By Erik France on 8/26/2008 9:33 PM

Tonight we went to Justyn's school for Parents' Night.  It was a good time to see the school, learn about things like the PTO, and get a chance to meet with Justyn's teacher.

But the thing I noticed most about being in the First Grade room was how every square inch of the room was about learning and participating in the school day.  In one section they had their spelling words, in another was the math area, another section held the art work, another had the mailboxes, and so on and so on.  Everything was colorful, bright, and made you want to look at it.

So I began to wonder when it was that I quit seeing the bright, encouraging, positive rooms and started to see more of the tan, barren walls which are in so many office buildings.  I know I saw interesting, fun decorations all through high school so, perhaps it was during college or slightly later.

What if we all worked in areas which were built like a First Grade room.  Now, I am not saying we need spelling words on the walls or that we need...

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By Erik France on 8/21/2008 10:45 AM

I know I have been on a comics kick, but here is one more to laugh at.  I just saw a Dilbert cartoon this morning which made me about fall out of my chair.  The discussion around the office table goes like this:

Pointy-Haired Boss: I've decided to standardize the department on a new programming language.

Dilbert: With all due respect, that sort of decision should be made by someone who knows his mass from a black hole.

Pointy-Haired Boss: The vendor warned me that you couldn't be objective.

Now, that was crafty writing on Scott's part.  Getting "...his mass from a black hole" around the censors ... great writing!

And it made me laugh really hard, which is the best part.

By Erik France on 8/20/2008 10:30 AM

You have to love it when you hear a good joke. It is even better when the joke is about your own people ... and the joke is good. Here is one such example recently given to me by a friend at work.

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By Erik France on 8/4/2008 10:43 AM

Poor Jason Fox.  Once again he gets it from his mother.

By Erik France on 7/30/2008 7:29 AM

I was thinking last night about some of the cartoons I watched as a kid.  One of my favorites was Animaniacs.  Here are some classic lines from the two best mice in the business:

The Brain: Are you pondering what I'm pondering?
Pinky: I think so Brain, but burlap chafes me so.

The Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
Pinky: I think so, but where will we find an open tattoo parlor at this time of night?

The Brain: Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?
Pinky: Well, I think so Brain, but if we didn't have ears, we'd look like weasels.

The Brain: Are you pondering what I'm pondering?
Pinky: I think so, Brain, but if the plural of mouse is mice, wouldn't the plural of spouse be spice?

By Erik France on 7/29/2008 9:12 PM

I had not heard about this, but take a look at Gizmodo's "first glimpse" article on Lego Universe.  I did not know anything about this MMOG (that's Massively Multi-player Online Game for those who do not know) but it looks really cool.  I will have to do more research, and maybe buy this game.

After all of the time I spent in Blockland, Lego Universe should totally rock!

By Erik France on 7/24/2008 12:21 PM

Today I grabbed a quarter out of my pocket and it made me think a bit.  I remember growing up and being told by my parents I should try to always have a quarter with me so I could call for help at a pay phone in an emergency.

What kid today will be told to carry a quarter in case of an emergency?  Cell phones dominate the landscape and quarters can be found all over.  So, statistically speaking, it is the pay phone which will be hard to find.  In fact, I am not sure if pay phones even still exist out there in the wild, but I bet they are a very rare beast indeed.

So, after realizing the quarters life lesson will not be taught to my children, I began to wonder what other things my kids will not know.  There are the obvious historical references which they will not know about.  But what social habits or cultural things will they look back and say, "You did that?!?"  I guess recent history says I do not have to worry about those 80's fashions as they may be back in vogue by the time my kids are teenagers.

...

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By Erik France on 7/7/2008 1:39 PM

I spent the weekend with my dad working on bathrooms.  It seemed like such an easy thing to do.  Afterall, we only had to put down new floors. But I learned a full day of cutting carpets, lifting vynil flooring rolls, and crawling on your knees can really put a price on your muscles and back. 

So I have once again said to myself, "Time to get into better shape!"

Now to put my mind to it and actually go out in the early morning to do my exercises.  I had been doing a good job of waking up early and getting used to that again.  Now I am sleeping in until 5:45 or 6:00.  That's too late for me to begin much of a workout as my children are awake within 20 - 35 minutes.

But this week is the week.  I am committing myself to this and I will begin to exercise so I can get back to a healthier status.

By Erik France on 7/7/2008 1:32 PM

The other day I ate at a restaurant which hands out fortune cookies.  My fortune spoke to me of playing more Guild Wars, especially Eye of the North.  However, Julie is not so sure.  The fortune read:

Explore the backroads of the north with a new friend.

So, what do you think?  Am I right or what?

By Erik France on 7/2/2008 2:59 PM

I know Scott had this up on Monday, but I just saw it. This fun stuff is by Tim Hawkins.