The original SMART car.
Smorvette 
Smaudi A3 AWD
Smamborghini 
Smorsche
Smerrari- Greg
Monday, August 17, 2009
Ride for a Reason '09
Apparently this is the only image taken of the Blazing Saddle contingent (which included Robert, Kim and Jeff, Tom, Nan and yours truly) at Ride for a Reason last Saturday. I was proudly making a fool of myself for the good of the cause.
-Jack
[side note] - a lot of you might not now this but "Paddon" is not Jacks birth name...it's Travolta. That explains all that hula hoop hip action.
Ride for a Reason '09
This is our 3rd year of participating in Ride for a Reason and it was again a wonderful and heartwarming experience. For some reason, this year was more emotional for me. I did have a death in my family from cancer, my great-aunt passed away from stage 4 ovarian cancer earlier this year. In addition, I “remembered” my grandparents who both had cancer. My grandma passed away from oral cancer in 1986 and my grandpa suffered bladder cancer many years after. He survived at least 15 years after the prognosis and treatment and lived a happy and wonderful life. This year, my reasons were the individuals in my family that have been touched by this awful disease. I am grateful that my mom was able to come down and be with us at this event. Jeff and I do this event for her and the 12 miles I rode and 24 miles Jeff rode are such a small thing we can do to honor her. - Kim
Monday, August 3, 2009
Mini Ping Pong
Last week, a new game was introduced to the office...Miniature Ping Pong. Since we do not have room for a full size table this mini set will have to do. Games can be heard in city center (former home of construction documents) around noon and sporadically throughout the day when a challenge arises. Eric Driever was even challenged by our copy machine repairman last week...he lost. No worries, i then challenged him and regained our honor with an 11-3 victory. So, don't be shy...pick up a paddle and play a game or two.
- Brian
The Engineer and the Manager
A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."
The man below says: "Yes. You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees W. longitude."
"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.
"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost.
"The man below says, "You must be a manager."
"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it is somehow my fault."
- Brian (from an engineer friend of mine)
Downieville Classic Mountain Bike Race
As in previous years at about the same time in July, 800 migrating Lemmings peddled 3000 vertical feet over 8 mind-numbing miles from Sierra City up to the Sierra Buttes Summit early Saturday morning. Upon reaching the summit precipice, an overwhelming urge caused them to launch off the sheer cliff single file… tumbling 5000 vertical feet into the Yuba River Canyon finally arriving at Downieville 21 miles below. Birthday Girl Nancy Paddon was among the cheering crowd of thousands watching the exhausted and beat up rodents, which included her husband Jack Paddon, wash up on the Downieville shores. When asked for her humble opinion about this curious annual phenomenon, she simply said “I’ve never met a smart lemming yet… but they sure are cute little critters”.- Jack
what do people think of architects?
found this floating around the internet...enjoy.
What happens when you type in "Architect" into Google images? It's kind of a running joke in the profession of how the general public views Architects versus what a real Architect ACTUALLY is.Let's start with the standard "blueprints with rulers, triangles, and hand drawing" images.
Image #1:
1. Yet again this is a printed drawing. Is EVERYONE stupid??
2. Apparently this guy needs TWO scales to measure stuff. He likes to stack them on each other for maximum measuring power.
3. What Architect DOESN'T stack library books from the 1960's on their drawings?
4. Exactly what is this guy using to draw? could he not find a normal pencil?
Image #3:
1. All Architects draw circles, lots and lots of circles. Of course on blueprints.
2. Notice the standard pencil, triangle, compass, and protractor.
Let's move on to Architects on job sites (mostly pointing):
Image #1:
1. "Yeah this isn't right at all...KNOCK IT DOWN!...oh wait, this is just my grocery list..."
2. Architects tend to stare really hard at drawings while on job sites because they have no idea what they've been working on for the past 4 months.
Image #2:
1. Apparently these guys weren't allowed on an actual construction site for this photo.
2. All Architects point and smile at their work.
3. Hard hats are definitely required while standing by a finished building.
4. You must always wear a pin-striped suit to a construction site. I mean what are the odds you'll ruin it?
Image #3:
1. The building is behind you.
2. "Look at that bird!"
Image #4:
1. Apparently Architect pimps DO exist.
2. I think they misunderstood when the photographer wanted the Architect looking at models.
Finally...This is what an ACTUAL Architect usually looks like at their desk:
1. Stressed out of their mind.
2. No pencils, triangles, protractors, scales, or compasses.
3. Slouched over a desk on a computer.
4. On the phone with their mom who's asking if Frank Lloyd Wright is their favorite Architect.
What happens when you type in "Architect" into Google images? It's kind of a running joke in the profession of how the general public views Architects versus what a real Architect ACTUALLY is.Let's start with the standard "blueprints with rulers, triangles, and hand drawing" images.
Image #1:
1. Try drawing a straight line on a triangle without holding the other side. It doesn't work.
2. This is a printed drawing from a computer. He is drawing on it. He is obviously stupid.
3. There is an eraser on the table. Again, this is a PRINTED drawing.
4. They couldn't find a better hand model for this picture? Was bigfoot unavailable??
Image #2:
4. They couldn't find a better hand model for this picture? Was bigfoot unavailable??
Image #2:
1. Yet again this is a printed drawing. Is EVERYONE stupid??2. Apparently this guy needs TWO scales to measure stuff. He likes to stack them on each other for maximum measuring power.
3. What Architect DOESN'T stack library books from the 1960's on their drawings?
4. Exactly what is this guy using to draw? could he not find a normal pencil?
Image #3:
1. All Architects draw circles, lots and lots of circles. Of course on blueprints.2. Notice the standard pencil, triangle, compass, and protractor.
Let's move on to Architects on job sites (mostly pointing):
Image #1:
1. "Yeah this isn't right at all...KNOCK IT DOWN!...oh wait, this is just my grocery list..."2. Architects tend to stare really hard at drawings while on job sites because they have no idea what they've been working on for the past 4 months.
Image #2:
1. Apparently these guys weren't allowed on an actual construction site for this photo.2. All Architects point and smile at their work.
3. Hard hats are definitely required while standing by a finished building.
4. You must always wear a pin-striped suit to a construction site. I mean what are the odds you'll ruin it?
Image #3:
1. The building is behind you.2. "Look at that bird!"
Image #4:
1. Either this is a very large woman, or they couldn't find a large format printer for this stock photo.
Now for some Architect's offices:
Image #1:
Now for some Architect's offices:
Image #1:
1. First of all, WTF?
2. Architects always stand while drawing, holding random drafting utensils in an awkward way.
Image #2:
2. Architects always stand while drawing, holding random drafting utensils in an awkward way.
Image #2:
1. Apparently Architect pimps DO exist.2. I think they misunderstood when the photographer wanted the Architect looking at models.
Finally...This is what an ACTUAL Architect usually looks like at their desk:
1. Stressed out of their mind.2. No pencils, triangles, protractors, scales, or compasses.
3. Slouched over a desk on a computer.
4. On the phone with their mom who's asking if Frank Lloyd Wright is their favorite Architect.
-Tom
