Sat Pic of the Day: Taxation...

I know it's difficult to read, but the picture is meant to show you the motto on a Washington, DC license plate.

The motto reads, "Taxation Without Representation."

It always perplexes me when I read this because you would figure DC would want to place something positive on their license plate. Something for District citizens to rally around. Maybe something similar to New Hampshire's motto, which is, "Live Free or Die."

The New Hampshire motto highlights something the state takes pride in - they are a free people.

Do the citizens of DC take pride in the fact that they are taxed, but don't have a representative in the federal government? I wouldn't take pride in that.

Thu Pic of the Day: A Long Walk to the Top

Use the picture as a metaphore for your life, career, or both. Niether is easy, and it is indeed a long walk to the top. Good luck.

Tue Pic of the Day: Airblade

File this under: "Things That Work"

Okay, I guess I do go around taking pictures in restrooms. This is the Dyson Airblade hand dryer, and it's awesome.

Not sure about you, but when I go into a public restroom and see a hand dryer, and no paper towel option, I get a little annoyed.

What happens is you wash your hands, stand there for a couple minutes rubbing them together under the "dryer," only to walk away with wet hands.

Forget about it if it's a busy restroom; you'll wait for days to dry your hands. Everyone stands around holding their hands up like a surgeon who just scrubbed in, dripping water all over the floor, waiting for a dryer to open up.

Not with the Airblade. This thing rocks. It actually works as advertised. Still not as fast as the good old paper towel, but a giant leap forward from the tired, old-school hand dryer, and kind of fun to use.

I'm not a Dyson vacuum cleaner owner (I have an Oreck), but I know people who swear by their design. If Dyson's vacuums work like the Airblade, then Kudos to Dyson for their design and functionality engineering.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Sat Pic of the Day: Wendy

This cute little birdie's name is Wendy. Wendy occupies a nondescript perch in a corner, overwatching the room of a four year old little girl. You have to look hard to see Wendy, but when you find her you never forget she's there. In fact, I find myself looking for Wendy whenever I'm in the room.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Thu Pic of the Day: Passing Train

I spend a lot of time in train stations traveling here to there. I'm always mesmerized by a passing train. Not sure why because it's somewhat violent - it's loud and makes the ground shake. But there is something about a passing train that draws me in.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Tue Pic of the Day: Red Box

Have you ever seen these big, clunky, red boxes parked outside of retail stores? I've walked by them and wondered why anyone would want to rent a movie from them.

Well, a little birdy told me that it was an easy and practical way to rent movies, so today I rented my first movie from Red Box.

It was easy, and best of all the movie was only a dollar (as long as you return it by 9:00 pm the following night).

The way it works is you select a movie, swipe your credit card, plug in an email address (optional), and, just as if you bought a candy bar from a vending machine, out pops your movie. When you're done with the movie, you take back to ANY Red Box.

I've been a Netflix user for years, but I'm reconsidering that subscription because I have a Red Box five minutes from my house.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Sat Pic of the Day: WC

I spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon and evening in NYC and ate dinner at a great restaurant called Recipe. Recipe is one of those retaurants that is about the size of a closet - it has about five or six tables.

The above picture is from the bathroom at Recipe. I usually don't go around taking pictures in bathrooms, but that sink set-up kind of confused me, so, in the spirit of Random Thoughts, I thought I would share it with you.

My question for you: What do you think that white thing is? Here's a hint: While you're trying to figure out what it is, keep your thoughts clean because the white thing will help keep you clean. Any ideas?

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Thu Pic of the Day: "Inanimate" Object

Any idea what this is? No, it's not a planet, but after a few repetitions it feels as heavy as one.

It's my home-made medecine ball. It's a basketball filled with twenty pounds of sand and wrapped with duct tape.

If you've resolved to get into shape this year, make yourself a medecine ball and do some Wall Ball Shots.

While it's an inanimate object, do enough work with it, and other exercises, and it just might give you a little more life. But I guarantee you'll come to love and hate "fellowship" time with your medecine ball and Wall Ball Shots.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Tue Pic of the Day: 3D

1/7/2010

UPDATE 2:

Avatar Steers Filmdom Toward a New, 3D World

1/6/2010
UPDATE: Found these related articles while reading today

2010 could be the year for 3D with 3-dimensional at-home TV

ESPN 3D to Show Soccer, Football, More

1/5/2010

I'm still not sold on the 3D movie resurgence. I'm not so sure the technology is much better then when I saw Jaws 3 in 3D... I've seen quite a few 3D movies this past year, most recently Avatar, and I feel robbed when I walk out. There are a handful of scenes in each movie that showcase the technology, but when I'm paying $13.50 I want more than that.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Sat Pic of the Day: Creepy Advertising

I spent last weekend in San Antonio; went there to watch Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. While wandering around downtown near the River Walk, I saw this window display, which was actually an advertisement for a steak house. This thing creeped me out. Luckily the place was closed, and I can't help but think it was closed because they did a creepy/crappy job of advertising. Would you eat at a place that had a window display like this?

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Happy New Year and Thu Pic of the Day

Happy New Year to everyone.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Tue Pic of the Day: Winter Fun

Can it get any better? A little snow. A nice hill. A couple sleds. Warm jackets, snow pants, hats, and gloves. A trip to "old McDonald's" for lunch, followed by a matinee showing of Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Weekly Roundup: Dec 20-26

Blog Posts:

True Friends

Merry Christmas

Notecard Art:

The Museum

Pictures of the Day:

At the Movies

Light Kicks

The Specimen

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Related Random Thoughts

Weekly Roundup: Dec 13-19

Sat Pic of the Day: The Specimen

So, when was the last time you had pickled bologna, if ever? It doesn't look bad cut up on a plate, but if you saw it in the jar, you might rethink eating it. I will tell you, though, Ritz Crackers, pickled bologna, and Cheez Whiz make a pretty tasty hors d'oeuvre.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Thu Pic of the Day: Light Kicks

Lights in boots and shoes is a great idea, but I wish someone would make them for adults, too. I'd buy a pair.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Tue Pic of the Day: At the Movies

Going to see a movie in a theater is the only way I have found to completely forget about everything. When I'm watching a movie, anything going on outside that theater disappears for a couple hours. My mind clears and I focus on the story being told on the screen. It's a great thing.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Saturday Pic of the Day: The De-Icer

This picture was taken looking out the window of an airplane at Reagan Airport in DC. The view was comforting and unnerving. Comforting to know they were getting the ice off the plane. Unnerving to know there was ice on the plane in the first place.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Pic of the Day: Entertainment Center

I don't subscribe to tv cable service any more. This is how I watch tv and movies now.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Pic of the Day: Mr. Postman

I walk out to this mailbox most days to check my mail. I say most days because I get so little mail anymore it's not worth it to check every day. How about you? With the exception of Victoria's Secret catalogues and junk mail, do you get much mail these days?

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.

Pic of the Day: Barber Shop

Given my line of work, I get a weekly haircut. For me, Thursday's are haircut days. I love a good haircut. There's just something about sitting in that chair, closing your eyes, and being pampered for twenty minutes.

Don't forget to sign up for Random Thoughts updates via email in the right margin.