Any one need any Sharpies? I've just bought handfuls thinking they were a sound investment for my new hobby...
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Crafty Failure
Any one need any Sharpies? I've just bought handfuls thinking they were a sound investment for my new hobby...
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Snow Day Bust
Based on every news report yesterday, we were in for quite a storm. I had visions of a nice relaxing snowday home and warm. At 3:30 this morning when I woke up and it was raining, I was slightly grumpy. But I had high hopes, that if I made the trek into work, which was to be quite easy since every school system and all government agencies closed, that I would at least have a half day since it was going to start snowing mid-morning. Unfortunately, that was never to be. Because it NEVER started snowing. There were a few flakes here and there but zippo snow laid and I still worked a full day. Epic fail!
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Travel Tech
I will admit to often being behind the times in terms of technology. I can usually figure things out eventually, but I'm not often quick on the uptake. Exhibit A: I've just realized the awesomeness of Twitter. I'm still slightly skeptical that people care what we are all doing 24/7. However, I'm in love with its other uses.
It's now possible to follow cities, and whole countries on Twitter. How amazing is that? I've been following Scotland, Great Britain, and Edinburgh. Each day, they post pictures of beautiful places and ideas for trip destinations. After just a few weeks, my trip to GBR in the fall has gotten quite busy. Following the Frugal Traveler and Guardian Travel is also really helpful for getting the goods on travel deals and tips and tricks.
It's sometimes seriously fabulous to live in the 21st century. I can't imagine trying to plan a trip without the countless resources I've found online. Of course, there is a downside. I'm just a little, ok WAY, too excited by what I'm seeing, so the wait is slightly killing me!
It's now possible to follow cities, and whole countries on Twitter. How amazing is that? I've been following Scotland, Great Britain, and Edinburgh. Each day, they post pictures of beautiful places and ideas for trip destinations. After just a few weeks, my trip to GBR in the fall has gotten quite busy. Following the Frugal Traveler and Guardian Travel is also really helpful for getting the goods on travel deals and tips and tricks.
It's sometimes seriously fabulous to live in the 21st century. I can't imagine trying to plan a trip without the countless resources I've found online. Of course, there is a downside. I'm just a little, ok WAY, too excited by what I'm seeing, so the wait is slightly killing me!
Monday, March 4, 2013
Extra, Extra, Read All About It!
~Joe Flacco signed this week for 120 million dollars over the next 6 years. While I'm happy the Ravens kept him, I have a whole list of reasons why this is incredibly wrong. He's not worth that much money. More to the point, no one is worth that much money. It's obscene that a 28 year old is earning so much for doing no more than throwing a football while others his age are fighting for our country. Also, I think it was greedy to hold out for that much money. The NFL has a cap, and since the Ravens are now paying Flacco so much, they're in danger of not being able to afford some pretty amazing players. What good is this "elite" QB if he has no one to throw the ball to?
~The highest ranking Cardinal in the Archdiocese of Scotland has resigned and has admitted to unfortunate conduct. I'm happy that this has finally come to light, and he's being held accountable. However, how can something like this go on for so long without the church becoming suspicious? What's amazing is the amount of writers that are attacking the priests that tipped the Vatican off to the behavior. These men were preyed on by this Cardinal and they're the ones that are being abused by the press. Thank goodness their names are being withheld. I'm not sure much will change under a new pope, but I think the Vatican is finally realizing that something must be done. There are far too many coverups and far too many people being hurt.
~The UK pound has fallen below $1.50 for the first time in years. While this is not a good sign for their economy, it's quite a positive sign for my trip there this fall. I may just have to exchange some dollars for pounds now while the getting is good.
~Maryland may receive "significant" snowfall on Wednesday of this week. I'm usually all for snow but seriously, it's March! I'm done with the winter doldrums. I need sunshine and birds chirping and flowers blooming, not salt trucks, wind gusts and shoveling.
~And finally some good news (although, I suppose if you're Joe Flacco, you've already had your good news...) a Mississippi toddler has apparently been cured of HIV 2 years after she was born with the disease. I'm not sure the specifics, but how unbelievable is that?! What a win! These are the types of projects $120 million should be thrown at. A few more million for researchers could mean the discovery of a the cure for HIV/AIDS. Isn't that a little more impressive (and not to mention needed) than a perfect spiral?
~The highest ranking Cardinal in the Archdiocese of Scotland has resigned and has admitted to unfortunate conduct. I'm happy that this has finally come to light, and he's being held accountable. However, how can something like this go on for so long without the church becoming suspicious? What's amazing is the amount of writers that are attacking the priests that tipped the Vatican off to the behavior. These men were preyed on by this Cardinal and they're the ones that are being abused by the press. Thank goodness their names are being withheld. I'm not sure much will change under a new pope, but I think the Vatican is finally realizing that something must be done. There are far too many coverups and far too many people being hurt.
~The UK pound has fallen below $1.50 for the first time in years. While this is not a good sign for their economy, it's quite a positive sign for my trip there this fall. I may just have to exchange some dollars for pounds now while the getting is good.
~Maryland may receive "significant" snowfall on Wednesday of this week. I'm usually all for snow but seriously, it's March! I'm done with the winter doldrums. I need sunshine and birds chirping and flowers blooming, not salt trucks, wind gusts and shoveling.
~And finally some good news (although, I suppose if you're Joe Flacco, you've already had your good news...) a Mississippi toddler has apparently been cured of HIV 2 years after she was born with the disease. I'm not sure the specifics, but how unbelievable is that?! What a win! These are the types of projects $120 million should be thrown at. A few more million for researchers could mean the discovery of a the cure for HIV/AIDS. Isn't that a little more impressive (and not to mention needed) than a perfect spiral?
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Feeling Crafty
I found this (3 & 5 on the list) a few months ago on Pinterest and really wanted to give them a try. I thought they'd make perfect Christmas gifts but as you can see that didn't quite work out. I think I was mostly skeptical that it wouldn't work. Drawing on ceramic with a marker and hoping it wouldn't rub off seemed unlikely, not to mention throwing dollar store mugs in the oven and hoping they wouldn't explode into a million pieces seemed risky. Well, apparently I was wrong and they worked perfectly. Too cute even with my very limited free-hand abilities!
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Boggles the Mind
I'm sure everyone has those things that they will never quite comprehend. These are the things that make my head hurt each time I try to contemplate them. I'm sure there are loads more but these are the ones that I've run into just this week...
1. 3D printing: While very cool, the complexities are way over my head. How do you scan something? How do you "fill" it with "ink"? Why would one need to 3D print something? Then it gets even crazier and more confusing when they start discussing cell printing to print organs...
2. Stocks: I've never been able to comprehend the stock market or stocks, or what a stock broker even does besides drink lots of coffee and scream on the phone a lot (that is if bad 90s movies are to be believed). I've tried. I've googled and listened but have never quite understood how people make ore lose money on them and what makes the Nasdaq and those other crazy stock-ish things go up and down each day.
3. Flight tables: How is a flight leaving from Baltimore, flying to London with a layover in Houston, economical? Also, how is a flight with 3 stops more expensive than a straight one?
4. How is Great Britain, so much better with keeping a lid on things than we are? It seems the Brits are much better at keeping low profiles. I read a casting notice on a new show just this week. It was due to start filming that day and they were just announcing the big stars. If that was here, I'm sure we would have heard about it months and months ago. This goes for salaries as well. Here we all seem to know how much each person makes for starring in a movie or running the country. But I haven't the foggiest how much their politicians and actors make which just seems much more seemly somehow.
5. How are teachers, servicemen and women, and charity workers paid significantly less than those that can throw a football or hit a baseball?
1. 3D printing: While very cool, the complexities are way over my head. How do you scan something? How do you "fill" it with "ink"? Why would one need to 3D print something? Then it gets even crazier and more confusing when they start discussing cell printing to print organs...
2. Stocks: I've never been able to comprehend the stock market or stocks, or what a stock broker even does besides drink lots of coffee and scream on the phone a lot (that is if bad 90s movies are to be believed). I've tried. I've googled and listened but have never quite understood how people make ore lose money on them and what makes the Nasdaq and those other crazy stock-ish things go up and down each day.
3. Flight tables: How is a flight leaving from Baltimore, flying to London with a layover in Houston, economical? Also, how is a flight with 3 stops more expensive than a straight one?
4. How is Great Britain, so much better with keeping a lid on things than we are? It seems the Brits are much better at keeping low profiles. I read a casting notice on a new show just this week. It was due to start filming that day and they were just announcing the big stars. If that was here, I'm sure we would have heard about it months and months ago. This goes for salaries as well. Here we all seem to know how much each person makes for starring in a movie or running the country. But I haven't the foggiest how much their politicians and actors make which just seems much more seemly somehow.
5. How are teachers, servicemen and women, and charity workers paid significantly less than those that can throw a football or hit a baseball?
Friday, March 1, 2013
Friday Five
1. "Behind Photographs": This is a new project by Tim Mantoani that I originally read about on BuzzFeed (that darn site, while ridiculous, is addictive). He's photographing photographers with their most famous works. The photos are beautiful and it's such a clever idea. How often do you get to see the creatives behind the camera?
2. Red Nose Day 2013: In my dream world; the one where I'm living in Notting Hill with my Scottish husband and our twin cuties, I work for this fabulous charity as Director of Learning and Development (my dreams are nothing if not specific). I love their motto (Do something funny for money!). I love the work they do. I love the people involved. And I love how they seem to get everyone in Britain involved. It's truly awesome work for a really important cause.
3. Edinburgh Spotlight on Twitter: They post lots of beautiful pics of the city which are making me more and more excited about my trip.
4. This article (I use the word "article" loosely...) from BuzzFeed (I told you I was slightly addicted) on the difference between college and grad school. I promise you that the undergrad stuff wasn't me but the grad school stuff most definitely was. And the addition of David Tennant as the Doctor to illustrate the point, makes it that much funnier : )
5. Codeacademy: I've decided that since I work in and among the brainy peeps who discuss all types of high-level computery stuff that makes no sense to me whatsoever, I should probably at least give learning a few things a try. This site teaches you how to code for free using exercises. I haven't gotten too far yet, but I'm liking it.
2. Red Nose Day 2013: In my dream world; the one where I'm living in Notting Hill with my Scottish husband and our twin cuties, I work for this fabulous charity as Director of Learning and Development (my dreams are nothing if not specific). I love their motto (Do something funny for money!). I love the work they do. I love the people involved. And I love how they seem to get everyone in Britain involved. It's truly awesome work for a really important cause.
3. Edinburgh Spotlight on Twitter: They post lots of beautiful pics of the city which are making me more and more excited about my trip.
4. This article (I use the word "article" loosely...) from BuzzFeed (I told you I was slightly addicted) on the difference between college and grad school. I promise you that the undergrad stuff wasn't me but the grad school stuff most definitely was. And the addition of David Tennant as the Doctor to illustrate the point, makes it that much funnier : )
5. Codeacademy: I've decided that since I work in and among the brainy peeps who discuss all types of high-level computery stuff that makes no sense to me whatsoever, I should probably at least give learning a few things a try. This site teaches you how to code for free using exercises. I haven't gotten too far yet, but I'm liking it.
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