You Say Potato

Will you be honest with me? how did you do in figuring out the punchline of yesterday's Clarity of Vision comic? Between the title and the gravestone, I hope you figured out it was Annie. Even with me saying that, you still don't get it? I don't know what else I can say.

But yesterday's comic requires extreme familiarity with American culture and Broadway musicals and even our pronunciation to be humorous (well, it was funny to me). That reminds me of the Culture in Business course I am taking right now. Almost everything I say or hear around the office is at least impacted by our culture. I even made a cultural reference in today's post title. Do you know what phrase follows that one? If so, you were probably raised in the USA. If you don't, you are either new to this culture, or maybe young (since the song is from a 1937 movie). That led me to create this comic for today.

I saw this headline online this morning. How would you read this?

Did you think that one of the Baldwin brothers was riding in the opposite direction from what is expected? If you didn't and instead thought what I imagined, you are weird. I thought of someone saying about him, "Look, he is using his heels to push the pedals instead of his toes. That is the wrong way to bike."

Let's repeat that test. Here are a pair of headlines also found today. Read them both, try to think what I might find funny, and then read my commentary.

Well, let's look at each. In the first, I thought of two feds sitting in a car in a stakeout, laughing at chubby children walking to school. "Ha ha. Look at that kid. He can't bend over to tie his shoes." Shocking, right. How dare those dudes laugh at that. And the second headline? To me, it meant only people who were around in the 1960's had to worry about this. "Yeah, I saw that, but I wasn't even born yet. So, I wasn't around to sleep back then."

I have a question for you. Do you support raising the minimum wage? I am sure you said yes, since to disagree would make you sound uncaring. OK, would you be willing to pay more for food and things to make that happen? 25% more? 50% more? Suddenly, it sounds a little less enticing, doesn't it? This Yahoo! article covers that and give you some numbers behind the wage increase.

No comment about this article that the title doesn't say directly to all you burger eating non-vegan types. It is not all broccoli and quinoa.

I've had fun taking you behind the curtain of this website and my odd thinking, but reality just came back and said fun time is over. Yup, some of the project team are around and I gots to go. Have a great day and check in in 24 hours or so.

When I Am On Vacation, I am ON VACATION

A member of the team that is being outsourced is currently on a cruise to Alaska. I would like to do that sometime. The folks have done that, but we have not. However, that is not my point. This dude on the cruise has been dialing in and working during his trip. that is just wrong. It is very noble of him, but I wouldn't do that, even if I were staying with the company.

I am writing this on Monday night while watching Bones. That has been renewed for next year. Then again, I liked Tomorrow People and it didn't make it to a second season.

I may be a daddy, and I have a few bucks, but I have never been in a war.

I saw this headline in Yahoo! this morning. Wow, those people must be realllllly tired after such a long wait.

This story about how little cash Americans carry brings a book from the 70s to mind. First, do you carry much cash? I know that I don't. The primary reason is just so that I end up with a spending record when I use a debit card. However, using a card all the time makes me think of the books that Hal Lindsey wrote about the end times. It seems like using our plastic credit and debit cards will be a great way for the Antichrist to limit sales to believers. I am not implying we are in the end times, although we may be. Simply saying that would be a good way of marking us with the number of the beast.

This highlights one of the reasons I don't mind being a vegan. Does that even look inviting to you? Since the story comes out of Malaysia, I will say that I did used to really enjoy drinking milo, the chocolate malt drink mentioned near the end of the story.

How does Duncan Hines chocolate cake, Vlasic pickles and Jimmy Dean sausage sound for breakfast? Well, the owner of Jimmy Dean sausages is buying the Vlasic pickle and Duncan Hines company, so pregnant women around the world may be rejoicing.

You know what time it is? Time to get busy. No one stopped by yet this morning, but I do have several emails to which I need to reply. Have a good today and don't worry yet about tomorrow. Don't agree? Go read Matt 6:34.

Happy Mother's Day Yesterday

Happy Mother's Day. Mine is in TX right now, but I called her. No, I didn't talk to her because they did not answer the phone. Maybe they did that on purpose? MBH's mother is in Heaven, so every day is a celebration for her.

I took pictures at an annual Mother's Day luncheon that our daughter-in-love holds, but...they were all on her camera. So, maybe I will lift some once she posts it in Facebook, or maybe I will just say "Go look at her photos there."

Speaking of photos, it is a good things none of SS's house has plain white walls, Why? It seems Amazon may have patented that type of photo.

I know for sure that both granddaughters enjoy reading, and are doing quite well with it. Why do I even mention that? There is a report out of San Francisco that "U.S. children read, but not well or often".

Do you still watch TV? I know many people are moving away from it (at least from cable), but I still have shows that I enjoy. Here is a list of how the shows fared this year. Are any of your favorites disappearing? Some of mine certainly are.

At last, I found a place I should maybe place my retirement savings. I don't think that would "impale" my savings, or "suck all the blood" from any return on investment. Guess what it is? Now, how can I get it moved to the US?

Uh, no thank you. This does not look like something I would enjoy, being the acrophobe that I am. Would you do it?

My first grades are back. I am currently tracking with a 94.2%. I have got to do better than that. I apparently did not make my conclusions compelling enough on my paper, and I missed a little on a quiz, but I have challenged that and am waiting on a response.

For now, though, I just finished a meeting with part of the team being outsourced on my big project, so I need to get going on that. I hope your weekend was a good one and you are ready to start this week with a smile on your face and some delicious quinoa in your lunch bag. Well, at least try to do the smiling part, OK?

The Paper is Started, But Not Finished

I started work on the paper for my Communications class, but I have not chosen the three citations I have to include. We went out for the last vegan cooking class before the summer, and I did not work any more on it when we returned. We had to watch the most recent GoT. Yes, we HAD to.

Actually, the PM community does indeed use the term 'watermelon project'. What is that? Read today's CoV for the answer.

Have you heard or read about a solar wind energy tower? It sounds like a plausible concept. You can see the engineering design in this article. The article says it has a benefit over solar power because it can even work at night.

Yahoo Tech has a story about an app for iPad that lets you create instructional videos, but could probably be used for other types of videos. So, I decided to share the link.

Mel Brooks doesn't think he could make Blazing Saddles in today's politically correct environment. I think he is absolutely right. What do you think?

Another correct assumption (in my mind) is that Americans stick to their favorite 17 channels, even if they have 300+ available. I probably fall well within that number, even if I include Disney for the GRANDS.

OK, I am going to grab the next 45 minutes for work on my paper. The topic is "Write a paper of approximately 500 words in which you describe at least three reasons why it is important to understand and develop intercultural skills in a business environment." Anyway, please have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all you moms who may have stopped by.

Links From a Lunk

I recently read that around 10,000 baby boomers are retiring every day for something like 16 years. Can you believe it? Well, you'd better because it is true. Anyway, that led to today's Clarity of Vision.

I found an interesting site for printing your own grid paper this morning. Go to gridzzly.com and make some. What? You don't really need any? Me neither, but now we both know where to go to get some.

Look at this interesting take on those interesting sites or wall hangings where they have a large letter of the alphabet and something interesting about a word that begins with the letter. Look at the letter T. Interesting, right?

Hey, I am already struggling in my first class for the MBA. It is Global Communication and is currently focusing on why we need to understand how culture impacts business. No, it is not a difficult concept, and the first paper is to write 500 words on "at least three reasons why it is important to understand and develop intercultural skills in a business environment". Also not too difficult. The problem is a) crazy busy at work with this outsourcing project and I even come home and work another two hours each day, and b) if I get outsourced, I would have to pay back the company for the classes I took within the last year. I am not thinking that my own outsourcing is likely, but you never know. Well, I am less than one week in, so I suppose I will keep on keeping on for now.

If your employer offered you a raise if you would get the company logo tattooed on your body, would you do it? If you worked here, you would get that opportunity. Me, I would not do so, but then, I have no tattoos right now of any kind.

Isn't it just like Texas to try and outdo all other places? Still, doing so by having over 300 earthquakes so far in 2014 seems a little extreme.

Hmm, die early or live a long time looking like a prune and facing skin cancer risks. Those are a couple of less-than-desirable results about sunlight, right?

What is a Space Fence, you may ask? Go ahead. I said you could ask. You could also read this to learn that, at 17,000 mph, even something just a half-inch around would pack a punch like a bowling ball traveling at 300 mph.

Just under 12 hours before MBH and I go to our final vegan cooking class before the summer break. I do not know what tonight's topic is. So exciting, right?

As you just saw, today was a good day for finding cool links to share. You just never know. For now, though, I hear a couple of project deadlines coming my way at what feels like 17,000 mph, so I gotta move or get mowed down. Have a great Thursday.

It's a Good Post, Pilgrim

There are some limitations on the tool I use to create my daily Clarity of Vision. I am limited in features I can add to a character, and I cannot import photos or screenshots or non-tool-generated shapes. So, for today's CoV, I had to use Photoshop. I wanted to see about remakes of old movies updated to modern themes. Who better to start with than The Duke himself.

There are some cool dudes who are focused on recovering photos of the moon from the mid-1960s. They work in a building that used to be a McDonalds. You can see a couple of the shots and read the story here.

It seems it is fast or famine when I look for interesting interweb links to share with y'all. I found quite a few yesterday, but today, it is definitely famine. Where did all the fun stuff go? Oh, wait a minute. I did not check Yahoo! yet. Hold, please.

I found one that says wine isn't vegan, or even vegetarian. Did you know that? Do you care? It certainly won't affect me much.

All this time, I thought it was safe to store Cheetos in the pantry, where even my grandchildren could reach them. It is lucky that no Target Security people came by. There is no telling how they would have reacted. They keep theirs under lock and key.

I wonder what is going on? The two soon-to-be-gone team members who normally are here when I arrive are noticeably absent. Maybe they are just giving me a taste of what it will feel like in July when they are gone. Wow, it is quiet in here.

OK, I am blabbing and you are nodding off. Go get your coffee (do you look like yesterday's CoV?) and we will talk again soon.

Getting a Head Start

I have written a little of today's blog on Monday night. It seems things are just too crazy at work right now for me to have time to formulate coherent thoughts. Some of you may question if I EVER form coherent thoughts. You are right to wonder.

I had the first of three conference calls for my first class last night. Right now, it seems a bit overwhelming, especially with all that is going on at work. I hope I can get into a rhythm.

Haven't you heard people say, "Don't talk to me until after my first cup of coffee?"

Folks, we got trouble. Right here in the USofA. Trouble with a capital B followed by a V and an O. That's right. Coke is eliminating the Brominated Vegetable Oil from its drinks. Where am I going to get my daily minimum allowance of it, then?

And we got trouble because we didn't think of an idea for a new invention like this dude. I cannot believe no one had built a smartphone-capable A/C before. What have we all been doing?

Let's keep learning about our iPhones together.

I did not lead off my post today with it, but yes, I did start the day with more work on the infamous crazyville project. I had not even booted up when one of the team members came by worried that the company taking over his job was not learning it quick enough to be successful. First, let me say that is very noble of him to worry about the company that is letting him go. Second, there is a lot going on that he is not copied on, so they may be more prepared than he thinks (but probably not for his area of expertise). Anyway, it cost me 45 minutes, right off the top. And there were five emails needing information about things going on.

And with that, Tuesday is waiting by the coffee machine. I had better go see her. have a good one.

Happy Day After Star Wars Day

I have to start off with today's Clarity of Vision, which is really yesterday's CoV, which was really written late last week.

Hey, do you watch Shark Tank? Check out this update on the most successful product ever to pass through that show.

Oh, man. It is already so late and I have not even had a chance to do my morning research for blog topics. You may ask why I did not work on it last night. Of course, you may not even want to know, but I will tell you. We had the privilege of playing with GRANDS all weekend, and then I was out for a couple of Chorale concerts until late afternoon, so I did not get around to it. And then this morning, I have already been pulled into that short-term outsourcing project. So, I am about to publish the post, even with few updates.

My first MBA class started yesterday, and we have a conference call this evening, so here comes another level of busyness to my life. I hope it is fun and interesting.

Hey, guys, have a great Monday. Hopefully, we will both have time for visiting tomorrow.

TV and CoV and More

I forgot to ask yesterday...what are y'all thinking about this season of Survivor? I know SS likes that there are no former castaways this year, leading to more unpredictability and more blindsides. I am certainly enjoying it.

Really? Hot in Cleveland renewed by TV Land? It is cute, but going into a sixth season is surprising.

Do you watch The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon? I keep thinking I should, but I am out of time for new shows. Anyway, you can always find the best clips online. Here is a really good one with a Lip Sync Battle between Jimmy and Emma Stone. I think she blows him away.

Let's switch from TV topics to printed materials. Have you heard about a request to remove Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss from a library? Why do you think someone might request that? It pretty silly to think that was written as a treatise encouraging kids to physically abuse their father.

Just as I have the past three days, I have already diverted into work activities before I published by blog post. Don't these people have any idea on the relative importance of my daily morning blog and CoV updates?

Let's take a look at today's Clarity of Vision. I created it yesterday before I remembered that I had wanted to write a May Day comic. So, here is one inspired by my recent upgrade from a flip phone to a smartphone.

Did you hear that the voice of Tony the Tiger passed away? Do you even know who that is? He used to advertise Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. He was greeeeeat!

I did not see anything else to share today. We have the GRANDS starting tonight, so I know we will be busy. I'd better get today finished so I can get home. Have a good weekend.

It's Shocking! Proceed At Your Own Risk!

Let's go ahead and get the shocking news over with. Be warned, though. I think you would not believe this if it wasn't in print. Pro wrestling (WWE) is... wait for it... scripted! That's right. Offhand comments, outcomes of the fights. surprise offscreen attacks. All of it. Don't believe me (and I wouldn't blame you, btw)? You can read about it and see a couple of pages here.

Yesterday, did I mention we had a big project installation planned? It was for a project that has been going on for more than 18 months. Finally, we got the vendor on a call and started the install. Notice I said "started". We crashed and burned when testing showed a problem. Now, we have to wait and reengage AT&T to find the issue. Is it the application? The T1 phone lines? A hardware configuration problem? Hopefully, we will find out tomorrow morning.

Did I mention I have a new Clarity of Vision for you? It has to do with today being May Day.

Almost Human on Fox, RIP. It has been cancelled. Warehouse 13 on Syfy is already in it's final season. We should know the fate of the rest of my shows from 2014 within the next two weeks. And do you watch The Walking Dead? If you do, you will really like this Save the Date video from a couple based on the opening credits.

This woman is NOT a vegan, or vegetarian, and she is proud of it. Hey, everyone has to make their own eating and health choices.

Will you go see A Hard Days Night in the theaters? I suspect I will not, although most every movie is better when it is on the big screen.

I read this and realized my wife was sleeping with someone else JUST THIS MORNING!

I have been doing some work, and just remembered I had not closed and published today's blog post. here. Consider it closed and, since you are reading it, you know I published it. Have a tremendous Thursday.