Ficlets is on BoingBoing today.\
Just found out, sitting in the airport, about ready to board. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face right now even if you punched me in the nads (not that you should try, you shouldn’t).
Happy pi day, everyone!\
Kevin comes home today- yay!\
I have an appointment at Max’s school today and I’ve got my game face on. Wish me luck! Super big thanks to Auntie M for pointing me in the right direction.
Cleaning up is fun to do.
20×2 is a tradition where 20 people are given 2 minutes to present their answer to the same hypothetical question. This year’s question was, “What if…” Kevin decided to do his on “What if Max were in charge?” Hee. Check out the video to the left. I heard someone did hers on “What if the internet didn’t exist?” My initial response: oh the horror! ’80s flashbacks with the hair and the leg warmers. Arrrrggk. I am looking forward to Kevin’s recap. Aren’t you?\
Kevin’s birthday is coming up. What should I get him?\
Auntie M wanted to know why, when, how I am going to Paris. Here’s the explanation: Kevin was asked to speak at a conference there in May. I decided to tag along. My mom even agreed to watch the kids. YAY!\
I have a meeting with Max’s new principal tomorrow. I am really tired of the run around I have been getting from the school, the district office, my dr’s office. Even the phone book and internet haven’t been useful. Grrr.\
In slightly similar news, Anne typed in a two paragraph’s of Max’s favorite reading material, The New Scientist, into a website that can determine its reading level. One paragraph came in at 9.5 (half way through first year of high school) and another came in at 15.3 (part way through third year of college). Cool, huh? Not sure how much Max actually understands since we don’t read the magazine too, but he talks about the articles a lot like he understands them. Max also enjoys reading kiddie books too, like James and the Giant Peach, so he’s fairly well-rounded. He is even starting to get into the world culture books Nana bought him.
20×2 7.0: What If?
20×2 was tonight, and I was #8 in the lineup. Max and I created the movie below, and it was shown tonight… the “world premiere” if you will. Here is it, if you want to check it out. I was thrilled that people laughed in the right spots, and it got some big applause afterwards.\
A huge thank you to the star of the movie, Max, for sitting through my silly questions and giving such thoughful answers. I’ll try to put together an outtake package of the stuff that was funny but didn’t quite fit into the 2 minutes. But, right now, it’s sleepytime!\
<embed src=”http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=153002″ quality=”best” scale=”exactfit” width=”400″ height=”300″ type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”></embed>
<br />
<a href=”http://www.vimeo.com/clip:153002″>20×2 2007: What If We Put Max in Charge?</a> on <a href=”http://www.vimeo.com/”>Vimeo</a>
Speechless: Injured soldiers being sent to Iraq.
Ugh
Booooooooo to Daylight Savings. The sun isn’t even up yet.
The Jaywalking Hokey Pokey
I went to dinner last night with some folks from the Ghost in the Machine panel and some of my favorite south-by pals. Kevin Smokler convince a bunch of loons into doing the Hokey Pokey in the median of South Congress. I, being a rational human being aware of his own mortality, did not. But, that didn’t stop me from filming it:\
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the Flash Player</a> to see this player.</p>
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Ghost in the Machine: Spirituality Online
Today is panel number one for me at SxSW. I just got back from lunch with the panelists, and I have to say, this panel is going to be a lot of fun. I feel a little out of place, but I’m honored that James asked me to join in the fun. The panel is hopefully going to be led somewhat by the audience, but we’re probably going to talk about how being online and talking about religion has impacted our lives and our faith, and how online community both helps and hurts. It should be an interesting discussion, and one that hasn’t really taken place as SxSW before.\
I hope to be able to contribute something. James and I are both “generalists” on our blogs. We talk about whatever strikes our fancy. The other folks on our panel: Rachel, Hussein, and Gordon are all pretty specific in their subject matter. I think there’s an interesting discussion in how we use our blogs to discuss religion, and how our blogs have changed how our friends and families interact with us, and how we interact with your faiths. We’ll see what happens.\
Whatever happens, lunch was a special experience. We had six people (Gordon’s wife joined us) around a table sharing a meal, and discussing their faiths without judgement, with interest is what each other had to say and how each other related to their faiths and the “real” world. It was a lot of fun. If that same spirit carries on in the panel, we’re in for a treat. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.\
Today at 5 in 9C (or 9-something… I don’t remember).
Kevin Smokler and Dave Thomas Under Pressure
I stayed up way too late last night having fun with my SxSW pals Kevin Smokler, Dave Thomas and James McNally. I ended up driving us around to Bryan Busch’s SxSW Karaoke Kick-Off (not the real title, but close). I didn’t plan on singing anything, but I ended up doing a duet with MD of TMBG’s Don’t Lets Start, and with Dave on Shock the Monkey. The song of the night though, was Kevin and Dave’s version of Queen’s classic Under Pressure. I didn’t get the whole thing, but here’s the last minute:\
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the Flash Player</a> to see this player.</p>
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UFO.create(FO,”MVI_0450_480×360.flv”);
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I think you’ll agree, it’s superior to the original is almost every way.
Quickie Update
Kevin is off for SXSWi. Every year he claims it’s a work thing and every year I swear it is “Geek Spring Break.” I have planned lots of projects around the house and fun activities to do while he is gone. Instead though, I think I will hit the store for some bonbons and lie around watching the Pussycat Dolls reality show. How many of you watched it? Come on, be honest!\
How many of you are mad at me because you can’t find orange Cadbury cream eggs at your local supermarket? I wasn’t just trying to tease you. Promise. I can’t find them at my regular store either. Poo! We were out running errands on Saturday when we ducked into a store for something quick and that is where I found them. So no orange cream eggs for me.\
Brian is a delayed speaker. He only recently started really talking. Here are some of his unique pronunciations, saved for posterity:\
Airplane= Sissy. I don’t know why. It was one of his first words.\
Thank You= Go. Yes is also Go, even though he can say “yes.” Can only tell meaning by context.\
Triangle= Up and down and around. Cuz that is how you draw them, duh.\
Rocket= Rocky. At least he’s close with this one.\
Maxi= Batty. Kevin likes to joke that he is saying “butt.” Max isn’t amused.\
Muffin= Frossies. Again, I have no idea why.\
Seep= See. Wow, he almost gets this one right too!\
He still says a bunch of words we don’t understand, but he has come along way in the last 3 months. YAY!