Right or Left

Bye Bye Bad Baggie

2010-10-05T20:24:00.003-04:00

Well it seems that Frito-Lay heard us--over the LOUD noise of their SunChip's biodegradable bag-- and are scrapping the idea. In an earlier post, I mentioned how loud their new bag was. Now they're pulling the bags off the shelf right away and replacing them with the bags they used before. They are going to continue to research the eco-friendly bags, but try for something a bit quieter. Here's the story in USAToday.

Waiting

2010-10-02T12:16:00.005-04:00

We do a lot of waiting in life. Waiting for ...

... that check in the mail
... for your house to sell
... test results
... for a loved one dying from cancer to take their last breath
... in line at the post office, grocery store, fast food line, the DMV
... your spouse to get dressed so you can leave for church or an evening out
... an important phone call
... water to boil or roast to cook
... to be seated for dinner
... the right partner to marry
... your child to be born
... your loan to be approved
... the movie to start
... for a long, bad day to be over
... in a traffic jam
... for the economy to get better
... for your opponent to make their move on Words with Friends or Wordfeud

The list can go on and on. Bottom line: we don't always get what we want when we want it ... we have to wait. I'm waiting right now for direction from God. Big changes are coming to the North American Mission Board where I work. I've been waiting for these changes to start. They did on Thursday. Employees with five or more years of service and at least 55 years of age were offered a retirement package--the goal being to reduce the workforce in large numbers with the least amount of pain. Here's an article if you want to read more. But I can tell you, it's painful for those deciding whether to retire and those of us too young to retire. We know more staff reductions are coming ... we're waiting. Waiting is hard. We want the answers right now.

Why does God make us wait? Good question. Many would say that He will answer in His time when it's best for us. The waiting makes us stronger, more dependent on Him. Even though I know this, it's still hard.

I haven't been sitting around doing nothing ... like I said, it's hard for me to wait. I've anticipated the changes coming at work and have been looking for a job. I've been waiting for that phone call to get an interview. What does God have in mind for me; for my co-workers? I don't know, I, we have to wait. A Bible verse that I learned many years ago comes to mind, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31, KJV).

So I'm going to do the only thing I can do ... wait ... on the Lord.

What are You waiting for?

Teenage Dream

2010-09-07T18:51:00.004-04:00

I love this guy! I'm not sure what it is about this video that makes me smile: is it the thick glasses, crooked teeth, head dancing, eyebrows, or just his guts to do it? Whatever it is, you go guy!

Social Media Revolution

2010-08-24T13:32:00.003-04:00

If you haven't seen this, it's a fascinating video on the digital/social media revolution. Very cool video with interesting facts, especially for businesses thinking about getting into social media.

Dear SunChips

2010-08-22T17:33:00.006-04:00

Dear SunChips,

I love your food and the fact that you're helping the environment, but please do something about noise pollution.

LifeWay Kids Ministry Conference

2010-08-12T21:21:00.004-04:00

I've been asked to lead a workshop at the 2010 LifeWay Kids Ministry Conference in Birmingham, Ala. The conference is Oct. 11-13. LifeWay asked if I would record a short video to promote the event. Here's what I came up with.

Uh, Great Idea, Poor Execution

2010-05-14T20:35:00.004-04:00

At first glance this looks like a really cool idea, right? But look closely ... isn't the umbrella angled a little funny? Like, if you hold the umbrella up straight to keep the "rains" off of you, your coffee will spill? That would be my luck!

I love their ad copy, here's how it reads:
Try carrying your tall café latté in the rains! One hand full of your stuff, the other has an umbrella….get the drift? The solution is to get a functional Umbrella, like the one designed by Jung-Woo Lee. A convenient coffee-cup rim integrated into the handle solves the issue. I say cheers to more coffee and bring on the rains!

Yeah, bring on the rains, cuz that's what's gonna happen.

Coke Goes Freestyle

2010-05-11T18:05:00.004-04:00

I think this is so cool. When are these going to be in all restaurants? (Hang in there through the commercial at the beginning.)

Check out Fast Company's latest article on the Freestyle. Hey Coca-Cola, bring it on!

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month

2010-05-03T19:25:00.004-04:00

Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month I wanted to add my two cents worth, which happens to be near and dear to my skin. I'm going to get on my soap box and preach it loud. USE SUNSCREEN. I'm a living testimony to the damage the sun can cause to unprotected skin.

I sport several spots where my dermatologist has cut, scrapped, sliced, or frozen an area that was cancerous or precancerous. I have a six inch scare on my back where a chunk was cut out that was melanoma. I blogged about it in a previous post. Now, whenever I go to see the doctor, I know I'm going to walk out of her office with a fresh wound of some sort. In my most recent visit, she froze a couple of spots on my face. Let me tell you, I'm no sissy when it comes to pain, but man, did that hurt! Below is a picture of what the area looked like after freezing it with liquid nitrogen. Basically, she takes this can with a nozzle (it looks similar to the air cans used to blow dust off your keyboard) and squirts the spot several times.

A little over a week later, it looks like this--just a little pink spot where it's still healing.

If you want to read more about skin cancer, go to www.skincancer.org.

Post-it Notes Turn 30

2010-04-26T19:25:00.002-04:00

April marks the 30th anniversary of the Post-it Note. Yep, these nifty, sticky note pads have hung around that long. If you're interested in the complete history, check out the 3-M website.

I've wondered if Post-its can be recycled. As I learned on their website, yes. As a fan of Ax Men and American Loggers, I was also glad to learn that the paper comes from forests that are "well managed and trees replanted." In fact these notes, made from 100 percent recycled paper, now come with a greener, plant-based adhesive, which is made from plants that are replenished after harvesting. Nice touch.

Check out this senior's project for Savannah College of Art and Design using Post-its.

It's Never Going Away

2010-04-24T21:20:00.000-04:00

"It's never going away," said Gina, "You're going to have this the rest of your life." Oh goodie. This is such a blessing! I thought. And now I get to wear these really fantasticly stylish goggles!

Yes, it's the continuing saga of blepharitis or aka crusty eyes. These goggles are my eye doctor's next attempt at controlling this pesky condition. I use Tranquileyes with Thermo Eyes.

The goggles come with these nifty heat inserts. When you snap the metal disc inside, it activates the heat immediately. The gel packs harden and will generate heat for about 20 minutes. To reactivate them, they have to be boiled for 3-5 minutes (that's the only uncool thing about them). They're comfortable to wear and also double as an eye mask. And check out this oh so cosmo accessory, the Tini Bikini, it's a must for eye goggle wearers! Now I've seen everything!

Check Out the New $100 Bill

2010-04-21T19:19:00.005-04:00

Check it out, the $100 bill has a whole new look. The last time it was changed was in 1996. Trying to stay ahead of counterfeiters, the U.S. Treasury Department has added new security features to the paper, including watermarks and an embedded security thread.

Get this, the Associated Press says the new design that uses a new "moving" microprint technology is "something straight out of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." The $100 bill is the favorite target of counterfeiters, so the gov put a lot of new tech into the design.

You can learn more about the new $100 bill on the gov's website--it's pretty cool--you can take a virtual tour.

Jeremiah

2010-04-18T20:28:00.007-04:00

As I was sitting at the airport gate waiting to board the plane, I noticed a young man walk into the boarding area. He was young, dressed casually in shorts, wearing Tom's shoes, and a visor beanie cap backwards. My daughter would like those shoes, I thought. I gave him no more notice.

When my group number was called to board, I was ready to get on the flight and start the journey home. It was going to be a short flight--only 30 minutes--to my next stop where I'd catch my connecting flight.

Once on board and past the first class section I looked down the row of seats. It couldn't be. As I walked further down the aisle, yes, my seat was next to his--the young man with the cool, socially relevant shoes. The plane is practically empty and I'm sitting next to him, I thought. "Once the plane door is closed, I can move to an open seat," I said. "Why?" he grinned. "Don't I look like someone you'd want to sit next to?" Embarrassed, I stuttered for a response, "Well, no. I just thought you might like more room."

We ended up chatting during the entire flight. I found out he is a pastor's son and one of eight kids. His mother passed away a couple of years ago from ovarian cancer. He is in the army and was flying back to base in Hawaii and soon would be doing a tour in Iraq. We talked about our faith and God. Jeremiah is not sure if there really is a God. He's asked Jesus into his heart several times, but he just doesn't "feel" saved. According to his reasoning, it seems that when he sins he doesn't feel conviction from the Holy Spirit so he must not really be saved. We talked more about salvation. He knows the right answers, but God isn't a priority in his life right now, but he kind of wants Him to be.

Looking at all the empty seats on the plane, we were the only two sitting next to each other. A coincidence? I think not. I listened to Jeremiah--he obviously needed and wanted to talk. I tried to offer encouragement and offered to pray for him. I'll never know what will become of Jeremiah. I can only hope and pray that the seeds of encouragement that were planted will one
day take root and blossom into a strong faith and love for God. Will you pray with me for Jeremiah?

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:13 (NKJV).

McDonald's, You've Redeemed Yourself

2010-04-18T20:18:00.003-04:00

Yes, McDonald's, you do care about customer satisfaction. I received a call from the store manager of the offending McD's that had made such a horrible Mocha. I was given two coupons. Mickey D's, you're forgiven.

#Fail - McDonald's

2010-04-11T21:16:00.004-04:00

I REALLY like McDonald's Mochas. In a previous post I complained about the price, but they are a little less money than Starbucks and they are good. The other day, my daughter picked up one for me and brought it home. Boy was I looking forward to sipping on that chocolatey goodness. Well, as soon as it hit my tongue I knew it wasn't drinkable. Long story short, I sent an e-mail to McDonald's customer service describing my dissatisfaction. To their credit they responded in a few days.

Here's the e-mail response:

"Hello Susan:

I want to thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience at the McDonald's in Alpharetta, GA with me. Your feedback is very important to us as it allows us to better understand how we can improve our service to you.

I am sorry the Mocha did not live up to our high quality standards. Please be assured that we want to provide you with an exceptional experience every time you visit us. From your email, it is clear we did not meet your expectations. Again, I am truly sorry we disappointed you.

I want you to know that I have already taken action on your feedback. After reading your email, I immediately shared the information you brought to our attention with the local franchise owner of the restaurant you visited. Additionally, I notified our regional McDonald's consultant who works with this owner for follow-up in the restaurant and appropriate corrective action.

Again, Susan, thank you for sharing your feedback. We appreciate your business and we hope to have the pleasure of serving you soon.

Kelly
McDonald's Customer Response Center"

While I greatly appreciate her quick actions, I feel like it fell short of total satisfaction. The only other thing I wanted was to get a coupon for a free Mocha. I spent good money on that foul cup of java.

Micky Ds, while I may return to your store, I will think twice and consider Starbucks next time. BTW, when you get bad cup of joe from Starbucks, they give you a coupon for a free one--now THAT'S customer service. Am I wrong?

Spring in Atlanta

2010-04-07T21:33:00.006-04:00

I love taking pictures. Here's a short slideshow of some of the blooming I'm seeing in Atlanta.

Spring in Atlanta from Susan Childress on Vimeo.

Our Easter

2010-04-06T12:34:00.012-04:00

We started our day at Northside Baptist Church in Roswell, Ga. The pastor asked me to take a few pictures of the egg hunt and families. Check out the dress in the second photo.

After the service, we went to my brother's for Easter dinner. Wow was it good! We spent Easter this year without my husband--he had to work. If Glenn doesn't work, he doesn't get paid and March was a slow month.

The menu consisted of ham, mac & cheese, pineapple casserole, asparagus, & cranberry/orange muffins. For dessert we had fresh peaches with cake & ice cream.

Keith, my brother

My parents, Tom & June

My daughter, Rebecca

Because He Lives

2010-04-03T19:48:00.003-04:00

This Easter we'll attend our Southern Baptist Church and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We'll be in the contemporary service. I prefer that service because of the relaxed atmosphere and the praise music we sing. Most likely we won't be singing any Easter hymns, in fact, we usually don't sing hymns--I sometimes miss this because they're so ingrained in my memory. My Easter favorites include "Christ Arose," "Christ the Lord is Risen Today," and one I really enjoy is "Because He Lives." I hope and pray you'll be worshiping somewhere this Easter Sunday.

I Know This Guy

2010-04-01T18:00:00.002-04:00

Well, actually, I don't KNOW him. I used to work with the guy who is his best friend. I thought this video, as well as ALOT of other people, was really cool. In fact, it's gone viral--even the CBS Early Show did an interview with the Whitakker family. I wanted to share it.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

You can follow Carlos on his blog. Or, his wife on her blog.

Old habits

2010-03-30T19:30:00.001-04:00

This is what you see when you enter my office.

This is what you see when you look under the desk.

It's kind of the same principle as when I was growing up and my mother would tell me to clean my room. I had the answer to the quick clean up ... just stash everything under my bed. She would ask me if I had cleaned up and I'd say yes. She'd give me that look and say, "Well, let's just go take a look." She'd walk in and stand there with her hands on her hips, then go directly to my bed, lift up the bed spread, and say, "I thought so." Then of course, she'd make me take everything out from under and put it away in it's proper place.

Now that I'm all grown up, things haven't really changed much. There's still stuff stored under my bed AND I've got stuff stashed under my desk. The only difference is I don't have my mother checking under either!

About

2010-03-30T09:24:00.001-04:00

If it’s digital, Susan Childress has a hand in it at the North American Mission Board. Susan spends her days keeping mission education current through social networking, guiding award-winning video production, producing podcasts and finding new ways to make missions come alive for churches. As an electronic media consultant for NAMB’s mission education team, Susan has a hand in a multitude of communication projects.

 A Cedarville University grad, Susan learned her way around the TV studio set as a producer for the highly-acclaimed PBS staple, MotorWeek. The award-winning producer did a stint in public relations with Porsche Cars North America. Susan has also served as a magazine editor and event coordinator, among other endeavors.   Susan makes her home in Alpharetta, Georgia, where her husband, Glenn, and teen daughter, Rebecca, help keep her balanced, at least on even days. The Childress family is a member of Northside Baptist Church in Roswell, Georgia. Susan would love to chat with you, in person or digitally.

Videos

2010-03-30T09:22:00.001-04:00

Coming soon

Newest Hairstyle

2010-03-29T20:07:00.007-04:00

Breaking News: The newest hairstyle is bangs (Uh, I thought they were always in style). Called fringe around the rest of the world, bangs were once the province of little girls. Now celebrities are embracing them--from blunt cut just above the eyebrows to wispy and side-swept.

AOL reports that some are even coloring their bangs a different color than the rest of their hair--and it's not always a natural hair color. Think blue. Or pink.

Guess I've been out of style all these years since I've always had bangs ... or should I say fringe.

New Look

2010-03-28T22:12:00.002-04:00

I've been neglecting my blog for months and I've decided to give it a go again. How do you like the new look? I've seen this template design before and found it interesting.

Happy Sweet 16, Rebecca

2010-01-08T20:21:00.000-05:00

What I've Been Working On

2009-08-10T20:40:00.003-04:00

I've been rather busy at work. Here's one of the things I've worked on lately.

In case you stumbled across this and want to find out more, go here.

American Idol Top 3

2009-05-12T20:21:00.003-04:00

I don't know what the judges were drinking in their Coca-Cola cups, but they were wild tonight. Paula and Simon grabbing each other--and whatever else they were doing, AI cameras didn't show us. Kara putting her hands over Simon's mouth.

Judges Choice Songs:
Danny - "Dance Little Sister," by Terrence Trent Darby chosen by Paula. I've never heard the song. Danny did a good job singing, but to me, it was forgettable.

Kris - Kara and Randy chose "Apologize," by One Republic. Did an OK job. According to Paula he was off on one note. To me, also forgettable.

Adam - "One," by U2 chosen by Simon. There's something about Adam that is engaging. He really feels the music.

Contestant Choices:
Danny - "You Are So Beautiful," by Joe Cocker. Very moving and he really did the Gokey magic to it. Simon called it a "vocal masterclass."

Kris - "Hearless," by Kanye West. He took the song and made it his own. Redeemed himself after his first song.

Adam - "Cryin," by Aerosmith. I like Steven Tyler's version better. He did his usual scream with his tongue out. Of course, the judges loved him.

Who can say how America will vote. But, I'd love to see Danny and Kris as the final two.

My Favorite Practical Joke from College

2009-05-10T12:02:00.005-04:00

The alumni magazine from my college, Cedarville University, recently asked for submissions of our favorite practical joke at college. Here's what I submitted:

I used to play lots of practical jokes, but my favorite took place in Maddox Hall my junior year. I always took my stereo with me each year to college and this particular year, I took a sound effects record. One of the effects on the album was an emergency with lots of sirens and fire truck sounds. It occurred to me that it might be pretty funny to put my stereo speakers in the room window (the one facing the courtyard) and blast the emergency sound effect as loud as I could.

I never dreamed of the response I would get. Almost immediately, girls came running out from their rooms looking for the tragedy. They ran out in their night gowns and robes. A crowd ran down one hall and when they got to the end, someone yelled, "It must coming from the other end!" The mob turned and ran down the hall towards the open end facing Lawlor (the guy's dorm). As more and more girls poured out of their dorm units, it became clear we should silence the sounds and put the stereo speakers back in their place before getting caught. It stirred up quite the commotion. Ma Printy (the resident dorm mom) never made an appearance that night, but she did send out a few student RAs to see if they could find the culprits. A friend of mine was the RA in the unit next to mine. She had a sneaky suspicion it was me, but she never turned me in. We laughed for weeks.

American Idol Top 4

2009-05-05T20:10:00.004-04:00

It was Rock night on Idol. They had an incident on the stage where a set piece collapsed before air time, so the idols didn't get a dress rehearsal.

Adam - Rocked the house with a Zeppelin tune. But can America handle this extreme performer?

Allison - Of all the rock songs to pick, she decides to choose something obscure from Janis Joplin. Hmmm, I wonder if she'll be back next week. Way to go giving it back to Simon. You go girl!

Danny & Kris Duet - nice harmonies. Danny seemed "different" as in out of it. Judges didn't like Kris, but I did.

Kris - Not too comfortable with singing this Beatles' tune, "Come Together," but he still did good.

Danny - "Dream On" by Aerosmith. It was OK. OMGosh, the scream at the end was, well, it was pitiful. Nice try, though.

Allison & Adam Duet - "Slow Ride" by Foghat. These two were in their element tonight.

I have no idea who'll go home on Wed., but maybe Kris. Daughtry and Paula take the stage tomorrow night.

2009-05-05T19:24:00.001-04:00

This is a test blog entry from my mobile phone.

Meat Jewelry

2009-05-01T21:39:00.007-04:00

Is this not bizarre? It's meat jewelry. The designer, Stephanie Hensle, creates jewelry by making resin casts of animal and human fat, bone, organs, muscle, and tendon. For fasteners and chains she uses meat hooks and sausage netting.

"I think today I'll wear the bone marrow brooch and sausage necklace."

Below are more photos of her fascinating collection. Available soon, I'm sure, at Macy's and Dillard's.

(notice the meat trays that she displays her brooches on)

[Dwell via Fast Company]
Photos by Petra Jaschke.

Flight of the Bumblebee

2009-04-29T19:00:00.001-04:00

According to the laws of physics and aerodynamics, there is absolutely no reason or possibility for a bumblebee to be able to fly. Their bodily structure should make it impossible. Yet, they do fly.

If you care to read in detail about Bumblebees check this out from Wikipedia. If not, skip down the bottom. According to 20th century folklore, the laws of aerodynamics prove that the bumblebee should be incapable of flight, as it does not have the capacity (in terms of wing size or beats per second) to achieve flight with the degree of wing loading necessary. Not being aware of scientists 'proving' it cannot fly, the bumblebee succeeds under "the power of its own ignorance". The origin of this myth has been difficult to pin down with any certainty. John McMasters recounted an anecdote about an unnamed Swiss aerodynamicist at a dinner party who performed some rough calculations and concluded, presumably in jest, that according to the equations, bumblebees cannot fly. In later years McMasters has backed away from this origin, suggesting that there could be multiple sources, and that the earliest he has found was a reference in the 1934 French book Le vol des insectes, they had applied the equations of air resistance to insects and found that their flight was impossible, but that "One shouldn't be surprised that the results of the calculations don't square with reality".

Some credit physicist Ludwig Prandtl (1875–1953) of the University of Göttingen in Germany with popularizing the myth. Others say it was Swiss gas dynamicist Jacob Ackeret (1898–1981) who did the calculations.

In 1934, French entomologist Antoine Magnan included the following passage in the introduction to his book Le Vol des Insectes:

Tout d'abord poussé par ce qui fait en aviation, j'ai appliqué aux insectes les lois de la résistance de l'air, et je suis arrivé avec M. SAINTE-LAGUE a cette conclusion que leur vol est impossible.

This means:

First prompted by the fact of aviation, I have applied the laws of the resistance of air to insects, and I arrived, with Mister Sainte-Lague, at the conclusion that their flight is impossible.

Magnan refers to his assistant André Saint-Lagué, who was apparently an engineer.

It is believed that the calculations which purported to show that bumblebees cannot fly are based upon a simplified linear treatment of oscillating aerofoils. The method assumes small amplitude oscillations without flow separation. This ignores the effect of dynamic stall, an airflow separation inducing a large vortex above the wing, which briefly produces several times the lift of the aerofoil in regular flight. More sophisticated aerodynamic analysis shows that the bumblebee can fly because its wings encounter dynamic stall in every oscillation cycle.

Another description of a bee's wing function is that the wings work similarly to helicopter blades, "reverse-pitch semirotary helicopter blades".

Why is it possible for bumblebees to fly? The answer is simple. That’s what God created them to do.

Idol Rat Pack Night

2009-04-28T21:20:00.006-04:00

The original Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr.,
Peter Lawford, & Joey Bishop

The remaining five didn't sing anything obvious from the Rat Pack. No, "I Did It My Way," "New York, New York," or "That's Amore." I thought they all had nice song choices tonight. At this point, I'd be happy if Kris, Adam, or Danny won Idol this year. I'd say, Matt G. and Allison will be the bottom two tomorrow with Matt going home.

Song Card:
Kris: "Some Day"
Allison: "Someone to Watch Over Me"
Danny: "Come Rain, Come Shine"
Matt G: "My Funny Valentine"
Adam: "Feeling Good"

Tips for Sorting Facebook News Feed

2009-04-27T18:16:00.006-04:00

I don't know about you, but I have friends on Facebook that I know better than others. Many times, I miss updates from the people I really know because the News Feed is cluttered with a lot of traffic--especially from overly active Tweeters. I was about ready to delete some people or start a new Facebook account when I came across this information from CIO.com. With the new Facebook, you can filter your News Feed! I have it set up now to filter family and close friends so I don't miss their important updates. Click here to read more and learn how to create custom friend lists. The article also includes a tip for how to deal with annoyingly frequent posters. Yeah, now we're talking!

Sharpie Art

2009-04-26T20:37:00.011-04:00

Check out this really cool artwork that people are creating using Sharpies.

Artist Justine Ashbee, with just a Sharpie and paper, is able to create the illusion of movement and depth. She says, "I begin with a curve, from which lines and forms begin to emerge, evolve, morph, and grow organically, in an intuitive flow, while maintaining delicate, elegant precision." In other words, she starts drawing and whatever mood she's in, she creates her art.

This surrealist artwork done by "Sharpie King" Immy Mellin, who works exclusively with Sharpie markers, goes for $150 to $20,000.

It took Prestige Imports in Miami more than a 1,000 hours to cover this $200,000 Lamborghini with hand-drawn Sharpie designs and a clear coating. Click here to see more photos. The Lambo was eventually sold on eBay for $289,950.

Charles Kratzer wanted to spruce up his cream-colored basement walls. So instead of spending big bucks on artwork, he drew his own masterpieces with $10 worth of Sharpie markers. Click here to see a 360 degree view of his basement.

American Idol - Two Go Down

2009-04-22T19:38:00.003-04:00

Here's my take from last night's Idol:

Lil - poor Lil. She can't seem to find her way, but no wonder with the confusing signals the judges give her--she never seems to pick the right song according to them.

Kris - We could actually hear his guitar playing. I was beginning to think that he was like Elvis--hold the guitar, but never really play it. Surprising spin on a Donna Summer hit.

Danny - I love this guy. He's my fav. Not his best performance last night, but still good.

Allison - you go girl. Good job! How does she stand up in those shoes?

Adam - This guy can sing. To me he seems like he's been doing this professionally for years.

Matt - personally, not one of my favorites. I think he might stay one more week.

Anoop - with his beautiful teeth and pink vest looked good, but didn't sound so hot. Who were the judges listening to last night 'cuz he was not good.

Sorry Anoop fans, but I think he along with Lil will be packing their bags tonight.

iPill

2009-04-20T21:40:00.000-04:00

Imagine this: a pill with tiny sensors, a microprocessor, a fluid pump, a wireless transmitter, and medication. It can be swallowed like any other pill, but will allow doctors to deliver drugs directly to a specific area of the gastrointestinal tract, which could help treat illnesses like Crohn's disease or colitis.

The R&D group at Philip's is working on what they call the "iPill." As the iPill moves through the body, its wireless transmitter sends information to doctors with internal information about the patient. It's still a prototype but Philips hopes to move to clinical trials soon. Very cool! I wonder if insurance will cover the prescription?

Funny Video

2009-04-17T12:11:00.001-04:00

Here's another great video that was shown today at the conference. This is funny!

The Purple Cow

2009-04-17T10:49:00.004-04:00

I'm at a conference this week for Baptist Communicators Association. In this morning's workshop by David LaMar from West End Studios he talked about making your stuff stand out. In a book by Seth Godin, The Purple Cow, Godin talks about having your product stand out--don't be boring.

Since I'm into video, here's a funny video example he showed.

UNFry Day

2009-04-16T22:24:00.004-04:00

Hey, have you heard the news? KFC is grilling up chicken. The national rollout happens on April 27 when KFC will offer a free taste of grilled chicken--they've declared the day, "National UNFry Day". I have to admit, I enjoy some good ol' KFC every now and then. Remember a few years ago when they tried rotisserie-style chicken and tender roast? They didn't do well, but I'd be willing to give the new grilled chicken a try.

5-Second Rule

2009-04-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

The 5-Second Rule: Does It Work?

You know the rule: If food falls on the floor, pick it up within five seconds and you can eat it. Whatever germs are on the floor don't have time to adhere to the food that quickly. Or do they? A recent national survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Kelton Research found that nearly 60 percent of Americans admit to eating food that has fallen on the floor. Would they continue doing that if they knew a typical home carpet has up to 4,000 times more bacteria particles--even after vacuuming--than toilet seats?

This is disgusting--and scary. Find out the top three hotbeds for germs in your home.

This is the total number of bacteria particles found on one-inch square samples of different household surfaces. The independent tests were conducted by Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona:
-- Toilet seat: 49
-- Kitchen counter: 1,686
-- Kitchen tile: 2,546
-- Bathroom floor: 18,025
-- Carpet: more than 200,000

Ew! Look what is on grocery carts.

Why is the floor--the kitchen tile, the living room hardwood and the family room carpet--so dirty? Blame your shoes. Gerba found more than 400,000 units of bacteria inside and outside shoes, including the worst kind of all: E. coli. "If you think about the places you walk, this makes sense," Gerba told Babies Today. "Public restrooms, for example, are a prime source for fecal matter. You also pick up viruses on your shoes, and so when you walk around you leave a trail of virus and bacteria. You're also probably picking up food as well, making your shoe a Happy Meal for germs." He warns that kids can definitely get sick from the germs tracked into the house, although being exposed to germs is a natural part of living.

Gross! Find out the dirtiest part of your car. This is so disgusting you might want to wipe it down before you drive it again.

Does the 5-second rule work? No. Eat that cookie that falls on the floor, and you could also be ingesting a frosting of E. coli.

(Reprinted from AOL News)

Spring Break 2009

2009-04-11T21:46:00.008-04:00

Panama City Beach

We hadn't been to the beach in a few years and I had promised my daughter that we would go this year to Florida for Spring Break. Despite the poor economy, we went anyway. We took a few days and headed to Panama City Beach. The prices were better there. Now I know why, it's PARTY CITY for spring breakers. Despite the noise and commotion, we had a terrific vacation. My brother went with us and it was great to be able to spend time with him. He also drove and did all the heavy lifting. We spent a couple of days on the beach, went shopping at the outlets, and toured Seaside, Watercolor, and discovered this neat place called, Rosemary Beach. We laughed--ALOT, got aggravated with each other, shared suntan lotion, and lived by no schedule. The memories we made are priceless.

Rebecca

My brother, Keith

view from our condo

Seaside

@ a cafe in Seaside

Rosemary Beach

Town Hall @ Rosemary Beach

Wild Times in Panama City

2009-04-10T23:18:00.004-04:00

We weren't having the wild time--every teen from Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia were! I've never seen (or heard) anything quite like it. This is a video we took one night. And you know, those kids were back out on the beach the next day and still screaming!

Vacation Bound

2009-04-04T07:00:00.001-04:00

You won't be hearing from me for a few days--headed to the beach. It's Spring Break and looking forward to a little R&R.

Mistaken Identity

2009-04-03T20:05:00.007-04:00

We had just arrived home tonight after doing a little shopping at Barnes and Noble (love that place). If you must know, Glenn got some paperbacks, I got a magazine and Stephanie Plum book by Janet Evanovich, and Rebecca got a teen paperback. We also picked up burgers at Five Guys Burgers and Fries (love that place, too).

When I walk in the door, I see Rebecca looking at a piece of paper on the kitchen table. It's a printout of the Web site that has the crest pads for $5. If you remember, crest pads are small pads that go under your toes.
She's laughing. I don't see what could be so funny about toe pads--until she tells me why she's laughing. It seems she mistook the toe pads for cosmetic pads and has been using them to comb her eyebrows! Now we're ALL laughing! I had wondered why there was makeup on them. Now it all makes sense.

My New Shades

2009-04-03T16:38:00.003-04:00

Picked up my new prescription sunglasses and am ready for the beach. It's my first pair of prescription shades--guess that's bound to happen when approaching 50. Unveiling of the new glasses will be in a week. I know you can hardly wait.

The Case of the Crest Pad Rip Off! Part 2

2009-04-02T19:52:00.006-04:00

Here's the text of the letter that's going in the mail tomorrow to the company that's overcharging for medical equipment:

DJO, LLC
Privacy Office
1430 Decision St.
Vista, California 92081

Dear Privacy Office:

I am writing to dispute the charges on a recent bill that I received from your company. My account # is XXXXXXX. The charges are for two metatarsal pads at a cost of $40 per pad.

The pads that I received from my doctor are crest pads—not metatarsal pads. I feel that charging $40 per pad is unreasonable. When searching for these same pads on the Internet, I found them for approximately $5 each and they appear to be the same pad.

I am not refusing to pay for the items I received. However, I feel that $80 for two small 2-inch pads is exorbitant and unreasonable; therefore, I am requesting a reduction in the charges. If I need to purse this further, I will contact the Better Business Bureau and file a report on your company. I have also posted on my blog, www.susanchildre.blogspot.com regarding this dispute. I’m sure other unsuspecting consumers and medical practitioners would like to be warned about the practices of your company.

Thank you for your consideration and I hope we can reach a reasonable agreement.

Sincerely,

Susan E. Childress

Easter on Steriods

2009-04-02T16:00:00.001-04:00

There's a house not far from where I work. Every year they go all out with decorating their yard for Easter. There are things hanging in trees, blowing machines, bunnies everywhere, Winnie the Pooh, a rabbit riding a motorcycle, and decorations in the windows. It's very colorful and this video doesn't do it justice. I used my Flip Video camera.

The Case of the Crest Pad Rip Off!

2009-04-01T20:56:00.006-04:00

$40 Crest Pad

$5 Crest Pad

What you see pictured above is called a crest pad. It gives relief for hammer toes. I recently saw my foot doctor and he "gave" me two of them. The pad is very comfortable and is giving me relief so that I don't need surgery just yet to correct the problem. When the doc gave me the pads, he said that I would be billed directly from the medical company that supplies the pads.

We got the bill about a month later--a bill for $80! That's right, 80 bucks! My husband freaked out. Well, maybe not freaked out, but was really peeved. I did a search on the Internet and found the same pad for $5. Yep, five bucks.

I called the doc's office and complained about the price. They were understanding and said they had just received another complaint that same week. I was told that DJ Orthopedics (DJO) sends the medical supplies to them, but bills the patient directly. The doctor receives no money for the pads. They called to complain to DJO. DJO told them that Medicare allows them to charge $40 for each pad. That's our government at work! Somebody better wake up! Rip off alert!

I called DJO and had to speak with a supervisor. She offered a 10 percent discount. I declined in favor of sending a letter of dispute. That's where things stand now. I'll let you know how things turn out. Look out DJO, a hot letter is coming your way--momma's not happy!

iTunes Theme Night on Idol

2009-03-31T19:37:00.007-04:00

OK, top nine and here's my rundown of the night. My thoughts are live as I'm watching.

Anoop - Sang an Usher song. Seemed a little off pitch in places to me. It was OK, didn't blow me away tonight.

Megan - Whew, started off rocky singing a Bob Marley tune. I think I just don't care for her style. Not liking it. Yuk. She needs to go home, soon--very soon.

Danny - Doing Rascal Flatts. Whoa. Simon thinks it's his best performance, yet. The judges were all blown away, but I wasn't. He'll be back next week.

Allison - Lovin her on the guitar. What a voice for a kid. She does need wardrobe help. Should be back next week. Maybe the guitar was a bit of a distraction for her this week.

Scott - new "do" tonight--not sure if I like it--kind of a Sheena Easton look from the 80's. Billy Joel, eh? Expecting the same ol' Scott. Yep, he'd do well at a Holiday Inn lounge. Paula is the most proud of him--interesting. What are the judges hearing? Randy thinks he's one of the best of the night.

Matt - I'm not feelin' it this week. Because he was in the bottom three last week and undeserving of being there, I think he'll be safe this week--maybe.

Lil - OK, here we go--Celine Dion. Whoa, watch that shot from the rear. I see David Spade in the audience. Sounded heavy. It was OK.

Adam - Singing Wild Cherry. I'm expecting great things. Wasn't expecting the combed back hair. You've got to admit the guy can entertain. Lots of energy. Hot ending. Yeah, Play that Funky Music White Boy!

Kris - Ain't No Sunshine, but you were shining tonight. Played the keyboard and we could hear it. Liked it.

Well, well, well. Bottom three. Tough choice. I'm just going to guess. Megan, Lil, Allison. Megan should go home tomorrow night.

Gokey's Glasses

2009-03-31T06:08:00.001-04:00

I've noticed that on Idol, Danny Gokey dons a different pair of glasses every week. I've just been to the optical shop and let me tell you--they ain't cheap! My husband has a coronary every two years when I get new glasses. Then I saw this article in USA Today about Danny's specs. He has 18 pairs! Each pair of frames costs at least $230. How does a worship leader at church afford to own 18 pairs of glasses? Maybe I should look into the music business.

MSNBC Tells Idol Like It Is

2009-03-30T17:13:00.003-04:00

I'm a fan of American Idol. I'm hooked on watching the shows every week. But what about those nasty rumors we hear about? Marc Hirsh, an MSNBC contributor, writes about American Idol lies and other quotes we've heard uttered from the judges mouths like, “This is a singing competition.” “This is the most talented group ever!” And, “You can’t touch Whitney/Celine/Aretha/etc.” Interesting reading and food for thought.

I Love Coke

2009-03-28T20:45:00.003-04:00

I love Coke and it's only fitting that I live in Atlanta--the home of Coca-Cola. I used to have a Coke a day until I learned in Weight Watchers how many calories one can has. Then Coke introduced Coke Zero in 2007. They say it tastes like Coke, but without the calories. It doesn't taste exactly like Coke Classic, but it's pretty close. Close enough that I have one every morning. Nice and ice cold! Coke Zero Cherry is pretty tasty, too. If you're a Coke lover, but don't want the calories, try Coke Zero--in my opinion much better than Diet Coke. Some restaurants and movie theaters are starting to offer Coke Zero--which I think is fabulous. Thanks Coke!

If I Was Famous

2009-03-27T19:51:00.003-04:00

If I was famous (not that I want to be) and people wanted my autograph, it would look like this. Don't laugh, I'm sure you've practiced your autograph. Come on, admit it. You see, your autograph is different from your legal signature. The autograph has flare and ambiguity and says, "I'm cool." Would you add a sentiment like "best wishes?" Or, simply add XOXO?

Motown - Idol Style

2009-03-25T20:05:00.005-04:00

We're down to the top 10. Here's my rundown on the evening.

Matt Giraud - seemed very comfortable with the Motown sound. I think Paula has a crush on him. He'll be back next week.

Kris Allen - Good song choice tonight. He'll be back.

Scott MacIntyre - He's OK. Probably would make a good singer for commercials. I think Randy was right when he called it a "hotel kind of performance."

Megan Joy - weak, pitchy--looked good, nice makeup.

Anoop Desai - Good, better than Scott. He'll be back.

Michael Sarver - OK, kind of weird with singing notes all over the place.

Lil Rounds - Oh boy Lil, I had high hopes. Started out shaky--pitchy. Kind of yelled the song. Piano arrangement in some sections was same thing over and over. I hope she's back.

Adam Lambert - Oh my he looked Elvisesque or maybe even a little like Kurt Russell with black hair. Loved his interpretation. Very nice. Best of the night.

Danny Gokey - He's been my fav. Tonight he was a little choppy, but still excellent. He'll be back.

Allison Iraheta - Is this girl really 16? She's got the Motown sound. Couldn't understand some of the words, but who cares?

Bottom three this week: Scott, Michael, and Megan
Going tomorrow night: Megan, but I'd really like to see Scott go bye bye.

Turbo-Charged Mascara

2009-03-24T07:00:00.001-04:00

I've been hearing Elizabeth Hurley on the radio advertising the new vibrating mascara from Estee Lauder. I was intrigued, so I checked out their Web site. I wasn't going to buy the stuff--it costs $32. As their product detail states, "It's the world's first turbo-charged motion mascara." "An innovation of design and engineering." "It's a beautiful machine." Hmmm, sounds more like a car than makeup. Maybe they should add: Generates 12 pound feet of torque and will go from 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. This beaut of a wand features a tight turning radius and will wisk you away to clump-free heaven.

Here's the ad in case you're curious.

See Bizkit Run!

2009-03-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

My dog runs in her sleep, but nothing like this dog! Check it out.

Inside the New Facebook

2009-03-22T16:00:00.002-04:00

Check this out. This guy, Julian, takes a tour of the new Facebook. It's funny. Something else I found interesting was seeing how their offices are laid out and decorated. It's fun to see how other creative types make their workspaces inspiring.

Miley Live in Studio

2009-03-22T07:00:00.005-04:00

Miley Cyrus was in Atlanta recently and stopped by the radio station that I listen to in the morning--Q100. I'll admit it, we occasionally watch "Hannah Montana" and I like a few of Miley's (not Hannah's) songs. Yes, I'm an adult and I like Miley. In case you might be wondering if she can really sing. Listen to this performance of "The Climb" live at the radio station.

Leprechaun Sighting!

2009-03-21T17:00:00.000-04:00

St. Paddy's day was this past week and people were celebrating--maybe a little too much. Here's a news story about a Leprechaun sighting in Alabama. I haven't heard if they found that pot of gold. Personally, I like the guy with the special Leprechaun flute.

Tea Time

2009-03-21T12:47:00.005-04:00

I love tea--iced tea that is. I was raised on it. Instead of a cup of coffee in the morning, I've got to have my tea. People who work or have worked with me know that I bring in a mega large cup everyday. Back in my youth, it would be sweet tea. Now, several pounds later, I drink unsweet but sweetened with Splenda.

My recommendations for fast food tea are Chick-fil-a and McDonald's. McD's sells their large for only a $1. If you live around Alpharetta, Georgia, try the sweet tea at Alpha Soda--very good. Top recommendation for store bought brewed is Milo's. The Chick is great, but more expensive. Publix has good brewed tea, but Milo's is my favorite.

Milo's has great customer service. I e-mailed them about carrying their tea sweetened with Splenda at my local Super Target. They got right back to me and stocked the store. Now I'm a faithful customer.

The Snail

2009-03-20T18:40:00.001-04:00

This is a really well shot and edited short video on a snail. Very cool.

SNAIL from bob lorrimer on Vimeo.

Rabbit Chasing a Snake

2009-03-18T20:26:00.001-04:00

Check out this video of a rabbit chasing a snake. Crazy rabbit!

McNugget Emergency

2009-03-18T12:25:00.002-04:00

So get this. A woman, Latreasa, down in Florida goes to a McDonald's and orders Chicken McNuggets. She pays. Then they inform her that they're out of nuggets. She's pretty ticked. She wants her money back. McDonald's says she can't have her money back, pick something else off the menu. Nope, she wants her nuggets. Want can a person do? She knows, she'll call 911. Not once, but three times. The audio from the actual 911 calls is below. It ended with an officer arriving at the McD's and arresting Latreasa for misusing 911. McDonald's later issued a formal apology and offered her a free Chicken McNugget meal. Latreasa is now getting advice from a lawyer.

Idol - March 17

2009-03-18T08:03:00.003-04:00

Anoop dawg is back. Good job last night. I'm going to go with the bottom three being Michael Sarver, Scott MacIntyre, and Allison Iraheta. I predict Sarver will go home tonight.

Spring Pix

2009-03-17T19:17:00.004-04:00

I was inspired by the setting sun this afternoon and snapped off a few pics.

BTW, Who Was St. Patrick, Anyway?

2009-03-16T20:25:00.004-04:00

This one minute video explains who St. Patrick was and little of the history of St. Patrick's Day.

BTW, St. Patrick's color is actually blue. Green ended up being used because of the green of Ireland.

What Do You Think?

2009-03-15T20:58:00.003-04:00

A friend of mine told me this and I wanted to share it and get other opinions. Here's what he said. At the church where he goes, they have a contemporary service where they have one main worship leader and four or five praise team singers and of course, the usual band--guitar, drums, keyboard. They dim the lights and pound out three praise songs. He noticed though that he could always hear the voice of the worship leader, but could never hear the praise team members singing. He thought that was a bit odd.

One day, he was talking with the guy that runs the audio board for the services and asked him why he couldn't hear the praise team singers. The audio guy said something along the lines of, "that's because only one or two of them can sing. I turn the other mics off. Or, they come unprepared and don't know the words to the songs and they're just moving their lips." Now, this is at a fair sized church. Probably 300-400 people in the worship service. My friend was kind of bothered by it, but his wife told him it was no big deal--the church probably has a hard time getting volunteer singers to show up every Sunday. But still, he has a hard time watching the "show" on Sunday mornings and just can't quite ignore it.

It seems that certainly they would have people in their church that could carry a tune and be willing to help lead in worship on Sundays. What do you think? Would you say anything to anyone? Would the fakeness of it all bother you?

Remodeling - Excuse the Mess

2009-03-14T11:12:00.002-04:00

Hey, I'm working on "upgrading" the look of my blog. Excuse me while I experiment with different designs. It's going to be a work in progress since I don't really know what I'm doing!

2009-03-12T18:00:00.000-04:00

I've got to say that when I first saw this Taco Bell commercial I laughed out loud and I still do. Maybe because I like the guy's idea of how to sneak in food to an expensive event. And, he has it neatly stored in the prego bubble on shelves! Nacho drag!

American Idol - Tuesday, March 10

2009-03-11T17:00:00.005-04:00

American Idol in review for Tuesday, March 10. What's up with the new announcer dude? The judges strutting out on the stage was just plan weird. The judges looked so awkward, especially Paula. And speaking of Paula, what was up with her? Her face looked so puffy and when giving critiques of some performances it seemed as though she was going to burst out in tears.

I thought there were some really strong performances. My personal favorite is Danny. But if I had to guess who the bottom three will be tonight, I’d say: Anoop, Jorge, and Jasmine. I’m going to go with Anoop and Jasmine being eliminated tonight.

They also said that something new in the rules will be revealed tonight. My prediction is that the judges can over rule a vote by America. If they feel a contestant should not go home, they can have them stay in the competition for another week.

Daylight Saving Time & Spring Allergies Don't Mix

2009-03-10T17:13:00.004-04:00

I dread springing ahead one hour. I know it's only one hour, but it takes me a good two weeks to adjust. I feel tired during the day and when I go to bed, I have a hard time falling asleep. My allergies also kick in when the trees start to bloom and that also makes me tired. I got tired just thinking about posting a note on this blog.

Apparently this whole idea of saving daylight began with Benjamin Franklin. If you care to read in detail about DST, just click here. I read that Daylight Saving Time (DST--notice there is no s at the end of Saving) began in the the U.S. during World War I in order to save energy for war production. I had heard that DST was started for the farmers so they would have more time to work their fields, but I couldn't confirm that. After WWI states could choose whether or not to observe DST. Today, all states except for Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American Somoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Arizona (except for some Indian Reservations) observe DST.

In 2007, DST was extended one month and begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the Second Sunday in March and lasts until 2 a.m. on the First Sunday of November. The new start and stop dates were set in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

OK, that's it for the history lesson. But, if I had my choice, I'd stick with DST and not change!

What's a 3G Network?

2009-03-08T07:31:00.002-04:00

I keep hearing commericals on the radio and seeing ads on TV for 3G mobile networks. I wondered what does "3G" mean? Turns out it's pretty simple. According to Wikepedia,
"3G is the third generation of tele standards and technology for mobile networking, superseding 2.5G. It is based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) family of standards under the IMT-2000.

3G networks enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency. Services include wide-area wireless voice telephony, video calls, and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment."

Now you know, too.

My Saturday in Pictures

2009-03-07T20:10:00.006-05:00

It was a warm, sunny day in Atlanta. Here's my day in pictures.

Local Cedarville University gathering at Mellow Mushroom in Atlanta

Cool mushrooms hanging from the ceiling

Next stop, Alon's Bakery in Virginia Highlands for dessert

Cheese anyone?

How about a tart?

I went for a slice of apple pie. It was yum!

Windblown hair. It was a windows down day!

What day in Atlanta would be complete without traffic?

Spring Day Fun

2009-03-07T19:15:00.002-05:00

Today was beautiful and warm in Atlanta. We had our neighbor's dog over for a "play date" with our dog. Here she is fetching the "flying squirrel." The quality is not that good because I took the video with my BlackBerry.

Door Decor

2009-03-07T07:18:00.000-05:00

Aren't these little doors cute? They were on the bathroom wall on the first floor ladies' room. I wonder if they were specially made or if someone found these? There is actually a theme behind all this. Just outside the door at the end of the hall is a display called "The World at Our Doorstep." My compliments to the decorator! I wonder if the men's room has little doors, too?

Kitty Fun

2009-03-06T06:30:00.002-05:00

I took this video with my BlackBerry, so the quality is not that good, but cat lovers will enjoy! This is what Kiki usually does when I'm in the bathroom. Anyone who has a cat knows exactly what this is all about. I love this cat.

More bathroom pretties

2009-03-05T06:39:00.000-05:00

A friend at work informed me of the bathroom decor on the 4th floor. Pretty classy, huh? I wonder if they change with the seasons like the 2nd floor? I'm still on the hunt, so you never know what restroom will show up here next.

Apple Pie

2009-03-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Look at this yummy pie. Both my daughter and I walked into the house and saw this on the kitchen counter. We both wanted to dive in and eat it. Problem was ... it's a candle! Looks good enough to eat doesn't it? My husband got it at Bass Pro Shops.

My Faux Hawk

2009-03-03T06:23:00.000-05:00

What do I do at night while I'm sleeping? Look at this hair! There's no way I could just get up and go out of the house. Have you ever seen such a mess? It looks as though I'm pretty consistent with how I sleep because the hair seems to have the same pattern. Funny thing is that nowadays some people wear their hair this way on purpose. It's called the faux hawk.

Spring Bathroom Pretties

2009-03-02T18:09:00.004-05:00

Our bathroom decor at work has changed. It's springtime! A lady was just commenting today on how much she appreciates the little doo-tads we have in our ladies room. I was hoping to stumble across some interesting bathrooms in my travels, but nothing has caught my attention, yet. But stay tuned, you never know what might show up.

Top 10 Names for Dogs and Cats

2009-02-28T21:43:00.001-05:00

A long-coated male Chihuahua named "Heart-kun"

Top 10 names for dogs:
1. Max
2. Bailey
3. Bella
4. Molly
5. Lucy
6. Buddy
7. Maggie
8. Daisy
9. Sophie
10. Chloe

Top 10 names for cats:
1. Max
2. Chloe
3. Tigger
4. Tiger
5. Lucy
6. Smokey
7. Oliver
8. Bella
9. Shadow
10. Charlie

Dogs we had/have: Skipper, Theodore, Gracie
Cats we had/have: Midnight, Emily, Moussa, Smokey, Katie, Kiki

To Err is Human

2009-02-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

When I was younger, I felt the need to cover up my mistakes by making excuses. But I have come to learn that it's best just to admit the mistake and come clean. There are so many people that just can't bring themselves to admit that they were wrong or it was their fault.

I had to bring a guy back in to the studio to re-record a podcast that I had managed to record over. I thought about making an excuse that the audio program had not saved it correctly. But you know what, it felt so good to say to him, "I messed up. One of your podcasts doesn't exist. Can you come back in to re-record?" I even admitted the botch up to my supervisor and co-workers. All of them said something along the lines that we all make mistakes.

I've seen many a leader make a mistake and due to pride or they didn't want to appear to be a weak leader, not own up to it. Making mistakes is unavoidable. Whether in our personal or professional lives, the way we handle our blunders makes all the difference. The good leaders will admit making a mistake and move on. The great leader will admit the mistake, learn from it, and never make it again.

"A woman without paint is like food without salt." Plautus, Roman philosopher

2009-02-26T19:15:00.003-05:00

silicone-skinned bust of King Tut

I used to always wear makeup. I felt like I didn't look good enough if I didn't have some on. But as I've aged and now have blepharitis, I've had to change. You know, not wearing makeup has its advantages. Two I can think of right away are saving time getting ready in the morning and saving money. I think it takes some self confidence to walk out the door with no cosmetic enhancements. I think it might also be that as I get older, I don't care as much about what other people think.

I remember walking by a female colleague's office. She was reapplying powder, blush, and lipstick. She was preparing to go to a meeting. I NEVER think to do that! In fact, I don't carry any makeup in my purse.

Would you agree with Plautus when he says, "A woman without paint is like food without salt"? By the way, who started this makeup thing, anyway? Well, it was the ancient Egyptians in the 4th century before Christ. Back then, even men wore eyeliner. From what I can tell, that's also making a comeback (guy-liner, that is.)

Chris Daughtry

Oh Paula

2009-02-25T17:15:00.005-05:00

This is for you "American Idol" fans. I'm still not sure if I like the new four judge panel or the changes in the show's format. I do like Kara DioGuardi, but it seems that Paula doesn't. And you know why? Because Kara makes Paula stand out as an airhead. We always knew Paula never said much of substance, but now with Kara actually giving solid critiques, I think Paula's a little jealous of sharing the spotlight with another woman. Can't wait to watch tonight. Rrrrrowl. Hiss. Hiss. What do you think? (Thanks Myron for the tip on the article.)

Kindle 2

2009-02-23T20:36:00.003-05:00

Have you heard about the Kindle? It's Amazon's handheld electronic book reader. Today they began selling the Kindle 2. When I first saw the Kindle several months ago on Amazon's Web site, I thought it looked like a neat idea. But, when I saw the price, I quickly lost interest. The Kindle 2 sells for $359. The Kindle can download, store, and display up to 1500 books.

The Kindle Store has more than 240,000 books available, plus top newspapers, magazines, and blogs--all of which are available for download for $9.99 or less via Whispernet. According to Amazon, "Whispernet utilizes Amazon's optimized technology plus Sprint's national high-speed (3G) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. And unlike WiFi, you never have to hunt for a hotspot."

OK, enough of the free advertisement. I wonder where they came up with the name for this thing? And, what type of person does this gizmo appeal to? My guess is that traditionalists won't want to give up the feel of paper and the joy of turning the page. People who are into gadgets and technology will probably love it.

This Valentine's Day

2009-02-21T21:06:00.003-05:00

I'm a little late for a Valentine's Day post, but I think some of you might find this story interesting. My husband has never thought much of participating in Valentine's Day. Even before we were married he boycotted the "holiday." "I don't need a a yearly holiday to tell or show you that I love you. It's just a way for Hallmark and florists to make money," he'd say. I'll be honest, this kind of bothered me. But after several years, you get used to it.

Now that we've been married for over 20 years, he's softened a bit in recent years. Last year for our anniversary he sent me flowers at work for our anniversary. I have to admit, I loved the surprise. It made me feel special.

This Valentine's Day he was away for work. No big deal since we never make a fuss over V-day. I happened to be sick that day. I was talking to him on the phone and told him I wouldn't be at work because I wasn't feeling well. He told me that's too bad, because he sent flowers! SENT FLOWERS! Just my luck. I worried that they'd be all wilted by Monday when I'd be back to work. But, the flowers never arrived. Interesting. I wonder what happened? Maybe they were delivered to the mail room and the guys down there didn't deliver them. Nope, not the case. Finally, he called 1-800-FLOWERS to find out what happened. He talked to some customer service rep in India. She offered no apology, help, or refund. He was tired and disgusted and hung up. The next day he checked his e-mail confirmation and saw a delivery tracking link. Guess what? The flowers made it to UPS in Atlanta, but that's as far as they went because the box arrived damaged so UPS discarded the box! No phone call, no note, no nothing! Shame on you UPS and 1-800-flowers. I'm going to break one of my rules and say, "That sucks!"

Look, FREE Christian Music Downloads

2009-02-19T07:29:00.000-05:00

I just discovered this site. It's www.FreeCCM.com. It's a legal site where you can download "featured" Christian songs for free. Thanks to Fee for telling me about it. If you aren't familiar with Steve Fee's band, you should check them out. One of their songs, "Beautiful the Blood," is available for download. I downloaded all that they were offering, plus, I linked to Phil Wickam's blog and downloaded his entire live album, Singalong, for no cost. I LIKE FREE!

Not Worth the Price

2009-02-18T19:09:00.004-05:00

These hot beverages from McDonald's look good, don't they? When it's cold, I love a good cappuccino. My favorite upscale coffee place is Seattle's Best, Starbucks is my second choice. We don't have Seattle's Best in Atlanta anymore, except at the airport, so I have to settle for Starbucks. When I saw these tempting coffees from McD's, I thought I'd give their cappuccino a try. It was OK. Not bad for a gas station quality brew. But my biggest complaint is the cost. Why would I pay almost $3 to get a so-so cap from McD's when I can get the "real thing" from Starbucks for the same amount? I don't get it McD's. Lower your prices and you might sell more!

Surgeons send 'tweets' from operating room

2009-02-18T10:16:00.001-05:00

Saw this article from CNN and thought I'd share.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/02/17/twitter.surgery/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

The Real Deal

2009-02-16T19:58:00.004-05:00

I've got to talk up the "Real Deal" at Ted's Montana Grill. For $12 (in the Atlanta area) for lunch you get a choice of an appetizer, entree, and one of their famous cookies. For example, if you just order the grilled chicken salad, it's $12. So, what a deal to get an appetizer, salad, AND yummy cookie. I've eaten there before, but I didn't remember the portions being so large. We walked out of there stuffed. They have a similar deal for dinner for $15. You have to check the Ted's near you for what they're offering. Bad news for my Maryland pals--there aren't any Ted's in Maryland, yet.

Ted's is also eco-friendly. Their goal is to be 99% plastic-free. They re-introduced the paper straw (not produced in the United States since 1970). You can read more about their commitment to the environment by going to their Web site.

Can all that Twitters turn to gold amid the gloom?

2009-02-15T21:00:00.004-05:00

"Twitter Inc. has spawned a new way to communicate by limiting messages to 140 keystrokes. So here's a way to describe the Internet's latest craze within Twitter's space restrictions:

It's a potluck of pithy self-expression simmering with whimsy, narcissism, voyeurism, hucksterism, tedium and sometimes useful information.

One vital ingredient has been missing from the mix so far — revenue. That raises questions about whether the nearly 3-year-old service can make the leap from intriguing fad to sustainable business.

Twitter intends to start testing ways to make money this spring. And co-founder Evan Williams promises it won't drive away the more than 6 million people who have set up accounts on the unconventional communications network."

Click the link below to continue reading the Associated Press article.

Can all that Twitters turn to gold amid the gloom? from Associated Press

To Those of You Born 1930 - 1979

2009-02-15T14:57:00.002-05:00

I have a feeling this was written by a male, so I'll add my female perspective on some things in italics.

At the end is a quote of the month by Jay Leno. If you don't read anything else, please read what he said. Very well stated, Mr. Leno.

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-base paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had baseball caps not helmets on our heads. Us girls didn't wear caps, we just rode.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats , no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires, and sometimes no brakes.

Riding in the back of a pick-up truck on a warm day was always a special treat. Thanks Dad and Grandpa.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Although the garden hose tasted pretty gross. I'd just go inside and get a drink of water from the facet in a glass.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And, we weren't overweight. WHY?

Because we were always outside playing ... that's why!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. I had to be within shouting distance for my mom to call us back to the house.

No one was able to reach us all day. And, we were OK. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride them down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times,we learned to solve the problem. I think us girls played house and even made forts.

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 's and X-boxes. There were no video games, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet, and no chat rooms. WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. I do remember times of being bored and trying to think of something to do. I would usually go pest my brother at this point.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. I never at worms or dirt, just played in it. We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes. I did get a BB gun and loved it. Was a pretty good shot!

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. No Little League for girls back then. I guess we just joined the Girl Scouts.

Imagine that! The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! These Generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success, and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. If YOU are one of them? CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good .

While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were. My daughter still wouldn't get it.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?

~ The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:

"With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Memo to Worship Bands | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

2009-02-14T19:24:00.002-05:00

This is great article and oh so true!

Memo to Worship Bands | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

Posted using ShareThis

Curse Word Replacements

2009-02-14T06:00:00.003-05:00

I was just contemplating if using similar sounding words in place of curse words is acceptable for Christians. One that comes to mind is "freakin." I've heard a pastor say this during a sermon. (He wasn't preaching in a church, but an arena if that makes a difference.) It just didn't seem right. I've also heard it from the mouths of several 20 & 30-something-year-old Christians. Here's the catch, I don't have a problem saying "sugar" or "shoot." Maybe I'm being a bit hypocritical. If sugar or shot is OK, why not freakin? Are we lowering our standards? Are we compromising our testimony? How about using slang words? What about the phrase, "That really sucks?" I just can't bring myself to say it. Maybe I'm being too conservative and I'm not hip for today's standards. What do you think?

Look out iPhone

2009-02-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

I thought I might like an iPhone, but this phone just blows it away! (Thanks to one of my fellow Cedarville alums for this wonderful find.) It's the new Pomegranate phone.

I Have a New Love

2009-02-12T07:45:00.001-05:00

I owe my new love to Shane and Kelle. Yes, this hip couple got me hooked on Mexican food. I had a business meeting with them and they offered to order Mexican. I reluctantly agreed and ordered a cheese enchilada. (I still don't do refried beans.) To my amazement I loved it! Now I crave it! I also discovered Mexican cheese dip. Oh my! I had tried it a few years ago and heard people rave about how good queso is, but it didn't really taste that good to me. Now, for some reason, I love it! Let me clarify, the Mexican food I like is more Americanized. It's the kind you find at boutique Mexican restaurants. There's a great restaurant in my area, Pure Taqueria. The one we went to in midtown Atlanta was Taqueria del Sol. Yum! I highly recommend them.

Fads

2009-02-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

How do fads get started? Who decides what jeans are "in?" What shoes are "cool?" What hair styles are current? I wonder who came up with this design for a purse? I mean, who would have thought that giraffe print would be hot? I'm seeing these purses everywhere.

Dark Temptation

2009-02-11T21:07:00.002-05:00

Check out this commercial from Axe. My first time to see it was this weekend at the movies. The theater was packed with women and it seemed to evoke a variety of reactions.

The Emerging Church

2009-02-11T18:30:00.003-05:00

The other day at lunch with some friends the question of the Emergent Church came up. I couldn't really answer definitively what the Emergent Church is. I've "heard" some things about it. What I have heard tends to be negative, but I wanted to do my own research and not depend on what others are saying. Clearly, it's going to take more than a couple hours of reading to figure this church out. On their Web site, www.emergentvillage.com, I discovered some basics about this movement.

What does Emergent Village believe? According to their Web site they state: "We believe in God, beauty, future, and hope – but you won’t find a traditional statement of faith here. We don’t have a problem with faith, but with statements. Whereas statements of faith and doctrine have a tendency to stifle friendships, we hope to further conversation and action around the things of God.

"Our dream is to join in the activity of God in the world wherever we are able, partnering with God as God’s dreams for our world come true. In the process, the world can be healed and changed, and so can we."

They encourage "Cohorts" which are meetings with others to discuss theology. It seems they like to talk and "be friends." Apparently they also have churches, but the link to "find a church" wasn't working.

Nothing is said about the Bible. I don't know about you, but I base my Christian faith and beliefs on God's Word. His Word is truth, not what I believe or think about.