Monday, February 27, 2006
Funny
Someone added funny captions to photos from Saddam Hussein's trial. It's funnier than it sounds!
Sunday, February 26, 2006
We are anxiously awaiting a new phase
We like all the drawing and artistic expression, but a less violent subject matter would be nice. Maybe outer space. Or small woodland animals. Bunnies and things like that. But please no more drawings of carnage.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Thank goodness for the Internet
You can download sheet music for all of the Super Mario Brothers games here. Seriously, what would we do without the Internet?
Sunday, February 19, 2006
The trend is catching on...
...although I'm not sure how many more posts this blog will receive. The blogger, whom I know personally, isn't very fond of typing.
A new blog to check out
One of my favorite people has started a new blog about bugs. You can get to it by clicking here.
This is what happens to your tongue when you eat Chucky Larms.
It turns blue. That's why we only eat Chucky Larms once a week. :-)
I used to have a boss who wouldn't let her kids eat anything blue. She said it was not a naturally occurring color in food (um...blueberries?). In fact, she was serious enough about the ban in her home that she would pick out the blue M&Ms and throw them away.
A funny book
I read a funny book today, called "Life's Little Annoyances: True Tales of People Who Just Can't Take It Anymore." It's filled with stories of people who seek creative responses to frustrations we all experience. Some are a bit mean, but most are very funny.
My favorite is the guy who hates it when the cashier at the store asks for his name and address before ringing up the purchase, even if he's just buying a pack of batteries. (Lowe's used to do this.) Here's the play-by-play:
"May I have your name?" the cashier asks.
"Ghossein Dhatsghabyfaird-Johnson," the man replies.
The cashier glances in confusion before asking, "How do you spell that?"
"With a hyphen."
Other stories explain how to deal with people who purposely take up two parking spaces, who don't pick up after their dogs, etc.
My favorite is the guy who hates it when the cashier at the store asks for his name and address before ringing up the purchase, even if he's just buying a pack of batteries. (Lowe's used to do this.) Here's the play-by-play:
"May I have your name?" the cashier asks.
"Ghossein Dhatsghabyfaird-Johnson," the man replies.
The cashier glances in confusion before asking, "How do you spell that?"
"With a hyphen."
Other stories explain how to deal with people who purposely take up two parking spaces, who don't pick up after their dogs, etc.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
At least it LOOKED beautiful outside
This morning when I went outside (in my pajamas) to get the newspaper the wind chill was thirteen below. Yes, thirteen degrees below zero. THAT'S FORTY-FIVE DEGREES BELOW FREEZING! Needless to say, it was a "hang out in the basement" type of day.
A couple of days ago it was in the sixties and Ethan and I rode a big wheel and a skateboard to the place where our new neighborhood pool is being built.
What a crazy place.
A couple of days ago it was in the sixties and Ethan and I rode a big wheel and a skateboard to the place where our new neighborhood pool is being built.
What a crazy place.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Tiny bubbles
This sounds like a fun experiment that we'll have to try: a recipe for bouncing bubbles that don't break. Emma LOVES bubbles--it is the only reason she goes into the nursery at church.The site has lots of fun science experiments to do with kids, including a volcano for which you only need a 2L bottle of soda and a roll of Mentos, the freshmaker.
I love the Guinness Book of World Records
When I was little I wanted to one day make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. This is probably not the category I would have chosen.
More Hoosiers in the News
This is an old story (from May 2005), but new to me. This little boy was upset that his mom wouldn't let him play with the toy crane game at Wal-Mart, so when she wasn't looking HE CLIMBED INSIDE IT. Just popped open the prize dispensing door and somehow crawled in.
While firemen were trying to figure out how to get the kid out, there was a rush on disposable cameras--customers in the store wanted to take photos of the boy, who apparently loved the attention.
Update: I just noticed the boy is wearing his pajamas. The mom must have already been having a hard day, then this happened.
Update II: Forget the last update. He's wearing his pajamas because they were at Wal-Mart at 4AM!
Lego harpsichord
This guy built a harpsichord out of legos. The strings are the only parts not made of toy blocks.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
BzzAgent
BzzAgent is a marketing company that conducts word of mouth marketing campaigns. If you sign up to be a BzzAgent, they will periodically send you free products for you to try. If you like the products, the company hopes you will share the word with your friends. I just checked the site to see which campaigns are available and they're going to send me free a box of Take5 candy bars. Cool.
U.S. Surname Distribution
Enter a surname and a year, and this site will show you a distribution of people with that surname in the United States.
There have always been a lot of Parkers in the US. In 1850 there was a high concentration in Oregon, but by 1880 the ratio had spread to neighboring states.
There have always been a lot of Parkers in the US. In 1850 there was a high concentration in Oregon, but by 1880 the ratio had spread to neighboring states.
Marriage advice from kids
I got a funny email from a friend at work today. Excerpts are below. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed here are not my own, although they are funny.
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
"You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming."
--Alan, age 10
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
"Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then."
-- Camille, age 10
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
"You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids."
-- Derrick, age 8
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
"Both don't want any more kids."
-- Lori, age 8
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
"On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date."
-- Martin, age 10
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
"When they're rich."
-- Pam, age 7
"The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that."
-- Curt, age 7
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
"There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?"
-- Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is........
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
'Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.'
-- Ricky, age 10
HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
"You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming."
--Alan, age 10
WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
"Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then."
-- Camille, age 10
HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
"You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids."
-- Derrick, age 8
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
"Both don't want any more kids."
-- Lori, age 8
WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
"On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date."
-- Martin, age 10
WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
"When they're rich."
-- Pam, age 7
"The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that."
-- Curt, age 7
HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
"There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?"
-- Kelvin, age 8
And the #1 Favorite is........
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
'Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.'
-- Ricky, age 10
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Hoosiers and Texans are a lot alike
A one-line summary of the article: "Believers say the face of Jesus is visible in the dirt on the tailgate."
Only in Texas. Or Indiana.
Check out the photos of the bumper by clicking on the link above.
Only in Texas. Or Indiana.
Check out the photos of the bumper by clicking on the link above.
Hoosiers in the news
From the article:
"People from across Indiana have come to the Reigning Light of the Healing Chapel in North Vernon to see the door. Congregation members say they can see a likeness of Jesus in the wood's patterns."
I tried and tried, but can't see anything.
"People from across Indiana have come to the Reigning Light of the Healing Chapel in North Vernon to see the door. Congregation members say they can see a likeness of Jesus in the wood's patterns."
I tried and tried, but can't see anything.
One reason Andrew likes spiders
From the article:
"We found out that when all 600,000 tips are in contact with an underlying surface the spider can produce an adhesive force of 170 times its own weight. That's like Spiderman clinging to the flat surface of a window on a building by his fingertips and toes only, whilst rescuing 170 adults who are hanging on to his back!"
"We found out that when all 600,000 tips are in contact with an underlying surface the spider can produce an adhesive force of 170 times its own weight. That's like Spiderman clinging to the flat surface of a window on a building by his fingertips and toes only, whilst rescuing 170 adults who are hanging on to his back!"
In John They Trust
Here's a really interesting article in the Smithsonian Magazine about a cargo cult in Vanuatu. It's hard to believe, but it sounds like the cult has been around for a long time.
They worship an American named John Frum, and they've been waiting since the 1930s for him to return to the island with Coca-Cola and other American things.
They worship an American named John Frum, and they've been waiting since the 1930s for him to return to the island with Coca-Cola and other American things.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Words of wisdom
Andrew says he's the only kid in his class who can't do a sit-up. Now he has an excuse--he refrains for religious purposes.
From the article: "...new studies show Latter-day Saints...are less 'in shape' than their counterparts of other faiths."
Fortunately, the study only looked at Utah residents, so I guess Andrew may not have an excuse after all. Wasn't there a famous UCLA study that showed that Mormons actually live longer on average than people of other faiths?
From the article: "...new studies show Latter-day Saints...are less 'in shape' than their counterparts of other faiths."
Fortunately, the study only looked at Utah residents, so I guess Andrew may not have an excuse after all. Wasn't there a famous UCLA study that showed that Mormons actually live longer on average than people of other faiths?
Monday, February 13, 2006
Blogging: A Blight or a Boon to Marriage?
I heard this on NPR today. Funny for those of you who have blogs.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
When the cat's away...
Ginger, Emma and I all fell asleep this afternoon in different parts of the house. When we woke up, there was a chair pulled up to the cupboard in the kitchen, and chocolate wrappers on the counter.
Andrew and Ethan, taking full advantage of their extraordinary luck, had a two-hour sugar feast.
Andrew and Ethan, taking full advantage of their extraordinary luck, had a two-hour sugar feast.
American Americans, Part II
See Part I here.
Tonight at dinner:
Me: Andrew, do you know who Thomas Jefferson was?
Andrew: No.
Me: Do you know who Rosa Parks was?
Andrew: Yes. She made it so black people don't have to ride in the back of the bus.
Arrgh.
Tonight at dinner:
Me: Andrew, do you know who Thomas Jefferson was?
Andrew: No.
Me: Do you know who Rosa Parks was?
Andrew: Yes. She made it so black people don't have to ride in the back of the bus.
Arrgh.
Can I hold you?
When Emma wants one of us to pick her up, she comes to us with her arms open and says, "Can I hold you?"
Friday, February 10, 2006
Tornado warning
In Indiana, the cities test their tornado sirens every Friday morning precisely at 11:00AM. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. Every time I hear the sirens I am reminded that earthquakes are much better than tornadoes. I'd rather not know what's coming.
Welcome to my new blog!
I like this title a lot better than the title of my old blog. It's much easier to remember!
You can read postings on my old blog by clicking here.
You can read postings on my old blog by clicking here.
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