes. At first, I laughed uproariously, knowing the story itself must be the hoax. Reality TV cannot be contrived. That's why it is called "reality".

Here's a story that you will NEVER SEE ON TV. If you watched Big Brother last night, it could simply be a symptom of this, which could lead to premature death. Get your attention yet? No? Fine, go watch something. I think Jessie is on Disney Channel.

Or maybe you are watching the interminably boring World Cup matches? I'm not, although it is on all the time in our break room.

I chose to create another World Cup-related CoV today, but I liked a headline I saw in Drudge Report.

FIFA bites back. Funny. Gnaw mercy. Kind of funny. The photo accompanying those headlines? Priceless.

Did you wonder why I share so many links? Did you wonder how I choose which ones to include in my blog? No? Doesn't matter. I'll tell you anyway. Obviously, I like puns, so those catch my eye. And if an article looks like something I want to know, I read it to see if I learned anything. So, looking back through today's post, I see I shared a healthy food quiz. In fact, I inflicted it upon MBH and TD last night. I found those Proverbs the other day when I was researching those silly quotes that I presented over several days. Reality TV just appeared this morning in my interweb search and I wanted to be silly implying any of it is actually real. Too much TV is bad has been queued up for a few days and I saw an article about mass firings on The View, so I remembered I wanted to share the thing about watching all this TV.

Hey, it is the end of another week. You've been more than patient while I blathered on about whatever I was blabbering about. Let's go grab a drink and laugh uproariously about something. have a wonderful weekend and I will be back in a few days with more blather.

404 Bisnuts (That Will Make Sense Later)

How many of you know what a 404 error is? Have you ever tried to go to a web page and get a message that it does not exist? Yeah, that's a 404, and this one is a funny version featuring Jim Carrey.

There is a form of protest going on in Washington DC that makes no sense to me. Have you heard about Uber, a company that offers private vehicles to give you a ride as an alternative to taxicabs? In DC, the cab companies held a protest where they blocked off a large part of city center. Doesn't that seem to be the opposite of the message they should send, which is they are the safe, convenient option? My first thought would not be "Hmm. I can't get to my destination because of all these cabs. Hey, this was better back when Uber didn't exist!"

I have been known to, shall we say, "push" my vehicle a little over the speed limit. I won't say "a lot", but I will say "often". This is not about me, though. It's about the new Hyundai Genesis, that can sense a speed camera and slow you down. It is mainly for those fixed cameras. Would you buy it, or would (should?) you just SLOW DOWN? Those 10 minutes it buys you won't kill you. So, will I slow down? Hey, this is my blog. You don't get to ask questions like that.

This story headline caught my eye.

I mean, isn't the number of movies he didn't make pretty much endless? 2001: A Space Odyssey, for example? "I'm sorry, Hal. I can't let you in. Whoo hoo!"

Do you tie your shoes using a granny knot or a reef knot? Does it ever come unties when you are active? Then it is probably a granny knot. Follow these instructions to switch it up and never come unties again. That's right, I said NEVER!

Bisnuts, anyone?

You know what? You are correct. I DO have some photos I took of the GRANDS recently, but I keep forgetting to upload them to my computer and share them. The GRANDS go home tonight, so maybe I will remember. We've had a great time, and all three are crazy, swimming nuts (no, not bisnuts...see previous paragraph).

Speaking of sports, though, are you following the World Cup? It is usually on in our break room, and I do see a few people in there frequently. Me? No, I only know the US is playing today and needs to win or tie. However, I do hear things. Today's comic is something I heard about a Tyson-esque bite of a competitor.

This looks long enough that y'all should feel I gave you your money's worth. And I oughta do something professional. So, I will mosey off to the left and y'all can see yourselves out to the right.

Hump Day This Week Seemed a Long Time Coming, For Some Reason

I led the first half of Chorale practice last night. I had fun, even if the choir did not. Our director was out of town, so he assigned me the more technical songs, allowing me to correct some issues with timing and notes. He gives the other temp-director those songs where we know them better but need some help with being expressive.

And the GRANDS and MBH swam THE WHOLE TIME I WAS GONE! Over two hours. I imagine they were quite tired, and yet JV stayed up until 10:15pm. Hopefully, they are sleeping late today.

I found a site this morning that hosts a whole bunch of links to scripts for a whole bunch of movies. I clicked on Scrooged just to look at one. Go ahead. Find one of your favorite and start your day with a guffaw (unless it is a serious movie, in which case you can start you day with a lump in your throat).

I heard an ad for American Family Insurance with a country-sounding song on it and decided to find out if it was a real song. After seeking the right words so Google could find it (I ended up putting "live live seize the day" in quotes), I found it was Dare to Dream by Jo Dee Messina. Have you heard that ad? I like it.

I also found a cute video about the IT Help Desk on the Death Star. Have you seen it? I like it.

And when I found that video, I noticed one about 25 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Star Wars. For example, the Ewoks were named after an Indian tribe indigenous to the area where those scenes were filmed. And can you imagine Christopher Walken as Han Solo? Have you watched this before? I like it.

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Little Big Horn. That reminds me of that Twilight Zone episode "The 7th is Made Up of Phantoms". Have you seen that episode? I like it.

The other day, a film crew was in our building making a new TV ad for the company. To make the Operations Center look more full, they pulled some people from my area into the room and asked them to look like they were working (and in fairness, they may have actually worked, just in this other room). No, I was not chosen. Anyway, it led to this....

Have you ever had a cronut? What about one made by the creator of the dessert? No, I haven't, either. Would you like to try one of his other creations?

I think I have shared enough for today, both in links and in words. Still craving more ALiMOM (A Legend in My Own Mind, of course)? You'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Back to Saturday Night For a Moment

I cannot believe that I didn't mention our Saturday night date with SS and D-i-L. They gave us a night with them at Murder And a Meal, and it was a lot of fun. The show we attended was called "A Ghostly Crime". SS spent the whole evening looking forward to killing someone and was sorely disappointed when he found it was a play and not a participation event. At the end, the revealed "the butler did it", but I disagree. Earlier in the show, the lady that died had told the butler she would share a drink with her husband. So, he would have known she could die from before he even made the drink. Oh well. At least SS didn't end the evening in jail.

From the moment I got home last night, JV was glued to my side. And the girls were gone for a while to see Maleficent with their daddy, so we had some alone time with JV. Later, we all went swimming and I suspect I will feel some soreness by tomorrow.

Let's go ahead and enjoy the remaining quotes from English exam essays (allegedly).

"The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant."

"It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools."

"He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up."

"It hurt the way your tongue hurts after you accidentally staple it to the wall."

Would you eat ground-up beetles? How about beaver extract? Well, you'll find those facts and several more in this story about the snack food industry...if you dare.

The last couple of trips to The Dis, GRAND#1 has gone with me to see the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. I still enjoy it. So, when I saw this article about creating the exhibit, I had to watch. You should, too.

Speaking of The Dis, though, did you see the photos of smoke there from a fire? That would make me worry a bit.

Do you think man will ever find Noah's Ark? Satellite photographs certainly have scientists excited over that prospect.

I am conducting at Chorale practice tonight, and I need to get something ready, so I will share today's CoV and get out of here. Thanks for being patient as you wandered along with my mind through the blog post.

Monday - My Less-Common Day of Rest

We are keeping the GRANDS for a few days, and let me tell you, parenting is not a spectator sport. They are constantly on the move, especially the two-year-old. So, I am hoping that being at work fora while today gets me recharged. Luckily, all were asleep by 10ish last night.

You know, so many music videos are silly or weird. Here is an old one with Jagger and Bowie that has the music removed and grunts and groans added. I actually snickered out loud (and I don't mean the candy bar). Go watch it immediately before you forget.

I don't know about y'all (because, if I did, I could be convicted of peeping of something), but I tend to get hot at night...even with a fan on me. So, when I saw this article, I had to read through it. For me, the chilipad looks interesting, but a bit high-priced.

How many of you have ever thought about taking a "bazillion" photos. The man that wrote this article about Apple's new offering has. A bazillion, huh? That sounds like a lot. Seriously, though, it does sound promising.

I read somewhere that, no matter where you are in the State of Michigan, you’re never far from a lake; every location in the state is within 85 miles of one of the Great Lakes and within six miles of one of the 11,000+ smaller inland lakes. Living in the desert, I would bet our numbers are not quite so close. Plus, I am sure we don't have 11,000 lakes in the state, and probably not even 1,100.

Speaking of desert, some of the first Star Wars movie was filmed in the desert near Yuma. Just a little fun fact there. And that leads me to today's CoV.

Let's get a few more of those silly quotes that I started last week.
"John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met."

"The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work."

"The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while."

We have not done so yet, but we almost always hit McD's when the GRANDS stay with us. However, in recent customer satisfaction ratings, they did not fare well.

To keep you satisfied, though, I will call it quits. No, I mean just for today. Have a Marvelous Monday, minions.

You Were Warned

If you follow this blog at all, something is wrong with you. That's not exactly what I started to say, but it's true. Get a life, you people. What I started to say before my brain hijacked my fingers was if you read the blog, you were warned that an idea I wrote about might become fodder for a new comic. Sure enough, I chose a path and knew what I wanted to say in the comic.

If you don't know, a ticker is the scrolling information in a stock exchange that tells you the value of each stock. It used to be on a paper tape whose noise sounding like clicking as it printed; hence, the name.

Something I do not usually do is post something here that I have not already enjoyed. I am doing that now in hope it will be interesting when I look at it myself tonight. What am I talking about? This story about a nutritionist who showed clients a table filled with everything they ate that week. It sounds fun, but the filters at work will not let me see it. I hope it is not objectionable.

I am not looking for a job right now, but I will keep these tips in mind when I am ready. You should, too.

Teacher Daughter, would you see True Blood: The Musical?

Speaking of music, have you ever heard of the group OK Go? Whether you have or not, they do make extremely interesting videos. The first I remember is the one using clever treadmill moves for the song Here It Goes Again and you can see it here. Then, they built a Goldberg-esque machine for This Too Shall Pass. Their latest is really clever. Watch The Writings on the Wall. Go. Do it. You will be glad you did.

Did you watch Breaking Bad over the last few years? Are you excited for Better Call Saul? Bad news - the premiere has been pushed back from November to sometime next year. Boo. Good news - they have already renewed it for a second season.

Today's CoV did not have any references to bathroom humor. If you miss that, watch this Grey Poupon commercial.

SS and D-I-L, I expect you will want to go to HP and E from GB when we go to Orlando, won't you?

This is long enough, and I am sure I need to do something at work. No meetings scheduled for the morning, although I do have two scheduled at 1pm. I am sure you need to do something also. Have a wonderful weekend and let's get together on Monday, refreshed and ready for a new week.

Thursday Thaumaturge

One of the problems with living so long is the brain gets stuffed with information that pops up at weird times. i was trying to title today's post and wanted some words that began with the same 'th' sounds as Thursday. 'Thaumaturge' popped into my mind. It means 'a wonder worker'. I don't claim to be that (well, not ALL the time), but it did give me a title and taught y'all a new word.

Happy Anniversary to Salesman Son and Daughter-in-Love. Nine years is something to be proud of. And your three young-'uns are precious. We are lucky you live close so we can see them (and you) often.

Speaking of not living close, the folks are at the annual family reunion. Dad or CPA Cuz, if you read this during the reunion, tell everyone we said hi.

Did you know that John Wayne once played Genghis Kahn in a movie? This answers.com article shows some others that they consider miscast. I can't disagree.

Speaking of watching things, I will admit that cable is a necessary evil for our family. I read now that it is not only costly in terms of money, but also in terms of power consumption (which, still, relates to money). The total is not anything like the cost of a pool, but the DVR boxes still run about $8 per month in electricity costs. I should cut back to save money, but I will worry about that after I watch GoT while taping MasterChef and Real Housewives of OC on other boxes.

I did see a video on the news about a California mayor who threw dog poop on his neighbor's yard. Here's what I have to say about that.

I also have a few more of those crazy quotes I have shared the last couple of days.

"Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze."

"Hailstones leaped from the pavement, like maggots when you fry them in hot grease."

"Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph."

OK, I didn't see anything else for sharing today, and I do have a deliverable due to my boss last night that I need to review before I submit it. No, this is not 'dog poop' for my 'neighbor', but I need to be sure I did it right. Have a good one.

It's the Real Thing (Both Coke and This Blog)

Have you heard that Coke is releasing a new version of its drink sweetened with stevia. You can read about it here, but there was a quote in the article I want to share. "Coke Life isn’t exactly a diet drink. According to the Guardian, it contains more than four tablespoons of real sugar and has about 89 calories per can—less than the 140 calories found in a can of regular Coke, but hardly something that will be championed by the quinoa crowd." It appears I must be part of that "quinoa crowd", right? Whoo hoo. I'm mainstream.

This looks like an interesting article, but I am blocked from it at work. By placing the link in my blog, maybe I will remember to check on it at home tonight.

One of the changes impacted by my eating habits is the (in)frequency with which I go to fast food places. That said, this was interesting about a dude ordering different things at places and then asking that they remake it to actually match advertising photos. No, I probably would not be willing to try. Would you?

I still have not watched the most recent Game of Thrones episode. I don't want to know about it, though spoilers abound this many days after it aired. How long after a show is on TV (or even a movie in the theater) before it is OK to talk about it? This article suggests one idea.

I read recently about how unique our tongue print is, equal even to a fingerprint. That got my mind to wondering...

Do you remember those analogies and/or metaphors that I shared with you yesterday? No? Well, it has been 24 hours or so. Here are a few more.

"He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree."

"The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM."

"A little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't."

Do you have a standing desk at work or home? If you could, would you opt for one? I would. This story from fivethirtyeight.com talks about the benefits, but notes more serious study is needed to prove those bennies.

I am thinking I have kept you too long as I type my blog while sitting at my desk. I think I will publish it and stand or walk for a moment. Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

I Hope Tuesday Isn't Just a Second Monday This Week

Not that Monday was that bad, but one a week is enough.

Today, the Watergate burglary happened back in '72. And in '92, Charles Barkley joined the Phoenix Suns. And in '94, OJ was cruising around LA in a white Bronco.

How would you like to see a couple of cutie-pie Oompa Loompas? I saw them last week in a local production of Willy Wonka. They did a good job. If you forgot, that would be K in red on the left and I in purple on the right.

Look what I read today. "It would cost $343,368 to buy every product featured in June’s issue of Vogue. If you’re on a budget, buy everything in Real Simple instead. That’ll cost you a mere $15,581." I don't read either of those, so I just saved almost $360K. For a whole lot less, you can make your own chocolate caramel doughnut holes, thanks to Martha Stewart.

What is the difference between an analogy and a metaphor? Do you know? I read some the other day and here are a couple of them for your morning mirth.

"His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free."

"She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up."

"Her vocabulary was as bad as, like ... whatever."

The team that was outsourced is gone now, leaving behind the detritus and debris of someone who can leave their past behind. It is certainly quiet in my area. OK, this is only the second workday without them, but I miss their banter. So, in their honor, I came up with another CoV about pacemakers.

No! Do NOT tell me anything about the finale of Game of Thrones. It is hard enough to avoid on the interweb, but I am waiting on MBH to get back home before I watch it. If you reveal anything, I will send you over to Preacher Bro's house after he builds his indoor shooting range (he said he was interested in building one in a comment on yesterday's blog, and I believe him 'cause he's a man of the cloth).

Have you ever wondered what might lie beneath famous paintings. Neither have I, but apparently some people do. This story is about a bow-tied dude underneath Picasso's The Blue Room. Maybe it just some degenerate watching the lady bathe? They have also found a mustached man beneath Picasso's Woman Ironing. Maybe Picasso was just a canvas thief who used someone else's masterpieces as the base for his own stuff?

Would you attend a quidditch match in your town? Have you ever even heard of quidditch? If not, you are obviously not an HP fan. Eighty teams competed in SC back in April. It looks like UT won for a second straight year. Here is a photo of a guy that I think is actually flying.

Like to cook? Even if you do (ahem. daughter-in-love), living the life of a head baker just does NOT sound fun.

Spoiler alert. There are still 623 GM cars that have not been recalled. D'Oh. Do not read that last sentence. It might show up as a Clarity of Vision in the future. OK, you can read it, but don't tell anyone else.

I found some interesting links today (did you just say "I didn't notice"? How dare you. Go re-read the whole post) and I had time to talk. Thanks for sticking with it all the way to the end.

Post-Father's Day Back At the Job

Speaking of Monday, there are things that successful people do. However, updating their blog is NOT mentioned. What is up with that?

I have been thinking of setting up a shooting range inside my house. Did that sentence make you do a double-take? I hope so. Still, I did find some build instructions for doing just that. And in the illustration, the dude doesn't even need ear protection. How did any of us even grow up safely?

I had a fairly quiet Father's Day. As you remember, we actually celebrated last week, so yesterday, I had lunch with my father, plus Mom and IT Sis. I did get texts and calls from my family. They are over in SoCal at Knott's and Disney. I did finish watching the final episodes of NBC's Revolution. I would like to have seen an actual series end with tying up of the story lines. Oh well.

It did lead me to say this.

Spurs win! The Spurs win! Meh, I didn't really care either way.

Look at the title of this article about Hillary Clinton. Really? Is that where her book tour actually originated? If so, should Christians vote for her? (No hints. You'll have to follow the link to see what I am talking about).

I am not saying this story is anything like the team that just left the company. I am not saying it is not, either. Know what I'm saying?

“The thing is when you ride your motorcycle you can’t let the motorcycle get control of you and at that point the motorcycle took control of me and I just kept going faster and faster,” he said. “But again at no point did I feel I was running from the cops.” Sure, I believe this guy's story that being clocked at 157mph is the motorcycle's fault, not his. Don't you?

Do you like behind-the-scenes type books? This one about Jay Leno could be interesting. Let me know if you read it. (Hmm. Did I mean read -pronounced reed- it in a future sense, or read -pronounced red- in a past-tense? Either way works).

You Have The Right to Not Read My Blog....

Today is the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision on Miranda vs Arizona, which led to the creation of the Miranda Rights. It happened back in 1966.

I am late writing this (late for me, anyway) because I have already been talking to the team being outsourced. Their network access was cut yesterday afternoon, so some of the tasks they were trying to finished could not be completed. Oh well, they did what they could.

And so, I will say goodbye with a CoV.

And today, having again been interrupted, I do not have time to find more blog-worthy material. I need to go. Have a great weekend, and Happy Father's Day to my fellow dads.

I Can See the Finish Line....

When is the last time you went to a bakery for anything? My last visit was probably on vacation up on Colorado last year. Even though I don't really support them, it symbolizes a changing culture that more and more of them are closing, as highlighted in this Yahoo! story. Interestingly, one of my coworkers is in the process of launching her own. I hope she makes it.

The other day, I got a little vociferous in protesting what some teammates were saying about my involvement in a client problem. They kept telling me not to get riled up. When did you last hear that phrase, huh? Anyway, before they leave tomorrow, I wanted to capture that exchange in Clarity of Vision fashion.

The title of today's post is about the team being released tomorrow morning. Within a few more workdays, I should be able to close this project and get back to the ones previously assigned. I am ready, although I will miss some new friends. I wish them well.

I just found out that some of them are calling in sick today. I guess I should not be surprised, but it will make my final tasks a little more challenging. Well, I can only do what I can do.

Hmm. No good links showing up this morning. Just as well, I need to do some stuff before my first project call at 9am. Have a great Pre-Friday.

Have You Been Wondering?

Yesterday, I forgot to comment on Preacher Bro's comment on my comment in an earlier post. Wait. I forgot where I was going with that comment. Anyway, he suggests that he had heard the argument about which day Jesus was actually crucified before and remained unconvinced. Regardless, PB notes that should not be a worry for a big theological debate. Dude, I never said it was. I just found it interesting and was sharing it. Can you guys imagine growing up with him? "I am sorry, brother. I know you don't want me to tell Mom that you feed your vegetables to the dog, but I remain unconvinced that breaking one of the Commandments and lying about it is healthy for your soul. I must go to my room and pray for your salvation."

I just got back after being interrupted by some of the team being outsourced. I know I am not their manager, but I feel they will work better if they feel someone is listening to their concerns. They are worried the new company is not ready, and they are right. That shows the caliber of people they are, being let go and still wanting to do the best for their clients. I will miss them.

The CIO must know what he is doing, though. Right? Yesterday, he sent a voice mail to all IT employees. What was the topic? Here, read this.

Actually, I did listen to it, but making fun of it is more fun.

Have you been wondering if someone would ever invent a replacement for the toilet plunger? It may have happened in South Korea. Watch the video and see what you think.

Have you been wondering why the length of pants worn with a suit is always long? Well, wonder no longer. How about shorts with your next suit?

Remember the link I shared a few days ago about an algorithm being selected for a company's Board of Directors? Well, have you been wondering why no one has a program that can imitate a human and fool people. Wonder no longer.

Have you been wondering about fairy tale characters and what happened to their mug shots. Here they are, and they are not pretty.

Sorry. It is that time of day when people start coming around. It is time I came around to them, too. Have a great Wednesday.

Links to Love

For some reason, I woke up this morning with the song "I Love to Laugh" from Mary Poppins in my head. Isn't that crazy? And thinking of the movie made me think of a joke they set up early in the movie whose punchline did not arrive until the end of the show. "I met a man with a wooden leg named Smith." "Really? What was the name of his other leg?" That is certainly classic material, and delivered in much the same way as the last panel of my comic.

I did not see Saving Mr. Banks, but I will watch it sometime on HBO. Anyway, it is well known that P.L.Travers did not like the movie adaptation of Mary Poppins. Here is a list of some other authors who did not like the film version of their books.

While we are on old movies, look at this very interesting infographic about the Ghostbusters movies. Can you believe it has been 30 years since the original was released? And here are a few of the iconic locations from the film. Check them out if you make it to NYC. I've never been there, although SS and D-I-L have been twice (wait. I think that is right.)

I just saw that Drunk History on Comedy Channel has been renewed for a second season, and has a bunch of celebrity actors in it. Have you ever heard of it? I may have to check that out.

This potato recipe sounds good and fits into my diet. remind me to try it soon. I am ready for some variety.

And I noticed that kale is not one of the top powerhouse vegetables. It is certainly an acquired taste.

I just read about a dude who is turning an old jet into a home. If I tried that on my tiny lot, I could probably only fit the cockpit (plus, hopefully a galley for meals and a bathroom). Don't you hate airplane bathrooms? I can never stand upright in them.

Did you say you were tired of waiting for today's Clarity of Vision? Well, let's fix that.

Yup, time to earn my keep here at the office. I did find some links to share today, so that must mean it will be a good day, right? See you tomorrow.

Celebration But No Concert

We had quite a celebration this weekend for birthdays and Father's Day. Much of the family will be out of town next weekend, so we got together today. Birthdays included MBH and Salesman Son. Fathers included myself and Salesman Son. I was truly blessed. I got a set of plates with Beatles lyrics handwritten on the front by Daughter-in-love. On the back, each of them wrote a personal note. They are really cool. They got this idea from one of my own Pinterest links. They also gave MBH and I a night out at a Murder Mystery dinner theater. Plus, I got a new DSLR. And a couple of coupons for a local vegan place. Whoo Hoo!

Because of this celebration, I was not able to go to the Chorale concert this afternoon. Well, it was a good trade.

When we left their house yesterday evening, JV was pretty sad that Pops had to go home. We do have a strong bond right now. I remember when I had that with KNW was young, too. Of course, I am close with all of them, but this special relationship while they are still young will always be a great memory. I felt it a little less when GRAND#1 was young, but that one wasn't as strong when she was 2-3 as it is now. Maybe it is stronger as she grows because she and I are both first borns?

It has been a while since I elevated this blog to fine art. Today, I want to remind you of how cats figured into the great masterpieces of classic painters.

Speaking of Pinterest, I got forwarded a board from someone I don't know because they have a photography page and so do I. I looked through her page and was amazed that one of the shots looked almost exactly like one of mine. When I clicked on it, guess what? Yes, it WAS mine that she had pinned on her page. Crazy, right?

Wow, has it been 20+ years since Jurassic Park came out? This is a really cool video about how they created the tools that let them create CGI dinosaurs.

Would you be willing to pay 27% more for your meals at McDonald's to support an increase in the minimum wage? That's what Motley Fool estimates the increase would be. I probably would, since we only go there when we have the GRANDS.

"Many cardiologists believe that no specific number is really “too low....”" I read this sentence in this Yahoo! article and it certainly caught my attention. What did you think when you read it. For me, it was, "Really? Nothing is too low?" What about ZERO?!?!? Could that become a CoV topic? Maybe. Do you have an idea how I could build on that in three panels?

Speaking of CoV, let's do it.

I suddenly ran out of time. I was talking with one of the short-timers. I was doing fine and I am now late on stuff. Where did that come from? See you tomorrow.

Birthdays and Budgets Beat Me Up

As you saw in yesterday's Clarity of Vision, it was MBH's birthday. So, I wanted to bring her some flowers and chocolates (actually a Starbuck's gift card) early in the day. Once I got back, I was pulled into budget meetings instead of working on... you know... that project. So today, I am way behind on some tasks. Luckily, no one has stopped by the cube to talk. Well, not yet.

Then, last night, we had a nice b-day dinner with the kids and the folks. This place has most of its seating outdoors, but since it was 105F, we opted to select a table inside. Wouldn't you?

I get a daily email devotional, and today's made me say, "Whaaa?" OK, I didn't actually say it, but the effect was the same. Should we actually be talking about Good Wednesday instead of Good Friday? Read this and consider their argument.

Have you ever been to the Texas State Fair? Would you consider it to be the best of all the states? If you read this article, you can see what Yahoo! has to say.

Spending a bunch of money on laundry detergent. Maybe Consumer Reports can save you a bit.

You could save time by not reading today's CoV, but you would lose out on guffaws and giggles. Your choice.

If you are anything like me, you have been waiting for someone to release a countertop ice cream sandwich maker. Wait no longer, my friends.

Borrow $300, pay back $975? Great deal! NOT!!! Read about this payday loan company and the super-sneaky fine print.

Could that rain my weatherman is showing actually be bugs? That seems true in Albuquerque. That's too many for me.

My free time just disappeared. Have a great weekend and watch out for bugs.

Happy Birthday To My Beloved

It is about that time again.It seems to come around about once every 365.25 days. Isn't that something? Anyway, Happy Birthday to my best friend, my wife, MBH.

To celebrate, here is today's Clarity of Vision.

I like optical illusions, don't you? Read this article and take a look at the finalists for Illusion of the Year. I didn't even know there was such an award.

You already know what I am going to say. Yes, I got caught up in a project discussion already and never had a chance to look for fun stuff to share. Oh, wait a minute. I saved something yesterday for you.

Here it is. Would you like it if an algorithm was part of the board leading your company? It looks like we are taking a first step towards The Terminator, right?

Now, I am done for the day. Sorry it is so short and sweet. Anyway, if you know her on Facebook, drop her a birthday note. See you in 24 or so.

THE PROJECT From ... Management (What Did You Think I Was Going to Say?)

Just when I was fixing to start writing today's post, what do you think happened? You nailed it on your first guess. THE PROJECT intruded. I think I talked the dude off the ledge for now, but they are all ready to get finished with this transition and move on with their lives in their next opportunity. I don't blame then. They are all lame duck workers right now. And the new provider is beginning to realize the true scope of what they are taking on. It will definitely get worse before it gets better.

I may have been interrupted before the blog post was begun, but today's Clarity of Vision was already in the bag by then. I knew last night where this was going. I think the woman who inspired this is ready to leave, not only due to the outsourcing project, but so I will leave her alone as inspiration for my comic.

No pacemakers nor workers were harmed in the making of this CoV. Well, not physically, anyway.

I am sure you all have seen the stories about Stirling having to sell the Clippers and getting an offer of $2 billion. This story wonders how much the Cowboys would sell for if the same inflation rate were applied... or even the AZ Cardinals.

Sorry, peoples. I gots to get after it. It promises to be a busy day. I didn't really have much to share, anyway. Hopefully, I can give you some creative ways to waste your time tomorrow.

Sick and Tired, or Just Tired of Being Sick?

Did anyone notice there was no blog entry yesterday? Nor was there a new Clarity of Vision comic. No, I was out sick yesterday. It started sometime during the weekend, and I even missed a Chorale concert on Sunday. If you know me, you know that must mean I was quite unwell. Am I well today? Maybe not 100%, but enough that I would rather be at my desk than laying around at home, and especially so during the long, hot afternoon period when we cannot use the A/C.

What was wrong? I'd rather not say, or more accurately, I'd rather tell you about using the comic strip medium.

Are you considering going to a local theater to watch a live transmitted Monty Python show? It would be fun, but I am probably not going to attend. I will wait for the DVD.

I saw a story on the news last night about a Chinese man stuck in South Korea after his child doodled on his passport. This morning, I read that it may not be true. Read this and decide for yourself.

When is it OK for a store to begin displaying Christmas decorations? Is May too early? Hobby Lobby (called Holly Hobby by someone I know) doesn't think so.

Have you been following the Aereo story? They tape over-the-air broadcasts and let you watch them on your schedule and whatever device you choose. Is that copyright infringement or personal use? We are waiting for the Supreme Court to choose, but it seems you could set up your own version.

Did you hear that Cesar Chavez (D) is running for Congress in AZ? Wouldn't you vote for him? I mean, first, let's ignore the fact that he died in 1993. Second, ignore the fact that, until Dec, he was a Republican named Scott Fistler. Third,...well, there is no third. Why would you even consider choosing a candidate that is using these kinds of tricks to get elected. If he starts off like this, how will he act when he is in office and under-the-table deals are offered?

Hey, kids! Do you know what time it is? It is time to get to work. After being out yesterday, I've got lots o' mail to work through, so no more dillying (or dallying, either). Stay Classy, San Diego (or wherever you may be).