In as far as my cooking prowess is concerned, it falls into the average category. My best dish is roast beef accompanied by crispy roast potato quarters and cooked vegetables. Let's just say I'm a basic cook - nothing fancy - down to earth type fare. Perhaps this is the reason for my attraction to cooking programs on TV. It's so easy to sit back and watch - and criticize - everyone else as they do the work turning out visually perfect dishes.
When it comes to things kitchen-related, Martha Stewart still has this area covered but there is something somewhat disturbing about perfection in action. Watching her work methodically is in my mind, reminiscent of the females depicted in the movie, "The Stepford Wives." For the uninitiated, the wives in the movie had the perfect demeanor, focusing their entire being to retain the consummate feminine image while keeping the ideal home and cooking up quintessential meals and retaining the perfect personna. There is something about watching her work that makes me wanna say: "c'mon Martha - show us just one little mistake" or hope to see one of her cakes that doesn't rise up as they are always prone to do. Hardly since the woman would never allow a baking glitch to be seen by the public. Martha takes the most complicated desserts to a new level. The woman doesn't care how many bowls she uses to mix her ingredients or how many baking pans she has to wash because she doesn't have to wash anything like we normals do! A bowl for her dry ingredients and then another bowl to mix her heavy cream, still another to cream her butter and so on. The bowls, baking pans and extensive, most up-to-date equipment pile up but it's doubtful if not impossible that her hands touch water or the dish washer buttons? Be that as it may, she's obtained a level of ease and perfection that's hard to dispute - darn it!
The arrival of the food and cooking networks offer viewers a plethora of interesting choices ranging from how-to genre to those with a competitive edge.
"Chopped", consisting of four chefs whose full time job is working in restaurants throughout North America competing against each other for a $10,000 prize, is a personal favorite. In three rounds from entree to dessert, the competitors cook up meals encompassing unusual ingredients or a melange of unusual mixture choices that don't usually go together. The end result of their efforts is gauged by four well-known judges, some of whom are successful restaurant owners or are recognized for their expertise in the kitchen. One chef is eliminated after each round until the final victor is declared. In describing their dishes and techniques, fancy cooking terminology is tossed around when really, plain ordinary words would suffice. Then again, it would take away some of the mystique connected with their technique.
"I made for you today," they may explain to the judges, "an abbatis bien cuit in a chiffonade of lettuce avec frites."
It's so much more impressive than merely saying a serving of giblets of poultry winglets, well done and wrapped in lettuce with fries on the side. Too mainstream and boring.
On occasion and under a time limit, competitors misjudge the amount of time it takes to cook a dish. Rarely has anyone used a microwave oven to semi-cook a dish and hurry the process. Perhaps it's just not done but speaking as one who endorses this type of meal production, seems the logical solution. Stick in the food, press a few buttons and voila! But I digress.
After each round, the judges taste the competitor's dish followed by commentary on the appearance and overall flavor of the dish. In cooking shows as in life there are winners and there are losers and on occasion, there have been sore losers who visually express negative reaction to the judges decisions while departing the Chopped kitchen. Makes for good TV.
Some might call him bombastic, loud and he definitely has a way with words most of which are bleeped out, but one thing that can be said about Gordon Ramsey is that he's a showman. Why chefs allow themselves to be put through the ringer in front of a TV audience on the "Hell's Kitchen" show and be insulted by Ramsey is a mystery. Presumably they're hoping that by being part of his circus, they will earn a place on his staff at his many restaurants located throughout the world. Even more interesting is that he is treated with hallowed reverence as he screams profanities at them and insults their cooking techniques. Most likely he would have most people in tears, at least me anyway, within the first five minutes. It does, however, make for an interesting show if one keeps the volume down.
Although I've rarely watched the show, the host of "Diners, Drive Ins and Dives", Guy Fieri is the personable host who roams the U.S.A. and beyond, in his search to find the hidden gems in the form of small eateries. Over time, he has acquired a loyal following of viewers who seek out regular, dishes following familiar home-style recipes. At the end, Guy digs in juice and gravy dripping down his chin as he offers his unabashedly positive opinion critiquing the dish while wiping it away liquid with a napkin. Guy is mister everybody who enjoys plain, good cooking.
When it comes to baking cakes, "The Cake Boss" has this area sewn up. As the owner of Carlo's Bakery, the affable Buddy Valestro and his group of able assistants has turned his aptitude for baking and turning out exquisite and definitely complicated cakes into an art. Most impressive, at least in my eyes, are the way he creates huge cakes to fit the taste and requirement of his clients that come to him with complicated requests, all of them filled and then some. Watching him ice cakes with ease while carrying on an easy-going conversation, it's like he's actually communicating one-on-one with viewers, showing them how it's done. Don't I wish!
Really, there's a show to fit every taste ranging from designer cupcakes, candy concoctions...you name it, chances are somebody somewhere has a TV show focusing on that particular aspect of cooking. Too bad they haven't created smells to accompany the meals but give them time, chances are somebody will come up with that one day.
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Young 6-year old boy gets suspended for kissing girl's hand. Say what?
Really, I don't know what's going on in schools these days and more to the point, the thought process that goes through some people's heads.
It's obviously not easy being a school teacher or administrator these days especially when it comes to enforcing disciplinary regulations covering student behavior within the school environment. All students have to abide have a certain decorum within the classroom and on occasion, the system is tested to the point of ridiculousness.
Take for example the case of a 6-year old Colorado boy who was suspended from class for kissing a fellow female student's hand. Really.
According to the boy's mother, since the boy had been suspended before for kissing the same girl's hand, it's being construed as sexual harassment. Two hand kisses is obviously one kiss too many.
The boy, for his part, says that he has a crush on the girl and she likes him back and the offending kiss took place during class while in a reading group.
During the meeting with the school principal, the mother of the kiss-er was shocked when the term "sexual harassment was brought up during the meeting.
C'mon people! Sexual harassment over a hand kiss, by a 6 year old student, in class no less? Gimme a break! We're not talking here about a student bringing a weapon into class or a physical confrontation. The offending act was a buss on the hand.
The suspension was due, according to a school official, because of a policy against unwanted touching. So readers of this blog, what do you think about the boy's suspension? Is it justified or political correctness gone awry?
It's obviously not easy being a school teacher or administrator these days especially when it comes to enforcing disciplinary regulations covering student behavior within the school environment. All students have to abide have a certain decorum within the classroom and on occasion, the system is tested to the point of ridiculousness.
Take for example the case of a 6-year old Colorado boy who was suspended from class for kissing a fellow female student's hand. Really.
According to the boy's mother, since the boy had been suspended before for kissing the same girl's hand, it's being construed as sexual harassment. Two hand kisses is obviously one kiss too many.
The boy, for his part, says that he has a crush on the girl and she likes him back and the offending kiss took place during class while in a reading group.
During the meeting with the school principal, the mother of the kiss-er was shocked when the term "sexual harassment was brought up during the meeting.
C'mon people! Sexual harassment over a hand kiss, by a 6 year old student, in class no less? Gimme a break! We're not talking here about a student bringing a weapon into class or a physical confrontation. The offending act was a buss on the hand.
The suspension was due, according to a school official, because of a policy against unwanted touching. So readers of this blog, what do you think about the boy's suspension? Is it justified or political correctness gone awry?
Saturday, December 07, 2013
Gifting for a true love during the 12 days of Christmas - definitely not for the budget conscious
Right now as many holiday shoppers are shaking their heads in trepidation at the cost of buying and finding those unique gifts for the special people in their lives, a solution could be at hand within the lines of a well-known song. The song, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" contains a plethora (love that word!) of options for people who want to be different when it comes to gifting for their true loves.
PNC Wealth Management has released a list of what it would cost gift purchasers to duplicate the contents of the 12 days in 2013.
- a/one partridge in a pear tree: $199.
About this type of arrangement, why would a partridge want to live in a pear tree, anyway? Why not on the ground where there is food aplenty? According to the RSPB, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, who should know about partridges, partridges are ground birds and "never likely to be found in a pear tree." Be that as it may and going by romantic advice offered in the song, what about winter arrangements when the snow falls and covers the pear tree and the bird? A contingency arrangement would have to be made to build a shelter or perhaps keep the tree indoors in the garage. Then there's the issue of having to clean the feathers... But I digress.
- two turtle doves: $125
Definitely for the bird aficionado and the romantics who enjoy listening to their never-ending coo-coo...coo...which can drive a person cuckoo after while
- three French hens: $165
Just wondering why French hens, anyway, and not, say, North American species? According to Wiki, "The Faverolles is a French breed of chicken. The breed was developed in the 1860s in north-central France, in the vicinity of the villages of Houdan and Faverolles. The breed was given the name of the latter village and, therefore, the singular is also Faverolles, not Faverolle. ..." Do they crow with a French accent, one wonders. My advice to hen buyers is buy local. But I digress...again.
- four calling birds (do they use cell phones, one ponders once more): $599.96
According to www.1000birds.com, calling birds are actually "colly birds" or in Britain where the song originated, black birds. Perhaps further thought is in order when gifting a true love with your everyday, common blackbird, even they are an interesting specie. I mean, what would one do with four blackbirds hanging around the house, although they could be used as a one-up to friends:
"Hi blah-blah. Guess what my true love gave me. Four blackbirds. Want one?" You get the idea.
- five gold rings (no indication of the number of carats) $750.
Jewelry is always a favorite and five gold rings especially with a/some big diamond(s) is always a welcome and nice gift.
- six geese a laying: $210
As in geese in the act of laying eggs or perhaps merely hanging out and laying around in the sun on a river bank - or perhaps given that it's the holiday season, nicely browned on a platter along with roast potatoes and veggies...
- seven swans a swimming: $7,000
In checking out the price per swan, swans are definitely on the luxurious side and go anywhere from $1,040 for your white mute swans up to $3,770 for your coscoroba swan, according to www.purepoultry.com. Presumably - pure speculation on my part - they would be purchased for the person who owns a pond or at the very minimum, a private pool specifically for them. I mean, one wouldn't want to swim in a pool where geese have...well...you know... But I digress - once again.
Moving right along...
- eight maids-a-milking: $58
Although this has a religious connotation and as an aside, e-Bay has Limoges plates with images of 8 milking maids beginning at $15. Just thought people who want to duplicate the twelve day milk maids concept would want to know. It's easier to find a plate than eight hard-working maids who would want to give up some spare time milking cows.
- nine ladies dancing (per performance): $7,552.84
Perhaps - once more pure speculation on my part (big on speculating) - this could be referring to a chorus line - maybe even the Radio City Rockettes - who could visit the recipient at home and entertain. Imagine the impact of having a chorus line show up at a house party.
"Oh look, Felicia! Blah-blah has a chorus line to entertain us! How different- and they keep in step!"
For those on a budget, nine dancing ladies could most likely be hired at a cheaper rate from a local dance school, where they might be convinced to throw in a few lessons.
- ten lords-a-leaping: $$13,373.35
Another expensive acquisition. The big question and issue here is how to convince a lord to assume the role of Christmas gift and one that would agree to leap is another issue altogether.
"Hello Lord Blah-blah? I have a favor to ask of you. Could you and some of your lord friends hop a plane and fly over to (insert geographical location) and do some un-lordly leaping around?"
No wonder the cost is so high what with the cost of plane travel, accommodations and then then the actual performance, not to mention health insurance to cover leap-related accidents.
- twelve drummers drumming: $2,855
Prices for the 12 day gifts have gone up as is the case with most items these days. Then again and given the total cost being $39,762.61, maybe your true love would settle for a one of. It's worth a shot.
PNC Wealth Management has released a list of what it would cost gift purchasers to duplicate the contents of the 12 days in 2013.
- a/one partridge in a pear tree: $199.
About this type of arrangement, why would a partridge want to live in a pear tree, anyway? Why not on the ground where there is food aplenty? According to the RSPB, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, who should know about partridges, partridges are ground birds and "never likely to be found in a pear tree." Be that as it may and going by romantic advice offered in the song, what about winter arrangements when the snow falls and covers the pear tree and the bird? A contingency arrangement would have to be made to build a shelter or perhaps keep the tree indoors in the garage. Then there's the issue of having to clean the feathers... But I digress.
- two turtle doves: $125
Definitely for the bird aficionado and the romantics who enjoy listening to their never-ending coo-coo...coo...which can drive a person cuckoo after while
- three French hens: $165
Just wondering why French hens, anyway, and not, say, North American species? According to Wiki, "The Faverolles is a French breed of chicken. The breed was developed in the 1860s in north-central France, in the vicinity of the villages of Houdan and Faverolles. The breed was given the name of the latter village and, therefore, the singular is also Faverolles, not Faverolle. ..." Do they crow with a French accent, one wonders. My advice to hen buyers is buy local. But I digress...again.
- four calling birds (do they use cell phones, one ponders once more): $599.96
According to www.1000birds.com, calling birds are actually "colly birds" or in Britain where the song originated, black birds. Perhaps further thought is in order when gifting a true love with your everyday, common blackbird, even they are an interesting specie. I mean, what would one do with four blackbirds hanging around the house, although they could be used as a one-up to friends:
"Hi blah-blah. Guess what my true love gave me. Four blackbirds. Want one?" You get the idea.
- five gold rings (no indication of the number of carats) $750.
Jewelry is always a favorite and five gold rings especially with a/some big diamond(s) is always a welcome and nice gift.
- six geese a laying: $210
As in geese in the act of laying eggs or perhaps merely hanging out and laying around in the sun on a river bank - or perhaps given that it's the holiday season, nicely browned on a platter along with roast potatoes and veggies...
- seven swans a swimming: $7,000
In checking out the price per swan, swans are definitely on the luxurious side and go anywhere from $1,040 for your white mute swans up to $3,770 for your coscoroba swan, according to www.purepoultry.com. Presumably - pure speculation on my part - they would be purchased for the person who owns a pond or at the very minimum, a private pool specifically for them. I mean, one wouldn't want to swim in a pool where geese have...well...you know... But I digress - once again.
Moving right along...
- eight maids-a-milking: $58
Although this has a religious connotation and as an aside, e-Bay has Limoges plates with images of 8 milking maids beginning at $15. Just thought people who want to duplicate the twelve day milk maids concept would want to know. It's easier to find a plate than eight hard-working maids who would want to give up some spare time milking cows.
- nine ladies dancing (per performance): $7,552.84
Perhaps - once more pure speculation on my part (big on speculating) - this could be referring to a chorus line - maybe even the Radio City Rockettes - who could visit the recipient at home and entertain. Imagine the impact of having a chorus line show up at a house party.
"Oh look, Felicia! Blah-blah has a chorus line to entertain us! How different- and they keep in step!"
For those on a budget, nine dancing ladies could most likely be hired at a cheaper rate from a local dance school, where they might be convinced to throw in a few lessons.
- ten lords-a-leaping: $$13,373.35
Another expensive acquisition. The big question and issue here is how to convince a lord to assume the role of Christmas gift and one that would agree to leap is another issue altogether.
"Hello Lord Blah-blah? I have a favor to ask of you. Could you and some of your lord friends hop a plane and fly over to (insert geographical location) and do some un-lordly leaping around?"
No wonder the cost is so high what with the cost of plane travel, accommodations and then then the actual performance, not to mention health insurance to cover leap-related accidents.
- twelve drummers drumming: $2,855
Prices for the 12 day gifts have gone up as is the case with most items these days. Then again and given the total cost being $39,762.61, maybe your true love would settle for a one of. It's worth a shot.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
She Waits - a Halloween tale of caution
Tonight is Halloween. Never know who you'll run into. Some people might not be who you think they are.
It was a job. No more
– no less and a means to an end, the end being the journey home.
“Good enough to eat!” she
snickered to herself, adjusting the pieces of raw fish on the platter filled to
overflowing with a vast assortment of sushi. Opening her mouth slightly, a thick
stream of white saliva trickled down her chin landing squarely on top of the
two center pieces of sushi.
“My compliments to the
chef,” she said in a whisper, wiping her chin with one of the crisp white linen
napkins folded and lined up across the table. Using a small corner to remove
the blob of white slime on the fish, she re-folded it and returned it to its
place on top of the pile.
Everything had to be
perfect for the hungry theatre crowd that had descended upon the buffet like a
swarming of bees. It amused her how they jostled each other to gain entry to
the food tables, grabbing the sushi and devouring it immediately with obvious
relish, repeating the pattern until the platter was devoid of food. They rested
only long enough until the platters were refilled and then moved on to the wine
bar to wash down the fish.
“Eat my friends,” she
thought, musing herself with thoughts of their sluggish but appealing fleshy
bodies and the red liquid that flowed throughout.
“Love sushi. Don’t you?” a male voice behind
her asked, accompanied by a tap on the shoulder.
“Adore it,” she
responded, smiling and showing a large set of pointed yellow teeth, “but then I
love eating all things raw.”
His gaze fixated on the
teeth, the man backed away his face reflecting a look surprise.
“I meant, of course,
that sushi is certainly best eaten raw. Oh my – the platter is empty again. Let
me see if I can refill it for you.”
She quickly made an
exit waiting long enough for the man to blend into the crowd.
Moving into the wine
bar area, she removed a cork from a wine bottle and inhaled its fruity bouquet triggering
images of her former life far away. Memories of home were becoming more
difficult to access with each passing day but she willed them away reminding
herself that sentimentality could spoil the progress they had made. Control and
moderation were the guide words since all was in readiness for the next and
hopefully final step. There was still
ground work left to be done here.
“For heaven’s sake put
the champagne in an ice bucket,” a voice behind her ordered. “Haven’t we taught
you anything? Honestly – your type…”
His voice trailed off
as he moved down the table, his white linen serviette slapping away invisible
crumbs from the tablecloth.
“You call this
silverware polished?” he demanded, wiping the fork tines with a napkin. Such a lackadaisical
effort but what can one expect coming from…your type? Why we agreed to
take you on I’ll never know but only a little while longer, though, thank
goodness.”
She felt something
building in her chest that slowly moved up to her throat, along with a definite
pulsation on the right side of her eye.
“Ignore him,” one of
the waiters whispered. “Their kind think they’re so smart but they’ll find out
otherwise, very soon.”
“Oh he knows exactly
what he’s saying and those words are intentional to maximize their effect on
me,” she responded, her gaze now focused directly on the source of her growing
rage, the pulsation slowly growing and spreading throughout her body.
“It’s not uncommon for
them to address each other in that manner,” the waiter offered, attempting to
distract her attention. “I think they call it…sarcasm…”
“Can’t any of you do
anything right?” he bellowed, spitting liquid back into the soup tureen. “This
does not meet our standards! I’ve had it. Tomorrow I’m going to start
proceedings to have you all removed. I try and do a good thing and…”
“The sushi could be a
little off tonight,” she commented as the features on his face turned into a
bloody mass, “and the roast beef is a little overcooked for my taste. Of course
I prefer mine more on the very rare side…” she opined. “Now let me ask you
something important. Do you think a Chablis or rosé would be better?”
“Don’t think you’ll be needing this anymore,” she whispered, patting her now bulging stomach.
SHE WAITS
by Eleanor Tylbor
As his voice droned on she started moving forward slowly at first, picking up
speed as she neared her target. The waiter was sampling some of the dishes laid
out on the table when she moved directly behind him.
At the point where she
was almost on top of him he whirled around, his face contorted in fear with the
sudden realization of what was happening. Her trajectory was slightly off that
evening having forgotten to regenerate the night before. The head leader had
cautioned them to adhere to a daily routine or rapid decline would ensue. The organizer
didn’t see the six foot green-grey mass of glowing orange skin and flesh lunge
in his direction until it was too late. In fact there wasn’t even enough time
for a scream to escape from his throat.
The punch fountain was a particular hit and
speculation was rife as to the source of the unusual red tint to it.
She removed the white
linen serviette from her uniform pocket and folded it neatly, to be added to
the rest of her earthly souvenirs.
“Don’t think you’ll be needing this anymore,” she whispered, patting her now bulging stomach.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Celebrating the pop in popcorn plus wine-ing cats get their own vintage
Unbeknownst to me, which is quite surprising given my love for the food, October is "Popcorn Popping Month." According to the EncyclopediaPopcornica (it's a for real site) www.popcorn.org
people reading this are probably wondering about how it all came about. Here are some corny facts:
- Americans consume 16 billion quarts of popped popcorn annually or 51 quarts per man, woman and child.
- Approximately 70 percent is eaten in the home (home popped and pre-popped) and about 30 percent outside the home (theaters, stadiums, schools, etc.). Un-popped popcorn accounts for approximately 90 percent of sales for home consumption.
- It's believed that the first use of wild and early cultivated corn was popping. Does this mean that ancestors, pioneers and the like actually made popcorn presumably over a fire? More importantly, did they add salt?
- The oldest ears of popcorn ever found were discovered in the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico in 1948 and 1950. Ranging from smaller than a penny to about 2 inches, the oldest Bat Cave ears are about 4,000 years old.
- Popcorn was integral to early 16th century Aztec Indian ceremonies.
- In 1519, Cortes got his first sight of popcorn when he invaded Mexico and came into contact with the Aztecs. Popcorn was an important food for the Aztec Indians, who also used popcorn as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces and ornaments on statues of their gods, including Tlaloc, the god of rain and fertility.
"So tell us, Eleanor - so what is the science involved in making popcorn pop?"
Again, referring to the EncyclopediaPopcornica:"each kernel of popcorn contains a small drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch. Popcorn needs between 13.5-14% moisture to pop. The soft starch is surrounded by the kernel's hard outer surface.
As the kernel heats up, the water begins to expand. Around 212 degrees the water turns into steam and changes the starch inside each kernel into a superhot gelatinous goop. The kernel continues to heat to about 347 degrees. The pressure inside the grain will reach 135 pounds per square inch before finally bursting the hull open.
As it explodes, steam inside the kernel is released. The soft starch inside the popcorn becomes inflated and spills out, cooling immediately and forming into the odd shape we know and love. A kernel will swell 40-50 times its original size!"
These are important or at least interesting popcorn trivia facts we popcorn lovers should (or could or might) want to memorize and bring up at cocktail parties to impress strangers.
"Oh look. Those canapés remind me of popcorn," a person could say in the way of creating a means to bring up the subject in conversation. "Reminds me that pressure inside a popcorn grain can reach 135 pounds per square inch. Just can't get enough of the stuff."
At which point, depending on the response and interest, a person could continue and personalize the conversation by asking the preference of adding butter and salt or whether they prefer to pop their corn at home or restrict their eating at movie theatres. Interesting stuff like that.
On a personal note, my love affair with popcorn goes back to the time when kernels were thrown into hot oil in a saucepan with the result being a lot of black popcorn. These days it has progressed to the point where companies have created built-in receptacles containing the raw kernels and all that's necessary for your regular popcorn aficionado is to toss it into a microwave oven. For me, the best popcorn is made in movie theatres when it's served hot. Too often it's allowed to stand resulting in cardboard-like kernels. How many people reading this eat the half-popped kernels?
Statistically, the majority of popcorn eaten across this planet is grown in the U.S. and Americans eat more popcorn than residents of all other countries.
Cheateau du Chat
Most cat owners will attest that cats have it made and although they ask for nothing, they seem to have the ability to get special treatment. Somehow, somebody must have felt the need that they i.e. cats, needed still more and to this end have created - wait for it - wine especially for cats.
The wine created by a Japanese company, offers felines who want only the best (don't they all?), their vintage, Nyan-Nyan Nouveau or for English cats, Meow Nouveau.
It was created in response to requests from people who were looking for a liquid consumption in which their pussycats could imbibe and join in holiday celebrations. There is no need for concern about drunken felines or the need for establishing a special group to get cats off the bottle, since the wine is none-alcoholic. The wine does contain vitamins, a trace of catnip to give them a "high" and made from Cabernet Franc wine grapes.
Thinking further...wonder if somebody will create special wine vessels specifically geared for wine-consuming kitties. Moreover, could this idea spread with special wines specifically geared for pet hamsters, budgies, lizards and other household pets?
Nyan Nyan Nouveau costs 399 yen (or $4) for per bottle and the company is limiting its run to a 1000 bottles. It's the cat's meow in the true sense of the word.
people reading this are probably wondering about how it all came about. Here are some corny facts:
- Americans consume 16 billion quarts of popped popcorn annually or 51 quarts per man, woman and child.
- Approximately 70 percent is eaten in the home (home popped and pre-popped) and about 30 percent outside the home (theaters, stadiums, schools, etc.). Un-popped popcorn accounts for approximately 90 percent of sales for home consumption.
- It's believed that the first use of wild and early cultivated corn was popping. Does this mean that ancestors, pioneers and the like actually made popcorn presumably over a fire? More importantly, did they add salt?
- The oldest ears of popcorn ever found were discovered in the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico in 1948 and 1950. Ranging from smaller than a penny to about 2 inches, the oldest Bat Cave ears are about 4,000 years old.
- Popcorn was integral to early 16th century Aztec Indian ceremonies.
- In 1519, Cortes got his first sight of popcorn when he invaded Mexico and came into contact with the Aztecs. Popcorn was an important food for the Aztec Indians, who also used popcorn as decoration for ceremonial headdresses, necklaces and ornaments on statues of their gods, including Tlaloc, the god of rain and fertility.
"So tell us, Eleanor - so what is the science involved in making popcorn pop?"
Again, referring to the EncyclopediaPopcornica:"each kernel of popcorn contains a small drop of water stored inside a circle of soft starch. Popcorn needs between 13.5-14% moisture to pop. The soft starch is surrounded by the kernel's hard outer surface.
As the kernel heats up, the water begins to expand. Around 212 degrees the water turns into steam and changes the starch inside each kernel into a superhot gelatinous goop. The kernel continues to heat to about 347 degrees. The pressure inside the grain will reach 135 pounds per square inch before finally bursting the hull open.
As it explodes, steam inside the kernel is released. The soft starch inside the popcorn becomes inflated and spills out, cooling immediately and forming into the odd shape we know and love. A kernel will swell 40-50 times its original size!"
These are important or at least interesting popcorn trivia facts we popcorn lovers should (or could or might) want to memorize and bring up at cocktail parties to impress strangers.
"Oh look. Those canapés remind me of popcorn," a person could say in the way of creating a means to bring up the subject in conversation. "Reminds me that pressure inside a popcorn grain can reach 135 pounds per square inch. Just can't get enough of the stuff."
At which point, depending on the response and interest, a person could continue and personalize the conversation by asking the preference of adding butter and salt or whether they prefer to pop their corn at home or restrict their eating at movie theatres. Interesting stuff like that.
On a personal note, my love affair with popcorn goes back to the time when kernels were thrown into hot oil in a saucepan with the result being a lot of black popcorn. These days it has progressed to the point where companies have created built-in receptacles containing the raw kernels and all that's necessary for your regular popcorn aficionado is to toss it into a microwave oven. For me, the best popcorn is made in movie theatres when it's served hot. Too often it's allowed to stand resulting in cardboard-like kernels. How many people reading this eat the half-popped kernels?
Statistically, the majority of popcorn eaten across this planet is grown in the U.S. and Americans eat more popcorn than residents of all other countries.
Cheateau du Chat
Most cat owners will attest that cats have it made and although they ask for nothing, they seem to have the ability to get special treatment. Somehow, somebody must have felt the need that they i.e. cats, needed still more and to this end have created - wait for it - wine especially for cats.
The wine created by a Japanese company, offers felines who want only the best (don't they all?), their vintage, Nyan-Nyan Nouveau or for English cats, Meow Nouveau.
It was created in response to requests from people who were looking for a liquid consumption in which their pussycats could imbibe and join in holiday celebrations. There is no need for concern about drunken felines or the need for establishing a special group to get cats off the bottle, since the wine is none-alcoholic. The wine does contain vitamins, a trace of catnip to give them a "high" and made from Cabernet Franc wine grapes.
Thinking further...wonder if somebody will create special wine vessels specifically geared for wine-consuming kitties. Moreover, could this idea spread with special wines specifically geared for pet hamsters, budgies, lizards and other household pets?
Nyan Nyan Nouveau costs 399 yen (or $4) for per bottle and the company is limiting its run to a 1000 bottles. It's the cat's meow in the true sense of the word.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Rant time: what happened to decorum?
Having heard and read good reviews about the film, "Prisoners", a night out at the movies was in order. Actually, the title of the film aptly describes the feeling of being seated in front of what can be best described as a couple of selfish numbskulls. Whatever happened to movie theatre decorum one wonders, anyway?
The film, which is too long in my view but that discussion is for another blog entry, is an intense cop drama that requires focus and concentration. Let me state for the record that I'm a big popcorn aficionado and a bag of the white stuff is a pre-requisite for an enjoyable night out at the movies. There are popcorn eaters and then there are popcorn eaters and it's truly amazing how the noisy eaters seem to gravitate to where we're seated.
No sooner did the film begin than a male, who shall be known as the 'Crinkle Bag Cracker', started what may be described as torturous routine consisting of inserting a hand (maybe two) into a paper receptacle, retrieving "a" i.e. one-at-a-time, kernel causing the bag to rustle/crinkle, in addition to what sounded like movements inside the bag, one surmises, distributing butter throughout. It was akin to a form of aural torture. Perhaps "popcorn torture" should be added to the lists of gleaning information for interrogation purposes.
"Who is your contact?" an interrogator would ask.
"I don't know what you're talking about," the person being interrogated would respond.
"We have our ways of making people talk! 'Bring out the terrible-bag-of pain!' an interrogator would command, after which a large bag filled with white kernels would be flashed in front of the prisoner. "These will be eaten one kernel at time over a 24 hour period."
"No-no! Not the terrible crinkly bag of popcorn! I'll talk! I'll talk"
But I digress. Getting back to the movie theatre issues...
After a while, instead of watching the film, I found myself wondering when the next popcorn kernel would be retrieved, resulting in the inevitable rattle that would follow. No amount of turning around and giving him 'the eye' had any impact on his behavior. It was interesting to note that there were other people seated around us that were eating popcorn but none produced the same level of noise as Mr. Crinkle Bag.
During the last half hour during the culmination of the story line and having finished the contents one presumes, Mr. Crinkle Bag decided for whatever reason - insanity springs to mind - to fold the empty bag over and over and over... It was more than our nerves could sustain compelling us to turn around and uttered loudly, "enough already!" which appeared to shock him into the realization that there were other people in the theatre.
As if this wasn't irritating enough and in spite of a notice on the screen to turn off all cell phones before the movie started, the cell phone of his female accomplice sitting next to him rang. Rather than turn it off, she lifted it up to see the caller and allowed it to ring at least 3-4 times. Ignoring theatre patrons seated behind her who requested politely that she turn it off, she took her time texting a response, after which she finally turned it off. Not related but related, I've also attended funerals where cell phones were answered in addition to conversing with someone while the service was conducted.
As I asked: what happened to decorum?
I dunno. Read some articles in which producers et al complained that movie goers aren't going to theatres to watch movies as they once did. In my eyes - and ears - it's less stressful to watch movies on TV and settle for microwaved popcorn, and where answering a cell phone won't interfere with someone's night out at the movies. Not.
The film, which is too long in my view but that discussion is for another blog entry, is an intense cop drama that requires focus and concentration. Let me state for the record that I'm a big popcorn aficionado and a bag of the white stuff is a pre-requisite for an enjoyable night out at the movies. There are popcorn eaters and then there are popcorn eaters and it's truly amazing how the noisy eaters seem to gravitate to where we're seated.
No sooner did the film begin than a male, who shall be known as the 'Crinkle Bag Cracker', started what may be described as torturous routine consisting of inserting a hand (maybe two) into a paper receptacle, retrieving "a" i.e. one-at-a-time, kernel causing the bag to rustle/crinkle, in addition to what sounded like movements inside the bag, one surmises, distributing butter throughout. It was akin to a form of aural torture. Perhaps "popcorn torture" should be added to the lists of gleaning information for interrogation purposes.
"Who is your contact?" an interrogator would ask.
"I don't know what you're talking about," the person being interrogated would respond.
"We have our ways of making people talk! 'Bring out the terrible-bag-of pain!' an interrogator would command, after which a large bag filled with white kernels would be flashed in front of the prisoner. "These will be eaten one kernel at time over a 24 hour period."
"No-no! Not the terrible crinkly bag of popcorn! I'll talk! I'll talk"
But I digress. Getting back to the movie theatre issues...
After a while, instead of watching the film, I found myself wondering when the next popcorn kernel would be retrieved, resulting in the inevitable rattle that would follow. No amount of turning around and giving him 'the eye' had any impact on his behavior. It was interesting to note that there were other people seated around us that were eating popcorn but none produced the same level of noise as Mr. Crinkle Bag.
During the last half hour during the culmination of the story line and having finished the contents one presumes, Mr. Crinkle Bag decided for whatever reason - insanity springs to mind - to fold the empty bag over and over and over... It was more than our nerves could sustain compelling us to turn around and uttered loudly, "enough already!" which appeared to shock him into the realization that there were other people in the theatre.
As if this wasn't irritating enough and in spite of a notice on the screen to turn off all cell phones before the movie started, the cell phone of his female accomplice sitting next to him rang. Rather than turn it off, she lifted it up to see the caller and allowed it to ring at least 3-4 times. Ignoring theatre patrons seated behind her who requested politely that she turn it off, she took her time texting a response, after which she finally turned it off. Not related but related, I've also attended funerals where cell phones were answered in addition to conversing with someone while the service was conducted.
As I asked: what happened to decorum?
I dunno. Read some articles in which producers et al complained that movie goers aren't going to theatres to watch movies as they once did. In my eyes - and ears - it's less stressful to watch movies on TV and settle for microwaved popcorn, and where answering a cell phone won't interfere with someone's night out at the movies. Not.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
And the 2013 Ig Nobel prizes go to... Of reclining cows, swallowed shrews and other interesting achievements
The Nobel Prize is a set of annual international and prestigious awards handed out in a number of categories by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and/or scientific advances. There also exists another similar - at least in name - and yet quite different set of prizes acknowledging innovativeness in certain accomplishments.
The Ig Nobel Prizes, according to their site, "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative — and spur people's interest in science, medicine, and technology." The similarity ends with the "Nobel" moniker. Organized by the magazine "Annals of Improbable Research", the ceremony (there is a ceremony, too) is co-sponsored by the Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students and the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association.
The list this year, as in the past, could be and is classified as falling into the unique category:
Have to admit that this never occurred to me but obviously there are people who give this serious thought. The Medicine Prize went to Masateru Uchiyama, Gi Zhang, Toshihito Hirai, Atushi Amano, Hisashi Hashuda (Japan), Xiangyan Jin (China/Japan) and Masanori Niimi (Japan/UK) for assessing the effect of listening to opera on mice heart transplant patients. Who would have thought that mice are opera lovers. More to the point, one (me) wonders which are their favorites.
Somehow, the Psychology Prize, given to Laurent Begue, Oulmann Zerhouni, Baptiste Subra and Medhi Ourabah (France), Brad Bushman (USA/UK), the Netherlands/Poland) for confirming that people who think they are drunk also think they are more attractive, could be viewed as plausible i.e. one could believe while being under the influence of alcohol that visually they seem more visually alluring.
Can't say I've given much if any thought about the plight of dung beetles but obviously Marie Dacke (Sweden/Australia), Emily Baird, Eric Warrant (Sweden/Australia/Germany), Marcus Byrne (South Africa/UK) and Clarke Scholtz (South Africa) obviously have in their discovery for the Joint Prize in Biology and Astronomy that when dung beetles get lost, they can navigate their way home by looking at the milky way. I mean, thinking about this, it's not something that is of concern, at least for me. You?
The Safety Engineering Prize, won by the late Gustano Pizzo (US) definitely falls into the outside-the-box category for inventing an electro-mechanical system to trap airplane hijackers. The system drops a hijacker through trap doors, seals him (or her) into a package, then drops the hijacker through the airplane's specially-installed bomb bay doors through which he (or she) is parachuted to the ground where police, having been alerted by radio, await his arrival. Presumably, the airplane(s) would have to have a trap door and bomb bay doors on board for this to work. Somehow, the vision of a bunch of police cars chasing the plane in order to ensure the capture of the hijacker springs to mind, yelling "we got him...we got him!". Sort-of a keystone-esque quality. Moving on...
For their discovery that some people would be physically capable of running across the surface of a pond - if those people and that pond were on the moon, Alberto Minetti, (Italy/UK/Denmark/Switzerland, Yuri Ivanenko (Italy/Russia/France), Germana Cappellini, Francesco lacquaniti (Italy) and Nadia Dominici (Italy/Switzerland), took home the prize in the Physics category. Thinking further - entirely too much time on my hands - one would have to assume that there were or could be ponds on the moon and if so, one would have to be motivated to run across the surface for a reason - say if an alien creature was pursuing one. Moving on again...
Onions have always given me a reason to tear up (injecting a small (very) touch of comedy) and this is confirmed with the bestowing of the Chemistry Prize awarded to Shinsuke Imai, Nobuaki Tsuge, Muneaki Tomotake, Yoshiaki Nagatome, Hidehiko Kumgai (Japan) and Toshiyuki Nagata (Japan/Germany), for discovering that the biochemical process by which onions make people cry is even more complicated than scientists previously realised. Related to this and as a matter of interest, chewing gum while peeling onions will diminish the tearing effect. Really.
Not sure if this is news that we need to know or even want to know but be that as it may, Brian Crandall (US) and Peter Stahl (Canada/US) won their Archeology award for observing how the bones of a swallowed dead shrew dissolve inside the human digestive system. They did this by parboiling a dead shrew, swallowing the shrew without chewing, and then carefully examining everything excreted during subsequent days — all so they could see which bones would dissolve inside the human digestive system, and which bones would not. Moving on while trying to avoid the gagging instinct...
The Peace Prize went to Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus, for making it illegal to applaud in public and to the Belarus State Police, for arresting a one-armed man for applauding.
This is something we all (at least me) would never have contemplated or even given it a lot of thought but obviously Bert Tolkamp (UK/the Netherlands), Marie Haskell, Fritha Langford. David Roberts, and Colin Morgan (UK) who won the Probability Prize, for making two related discoveries. The longer a cow has been lying down, the more likely that cow will soon stand up, and once a cow stands up, you cannot easily predict how soon that cow will lie down again. Logically, at least in my mind and at some point depending on the age of a cow and whether or not it could be suffering from arthritis or rheumatism, a cow will eventually stand up to stretch her legs, after which a short walk, will lay down again.
So Kasian Bhanganada, Tu Chayavatana, Chumporn Pongnumkul, Anunt Tonmukayakul, Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, Krit Komaratal, and Henry Wilde (Thailand) did their research and received the award in the Public Health category by studying the medical techniques of penile re-attachment after amputations (often by jealous wives). They also recommended these techniques except in cases where the amputated penis had been partially eaten by a duck. Ducks eat penises? Go figure!
And so there you have it. Who knows what exciting and at the very least, thought-provoking discoveries will be made next year!
The Ig Nobel Prizes, according to their site, "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative — and spur people's interest in science, medicine, and technology." The similarity ends with the "Nobel" moniker. Organized by the magazine "Annals of Improbable Research", the ceremony (there is a ceremony, too) is co-sponsored by the Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Physics Students and the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Fiction Association.
The list this year, as in the past, could be and is classified as falling into the unique category:
Have to admit that this never occurred to me but obviously there are people who give this serious thought. The Medicine Prize went to Masateru Uchiyama, Gi Zhang, Toshihito Hirai, Atushi Amano, Hisashi Hashuda (Japan), Xiangyan Jin (China/Japan) and Masanori Niimi (Japan/UK) for assessing the effect of listening to opera on mice heart transplant patients. Who would have thought that mice are opera lovers. More to the point, one (me) wonders which are their favorites.
Somehow, the Psychology Prize, given to Laurent Begue, Oulmann Zerhouni, Baptiste Subra and Medhi Ourabah (France), Brad Bushman (USA/UK), the Netherlands/Poland) for confirming that people who think they are drunk also think they are more attractive, could be viewed as plausible i.e. one could believe while being under the influence of alcohol that visually they seem more visually alluring.
Can't say I've given much if any thought about the plight of dung beetles but obviously Marie Dacke (Sweden/Australia), Emily Baird, Eric Warrant (Sweden/Australia/Germany), Marcus Byrne (South Africa/UK) and Clarke Scholtz (South Africa) obviously have in their discovery for the Joint Prize in Biology and Astronomy that when dung beetles get lost, they can navigate their way home by looking at the milky way. I mean, thinking about this, it's not something that is of concern, at least for me. You?
The Safety Engineering Prize, won by the late Gustano Pizzo (US) definitely falls into the outside-the-box category for inventing an electro-mechanical system to trap airplane hijackers. The system drops a hijacker through trap doors, seals him (or her) into a package, then drops the hijacker through the airplane's specially-installed bomb bay doors through which he (or she) is parachuted to the ground where police, having been alerted by radio, await his arrival. Presumably, the airplane(s) would have to have a trap door and bomb bay doors on board for this to work. Somehow, the vision of a bunch of police cars chasing the plane in order to ensure the capture of the hijacker springs to mind, yelling "we got him...we got him!". Sort-of a keystone-esque quality. Moving on...
For their discovery that some people would be physically capable of running across the surface of a pond - if those people and that pond were on the moon, Alberto Minetti, (Italy/UK/Denmark/Switzerland, Yuri Ivanenko (Italy/Russia/France), Germana Cappellini, Francesco lacquaniti (Italy) and Nadia Dominici (Italy/Switzerland), took home the prize in the Physics category. Thinking further - entirely too much time on my hands - one would have to assume that there were or could be ponds on the moon and if so, one would have to be motivated to run across the surface for a reason - say if an alien creature was pursuing one. Moving on again...
Onions have always given me a reason to tear up (injecting a small (very) touch of comedy) and this is confirmed with the bestowing of the Chemistry Prize awarded to Shinsuke Imai, Nobuaki Tsuge, Muneaki Tomotake, Yoshiaki Nagatome, Hidehiko Kumgai (Japan) and Toshiyuki Nagata (Japan/Germany), for discovering that the biochemical process by which onions make people cry is even more complicated than scientists previously realised. Related to this and as a matter of interest, chewing gum while peeling onions will diminish the tearing effect. Really.
Not sure if this is news that we need to know or even want to know but be that as it may, Brian Crandall (US) and Peter Stahl (Canada/US) won their Archeology award for observing how the bones of a swallowed dead shrew dissolve inside the human digestive system. They did this by parboiling a dead shrew, swallowing the shrew without chewing, and then carefully examining everything excreted during subsequent days — all so they could see which bones would dissolve inside the human digestive system, and which bones would not. Moving on while trying to avoid the gagging instinct...
The Peace Prize went to Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus, for making it illegal to applaud in public and to the Belarus State Police, for arresting a one-armed man for applauding.
This is something we all (at least me) would never have contemplated or even given it a lot of thought but obviously Bert Tolkamp (UK/the Netherlands), Marie Haskell, Fritha Langford. David Roberts, and Colin Morgan (UK) who won the Probability Prize, for making two related discoveries. The longer a cow has been lying down, the more likely that cow will soon stand up, and once a cow stands up, you cannot easily predict how soon that cow will lie down again. Logically, at least in my mind and at some point depending on the age of a cow and whether or not it could be suffering from arthritis or rheumatism, a cow will eventually stand up to stretch her legs, after which a short walk, will lay down again.
So Kasian Bhanganada, Tu Chayavatana, Chumporn Pongnumkul, Anunt Tonmukayakul, Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, Krit Komaratal, and Henry Wilde (Thailand) did their research and received the award in the Public Health category by studying the medical techniques of penile re-attachment after amputations (often by jealous wives). They also recommended these techniques except in cases where the amputated penis had been partially eaten by a duck. Ducks eat penises? Go figure!
And so there you have it. Who knows what exciting and at the very least, thought-provoking discoveries will be made next year!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
A time to reflect as to the chicken's place in society
In addition to September being the gate-way month into fall, it is also a fowl month. In case people weren't aware of it - can't speak or opine for others but it never crossed my mind - September is National Chicken Month.
In researching chickens on the web, came across some interesting facts about the bird via www.Smithsonian.com blog. These are the type of facts that makes one shake one's head in amazement while uttering, "go figure" or "I didn't know that!':
- the chicken, gallus domesticus, is a domestic subspecies of the red jungle fowl, a relation of the pheasant family and native to Asia. The grey jungle fowl also contributed to the chicken's evolution
- statistically, there are 25 billion chickens on the planet, give or take a couple of thousand who didn't make it into the stats
- they were first domesticated for cock-fights and not for food
- in spite of the general assumption (at least I assumed it) that chickens can't fly, they can with a great effort, make it over a fence or even into a tree. Hopefully, in the case of the latter, there would be no cats lurking in tree branches waiting to be rescued by firefighters... But I digress.
- they are omnivores and enjoy a meal of seeds and insects but - gasp - they also indulge in an occasional meal of nice and lizards. Remember that during your next chicken dinner.
- in the romance area, a rooster announces that he's found food with a "took-took-took" but hens ignore them if they're aware that food is available. The roosters, in an attempt to impress hens, perform a dance called, 'tid-bitting' where they make sounds and move their heads up-and-down, picking up and dropping food. Researchers have discovered that the females of the species prefer roosters that frequently 'tid-bit' along with larger, brighter combs on their heads. One could deduce from this information that hens are somewhat shallow and will opt for looks rather than personality. But again I digress.
- scientists believe the roosters wattle - the dangly thingy under his beak - aids in attracting a hen's attention while performing his tid-bitting.
So this is all leading to that age-old questions which have been perplexing woman/mankind for millenniums: which came first - the chicken or the egg and just why did the chicken cross the street, anyway.
After great thought, it seems logical (at least in my mind) that the chicken had to originate from the egg, initially. However - it's always the 'howevers' in life that get you in the end - there had to be a hen to lay said egg, thus the formula: hen+rooster in the mood=chicks.
Don't want to speak disparagingly but chickens and their ilk are known to have short attention spans. Perhaps - pure speculation on my part - they cross the road merely because there is a road and they want to perpetuate the illusion that chickens enjoy crossing a road, when in effect, they are petrified of becoming chicken fricassee. Then again, how do we really know whether chickens want to cross the road, anyway? Perhaps it's one of those urban legends that have been passed down from person-to-person and chicken-to chicken. When you think about it (too much time on my hands) there is no logical reason for a chicken to cross the road. It`s a fowl day when these issues don`t receive some attention
Eggs-actly.
In researching chickens on the web, came across some interesting facts about the bird via www.Smithsonian.com blog. These are the type of facts that makes one shake one's head in amazement while uttering, "go figure" or "I didn't know that!':
- the chicken, gallus domesticus, is a domestic subspecies of the red jungle fowl, a relation of the pheasant family and native to Asia. The grey jungle fowl also contributed to the chicken's evolution
- statistically, there are 25 billion chickens on the planet, give or take a couple of thousand who didn't make it into the stats
- they were first domesticated for cock-fights and not for food
- in spite of the general assumption (at least I assumed it) that chickens can't fly, they can with a great effort, make it over a fence or even into a tree. Hopefully, in the case of the latter, there would be no cats lurking in tree branches waiting to be rescued by firefighters... But I digress.
- they are omnivores and enjoy a meal of seeds and insects but - gasp - they also indulge in an occasional meal of nice and lizards. Remember that during your next chicken dinner.
- in the romance area, a rooster announces that he's found food with a "took-took-took" but hens ignore them if they're aware that food is available. The roosters, in an attempt to impress hens, perform a dance called, 'tid-bitting' where they make sounds and move their heads up-and-down, picking up and dropping food. Researchers have discovered that the females of the species prefer roosters that frequently 'tid-bit' along with larger, brighter combs on their heads. One could deduce from this information that hens are somewhat shallow and will opt for looks rather than personality. But again I digress.
- scientists believe the roosters wattle - the dangly thingy under his beak - aids in attracting a hen's attention while performing his tid-bitting.
So this is all leading to that age-old questions which have been perplexing woman/mankind for millenniums: which came first - the chicken or the egg and just why did the chicken cross the street, anyway.
After great thought, it seems logical (at least in my mind) that the chicken had to originate from the egg, initially. However - it's always the 'howevers' in life that get you in the end - there had to be a hen to lay said egg, thus the formula: hen+rooster in the mood=chicks.
Don't want to speak disparagingly but chickens and their ilk are known to have short attention spans. Perhaps - pure speculation on my part - they cross the road merely because there is a road and they want to perpetuate the illusion that chickens enjoy crossing a road, when in effect, they are petrified of becoming chicken fricassee. Then again, how do we really know whether chickens want to cross the road, anyway? Perhaps it's one of those urban legends that have been passed down from person-to-person and chicken-to chicken. When you think about it (too much time on my hands) there is no logical reason for a chicken to cross the road. It`s a fowl day when these issues don`t receive some attention
Eggs-actly.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Some suggestions for Ben Affleck and people looking for things to do
Given the current (as this is being written) controversy and flack
regarding Ben Affleck assuming the role of the new Batman, perhaps this
activity could be an opportunity to get away from it all, for the actor or anybody reading this. I mean,
until the cape flies, Affleck could take to Lancanshire, England and keep in
shape by gravy wrestling.
The current world champion,
Richard Addis, swam the bog in 1 minute, 26.5 seconds. As appealing as this sport
sounds, I’ll pass.
Judging is made in four
categories that include traditional over-the-shoulder throw for children 12
years of age and under, freestyle with no age limits, original and team
original. According to the information blurb, most phones are acceptable as
long as they don’t weigh more than 220 grams.
Meanwhile, the prize for winning in the world championships is a new mobile phone since these events are usually supported by mobile phone recycling organizations that promote the recycling of phones, and of course, boasting rights for tossing your phone the longest distance.
So Ben Affleck, if you’re
reading this and bemoaning the negative reaction of people regarding your newly
acquired role of Batman, perhaps consider flying over to Finland, escape from
it all and not have to talk to anyone on your cell phone. Or perhaps a good
snorkel in bog would be good for the nerves or a go in gravy. I mean,
what else do you have to do?
Friday, July 26, 2013
What ever happened to 315? Enquiring minds want - need - to know!
Try as I may and no stone has been left unturned in a desperate effort to find any trace, it appears that number 315 has disappeared. While we're at it, number 5 seems to have suffered the same fate and something tells me that number 225 isn't too long for this world. The searches only confirm what is most likely believed and experienced by cosmetic users world-wide, in that these regular disappearances is a collective plot by cosmetic companies to drive consumers crazy. Really.
Number 315 - no shade name supplied - has disappeared mysteriously off the shelves and hasn't been seen since. It was the perfect deep shade of foundation for summer wear, being a beige color that imitated a rich, summer tan leaving the skin looking like it was kissed by the sun. Once applied on the face, it was love at first site and I ran out to purchase a couple more bottles knowing that it could disappear off the shelves, as is a frequent practice by well-known retail outlets and pharmacies.
It's not a high-end brand, F.I.T. by Maybelline but it was moderately priced and suited my skin type.
My seasonal ritual is to use a deeper beige shade in summer while a lighter more natural shade is the choice for winter and spring. All good things come to an end and once the remnants of 315 had been coaxed out of the bottle, a trip to the local pharmacy for a refill revealed number 225 in the place where 315 had once been. Assuming there was a run on this color, an inquiry and verification by the pharmacy cosmetic clerk revealed the shock that 315 was no more. Thing is - 225 just doesn't...won't do. Know what I mean? You know you do! Its disappearance has precipitated a search in the hope of it turning up in some pharmacy, somewhere, anywhere, but it doesn't look promising.
As if all this wasn't traumatic enough, loose powder compact number 5 by Cover Girl, used to compliment number 315, has dropped out of sight. This week alone, numbers N55 and 155 that looked similar, are among others that most likely will lay dormant somewhere in the back of the bathroom cabinet, along with loose powder 360.
It makes a person - me - wonder if cosmetic companies take the tastes of consumers into consideration, in deciding the shelf life of their products.
A similar situation exists with lipstick shades and it appears, at least in my eyes that it's a group decision when it comes to choosing the dominant color - singular - for the coming season(s). Pink, the "in" shade for a while does not suit my coloring, which is most likely the case with many other lipstick wearers. Do the powers-that-be care? Most likely not.
COSMETIC CO. CEO
So whad'ya think, people? Pink for this year, again?
ANOTHER COSMETIC CO. CEO
Didn't we do pink last year?
YET ANOTHER COSMETIC CO. CEO
And the year before that?
COSMETIC CO. CEO
True, but the word according to cosmetic reps, is there's a lot of pink left over. We gotta move it
ANOTHER COSMETIC CO. CEO
Doesn't that mean that lipstick users have had enough or perhaps don't even like pink? Why don't we try another shade, like beige, for example? Beige is good.
COSMETIC CO. CEO
Beige? That's like...so two-seasons-ago. The lipstick wearers will use pink and like it. We have spoken and they will obey. More pink for another year at least. We'll start a marketing campaign promoting pink as the new beige. Consumers will have to buy it. They'll have no choice.
So now you know the reason why you're wearing pink lipstick - again. At least IMHO.
Right now my cosmetic bag is filled with "reject" lipsticks that looked to be in the desirable beige tones when purchased, but ended up pink. Attention cosmetic companies: not everyone suits the same color lipstick!
There's always the hope that maybe down the line, 315 will show up again but with another number. In the end, it's all a numbers game anyway. Right?
Number 315 - no shade name supplied - has disappeared mysteriously off the shelves and hasn't been seen since. It was the perfect deep shade of foundation for summer wear, being a beige color that imitated a rich, summer tan leaving the skin looking like it was kissed by the sun. Once applied on the face, it was love at first site and I ran out to purchase a couple more bottles knowing that it could disappear off the shelves, as is a frequent practice by well-known retail outlets and pharmacies.
It's not a high-end brand, F.I.T. by Maybelline but it was moderately priced and suited my skin type.
My seasonal ritual is to use a deeper beige shade in summer while a lighter more natural shade is the choice for winter and spring. All good things come to an end and once the remnants of 315 had been coaxed out of the bottle, a trip to the local pharmacy for a refill revealed number 225 in the place where 315 had once been. Assuming there was a run on this color, an inquiry and verification by the pharmacy cosmetic clerk revealed the shock that 315 was no more. Thing is - 225 just doesn't...won't do. Know what I mean? You know you do! Its disappearance has precipitated a search in the hope of it turning up in some pharmacy, somewhere, anywhere, but it doesn't look promising.
As if all this wasn't traumatic enough, loose powder compact number 5 by Cover Girl, used to compliment number 315, has dropped out of sight. This week alone, numbers N55 and 155 that looked similar, are among others that most likely will lay dormant somewhere in the back of the bathroom cabinet, along with loose powder 360.
It makes a person - me - wonder if cosmetic companies take the tastes of consumers into consideration, in deciding the shelf life of their products.
A similar situation exists with lipstick shades and it appears, at least in my eyes that it's a group decision when it comes to choosing the dominant color - singular - for the coming season(s). Pink, the "in" shade for a while does not suit my coloring, which is most likely the case with many other lipstick wearers. Do the powers-that-be care? Most likely not.
COSMETIC CO. CEO
So whad'ya think, people? Pink for this year, again?
ANOTHER COSMETIC CO. CEO
Didn't we do pink last year?
YET ANOTHER COSMETIC CO. CEO
And the year before that?
COSMETIC CO. CEO
True, but the word according to cosmetic reps, is there's a lot of pink left over. We gotta move it
ANOTHER COSMETIC CO. CEO
Doesn't that mean that lipstick users have had enough or perhaps don't even like pink? Why don't we try another shade, like beige, for example? Beige is good.
COSMETIC CO. CEO
Beige? That's like...so two-seasons-ago. The lipstick wearers will use pink and like it. We have spoken and they will obey. More pink for another year at least. We'll start a marketing campaign promoting pink as the new beige. Consumers will have to buy it. They'll have no choice.
So now you know the reason why you're wearing pink lipstick - again. At least IMHO.
Right now my cosmetic bag is filled with "reject" lipsticks that looked to be in the desirable beige tones when purchased, but ended up pink. Attention cosmetic companies: not everyone suits the same color lipstick!
There's always the hope that maybe down the line, 315 will show up again but with another number. In the end, it's all a numbers game anyway. Right?
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Life's quirky moments and other interesting but somewhat puzzling stories
Sometimes, a writer comes across a story that immediately begs to be shared. Maybe not begged but definitely worth passing on. This piece falls into this category.
There are competitions and then there are competitions that carry an unusual premise. In case you weren't aware of it - don't really know how I missed it - the Wife Carrying World Championships were held recently in Finland. This makes one - me - wonder why someone would want to create a contest of this nature encompassing schlepping (schlep - verb -Yiddish for drag, haul) a spouse around. But I digress.
In the way of background information, this schlepping-fest is or was inspired by a 19th century Finnish legend focusing on wives being stolen from neighboring villages. Just thinking here whether the stolen wives were at some point, re-stolen back. But I digress. Again.
The challenge consists of couples (no mention of marital status) race around a 253 metre obstacle course with the 'wife', who is carried upside down with her legs clasped around the runner's neck. Presumably, strong legs would be an absolute necessity and a pre-requisite for the wife element of the competition. Weak-legged wives wouldn't suffice. According to one contestant, water obstacles consisting of a big pond lined in plastic, made the going very tough. I can imagine. Wonder if drowning is an issue...
In the end and when the carrying was over, Finnish couple Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina, took home the gold medal for the fifth consecutive year.
All dressed (and stuffed) mice to go
In as far as mice are concerned, to some people they are unwanted rodents that should be and frequently are, eliminated by various means, which shall remain nameless. There are people, presumably mice aficienodos, who enjoy their presence be it in an inanimate state of being. Why does this vision make me shudder.
There are competitions and then there are competitions that carry an unusual premise. In case you weren't aware of it - don't really know how I missed it - the Wife Carrying World Championships were held recently in Finland. This makes one - me - wonder why someone would want to create a contest of this nature encompassing schlepping (schlep - verb -Yiddish for drag, haul) a spouse around. But I digress.
In the way of background information, this schlepping-fest is or was inspired by a 19th century Finnish legend focusing on wives being stolen from neighboring villages. Just thinking here whether the stolen wives were at some point, re-stolen back. But I digress. Again.
The challenge consists of couples (no mention of marital status) race around a 253 metre obstacle course with the 'wife', who is carried upside down with her legs clasped around the runner's neck. Presumably, strong legs would be an absolute necessity and a pre-requisite for the wife element of the competition. Weak-legged wives wouldn't suffice. According to one contestant, water obstacles consisting of a big pond lined in plastic, made the going very tough. I can imagine. Wonder if drowning is an issue...
In the end and when the carrying was over, Finnish couple Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina, took home the gold medal for the fifth consecutive year.
All dressed (and stuffed) mice to go
In as far as mice are concerned, to some people they are unwanted rodents that should be and frequently are, eliminated by various means, which shall remain nameless. There are people, presumably mice aficienodos, who enjoy their presence be it in an inanimate state of being. Why does this vision make me shudder.
A taxidermist, obviously a mouse/mice aficionado, is running workshops focusing on the art of anthropomorphic taxidermy - say that fast after a few drinks - offering interested persons the chance to learn how to stuff dead mice, dress them up in cute costumes and pose them in unusual situations. Why? Who knows but the practice was a popular art form during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
The four-hour course offered by trained taxidermist, Shannon Marie Harmon, costs approximately $100 and teaches students to apply a preservative inside mice that is purchased from pet shops, pose and dress them in a range of cute-sy outfits. Wondering if there's a dress maker/designer who specializes in mice fashions. Anybody know? Moving along...
Upon completion of their course, students get to leave with their very own stuffed and embalmed rodent, ready to be dressed in the student's outfit of choice that could include polka dot dresses (presumably for female mice but not necessarily) or Victorian outfits replete with shoes.
We're talking here about frozen feeder mice available only at pet stores and not your common, street variety. It stands to reason that a higher quality rodent is a necessity given the variety of diseases that street mice carry. Right? You know it's true!
In case anyone reading this is interesting in learning the art of mice stuffing, Ms Harmon operates two classes consisting of 15 people, twice per week.
Pass...
The four-hour course offered by trained taxidermist, Shannon Marie Harmon, costs approximately $100 and teaches students to apply a preservative inside mice that is purchased from pet shops, pose and dress them in a range of cute-sy outfits. Wondering if there's a dress maker/designer who specializes in mice fashions. Anybody know? Moving along...
Upon completion of their course, students get to leave with their very own stuffed and embalmed rodent, ready to be dressed in the student's outfit of choice that could include polka dot dresses (presumably for female mice but not necessarily) or Victorian outfits replete with shoes.
We're talking here about frozen feeder mice available only at pet stores and not your common, street variety. It stands to reason that a higher quality rodent is a necessity given the variety of diseases that street mice carry. Right? You know it's true!
In case anyone reading this is interesting in learning the art of mice stuffing, Ms Harmon operates two classes consisting of 15 people, twice per week.
Pass...
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Go figure! Clapping is contagious
Never really gave this much thought but obviously some people do. According to a study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, it appears that clapping is contagious. A lot of people including me, assumed that it was merely a means of showing our enthusiasm and appreciation for a performance.
According to Richard Mann, a mathematics teacher at Uppsala University in Sweden, this type of behavior can be initiated by one or two (or more presumably) people who decide to clap for whatever reason. Seems that once a few people begin the clapping process, everyone suddenly feels the necessity to join in. Sort of a giant clap-in. Thinking further about this, one - me - wonders if it would be applicable while clapping to keep one's fingers from going numb in cold weather.
Let's say you're standing at a bus stop in freezing cold weather, waiting in line along with a dozen or so people for the bus or train or whatever to arrive. A clapping motion is initiated by one person to keep the fingers from going numb, would others do the same thing? Is it also applicable to feet stomping? Anyone know? But I digress.
Mann and his colleagues arrived at this conclusion having researched how birds move in flocks and fish swim in schools. Not sure how this is applicable to humans but then who am I. To test the theory, a group of 13 to 20 students were placed in an audience and told to watch a short presentation given by another student (wonder how many of them were texting...just saying). The students were filmed while watching the speech after being instructed to applaud once the speech was over since the speaker was a volunteer. After repeating the experiment six times with different audiences, the conclusion drawn was that the act of clapping is precipitated (love that word) by the amount of people around who initiate the clapping. Furthermore and statistically, the first person started clapping 2.1 seconds following the presentation and the entire room was clapping by 2.9 seconds.
While this is - well - interesting, one wonders how people get grants for this type of study. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, how does human kind benefit? Perhaps theatre producers, TV and film people might find the end results interesting and possibly useful but what does it do for you and me? Thinking further, I've been to theatre performances and movies where a few people suddenly feel the urge to clap and were told by the audience vociferously to refrain from any further clapping movement.
The ultimate goal, according to Mann, is to expand their research to more complex behaviors. Taking it one step further, perhaps at some point in the future, somebody will research the effect of coughing and whether a coughing fit can cause a mass cough-out. We all know - okay... I read it somewhere - that extensive yawning in public causes people within the viewing range of the yawn-er to do the same thing.
Speaking or writing about contagious yawning, Wikipedia shares on their write-up of yawning, "A study by the University of London has suggested that the "contagiousness" of yawns by a human will pass to dogs. The study observed that 21 of 29 dogs yawned when a stranger yawned in front of them, but did not yawn when the stranger only opened his mouth. A recent study from Lund University showed that dogs, like humans, develop a susceptibility to contagious yawning gradually, and that while dogs above 7 months 'catch' yawns from humans, younger dogs are immune to contagion.[The study also indicated that nearly half of the dogs responded to the human's yawn by becoming relaxed and sleepy, suggesting that the dogs copied not just the yawn, but also the physical state that yawns typically reflect." This is stuff you want (not necessarily need) to know, people!
I clap. You clap. We all clap but in the end, do we care why we do?
According to Richard Mann, a mathematics teacher at Uppsala University in Sweden, this type of behavior can be initiated by one or two (or more presumably) people who decide to clap for whatever reason. Seems that once a few people begin the clapping process, everyone suddenly feels the necessity to join in. Sort of a giant clap-in. Thinking further about this, one - me - wonders if it would be applicable while clapping to keep one's fingers from going numb in cold weather.
Let's say you're standing at a bus stop in freezing cold weather, waiting in line along with a dozen or so people for the bus or train or whatever to arrive. A clapping motion is initiated by one person to keep the fingers from going numb, would others do the same thing? Is it also applicable to feet stomping? Anyone know? But I digress.
Mann and his colleagues arrived at this conclusion having researched how birds move in flocks and fish swim in schools. Not sure how this is applicable to humans but then who am I. To test the theory, a group of 13 to 20 students were placed in an audience and told to watch a short presentation given by another student (wonder how many of them were texting...just saying). The students were filmed while watching the speech after being instructed to applaud once the speech was over since the speaker was a volunteer. After repeating the experiment six times with different audiences, the conclusion drawn was that the act of clapping is precipitated (love that word) by the amount of people around who initiate the clapping. Furthermore and statistically, the first person started clapping 2.1 seconds following the presentation and the entire room was clapping by 2.9 seconds.
While this is - well - interesting, one wonders how people get grants for this type of study. I mean, in the grand scheme of things, how does human kind benefit? Perhaps theatre producers, TV and film people might find the end results interesting and possibly useful but what does it do for you and me? Thinking further, I've been to theatre performances and movies where a few people suddenly feel the urge to clap and were told by the audience vociferously to refrain from any further clapping movement.
The ultimate goal, according to Mann, is to expand their research to more complex behaviors. Taking it one step further, perhaps at some point in the future, somebody will research the effect of coughing and whether a coughing fit can cause a mass cough-out. We all know - okay... I read it somewhere - that extensive yawning in public causes people within the viewing range of the yawn-er to do the same thing.
Speaking or writing about contagious yawning, Wikipedia shares on their write-up of yawning, "A study by the University of London has suggested that the "contagiousness" of yawns by a human will pass to dogs. The study observed that 21 of 29 dogs yawned when a stranger yawned in front of them, but did not yawn when the stranger only opened his mouth. A recent study from Lund University showed that dogs, like humans, develop a susceptibility to contagious yawning gradually, and that while dogs above 7 months 'catch' yawns from humans, younger dogs are immune to contagion.[The study also indicated that nearly half of the dogs responded to the human's yawn by becoming relaxed and sleepy, suggesting that the dogs copied not just the yawn, but also the physical state that yawns typically reflect." This is stuff you want (not necessarily need) to know, people!
I clap. You clap. We all clap but in the end, do we care why we do?
Monday, June 10, 2013
Tea time with a little ice on the side
|
- A large amount of caffeine is released from tea after the first 30 seconds of brewing. - There are four main types of tea: white, green, oolong, and black In seeking some information about the origins of tea, the Tea Association of the USA has some very interesting tea-related data. For example: - On any given day, about one half of the American population drinks tea. On a regional basis, the South and Northeast have the greatest concentration of tea drinkers. - Approximately 85% of tea consumed in America is iced - Historically, tea is nearly 5,000 years old and was discovered in 2737 BC by Chinese Emperor Shen-Nung, known as the "Divine Healer" - Anna, Duchess of Bedford, is credited with creating Afternoon Tea in 1840. Good thing she did since 'tea time' usually between three and four in the afternoon is a wonderful habit to acquire...really. This site, http://www.teausa.com/14655/tea-fact-sheet is an interesting source of facts and data related to tea and is a worth-while visit. There is also a fun section devoted to the art of tea leaf reading: http://www.teausa.com/14531/reading-tea-leaves Now that that the origins of tea have been explored, let's get down to the basics of the actual creation of a pitcher of the liquid. Here is the basic recipe: 8 cups water 3 orange pekoe tea bags 3/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup lemon juice Slices of fresh lemon to garnish
Instructions:
In a large saucepan, heat water to a rapid boil. Remove from heat and drop in the tea bags. Cover and let steep for 1 hour.In a large pitcher, combine the steeped tea and the sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved, then stir in lemon juice. Refrigerate until chilled. Before serving, garnish with thinly-sliced lemons in the pitcher or on the rim of the glass. Simplicity personified for iced tea aficionados especially since it's iced tea day. Enjoy a glass - or cuppa as the Brits say. |
Friday, June 07, 2013
Yet more stuff to make you ponder, "why?"
In the beginning whenever that was, somebody decided that breast milk could have other applications other than for babies. There was breast milk ice cream - remember that - followed by breast milk cheese and now something completely different has come along, but related.
Recently, a mom of three found yet another use for breast milk by creating a jewelry line called, "Mommy Milk Creations." Don't bother blinking and/or cleaning your glasses you read it right. This definitely falls into the category of "but why?"
So the way it works is that the jewelry artisan, one Allicia Mongevero, will plasticize a sample of someone's breast milk when sent to her, mold it into shapes that include hearts, moons, flowers or tiny hands, and fashion it into a pendant to be worn a chain or ribbon around the neck. The cost of creating said pendants run between $64 to $125.
Maybe it's just me but I'm wondering the attraction in wearing mother's milk, in any shape or form, as a jewelry ornament. Going out on a limb, perhaps it's a means for some females to retain and remember their baby nursing period, or maybe merely to make a fashion statement. Go know. Moving on...
More recently, a company is using the flavor of breast milk in lollipops. The company, Lollyphile, based in Austin, Texas, has managed, at least that's their claim, to duplicate the taste of breast milk in a vegan-based liquid according to the creator, Jason Darling. Not sure if this is aimed strictly for infants. Personally and for what it's worth, I'll pass. You?
A pack of four lollipops costs $10, $24 for a dozen and a case of 36 is sold for $58.
A catty proposal
Not sure about this one-sided relationship being that the recipient is a cat, a specie that is known to be indifferent to human affection. Be that as it may, designer Karl Lagerfeld is making it public that he is seemingly enamored with his one-year-old white Siamese cat, Choupette. It has to be love since Choupette has its (no mention as to 'its' gender but then it really doesn't matter) own staff, which includes three maids who are responsible for keeping tabs of Choupette's activities throughout the day when the designer is away from their home in Paris. Perhaps the maid's diary could but not necessarily, read:
"Monday/lundi, 9:30 a.m. Coupette is sleeping. 10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Choupette woke up and yawned. 11:30 a.m. Choupette made a pee-pee in her/his designer kitty toilet, 1:45 a.m. Coupette meowed."
Something to that effect.
According to Lagerfeld, the feline is his most precious possession. Aside to Lagerfeld: I'll be glad to take your designer fashions off your hands so you can focus solely on the pussycat. Not surprising, Choupette has its own pillow and dines with Lagerfeld twice per day, eating food specifically created for its culinary tastes.
Recently, a mom of three found yet another use for breast milk by creating a jewelry line called, "Mommy Milk Creations." Don't bother blinking and/or cleaning your glasses you read it right. This definitely falls into the category of "but why?"
So the way it works is that the jewelry artisan, one Allicia Mongevero, will plasticize a sample of someone's breast milk when sent to her, mold it into shapes that include hearts, moons, flowers or tiny hands, and fashion it into a pendant to be worn a chain or ribbon around the neck. The cost of creating said pendants run between $64 to $125.
Maybe it's just me but I'm wondering the attraction in wearing mother's milk, in any shape or form, as a jewelry ornament. Going out on a limb, perhaps it's a means for some females to retain and remember their baby nursing period, or maybe merely to make a fashion statement. Go know. Moving on...
More recently, a company is using the flavor of breast milk in lollipops. The company, Lollyphile, based in Austin, Texas, has managed, at least that's their claim, to duplicate the taste of breast milk in a vegan-based liquid according to the creator, Jason Darling. Not sure if this is aimed strictly for infants. Personally and for what it's worth, I'll pass. You?
A pack of four lollipops costs $10, $24 for a dozen and a case of 36 is sold for $58.
A catty proposal
Not sure about this one-sided relationship being that the recipient is a cat, a specie that is known to be indifferent to human affection. Be that as it may, designer Karl Lagerfeld is making it public that he is seemingly enamored with his one-year-old white Siamese cat, Choupette. It has to be love since Choupette has its (no mention as to 'its' gender but then it really doesn't matter) own staff, which includes three maids who are responsible for keeping tabs of Choupette's activities throughout the day when the designer is away from their home in Paris. Perhaps the maid's diary could but not necessarily, read:
"Monday/lundi, 9:30 a.m. Coupette is sleeping. 10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Choupette woke up and yawned. 11:30 a.m. Choupette made a pee-pee in her/his designer kitty toilet, 1:45 a.m. Coupette meowed."
Something to that effect.
According to Lagerfeld, the feline is his most precious possession. Aside to Lagerfeld: I'll be glad to take your designer fashions off your hands so you can focus solely on the pussycat. Not surprising, Choupette has its own pillow and dines with Lagerfeld twice per day, eating food specifically created for its culinary tastes.
"There is no marriage, yet, for human beings and animals… I never thought
that I would fall in love like this with a cat," Lagerfeld is quoted as saying during an interview backstage at a fashion show.
As a matter of interest and in the "sure- why not" category, the cat flies by private jet no less. Furthermore, the now famous feline is on Twitter and provides tweets to her 28,998 followers (while we dull normals struggle to keep followers from dropping us), under the name, Choupette Lagerfeld and Choupette's Diary: "I'm a famous beauty who refuses to eat on the floor & my maids pamper my every need. I am Choupette Lagerfeld and I am a spoiled pussy." To say the least.
Thinking further...the kitty could (but not necessarily, obviously) be the inspiration for a line of feline fashions. The fashion line could (not necessarily but might be a good idea) be called, "Les modes de Choupette, mon petit chat" , which will have Lagerfeld's signature as a cat's paw drawing in the way of an endorsement. Stretching the idea further (you know I will), there could be Lagerfeld Kitty Litter "for the cat who demands luxury when making le pee-pee." I mean, why not?
How was your week? Change the cat litter?
As a matter of interest and in the "sure- why not" category, the cat flies by private jet no less. Furthermore, the now famous feline is on Twitter and provides tweets to her 28,998 followers (while we dull normals struggle to keep followers from dropping us), under the name, Choupette Lagerfeld and Choupette's Diary: "I'm a famous beauty who refuses to eat on the floor & my maids pamper my every need. I am Choupette Lagerfeld and I am a spoiled pussy." To say the least.
Thinking further...the kitty could (but not necessarily, obviously) be the inspiration for a line of feline fashions. The fashion line could (not necessarily but might be a good idea) be called, "Les modes de Choupette, mon petit chat" , which will have Lagerfeld's signature as a cat's paw drawing in the way of an endorsement. Stretching the idea further (you know I will), there could be Lagerfeld Kitty Litter "for the cat who demands luxury when making le pee-pee." I mean, why not?
How was your week? Change the cat litter?
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Annual cheese roll is down hill all the way
Good news for cheese lovers or those people who believe that cheese can be used for other means than on crackers. Would-be participants are preparing for the annual Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling Festival challenge or competition, scheduled to take place this year on Monday, May 27, 2013.
Chasing cheese down a hill - be still my beating heart! There is something about this challenge that is Monty Python-esque, at least in my eyes.
In the way of background information, the event dates back to the 1800's and features an 8lb - give or take a couple of ounces - Double Gloucester cheese, which is rolled down what is described as a very steep hill.
According to the BBC who keep track of these type of stories, cheese rolling could have been initiated by the Phoenicians who lived in the south-western parts of Britain before the Roman invasion of 54BC, by the ancient Britons, or by the Romans themselves. Furthermore, the first evidence of cheese rolling was discovered in a message to the Gloucester Town Crier in 1826.
The procedure is simple in that participants or cheese rollers/roll-ees set off to push the cheese down the hill. The first cheese rolls at noon and there are five downhill races, spaced 20 minutes apart. This begs (or at least makes one - me - wonder) as to the rationale behind the race. The winner(s) get to keep the cheese or what is left of it when it reaches the bottom. One wonders how much falls off along the way.
Just thinking...do participants use a stick to propel their cheese down hill or let gravity do the work?
As a person who hasn't tried this type of challenge (cheese is for eating IMHO - then again...) given that the cheese travels down a grassy surface, wouldn't it require some type of intervention i.e. hand/stick to keep it going?
So picture this: cheese slabs sliding and making their way down hill trailed by screaming humans. What if local mice and rat families who make their home on the hill wait on the side-lines to make their moves.
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
I say, Percy. Do you see what I see?
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
Well bless my stars! Could it be?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
(sniffing the air)
The aroma is familiar
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
(smelling the air)
Smells like...
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
...cheddar would you say?
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
(still sniffing the air)
It might be, although...it smells more like...
LOCAL RODENTS (PHILIP) & PERCY TOGETHER
...Gloucester !
PERCY
I do like a piece of Gloucestershire in the morning. How about you, Philip?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
I'm more a cheddar mouse myself but this is an opportunity too good to pass up. Should we?
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
I say we should! Ready?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
You take a front chunk and I'll take a back bite and we'll meet back for tea at my hole
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
I say, Philip. You are the best host. What type of tea will we be drinking, today?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
For Gloucestershire, only Earl Grey will do. Here they come! Free cheese on the way!
Right now, people reading this who are wondering just how this double Gloucester cheese is made might want to watch this: http://www.smartsgloucestercheese.com/making.html
For those people who might want to try their hand in this - well - interesting pastime, here is a video of what to expect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GdVnzDFyLg
Some people like to chase their cheese while others prefer to have it served on a plate with crackers. Different strokes for different folk.
Chasing cheese down a hill - be still my beating heart! There is something about this challenge that is Monty Python-esque, at least in my eyes.
In the way of background information, the event dates back to the 1800's and features an 8lb - give or take a couple of ounces - Double Gloucester cheese, which is rolled down what is described as a very steep hill.
According to the BBC who keep track of these type of stories, cheese rolling could have been initiated by the Phoenicians who lived in the south-western parts of Britain before the Roman invasion of 54BC, by the ancient Britons, or by the Romans themselves. Furthermore, the first evidence of cheese rolling was discovered in a message to the Gloucester Town Crier in 1826.
The procedure is simple in that participants or cheese rollers/roll-ees set off to push the cheese down the hill. The first cheese rolls at noon and there are five downhill races, spaced 20 minutes apart. This begs (or at least makes one - me - wonder) as to the rationale behind the race. The winner(s) get to keep the cheese or what is left of it when it reaches the bottom. One wonders how much falls off along the way.
Just thinking...do participants use a stick to propel their cheese down hill or let gravity do the work?
As a person who hasn't tried this type of challenge (cheese is for eating IMHO - then again...) given that the cheese travels down a grassy surface, wouldn't it require some type of intervention i.e. hand/stick to keep it going?
So picture this: cheese slabs sliding and making their way down hill trailed by screaming humans. What if local mice and rat families who make their home on the hill wait on the side-lines to make their moves.
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
I say, Percy. Do you see what I see?
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
Well bless my stars! Could it be?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
(sniffing the air)
The aroma is familiar
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
(smelling the air)
Smells like...
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
...cheddar would you say?
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
(still sniffing the air)
It might be, although...it smells more like...
LOCAL RODENTS (PHILIP) & PERCY TOGETHER
...Gloucester !
PERCY
I do like a piece of Gloucestershire in the morning. How about you, Philip?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
I'm more a cheddar mouse myself but this is an opportunity too good to pass up. Should we?
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
I say we should! Ready?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
You take a front chunk and I'll take a back bite and we'll meet back for tea at my hole
LOCAL RODENT PERCY
I say, Philip. You are the best host. What type of tea will we be drinking, today?
LOCAL RODENT PHILIP
For Gloucestershire, only Earl Grey will do. Here they come! Free cheese on the way!
Right now, people reading this who are wondering just how this double Gloucester cheese is made might want to watch this: http://www.smartsgloucestercheese.com/making.html
For those people who might want to try their hand in this - well - interesting pastime, here is a video of what to expect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GdVnzDFyLg
Some people like to chase their cheese while others prefer to have it served on a plate with crackers. Different strokes for different folk.
Friday, May 10, 2013
Still more stories that make you say, "huh?"
It's always amazing the interesting stuff one finds while conducting a daily Internet check-in. These are the stories that might be missed by your everyday cyber surfer given the eclectic subject matter. You know - cheese races, interesting scientific experiments, animal artists...that stuff.
Speaking or writing about animal artists, as a person who has taken up painting in the last few years, it's difficult to sell one's artistic output to say the least. Given the competition out there, sales are few and far between at best. However, there's no horsing around for some people - and this term is used loosely- when it comes to selling their art work or art output.
Take for example, artist, Metro Meteor, who used to spend his working days at a race track. The 10 year old never placed a bet in his life but in his former vocation as a thoroughbred bay, made his money racing around a track in Maryland. However, afflicted with bad knees and following his retirement in 2009, he took to relaxing by taking brush in hand, or in the horse's case, to mouth, and is turning out canvases that are being bought by the public. Just what we artists need: more competition.
After being adopted by artist, Ron Krajewski, he decided to give the horse painting lessons to spend more time with him. The rest as they say, is history and in just four short months, Metro is the best-selling artist at Gallery 30, a small shop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
According to the story, the horse's paintings created by swinging his (Metro's) head, feature "colorful, sweeping brush strokes, complete with specks of sawdust. As an aside and case anybody reading this is interested, my artistic output also has lots of color, interesting brush strokes but no saw dust. Maybe one should consider buying saw dust to add that extra something to one's paintings...
The proverbial icing on the cake is that Metro's output has a waiting list of 120 people waiting to buy his larger paintings measuring 20x20" that sell for $850 at the gallery, while the smaller 5x7" cut-down versions go for $80. Half of Metro’s earnings to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, a charity that seeks homes and rehabilitation for retired racehorses. The owner of Gallery 30 donates a portion of Metro’s profits to a local animal shelter - a nice gesture.
As a celebrity horse, Metro now makes appearances on network TV and has also received requests for endorsements. One wonders how he signs his canvases. One hoof or two...
Moving right along...
For whatever reason, money-saving move springs to mind or just to be different, O'Hare Airport in Chicago, has hired 25 goats to keep 120 acres of airport grass, nice and mowed, or at least mowed, anyway. The goats will arrive and set to their task in a month focusing on hard-to-mow embankments and areas with dense brush. To ensure the job is done properly, a shepherd will watch the flock to avoid runway run-ins. There is no mention of flute accompaniment. Just thought I'd throw that in.
It's a win-win situation with the goat contract worth $20,000 through to the end of 2014, cheaper than using machine lawnmowers. The goats are also happy one presumes, since they are owned by restaurant, "The Butcher and the Burger." Goat burgers aren't on the menu.
And finally...
Most turkeys - the animal type - live out their lives (as short as they may be) on a farm and then there are some, for whatever reason - get their directions mixed up. A couple living in Brookline, Massachusetts, were taken aback when a turkey crashed through their window. A police officer arrived and managed to coax the turkey out of the house through a window. This leads one - me - to ponder what means were used to coax said turkey to leave the premises. Perhaps the turkey was bribed with corn or food.
Although the turkey lost a small amount of blood, it wasn't worse for wear.
This once again leads one - moi - to reflect upon the issue whether turkeys can fly. I mean, how did the turkey under discussion crash through a double-paned window? Out of curiosity, went on a Web search to seek an answer once and for all and came across some interesting turkey-related stats. if anybody is interested. This is an important issue for some people, readers!
According to the site, "Information Please":
- Domesticated turkeys cannot fly. Wild turkeys, however, can fly for short distances at speeds up to 55 miles per hour. They can also reach speeds of 25 miles per hour on the ground.
- Turkeys sometimes spend the night in trees.
- Turkeys can have heart attacks: turkeys in fields near the Air Force test areas over which the sound barrier was broken were known to drop dead from the shock of passing jets
- The ballroom dance known as the Turkey Trot was named for the short, jerky steps a turkey makes.
Speaking of turkeys, remember Les Nessman of "WKRP In Cincinnati" - one of my favorite oldie TV shows - and the infamous turkey drop? If not, here is a refresher. Poor turkeys...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3mgmEdfwg
Speaking or writing about animal artists, as a person who has taken up painting in the last few years, it's difficult to sell one's artistic output to say the least. Given the competition out there, sales are few and far between at best. However, there's no horsing around for some people - and this term is used loosely- when it comes to selling their art work or art output.
Take for example, artist, Metro Meteor, who used to spend his working days at a race track. The 10 year old never placed a bet in his life but in his former vocation as a thoroughbred bay, made his money racing around a track in Maryland. However, afflicted with bad knees and following his retirement in 2009, he took to relaxing by taking brush in hand, or in the horse's case, to mouth, and is turning out canvases that are being bought by the public. Just what we artists need: more competition.
After being adopted by artist, Ron Krajewski, he decided to give the horse painting lessons to spend more time with him. The rest as they say, is history and in just four short months, Metro is the best-selling artist at Gallery 30, a small shop in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
According to the story, the horse's paintings created by swinging his (Metro's) head, feature "colorful, sweeping brush strokes, complete with specks of sawdust. As an aside and case anybody reading this is interested, my artistic output also has lots of color, interesting brush strokes but no saw dust. Maybe one should consider buying saw dust to add that extra something to one's paintings...
The proverbial icing on the cake is that Metro's output has a waiting list of 120 people waiting to buy his larger paintings measuring 20x20" that sell for $850 at the gallery, while the smaller 5x7" cut-down versions go for $80. Half of Metro’s earnings to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program, a charity that seeks homes and rehabilitation for retired racehorses. The owner of Gallery 30 donates a portion of Metro’s profits to a local animal shelter - a nice gesture.
As a celebrity horse, Metro now makes appearances on network TV and has also received requests for endorsements. One wonders how he signs his canvases. One hoof or two...
Moving right along...
For whatever reason, money-saving move springs to mind or just to be different, O'Hare Airport in Chicago, has hired 25 goats to keep 120 acres of airport grass, nice and mowed, or at least mowed, anyway. The goats will arrive and set to their task in a month focusing on hard-to-mow embankments and areas with dense brush. To ensure the job is done properly, a shepherd will watch the flock to avoid runway run-ins. There is no mention of flute accompaniment. Just thought I'd throw that in.
It's a win-win situation with the goat contract worth $20,000 through to the end of 2014, cheaper than using machine lawnmowers. The goats are also happy one presumes, since they are owned by restaurant, "The Butcher and the Burger." Goat burgers aren't on the menu.
And finally...
Most turkeys - the animal type - live out their lives (as short as they may be) on a farm and then there are some, for whatever reason - get their directions mixed up. A couple living in Brookline, Massachusetts, were taken aback when a turkey crashed through their window. A police officer arrived and managed to coax the turkey out of the house through a window. This leads one - me - to ponder what means were used to coax said turkey to leave the premises. Perhaps the turkey was bribed with corn or food.
Although the turkey lost a small amount of blood, it wasn't worse for wear.
This once again leads one - moi - to reflect upon the issue whether turkeys can fly. I mean, how did the turkey under discussion crash through a double-paned window? Out of curiosity, went on a Web search to seek an answer once and for all and came across some interesting turkey-related stats. if anybody is interested. This is an important issue for some people, readers!
According to the site, "Information Please":
- Domesticated turkeys cannot fly. Wild turkeys, however, can fly for short distances at speeds up to 55 miles per hour. They can also reach speeds of 25 miles per hour on the ground.
- Turkeys sometimes spend the night in trees.
- Turkeys can have heart attacks: turkeys in fields near the Air Force test areas over which the sound barrier was broken were known to drop dead from the shock of passing jets
- The ballroom dance known as the Turkey Trot was named for the short, jerky steps a turkey makes.
Speaking of turkeys, remember Les Nessman of "WKRP In Cincinnati" - one of my favorite oldie TV shows - and the infamous turkey drop? If not, here is a refresher. Poor turkeys...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf3mgmEdfwg
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Wednesday, May 01, 2013
A shady decision
For some people, the advent of Spring marks the beginning of the gardening season and all things outdoors. It's the season of renewal with longer days and extended periods of sunshine that inspires people to start projects put on hold during winter. Take painting walls for example - somebody please.
Go figure that choosing a color for the bathroom could be such a dilemma. Narrowing down the choices shouldn't be a difficult task given the plethora of colors available in a variety of brands, but it is. The fact that we're painting altogether given that the walls really don't need a sprucing up, is due to a mistake on my part in the selection of the prevailing shade. For whatever reason - temporary insanity springs to mind - the walls are currently a peachy/salmon-y hue that seemed like a good choice at the time. Searching for towels to compliment the shade has been an exercise in futility. In retrospect, somebody should have tried to convince me to think twice, but we've lived with the color for five years now. Five long years of staring at the color and asking myself, "why?"
Paper paint samples have been hanging from the wall tiles for a week now in the hope that it will inspire and narrow down the final choice. Two selections have made the final cut at this moment, but that could change (again) by tomorrow. The "in" colors, according to home decorators and their ilk, is white with grey accents or grey with white accents. While these shades would go with our wall tiles, the rest of the room is in the beige tone. Taupe could be a good option but we'll probably go with a safe-and-no-regrets, beige-y tone. There's a reason why family and friends call us 'the beige family' since the majority of the walls are this shade.
According to a helpful article focusing on bathroom renovation in Better Homes and Gardens, http://www.bhg.com/bathroom/color-schemes/colors/bathroom-paint-ideas/ ,while surfing the cyber highway for ideas, one should determine if the bathroom to be renovated is to be relaxing or energizing? Never really gave much thought to either to be honest. It would depend, one would imagine, on the length of time one plans to stay in the room. I mean, why would one want to linger indefinitely to the point where color would be an important aspect.
Thinking further, there is really no logical reason for angsting over what color to do the bathroom walls. In the end, the bathroom is a place where one washes up and answers nature's call. It's not the type of room in which one would want to linger for a lengthy period of time, or carry on witty conversation among a group of people. It really shouldn't be a difficult decision but it is. Anything but peachy salmon will do.
Go figure that choosing a color for the bathroom could be such a dilemma. Narrowing down the choices shouldn't be a difficult task given the plethora of colors available in a variety of brands, but it is. The fact that we're painting altogether given that the walls really don't need a sprucing up, is due to a mistake on my part in the selection of the prevailing shade. For whatever reason - temporary insanity springs to mind - the walls are currently a peachy/salmon-y hue that seemed like a good choice at the time. Searching for towels to compliment the shade has been an exercise in futility. In retrospect, somebody should have tried to convince me to think twice, but we've lived with the color for five years now. Five long years of staring at the color and asking myself, "why?"
Paper paint samples have been hanging from the wall tiles for a week now in the hope that it will inspire and narrow down the final choice. Two selections have made the final cut at this moment, but that could change (again) by tomorrow. The "in" colors, according to home decorators and their ilk, is white with grey accents or grey with white accents. While these shades would go with our wall tiles, the rest of the room is in the beige tone. Taupe could be a good option but we'll probably go with a safe-and-no-regrets, beige-y tone. There's a reason why family and friends call us 'the beige family' since the majority of the walls are this shade.
According to a helpful article focusing on bathroom renovation in Better Homes and Gardens, http://www.bhg.com/bathroom/color-schemes/colors/bathroom-paint-ideas/ ,while surfing the cyber highway for ideas, one should determine if the bathroom to be renovated is to be relaxing or energizing? Never really gave much thought to either to be honest. It would depend, one would imagine, on the length of time one plans to stay in the room. I mean, why would one want to linger indefinitely to the point where color would be an important aspect.
Thinking further, there is really no logical reason for angsting over what color to do the bathroom walls. In the end, the bathroom is a place where one washes up and answers nature's call. It's not the type of room in which one would want to linger for a lengthy period of time, or carry on witty conversation among a group of people. It really shouldn't be a difficult decision but it is. Anything but peachy salmon will do.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Zombies just wanna smell good
Yet another story that questions our planet and some of those who live on it. Then again, we're referring to "how can we make money and cash in" factor. The fact that this piece stood out and is being shared with blog readers indicates that it's an intriguing concept if somewhat puzzling, especially for none-zombie-types.
A U.S. perfume manufacturer for whatever reason - maybe there are zombies in the family tree or something - has created a perfume specifically geared for zombies. Really. The perfume or zombie essence known as Zombie for Him and Zombie for Her, manufactured by Demeter Fragrance Library in New York, enable the "dead to simply pass without offending."
This leaves one - moi - to ponder a) there are libraries that are making zombie perfumes and b) pass what without offending what or who? I mean, this leads one to contemplate upon the issue of where do zombies go, anyway, when they die before turning into the un-dead-ish? More important, why am I wondering about these things? But I digress.
Zombie for Him is a combination of dried leaves, mushrooms, mildew, moss and earth. An obviously very earthy combination of rot resulting in a delightfully blechy essence of decay. The Zombie for Her, on the other hand, is a slightly lighter version with a touch of wine dregs to give it an aromatic decay smell. Demeter perfume site, www.demeterfragrance.com, targets their ideal purchaser as:
"So you're a Zombie. Or you know a Zombie. And you might become a Zombie. Any way you slice and dice it, you’ll need different kinds of fragrance. Fragrances that can make the dead simply pass by without offending. Because only Demeter Fragrance Library could make a Zombie fragrance eminently wearable."
Not sure what type of budget zombies have at their disposal but the 1oz. cologne spray sells for $20 while the 4oz. cologne spray is $49.50. It can be obtained on-line but there are no outlets mentioned where it can be purchased...yet. Thinking further, can you imagine a zombie entering a perfume outlet to buy the perfume.
Zombie
I'd like a bottle of perfume
CLERK
What type of perfume. We have so many brands...all the big designer names...
Zombie
Gimme Zombie for Him!
CLERK
You mean a fine fragrance for men?
Zombie
I want Zombie for him
CLERK
I see. You're referring to yourself in the third party. So which brand does he want?
Zombie
Perfume for Him!
CLERK
Don't take this the wrong way, sir, but...like...ahem...you do have a odor and your body parts appear to be decaying. Perhaps you should go to the nearest hospital, instead of buying perfume.
Zombie
Maybe I should bite off your arm!
You get the picture. By the way, there's a "100% Money Back Guarantee. No Questions Asked" policy. Wise decision on the part of the perfumerie, given their purchasers.
A U.S. perfume manufacturer for whatever reason - maybe there are zombies in the family tree or something - has created a perfume specifically geared for zombies. Really. The perfume or zombie essence known as Zombie for Him and Zombie for Her, manufactured by Demeter Fragrance Library in New York, enable the "dead to simply pass without offending."
This leaves one - moi - to ponder a) there are libraries that are making zombie perfumes and b) pass what without offending what or who? I mean, this leads one to contemplate upon the issue of where do zombies go, anyway, when they die before turning into the un-dead-ish? More important, why am I wondering about these things? But I digress.
Zombie for Him is a combination of dried leaves, mushrooms, mildew, moss and earth. An obviously very earthy combination of rot resulting in a delightfully blechy essence of decay. The Zombie for Her, on the other hand, is a slightly lighter version with a touch of wine dregs to give it an aromatic decay smell. Demeter perfume site, www.demeterfragrance.com, targets their ideal purchaser as:
"So you're a Zombie. Or you know a Zombie. And you might become a Zombie. Any way you slice and dice it, you’ll need different kinds of fragrance. Fragrances that can make the dead simply pass by without offending. Because only Demeter Fragrance Library could make a Zombie fragrance eminently wearable."
Not sure what type of budget zombies have at their disposal but the 1oz. cologne spray sells for $20 while the 4oz. cologne spray is $49.50. It can be obtained on-line but there are no outlets mentioned where it can be purchased...yet. Thinking further, can you imagine a zombie entering a perfume outlet to buy the perfume.
Zombie
I'd like a bottle of perfume
CLERK
What type of perfume. We have so many brands...all the big designer names...
Zombie
Gimme Zombie for Him!
CLERK
You mean a fine fragrance for men?
Zombie
I want Zombie for him
CLERK
I see. You're referring to yourself in the third party. So which brand does he want?
Zombie
Perfume for Him!
CLERK
Don't take this the wrong way, sir, but...like...ahem...you do have a odor and your body parts appear to be decaying. Perhaps you should go to the nearest hospital, instead of buying perfume.
Zombie
Maybe I should bite off your arm!
You get the picture. By the way, there's a "100% Money Back Guarantee. No Questions Asked" policy. Wise decision on the part of the perfumerie, given their purchasers.
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