I’ve made a grave error with my photogallery and it’s down for the time being.
I will need some time to undo what I’ve done up. I didn’t lose pictures, just the database that runs everything.

We had Chinese tonight. Yum. I just finished a hearty portion of deluxe fried rice and made a pass throught the kitchen to swipe my fortune cookie off of the counter. I half expected that a catchy phrase written on a tiny piece of paper would be inspiring, comical, introspective or at the very least teach me a new word in Chinese. Something blog-worthy no doubt. I sat down at my desk, ripped open the cellophane wrapper and sat back anticipating the wisdom of the orient, all wrapped up in a bland flour-water-sugar concoction and hardened to perfection.

What does it mean when there is no fortune in your cookie?

Don’t answer that.

It’s true. I looked down at the broken halves of cardboard like crunchety in my hand with no sliver of paper in sight. No lucky numbers and no way of knowing that Suan-Cai means “Pickle”.

My wife, having stepped into the room and who was now reading over my shoulder, GASPED!

“What!? No fortune??” She looked at me with wide-eyed terror and tried to console me with a deep sigh (as if I might vanish into thin air with a subtle “poof”). But with the eternal optimism of a glass half full, she quickly chirped:

“We have extras in the kitchen! I’m going to bed, good-night!”

As I finish pecking out these last few words, I notice a wrapper by my arm. This one unopened. Mz.D has silently left me another fortune cookie.

Radio Flyer. The hallmark of childhood memories. Since 1917 Radio Flyer has been manufacturing mobility for thousands of little people. If you haven’t been to their website, you should check it out. You might find a memory or two

Mason acquired one of these four-wheeled, crimson beauties for Christmas his birthday. It’s called the “pathfinder“. It’s a two seater. Double panels fold up from the bottom of the wagon and serve as chair backs for two riders, and yes, there are cup holders. Solid rubber tires and safety straps round out the package and are sure to satisify the most discerning all-terrain wagon lovers.

Mz.D had a great idea to go outside today and shake off some cabin fever with a few trips around the yard. Sunny but cold, we all had a great time and Mason was afforded a view of a big John Deere tractor spreading ‘nure on the field across the way. Spring must be on the way!

Mighty Mo Senior felt the need to share the 2nd seat of Mason’s wagon and show how tuff these buggers are. Not an axle was bent, although the safety straps did not span dad’s girth.

More pictures have been uploaded here: NeadFiles Photogallery

I’ve seen an increase in people writting about the philosophy of blogging.  This is a good thing.  Keeping a focus on the basics of what we ‘do’ helps keep the big picture distortion free – for beginners as well as for the pros.  One of the clearest breakdowns on this topic is one penned by Kent Newsome over at www.newsome.org.

His entry entitled “Blogs are Really Just Better Homepages” is born out of Rex Hammock’s observations.  Kent reflects on the good ol’ days when blogging existed but the word didn’t.  Platforms have changed making it easier for the blogging masses, but many of the basic elements have been around for years.

Blogs are really just a technological advance in the personal web page.
They make it easier for us oldtimers to manage our content and they
lower the technological barrier to entry, which gives more people a
place at the table. Good, yes. World changing, not really.

Kent’s blog is one I’ve recently discovered and I’ve enjoyed reading.  Thought I’d pass it along here.

Go take a minute to read Clint’s Excellent Olympic Rant (C.E.O.R.) over at BlueFairlane. He really does a nice job of summing up how we’ve hyped ourselves up to be vs. what we’ve accomplished at these Winter Games. While you’re there – bookmark his site or syndicate it in your RSS reader. And leave a comment for him too. Blogging can be a lonely job
Permalink to his article here

I’ve neglected to upload some obligatory (one of my favorite words) naked baby pics for awhile so here you go.

Mason at bath time.

We refer to this process as Baby Spa. This includes much crawling and walking about nude, working on going potty in his new chair (he’s pee’d in it several times now), dropping depth-charge water bombs during splash time, a good towling off followed by a moisturizing rub down, good night kisses and a final bottle before hitting the crib. Phew!

We hope you enjoy. There are more pics at http://www.nead.us/pictures

In the age of drug testing and background checks in order to land a minimum wage gig, it’s a wonder that RadioShack’s [former] CEO David Edmondson slipped through the ‘What degree did you get again?’ crack. Somebody dropped the ball when they hired this self-made college grad.

Padding resumes. It’s not just for middle management anymore!

First mistake. Why would a large corporation hire a 34 year old CEO? Isn’t the mean age of a CEO like 84? Edmondson, now 46, served as Chief Executive Officer for 11 years.

Answer: I have no idea. Probably the whole “…we need a young buck to capture market share of a demographic audience we’ve lost…” (read: we’re not your daddy’s Tandy Corporation, Heath Kit, do-it-yourself, radio kit builder anymore.)

Second mistake. Why wouldn’t a large corporation ask for college transcripts plus proof of a diploma for someone about to take the helm of a large company?

Answer: Why question a young lad who claims a degree in Theology (the study of God, for heaven’s sake!) and Psychology? And from Pacific Coast Baptist College, no less! He’s golden, right?

Last word: Radio Shack, practice what you preach when it comes to hiring. Chances are you hold your store management more accountable for hiring part-time employees than you have for your own six-figure-a-year CEO.