Parker at 6 months 3

Parker smiling,
Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Look at that sweet smile!

Parker at 6 months 2

Parker sitting,
Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Parker at 6 months

Parker looking goofy,
Originally uploaded by chmcelwee.

Here is one of Parker's recent pictures. He looks like a goof-ball in this one, but that is ok because he is one goofy baby!

The Best of The Electric Company

For all you children of the 70s, this should bring back some memories. The Children's Television Workshop has just released a 4 disc DVD set of The Best of the Electric Company. The Electric Company was geared toward kids who had outgrown Sesame Street; 6 to 10 years old. It ran from 1971 to 1985. I remember watching this on back to back with 321 Contact. I liked 321 Contact a little more if I recall correctly. It ran from 1980 to 1992 and was more geared toward scientific principles. Anyone remember the Bloodhound Gang? No, not the band. I also remember first being exposed to rock'n'roll on 321 Contact when they went backstage at a Kiss concert. The Electric Company stared a young Morgan Freeman and even featured Spiderman cartoons.

Baker's Edge

A co-worker keyed me in to this product. It was invented by a friend of his from Carmel who won the 2004 Visa "Ideas Happen" National Contest. It's a baking pan called the Baker's Edge. Here's what the inventor had to say on the "Ideas Happen" web site:

What's the best brownie in the pan? If you said the corner brownie, you are not alone. Many people love the edges of brownies (baked goods, savory dishes etc.). I invented the Bakers Edge baking pan for all edge loving people. Every serving baked within the Bakers Edge has that delicious chewy edge. Say goodbye to baked goods with overdone dried edges, and gooey underdone centers.

Now I'm more of a gooey center kind of guy, so I won't be buying this, but if you like the edges, you can buy the Baker's Edge from Amazon.com

Homeward Bound

Cathy, Parker and I, along with several co-workers, are going to take part in the 2006 Homeward Bound 5K Walk on Sunday here in Bloomington. It's a charity walk to benefit local social service agencies that provide affordable housing or services to the homeless. It's sponsored in part by the Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues. Hopefully this will kick off our spring "get back in shape" routine! Let me know if you want more information or want to donate.

Daylight Saving Headaches for Outlook Users

Ok, Indiana is finally joining the rest of the country and starts recognizing Daylight Saving Time on April 2nd. We'll be "springing forward" for the first time ever. That's all well and good unless you use Microsoft Outlook Calender. Apparently, starting on April 2nd, all of your appointments will be an hour off. After resetting your PC to the new time zone (EDT), Outlook doesn't change your appointments to match. Microsoft is well aware of the problem. Check out this page and this page.

Microsoft's solution to this known problem?

• Don't create appointments for April 2, 2006 or later.
• End all recurring appointments on April 1st and start them again on April 2nd.
• Print out your Outlook Calendar so you can make manual changes after April 2nd.

You're kidding, right? The biggest software company in the world, and these are their solutions? No patch? No, "We're sorry Hoosier state?" Almost makes me want to go back to paper. Almost.

illegal-art.org

Check out illegal-art.org It's an on-line exhibit of still pictures, video and music that aims to challenge how we think about copyrights, "intellectual property" and "fair use." From their web site:

The Illegal Art Exhibit will celebrate what is rapidly becoming the "degenerate art" of a corporate age: art and ideas on the legal fringes of intellectual property. Some of the pieces in the show have eluded lawyers; others have had to appear in court.

Loaded with gray areas, intellectual property law inevitably has a silencing effect, discouraging the creation of new works.

Vintage T-Shirts

Who doesn't need a Billy Beer t-shirt? Check out Vintage T-Shirts PalmerCash.com

Parker's latest trick

102_1589 (web),
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

Parker is very close to crawling. He's doing this funny thing where he gets up on his hands and knees and then lunges forward. He usually need some inspiration to get going, like his favorite toys or a jelly donut. I think he'll be full on crawling by the end of the month!

Drop and give me 10!

102_1562 (web),
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

Here's Parker practicing his push ups.

My future's so bright..........

102_1575 (web),
Originally uploaded by jcroach.

Here's Parker doing his best impersonation of Bono as "The Fly."

James leaves Colts

"The Edge" is headed to sunny Arizona. The Associated Press reports that James signed a $30 million, 4 year deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Should make for some interesting changes for the Colts. Dominic Rhodes and James Mungro are likely candidates for the Colts starting running back job. Looks like the Washington Redskins also signed former IU quarterback, turned wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, who currently plays with the Super Bowl champ Steelers.

Anna Catharine Hiland: 1916-2006

Cathy's Grandmother and Parker's Great Grandmother died today in Lebanon. She was 89 years old. She was the Mother of three, the Grandmother of 11 and the Great Grandmother of 16. We are all lucky to have known her. Visitation and funeral services will be later this week at Myers Mortuary, 1502 N Lebanon St.

The color of money

New design for $10 bill introduced by the Bureau of Printing and Engraving. Look for them in your change soon!

Spider-Man 3

Coming to theaters May 7th, 2007(?) Spider-Man 3. Here's a great new teaser poster from the movie.

More Americns know Simpsons than Constitution

A recent study by the the new McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum found that "22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just one in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms." I guess not everyone can be as well versed as I am in both the Simpsons and the Bill of Rights as I am :). Of, and for the record, it's freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances; and Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie.

Wilco in Bloomington

I got an early birthday present yesterday. I found out that Wilco is coming back to Bloomington! I've missed two shows in Indy since I last saw them in Bloomington in April of 2002. This show is at the beautiful IU Auditorium as part of Little 500. The last time I saw Wilco they premiered a new song, "The Late Greats." I'm hoping this show in just as memorable!