Engineering a Son December 11, 2012
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Learning, Love, Parenting/Children.add a comment
This past weekend, my younger son brought home a project that he had been working on for class in college. To the uninitiated, the device below might appear to be a simple pneumatic motor, a mechanical device that converts air pressure into rotational movement.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to School… January 28, 2012
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Education, Learning, Parenting/Children.Tags: pattern recognition, puns, sons
3 comments
I grew up in a funny family. 
Now that we have established that, I can elaborate a bit. When I was growing up, I soon learned that, even though my Dad had more formal education than my Mom, it was difficult to beat Mom in a battle of wits. For most people, trying to debate Mom was like bringing a knife to a gun-fight. (She taught more than one Baptist minister to not say “Does anyone have anything else to share?”)
Mom also had a very well-developed sense of humor. Here, I will postulate that these two facts about my Mom are not coincidental, but have a causal relationship.
The Virtue of Predictability December 22, 2011
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in Communication, Learning, Movies.2 comments
As an ENFP, I’m hardly what you would call predictable or prone to monotony. Far to the contrary, I’m always on the lookout for a new or different way to do the repetitive tasks that make up the substance of life.
However, there are situations where doing things exactly the same way, every time is absolutely essential, and potentially life-saving. Consider the longitivtiy-enhancement of putting on your seatbelt, washing your hands after going to the bathroom, or putting your foot on the brake before you putting an automatic transmission in Drive. (To be fair, the second one is a bit dated, since the “unintended acceleration” accidents that brought the demise of the Audi 5000 pressured most automakers to install shift interlocks that force this behavior.)
In less serious realms, this notion of boring repeatability can not only promote good habits, it can reduce stress on those you work with. This past week, I was reminded of this when I was thrust again into the team environment of a movie production crew.
My Day April 1, 2007
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in April Fool's Day, Flatulence, Fun, Humor, Laughter, Learning, Rosie O'Donnell, Self-Worth, Stupidity.13 comments
Today is officially my day. That’s right… April Fool’s Day, I hereby declare, is my own personal holiday. Traditionally, it’s been a day to play pranks on one another. No longer. I am turning into a celebration of all the foolish things I have done (an interesting list, but listing them ALL would exceed the capacity of WordPress’ generous servers), in my entire life.
Yes, this includes (more…)
Don’t Let Yesterday… January 12, 2007
Posted by TimTheFoolMan in anger, Fear, Learning, life, Love, Reflections, Seasons, Success.3 comments
…be a prison for today.
All of us have had things in our past that were difficult or painful. For me, there is no shortage of bad memories for me to play back in my mind, over and over. However, at some point, if we keep replaying those events in our mind, they become the TV show we hate to watch, but somehow find it on every channel, all day long.
What haunts you? What memories lurk in the shadows, waiting for you to give them life and breath by revisiting them? What do you have to do to “let go” of them?
My experience is that such things, theoretically locked up in yesterday, can be a prison for today, stealing away my life. Fortunately, I have the power to cast off those bonds and chains. I have to find a way to let go.
A Fool and his Words are Soon Parted 