Today's Travelogue

We have some photos printed on canvas around the house. Have you done that with any of your shots? Anyway, I came across this one which was my draft at how to take a photo and make it a triptych. This is from near Last Dollar Road near Telluride, CO.

I also found one that I considered, but decided not to make into a canvas. What do you think? Should I have made one? This one is from Zion National Park in UT.

And I don't have anything else to share now, but I did see this nice photo I thought Dad would appreciate. A guy took it off of Country Rd 9. I think Dad will recognize the location since we stop there every year.

Having Star Wars withdrawal while we wait for the next movies? Once the next one arrives, you know it will be presented from the point of view of the Rebels. What would a movie be like if it were presented from the standpoint of the Empire? Now you can know.

Is there anyone in your family who is a little anxious when they fly? I am not talking about the hassle of even getting onto the plane. I mean the time in the air with noises and turbulence and being in a long tube at 30,000 ft traveling 450 mph. Anyway, I know someone like that.

And there also happens to be a story about Virgin Atlantic's new coach class seats that are roomier in a cabin that includes mood lighting. I want to travel to the UK just to fly in this.

And how about some healthy travel snacks? Spicy Roaster Chickpeas, anyone? Cinnamon Baked Apple Chips? Tamari Roasted Almonds? Plus, four other options.

Is there a 'best' blood type? Do you have it? Stinking Type O wins again. It's not fair. It's a universal donor, and people with type O blood are at a lower risk for cardiovascular health issues like stroke and heart attack. They are also less likely to experience certain kinds of cancer, like pancreatic and gastric cancers. They even live longer than those with non-O types.

You know what we have not talked about for a few days? Something from Disneyland. Let's review some secrets from Pirates of the Caribbean. Here's a hint: it was originally a wax museum.

I am not seeing anything else noteworthy today, so I will go ahead and start working. I have a meeting in just over an hour, so I should get ready. Have a Totally Tremendous Tuesday.

More Than 11 Pipers Piping (And No Lords A-Leaping)

Today, we finish up with the last of the photos from the recent Scottish Highland games. One of the events that is always fun is the various pipe bands from the area playing and getting scores. These first five photos are of a band out of Tucson.

And I moved along with them as they marched to catch them in formation.

Here, I trying to catch just the drum heads and drumsticks as they marched.

And in this photo, I was watching their fingers on their canters, which is the thing that is like a flute.

After they march, they circle around the bass drum and play 1-2 songs for the judges.

Here is a different band (apparently The Cameron Highlanders) marching onto the judging field.

And another try at catching the drummers.

And another shot with a wider angle.

Then, I tried to focus on the bagpipes.

And a shot as they marched past.

And here is a piper piping.

This band includes a medium size drum (between the snares and the bass) and the drummers always swing their drumsticks as they march.

Here she is swinging the drumstick, but it loses its impact in a photo.

Are you a Late, Late Show watcher? I confess that I am not. It is on too late for me. So, I don't know much about the new host of the show, James Corden. He made a star-studded video talking about his preparation for the first episode. I think that it is pretty funny.

Haven't you been wanting to determine the molecular fingerprint of anything around you? Watch this video and you can see a new device that let's you do just that. It can even determine what types of pills it is testing.

I had to get up with the dumb dog last night. As I waited, I noticed that the cat was not sleeping in his usual spot on the ottoman because the clean towels were stacked there. I played with that sentence trying to make it into an alliteration. Do you remember what that it? I remember the definition because it is "the same sound in several successive syllables". What? Doesn't everyone play those types of mind games? So, I started with "Did we kick you out of your sleeping spot?" and ended with "Did some nogoodnik nefariously nab your napping nook? Not nice". Not bad for 2am, right? And it is supposed to help keep your mind young to do things like that.

A right of passage occurred this past week. I broke the last remaining child-proof lock from a cabinet in the master bathroom. You know what I am talking about right? You can see an example below. Anyway, it surprised me that I was upset about it. I imagine that I installed them in 1984, so it made it over 30 years. I guess it demonstrates the inexorable passing of time and the kids growing up.

For years, we have read about unusual uses for products such as Coca Cola. I had never heard of it as a hair treatment to give it the 'tousled' look. Have you? Read about it here and also read about eating clay , sniffing grapefruit oil, honey and beer as another hair treatment alternative, and using cinnamon on your lips.

Did you know that Consumers Union, the company that published Consumers Reports, was once sued by Isuzu after it said one of their cars was unsafe, and they lost? They have since cleaned up their reputation, and here are the Top 10 Worst Cars they've tested.

Were you talking with your family this past weekend about where the evergreen forests are in the US? No? Well, maybe you wondered where the main cornfields were? Even if you were not, you can see those answers and more on the this minimalist maps site.

Oops. I am a few minutes late publishing this because I had not yet created today's CoV, but I already got pulled into some work emails. Here is the Clarity of Vision and I will see y'all again tomorrow.

Is It Warum?

Normally, if you see the word 'warum', you would think of it as being the German word 'why'. Come on. You know that is what you thought. If you did, then you must be wondering about the title of today's post. That's because I was writing the word 'warm' using the phonetic spelling based on how my Scottish friend Bill Calderwood says it. Bill and his wife, Liz, are the ones that asked me, "It's you Americans that don't know how to pronounce things. Say the name Marilyn. Now say the name of the state, Maryland. See, they sound the same". Of course, as she asked the question, her pronunciations were "mahr-lin" and "merry-land". Since today's photos are from the Highland games again, I was reminded of my friends. And the reason I chose the title is because it will be verrry warm here where I live today. It is too early in the year to be above 90F.

Tired of seeing Scottish bands? Well, let's take a break from them and look at cars today. OK, fine, they are still from the UK, but it is different types of photos.

This first car is an MG. Internet snooping makes me think this is a TF Midget.

The front end shape of this MG practically screams TD Midget. Don't you agree? I actually have no clue.

I don't remember what this next car was, but a dude standing near it told me there were only 300 or so of them ever made, and less than 100 remaining.

And these last few photos were my attempt at artsy shots by seeing the line of cars from the front and the back.

I like bananas. Do you? Now, I do not use them like Elvis did in a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich. I usually eat one each morning while they are still edible. They get overripe way too quickly. So, I was curious when I saw an article about a way to make bananas last longer. It involves separating them and maybe tin foil and apples. Go watch the video and read the article.

Do you (or did you) ever watch The Colbert Report? I did not watch it much, but I am glad I have seen this clip where he talks about his outrage at Obama saluting with a coffee cup. He has some really funny lines, and the email he send at the end is hilarious.

One TV program I regularly watch is Survivor. I cannot always remember names or past season details, but I enjoy the show. How much?

Have you ever been to Gainesville, GA? I confess that I have not. If you have, though, I hope you were aware that, if you eat fried chicken, you must use your hands. And when in Concord, MA, don't go looking for bottled water. They cannot sell single-serving plastic bottles. There are some more weird food laws you can read about at the link.

Most movie theaters have seats for your viewing pleasure, some of which may rock. There are also some theaters that have added recliners. What about what that features beds? Interested/ Well, IKEA in Russia retrofitted one theater just that way. I don't know how well it did. It might be a good way for me to try out different mattresses before buying one, though.

Be aware, though, that not every IKEA product is a hit. Here are some (apparent) losers.

We made it through another week. Well, I did. If you did not, please don't tell me that. It sounds too depressing. Have a great weekend. We will because we keep the GRANDS on Saturday night.

A Litany of Leisure-time Links Laid Out

The other band we saw at the Highland games was Highland Way. No bagpipes, but the fiddle player was pretty good.

Here, you can see Brian, the lead singer, plying his trade. He was not much of a smiler, but he did so a lot more than the bass player from the other band that I showed you a couple of days ago.

The band was really enjoying watching this little girl dancing away right in front of the stage. So were we.

What would you think if the NFL were to get rid of the extra point kick after a touchdown? That is just one of the many proposals being considered. You can see more details here.

Sure, I am focusing on getting back in shape. My trainer is not having me work just one area, though. We'll do squats, steps, dumbbell lifts, pushups, exercise ball. Yes, many of you want to work on one part of your body (such as abs), but I want to just be really healthy. And my trainer has not addressed my eating habits (although he does expect me to be keeping an eating journal...which I don't). Still, I do read articles about foods, such as this one about which foods promote wrinkles.

I wonder which foods promote better memory?

Speaking of foods, though, one thing we can all appreciate are those that are easy to prepare. Wouldn't you eat healthier if you could come home to a meal already ready-to-eat? Then why aren't we using our slow cookers? Here are 30 Excellent Slow Cooker Recipes For Lazy People. How does Lemon Garlic Chicken sound? Honey Ginger Apple Shredded Pork? Teriyaki Chicken? Potato Chowder? Go look. There are 26 additional options.

Would you like it if one of your neighbors started enhancing his house by cementing rocks onto it? A postman in France did just that for over 30 years, and he ended up building his "Ideal Palace". OK, it was a few years ago (1879), but it now draws 150,000 visitors a year.

There are a number of rides that exist in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. However, they are not exactly the same. Read this to see the comparisons between the two parks and which ride readers prefer.

Here's how Yahoo sees the forecast for TV programs for 2015-2016. Which of your favorites are coming back or down for the count?

I know that I shared a video about a guy who built a quadcopter version of the Millennium Falcon. He has now build an Imperial Star Destroyer. Pretty Cool. Go watch him fly it.

Did you hear a phone ringing? I'd better go see if it is for me. Can you see yourself out? Thanks. Make it a Thrilling Thursday, OK?

Piping to Your Own Drummer (Is That Even Possible?)

One of the activities we did at the Scottish Highland games was to see a guy who taught us about the history of the bagpipe, stories about Scotland, and about his opportunities for piping in Hollywood. Doesn't he look stereotypical?

His name is John McLean Allan. He offers lessons if you want to learn how to play. If you are not in L.A., he can teach you via Skype (no, I do not know his rates).

John has played with various performers such as Korn, The Chieftains, Michael Flattley, Charlotte Church, The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and The Tonight Show Band. He has also appeared or played in numerous movies, TV shows and stage comedies including Oscar-winning Best Picture Million Dollar Baby, Battleship, Austin Powers 2, Primary Colors, The Tonight Show, The West Wing, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Providence, and How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, among many others. [copied from his website]

He is a funny dude, but I guess you cannot smile when filling the bladder of a bagpipe.

Let's have a quick primer on bagpipes. The sticky-up things are called drones. There is one bass drone and two tenor drones. Of course, there is a bag (you might have guessed that by the name of the instrument). Finally, there is a blow stick (used to fill the bladder inside the bag) and the chanter (the thing the piper uses to play the notes). All day, I tried to catch the view of them playing on the chanter. Here was my attempt with Mr. Allan.

Would you like your car to watch for speed limit signs and actually limit your top speed to the displayed number? Well, Ford has a car being released in Europe that does just that. I think I can make do with cruise control, thank you.

Time for today's lame attempt at humor.

Is X-humation a word? I guess it is now that they are bringing back the X-Files for a 6-episode run. Will you watch it? Did you see the movie they made a few years ago. I will admit that I did not, but I might check out this series since it only involves the six shows.

When you end your workout, are you glowing a little bit — or are you drenched in sweat? If you really want to lose body fat fast (as in: just in time for swimsuit season), it needs to be the latter, says Los Angeles–based group fitness instructor and celebrity trainer Lacey Stone. She designed a special workout set to help you, and only Yahoo has it. After glancing at it, I think even the first exercise is more than I want to deal with. Go take a look and decide for yourself. After all, it is your body. Remember, though, that your body shape is due to your genes.

I am not seeing anything else that I want to share. Some days, there's a plethora of material, and some days, it's a dearth. Good words, right? Well, I hope tomorrow gives me lots to talk about. Have a Wonderful Wednesday.

From Cabers to Cookies...And More

Recently, I began to realize that what this blog needed was a photo of wooden poles. Luckily, I found just such a shot this weekend at the Scottish Highland games. The Scots actually call these things cabers. No, I do not know why.

So, one dude throws the caber at the other guy, who tries to catch it. You can see the one guy jumping up to catch that thing.

Actually, the competitor picks it up with his hands underneath and then runs until he is ready to try and flip it end over end. Here, you can see him picking up his 14-foot caber. Once he flips it (as shown in the previous photo), he is judged on how close it is to pointing straight away from him (called 12-o-clock). I do not know how this guy did.

Another event is the hammer throw. I barely caught this guy's hammer way up near the top of the photo.

Here is an exchange I had with my former boss yesterday morning.

This article reminds me why I would rather just buy a pizza than go through all these steps to make one at home.

Do you want to know how Yahoo ranks 24 different cooking shows? If not, then just skip over this link. If so, find out where Good Eats, and Cutthroat Kitchen, and Masterchef junior are ranked. Which is your favorite?

Who likes store-bought chocolate chip cookies? Oh, admit it. You know you would eat them if they were around. So, which cookie tastes the best? Keebler? Famous Amos? Chips Ahoy? Mrs. Fields? If you know me at all, you know I am not going to reveal which was #1.

Did anyone ever try the waffle taco at Taco Bell. I guess you are too late. I admit that I did not. I even admit I did not know it existed. Now, they are replacing it with a biscuit taco to take on McD's for the breakfast crowd. Would you try one?

How hot do you like your shower? Do you ever get in and then need to cool it down because you had warmed it too much? I have. Would you consider replacing the showerhead with a heat-sensitive LED one that shows how hot the water is? That is just one of the accessories in this article. Another is a shower curtain with a pocket for an electronic device like a table. You could watch Seinfeld reruns while showering.

Well, I am burning daylight. So, let's get this party started. Have a good day, friends and family, and check back tomorrow.

Bad (of the Breaking type) or Good (of the candy type)? Which Do You Prefer?

On Saturday, before we started the overnight database upgrade, we spent the day at a Scottish Highland games. We saw games, bands, cars, food, but missed the dancers. Today, we will be looking at Traveler, the first of the bands we watched. Here is Scott, the lead singer and violinist, with Heisenberg from Breaking Bad behind him (his name is actually Mark). Doesn't he look like him? That was his expression for both happy and sad music. [Full disclosure: we did buy one of their CDs]

And this is the whole band. You can tell we were about midway back in the crowd.

Scott was the type of violinist that likes to jump down from the stage and wander through the crowd, playing up to everyone listening.

This is the sound man for the band.

He resembles Opie from Sons of Anarchy.

I mentioned my work-all-night project above. We finished close to on schedule at 8:40am instead of the planned 8:30am on Sunday morning. No problem emails have cropped up in the last 24 hours, so that s good. I took a short 2-hour nap yesterday afternoon and then went to bed at normal time last night. So, we will see how today goes and whether or not I fall asleep during the day.

And here is a project manager-related comic from May, 2009. I think the sentiment still applies.

I know what you are thinking. You naughty person. OK, maybe you weren't thinking of something naughty. You might have been thinking that I seem to have a lot of links in my blog for IKEA-related stuff. Well, you would be right, and now, I am going to add to the count. Here is yet another article about ways to enhance your basic IKEA buys. Read on, MacDuff.

If you had the chance, would you sneak into a place like the Astrodome in Houston to explore? Remember, if you get caught, it could mean some jail time. I think the fear of a police record might stop me, but I would like to capture some photos. You can see what some buddies did back in 2012 here.

World record peanut butter cup, anyone? Anyone? Buehler?

Would you be willing to have a license plate which displays the Confederate flag on it? Even if YOU wouldn't, would you defend the right of others to do so? Well, the Supreme Court is investigating that very thing in a case from Texas. I don't think I would want one. It is just too controversial.

Do you need some ideas for creative Easter eggs this year? I found a Pinterest page with a whole bunch of ideas. See which ones capture your imagination here.

Hmm, I just got an email saying that the help desk received a number of downtime calls over the weekend because of my project. I am headed over to the operations center to see why the downtime message did not reach them and how I can do better next time. So, until next time, I am outta here.