π

To some, π is a mathmatical constant whose value is a ratio of any circle's circumference to it's diameter in the Euclidian plane.

To others, π is an irrational number.

I suppose I lean toward the latter definition: I agree that π is irrational, just like my desire for it.

Vegas, baby!

I am excited.

Jamie and I are going to be in Las Vegas soon for our 7th anniversary. This is going to be our first extended trip since the girls were born. Bo, Anna, and Clara will spend a few days with Grandma and Grandpa getting spoiled in all sorts of ways that will take weeks to undo. And you know what? I'm ok with that.

Because...it's VEGAS, baby!

Jamie and I are not big gamblers. We will probably budget about $100 total for the few days we are there. We are more looking forward to checking out the great food and some of the shows. We have tickets to Cirque du Soleil's "O" and dinner reservations for Valentine's Day at Tom Colicchio's Craftsteak restaurant. Jamie is functioning as my tour guide by researching fun activities. She even managed to save us $400 on our stay by calling the hotel yesterday to ask for a better rate. Have I mentioned that I LOVE my wife??

Mr. Words

I received a nice compliment from my boss a few months ago. She started calling me "Mr. Words". I take a lot of pride in this informal title; I'll explain.

A large part of my job is effective communication - responding to emails, giving speeches, and talking with employees and the public. I must communicate clearly with everyone to make certain our office runs smoothly. I believe a large part of effective communication is understanding how spoken and written words will emotionally affect the reader or listener.

It is all well and good to simply state facts while communicating but if the person reading/hearing the words perceives them to be gruff or hostile they will not accept the message they contain. Writing for the reader is a skill to be developed.

I believe I have developed a professional communication style that makes people want to agree with me. My boss must agree; she often asks me to respond to office email and issue notices to the staff. Nice, huh? Mr. Words, indeed.

Wordless Wednesday

Behind the Bear

Bo has been watching "Letter Factory", made by Leapfrog, virtually every evening. He is able to identify all letters in the alphabet and state the sound made by each letter. I think that is very impressive for being just two years old.

Jamie and I decided he was ready for the next step. We purchased a new DVD called "Talking Words Factory", also made by Leapfrog, for Bo. He was thrilled.

The problem was that he wanted to watch the new video as soon as we got home. We try hard not to let him watch television until after dinnertime as that is all he wants to do from that point forward. Yesterday he was being really horrible. Tantrum-city. He REALLY wanted to watch the new video.

I wasn't having any of that. I told him he could watch it after dinner and tried to take the video away from him. He freaked out on me, pulled the DVD from my hand, and ran into his room. He came out again about 30 seconds later without the DVD. I decided to let the matter wait; I could always go and retrieve it after he calmed down.

We made dinner and ate. Bo was being his usual good self once more. I had promised, however, to let him watch the DVD after dinner. As dinner was winding down I decided to go get the DVD. I walked into his room, expecting to see the video laying somewhere about. Not so. I started looking in some non-obvious spots; on his bookshelf, in his crib, in his toddler bed. Nothing. Nada.

I walked back into the kitchen and asked Bo if her knew where his new movie was.

Bo: "Uh-huh."

Dad: "Where is it?"

Bo: "By Bear."

Dad: "The DVD is by your bear?" Bo has a bear-shaped chair.

Bo: "Uh-huh."

So I walked back into his room and looked behind the chair. Viola! Movie.

My son has learned to hide things. Lovely.

Wordless Wednesday

Satire

Sarah Palin is BRILLIANT.

That is the only possible explaination for her recent bull-run through the news. A few days ago we were treated to the public outing of Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanual calling progressives who were opposed to conservative Democrats "retards." Sarah Palin jumped on that daisy as quick as she could skin a grizzly bear, calling his words "indecent," "sick" and "offensive." Her task was slightly complicated by Rush Limbaugh using the same word unapologetically a couple days later. Limbaugh, stated Palin, was merely "using satire."

That is why the above picture, courtesy of Daniel Kurtzman, is so brilliant. The 2008 vice- presidential hopeful, seen here speaking to a Tea Party convention, had the foresight to indirectly mock President Obama's use of teleprompters. What better way to bring attention to the important teleprompter issue plaguing the United States than by going low-tech during the speech to highlight that way good Republicans would handle things if they were in charge.

Just imagine the Hocky-Mom-From-Wasilla turned President-of-the-United-States speaking with world leaders at a summit. Better yet, imagine how motivated Iranian President Ahmadinejad would be to denuclearize.

"Mr. Ahmadinejad, in Alaska we have a saying..."

/dramatic pause, trying to peek at the notes written on her hand

"...anyone who seeks nuclear weapons is a retard. Meant satirically, of course!"