Hey Batter-Batter-Batter-Batter... sa-WING Batter-Batter, sa-WING!
No penguins were harmed during the production of today's blog.
It's a frosty, snow-covered and frozen Friday in Columbus today. I thought the weather made today's link especially appropriate.

Smack the Pingu!
Send me an email if you crack the 600 ft. mark -- I get close, but can't break 595.

SOUND and VISION Links
Y'know... those links right above this entry.
In case you haven't guessed, the Sound link tells you what I've been listening to in my CD player lately, and the Vision link recommends a book I'm currently reading. Both links take you to Amazon for full details on either item.

One note about the current Sound link (the soundtrack to Pirates of the Caribbean) -- you just GOTTA listen to this during your rush-hour commute! It's a lot more fun than the radio news and gives the feeling of an epic quest to your daily drive!

The "Big DUH!" Award of the week!
Genius... Pure Genius.
Yeah... um... a lot of folks in the midwest had several inches of snowed dumped on them these past few days.

Apparently it's been awhile, and several citizens have forgotten the correct way to extricate themselves from a snowbank.

This is not it.

O Captain! My Captain!
First Jim Henson, then Mr. Rogers, now Bob Keeshan
The people who helped to shape my (and thousands of other) young creative minds are slowly dwindling away. Today we lost Captain Kangaroo himself, Bob Keeshan. How sad...
TV's Captain Kangaroo Dies at 76

Who will take up their quest?
Who is doing NOW what they did when we were young? I have no children, so I'm completely out of the loop on this subject -- is there ANYONE who is making the same impact on today's youth?

O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman

A Pete Rose By Any Other Name...
Suggestions for Rose's Hall of fame plaque.
Some are funny, most are true, all of them are here.

Creativity Self Assessment Scan
Take 10 Minutes to Test Yourself
I'm a firm believer that the results of any test can vary with the time of day, mood of the test-taker, and even the color of clothing they chose to wear that day -- but this self-test from the CREAX website is still a bit of fun.
Creativity Self Assessment Scan

Don't take the results too seriously... if you take the test right now and again at the end of the day, chances are your results will change. The best thing about the test is that it gives you some standard areas of creative thinking to consider.

It might be helpful to keep a link to this test and use it before you begin a creative project. If it gives you a low score in a specific area that is vital to the project you're about to begin, perhaps you should take a break in order to recharge your creative batteries before you get started.

Creative Construction
Fun sites to exercise your creative inclinations
I ran across these fun-but-time-siphoning-sites within the past few weeks and thought I'd share them with you. I don't want to be the only one playing instead of working on the stuff they're SUPPOSED to be working on...

Inspired by Chaucer? Want to create your own Canterbury Tales using the ancient art of illuminated tapestry? Point your browser to the Historic Tale Construction Kit.

Less work, more fun: Try Mr. Picasso Head -- you say you're no Rembrandt, how about a Picasso? Here's your chance to create your own masterpiece using someone else's style.

Now, if I could only find a website where my writing skills would appear to be crafted by a more talented writer...

First Kill All The T.V.s
Not enough time to increase your skills and talent? Prove it.
Sometimes the best ideas are 'slap-your-forehead' simple. Cincinnati-based Life Coach, Brian Monahan, has created an oh-so smart form that easily finds the time in your busy schedule to accomplish those lofty goals you've set for yourself this year. Whether you want to learn another language, exercise more, or write that novel you've had in your head for years, the most common excuse for not getting them done next December 31st will be that you just "didn't have the time" -- you were "too busy."

Time to put-up or shut-up, my friend!
Visit IdealLifeCoaching.com to download this free, simple form -- "TV or NOT TV" -- that allows you to track the time you spend watching television and compare it side-by-side with your list of goals. It's a twist on Ben Franklin's old PRO/CON list (which is still the best way to make important decisions) and adds a nice 'guilt-factor' of seeing the time needed to accomplish your goals recorded right beside the time you just wasted drooling in front of the TV.

The form is simple and brilliant. Simply brilliant.
I told Brian I was jealous that I didn't think of it first, but I betcha I WOULD have... if I hadn't watched those old Seinfeld reruns...