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Public Service Announcement
I'm concerned that interest is waning for Storyteller's topic, so I'm putting up a **bonus topic** for November! Go forth and write! Shoo!
Also, I succumbed to Calvin's demands and updated the characters page with beautifully rendered pictures of us all. Go forth and gaze! Shoo!
Momentary Thought
I need to make a mix CD to bring into work. I'm getting tired of the MP3's I've got on my hard drive.
High/Low
High: Friday! Warm fuzziness with Calvin! Tequila! Temporary freedom from responsibilities! Woo!
Low: Tear-jerking commercials.
Current Obsession
Lean Manufacturing, as it happens.
Grin Source
Well, today must be my lucky day. I just found a quarter on the floor.
Singing
Shake it shake it, baby
Shake it shake it
Shake it shake it, mama
Shake it, Cali!
(California love...)
"California Love", Dr. Dre + Tupac
A Year Ago
More or less
I try to implement a little self-improvement.
Storyteller
Bio
Dramatis Personnae
Who I Read
Recipes
In a nutshell (a very small one), the theory is to eliminate all types of "waste" that don't contribute to the real value of the product/service/widget you're providing. The elimination of Defects, Motion, Overproduction, Transportation, Inventory, Processing, and Waiting translates into Lean Manufacturing. So basically, you're supposed to do everything perfectly, stand in one place while you do it, move things with your mind, and anticipate your customer's needs so that your stuff shows up at their door at the exact second they're contemplating the need for your product.
Sure! Easy stuff.
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I had a very nice lunch with Calvin today. In addition to talking about Lean Manufacturing (woo!), we talked about our finances (double woo!), retirement (and the funds to support it), how much the kids' temperament is like Calvin's (which provides a possible reason behind why they don't get along with their mother), and whether or not the human spirit and will has anything to do with triumphing over injury and illness.
Yeah, we ran the gambit there.
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Michael has been calling us several times a week. He seems chipper, if tired. The Marines are growing him up in a hurry, and I suspect it's under protest on his part.
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Yeah, so, the Diamondbacks. I won't even comment. Stupid what's-his-face putting that other stupid what's-his-face in to pitch for the last two innings of the last two games. Which we lost. Because of that. I wish I never got interested in sports at all, sometimes. I don't need the stress and disappointment of GETTING MY HOPES CRUSHED TO SMITHEREENS.
And that's all I'll say about that.
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While watching the World Series last night, a commercial came on for photo processing. A young boy carrying a photo album approached the lady behind the counter, held up a picture he'd taken from the album, and said "I need a copy of this". She brought him over to the photo reproduction machine, showed a setting, and said "How's this?" He said "It needs to be bigger." "How's this?" "Bigger!" And then, when he see's the 8 1/2 x 11, he says "That's perfect." The next scene is him going through a gate, where he meets an old woman. His grandmother. He holds up the photo - it's of her, when she's young, pitching for the Women's League Baseball. She gasps, and he says "Grandma, can you still do that?"
I managed to hold it together and *not* cry, that time. But when I saw it again this morning, I cried. Dammit. Stupid commercials with grandmothers and warm-fuzziness.