A fun way to waste 10 minutes

Okay, times are tough. People are miserable, broke and losing their jobs and homes. Hey, it's hard to be upbeat when you're eating your shoes. I'll give you that. But sometimes you run across something so wonderfully stupid and silly, you start snickering and you feel just a little less stressed. So...I've just got to share.

See that handsome Simpsons character? That's me! At least that's how I created my avatar at the The Simpsons Movie website. This avatar widget has been up for over a year, but I finally got around to creating myself. I couldn't quite get the hair right, but that's part of the fun.

So shake off the downturn doldrums, and go here and make yourself a Simpsons character—just click on "Create Your Simpsons Avatar." It only takes a minute and it's bound to make you laugh at yourself. Oh, and try the ginormous lipstick lips--it's hilarious!

DOH!

Eric Carle Rocks!

I noticed today that the main Google search page art was done by Eric Carle. "How cool," I said.

Eric Carle is an important American artist who is too often overlooked and underappreciated. What kid growing up hasn't read, re-read and chewed and drooled all over a dozen Eric Carle books? It's like a right of passage.

He's up their with Dr. Suess, a true giant of children's literature. And he seems like such a neat and interesting man—someone I'd like to meet someday! I guess he's turned 80 and his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar is turning 40!

Strange as it may seem, an hour later after seeing his Google art, I ran across this Newsweek article about his, his life, and his work. This guy deserves every medal, accolade and honor you can bestow on someone in the field of children's books. He makes it look so dang easy!

Did you know there's an Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art? You can see it here. And if you've been, let me know what it was like.