Hello, again!

Hi, folks!

Been awhile, ain't it?

Life has been just one fun thing after another.
I'm STILL looking for a job and the market, that I foolishly thought was opening up, has dried up like a grape in the sun.

Or maybe like a prune in the sun.
Either way, the market SUCKS!

My wife had total knee replacement surgery on the 8th of June. She is doing amazing. Walking 5-6 blocks and doing her exercises to stretch her muscles and prevent scar tissue. They don't give you a lot of hospital time now for this type of surgery. Motion and utilization of the joint have proven to be most effective for a good result.
She's been working hard at this and is making great progress. She has an almost normal gait and smooth leg motion. I am very, very proud of her.

So maybe the lack of a job is a benefit. I've been able to stay home and help. Though I'm not sure if I'm a help or a hindrance.

So, she's making great progress, and we're deluded into thinking that maybe things are moving along, and then POW, here we go.

My Mother-in-law (hereafter referred to as THE MOM) falls and shatters her left femur in three places! THE MOM is widowed and Becky is her primary care giver. THE MOM is 87 and, though very capable of self maintenance, does require a fairly large amount of supervision. So, she's now at DePaul hospital waiting to be stabilized so they can perform surgery on her leg.

So, I've got TWO down.

Damn if they aren't dropping like flies!

So, forgive my erratic postings.

Life just keeps getting in the way.

Twit or Twitterer?

Hey guys!

How's tricks?

As one who is searching the job market, I am trying to utilize all available tools to get my abilities out to potential employers. So, I Facebook, I blog (see here), and I Twitter.

I never realized how dangerous this technology can be.

According to gawker.com (also posted on Digg.com), a British man jogging to work ran into a tree while Twittering.

In an apparent poor attempt to multitask, James Coleman of Bristol, England, was posting his latest exploits on the way to work, and, damn, if he wasn't attacked by a low branch!
Gave the man quite a whack resulting in a black eye.

Didn't stop his posts, though.

Such dedication.
Makes me wanna work harder.

(see his posts@jamesacoleman)


photo courtesy:
daily telegraph

Swan Lake?

Hey, readers.

Happy Friday!

Just something to make ya laugh.

According to spiegel.de, a German man used a live swan to attack and beat up a tourist.

The attacker, who was apparently drunk at the time, took offense at the other man's East German accent. He and a friend grabbed the swan by the neck and began to beat the tourist. The victim escaped with minor injuries.

The swan flew away and appeared to be unhurt.

Other than wondering WTF was that!


Photo courtesy:
i1.treklens.com/photos/2878/angry-swan5.jpg

In Memorium

For our Service Men and Women.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

— Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)



Photo Courtesy:
www.peachmountain.com/5star/images_Others%5CR

Well, Blow Me Down!

Hey, folks.

Happy Friday!

Awhile back I wrote about how we, the people and the government, need to adopt or adapt new clean power generation ideas into our lives. I suggested that government buildings and lands could use available technology to help reduce our need on foreign oil for the production of electrical power. Wind farms, solar farms, etc.

An article in Metropolis Magazine shows a concept that follows this idea. A French design team has come up with prototype wind turbines that fit into existing electrical power towers. These turbines could produce sufficient energy to power between 1 and 20 homes, depending on wind speed.

This is the innovative thinking I was talking about. Utilizing existing sources (the towers) and adapting them to produce electricity. Minimal impact on the environment but with significant return to the populous.

Great idea!




Now, lets put it to work.


Photo Courtesy:
Metropolis Magazine

See Ma, I'm Lernin' !

Hey, folks.

As most of you know, I am a "freelance" graphic designer.
Meaning I am unemployed and looking for work.

So, I have a lot of time on my hands.

I try to utilize it in the most productive way by studying online and taking courses. And that's a good thing, considering how rapidly tech changes and new innovations are brought to the market.

So, I thought I would share some of my sources with my readers.

Of course there are the social networks, LinkedIn, Facebook,Twitter, etc. These sites may not at first seem like training tools. But conversations between your friends and posts by people can introduce you to new ideas and new sites to examine. Great way to keep up with what's hot in the world.

I'm a big fan of Digg and StumbleUpon for news and miscellaneous information. These are great resources for the stories that I pass on here on my blog. They stay tight and provide the reader with lots of sources for photos, news, and oddities of interest.

But right now the best pure training tool I'm using is O'Reilly Media (www.oreilly.com). A publishing company, O'Reilly makes FREE web seminars (www.oreilly.com/webcasts) available to it's readers. These are usually a one hour web broadcast on a particular subject. I've taken classes on geo-locating for your website, public speaking and how to engage your audience, and utilization of social media sites to optimize your companies exposure.
As you take these courses, O'Reilly Media begins to see your interests and then e-mails you when similar subjects come up for study. That way you get the latest and greatest ideas.

Of course, you can go to the website and find other subjects being taught that are outside your normal track. They also sell books and publications on these subjects and sometimes offer discounts if you took the related webinar.

And did I mention that these courses are FREE?

I love the price!


Image Courtesy:
www.toothpastefordinner.com/032007/the-comput

The Uniform Does NOT Make the Man!

Hey.

God Bless the American Soldier.

When called upon to do his duty, he will comply no matter the time, place, or clothing.

Spc. Zack Boyd, 19, was asleep when his base fell under attack. Slipping on body armor and his helmet, he manned his position to assist in repelling the attackers, even while wearing I Love NY boxers and a red t-shirt!

A soldier doing his duty.

Photo courtesy:
AP