MindlessChatter

Sometimes I forget that small generational gaps between two individuals can lead to totally different childhood experiences. Sure there are cultural and economic differences but some experiences are fairly universal during childhood.  Kids movies fore example; most people my age got to experience the same 80's animation that I was exposed to and we can bond over favorite scenes or quotes. My coworker (Princess McFuzzy Britches*) showed me a pictures of a rock formation, presumably something that she wants to climb.  My first response was: "That looks like Little Foot's mom".  To which see replied "…."  The following exchange then took place: Me: Littlefoot? R: … Me: Tree stars? R: Um…. Me: You're telling me that you have never heard of The Land Before Time? R: What year did it come out? Me: '88ish R: Ah, I was going to concerts during that time. Me: But that means that you never got to experience the sadness that this movie generated. R: Isn't it...

So, I have been doing a bit of research on Common Core Math and how upset people are getting at the idea of changing the way that these kids are being taught basic mathematics. I will admit, I watched a couple of videos of people opposed to 'common core' ideas and was leaning to their viewpoint, until I realized that they were teaching kids to do math the way I have always done it: simplify the problem. Common Core Math Explained Horribly.. The example that is given, in the video I watched, is a slightly confusing way to obtain an answer for a basic math problem. They take a problem like 32-20=x and, without explaining the steps involved and what the steps involved are asking you to do, they come up with an answer like this: 12+3=15 15+5=20 20+10=30 30+2=32 And then, instead of telling you why, or making clear the principle behind the numbers, they simply tell you to take the middle row and add them up.  So: 3 + 5=8 +10=18 +2=20 And, low and...

I have come to realize that I am a Disney fanboy. I love the history behind Disney, the parks, the movies, the innovation, and the music.  Sure, I'm an "adult" male over 30 who uses his kids as an excuse to go see the latest Disney flick in the theater but I take no shame in admitting that I love just about every major release.  The storylines can be cliché, predictable, and according to some carry questionable themes but I still enjoy the ride.  I've even gotten to the point where I watch a movie just for to hear the music.  This habit is great on long car trip where I don't need the visuals to experience the movie.  I just let it play and let my mind fill in the visuals based on the audio alone.  Recently I've been hooked on the soundtrack to Frozen and have been walking around the house singing "Do you want to build a snowman?" Much to my wife's chagrin.  I've been known to look for covers of various songs just to see what I ca...

There is a new-ish addition to some theme park rides that takes the boredom away from sitting a ride out. The large raft rides that are popular at many theme parks are now accompanied by water cannons strategically placed along the raft route.  Now the younger sibling that are on the smaller side of tiny have the ability to get in on the action without the need to meet the height requirement, soaking the unsuspecting riders with a blast of chilly water; all for the price of a single quarter.  More often than not, parents are found at these lovely machines eagerly waiting to dish out some payback.  I've sat back and watched a few of these over eager parents and they all have the same first experience. Gleefully jamming a quarter into the water cannon, hands hovering over the button, eyes straining to get a glimpse of the telltale black hoodie indicating that my child is in the boat that just plummeted down the ramp, frustration felt after the realization that the boa...

I often find my self at the computer late at night, unable to sleep wandering thought the endless corners of the internet.  Now it may be the number of martinis consumed but I found this incredibly amusing. So much so, that I just about fell out my seat laughing.   Inappropriate? Yes. Funny? Yes.  Safe for work? Yes as Long as you don't try to explain it....

As most internet hours ultimately conclude, I am lost. Google, Wikipedia, an occasional glance at an online thesaurus or dictionary, forums, blogs, Wiki again, 'googling' a wiki link talking about a blog, back to a dictionary or thesaurus, etc. has often made me upset at the world and the general misuse of seemingly generic words. I do not pretend to be some great smithy of words but I do believe that we need to start correcting people on the small stuff. I understand how, in a world full of short communications, text messages, and character limitations, be it Twitter or moral quality, we can lose meaning and miss inflection of simple phrases, but our childrens' children will suffer, or at least we will suffer having to listen to them. This is what started it today: http://xkcd.com/1272/ What I ended up finding was definitely in my wheelhouse: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/22-everyday-words-you-might-not-realize-youve-been-using-incorrectly/ It led me to the wor...

Growing up in with my family had many advantages. One of the most valuable (at least in my opinion) is the sense of humor that each of us inherited and thrived upon.  Our parents (mainly Dad) wouldn't hesitate to poke fun at us, especially at stupid things we did.  It was all done in jest and he made sure to tell us that it was all in good humor and that no malice was intended; plus Mom would always follow up with some form of "we love you just the way you are, but that was really funny" making sure that we didn’t feel ostracized. Because of this profound upbringing we have all developed a sense of humor that allows us to laugh at our own faults, traits, and/or actions.  We can be kind of relentless towards each other, always with a smile and always with the intent to make the other laugh.  This can backfire.  I distinctly remember a time when we (I think just the four guys) were at a restaurant.  As usual jokes were flying back and forth and we were h...