Figured this was inevitable. Once the dust had settled so to speak after the first edition of "X-Factor", the show is now missing two judges and one as the Brits call them, presenter.
Can't say that I'm sorry that MC Steve Jones is gone. In my view he was arrogant, somewhat rude and insensitive when chatting with the contestants after a performance, particularly if it wasn't one of their best efforts. He seemed to thrive on asking stupid, inane and on occasion, hurtful questions that definitely had a negative impact on the singer. Perhaps his personna goes over well in the UK but it obviously hit a negative nerve with North American viewers. Count me in as one of them.
In as far as Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger are concerned - they were so alike in their critiques of the singers that it was difficult to know where one left off and the other started. In retrospect, perhaps it would have been better had Simon Cowell left things as they were with Paula remembered as a departing American Idol judge.
Although Nicole Scherzinger is a good singer and entertainer, she shouldn't give up her day job as the expression goes. Very wishy-washy with her critiques, when she actually ciritiqued the singers.
The writing was on the wall for both female judges when they didn't support Cowell's singer/protoge, Rachel Crow, who ended up having to leave the show. Not wise not to back the boss, ladies!
In any case, it will be interesting to see who their replacements will be. According to all the media sites, rumor has it that Mariah Carey is being considered as a replacement judge. She can sing for sure but not sure if she will be a good addition to the mix. Depends on who the second choice will be. Maybe Simon should consider trying to get Ryan Seacrest. Just saying...
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Famous names who declined to be royally recognized
As a writer in the silver years of a career as a local columnist - the word "golden" seems so final - it would be nice to be recognized for my contribution to the literary world. Having retired from covering and reporting on all the local community happenings, somehow it's doubtful that readers will recall my pieces focusing on pot holes or lack of snow clearance and the like.
"Ah yes - those great pot hole stories in '98," someone might but not likely recall when discussing writers. "That Eleanor Tylbor sure knew how to cover those large holes in the road! And those wonderful rants about the lack of snow clearance were the best!"
In any case, there are famous writers who have been recognized for their literary accomplishments by none other than Queen Elizabeth, who bestows letters after their names in the way of recognition. These letters mean that their careers have been successful and they are known in their genre. Then there are others who for whatever reason have declined to accept the royal honor.
Contained in a official and formerlyt secret document, were the names of 250 people who declined the Queen's offer to honor their work. This leaves one - me - who wonder as to the reason for the big secrecy. For example and according to an article in Reuters, artist Lucien Freud, sculptor Henry Moore and author Roald Dahl it was "thanks-but-no-thanks" offer. Same thing for director Alfred Hitchcock but he accepted a knighthood eventually. One presumes that a knighthood is a step above three letters. I mean, go know as an ordinary person, which honor is higher. You have your O.B.E. and your C.B.E. and then your knighthood and the female equivalent, sisterhood... Checking further on Wiki, you also have your OBE, GBE, CH, OM...the list goes on. It's like an alphabet soup of honorary letters. But I digress.
Some other well-known public figures that fall into the "thanks-but-no-thanks"category are Francis Bacon, L.S. Lowry and Aldous Huxley.
It appears that the information was made public after numerous requests under the freedom of information laws. This leaves one - me - to ponder why people would want to know who rejected being honored but somebody obviously wanted to keep track of the "nays."
Ruminating further regarding the bestowing of honors, perhaps there should be special honors or mention for your ordinary but very necessary people whose jobs over a long period of time contribute to the well-being of society.
OTC- Outstand Trash Collector - bestowed to brave trash collectors who daring feats of bravery risked their lives hanging on the back of garbaage trucks, holding on to the rear of the truck with one gloved hand while balancing on one foot, and survived.
PDPA - Paper Delivery Person Award - honoring people who get up at the break of dawn to ensure that readers are kept abreast of the latest breaking news at their door steps
SCPPA - Shopping Cart Person Picker-upper award given to supermarket personnel whose job it is to gather and pick up all the shopping carts that are discarded anywhere and everywhere, including on car bumpers
WSPC - Waterspray Produce Creator award given to person who created the water spray that drops seemingly every two minutes inundating and soaking everthing and everybody standing within 3 feet of the produce display.
Any interesting additions to the above are welcome and will be added to the list.
When it's all said and done, my epitaph will be, "she lived - she wrote - she croaked." Then again, I'm always open for a few letters.
"Ah yes - those great pot hole stories in '98," someone might but not likely recall when discussing writers. "That Eleanor Tylbor sure knew how to cover those large holes in the road! And those wonderful rants about the lack of snow clearance were the best!"
In any case, there are famous writers who have been recognized for their literary accomplishments by none other than Queen Elizabeth, who bestows letters after their names in the way of recognition. These letters mean that their careers have been successful and they are known in their genre. Then there are others who for whatever reason have declined to accept the royal honor.
Contained in a official and formerlyt secret document, were the names of 250 people who declined the Queen's offer to honor their work. This leaves one - me - who wonder as to the reason for the big secrecy. For example and according to an article in Reuters, artist Lucien Freud, sculptor Henry Moore and author Roald Dahl it was "thanks-but-no-thanks" offer. Same thing for director Alfred Hitchcock but he accepted a knighthood eventually. One presumes that a knighthood is a step above three letters. I mean, go know as an ordinary person, which honor is higher. You have your O.B.E. and your C.B.E. and then your knighthood and the female equivalent, sisterhood... Checking further on Wiki, you also have your OBE, GBE, CH, OM...the list goes on. It's like an alphabet soup of honorary letters. But I digress.
Some other well-known public figures that fall into the "thanks-but-no-thanks"category are Francis Bacon, L.S. Lowry and Aldous Huxley.
It appears that the information was made public after numerous requests under the freedom of information laws. This leaves one - me - to ponder why people would want to know who rejected being honored but somebody obviously wanted to keep track of the "nays."
Ruminating further regarding the bestowing of honors, perhaps there should be special honors or mention for your ordinary but very necessary people whose jobs over a long period of time contribute to the well-being of society.
OTC- Outstand Trash Collector - bestowed to brave trash collectors who daring feats of bravery risked their lives hanging on the back of garbaage trucks, holding on to the rear of the truck with one gloved hand while balancing on one foot, and survived.
PDPA - Paper Delivery Person Award - honoring people who get up at the break of dawn to ensure that readers are kept abreast of the latest breaking news at their door steps
SCPPA - Shopping Cart Person Picker-upper award given to supermarket personnel whose job it is to gather and pick up all the shopping carts that are discarded anywhere and everywhere, including on car bumpers
WSPC - Waterspray Produce Creator award given to person who created the water spray that drops seemingly every two minutes inundating and soaking everthing and everybody standing within 3 feet of the produce display.
Any interesting additions to the above are welcome and will be added to the list.
When it's all said and done, my epitaph will be, "she lived - she wrote - she croaked." Then again, I'm always open for a few letters.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Still more stories to make you wonder and utter "huh?"
Fresh from the last blog focusing on "interesting" pieces that make you shake your head in wonderment and ask yourself, "why?", some more of these stories found around the Net to elicit a similar response.
PACKING IN THE VEGGIES
Most of us frequent salad bars to for a dose of food variety - you know - a pick of this...a bit of that. Then there are others who use salad bars to accomplish engineering feats. A scientist, no less, with obviously a lot of spare time on his hands, has devised and created a way to pick and pile food into a three foot tower. This begs the question at least in my mind, why?
Based on his experience the food builder, one Shen Hongrui, a Chinese engineer, has offered advice to diners as to how to create their own food towers to be brought back to the table and presumably eaten. This once again begs the question: why?
In order to comply with the "one bowl, one visit" rule of his local Pizza Hut in Beijing, he created a set of instructions that would maximize the diner's variety needs. Salad building requires a formula and the engineer suggests that a chick pea and potato base be used as the bottom base, followed by carrot sticks acting as a scaffold of sorts, toss in or on some cucumber slices or blocks of fruit to act as walls and favorte food choice(s) sit on the top of the tower.
The tower building known as "salad bar hacking" has become so popular that Pizza Huts in China have stepped in and removed all the salad bars in their restaurants. Not surprising. No information available focusing on falling towers that weren't structurally sound.
Here's a photo of a food tower: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084033/The-leaning-tower--Pizza-Huts-salad-bar-Diner-devises-3ft-pile-round-rules-local-restaurant.html
DEAD MAN RUNS UP WATER BILL
Sometimes you just can't win for losing, even when you die. The family of a man who died is asking the town council in Port Colborne, Ontario, to re-adjust their water bill. Actually, not their water bill but the bill of Allister McPherson, who passed on while leaving his water tap running. His daughter, Cara Zandvliet, turned to the municiaplity to ask for some type of relief from a $600 water bill charged to her late father.
Thinking further on the dilemma, strikes me that the dead man didn't leave the water running on purpose. I mean, he didn't mean to die or anything. If he had a choice and if it was possible, most likely he would have turned off the tap before dying but these things happen without any warning. But I digress.
Seems that the water remained on for three weeks before the discover of MacPherson by family members. According to the daughter, a normal water bill would cost $200 for a three-month period, but MacPherson was charged close to $600 for two months. Futhermore, she believes that her father shouldn't be charged for water from the bathroom faucet because the water wasn't used.
No follow up decision as to whether she will have to pay in the end. Obviously, every drop of water counts, even when you're dead.
Here's a photo of Ms Zandvliet holding up the water bill: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3435886&
SOMETIMES IT JUST DON'T PAY TO GET SICK DEPT.
When people check into a hospital for a medical procedure, they expect to receive a bill. There are bills - and then there are bills. Patient, Alexis Rodriguez, an unemployed doorman, was hospitalized at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center last Spring for pneumonia. He was on the verge of becaming sick again after receiving a bill for - wait for it - $44.8 million dollars for his hospital stay. Seems that the company that sends out the bills made an error placing the invoice number in a space designated for the amount. For its part, the billing company is telling those patients affected to ignore the miltimillion dollar bills. I bet.
BETTY WHITE - STILL HOT AT 90 YEARS YOUNG
Actor/comedienne, Betty White, has turned 90 years young. Given her fantastic comedic talent and that she is working in yet another hit TV series, she is an inspiration to everyone that age is a mere number. Loved her in "Golden Girls" and she was the inspiration in the creation of one my characters in my play, "Gin: an Allergory for Playing the Game of Life." Hope she pulls out all the stops in celebrating her life.
Meanwhile, here's the birthday girl in her video, "I'm So Hot."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RDPeadBxBw
PACKING IN THE VEGGIES
Most of us frequent salad bars to for a dose of food variety - you know - a pick of this...a bit of that. Then there are others who use salad bars to accomplish engineering feats. A scientist, no less, with obviously a lot of spare time on his hands, has devised and created a way to pick and pile food into a three foot tower. This begs the question at least in my mind, why?
Based on his experience the food builder, one Shen Hongrui, a Chinese engineer, has offered advice to diners as to how to create their own food towers to be brought back to the table and presumably eaten. This once again begs the question: why?
In order to comply with the "one bowl, one visit" rule of his local Pizza Hut in Beijing, he created a set of instructions that would maximize the diner's variety needs. Salad building requires a formula and the engineer suggests that a chick pea and potato base be used as the bottom base, followed by carrot sticks acting as a scaffold of sorts, toss in or on some cucumber slices or blocks of fruit to act as walls and favorte food choice(s) sit on the top of the tower.
The tower building known as "salad bar hacking" has become so popular that Pizza Huts in China have stepped in and removed all the salad bars in their restaurants. Not surprising. No information available focusing on falling towers that weren't structurally sound.
Here's a photo of a food tower: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2084033/The-leaning-tower--Pizza-Huts-salad-bar-Diner-devises-3ft-pile-round-rules-local-restaurant.html
DEAD MAN RUNS UP WATER BILL
Sometimes you just can't win for losing, even when you die. The family of a man who died is asking the town council in Port Colborne, Ontario, to re-adjust their water bill. Actually, not their water bill but the bill of Allister McPherson, who passed on while leaving his water tap running. His daughter, Cara Zandvliet, turned to the municiaplity to ask for some type of relief from a $600 water bill charged to her late father.
Thinking further on the dilemma, strikes me that the dead man didn't leave the water running on purpose. I mean, he didn't mean to die or anything. If he had a choice and if it was possible, most likely he would have turned off the tap before dying but these things happen without any warning. But I digress.
Seems that the water remained on for three weeks before the discover of MacPherson by family members. According to the daughter, a normal water bill would cost $200 for a three-month period, but MacPherson was charged close to $600 for two months. Futhermore, she believes that her father shouldn't be charged for water from the bathroom faucet because the water wasn't used.
No follow up decision as to whether she will have to pay in the end. Obviously, every drop of water counts, even when you're dead.
Here's a photo of Ms Zandvliet holding up the water bill: http://www.wellandtribune.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3435886&
SOMETIMES IT JUST DON'T PAY TO GET SICK DEPT.
When people check into a hospital for a medical procedure, they expect to receive a bill. There are bills - and then there are bills. Patient, Alexis Rodriguez, an unemployed doorman, was hospitalized at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center last Spring for pneumonia. He was on the verge of becaming sick again after receiving a bill for - wait for it - $44.8 million dollars for his hospital stay. Seems that the company that sends out the bills made an error placing the invoice number in a space designated for the amount. For its part, the billing company is telling those patients affected to ignore the miltimillion dollar bills. I bet.
BETTY WHITE - STILL HOT AT 90 YEARS YOUNG
Actor/comedienne, Betty White, has turned 90 years young. Given her fantastic comedic talent and that she is working in yet another hit TV series, she is an inspiration to everyone that age is a mere number. Loved her in "Golden Girls" and she was the inspiration in the creation of one my characters in my play, "Gin: an Allergory for Playing the Game of Life." Hope she pulls out all the stops in celebrating her life.
Meanwhile, here's the birthday girl in her video, "I'm So Hot."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RDPeadBxBw
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Life's interesting but sort-of weird stories
It's the beginning of a new year and the holiday frenzy has been replaced by new year's resolutions that may or may not be kept plus a period of restrospection and refelection, there are interesting (at least to me) things happening to be shared with readers of this blog. You know who you are!
JUST WHO GIVES OUT THESE GRANTS AND HOW DO WE GET THEM ANYWAY DEPT.
Always amazed when reading about people who acquire grants for - how shall we phrase it - "interesting" projects. This certainly falls into this category.
An Austrian inventor has won a £400,000 government grant to set up a museum of failed inventions. Not useful or practical creations that could help woman/mankind mind you, but failed inventions.
The word "why" springs to mind but I digress.
The inventor, Fritz Gall, devised the concept of a museum of this nature to display the not-so-successful inventions by would-be/wanna-be entrepreneurs. Grant in hand, Gall and his parter, Friedl Umscheid, opened the Museum of Nonsense in Herrnbaumgarten, Austria. Appropriate name.
For its part, the museum prides itself on housing useless creations like the 'portable anonymyser' - a piece of black card on a stick so people who don't want to be in the public eye can black out their own eyes. Thinking further about the description of this...whatever, why would people and how would it help to disguise a person's identity?
Then we have lead-less pencils for civil servants, a fully transportable hat stand and - wait for it - a portable hole and a bristleless toothbrush for people with no teeth.
Their first failed inventions fair drew more than 5,000 visitors and they are planning to expand to larger premises.
This statement by Gall says it all: "We have government funding and some private backing and we hope the people out there like nonsense just as much as we do,"
Obviously the taxpayers don't seem to mind.
GETTING ALL THE BUGS OUT
These days, the word "bug" is frequently used when discussing computer problems and related issues. Many people consider the word in as far as it applies to the insect world, like entomologist Skye Blackurn. Her interest in creepy-crawlies has taken her to breeding edible bugs, which she also sells as novelty gifts.
To be candid, the vision/concept of eating bugs isn't appealing to say the least, but to each his own. As an aside (big on these), a while back when hosting a public access TV program focusing on animals, I sampled a bug lollipop. Actually, it wasn't bad especially if one wasn't aware it was composed of insects but therein lay/lies the problem: I was aware. In addition I could have if I so chose, dined on sauteed bugs in tomato sauce (I declined the invite) but I digress. Again.
Crickets and mealworms are placed in lollipops after which they are coated in chocolate. Another personal aside: I've also nibbled (key word here) on chocolate-covered grasshoppers. Crispy on the inside but I digress. Once more.
According to Ms Blackburn, the aim is to encompass the bugs in an edible form in which people would recognize. Actually thinking further about this and IMHO, it would probably be preferable NOT to recognize the insects. She has ground up roasted mealworms and used the end result a powdered flour, to make other dishes including banana bread and cookies. The insects, which are bred on an insect farm outside of Sydney, Australia, are killed ethically by freezing them after which they fall into a death sleep. They are kept in a very sterile environment and fed organic grains and vegetables, which are supposed to increased the flavor of the insects. Actually, a cold demise is preferable to death by shoe and other hand-held articles by insect dislikers.
The insect delights are proving to be very popular and plans are afoot to expand her menu to include water bugs, scorpions and possibly tarantulas. I'll pass on that, chocolate-covered or not.
NOT AN ART LOVER
As an artist, I'm aware that people's taste in art is subjective. While my taste run to landscapes, others may prefer abstract or cubism and other styles. Some people take art to the extreme.
A painting made by abstract expressionist artist, Clyford Still, received damages to the extent of $10,000. A 36-year old woman punched and scratched the painting, an oil-on-canvas called “1957-J no.2”, at the newly opened Clyfford Still museum in Denver, Colorado. To express her distaste for the painting, the female pulled down her pants to slide her buttocks against the surface. Talk about the ultimate expression of dislike! As if that wasn't enough, she allegedly urinated after rubbing up against the canvas. I mean, I've heard of body art but this is taking things too far.
CRABBY DAVID
A new species of crab will be named after Baywatch star, David Hasselhoff, given the hairy chest of the crustacean. The crab who now goes by 'The Hoff', was discovered living around volcanic vents of South Georgia. Oh well - at least he will be remembered for something.
How did your week go?
JUST WHO GIVES OUT THESE GRANTS AND HOW DO WE GET THEM ANYWAY DEPT.
Always amazed when reading about people who acquire grants for - how shall we phrase it - "interesting" projects. This certainly falls into this category.
An Austrian inventor has won a £400,000 government grant to set up a museum of failed inventions. Not useful or practical creations that could help woman/mankind mind you, but failed inventions.
The word "why" springs to mind but I digress.
The inventor, Fritz Gall, devised the concept of a museum of this nature to display the not-so-successful inventions by would-be/wanna-be entrepreneurs. Grant in hand, Gall and his parter, Friedl Umscheid, opened the Museum of Nonsense in Herrnbaumgarten, Austria. Appropriate name.
For its part, the museum prides itself on housing useless creations like the 'portable anonymyser' - a piece of black card on a stick so people who don't want to be in the public eye can black out their own eyes. Thinking further about the description of this...whatever, why would people and how would it help to disguise a person's identity?
Then we have lead-less pencils for civil servants, a fully transportable hat stand and - wait for it - a portable hole and a bristleless toothbrush for people with no teeth.
Their first failed inventions fair drew more than 5,000 visitors and they are planning to expand to larger premises.
This statement by Gall says it all: "We have government funding and some private backing and we hope the people out there like nonsense just as much as we do,"
Obviously the taxpayers don't seem to mind.
GETTING ALL THE BUGS OUT
These days, the word "bug" is frequently used when discussing computer problems and related issues. Many people consider the word in as far as it applies to the insect world, like entomologist Skye Blackurn. Her interest in creepy-crawlies has taken her to breeding edible bugs, which she also sells as novelty gifts.
To be candid, the vision/concept of eating bugs isn't appealing to say the least, but to each his own. As an aside (big on these), a while back when hosting a public access TV program focusing on animals, I sampled a bug lollipop. Actually, it wasn't bad especially if one wasn't aware it was composed of insects but therein lay/lies the problem: I was aware. In addition I could have if I so chose, dined on sauteed bugs in tomato sauce (I declined the invite) but I digress. Again.
Crickets and mealworms are placed in lollipops after which they are coated in chocolate. Another personal aside: I've also nibbled (key word here) on chocolate-covered grasshoppers. Crispy on the inside but I digress. Once more.
According to Ms Blackburn, the aim is to encompass the bugs in an edible form in which people would recognize. Actually thinking further about this and IMHO, it would probably be preferable NOT to recognize the insects. She has ground up roasted mealworms and used the end result a powdered flour, to make other dishes including banana bread and cookies. The insects, which are bred on an insect farm outside of Sydney, Australia, are killed ethically by freezing them after which they fall into a death sleep. They are kept in a very sterile environment and fed organic grains and vegetables, which are supposed to increased the flavor of the insects. Actually, a cold demise is preferable to death by shoe and other hand-held articles by insect dislikers.
The insect delights are proving to be very popular and plans are afoot to expand her menu to include water bugs, scorpions and possibly tarantulas. I'll pass on that, chocolate-covered or not.
NOT AN ART LOVER
As an artist, I'm aware that people's taste in art is subjective. While my taste run to landscapes, others may prefer abstract or cubism and other styles. Some people take art to the extreme.
A painting made by abstract expressionist artist, Clyford Still, received damages to the extent of $10,000. A 36-year old woman punched and scratched the painting, an oil-on-canvas called “1957-J no.2”, at the newly opened Clyfford Still museum in Denver, Colorado. To express her distaste for the painting, the female pulled down her pants to slide her buttocks against the surface. Talk about the ultimate expression of dislike! As if that wasn't enough, she allegedly urinated after rubbing up against the canvas. I mean, I've heard of body art but this is taking things too far.
CRABBY DAVID
A new species of crab will be named after Baywatch star, David Hasselhoff, given the hairy chest of the crustacean. The crab who now goes by 'The Hoff', was discovered living around volcanic vents of South Georgia. Oh well - at least he will be remembered for something.
How did your week go?
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Resolving to resolve good intentions for the New Year
For whatever reason and on the arrival of the new year, we resolve to make changes in our lives. When you think about it, these modifications could easily be made throughout the year. It's as if the turning of year numbers wipes out all the things we wanted to do but somehow didn't happen.
As usual I'm aspiring to turn the scale; shift the scene, turn over a new leaf in the hope that at least one of them will be realized.
"Good for you, Eleanor. How about sharing with us?"
- I'm going to make a concerted effort to cut back on painting images of fields and flowers and flowers and fields. The minute I take brush in hand, somehow, some way, those fields and flowers suddenly jump up on the canvas. There is a definite draw like a magnet to metal filings to this type of image as is adding a lake or river or water to the scene. Thing is - I'm not really good at water but it always seems to show up.
"Just stop buying blue paint, Eleanor! Voila! Water problem solved."
Were it that easy! My angst covers the color of water and rarely achieving the "right" color. The wrong shades are those that end up on the canvas. Should it be light blue...medium blue...aqua...green... Maybe pond water - or a river stream. It just never ends.
- When using the palette knife, I will also make a concerted effort not to cut the surface of the canvas
Moving on...
- I'm going to send my plays packing in the hope of finding a new home.
Really, really and I mean it this time, I'm going to do something progressive with my plays. Definitely more submitting and checking out the submission guidelines to find and ensure a good fit. What is a good fit, anyway? Let me put it this way: they wouldn't be submitted to a theatre that focuses on Shakespere.
- Focusing on re-writing and converting "Old Soldiers" into a radio play. Joe McKenna, the main character, isn't getting any younger
To quote Oprah Winfrey - the lady does have a way with words: "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
As usual I'm aspiring to turn the scale; shift the scene, turn over a new leaf in the hope that at least one of them will be realized.
"Good for you, Eleanor. How about sharing with us?"
- I'm going to make a concerted effort to cut back on painting images of fields and flowers and flowers and fields. The minute I take brush in hand, somehow, some way, those fields and flowers suddenly jump up on the canvas. There is a definite draw like a magnet to metal filings to this type of image as is adding a lake or river or water to the scene. Thing is - I'm not really good at water but it always seems to show up.
"Just stop buying blue paint, Eleanor! Voila! Water problem solved."
Were it that easy! My angst covers the color of water and rarely achieving the "right" color. The wrong shades are those that end up on the canvas. Should it be light blue...medium blue...aqua...green... Maybe pond water - or a river stream. It just never ends.
- When using the palette knife, I will also make a concerted effort not to cut the surface of the canvas
Moving on...
- I'm going to send my plays packing in the hope of finding a new home.
Really, really and I mean it this time, I'm going to do something progressive with my plays. Definitely more submitting and checking out the submission guidelines to find and ensure a good fit. What is a good fit, anyway? Let me put it this way: they wouldn't be submitted to a theatre that focuses on Shakespere.
- Focusing on re-writing and converting "Old Soldiers" into a radio play. Joe McKenna, the main character, isn't getting any younger
To quote Oprah Winfrey - the lady does have a way with words: "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Bizarre Freedom of Information Requests - really!
Many people think about things. You know - deep and perplexing issues - like how could a council help Santa - the Santa - and his reindeer if they crashed in Cheltenham, England. Why Cheltenham, England, one might be asking oneself. Most likely because a person living in said geographical location for whatever reason (perhaps while visiting the local pub springs to mind) may be concerned that Santa and his entourage could end up in a bad accident. Go know!
Still another request was what percentage of Hampsire County Council's drawing pins are actually stuck in pin boards. This request is tricky in my opinion. First of all, the request should have been narrowed down to a specific day and/or time because pins can be removed and new pins replaced depending on who's in charge and the reason for sticking said pins in the boards in the first place. But I digress.
These were two subjects that made the Local Government Association's list of the top 10 most bizarre Freedom of Information Requests of 2011 in England and Wales. Here are some more ponderings:
- somebody wanted to know whether the West Devon District Council about its preparations for helping soldiers defend against Napoleon's marauding hordes.
- Both Leicester City Council and Bristol City Council were asked about their readiness for a zombie attack
- Cornwall Council was questioned as to how much money it had paid to exorcists
- The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were queried as to what plans are in place to deal with an alien invasion
- Meanwhile, the number of holes in privacy walls between toilet cubicles are found in public washrooms and council buildings was asked of the Cornwall Council
In excess of 197,000 requests for information were made this year alone, with authorities spending £31.6m on responding to the querents.
There's a good photo of Santa and one of his reindeers here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16302375
Word has it when asked as to whether he has had any close calls while flying over Cheltenham, Santa couldn't recall but mentioned his GPS has misled him from time-to-time.
Still another request was what percentage of Hampsire County Council's drawing pins are actually stuck in pin boards. This request is tricky in my opinion. First of all, the request should have been narrowed down to a specific day and/or time because pins can be removed and new pins replaced depending on who's in charge and the reason for sticking said pins in the boards in the first place. But I digress.
These were two subjects that made the Local Government Association's list of the top 10 most bizarre Freedom of Information Requests of 2011 in England and Wales. Here are some more ponderings:
- somebody wanted to know whether the West Devon District Council about its preparations for helping soldiers defend against Napoleon's marauding hordes.
- Both Leicester City Council and Bristol City Council were asked about their readiness for a zombie attack
- Cornwall Council was questioned as to how much money it had paid to exorcists
- The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were queried as to what plans are in place to deal with an alien invasion
- Meanwhile, the number of holes in privacy walls between toilet cubicles are found in public washrooms and council buildings was asked of the Cornwall Council
In excess of 197,000 requests for information were made this year alone, with authorities spending £31.6m on responding to the querents.
There's a good photo of Santa and one of his reindeers here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16302375
Word has it when asked as to whether he has had any close calls while flying over Cheltenham, Santa couldn't recall but mentioned his GPS has misled him from time-to-time.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Upon having cell-phone-itis...in the bathroom?
Just finished posting or sharing a complaint on Facebook and decided to carry it over here. Actually, it's more of a rant. Again. Perhaps I've shared this before but since it is happening with increasing frequency, it's noteworthy and mentionable. What is really upsetting - at least to me - is that this practice is becoming more and more frequent and socially acceptable. Frequently, I get the urge to yell out: "she's on the toilet! Call back!"
Today while meandering through a mall in late afternoon and after one too many coffees, had to use a public bathroom. So I close the door behind me and as I'm getting ready to sit down, I hear a voice in the stall beside me (are female separations called stalls one wonders?) talking away animatedly. Wasn't sure whether the voice was addressing me so I listened for a minute and then realized by the topic that the person was on her cell phone while - well - peeing. This led me to wonder whether the conversation was a continuation of one that began prior to using the washroom, or perhaps she was on a long distance call but I digress. Surely the call could have continued after she had completed what she set out to do. It also can't be very hygeinic to use a cell phone while doing...whatever.
As a matter of fact and interest, researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London, conducted a study that revealed a lot about people doing...whatever and cell phone usage. Researchers analyzed 780 swab samples with 390 from cell phones and the people who used them in twelve cities in the U.K. Findings revealed that 16% of both hands and phones were contaminated with E. coli, potentially illness-causing bacteria that is fecal in origin. Think about that the next time you absolutely have to discuss...whatever.
Related to this, I'm also amazed how people aren't afflicted with neck problems given their propensity to stare downward at cell phones and texted messages while walking. It would be interesting to know whether health professionals are dealing with afflictions related to these practices. Anybody know?
Still, it's perplexing as to the need to be connected all the time. Not in the bathroom, okay? We really don't want to know.
Today while meandering through a mall in late afternoon and after one too many coffees, had to use a public bathroom. So I close the door behind me and as I'm getting ready to sit down, I hear a voice in the stall beside me (are female separations called stalls one wonders?) talking away animatedly. Wasn't sure whether the voice was addressing me so I listened for a minute and then realized by the topic that the person was on her cell phone while - well - peeing. This led me to wonder whether the conversation was a continuation of one that began prior to using the washroom, or perhaps she was on a long distance call but I digress. Surely the call could have continued after she had completed what she set out to do. It also can't be very hygeinic to use a cell phone while doing...whatever.
As a matter of fact and interest, researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London, conducted a study that revealed a lot about people doing...whatever and cell phone usage. Researchers analyzed 780 swab samples with 390 from cell phones and the people who used them in twelve cities in the U.K. Findings revealed that 16% of both hands and phones were contaminated with E. coli, potentially illness-causing bacteria that is fecal in origin. Think about that the next time you absolutely have to discuss...whatever.
Related to this, I'm also amazed how people aren't afflicted with neck problems given their propensity to stare downward at cell phones and texted messages while walking. It would be interesting to know whether health professionals are dealing with afflictions related to these practices. Anybody know?
Still, it's perplexing as to the need to be connected all the time. Not in the bathroom, okay? We really don't want to know.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
X-Factor judges getting nasty and silly
As is the case with numerous TV viewers, I'm watching "X-Factor (USA) having read a lot of hype about the British version. Another reason is that the powers-that-be put Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul on the same show even if their continuous bickering is for effect and to increase the show ratings, as was the case when they peformed the same routine as judges on American Idol.
The only thing I'm familiar with in as far as X-Factor judge, Nicole Scherzinger, is that she was a singer with the Pussycat Dolls and the winner of the 10th season of Dancing With the Stars. Not sure if this accomplishment is something that should be added to her resume but I digress. Obviously, when putting X-Factor together, they decided that her presence would be a draw. Then we have LA Reid whose credentials as a record executive, songwriter and record producer make him a good choice and addition to the show. Not that Simon Cowell is a slouch in this area. Last is the "presenter" as the Brits call it, Steve Jones. Nothing much to say about him other than I find his style distasteful. Period.
The X-Factor differs from AI in that once the elimination process is completed and the field narrowed down, singers are categorized and the judges become the mentors. This concept in itself is enough to create competitiveness among them given their day jobs of creating musical personalities. It does, however, make for fun TV watching.
So Simon Cowell eliminates all of Paula's contestants after which Paula gets revenge by eliminating one of Simon's pet female singers aided by LA Reid and Nicole S. The show is turning into a "revenge-factor 101" as the judges denegrate each other's singers as a means in which to hang on to their own group contestants. As Simon pleaded - actually pleaded - with TV viewers to vote for Melanie Amaro (one of my favorites btw) to "keep her out of the pirhanna pool." "Ya gotta love it - Cowell actually begging viewers to retain one of his singers! We all know who he's referring to when he used the term, "pirhanna pool." To show you how this has become shark infested waters, judges have taken to directly psyching out the singers as a means to achieve a weak performance. What is it that they say... 'revenge is a dish best served cold?' As I recall, Cowell dissed Abdul's singers and choice of singing material. Ditto for Scherzinger. As mentioned, anything to increase the ratings, which it appears are not what they hoped they would be.
In the end and although it may not have the sophistication of an X-Factor (more like a kindergarten), I'll definitely opt for Ryan Seacrest's style as show host introducing the contestants, over a pompous Steve Jones. The latter is a thoughtless and insensitive oaf, IMHO.
They're promoting American Idol already and count me in as one who will be watching. Sometimes genteel is the way to go.
The only thing I'm familiar with in as far as X-Factor judge, Nicole Scherzinger, is that she was a singer with the Pussycat Dolls and the winner of the 10th season of Dancing With the Stars. Not sure if this accomplishment is something that should be added to her resume but I digress. Obviously, when putting X-Factor together, they decided that her presence would be a draw. Then we have LA Reid whose credentials as a record executive, songwriter and record producer make him a good choice and addition to the show. Not that Simon Cowell is a slouch in this area. Last is the "presenter" as the Brits call it, Steve Jones. Nothing much to say about him other than I find his style distasteful. Period.
The X-Factor differs from AI in that once the elimination process is completed and the field narrowed down, singers are categorized and the judges become the mentors. This concept in itself is enough to create competitiveness among them given their day jobs of creating musical personalities. It does, however, make for fun TV watching.
So Simon Cowell eliminates all of Paula's contestants after which Paula gets revenge by eliminating one of Simon's pet female singers aided by LA Reid and Nicole S. The show is turning into a "revenge-factor 101" as the judges denegrate each other's singers as a means in which to hang on to their own group contestants. As Simon pleaded - actually pleaded - with TV viewers to vote for Melanie Amaro (one of my favorites btw) to "keep her out of the pirhanna pool." "Ya gotta love it - Cowell actually begging viewers to retain one of his singers! We all know who he's referring to when he used the term, "pirhanna pool." To show you how this has become shark infested waters, judges have taken to directly psyching out the singers as a means to achieve a weak performance. What is it that they say... 'revenge is a dish best served cold?' As I recall, Cowell dissed Abdul's singers and choice of singing material. Ditto for Scherzinger. As mentioned, anything to increase the ratings, which it appears are not what they hoped they would be.
In the end and although it may not have the sophistication of an X-Factor (more like a kindergarten), I'll definitely opt for Ryan Seacrest's style as show host introducing the contestants, over a pompous Steve Jones. The latter is a thoughtless and insensitive oaf, IMHO.
They're promoting American Idol already and count me in as one who will be watching. Sometimes genteel is the way to go.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
How do be a good Christmas guest - Debretts knows
So let's say...an invitation is extended from a friend, family member or aquaintance to their annual or semi-annual or once-in-a-while Christmas get-together. In responding affirmatively to the invitation, there are certain responsibilities that are attached to attending a festive gathering. The source for all things social is Debretts, who offer a guide on anything and everything for all occasions. One can adapt the advice as one sees fit.
First on the list, Debretts suggests that guests arrive with, in their words, "goodies." This means to me that one should ascertain the ages and tastes of the host family before showing up with what could be embarrassing gift selections, like a set of cosmetics for a young female instead of a male. Then again... But I digress. Or, a tie to suit a family member recalled as Bruce, who ends up being the family pooch.
Speaking or writing about the family pooch, there is no mention regarding decorum where pets are concerned. Nothing noted regarding the passing of food tidbits under the table to whining or barking dog(s), neither is there any guidance as to how to proceed for dogs that beg while performing cute tricks. On the other hand, this would not be applicable to the family cat who prefer to make a statement walking accross the table... But I digress.
Another suggestion from Debretts is to check out what food item to bring along. Bean cassserol (here's Martha Stewart"s recipe for interested persons: http://www.marthastewart.com/340211/green-bean-casserole) is not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak, or aspic (for more about aspic, check this out: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aspic.htm Somehow gelatin embedded with meat pieces doesn't do it for me, at least. Gelatin by itself, however, i.e. Jello et al, is a favorite personal dessert but definitely does not travel well in a warm car. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjBHgPeg8T4
As a guest, Debretts advises, don't take over the role of host. This would or could include monopolizing the conversation focusing on, for example, past get-togethers and/or family fiasco celebrations. Memory joggers like "remember when blah-blah danced with the floor lamp and eneded up being treated for electric shock" -type reminders is not mannerly table talk. In the way of help, here are some conversation starters focusing on a wide range of subjects - take your pick and be witty: http://aesthetichealingmindset.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/social-savvy-for-the-holidays-%E2%80%93-conversation-starters-for-more-interesting-table-talk/
Debretts also suggests that thoughtful guests offer their assistance in the kitchen. This could include salad- making or dish drying or aspic de-geling (is aspic still on the holiday menu, one wonders or was it ever?), which is tricky (http://whatscookingamerica.net/gelatintip.htm) and the wrong move can result in a plate of colored liquid. But again, I digress.
In as far as missing a favorite TV program, Debretts suggests that recorders be set up to ensure that favorite programs aren't missed. Don't make demands of the hosts to watch a favorite show. Perhaps other guests may also have their own favorite TV program like the weekly football telecast while other may be fans of X-Factor or Glee, which could cause program conflicts. Perhaps a good conversation starter is to go around the table and vote as to which programs to watch. Just a suggestion.
Another suggestion is not to comment (or presumably criticize) a host's way of entertaing, Debretts advises.
No statements or subjects that touch on bedtime activities like "When I was young, we had our Christmas cake at 5 o'clock and were in bed by 8…" Comments like these will always be seen as implied criticisms, and should be avoided at all costs."
Get into the spirit of the get together and as Debretts advises, "don't be a party pooper." If everyone participates in a Christmas sing-a-long featuring Barry Manilow singing holiday favorites (for example), sitting with folded arms and mumbling bad words to one-self is not being a good guest.
Once the wine bottles or fruit juice have gone and the aspic has disolved into a color-less liquid with pieces of disgusting grey meat floating on the surface, it's polite to thank the hosts for extending an invitation to their holiday party. Debretts suggests that you "thank the host effusively for his/her hospitality."
"Thanks for the invite even though I missed the big game," is not nice. Neither is "did we mention we changed our address, phone number and e-mail?"
After all and in the end, it's all part of the Christmas celebration.
First on the list, Debretts suggests that guests arrive with, in their words, "goodies." This means to me that one should ascertain the ages and tastes of the host family before showing up with what could be embarrassing gift selections, like a set of cosmetics for a young female instead of a male. Then again... But I digress. Or, a tie to suit a family member recalled as Bruce, who ends up being the family pooch.
Speaking or writing about the family pooch, there is no mention regarding decorum where pets are concerned. Nothing noted regarding the passing of food tidbits under the table to whining or barking dog(s), neither is there any guidance as to how to proceed for dogs that beg while performing cute tricks. On the other hand, this would not be applicable to the family cat who prefer to make a statement walking accross the table... But I digress.
Another suggestion from Debretts is to check out what food item to bring along. Bean cassserol (here's Martha Stewart"s recipe for interested persons: http://www.marthastewart.com/340211/green-bean-casserole) is not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak, or aspic (for more about aspic, check this out: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aspic.htm Somehow gelatin embedded with meat pieces doesn't do it for me, at least. Gelatin by itself, however, i.e. Jello et al, is a favorite personal dessert but definitely does not travel well in a warm car. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjBHgPeg8T4
As a guest, Debretts advises, don't take over the role of host. This would or could include monopolizing the conversation focusing on, for example, past get-togethers and/or family fiasco celebrations. Memory joggers like "remember when blah-blah danced with the floor lamp and eneded up being treated for electric shock" -type reminders is not mannerly table talk. In the way of help, here are some conversation starters focusing on a wide range of subjects - take your pick and be witty: http://aesthetichealingmindset.wordpress.com/2010/12/21/social-savvy-for-the-holidays-%E2%80%93-conversation-starters-for-more-interesting-table-talk/
Debretts also suggests that thoughtful guests offer their assistance in the kitchen. This could include salad- making or dish drying or aspic de-geling (is aspic still on the holiday menu, one wonders or was it ever?), which is tricky (http://whatscookingamerica.net/gelatintip.htm) and the wrong move can result in a plate of colored liquid. But again, I digress.
In as far as missing a favorite TV program, Debretts suggests that recorders be set up to ensure that favorite programs aren't missed. Don't make demands of the hosts to watch a favorite show. Perhaps other guests may also have their own favorite TV program like the weekly football telecast while other may be fans of X-Factor or Glee, which could cause program conflicts. Perhaps a good conversation starter is to go around the table and vote as to which programs to watch. Just a suggestion.
Another suggestion is not to comment (or presumably criticize) a host's way of entertaing, Debretts advises.
No statements or subjects that touch on bedtime activities like "When I was young, we had our Christmas cake at 5 o'clock and were in bed by 8…" Comments like these will always be seen as implied criticisms, and should be avoided at all costs."
Get into the spirit of the get together and as Debretts advises, "don't be a party pooper." If everyone participates in a Christmas sing-a-long featuring Barry Manilow singing holiday favorites (for example), sitting with folded arms and mumbling bad words to one-self is not being a good guest.
Once the wine bottles or fruit juice have gone and the aspic has disolved into a color-less liquid with pieces of disgusting grey meat floating on the surface, it's polite to thank the hosts for extending an invitation to their holiday party. Debretts suggests that you "thank the host effusively for his/her hospitality."
"Thanks for the invite even though I missed the big game," is not nice. Neither is "did we mention we changed our address, phone number and e-mail?"
After all and in the end, it's all part of the Christmas celebration.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Wookie the cat tale still has legs
It's been almost a year now that Wookie the cat has been missing. Going out on a limb here since nobody has written any updates, one presumes that there have been no sightings.
In the way of background info., Wookie's disappearance caused a local uproar in Bedford, England, when his owner Mike Harding was threatened with a legal fine for posting posters of his puss, in the hope that somebody - anybody - had spotted his beloved feline.
So here we are another Christmas almost upon us and still no news updates concerning the cat's fate. What is interesting, though, is that this blog story still has legs so to speak. In the year that the tale was told here, for whatever reason, there is still interest judging by the hits. We're not talking hundreds of hits but even so, the story always climbs up to the top of the pile. Also included in these numbers are spammers most likely but it's still personally noteworthy that people around the globe drop by to read the story.
Pure speculation, perhaps it's a seasonal thing in that people - okay me - wonder whether Wookie is "out there" somewhere, having to depend on an occasional mice meal or on the kindness of others, as people plan their festive menu. Perhaps he is forced to find shelter living under garden shacks. Then again and putting in a positive light, maybe some kind stranger took him in and he lives out his life as a pampered cat. Thing is - nobody knows.
Perhaps if Mike Harding is reading this, he would or could provide an update, if any. Meanwhile, perhaps sympathetic cat lovers (or even likers) feel moved enough to donate to their local animal shelter in Wookie's name. Or just donate, anyway. They can always use the money.
Meanwhile, verifiable updates on Wookie are welcome and Wookie if you're reading this: come home for Christmas!
In the way of background info., Wookie's disappearance caused a local uproar in Bedford, England, when his owner Mike Harding was threatened with a legal fine for posting posters of his puss, in the hope that somebody - anybody - had spotted his beloved feline.
So here we are another Christmas almost upon us and still no news updates concerning the cat's fate. What is interesting, though, is that this blog story still has legs so to speak. In the year that the tale was told here, for whatever reason, there is still interest judging by the hits. We're not talking hundreds of hits but even so, the story always climbs up to the top of the pile. Also included in these numbers are spammers most likely but it's still personally noteworthy that people around the globe drop by to read the story.
Pure speculation, perhaps it's a seasonal thing in that people - okay me - wonder whether Wookie is "out there" somewhere, having to depend on an occasional mice meal or on the kindness of others, as people plan their festive menu. Perhaps he is forced to find shelter living under garden shacks. Then again and putting in a positive light, maybe some kind stranger took him in and he lives out his life as a pampered cat. Thing is - nobody knows.
Perhaps if Mike Harding is reading this, he would or could provide an update, if any. Meanwhile, perhaps sympathetic cat lovers (or even likers) feel moved enough to donate to their local animal shelter in Wookie's name. Or just donate, anyway. They can always use the money.
Meanwhile, verifiable updates on Wookie are welcome and Wookie if you're reading this: come home for Christmas!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Delaware names Ambassador to Mars.
In as far as scientific community is concerned, no one can say with any certainty that there is life on Mars, the planet - not the candy bar. This reality, however, hasn't impeded the state of Delaware from appointing an Ambassador to Mars. Really.
Last week, the Governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, named one Dr. Noureddine Melikechi, vice-president for research at Delaware State University, as the state's "Ambassador to Mars" in recognition of his achievements as role in the launch of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory planned for November 25..
In a letter to Dr. Melikechi, the governor sang the praises of his state.
“As Delaware’s new Ambassador to Mars, we would very much appreciate it if you could let any Martian tourists or investors know that Delaware is conveniently located on the East Coast with a great port, strong community, excellent workforce and top-notch research facilities."
As expected in his role as governor, he also went on to promote his states local tourist attractions.
“We have beautiful beaches, important historic sites and, of course, tax-free shopping.”
I mean, one would assume or at least imagine or guess that there would be some type of Mars/Earth/Delaware reciprocity and that Martian visitors could or would or might want to take advantage of the state's beaches, not to mention tax free shopping. Of course before all of this can take place, there have to be signs of life. But I digress.
“We appreciate your commitment to scientific excellence, your significant contributions to our state’s reputation as a cradle of innovation, and the esteem your work is bringing to the First State” the governor wrote.
According to NASA, the MSL Curiosity rover has 10 science instruments to search for evidence that Mars had "environments favourable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life."
The Governor provided a copy of Delaware’s new State Travel Guide to Dr. Melikechi. Although the guide is available at http://www.visitdelaware.com/, Melikechi will bring a paper copy in case Martian operating systems are not compatible with our technology.
He will be traveling to Cape Canaveral where he and his colleagues will be working in preparation for the launch.
Interesting promotional idea. If this catches on, can other states be far behind? Next thing you know, somebody will come up with a Martian to English dictionary...
Read the governor's letter here: http://news.delaware.gov/2011/11/18/governor-markell-names-ambassador-to-mars/
Last week, the Governor of Delaware, Jack Markell, named one Dr. Noureddine Melikechi, vice-president for research at Delaware State University, as the state's "Ambassador to Mars" in recognition of his achievements as role in the launch of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory planned for November 25..
In a letter to Dr. Melikechi, the governor sang the praises of his state.
“As Delaware’s new Ambassador to Mars, we would very much appreciate it if you could let any Martian tourists or investors know that Delaware is conveniently located on the East Coast with a great port, strong community, excellent workforce and top-notch research facilities."
As expected in his role as governor, he also went on to promote his states local tourist attractions.
“We have beautiful beaches, important historic sites and, of course, tax-free shopping.”
I mean, one would assume or at least imagine or guess that there would be some type of Mars/Earth/Delaware reciprocity and that Martian visitors could or would or might want to take advantage of the state's beaches, not to mention tax free shopping. Of course before all of this can take place, there have to be signs of life. But I digress.
“We appreciate your commitment to scientific excellence, your significant contributions to our state’s reputation as a cradle of innovation, and the esteem your work is bringing to the First State” the governor wrote.
According to NASA, the MSL Curiosity rover has 10 science instruments to search for evidence that Mars had "environments favourable for microbial life, including the chemical ingredients for life."
The Governor provided a copy of Delaware’s new State Travel Guide to Dr. Melikechi. Although the guide is available at http://www.visitdelaware.com/, Melikechi will bring a paper copy in case Martian operating systems are not compatible with our technology.
He will be traveling to Cape Canaveral where he and his colleagues will be working in preparation for the launch.
Interesting promotional idea. If this catches on, can other states be far behind? Next thing you know, somebody will come up with a Martian to English dictionary...
Read the governor's letter here: http://news.delaware.gov/2011/11/18/governor-markell-names-ambassador-to-mars/
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Lamb eyeball, anyone? How about fresh beaver tails?
Let's say...one is tired of the usual fast food options or the conventional menu offered at neighborhood eateries (not that there's anything wrong with local restaurants - I'm a fan). Perhaps there is an inner urge that can't be fulfilled at a buffet, a need for something different. Something on the exotic and perhaps a little eclectic side? How about some Nepali goat brain? Maybe live drunken shrimp, perhaps? Or lamb eyeball (no mention if it's served open or closed - hopefully closed), or perhaps boiled fertilized duck egg, a side of beaver tail. These food options are "average" fare for a group of adventurous diners who have named themselves, Gastronauts. Presumably, the name refers to gastronomical exotic fare and not the end result after eating unconventional food choices. But I digress. Already.
The group, created by two friends in 2006, were seeking out meals that offered a culinary experience not ordinarily found at your regular restaurants. Initially, the first meeting of the club, which has its home base in New York City, attracted a mere half dozen people. I can understand why. Over time, however, the membership has grown to 1000 eaters and plans are to expand to other U.S. cities.
The club, according to one Curtiss Calleo, an art director and graphic designer, who founded the club along with magazine editor, Ben Pauker, is open to all and has bankers, artists, designers among others, as members. There is no registration fee and members/participants pay for their own meals held monthly in restaurants.No mention of the name of host restaurants, though. The invitations are sent via e-mail to 70-80 people, who usually respond quickly to the invite.
In as far as the food served, at a recent gathering in New York for example, the invitees ate balut, a Philippine snack of boiled fertilized duck egg. Just wondering here what fertilized duck egg is preferred say...over unfertilized duck egg. Just a thought. Anybody know? But I digress. Again.
Other delicacies served at previous get together include cooked lamb eye ball. Pass. As an after thought, the vision of tail-less beavers is somehow personally worrisome.
Be that as it may, there may be people reading this who are interested in sampling food and would like more information on how and where to become a member:
http://www.gastronauts.net/
The group, created by two friends in 2006, were seeking out meals that offered a culinary experience not ordinarily found at your regular restaurants. Initially, the first meeting of the club, which has its home base in New York City, attracted a mere half dozen people. I can understand why. Over time, however, the membership has grown to 1000 eaters and plans are to expand to other U.S. cities.
The club, according to one Curtiss Calleo, an art director and graphic designer, who founded the club along with magazine editor, Ben Pauker, is open to all and has bankers, artists, designers among others, as members. There is no registration fee and members/participants pay for their own meals held monthly in restaurants.No mention of the name of host restaurants, though. The invitations are sent via e-mail to 70-80 people, who usually respond quickly to the invite.
In as far as the food served, at a recent gathering in New York for example, the invitees ate balut, a Philippine snack of boiled fertilized duck egg. Just wondering here what fertilized duck egg is preferred say...over unfertilized duck egg. Just a thought. Anybody know? But I digress. Again.
Other delicacies served at previous get together include cooked lamb eye ball. Pass. As an after thought, the vision of tail-less beavers is somehow personally worrisome.
Be that as it may, there may be people reading this who are interested in sampling food and would like more information on how and where to become a member:
http://www.gastronauts.net/
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Snails succumb to deep freeze
Reading the headline of this story, many people are probably wondering what snails are or in this case, were, doing in a refrigerated environment. Snails for many of us, are slow moving invertebrates that live out their lives in our garden soil. However, the Powelliphanta giant land snails are considered an endangered species after the area in which they live(d), Stockton Plateau on South Island in New Zealand, set up coal mining several years ago. Given their rarity, scientists in their wisdom, decided to save 6,000 of their kind by transferring them to a temperature-controlled room set up by the Department of Conservation. This leads one to wonder if the scientists who most likely had their (the snails) welfare at heart, took into consideration as to whether they (the snails) wanted to be relegated to a room for the rest of their lives. But I digress.
So anyway, the snails, which eat primarily worms and slugs can grow as large as 3.5" accross, can or could live up to 20 years - when their living conditions are favorable. Somehow, things went very wrong and a technical glitch caused temperatures to drop below freezing. Unable to sustain the sudden blast of cold, 800 of their kind were accidentally frozen to death. Sounds like a plot for a bad sci-fi movie.
This leads one to wonder as to why there weren't any systems or alarms set in place that would go off and warn the snail care-givers that something was wrong. But I digress. Again.
Meanwhile, the staff at the West Coast conservancy where they lived or at least existed depending on one's views, are said to be very upset. I bet. Seems that the temperature probe in one of three containers failed causing the room temperature drop to a point where the snails froze to death. Just how many snails are/were housed in each container, one wonders...
In response, staff will conduct more monitoring checks and will be setting up an alert system for surviving snail species. I bet. At least 360 snail eggs hatched this year and they were confident the specie would survive. Some environmentalists were of the opinion that this type of accident shows what can happen when development displaces wildlife from its natural habitat.
"Keeping our wildlife in fridges is obviously not how New Zealanders would like to care for native animals found nowhere else in the world. It's a sad fact that this has been the best option for them because moving them back to the wild in other parts of the West Coast has not worked," Nicola Vallance of New Zealand's Forest and Bird organisation commented.
Very sad that industry or poaching is causing the extinction of many species. I'm not a big snail fancier but somehow living out their lives in a climate controlled container is less than ideal. Then again, if scientists hadn't intervened, yet another species would disappear.
Here's a photo of one of them: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10765048
So anyway, the snails, which eat primarily worms and slugs can grow as large as 3.5" accross, can or could live up to 20 years - when their living conditions are favorable. Somehow, things went very wrong and a technical glitch caused temperatures to drop below freezing. Unable to sustain the sudden blast of cold, 800 of their kind were accidentally frozen to death. Sounds like a plot for a bad sci-fi movie.
This leads one to wonder as to why there weren't any systems or alarms set in place that would go off and warn the snail care-givers that something was wrong. But I digress. Again.
Meanwhile, the staff at the West Coast conservancy where they lived or at least existed depending on one's views, are said to be very upset. I bet. Seems that the temperature probe in one of three containers failed causing the room temperature drop to a point where the snails froze to death. Just how many snails are/were housed in each container, one wonders...
In response, staff will conduct more monitoring checks and will be setting up an alert system for surviving snail species. I bet. At least 360 snail eggs hatched this year and they were confident the specie would survive. Some environmentalists were of the opinion that this type of accident shows what can happen when development displaces wildlife from its natural habitat.
"Keeping our wildlife in fridges is obviously not how New Zealanders would like to care for native animals found nowhere else in the world. It's a sad fact that this has been the best option for them because moving them back to the wild in other parts of the West Coast has not worked," Nicola Vallance of New Zealand's Forest and Bird organisation commented.
Very sad that industry or poaching is causing the extinction of many species. I'm not a big snail fancier but somehow living out their lives in a climate controlled container is less than ideal. Then again, if scientists hadn't intervened, yet another species would disappear.
Here's a photo of one of them: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10765048
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Bah - humbug! French department store drops Christmas carols for rock'n'roll
It's November and many - make that lots - of stores are heavy into Christmas decorations in spite of just coming out of Halloween. Actually, statistically, Halloween is big business when it comes to decorations and related items. But I digress.
Some people enjoy the holiday season and welcome the numerous appearances of mall Santas, plastic Christmas trees ("oh Eleanor - you're so cynical!") of many colors and the playing of the Little Drummer Boy over and over... But I digress. Again.
Then there are others who want to update Christmas and modernize the selection of musical offerings. Such is the case of Galerie Lafayette, a department store located in Paris, France, who recently made the decision to eliminate your Christmas carols with - wait for it - rock and roll. As they have done in seasons past, the store is once again putting on shows leading up to the big day but is seeking a means in which to attract and presumably entice a younger generation to their offerings and merchandise.
To this end, they are using rock legend Iggy Pop to pose for photo fliers dressed in a red Santa hat (does Santa know, one wonders), matching shoes and a custumary, electric guitar. In addition, a window show will include performances by a variety of major-label rock and folk bands. A change from the past is the replacement of cute, furry creatures and puppets in favor of life-size mannequins dressed in black leather, and rag dolls dressed in fashionable duds. This leads one to ask what they will do with your usual Christmas icons like snowmen, most likely relegated to a box in a warehouse, somewhere, never to see the light of day along with older puppets... But I digress. Again.
The bottom line, as expected, is the reason for the change with French household spending dropping 1.3% in September with spending on clothing falling by 7.3%. It will be interesting to see the reaction of French shoppers to the change. As a rule, people like to retain Christmas traditions and somehow Iggy Pop, with all due respect, isn't Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" or "Petit Papa Noel" or "Mon Beau Sapin." Perhaps a combination of both the old and new?
Anyway, here's Iggy and his promo for the dept. store: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYHdX347BR4
Hmmmm - wonder how much he got paid...
Some people enjoy the holiday season and welcome the numerous appearances of mall Santas, plastic Christmas trees ("oh Eleanor - you're so cynical!") of many colors and the playing of the Little Drummer Boy over and over... But I digress. Again.
Then there are others who want to update Christmas and modernize the selection of musical offerings. Such is the case of Galerie Lafayette, a department store located in Paris, France, who recently made the decision to eliminate your Christmas carols with - wait for it - rock and roll. As they have done in seasons past, the store is once again putting on shows leading up to the big day but is seeking a means in which to attract and presumably entice a younger generation to their offerings and merchandise.
To this end, they are using rock legend Iggy Pop to pose for photo fliers dressed in a red Santa hat (does Santa know, one wonders), matching shoes and a custumary, electric guitar. In addition, a window show will include performances by a variety of major-label rock and folk bands. A change from the past is the replacement of cute, furry creatures and puppets in favor of life-size mannequins dressed in black leather, and rag dolls dressed in fashionable duds. This leads one to ask what they will do with your usual Christmas icons like snowmen, most likely relegated to a box in a warehouse, somewhere, never to see the light of day along with older puppets... But I digress. Again.
The bottom line, as expected, is the reason for the change with French household spending dropping 1.3% in September with spending on clothing falling by 7.3%. It will be interesting to see the reaction of French shoppers to the change. As a rule, people like to retain Christmas traditions and somehow Iggy Pop, with all due respect, isn't Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas" or "Petit Papa Noel" or "Mon Beau Sapin." Perhaps a combination of both the old and new?
Anyway, here's Iggy and his promo for the dept. store: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYHdX347BR4
Hmmmm - wonder how much he got paid...
Sunday, October 23, 2011
"It!" - a fearful tale for Halloween
“Good enough to eat!” she snickered to herself, adjusting the pieces of raw fish on the platter that was filled to overflowing with a vast assortment of sushi. Opening her mouth slightly a thick stream of yellow saliva trickled down her chin landing squarely on top of the two centre pieces.
“My compliments to the chef,” she said in a whisper, cleaning the sushi with a napkin and then wiping the drool from her mouth.
Everything had to be perfect for the hungry theatre crowd that would soon descend upon the buffet like a swarming of bees.
Removing the cork from the champagne bottles, she inhaled the fumes as flashes of memory of her favorite beverage came flooding back. Home seemed like a far off recollection that was becoming more difficult to access with each passing day, but this was no time to fall back on reminiscences. Control and moderation were the guide words in preparation for the next and hopefully final step.
She was feeling quite isolated these days and images of her former life were the only thing that kept her going. It was becoming increasingly difficult to repress the other side. Back home it would be her day of maturation and a week of celebration, but she was here with work still to be done.
Patience, she had been reminded, was important for the success of their project.
“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, and there was 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.”
“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.
“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…”
At that point she had stopped hearing anything and started moving forward slowly at first, then picking up speed as she neared her target. He was sampling some of the dishes laid out on the table when she moved directly behind him.
“Can’t any of you do anything right?” he bellowed, spitting liquid back into the soup tureen. “I’ve had it. Tomorrow I’m going to start proceedings to have you all removed. I try and do a good thing and…”
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 since she had forgotten to transfigure the night before. The head Imagineer had cautioned them to adhere to a daily routine or rapid degeneration would ensue. The waiter didn’t see the six foot green-grey mass of glowing orange skin and pulsating 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 sushi could be a little off tonight,” she commented as his facial features blended into a bloody mass of flesh and bone, “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. Chablis or rosé?”
By the time the theatre crowd filed into the room, she had the glasses filled with champagne. The beverage fountain was a particular hit and speculation was rife as to the source of the unusual red-ish 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. "Decorum is so important these days."
“My compliments to the chef,” she said in a whisper, cleaning the sushi with a napkin and then wiping the drool from her mouth.
Everything had to be perfect for the hungry theatre crowd that would soon descend upon the buffet like a swarming of bees.
Removing the cork from the champagne bottles, she inhaled the fumes as flashes of memory of her favorite beverage came flooding back. Home seemed like a far off recollection that was becoming more difficult to access with each passing day, but this was no time to fall back on reminiscences. Control and moderation were the guide words in preparation for the next and hopefully final step.
She was feeling quite isolated these days and images of her former life were the only thing that kept her going. It was becoming increasingly difficult to repress the other side. Back home it would be her day of maturation and a week of celebration, but she was here with work still to be done.
Patience, she had been reminded, was important for the success of their project.
“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, and there was 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.”
“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.
“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…”
At that point she had stopped hearing anything and started moving forward slowly at first, then picking up speed as she neared her target. He was sampling some of the dishes laid out on the table when she moved directly behind him.
“Can’t any of you do anything right?” he bellowed, spitting liquid back into the soup tureen. “I’ve had it. Tomorrow I’m going to start proceedings to have you all removed. I try and do a good thing and…”
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 since she had forgotten to transfigure the night before. The head Imagineer had cautioned them to adhere to a daily routine or rapid degeneration would ensue. The waiter didn’t see the six foot green-grey mass of glowing orange skin and pulsating 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 sushi could be a little off tonight,” she commented as his facial features blended into a bloody mass of flesh and bone, “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. Chablis or rosé?”
By the time the theatre crowd filed into the room, she had the glasses filled with champagne. The beverage fountain was a particular hit and speculation was rife as to the source of the unusual red-ish 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. "Decorum is so important these days."
Sunday, October 16, 2011
So what's on your cell phone? Lotsa germs
These days it's uncommon to see people without a cell phone in their hands while carrying on their every day lives. This includes from personal experience, talking while using a public toilet. Why the necessity and urgency to communicate with someone while answering nature's call to put it politely, is a mystery to me. I've been privy to people in nearby stalls gossiping on their cell phones while using the toilet facilities, making social arrangements and other inconsequential chatter. It can wait people! But I digress.
Research conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London, a study suggested that one in six cell phones is - wait for it - contaminated with faecal matter, according to research for Global Handwashing Day, which took place on October 15. The researchers took almost 400 samples from phones ande hands in twelves British cities. Their findings are interesting in that 16% of phones and 16% of hands harbored E. coli bacteria.
Although 95% of people said they washed their hands with soap where possible, 92% of phones and 82% of hands had bacteria on them. Furthermore, 16% of hands and 16% of phones were found to harbour E. coli – bacteria of a faecal origin. Thinking further, this indicates at least to me that not everyone washes their hands when possible and not everyone tells the truth when asked.
Researchers travelled to 12 cities in various locations in England and took 390 samples from mobile phones and hands which were analysed in the lab to find out the type and number of germs lurking there. They also asked participants a series of questions about their handwashing habits.
To get back to National Handwashing Day, how many people reading this were even aware that this was a day put aside to - well - draw attention to the importance of washing hands. In the way of background information, the day was established by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing in 2008 to:
• Foster and support a global culture of handwashing with soap.
• Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in every country.
• Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.
Global Handwashing Day was originally created for children and schools, but can be celebrated by anyone promoting handwashing with soap.
Each year, over 200 million people are involved in celebrations in over 100 countries around the world. Global Handwashing is endorsed by a wide array of governments, international institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, private companies, and individuals.
Thinking further (again), 200 million people world wide are involved are involved in some way to the act of washing their hands.
Here's a link for Global Handwashing Day: http://www.globalhandwashingday.org/About.asp
Research conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London, a study suggested that one in six cell phones is - wait for it - contaminated with faecal matter, according to research for Global Handwashing Day, which took place on October 15. The researchers took almost 400 samples from phones ande hands in twelves British cities. Their findings are interesting in that 16% of phones and 16% of hands harbored E. coli bacteria.
Although 95% of people said they washed their hands with soap where possible, 92% of phones and 82% of hands had bacteria on them. Furthermore, 16% of hands and 16% of phones were found to harbour E. coli – bacteria of a faecal origin. Thinking further, this indicates at least to me that not everyone washes their hands when possible and not everyone tells the truth when asked.
Researchers travelled to 12 cities in various locations in England and took 390 samples from mobile phones and hands which were analysed in the lab to find out the type and number of germs lurking there. They also asked participants a series of questions about their handwashing habits.
To get back to National Handwashing Day, how many people reading this were even aware that this was a day put aside to - well - draw attention to the importance of washing hands. In the way of background information, the day was established by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing in 2008 to:
• Foster and support a global culture of handwashing with soap.
• Shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in every country.
• Raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap.
Global Handwashing Day was originally created for children and schools, but can be celebrated by anyone promoting handwashing with soap.
Each year, over 200 million people are involved in celebrations in over 100 countries around the world. Global Handwashing is endorsed by a wide array of governments, international institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, private companies, and individuals.
Thinking further (again), 200 million people world wide are involved are involved in some way to the act of washing their hands.
Here's a link for Global Handwashing Day: http://www.globalhandwashingday.org/About.asp
Monday, October 10, 2011
Dog owner has a brush with the law
One of the tasks and/or responsibilities of dog ownership is regular brushing of the dog's fur to keep it visually appealing, to reduce bacterial build up and reduce shedding. As a former dog owner/care giver/slave to a white haired very mixed breed pooch, the latter is important for people who don't enjoy the addition of dog fur on their clothes. Ask me about it. But I digress. Already.
As is the case with many dog owners pensioner, Ron Wyre, walks his dog Spencer and recently during a stroll in a Nottingham (England) park, decided to brush Spencer's fur. He was stopped from completing his task by a community protection officer who fined Wyre £75 for littering no less. The officer for his part claimed that he approached Wyre, who was wearing a high visibility uniform at the time, to ascertain whether he was impersonating an officer. His offence by the way, was leaving dog hair on the ground.
I mean, really - fur on the ground?
This leaves one to wonder if there is a clause in their local bylaws that covers dog hair or any pet hair. I mean, how can one determine the difference between dog, cat, squirrel, skunk or the remnants of any type of fur-bearing animal living in the area? Should their fur be under scrutiny of the law? Who should pay the fine?
According to a spokesperson for the powers-that-be, the fine was eventually dropped after further investigation and after the circumstances became clear and an apology issued. One wonders what type of circumstances were involved...
"I'd got in my pocket a bag (for doggie-doo) and I started to put it into that and took the fur home with me, but he still gave me the ticket. It was just ridiculous," Wyre commented.
Agreed.
There is an internal investigation into the incident. One wonders if other dog owners have been fined for a similar offence.
As is the case with many dog owners pensioner, Ron Wyre, walks his dog Spencer and recently during a stroll in a Nottingham (England) park, decided to brush Spencer's fur. He was stopped from completing his task by a community protection officer who fined Wyre £75 for littering no less. The officer for his part claimed that he approached Wyre, who was wearing a high visibility uniform at the time, to ascertain whether he was impersonating an officer. His offence by the way, was leaving dog hair on the ground.
I mean, really - fur on the ground?
This leaves one to wonder if there is a clause in their local bylaws that covers dog hair or any pet hair. I mean, how can one determine the difference between dog, cat, squirrel, skunk or the remnants of any type of fur-bearing animal living in the area? Should their fur be under scrutiny of the law? Who should pay the fine?
According to a spokesperson for the powers-that-be, the fine was eventually dropped after further investigation and after the circumstances became clear and an apology issued. One wonders what type of circumstances were involved...
"I'd got in my pocket a bag (for doggie-doo) and I started to put it into that and took the fur home with me, but he still gave me the ticket. It was just ridiculous," Wyre commented.
Agreed.
There is an internal investigation into the incident. One wonders if other dog owners have been fined for a similar offence.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
X-Factor - I came, I watched and nothing new
Given all the hype and promotion that "X-Factor" received and its longevity as a staple on British TV, there was a high expectation that it was something different...something special that deserves our attention. In the end, I came, watched and it's...okay. 'Okay' as in entertaining TV but nothing different than a lot of other shows that have a similar format.
Thing is, we have an established American Idol, which has earned a place in the hearts of TV viewers. It's even more surprising since Simon Cowell, the creator of X-Factor, was instrumental in AI's growth. For whatever reason, perhaps boredom or the desire to prove that he can create a superior show that will eat into Idol's numbers, Cowell depature doesn't seem to have hurt Idol in the least. As expected, he plays the role of X-Factor show grouch, which also adds nothing new to the show.
Upon evaluation of the performers, X-Factor seems to have better quality singers in a wide range of ages. To its credit, X-Factor doesn't have an age limit as does AI. The usually flaky but-not-like-she-used-to-be, Paula Abdul, who was picked up by Cowell as one of his X-Factor judges, doesn't really do anything for the show. She's just...there. The real "cement" of AI, Ryan Seacrest, in his role of interviewing the aspiring singers and hosting duties, gives AI a spark that X-Factor seems to lack. To put it bluntly, Steve Jones ain't no Ryan Seacrest. He's another one of those just...there.
In the end both shows offer aspiring singers, some of whom can actually sing, the opportunity to be on TV and perhaps their one and only shot at stardom. What is missing is something to distinguish the shows from being mirror images of each other.
Quick un-official curiousity poll/question: do you prefer American Idol or X-Factor?
Thing is, we have an established American Idol, which has earned a place in the hearts of TV viewers. It's even more surprising since Simon Cowell, the creator of X-Factor, was instrumental in AI's growth. For whatever reason, perhaps boredom or the desire to prove that he can create a superior show that will eat into Idol's numbers, Cowell depature doesn't seem to have hurt Idol in the least. As expected, he plays the role of X-Factor show grouch, which also adds nothing new to the show.
Upon evaluation of the performers, X-Factor seems to have better quality singers in a wide range of ages. To its credit, X-Factor doesn't have an age limit as does AI. The usually flaky but-not-like-she-used-to-be, Paula Abdul, who was picked up by Cowell as one of his X-Factor judges, doesn't really do anything for the show. She's just...there. The real "cement" of AI, Ryan Seacrest, in his role of interviewing the aspiring singers and hosting duties, gives AI a spark that X-Factor seems to lack. To put it bluntly, Steve Jones ain't no Ryan Seacrest. He's another one of those just...there.
In the end both shows offer aspiring singers, some of whom can actually sing, the opportunity to be on TV and perhaps their one and only shot at stardom. What is missing is something to distinguish the shows from being mirror images of each other.
Quick un-official curiousity poll/question: do you prefer American Idol or X-Factor?
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Ig Nobel - awards that say 'we're different' and then some
There are many award ceremonies covering a plethora of subjects marking some type of accomplishment. Some awards recongize special abilities in a specific milieu that make the world a better and/or a more interesting place to live. Then we have the Ig Nobel Prizes, which "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."
These are my type of awards.
Recently, the winners and recipients of the award were announced on September 29 along with a live ceremony of the proceedings, which took place at Harvard University. What makes these achievements so memorable is the nature of the accomplishments. I mean, these are not your ardinary, run-of-the-mill subjects!
The PHYSIOLOGY PRIZE was awarded to Anna Wilkinson (of the UK), Natalie Sebanz (of THE NETHERLANDS, HUNGARY, and AUSTRIA), Isabella Mandl (of AUSTRIA) and Ludwig Huber (of AUSTRIA) for their study "No Evidence of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise." Not all types of tortoises but merely the Red-Footed Tortoise.
Who knew that there are red-footed tortoises and that they deserved studying for their yawning practises?
REFERENCE: 'No Evidence Of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise Geochelone carbonaria," Anna Wilkinson, Natalie Sebanz, Isabella Mandl, Ludwig Huber, Current Zoology, vol. 57, no. 4, 2011. pp. 477-84.
The prize in CHEMISTRY went to Makoto Imai, Naoki Urushihata, Hideki Tanemura, Yukinobu Tajima, Hideaki Goto, Koichiro Mizoguchi and Junichi Murakami of JAPAN, for determining the ideal density of airborne wasabi (pungent horseradish) to awaken sleeping people in case of a fire or other emergency, and for applying this knowledge to invent the wasabi alarm.
Another shocker for me. Here I was under the impression that wasabi was merely a very strong horseradish to clean the sinuses. Go figure that somebody would even conceive that it could have another use as a fire alarm. Could be that when word gets out about this, there might just be a run on wasabi at the supermarket.
REFERENCE: US patent application 2010/0308995 A1. Filing date: Feb 5, 2009.
Now the MEDICINE PRIZE given to Mirjam Tuk (of THE NETHERLANDS and the UK), Debra Trampe (of THE NETHERLANDS) and Luk Warlop (of BELGIUM). and jointly to Matthew Lewis, Peter Snyder and Robert Feldman (of the USA), Robert Pietrzak, David Darby, and Paul Maruff (of AUSTRALIA) is somewhat logical (at least in my mind) for demonstrating that people make better decisions about some kinds of things — but worse decisions about other kinds of things‚ when they have a strong urge to urinate.
If one has to - well - pee badly, the only thought that comes to mind (at least mine) is where is the nearest toilet.
REFERENCE: "Inhibitory Spillover: Increased Urination Urgency Facilitates Impulse Control in Unrelated Domains," Mirjam A. Tuk, Debra Trampe and Luk Warlop, Psychological Science, vol. 22, no. 5, May 2011, pp. 627-633.
REFERENCE: "The Effect of Acute Increase in Urge to Void on Cognitive Function in Healthy Adults," Matthew S. Lewis, Peter J. Snyder, Robert H. Pietrzak, David Darby, Robert A. Feldman, Paul T. Maruff, Neurology and Urodynamics, vol. 30, no. 1, January 2011, pp. 183-7.
The PSYCHOLOGY PRIZE was awarded to Karl Halvor Teigen of the University of Oslo, NORWAY, for trying to understand why, in everyday life, people sigh.
We think - we sigh. Right?
REFERENCE: "Is a Sigh 'Just a Sigh'? Sighs as Emotional Signals and Responses to a Difficult Task," Karl Halvor Teigen, Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, vol. 49, no. 1, 2008, pp. 49–57.
John Perry of Stanford University, USA, was recognized for his Theory of Structured Procrastination, which says: to be a high achiever, always work on something important, using it as a way to avoid doing something that's even more important.
Never could have conceived that procrastination is or could be structured but then I was most likely busy doing other things.
REFERENCE: "How to Procrastinate and Still Get Things Done," John Perry, Chronicle of Higher Education, February 23, 1996. Later republished elsewhere under the title "Structured Procrastination."
BIOLOGY PRIZE: Darryl Gwynne (of CANADA and AUSTRALIA and the UK and the USA) and David Rentz (of AUSTRALIA and the USA) for discovering that a certain kind of beetle mates with a certain kind of Australian beer bottle.
Perhaps certain types of beetles are sight-challenged and Australian beer bottles resemble beetles. It's probably a good thing that the brand of Australian beer was omitted.
REFERENCE: "Beetles on the Bottle: Male Buprestids Mistake Stubbies for Females (Coleoptera)," D.T. Gwynne, and D.C.F. Rentz, Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, vol. 22, , no. 1, 1983, pp. 79-80
REFERENCE: "Beetles on the Bottle," D.T. Gwynne and D.C.F. Rentz, Antenna: Proceedings (A) of the Royal Entomological Society London, vol. 8, no. 3, 1984, pp. 116-7.
PHYSICS PRIZE: Philippe Perrin, Cyril Perrot, Dominique Deviterne and Bruno Ragaru (of FRANCE), and Herman Kingma (of THE NETHERLANDS), for determining why discus throwers become dizzy, and why hammer throwers don't.
This discovery would most likely be of high interest to discus tossers and hammer throwers. Seems it's something to do with motion sickness, accord to the reference supplied. Then again, why would a person who suffers from motion sickness take up these sports, one wonders.
REFERENCE: "Dizziness in Discus Throwers is Related to Motion Sickness Generated While Spinning," Philippe Perrin, Cyril Perrot, Dominique Deviterne, Bruno Ragaru and Herman Kingma, Acta Oto-laryngologica, vol. 120, no. 3, March 2000, pp. 390–5.
So here's an interesting one. The MATHEMATICS PRIZE: Dorothy Martin of the USA (who predicted the world would end in 1954), Pat Robertson of the USA (who predicted the world would end in 1982), Elizabeth Clare Prophet of the USA (who predicted the world would end in 1990), Lee Jang Rim of KOREA (who predicted the world would end in 1992), Credonia Mwerinde of UGANDA (who predicted the world would end in 1999), and Harold Camping of the USA (who predicted the world would end on September 6, 1994 and later predicted that the world will end on October 21, 2011), for teaching the world to be careful when making mathematical assumptions and calculations.
Mathematics prize? These dates really don't add up.
The PEACE PRIZE was awarded to Arturas Zuokas, the mayor of Vilnius, LITHUANIA, for demonstrating that the problem of illegally parked luxury cars can be solved by running them over with an armored tank.
So this leads one to wonder how Mayor Zuokas made this discovery. Peace prize?
PUBLIC SAFETY PRIZE: John Senders of the University of Toronto, CANADA, for conducting a series of safety experiments in which a person drives an automobile on a major highway while a visor repeatedly flaps down over his face, blinding him.
I mean, why-oh-why would a person drive a car on a major highway while a visor flaps down on his face? More important, who does the flapping?
REFERENCE: "The Attentional Demand of Automobile Driving," John W. Senders, et al., Highway Research Record, vol. 195, 1967, pp. 15-33. VIDEO
I mean, go figure!
These are my type of awards.
Recently, the winners and recipients of the award were announced on September 29 along with a live ceremony of the proceedings, which took place at Harvard University. What makes these achievements so memorable is the nature of the accomplishments. I mean, these are not your ardinary, run-of-the-mill subjects!
The PHYSIOLOGY PRIZE was awarded to Anna Wilkinson (of the UK), Natalie Sebanz (of THE NETHERLANDS, HUNGARY, and AUSTRIA), Isabella Mandl (of AUSTRIA) and Ludwig Huber (of AUSTRIA) for their study "No Evidence of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise." Not all types of tortoises but merely the Red-Footed Tortoise.
Who knew that there are red-footed tortoises and that they deserved studying for their yawning practises?
REFERENCE: 'No Evidence Of Contagious Yawning in the Red-Footed Tortoise Geochelone carbonaria," Anna Wilkinson, Natalie Sebanz, Isabella Mandl, Ludwig Huber, Current Zoology, vol. 57, no. 4, 2011. pp. 477-84.
The prize in CHEMISTRY went to Makoto Imai, Naoki Urushihata, Hideki Tanemura, Yukinobu Tajima, Hideaki Goto, Koichiro Mizoguchi and Junichi Murakami of JAPAN, for determining the ideal density of airborne wasabi (pungent horseradish) to awaken sleeping people in case of a fire or other emergency, and for applying this knowledge to invent the wasabi alarm.
Another shocker for me. Here I was under the impression that wasabi was merely a very strong horseradish to clean the sinuses. Go figure that somebody would even conceive that it could have another use as a fire alarm. Could be that when word gets out about this, there might just be a run on wasabi at the supermarket.
REFERENCE: US patent application 2010/0308995 A1. Filing date: Feb 5, 2009.
Now the MEDICINE PRIZE given to Mirjam Tuk (of THE NETHERLANDS and the UK), Debra Trampe (of THE NETHERLANDS) and Luk Warlop (of BELGIUM). and jointly to Matthew Lewis, Peter Snyder and Robert Feldman (of the USA), Robert Pietrzak, David Darby, and Paul Maruff (of AUSTRALIA) is somewhat logical (at least in my mind) for demonstrating that people make better decisions about some kinds of things — but worse decisions about other kinds of things‚ when they have a strong urge to urinate.
If one has to - well - pee badly, the only thought that comes to mind (at least mine) is where is the nearest toilet.
REFERENCE: "Inhibitory Spillover: Increased Urination Urgency Facilitates Impulse Control in Unrelated Domains," Mirjam A. Tuk, Debra Trampe and Luk Warlop, Psychological Science, vol. 22, no. 5, May 2011, pp. 627-633.
REFERENCE: "The Effect of Acute Increase in Urge to Void on Cognitive Function in Healthy Adults," Matthew S. Lewis, Peter J. Snyder, Robert H. Pietrzak, David Darby, Robert A. Feldman, Paul T. Maruff, Neurology and Urodynamics, vol. 30, no. 1, January 2011, pp. 183-7.
The PSYCHOLOGY PRIZE was awarded to Karl Halvor Teigen of the University of Oslo, NORWAY, for trying to understand why, in everyday life, people sigh.
We think - we sigh. Right?
REFERENCE: "Is a Sigh 'Just a Sigh'? Sighs as Emotional Signals and Responses to a Difficult Task," Karl Halvor Teigen, Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, vol. 49, no. 1, 2008, pp. 49–57.
John Perry of Stanford University, USA, was recognized for his Theory of Structured Procrastination, which says: to be a high achiever, always work on something important, using it as a way to avoid doing something that's even more important.
Never could have conceived that procrastination is or could be structured but then I was most likely busy doing other things.
REFERENCE: "How to Procrastinate and Still Get Things Done," John Perry, Chronicle of Higher Education, February 23, 1996. Later republished elsewhere under the title "Structured Procrastination."
BIOLOGY PRIZE: Darryl Gwynne (of CANADA and AUSTRALIA and the UK and the USA) and David Rentz (of AUSTRALIA and the USA) for discovering that a certain kind of beetle mates with a certain kind of Australian beer bottle.
Perhaps certain types of beetles are sight-challenged and Australian beer bottles resemble beetles. It's probably a good thing that the brand of Australian beer was omitted.
REFERENCE: "Beetles on the Bottle: Male Buprestids Mistake Stubbies for Females (Coleoptera)," D.T. Gwynne, and D.C.F. Rentz, Journal of the Australian Entomological Society, vol. 22, , no. 1, 1983, pp. 79-80
REFERENCE: "Beetles on the Bottle," D.T. Gwynne and D.C.F. Rentz, Antenna: Proceedings (A) of the Royal Entomological Society London, vol. 8, no. 3, 1984, pp. 116-7.
PHYSICS PRIZE: Philippe Perrin, Cyril Perrot, Dominique Deviterne and Bruno Ragaru (of FRANCE), and Herman Kingma (of THE NETHERLANDS), for determining why discus throwers become dizzy, and why hammer throwers don't.
This discovery would most likely be of high interest to discus tossers and hammer throwers. Seems it's something to do with motion sickness, accord to the reference supplied. Then again, why would a person who suffers from motion sickness take up these sports, one wonders.
REFERENCE: "Dizziness in Discus Throwers is Related to Motion Sickness Generated While Spinning," Philippe Perrin, Cyril Perrot, Dominique Deviterne, Bruno Ragaru and Herman Kingma, Acta Oto-laryngologica, vol. 120, no. 3, March 2000, pp. 390–5.
So here's an interesting one. The MATHEMATICS PRIZE: Dorothy Martin of the USA (who predicted the world would end in 1954), Pat Robertson of the USA (who predicted the world would end in 1982), Elizabeth Clare Prophet of the USA (who predicted the world would end in 1990), Lee Jang Rim of KOREA (who predicted the world would end in 1992), Credonia Mwerinde of UGANDA (who predicted the world would end in 1999), and Harold Camping of the USA (who predicted the world would end on September 6, 1994 and later predicted that the world will end on October 21, 2011), for teaching the world to be careful when making mathematical assumptions and calculations.
Mathematics prize? These dates really don't add up.
The PEACE PRIZE was awarded to Arturas Zuokas, the mayor of Vilnius, LITHUANIA, for demonstrating that the problem of illegally parked luxury cars can be solved by running them over with an armored tank.
So this leads one to wonder how Mayor Zuokas made this discovery. Peace prize?
PUBLIC SAFETY PRIZE: John Senders of the University of Toronto, CANADA, for conducting a series of safety experiments in which a person drives an automobile on a major highway while a visor repeatedly flaps down over his face, blinding him.
I mean, why-oh-why would a person drive a car on a major highway while a visor flaps down on his face? More important, who does the flapping?
REFERENCE: "The Attentional Demand of Automobile Driving," John W. Senders, et al., Highway Research Record, vol. 195, 1967, pp. 15-33. VIDEO
I mean, go figure!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Do we care? X-Factor joins American Idol vs The Voice...and so it goes
The fall TV line up is just beginning and already the comparison commentary has begun. This week "X-Factor", the singing competition highly promoted by Simon Cowell with good reason - it's his baby - made its debut. The American version of the successful Brit show that instroduced the world to Susan Boyle, boasted a live audience that reacted to the various singers.
As one of the original judges on American Idol since it first began in 2002, he announced his departure in 2010 to create the U.S. version of "X-Factor." As one of the AI judges and along with Paula Abdul, the two threw verbal jabs at each other and in the end, Abdul ended up joining Cowell on his new project. Nothing like on view hostility, feigned or real, to get tongues wagging and viewers attention.
Have to admit that given all the pre-show attention and TV promos, I joined all the other viewers to see if the new addition justified a weekly committment to another talent show. Basically, that's what it all comes down to: the oldie-but-always-relevant talent parade. Years ago in the days of early TV when color TV was still in the dream stage, Ted Mack hosted "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour", the embryo of today's musical reality shows. It lacked the polish and finish of today's versions but the hopefuls did their thing hoping for stardom. The gimmick was that Mack spun a wheel with the names of the talent lineup to determine their order of appearance. Later the show was joined by the very weirdish, "The Gong Show." Obviously, TV viewers enjoy the idea of watching amateur talent put themselves at the mercy of judges critiques and the at-home voting machine.
As the French say, the more things change, the more they're the same and it will be interesting to see if X-Factor lives up to its hype. If initial ratings are an indication, American Idol has the numbers but it's still the early stages. To its credit, X-Factor doesn't have an age barrier, which is the reason the world is better for having Susan Boyle. In as far as originality is concerned, the show is basically same-old, same-old, IMHO, but some real talent was introduced.
At least the plethora of shows is giving singers, both good and bad, accross the country the opportunity to be heard. Let's be honest: it's an entertaining aspect of the programs. Always interesting to see how off-key some of the contestants can be. At least I restrict my singing to the shower.
As one of the original judges on American Idol since it first began in 2002, he announced his departure in 2010 to create the U.S. version of "X-Factor." As one of the AI judges and along with Paula Abdul, the two threw verbal jabs at each other and in the end, Abdul ended up joining Cowell on his new project. Nothing like on view hostility, feigned or real, to get tongues wagging and viewers attention.
Have to admit that given all the pre-show attention and TV promos, I joined all the other viewers to see if the new addition justified a weekly committment to another talent show. Basically, that's what it all comes down to: the oldie-but-always-relevant talent parade. Years ago in the days of early TV when color TV was still in the dream stage, Ted Mack hosted "Ted Mack's Amateur Hour", the embryo of today's musical reality shows. It lacked the polish and finish of today's versions but the hopefuls did their thing hoping for stardom. The gimmick was that Mack spun a wheel with the names of the talent lineup to determine their order of appearance. Later the show was joined by the very weirdish, "The Gong Show." Obviously, TV viewers enjoy the idea of watching amateur talent put themselves at the mercy of judges critiques and the at-home voting machine.
As the French say, the more things change, the more they're the same and it will be interesting to see if X-Factor lives up to its hype. If initial ratings are an indication, American Idol has the numbers but it's still the early stages. To its credit, X-Factor doesn't have an age barrier, which is the reason the world is better for having Susan Boyle. In as far as originality is concerned, the show is basically same-old, same-old, IMHO, but some real talent was introduced.
At least the plethora of shows is giving singers, both good and bad, accross the country the opportunity to be heard. Let's be honest: it's an entertaining aspect of the programs. Always interesting to see how off-key some of the contestants can be. At least I restrict my singing to the shower.
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