Can Charlie Brown’s tree get any sadder? Yes it can.

While setting up my Charlie Brown Christmas tree in my office today, the single red ornament fell and landed with a resounding “POP!” I never thought this iconic tree could look sadder than it does in this image taken after the carnage. “Good Grief!” in my best Charlie Brown voice.

Daddys, Daughters and Divorce (3Ds)

Some of you know that my daughter maintains her own blog (like daddy, like daughter) called Katt@Blogger. Yesterday she wrote a piece that really touched me, or rather hit me like a tank running through a brick wall. Here’s the general thesis: being the child of divorced parents sucks! She’s actually a much more talented writer than that quote may reveal. Heck, she’s a much better write than I am. So check out her post and then come back and hit the link below to read my response.

Sketching their way through the Big Apple

I love using my Moleskine to keep my life in order, but this video shows someone who excels in using their favorite notebook to sketch their escapades in New York. Check out the documentation of their trip in the YouTube video below:

Do you have an interesting use for your Moleskine? Drop a comment and let us know.

Casey Anthony acquitted of murder

From the Journal Courier article:

ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida jury has acquitted Casey Anthony of murdering her 2-year-old daughter Caylee. Anthony showed no reaction when the jury’s verdict was read today after more than 10 hours of deliberations.

No reaction huh? That speaks volumes. Add this one to the O.J. Simpson School for Evading punishment.

North Korean students train for Bob Villas’ job

Reuters is reporting that North Korea is closing universities. The reason? To build housing:

"To date only some 10,000 units have been built, so the students have been taken out of universities in order to speed up the construction of the balance before major celebrations take place in April 2012 to commemorate the 100th birthday of the founder of the DPRK, Kim Il Sung."

Nothing like a country having its priorities in place. Time for a Korean reunification. We live in a wonderful country.

Nixon administration is the incubus for Fox News

This in from Gawker:

Republican media strategist Roger Ailes launched Fox News Channel in 1996, ostensibly as a "fair and balanced" counterpoint to what he regarded as the liberal establishment media. But according to a remarkable document buried deep within the Richard Nixon Presidential Library, the intellectual forerunner for Fox News was a nakedly partisan 1970 plot by Ailes and other Nixon aides to circumvent the "prejudices of network news" and deliver "pro-administration" stories to heartland television viewers.

And this surprises anyone? Makes perfect sense that the GOP would want their voice out there as a counter to the Dems'. It's politics folks.

"The College of 2020: Students" is a must read for higher education administrators

Tomorrow we begin a two-day retreat for our college Academic Council. To prepare, each member is to read "The College of 2020: Students" by Martin Van Der Werf and Grant Sabatier. Give us one minute and click the link below to find out more about this important research document as well as who should read it. You might be surprised at my answer.

Bin Laden is Dead!

"I've never wished a man dead, but I have read some obituaries with great pleasure." - Mark Twain Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4

Doc Martin is our new favorite television doctor

While browsing the shows available from the new Amazon Prime streaming service, we came across a little BBC show called Doc Martin and we are officially hooked. What's not to like about a cranky, irritable GP who has left the high paying world of surgery because blood gives him panic attacks?

And did I mention his inept receptionist, quirky townsfolk and an amazing dog that has the ability to always find his way back home every time the Doc tries to get rid of him? Set this entire show up in a small remote seaside village in England and what you have is a cross between House and Northern Exposure. This is truly a gem from across the pond that must be watched. It is also available to Netflix subscribers and of course on DVD. So check it out and let us know what you think by dropping a comment below.

What Steven does...

Popular higher education blogger, Dean Dad (real name unknown to protect the guilty), recently wrote a blog post entitled, A Professor in a Suit and I thought it apt that I share his thoughts with those couple of you who follow this blog. So after reviewing his post, pop back here and click the link below to read my associated ramblings.

A complete Indian meal in a box for under $4?

Is that even possible? Well, it is if you shop at your local Target. We’ve know about Target’s Archer Farms brand of foods for some time, but about a year ago we were checking down the international isle and discovered their Coconut Curry complete meal in a box; and it was yummy.

This box contains all you need for an authentic Indian dinner (full-disclosure: we’ve never been to India, so we probably don’t know good Indian food from a Big Mac!). The kit includes:

ALDI Hack: A new way to eat your sweet potatoes

If you’ve been following GUOM for a bit, you may have seen an image we posted around Christmas time of a LEGO item we found in the ALDI specials bins. Once that picture was posted, the secret was out. We are in fact, ALDI shoppers.

Yes, much like that other four-letter specialty store, IKEA, we are hooked. So it just made sense for us to begin posting about our favorite grocery store and some of the interesting things we find. So this is the first in a series of future posts and today we start with an ALDI Hack. What’s an ALDI Hack? You’ll have to give us one minute after the click below to find out. Also be sure to subscribe to our RSS Feed, so you don’t miss more ALDI Tips and ALDI Hacks coming in the future.

LEGO@ALDI

{Repost from http://www.bricksinmypocket.org}

Here’s what I found at our local ALDI:



Prices are on par with other stores, but this is the first time I’ve seen this many sets at this discount “grocery” store. Anyone else seeing any different sets?
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Posted on the go, using BlogPress from my iPhone 4! So expect typos!

The brightest day and blackest night is coming Summer 2011

A trailer for the new Green Lantern film has just been released and I have to say, I am pretty excited about this one. Growing up in the 70s, Green Lantern was always my favorite comic hero (both the Golden Age and the Silver Age versions). I even had a green ring that I wore for a couple of years during grade school. Wonder what happened to that ring? Hmmm....I digress.

For a young boy hooked on sci-fi as well as comics, it was this amalgam of superhero and sci-fi elements of the Silver Age Green Lantern that kept me reading. DC then strengthened the title by teaming the Green Lantern up with the Emerald Archer, Green Arrow. Best 70s team-up ever; in my opinion.

I am happy to see that the movie will keep the sci-fi thematic elements intact. The web is abuzz that this is the Star Wars of superhero movies. Could be! So after the click below, give us one minute, sit back and enjoy the new trailer.

It pays to spring for luxury

We were browsing our favorite big box store about a week ago and wondered if they had some sheets for our king-size bed. We traveled down the aisle and low and behold, they had some nice no-name brand 1000 thread count sheets. 1000 thread count! I don’t think we’ve ever had anything above around a 300.

The price seemed fair for a set of premium sheets. Only $89.00 for the set (but I found them for $79 after the fact on Amazon and have linked to them for you...sigh). We are not extravagant types, but we went ahead and decided to treat ourselves once we opened the packaging a bit and touched the sheets. We also picked up a new down comforter displayed next to the sheets.

We should not have purchased either and certainly not both. They are so comfortable, we don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. Moral of the story? Sometimes the finer things in life are worth EVERY penny, but you might be late for work.

So what luxury items do you treat your self to? Any guilty pleasures to share? Drop a comment and let us know. We’re going back to bed now. Zzzzzzzzzz.