The Sands of Forgiveness
by Author Unknown
A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.
The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"
The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Busy, Busy, Busy
It's been a very busy week here -- our landlord, Ron, finally decided to give us new tiles in the master bathroom since the originals were put in so poorly that it looked like it had been trashed. Initially, when we moved in and commented on the state of the bathroom, Ron agreed to cut a piece of carpenting for the room, but I just don't like carpeting in that room. He purchased a beige piece for the room, and it was impossible to keep clean. Ron and his wife, Karen, call us their "model" tenants since our place is always clean (from living with a clean-freak, certainly not from ME) and they don't want to lose us. He went to Home Depot and got some really nice stone tiles and he and Steve removed some rotten wood underneath the toilet, so our toilet has been on the terrace for two days! Quite the conversation piece if anyone stops by! So today they're cutting the tiles and putting them in. The trick with Ron is that you have to keep him in beer to get the job done. You could offer him fresh coffee, homemade cake, cookies, etc., but all he wants is beer. It was weird going to CVS to buy him beer. Steve said Ron will go to one store for beer and not buy it 'cause he can get it for fourteen cents less at another store! Ron's a Minnesota guy, about 60 years old now, and a really good guy. He's also lining up some more work for Steve painting and cleaning apartments that are vacant.
After I could no longer work and was on disability at 50 years of age, it took me awhile to feel okay being a home and not going to work. So much of my self-image was wrapped up in being a good manager and doing everything right. Now it's eight years later and I LOVE not working and I'm very good at it! I bake, I cook, I read, I watch movies, I fart around on the computer, I call people, I read the paper, and before you know it, it's nighttime! It's great and I highly recommend it. I really like that the government sends me a check every month! It's the first time in years I don't feel as cynical about our government. They pay me for NOT working! Our neighbor, Charles, gets $1,900 for a combination of Workman's Comp and disability and lives really well. I get enough to cover the bills and if we never wanted to do anything except hang out at home it would be enough. It's not enough, though 'cause we both like to get out sometimes, so Steve's been digging into his retirement pension. We'll get a huge bill from the IRS for him taking his funds early, but that's okay.
Meanwhile, on the NY front, Steve's mom is 80, a total sweetheart, a tiny woman at about five feet, and very energetic. When Steve's dad was 45, he contracted some kind of lung condition which required a doctor visit to their apartment periodically to suction his lungs. His father was the only son in his family who chose to become a truck driver rather than hooking up with the Mob. The family moved from Little Italy in Manhattan to Queens where he delivered pharmaceuticals to stores and often brought home leftover goods that nobody wanted. His mom loved it -- she had an endless supply of moisturizers, makeup, etc. Along the way, he died at home from the respiratory disease, and eventually Annie re-married. Her second husband, John, owned a sheet metal business in Queens. John died many years later from a respiratory illness which followed triple bypass cardiac surgery. She had never been alone and had no idea how to live her life without a man. Prior to that time, she'd never had a problem with drinking, and had only been a social drinker, but this has escalated since John died. Steve's now working with Annie's psychiatrist in an attempt to get her into a rehab center in New York.
After I could no longer work and was on disability at 50 years of age, it took me awhile to feel okay being a home and not going to work. So much of my self-image was wrapped up in being a good manager and doing everything right. Now it's eight years later and I LOVE not working and I'm very good at it! I bake, I cook, I read, I watch movies, I fart around on the computer, I call people, I read the paper, and before you know it, it's nighttime! It's great and I highly recommend it. I really like that the government sends me a check every month! It's the first time in years I don't feel as cynical about our government. They pay me for NOT working! Our neighbor, Charles, gets $1,900 for a combination of Workman's Comp and disability and lives really well. I get enough to cover the bills and if we never wanted to do anything except hang out at home it would be enough. It's not enough, though 'cause we both like to get out sometimes, so Steve's been digging into his retirement pension. We'll get a huge bill from the IRS for him taking his funds early, but that's okay.
Meanwhile, on the NY front, Steve's mom is 80, a total sweetheart, a tiny woman at about five feet, and very energetic. When Steve's dad was 45, he contracted some kind of lung condition which required a doctor visit to their apartment periodically to suction his lungs. His father was the only son in his family who chose to become a truck driver rather than hooking up with the Mob. The family moved from Little Italy in Manhattan to Queens where he delivered pharmaceuticals to stores and often brought home leftover goods that nobody wanted. His mom loved it -- she had an endless supply of moisturizers, makeup, etc. Along the way, he died at home from the respiratory disease, and eventually Annie re-married. Her second husband, John, owned a sheet metal business in Queens. John died many years later from a respiratory illness which followed triple bypass cardiac surgery. She had never been alone and had no idea how to live her life without a man. Prior to that time, she'd never had a problem with drinking, and had only been a social drinker, but this has escalated since John died. Steve's now working with Annie's psychiatrist in an attempt to get her into a rehab center in New York.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Housing for Midwesterners?
The walls of an igloo, made entirely of natural material — stand up better to modern artillery than a concrete barricade, according to tests conducted by a Swedish army. The walls absorb an artillery blast, are almost invisible from the air, and can't be spotted by the infrared sensors that guide today's missiles.
Sounds like a practical alternative in today's world...
Sounds like a practical alternative in today's world...
Monday, February 25, 2008
Different Strokes
The Kaleidoscope Of Life
Living Together Differently
We tend to gravitate toward people who are most like us, at least in the ways that make us feel comfortable. But life has its way of bringing us into contact with people who challenge us with their differences. It may be an obvious difference reflected in their outward appearance or an invisible but powerful philosophical stance. Even in our closest circle of friends and family, though, there are those that confront us with their different ways of experiencing and expressing life. We can choose to resist, but we can also choose to learn from them and appreciate that they too have a place in the kaleidoscope of life.
As much as we may say that we want peace and quiet and a life without struggle, the truth is that human beings are currently thriving in a world of dualities and challenges. It is how we choose to approach these hurdles that determine if we sail over them, confirming our agility, or trip and end up face down in the dust. And each of us absolutely will and must stumble, and then get up, brush the dust off, and carry on. This is how we learn and grow, developing depth of character and shades of understanding. In a world of dualities, we have trouble defining ourselves without something opposite and can�t discover who we are. Without challenge, there is nothing to do and nothing to discover. That leaves us either in a state of nonbeing or in the state of pure spirit, but as humans, we are spiritual beings experiencing the physical world in all of its startling contrast and beauty.
No matter how spiritual we are, our lives will have challenges. We will always run into people that are different from us, but the true challenge may be in finding ways to be at peace with this process. Rather than give in to the fight-or-flight response that comes from our animal nature, we can find new ways to evolve together into higher, more beautiful expressions of ourselves, realizing, embracing, and celebrating the beauty of diversity and the strength it offers for the future.
Living Together Differently
We tend to gravitate toward people who are most like us, at least in the ways that make us feel comfortable. But life has its way of bringing us into contact with people who challenge us with their differences. It may be an obvious difference reflected in their outward appearance or an invisible but powerful philosophical stance. Even in our closest circle of friends and family, though, there are those that confront us with their different ways of experiencing and expressing life. We can choose to resist, but we can also choose to learn from them and appreciate that they too have a place in the kaleidoscope of life.
As much as we may say that we want peace and quiet and a life without struggle, the truth is that human beings are currently thriving in a world of dualities and challenges. It is how we choose to approach these hurdles that determine if we sail over them, confirming our agility, or trip and end up face down in the dust. And each of us absolutely will and must stumble, and then get up, brush the dust off, and carry on. This is how we learn and grow, developing depth of character and shades of understanding. In a world of dualities, we have trouble defining ourselves without something opposite and can�t discover who we are. Without challenge, there is nothing to do and nothing to discover. That leaves us either in a state of nonbeing or in the state of pure spirit, but as humans, we are spiritual beings experiencing the physical world in all of its startling contrast and beauty.
No matter how spiritual we are, our lives will have challenges. We will always run into people that are different from us, but the true challenge may be in finding ways to be at peace with this process. Rather than give in to the fight-or-flight response that comes from our animal nature, we can find new ways to evolve together into higher, more beautiful expressions of ourselves, realizing, embracing, and celebrating the beauty of diversity and the strength it offers for the future.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Spinning Your Wheels?
Part Of The Process
Feeling Stuck
When we feel stuck in our lives it’s important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again. Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds.
Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what’s keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear.
If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest. Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can’t see ourselves, it’s because we don’t want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold.
In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn’t be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what’s going on.
This article is printed from DailyOM - Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day.
Feeling Stuck
When we feel stuck in our lives it’s important to take stock of what is going on and find out if there is something we are doing or not doing that is keeping us stuck. Sometimes the situation is out of our control, and we need to look within to find the patience required to wait with equanimity until things move forward again. Many times, though, we can find the source of our stagnation in our own hearts and minds.
Sometimes we are clinging to old ideas about reality and we need to make adjustments that will bring us back in tune with life, so we can flow again. Sometimes we find that fear of change is what’s keeping us stuck, and we can resolve to find ways of facing that fear.
If introspection does not provide the answers we need, it can sometimes be helpful to ask those around you if they notice anything obvious that you might not be able to see. Remember to ask someone whom you can trust to be kind and sensitive as well as honest. Try to let go of your resistance because whenever there is something we can’t see ourselves, it’s because we don’t want to see it. Try to listen with an open mind, and remember that you are always the final judge of what you need. Anything offered to us from an outside source will need to be processed within before its wisdom can take hold.
In all this, be kind to yourself and remember that we all get stuck sometimes. Think of it as a part of your process, a necessary step on your journey, rather than as a problem that shouldn’t be happening. This can help to keep your frustration at bay and give you the space you need to take a deep breath and really figure out what’s going on.
This article is printed from DailyOM - Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Hugging is a Good Thing
Hugging has no unpleasant side effects and is all natural. There are no batteries to replace, it's inflation-proof and non-fattening with no monthly payments. It's non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable.
Author Unknown
Author Unknown
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Inventing Words
Henceforth, Edy's Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream shall be known as MinWax. I would never let a half-gallon of ice cream go to waste, so I'm eating the delicious minty green dessert and trying to ignore the little pieces of brownish wax in it. If you think about it, have you ever met anyone who doesn't like ice cream? It's one of what I refer to as a "universal" food. It's like trying to imagine someone who doesn't like pizza of any kind -- you'd be hard pressed to find that individual.
JJ stopped by today to return our rental DVD of "Michael Clayton" which we plan to watch tomorrow. I asked JJ if he talks to Tish since their breakup, and he said they talk via cell phone every day but the relationship is now strictly sexual in nature. JJ works at the dance club usually until 2AM and sometimes Tish tells him to stop by if he wants. In the past they had actually exchanged terms of endearment, but now he said they talk about nothing and just have sex, and he stays at her place or he doesn't -- it really doesn't make any difference. He says it works much better that way -- they have no commitment demands on each other and that's fine with him, and there's no one else in the picture for him right now anyway. Sounds uncomplicated for a change, but I fear we'll miss hearing the very verbal arguments they used to have when she stayed next door with him. I don't think either one of them has a clue what they want in a relationship, but I didn't either back then.
In my life, the most important quality for a man to have is a sense of humor. If he looks like George Clooney but has no sense of humor, I can't be interested. Life is too short not to laugh, and I have to say that with Steve I laugh a lot. His use of the English language is hysterical -- he can butcher words like no one else. It took awhile for me to understand what he was talking about, partly because of his heavy New York accent, and also because he has used the wrong words his whole life. For example, I've never heard him say the word "stayed" -- if he's telling me about someone staying in a hotel, he'll say they "stood" in a hotel. In his vocabulary there is only "woman" but not "women" so even if he's referring to a group of females, he'll say "See that bunch of woman over there?"
I feel like a translator of sorts now that I understand most of the things he's saying. His niece tells me that his brother, Bobby, is exactly the same. It's genetic! Steve's mom refers to her mobile phone as her "cellar phone" which I love. She'll say: "Call me back on my cellar phone" every time!
JJ stopped by today to return our rental DVD of "Michael Clayton" which we plan to watch tomorrow. I asked JJ if he talks to Tish since their breakup, and he said they talk via cell phone every day but the relationship is now strictly sexual in nature. JJ works at the dance club usually until 2AM and sometimes Tish tells him to stop by if he wants. In the past they had actually exchanged terms of endearment, but now he said they talk about nothing and just have sex, and he stays at her place or he doesn't -- it really doesn't make any difference. He says it works much better that way -- they have no commitment demands on each other and that's fine with him, and there's no one else in the picture for him right now anyway. Sounds uncomplicated for a change, but I fear we'll miss hearing the very verbal arguments they used to have when she stayed next door with him. I don't think either one of them has a clue what they want in a relationship, but I didn't either back then.
In my life, the most important quality for a man to have is a sense of humor. If he looks like George Clooney but has no sense of humor, I can't be interested. Life is too short not to laugh, and I have to say that with Steve I laugh a lot. His use of the English language is hysterical -- he can butcher words like no one else. It took awhile for me to understand what he was talking about, partly because of his heavy New York accent, and also because he has used the wrong words his whole life. For example, I've never heard him say the word "stayed" -- if he's telling me about someone staying in a hotel, he'll say they "stood" in a hotel. In his vocabulary there is only "woman" but not "women" so even if he's referring to a group of females, he'll say "See that bunch of woman over there?"
I feel like a translator of sorts now that I understand most of the things he's saying. His niece tells me that his brother, Bobby, is exactly the same. It's genetic! Steve's mom refers to her mobile phone as her "cellar phone" which I love. She'll say: "Call me back on my cellar phone" every time!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Awakenings
Drove to CVS just now to pick up a couple of things, and was nearly forced to buy some Valentine stuff on sale -- Reese's Eggs, marshmallow hearts, etc. It was too cheap to pass up!
Then I went to Dunkin' Donuts which is actually hazardous to our health in that it's too close to our living quarters! I was in line at the drive-through, and getting my wallet out, pennies in my hand in case I needed them, and dollars in my hand so I'd be ready when I got to the window. I hadn't even placed my order yet! Don't know why I always have to be prepared so far ahead of time for everything, or ultra-early for appointments, etc. Does this make me anal or just compulsive? I totally expect comments from the peanut gallery on this one.
Then I went to Dunkin' Donuts which is actually hazardous to our health in that it's too close to our living quarters! I was in line at the drive-through, and getting my wallet out, pennies in my hand in case I needed them, and dollars in my hand so I'd be ready when I got to the window. I hadn't even placed my order yet! Don't know why I always have to be prepared so far ahead of time for everything, or ultra-early for appointments, etc. Does this make me anal or just compulsive? I totally expect comments from the peanut gallery on this one.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
JJ and Tish
I may have already mentioned that JJ and Tish officially broke up, but she called him yesterday and said she'd pay his cell phone bill of more than $200! He didn't argue, but wonders about her motive. He didn't give in and see her on Valentine's Day, probably because his mother, Steve and myself threatened him if he did. I tried to get him to use his brain to think rather than his hormones, but at 25, that's apparently a tall order. So now he's claiming to be through with strippers. He's working in a regular disco-type club now and his DJ name, DJ Smooth, is in lights over the bar which is a great ego boost for him.
New Cinematic Experience
Today we watched "When a Man Falls" with Timothy Hutton, Sharon Stone, and others. It was really slow, but by the end there was an obvious message to the tale. I'd recommend it if you're not sleepy, even if only to see Sharon Stone without makeup.
We also watched "Stardust" a fantasy with Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro (as a gay ship's captain in a small role) and Claire Danes. It was a fun movie with really great special effects. You get to see Michelle both beautiful and ugly in the same movie! DeNiro, as always, is worth seeing too.
I just finished reading "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. It's about four kids raised by unconventional parents -- the father is an alcoholic who loves his kids but can't provide for them, and a mother who is probably bipolar or has some other kind of disorder. Their version of right and wrong in raising their kids is completely different than for other kids. They're almost always in poverty and moving to outrun people who are coming after their father. It's a true story of Walls' family and how the kids turned out. I'd recommend it highly.
We also watched "Stardust" a fantasy with Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert DeNiro (as a gay ship's captain in a small role) and Claire Danes. It was a fun movie with really great special effects. You get to see Michelle both beautiful and ugly in the same movie! DeNiro, as always, is worth seeing too.
I just finished reading "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls. It's about four kids raised by unconventional parents -- the father is an alcoholic who loves his kids but can't provide for them, and a mother who is probably bipolar or has some other kind of disorder. Their version of right and wrong in raising their kids is completely different than for other kids. They're almost always in poverty and moving to outrun people who are coming after their father. It's a true story of Walls' family and how the kids turned out. I'd recommend it highly.
My Favorite Dairy Product
If you've never tried Edy's half-the-fat ice cream, you're missing something special. I've become addicted to French Silk and Caramel Delight. The chips of chocolate in the French Silk are big, beautiful and there's lots of them. Gee, that sounds like I'm describing myself! No comments from the peanut gallery.
The other day I ventured into a new flavor, Mint Chocolate Chip. You're probably thinking, "What's the big deal? I've had that before." Well, so have I, just not Edy's. So I help myself to a big dish of this mint green dairy delight with all the chips, but the chips taste like wax and not chocolate! If you're anything like me, you won't take this sitting down.
I promptly wrote a letter to the Edy's people in California asking them why the chips in French Silk actually TASTE like chips, but the ones in Mint Chocolate Chip taste like wax. The ice cream itself tastes great, but the chips gotta go. If I wanted wax in my ice cream I'd just chop up a candle.
I await a response and will keep you updated.
The other day I ventured into a new flavor, Mint Chocolate Chip. You're probably thinking, "What's the big deal? I've had that before." Well, so have I, just not Edy's. So I help myself to a big dish of this mint green dairy delight with all the chips, but the chips taste like wax and not chocolate! If you're anything like me, you won't take this sitting down.
I promptly wrote a letter to the Edy's people in California asking them why the chips in French Silk actually TASTE like chips, but the ones in Mint Chocolate Chip taste like wax. The ice cream itself tastes great, but the chips gotta go. If I wanted wax in my ice cream I'd just chop up a candle.
I await a response and will keep you updated.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Mmmm -- Chocolate
Eating 30 Calories Per Day of Dark Chocolate May Lower High Blood Pressure
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJuly 3, 2007 --
The health benefits of dark chocolate may include lowering high blood pressure, German researchers report.
But overindulging in dark chocolate might blow your calorie budget, and packing on pounds could raise blood pressure. So portion control may help you have your dark chocolate and reap its health benefits, the new study suggests.
Small amounts of dark chocolate "efficiently reduced blood pressure," report the researchers, who included Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, of Germany's University Hospital of Cologne.
How small is a small amount of dark chocolate? Participants in Taubert's study were limited to 30 calories per day of dark chocolate. That's roughly the number of calories in a Hershey's Kiss.
Dark Chocolate and High Blood Pressure
Participants in the dark chocolate study got blood pressure tests and checkups at the study's start, midpoint, and end.
By the end of the study, those eating dark chocolate lowered their systolic blood pressure by nearly three points and their diastolic blood pressure by almost two points, on average.
Systolic blood pressure is the first, or top, number in a blood pressure reading. Diastolic blood pressure is the second, or bottom, number in a blood pressure reading.
Blood pressure didn't budge for better or worse in the white chocolate group.
'Modest' Benefit From Dark Chocolate
"Although the magnitude of the blood pressure reduction was small, the effects are clinically noteworthy," Taubert's team writes.
They note that larger studies are needed and that they're not sure whether the results apply to people with milder blood pressure or hypertension patients with other health problems.
The study doesn't show exactly how dark chocolate affects blood pressure. But the researchers note that compounds called flavanols in cocoa may play a role.
Other studies have also shown a link between dark chocolate or cocoa and better blood pressure. However, those studies typically involved bigger doses of chocolate or cocoa to get those benefits, Taubert's team notes.
Their study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, doesn't promise that dark chocolate is all that's needed to beat blood pressure. A healthy diet, exercise, and losing excess weight are important for lowering high blood pressure.
But eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily is a dietary change that's "easy to adhere to," the researchers note.
The study was funded by the University Hospital of Cologne. In the journal, none of the researchers report financial ties to any chocolate companies.
Okay -- I know that as a true dark chocolate addict, 30 calories a day is just a sample!
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDJuly 3, 2007 --
The health benefits of dark chocolate may include lowering high blood pressure, German researchers report.
But overindulging in dark chocolate might blow your calorie budget, and packing on pounds could raise blood pressure. So portion control may help you have your dark chocolate and reap its health benefits, the new study suggests.
Small amounts of dark chocolate "efficiently reduced blood pressure," report the researchers, who included Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, of Germany's University Hospital of Cologne.
How small is a small amount of dark chocolate? Participants in Taubert's study were limited to 30 calories per day of dark chocolate. That's roughly the number of calories in a Hershey's Kiss.
Dark Chocolate and High Blood Pressure
Participants in the dark chocolate study got blood pressure tests and checkups at the study's start, midpoint, and end.
By the end of the study, those eating dark chocolate lowered their systolic blood pressure by nearly three points and their diastolic blood pressure by almost two points, on average.
Systolic blood pressure is the first, or top, number in a blood pressure reading. Diastolic blood pressure is the second, or bottom, number in a blood pressure reading.
Blood pressure didn't budge for better or worse in the white chocolate group.
'Modest' Benefit From Dark Chocolate
"Although the magnitude of the blood pressure reduction was small, the effects are clinically noteworthy," Taubert's team writes.
They note that larger studies are needed and that they're not sure whether the results apply to people with milder blood pressure or hypertension patients with other health problems.
The study doesn't show exactly how dark chocolate affects blood pressure. But the researchers note that compounds called flavanols in cocoa may play a role.
Other studies have also shown a link between dark chocolate or cocoa and better blood pressure. However, those studies typically involved bigger doses of chocolate or cocoa to get those benefits, Taubert's team notes.
Their study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, doesn't promise that dark chocolate is all that's needed to beat blood pressure. A healthy diet, exercise, and losing excess weight are important for lowering high blood pressure.
But eating a small amount of dark chocolate daily is a dietary change that's "easy to adhere to," the researchers note.
The study was funded by the University Hospital of Cologne. In the journal, none of the researchers report financial ties to any chocolate companies.
Okay -- I know that as a true dark chocolate addict, 30 calories a day is just a sample!
Home Cinema Week
This has truly been Cinema Week for us; a new video store opened not very far from our apartment, and we've seen 28 movies in the last seven days! I really enjoyed: No Country for Old Men, Shattered, We Own the Night, Charlie Wilson's War, The Bucket List, Feast of Love; Steve liked: Dragon Wars, the latest Pirates of the Caribbean, the latest Bruce Willis movie (I kinda liked that too), and he can't remember what else.
We both think these are all pirated DVD's; the video store is really small and they get some of the latest movies while they're still showing in theaters! I don't care in any event. All I know is that we get four movies for $10.00 and today he gave us FIVE for that amount!!!
Happy viewing!
We both think these are all pirated DVD's; the video store is really small and they get some of the latest movies while they're still showing in theaters! I don't care in any event. All I know is that we get four movies for $10.00 and today he gave us FIVE for that amount!!!
Happy viewing!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
The Original Flea Market!
The original flea market is likely to be the Marché aux puces of Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, in the northern suburbs of Paris. It is a large, long-established outdoor bazaar, one of four in Paris. They earned their name from the flea-infested clothing and rags sold there. From the late 17th century, the makeshift open-air
market in the town of Saint-Ouen began as temporary stalls and benches among the fields and market gardens where ragpickers exchanged their findings for a small sum.
--Wikipedia
And to this day, I remain a devout flea-marketeer! Without the fleas!
market in the town of Saint-Ouen began as temporary stalls and benches among the fields and market gardens where ragpickers exchanged their findings for a small sum.
--Wikipedia
And to this day, I remain a devout flea-marketeer! Without the fleas!
Another Whoops
Both Steve and I thought today was Valentine's Day -- we apologized to each other for not having gotten cards. Later today we stopped at Walgreen's for smokes, and Steve got me two dark chocolate Milky Way's for Valentine's Day. Doesn't get better than that in my book! JJ stopped by this afternoon and said that Tish, the stripper he broke up with, called him to see if he'd have a Valentine's Day dinner with him tomorrow night, and that's when we learned that VD is not until tomorrow!
At least I'm getting closer -- last year I thought VD was on the 12th. Maybe next year I'll get it right. I put a Valentine's Day wallpaper on the PC so Steve will see it in the morning.
We ordered pizza last night and it brought to mind the pizza place I used to visit regularly in Manhattan. It was called The Original Ray Bari's Pizza. After living in Manhattan for nearly 17 years, I must've seen at least another ten ORIGINAL Ray Bari Pizza joints. Wonder which one is the REAL Original???
At least I'm getting closer -- last year I thought VD was on the 12th. Maybe next year I'll get it right. I put a Valentine's Day wallpaper on the PC so Steve will see it in the morning.
We ordered pizza last night and it brought to mind the pizza place I used to visit regularly in Manhattan. It was called The Original Ray Bari's Pizza. After living in Manhattan for nearly 17 years, I must've seen at least another ten ORIGINAL Ray Bari Pizza joints. Wonder which one is the REAL Original???
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Nothing Like a Love Poem
These are entries to a competition asking for a rhyme with the most romantic first line but least romantic second line . . . .
Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss
but I only slept with you, because I was pissed
I thought that I could love no other
Until, that is, I met your brother
Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead,
The sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.
Of loving beauty you float with grace
If only you could hide your face
Kind, intelligent, loving and hot
This describes everything you are not
I want to feel your sweet embrace
But don't take that paper bag off of your face
I love your smile, your face, and your eyes-
Damn, I'm good at telling you lies!
My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you screwed up my life
I see your face when I am dreaming
That's why I always wake up screaming
My love, you take my breath away
What have you stepped in to smell this way
My feelings for you no words can tell
Except for maybe "go to hell"
What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.
Love may be beautiful, love may be bliss
but I only slept with you, because I was pissed
I thought that I could love no other
Until, that is, I met your brother
Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, and so are you.
But the roses are wilting, the violets are dead,
The sugar bowl's empty and so is your head.
Of loving beauty you float with grace
If only you could hide your face
Kind, intelligent, loving and hot
This describes everything you are not
I want to feel your sweet embrace
But don't take that paper bag off of your face
I love your smile, your face, and your eyes-
Damn, I'm good at telling you lies!
My darling, my lover, my beautiful wife:
Marrying you screwed up my life
I see your face when I am dreaming
That's why I always wake up screaming
My love, you take my breath away
What have you stepped in to smell this way
My feelings for you no words can tell
Except for maybe "go to hell"
What inspired this amorous rhyme?
Two parts vodka, one part lime.
The Female Butt
There is a new study just released by the American Psychiatric Association about women and how they feel about their asses.
The results are pretty interesting:
1. 5% of women surveyed feel their ass is too big.
2. 10% of women surveyed feel their ass is too small.
3. The remaining 85% say they don't care; he's a good man and they would have married him anyway.
The results are pretty interesting:
1. 5% of women surveyed feel their ass is too big.
2. 10% of women surveyed feel their ass is too small.
3. The remaining 85% say they don't care; he's a good man and they would have married him anyway.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Ponderisms
Can you cry under water?
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How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
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Why do you have to “put your two cents in”.. But it’s only a “penny for your thoughts”? Where’s that extra penny going to?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once you’re in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What disease did cured ham actually have?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up like every two hours?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They’re going to see you naked anyway.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is “bra” singular and “panties” plural?
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Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If the professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?
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Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re both DOGS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do they call it an asteroid when it’s outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it’s in your butt?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do you have to “put your two cents in”.. But it’s only a “penny for your thoughts”? Where’s that extra penny going to?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once you’re in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why does a round pizza come in a square box?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What disease did cured ham actually have?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up like every two hours?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They’re going to see you naked anyway.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is “bra” singular and “panties” plural?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do toasters always have a setting that burns the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane ?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If the professor on Gilligan’s Island can make a radio out of a coconut, why can’t he fix a hole in a boat?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re both DOGS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why did you just try singing the two songs above?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do they call it an asteroid when it’s outside the hemisphere, but call it a hemorrhoid when it’s in your butt?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Bowflex It's Not
Went to the gym again today --
You know those Bowflex commercials that are endlessly on TV? Well, the people in this gym look nothing like those perfectly proportioned folks on the commercials. The only women in shape in this gym are the trainers. Everyone else is as flabby as me, thankfully.
About two hours after I got home I felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to my lower back. I'll be getting intimate with my heating pad again tonight...
Yes, it's great to be in shape!
You know those Bowflex commercials that are endlessly on TV? Well, the people in this gym look nothing like those perfectly proportioned folks on the commercials. The only women in shape in this gym are the trainers. Everyone else is as flabby as me, thankfully.
About two hours after I got home I felt like someone had taken a sledgehammer to my lower back. I'll be getting intimate with my heating pad again tonight...
Yes, it's great to be in shape!
Quote for Today
People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
Elizabeth Kubler Ross
Elizabeth Kubler Ross
Saturday, February 9, 2008
No Pain, No Loss?
JJ stopped by yesterday having finally officially broken it off with Tish. Apparently he convinced her to get out of the pole dancing/stripper line of work, so she started working at Wing House where the waitresses (servers??) wear short shorts and very brief shirts. She lasted about two weeks and then quit because she wasn't taking any more orders from her boss who she claims was a teenager. She and JJ argued crazily and he threatened that he'd leave if she went back to stripping, which was, of course, exactly what she did. Which left JJ as a free agent last night. He said he now considers strippers and cocaine to be in the same league in his life and he'll never go near them again. Yeah, yeah, we've heard it before.
JJ and Steve took off on a quest for the perfect hot dog while I enjoyed a little peace and quiet. JJ got me a huge container of lobster bisque (one of my favorites) and Steve bought a bag of Krispy Kreme mini-donuts. I'm so glad that I'm exercising at the gym now and eating all these "lite" foods.
Came home from the gym today feeling quite smug since I was doing something good for myself for a change. Two hours later the pain was back, but it was a little less than the first time out. I'm gradually increasing my time on the treadmill every day. The woman on the treadmill next to me today was literally running on her treadmill. I got tired just watching her!
JJ and Steve took off on a quest for the perfect hot dog while I enjoyed a little peace and quiet. JJ got me a huge container of lobster bisque (one of my favorites) and Steve bought a bag of Krispy Kreme mini-donuts. I'm so glad that I'm exercising at the gym now and eating all these "lite" foods.
Came home from the gym today feeling quite smug since I was doing something good for myself for a change. Two hours later the pain was back, but it was a little less than the first time out. I'm gradually increasing my time on the treadmill every day. The woman on the treadmill next to me today was literally running on her treadmill. I got tired just watching her!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Yup -- We're Different!
If Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose go out for lunch, they will call each other Laura, Suzanne, Debra and Rose.
If Mike, Charlie, Bob and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
EATING OUT:
When the bill arrives, Mike, Charlie, Bob and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY:
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS:
A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
ARGUMENTS:
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
CATS:
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.
FUTURE:
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS:
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE:
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.
DRESSING UP:
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL:
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING:
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Any married man should forget his mistakes.
There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.
If Mike, Charlie, Bob and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Godzilla, Peanut-Head and Scrappy.
EATING OUT:
When the bill arrives, Mike, Charlie, Bob and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller, and none will actually admit they want change back.
When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators.
MONEY:
A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs.
A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale.
BATHROOMS:
A man has six items in his bathroom: a toothbrush, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel from the Holiday Inn.
The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.
ARGUMENTS:
A woman has the last word in any argument.
Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument.
CATS:
Women love cats.
Men say they love cats, but when women aren't looking, men kick cats.
FUTURE:
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
SUCCESS:
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
MARRIAGE:
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't.
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change and she does.
DRESSING UP:
A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the garbage, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail.
A man will dress up for weddings and funerals.
NATURAL:
Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.
Women somehow deteriorate during the night.
OFFSPRING:
Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams.
A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Any married man should forget his mistakes.
There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.
Did you know...
... that today is Sweater Day? On the birthday of Lana Turner, wear a special sweater today! Turner, the Sweater Girl, was born as Julia Jean Mildred Frances on February 8, 1920, in Wallace, Idaho.
For those of you who are too young to know it, Lana Turner was a famous movie star in her day.
~~~
Today's Inspirational Quote:
"A person's worth is contingent upon who he is, not upon what he does, or how much he has. The worth of a person, or a thing, or an idea, is in being, not in doing, not in having."
-- Alice Mary Hilton
For those of you who are too young to know it, Lana Turner was a famous movie star in her day.
~~~
Today's Inspirational Quote:
"A person's worth is contingent upon who he is, not upon what he does, or how much he has. The worth of a person, or a thing, or an idea, is in being, not in doing, not in having."
-- Alice Mary Hilton
Thursday, February 7, 2008
New vs. Old Pain
I've officially completed Round 1 of my first two weeks of orientation at the Club. I now have a much better idea of what it feels like to get hit by a Mack truck. I did two rotations on very low-impact machines and ten minutes on a treadmill, and when I got home I felt my heart trying to exit my body via my earlobes. By the time I was ready to hit the sack last night, there were pains in my mid-back where I've never had pain before! So now, not only is my old pain enhanced, but I have new pain to beef about. What fun! It's great to be in shape! NOT!!!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Amusing New Words
Here is the Washington Post's Mensa Invitational which once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supplying a new definition.
The winners are:
1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2. Ignoranus: A person who is both stupid and an asshole.
3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting lucky.
7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
12. Karmageddon: It's when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, and then the Earth explodes, and it's a serious bummer.
13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
14. Glibido: All talk and no action.
15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.
*********************
The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:
1. coffee, n. the person upon whom one coughs.
2. flabbergasted, adj. appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.
3. abdicate, v. to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. esplanade, v. to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. willy-nilly, adj. impotent.
6. negligent, adj. absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.
7. lymph, v. to walk with a lisp.
8. gargoyle, n. olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. flatulence, n. emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.
10. balderdash, n. a rapidly receding hairline.
11. testicle, n. a humorous question on an exam.
12. rectitude, n. the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. pokemon, n. a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. oyster, n. a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism , n. the belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
The winners are:
1. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period of time.
2. Ignoranus: A person who is both stupid and an asshole.
3. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.
4. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.
5. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
6. Foreploy: Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting lucky.
7. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
8. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
9. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
10. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.
11. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
12. Karmageddon: It's when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, and then the Earth explodes, and it's a serious bummer.
13. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
14. Glibido: All talk and no action.
15. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
16. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
17. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
18. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.
*********************
The Washington Post has also published the winning submissions to its yearly contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternate meanings for common words.
And the winners are:
1. coffee, n. the person upon whom one coughs.
2. flabbergasted, adj. appalled by discovering how much weight one has gained.
3. abdicate, v. to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. esplanade, v. to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. willy-nilly, adj. impotent.
6. negligent, adj. absentmindedly answering the door when wearing only a nightgown.
7. lymph, v. to walk with a lisp.
8. gargoyle, n. olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. flatulence, n. emergency vehicle that picks up someone who has been run over by a steamroller.
10. balderdash, n. a rapidly receding hairline.
11. testicle, n. a humorous question on an exam.
12. rectitude, n. the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. pokemon, n. a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. oyster, n. a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism , n. the belief that, after death, the soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
Sweat and Toil
Saturday I went to Lady of America, the health club my insurance is paying for. It's a nice place and a very young and thin woman showed me around and got me all signed up. Went back today for an orientation session. One of the "fitness professionals" showed me around and gave me instructions in how to use the equipment for beginners. She measured everything on me -- boobs, legs, arms, etc. She'll do a second orientation on the more advanced equipment in two weeks. There was a class of older women going on while I was there and I was relieved to see several women older than me!
Money We'll Never See
As of 1976, there were approximately 375 ten-thousand dollar bills in circulation in the United States.
I'd be happy with 375 one-dollar bills!
I'd be happy with 375 one-dollar bills!
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Woman in the Moon?
Massachusetts astronomer Maria Mitchell discovered a comet on October 1, 1847, becoming the first woman to do so while using a telescope. King Frederick of Denmark awarded her a gold medal for her discovery, and the Republic of San Marino presented her with a copper medal. Later, Mitchell was made a professor of astronomy at Vassar. Her special studies focused on sunspots, nebulae, and satellites. Mitchell
was a role model and icon for many women of that period; she was the first woman to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. A crater on the moon was named after her.
was a role model and icon for many women of that period; she was the first woman to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. A crater on the moon was named after her.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Micky D's
There are more 25,000 McDonald's restaurants in over 115 countries. McDonald's has actually been remarkably responsive to the local cultures: they offer "ayran" (a popular chilled yogurt drink) in Turkey; McLaks (a grilled salmon sandwich) in Norway, and teriyaki burgers in Japan. In New Delhi, India, where Hindus shun beef and Muslims refuse pork, the burgers are made of mutton and called Maharaja Macs. And if you're vegetarian, as many strict Hindus are, there's the McAloo Tikki burger, a spicy vegetarian patty made of potatoes and peas.
That last one sounds pretty vulgar to me...
That last one sounds pretty vulgar to me...
Friday, February 1, 2008
Archie Bunker Rocks!
Former MGM star Mickey Rooney now 88 years old) turned down the role of bigoted family man Archie Bunker in the 1970s sitcom, All in the Family. The former child star was convinced that the show would bomb, and he wasn't willing to jeopardize his professional reputation, although his film career had been on the skids for years.
Little-known character actor Carroll O'Connor won the role as a result of Norman Lear, All in the Family's creator, spotting him in the film What Did You Do In the War, Daddy? O'Connor loved the show's concept and Lear's pilot script, but didn't believe that the innovative sitcom had a chance for American acceptance. After a shaky start, the show took off like a firecracker and dominated television for a decade. O'Connor won four Best Actor in a Comedy Series Emmys and a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of cantankerous bigot Archie Bunker.
Little-known character actor Carroll O'Connor won the role as a result of Norman Lear, All in the Family's creator, spotting him in the film What Did You Do In the War, Daddy? O'Connor loved the show's concept and Lear's pilot script, but didn't believe that the innovative sitcom had a chance for American acceptance. After a shaky start, the show took off like a firecracker and dominated television for a decade. O'Connor won four Best Actor in a Comedy Series Emmys and a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of cantankerous bigot Archie Bunker.
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