To paraphrase Thomas Edison, sometimes interesting opportunities arrive dressed as a huge pain in the ass.
Todays little bit of wonderful comes from a podcast at 43 Folders.
Getting things done (GTD) expert Merlin Mann chats with the author of Getting Things Done David Allen to discuss workday interruptions – when to block ’em, and when to be open to them.
For reference, the original quote by Thomas Edison goes something like:
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Ok, don’t throw things at me. I know it’s been a while since a good entry here. I do have a lot to say and stories to tell, but it’s been a few long weeks and I’m just too tired when I get home.
Here is some teasers
– I’ve got a new job (yes with Disney). Just doing something new with some new people. It’s going to be a good time.
– Jany and I are taking a trip to Utah soon. Early October. I’ll tell you all about it later.
– Jackie is out of the hospital and she’s getting ready to do some ass kicking with my full support.
In reaction to news today that Pluto was demoted to the status of “dwarf planet,” the Seven Dwarfs issued their own short statement:
“Although we think it’s DOPEY that Pluto has been downgraded to a dwarf planet, which has made some people GRUMPY and others just SLEEPY, we are not BASHFUL in saying we would be HAPPY if Disney’s Pluto would join us as an 8th dwarf. We think this is just what the DOC ordered and is nothing to SNEEZE at.”
As Mickey Mouse’s faithful companion, Pluto made his debut in 1930 – the same year that scientists discovered what they believed was a ninth planet. Said a white-gloved, yellow-shoed source close to Disney’s top dog, “I think the whole thing is goofy. Pluto has never been interested in astronomy before, other than maybe an occasional howl at the moon.”
I’ve recenlty found a fantastic video podcast that just makes me smile every time a new episode is downloaded. It’s like a big wall of stimulus just flying at you.
“the show with zefrank” is a website and video blog produced each weekday. The site weaves commentary on media and current events with viewer contributions and interactive activites. It’s not at all safe for work since much of Ze Franks content is his own slant on news with copious ammounts of foul language (and vulgarity, and implied vulgarity if there is such a thing… did I just invent that?).
In his episode for 7-11-06 a viewer (sports-racer) asked if Ze is running out of ideas… his response below:
I run out of ideas every day! Each day I live in mortal fear that I’ve used up the last idea that’ll ever come to me. If you don’t wanna run out of ideas the best thing to do is not to execute them. You can tell yourself that you don’t have the time or resources to do ’em right. Then they stay around in your head like brain crack. No matter how bad things get, at least you have those good ideas that you’ll get to later.
Some people get addicted to brain crack. And the longer they wait, the more they convince themselves of how perfectly that idea should be executed. And they imagine it on a beautiful platter with glitter and rose petals. And everyone’s clapping for them. But the, but the, but the, but the bummer is most ideas kinda suck when you do ’em. And no matter how much you plan you still have to do something for the first time. And you’re almost guaranteed the first time you do something that it’ll blow. But somebody who does something bad three times still has three times the experience of that other person who’s still dreaming of all the applause. When I get an idea, even a bad one, I try to get it out into the world as fast as possible, ’cause I certainly don’t want to be addicted to brain crack.
Kimberly Williamson Butler is running for Mayor of New Orleans. The header of her website features a photo of said fair city… oh wait. Look closer at that background!
This is most definetly Disneyland’s New Orleans Square, home of the Pirates of the Caribbean, The Blue Bayou, and Club 33… right here in Anaheim, CA. I’ve spent many hours standing in line for my clam chowder at the Royal Street Varanda directly behind where Ms. Butler is standing. Damn politicians.
(via boingboing.net)
Update: Disney Looking Into Butler’s Unauthorized Use of Photo NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Disneyland is looking into a New Orleans mayoral candidate’s unauthorized use of a photo of its theme park on a campaign Web site. Criminal district Court Clerk Kimberly Williamson Butler’s Web site features the photo, which shows a portion of the California park that resembles the French Quarter. A Disney public relations official says the matter has been referred to the park’s legal department. Butler appears in the foreground of the photo, but it is not clear whether her image was simply superimposed on the scene by the Web site designer. Butler has not said why the photo was chosen instead of an authentic New Orleans cityscape. Butler is among 23 candidates running for mayor of New Orleans in elections this month. She has made news recently for being arrested on contempt of court charges and for comparing herself to Ghandi and Nelson Mandela after being released from jail last month. The arrest stemmed from her refusal to transfer authority for the cleanup of the court’s hurricane-flooded property room to an outside judge who was appointed to take on that task by the state Supreme Court.
This is totally awesome. Somehow in my online travels tonight I ran across this one-in-a-million article from November of 2002 on the BBC Website. Talk about the ultimate Hidden Mickey!
