THE BEST OF THE INTERNET AND MEDIA - Life's curiosities - the things that make us smile; ponder; discuss and wonder about. Everything from political news to the arts, with lots of variety in between.
The other day I was surfing around for article ideas and ran across a remarkable morphing video.
It first appeared on the icanhazcheezburger site, a place where all folks who love cats get a daily dose of “catspiration” in the form of funny feline pictures that include witty cat-speak commentary.
I’m absolutely entranced when someone does an excellent job of marrying images in succession by melding and blending in such a way that it is almost mesmerizing.
Such is the video below, “Cats Morph to Croissants.”
Even if you are not a cat lover, you will appreciate the thought process involved.
This little jewel not only shows how creative some folks are, but how the truly expansive mind works – taking disparate ideas and imaging and blending them into a symphony of site.
Enjoy… but don’t try chomping on your kitty. I don’t think they would take too kindly to having jam on their head.
“WHEREAS, the freedom to read is essential to our democracy, and reading is among our greatest freedoms” ~ Opening sentence of Banned Books Week Proclamation ~
It’s that time of year again, Banned Books Week, September 25 to October 2, 2010, when we salute the American Library Association and our First Amendment rights that celebrate the freedom to read whatever we choose.
Since 1982, this annual event has promoted public awareness for precious intellectual freedom.
Over the years, some of the greatest classics in literature have been challenged or banned by special interest groups and individuals, for being deemed “offensive,” “unsuited,” or “too explicit.”
Thank goodness, libraries, librarians, teachers and booksellers uphold our right to choose, and challenge those who (because of special interests) would seek to have books removed from libraries, classrooms or booksellers.
This past year, Stephanie H. Meyer’s “Twilight” series was challenged along with the classic, "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl," and even the "Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary" received flack along with many other surprising titles.
Robert P. Doyle, executive director of the Illinois Library Association and noted authority on the First Amendment has conveniently kept track with his “Books that Were Challenged or Banned 2009-2010,” which can be viewed by clicking on the link.
You may or may not agree with the selection of books, or the reasons for challenging or banning, and even the outcomes, but if you embrace this year’s Banned Books Week motto, “Think for yourself and let others do the same," IMHO you’ll get the point.
The humorous video below, from 2009, drives it home even more effectively. HAPPY READING!
“The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who accidentally remove themselves from it...” ~ The Darwin Awards ~
If you think you’re having a bad day, it’s not as bad as James Brienzo, who was spotted by police as a suspected shoplifter when he exited (with a shopping cart full of merchandise) through a fire door at a Walmart store in Alliance, Ohio at approximately 6:00 AM, Wednesday, September 22, 2010.
According to reports, Brienzo spotted the police, fled on foot and decided to hide in a dumpster, which was behind the Walmart store. Bad idea. Moments later a garbage truck picked up and proceeded to compact the trash along with Brienzo.
Fortunately for Brienzo, he had the presence of mind to use his cell phone, calling a friend for help and was subsequently tracked by GPS by the police.
Once the police located and stopped the truck, they couldn’t immediately extract Brienzo, so he was taken to the Alliance Recycling Center where the trash was emptied.
According to police, Brienzo had been “compacted” a few times during his ride.
Presently, Brienzo is in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center, and the incident is still under investigation.
If he survives, he will forfeit the opportunity for a “Darwin Award.” IMHO, I think he would prefer not to receive the dubious honor. (If you are not familiar with the awards, simply follow the link below:
September 21st is marked by the celebration of Peace Day and World Gratitude Day, and there is much to contemplate about both.
Many voices have spoken eloquently on these ideals and may their words and song inspire a moment of reflection for us all.
“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ~Mother Teresa ~
“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
“Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.” ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ~
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” ~ Jimi Hendrix ~
“Let us forgive each other - only then will we live in peace” ~Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy ~
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” ~Thornton Wilder ~
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein ~
“Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted–a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner ~
“Whatever our individual troubles and challenges may be, it’s important to pause every now and then to appreciate all that we have, on every level. We need to literally “count our blessings,” give thanks for them, allow ourselves to enjoy them, and relish the experience of prosperity we already have.” ~ Shakti Gawain ~
“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend… when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present — love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure — the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” ~ Leo Buscaglia ~
This morning there was a fascinating feature on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition - “Human Connections Start With A Friendly Touch,” by Michelle Trudeau.
The three minute/35 second recorded segment (with accompanying text) covers what social scientists have known for years; human beings experience less stress and thrive from the power of simple human-to-human touch, and it’s not all psychological.
Be it a hug, holding hands, a massage or even a pat on the back, the slightest pressure on skin, which is the body’s largest organ, activates Pacinian corpuscles ( a mechanoreceptor) that helps spread feel-good nerve impulses to multiple organs, including the heart, and the body responds by lowering blood pressure.
Touching also prompts the reduction of the stress hormone cortisol, and the release of the neurochemical, oxytocin, which promotes feelings of trust, bonding and devotion. IMHO, hugs are a great way to start the week, and you’ll probably be humming the John Lennon/Paul McCartney song, “All You Need is Love.” During these troubled times, dominated with major stress for many, just reach out and touch someone; you’ll both feel good.
"Accept that some days you are the pigeon and some days the statue." ~ Dilbert [Scott Adams] ~
For as long as there have been people, there have been pigeons.
They are found in almost every corner of the earth, from rock cliffs to city sidewalks.
The Rock Pigeon (Columba livia), which we probably see most often is a monogamous bird, and both parents share in the raising of the typical two- squabs-per-brood.
The little feathered squab in the picture is about 22 days old and is considered a gourmet delicacy that is sent to slaughter after its first month of life.
Yes, domestically raised pigeons are considered a main course treat.
One can buy farm-raised squab from places such as Marx Foods, and get an 18-pound box of 24 (11 to 12 ounce birds) for $243.40, which includes overnight FEDEX shipping. (I don’t know about you, but for everyday dinners that kind of blows my weekly grocery budget.)
If baby pigeons are considered a delicacy, why is it the adult bird is considered such a nuisance?
Pigeon guano is part of the problem, as the birds indiscriminately litter everything from statues to human heads, and there is an ever-so-slight slight risk that their droppings contribute to such diseases as psittacosis, , cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis. They also contract the West Nile Virus but do not spread it to humans, but are potential carriers for avian influenza, however, not the deadly H1N1 variety.
Also, adult pigeons are literally murder to statues and historic facades as they love to peck away at marble and other soft stone, gathering calcium carbonate, which they need for their egg laying.
To understand how serious the problem is for some cities, one needs to know that feeding pigeons in places such as St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy is no longer allowed in hopes of quelling the burgeoning bird population.
If you want to find out more about pigeons, there is a terrific website that offers “21 Amazing Facts You Didn’t Know About Pigeons” and is brought to you by deterapigeon - “The Pigeon Deterrent People.” At deterapigeon’s site, you will find answers to such need-to-know questions as, “Why do pigeons bob their head?” and “Are pigeons intelligent?” (The answer to the latter question is a big YES.)
The video below also proves that pigeons are really smart critters – they know how to take public transportation and not pay at the turnstile.
“The World Trade Center is a living symbol of man's dedication to world peace... a representation of man's belief in humanity, his need for individual dignity, his beliefs in the cooperation of men, and, through cooperation, his ability to find greatness.” ~ MinoruYamasaki ~
"Throughout history a small number of artists have rejected both palette knives and brushes. A few used their fingers to spread the paint. Artists turned to such primal means for various reasons, including display of skill, experimental playfulness, or nose-thumbing at convention. The young Leonardo's use of his fingers can be linked to the properties of the newly available medium of oil painting. ... It should not surprise us that he played with the tackiness of the new oil medium, palpating the paint as he sought new effects." ~ Seeing Through Paintings by Andrea Kirsch and Rustin S. Levenson, p133/4. ~
It’s apparent that Kirsch and Levenson were not referencing Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” but perhaps the initial youngster-like steps he took to get to the height of his painting career.
The art of finger painting in and of itself was rediscovered and popularized by American educator, Ruth Faison Shaw in 1926 while in Rome, Italy teaching at the Shaw School. Since then, finger painting has become a major part of early art education, and used as a significant tool in psychiatric therapy.
Earlier this year, in April and May, when the Apple iPad was being launched, I was fascinated with the technology and penned two posts: "The iPad Chalenge: Cat, Dog or Man," and "The iPad Challenge: Part Deux."
Frankly, I was impressed with the multitude of inexpensive applications for this gadget, which seemed to be surfacing daily – everything from reading and games to writing and music.
I still don’t have an iPad, but I love to paint, and recently I discovered that there is an app called “Brushes”; it has all of the fun of finger painting but none of the mess, and it not only works on an iPad but is available for an iPhone and iPod touch. In case anybody wants to know (hint, hint) this is definitely going on my “wish list.”
“Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.” ~ Stephen Butler Leacock ~
Television commercials have come a long way both creatively and financially since 1941 when the Bulova Corporation paid four dollars for a ten-second spot, which simply showed a picture of a superimposed watch on a map of the United States.
Interest in the advertising world in general has been popularized over the last few years with the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning television series, Mad Men, which is set in the 1960’s hey day of advertising, at the fictional firm of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, and added to that viewership, each year the advertising community honors the best-of-the-best with their annual CLIO Awards, helping provide a higher level of public awareness for what is being sold to new generations of viewers.
In my humble opinion, a finely created commercial is oftentimes more entertaining than conventional programming – even if they are trying to sell me something.
Although the CLIO Awards honor traditional 30 and 60-second commercials, some of the best advertising is now on the Internet, specifically viral videos, which reach a whole new breed of consumer through spots that are slightly longer than 60-seconds and border on being a hybrid cross between a traditional commercial and a music video, but pack a walloping creative punch.
Here are three of my favorites:
From Kia Motors America (with over two million views in three months) the Kia Soul Hamster, which popularizes the 2010 Kia Soul automobile; I’m not sure I would buy the car, but the rapping hamsters are darn cute.
EvianRoller Babies, weighing in with over 27 million views in one year is absolutely adorable and besides babies always sell, but in all honesty, I was predisposed to the product many years ago.
And last but not least, a faux commercial, which actually sells the genius of PESFilm, the company that created this spot titled, “Western Spaghetti,” which tallies in at five million views in two months, and was a 2009 Sundance Film Festival Winner as well as a 2009 Annecy Animation Audience Award Winner, and voted by Time Magazine # 2 Viral Video of the Year – absolutely brilliant.
“A popular admonition goes, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Yet we do it all the time. We ascribe qualities of character to people based on their physical characteristics. And our language takes shape to reflect that attitude.” ~ Anu Garg ~
These days, online dating sites are popping up all over the place. Some are free and some charge monthly fees; some are dedicated to specific ethnic groups or religious ideologies, but all have one purpose in mind – hooking up singles so they become couples.
The granddaddy site of them all, eHarmony, is probably the most widely recognized service, but every so often another website enters the fray attempting to bring together strangers seeking a common bond.
The latest site, Alikewise, which is just barely a month old, has taken a completely new spin on the dating scene with their philosophy rooted in bringing together singles based on the books they read.
It’s an interesting concept. So far, Alikewise seems off to a slow start, but one never knows what will happen in the days or weeks to come.
When Anu Garg (see above quote) began his website, Wordsmith.org, in 1994 (simply for the love of words and language) who would have thought he would have over 900,000 followers today?
There’s something to be said for the power of the written word in bringing people together.
Enjoy the beautiful video from nomojofoyo’s YoutTube Channel, which includes some memorable excerpts from great literary works. One might say, “There is clearly passion in the written word.”
“Essentially, a parrot is a monkey with wings.” ~ Joseph Garner ~
Here’s a possible, albeit non-human contender for “America’s Got Talent” – “Kili” the parrot.
This is not your average little winged green gal who spouts family secrets and slang; she can wave, play dead, drop a mini-basketball in a hoop and deposit a coin in a piggy bank among other talents.
Kili is a Senegal Parrot, not more than nine inches in length from beak to tail, but has proven to be a remarkable pet that is highly trainable.
Senegal Parrots are endemic to a wide area of West Africa, primarily savanna and open woodlands but are prized in the aviculture world as pets, not only for their comical and charming personalities but their ability to domesticate, and with proper training and socialization become attached to their owner with the same devotion as a dog.
Kili’s owner, simply known as “Michael,” created an amazing video, World Record 20 Parrot Tricks in 2 Minutes, which over the past eight months has gone viral, being viewed by more than a million folks from kiliparrot’s YouTube Channel.
Michael also maintains a very comprehensive website and blog, Trained Parrot.com that covers everything you need to know about raising parrots as pets.
It’s apparent from the video below that this “Polly” could not only ask for a cracker but open the box and get it out.
"Flying. Whatever any other organism has been able to do man should surely be able to do also, though he may go a different way about it." ~ Samuel Butler ~
A little over a year ago, I wrote the post, “Welcome to the Friendly Skies Again,” which featured Southwest Airlines and their “unique corporate culture” that allows employees to be themselves and have fun, which ultimately translates into happier and less stressed out passengers.
At the time, I thought nothing could top Southwest’s YouTube sensation, the “Rapping Flight Attendant” or their on-board “toilet paper races.”
Well, I was wrong.
The other day I received a hysterical email that opened my eyes to another budget airline; this one headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa – Kulula Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comair Limited.
Kulula goes way over the top making passengers smile with their brightly colored Boeing 737 aircraft fleet, which is promoted as “Flying 101,” and includes painted text that points out various under-the-skin aircraft components.
I had to grin when I took a closer look at the forward left cockpit area designated with an arrow pointing to “the big cheese” – this is where the captain sits.
In the email I received, there were reported samples of Kulula’s in-flight announcements, which said, “Kulula airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight safety lecture and announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported.”
I have to tell you I laughed quite hard as I read them, but was skeptical that many of these one-liners were the product of someone’s over active humor gland, so I did some sleuthing and found the smoking gun, which is in the YouTube video at the end of this article.
For airline stories/jokes, these are some of the best in the business.
On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"
On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."
On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have."
"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."
"Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."
As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"
After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo , a flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."
From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."
"In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."
“Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines.”
"Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."
"As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."
(From the pilot during his welcome message) "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"
(Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town, the flight attendant came on the intercom and said) "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault; it was the asphalt."
Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"
Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline.” He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally, everyone had gotten off except for an elderly lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"
After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg, the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."
Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."
Heard on a Kulula flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing. If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."
A plane was taking off from Durban Airport. After it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, non-stop from Durban to Cape Town. The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOODNESS!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier. While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!" A passenger then yelled, "That's nothing. You should see the back of mine!”
NOW… if you think these were not for real – check out this video.
Have a great weekend, and keep smiling. Laughter is always the best medicine for anything that ails you.
“The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” ~ Francis Bacon ~
When the Anglo-Irish artist, Francis Bacon spoke those words, he was obviously referencing his own avant- garde style of figurative painting, which caused many to wonder what inner turmoil produced his emotionally wrenching pictures. But, Bacon’s quote is even more meaningful today as it points to another artist who was also an enigma during his lifetime, and even more so in the years following his death - Vincent Willem van Gogh, the 19th century Dutch post Impressionist painter.
Van Gogh’s life, like Bacon’s was tortured in many ways. Over the years, theories as to Van Gogh’s genius versus his mental condition have been speculated, attributing his erratic lifestyle and paintings to conditions such as Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Bipolar disorder along with his dietary tastes for absinthe and lead paint; the former substance causing one to see objects in the color yellow while the latter poison contributes to retinal swelling, which might explain the halo effects around light in his pictures.
The mystery of Van Gogh’s life and subsequent suicide at the age of 37 was overshadowed this weekend, with the questionable heist of his painting (pictured in this post) known as “Poppy Flowers,” or alternately referred to as “Vase and Flowers.”
Lifted in broad daylight, on Saturday, August 21, the 12 inch by 12 inch (30 centimeters. by 30 centimeters) painting, valued at $55 million (43,293,470 euros), was literally cut out of its frame, disappearing from the Mahmoud Khalil Modern Art Museum in Cairo, Egypt.
It has been reported that the museum’s alarms were malfunctioning and only seven surveillance cameras out of 43 were in working order, which is practically an open invitation, and IMHO it definitely smells like and inside job.
Ironically, this is the second time Poppy Flowers has been stolen from the same museum; the last burglary occurred in 1978, and the canvas went missing for two years until it, and the thieves were apprehended in Kuwait.
The disappearance of Poppy Flowers, though not as shocking to the art world as Vincenzo Peruggia’s theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” from the Louvre 99 years ago, rivals the mysterious twice-stolen Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” in 1994 and 2004 from the National Gallery, Oslo, Norway and then later from the Munch Museum.
Both The Scream and Mona Lisa were eventually found; the fate of Poppy Flowers remains uncertain at this time and was erroneously reported as recovered, but the official statement was recanted yesterday and the entire affair remains a mystery under investigation.
Also a mystery as to why this particular painting was so appealing to thieves as it is not considered as important as Van Gogh’s magnum opus, “The Starry Night,” which was popularized in the 1971 song, "Vincent" by Don McLean, who was deeply touched by Van Gogh’s life story after reading a biography about the artist.
To learn more about Van Gogh’s life, there is an outstanding and comprehensive website covering all his artistic works, writings, and complete biography at The Vincent Van Gogh Gallery, which is endorsed by the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam.
To hear McLean’s beautiful song and view many of Van Gogh’s paintings, simply click on the video below from MrAdamBurns Youtube channel. The haunting words and music are synced beautifully to Van Gogh’s images.
“Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.” ~ Jacques Yves Cousteau ~
Kudos to Californians, instead of simply talking about pollution, they are hoping to pass some revolutionary legislation that will ban the use of plastic bags.
The California senate, at the end of August will be voting on AB1998, which if passed into law will successfully eliminate the state’s 19 billion-a-year plastic bag habit.
As part of the campaign to raise consumer awareness as to the environmental problems with using plastic bags, the non-profit organization Heal the Bay, has provided a rather entertaining, but extremely informative “mockumentary,” The Majestic Plastic Bag.
Narrated by noted actor Jeremy Irons, the four minute, tongue-in-cheek video smacks of a typical class-act BBC nature documentary, but wallops a big punch regarding the perils of plastic.
Okay now, so which is it going to be when you go shopping – paper, or plastic?
"Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or build a boat in the basement. Other people get a tremendous pleasure out of the kitchen, because cooking is just as creative and imaginative an activity as drawing, or wood carving, or music." ~ Julia Child ~
Recessionary times often bring out the best in entrepreneurial spirit, and such is the case with a culinary product that was an idea just waiting to happen - Acquamara.
Recently launched at the Taste of Edinburgh Festival, Acquamara is bottled seawater sold in three-liter containers and priced at £4.95, which is roughly $7.87 US.
The product is geared not only for professional chefs but for home use.
By now, I know what you are probably thinking: “Why would anyone buy salt water when you can easily make your own?” Excellent question.
Cooking with seawater has been practiced for centuries. Even some contemporary chefs, such as Rick Stein, who is also multiple-location restaurateur and television presenter, has discussed cooking with seawater in the excerpt below from one of his shows.
The main difference between cooking with any old seawater and Acquamara boils down (so to speak) to this: source and refinement. And goodness knows we are all keenly aware of water pollution these days.
Acquamara is sourced from the cleanest area of the Atlantic Ocean, off the tiny island of Berneray, which is part of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.
It is then filtered, removing any remaining particulates including sand, rust or dirt, and is bottled certified safe under EC drinking water standards.
The idea for Acquamara was the brainchild of 49-year old Andy Inglis, a clever entrepreneurial Scotsman who hails from Dunbar, East Lothian.
Inglis had been mulling over the thought for a couple of years but was pushed into action after helping his daughter with a school project that included historical recipes, which required cooking with seawater.
Taking his inspiration to the next development stage, Inglis began doing extensive market research with a prototype, seeking out opinions from some of the top chefs in the United Kingdom.
According to those top chefs, Acquamara was a winner that provides an exceptional taste to a wide variety of recipes. It’s also a nifty way of using less salt in preparation or for flavor enhancement.
"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age." ~ Sophia Loren ~
When 80-year old Janey Cutler was escorted out onto the stage of Glasgow’s Clyde Auditorium by Ant McPartlin for the initial televised auditions of the 2010 season of Britain’s Got Talent, no one expected this tiny songstress to pull a Susan Boyle moment.
Cutler, who hails from Wishaw, a former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland located 15 miles south-east of Glasgow is a seasoned mother of seven, grandmother to 13 and great grandmother of four, but as her name was announced to take her place in front of an audience of 3,000 she appeared hesitant, perhaps a bit overwhelmed.
Judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan were polite and welcoming to her nonetheless, perhaps in deference to her age: they were all in for a shock.
Cutler belted out her own interpretation of “No Regrets,” the cabaret song made famous in 1960 by Edith Piaf and she won the hearts of all, receiving a standing ovation as well as continuing on to the very last rounds of BGT.
Even though Cutler’s subsequent performances appeared more polished and she was gussied up a bit, there were slight problems with intonation and a certain stiffness that was not present in the audition taping. Ultimately, she and the other finalists lost the top title to a gymnast troupe known as Spellbound.
The video below shows it was not so much a Susan Boyle moment but more a Betty White Facebook generation moment, which is best referred to as “Elder Cool” a term coined by John H. Green, Ph.D in his book, In Elder Cool Time.
What is “Elder Cool” you ask? Well, according to the editorial review of Green’s Book – “You are Elder Cool if you decide it is time to teach others based on the wisdom of your aging process. Elder represents a purpose-evolving life experienced teacher, and cool is accepting the aging process with grace and dignity. Elder Cool is grace under challenge...”
When I finally grow up, I want to be just like Janey, Betty or Sophia – Elder Cool.
“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.” ~ Maya Angelou ~
Eleven years before Phil Lord and Chris Miller directed last year’s hit family film, CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF MEATBALLS, these two brilliant entertainment hyphenates concocted a television commercial that never made it to Saturday mornings – the “Brontë Sisters Power Dolls “
According to Lord and Miller, from their YouTube page, “This was a fake commercial we made in 1998 for a series of educational shorts about action figures based on historical figures. Its educational value was somewhat suspect. It was never aired.”
The commercial parody featured everything one would see in a typical cartoon break, which included kid-friendly action figures slugging it out for dominance of good over evil. The only difference were the action figures, they were based on three Victorian women writers, Emily, Charlotte and Anne Brontë, all who initially wrote under the pen names, Ellis Bell, Currer Bell and Acton Bell respectively. (Such was the fashion of the literary era and the non-acceptance of women as writers.)
How myopic times were then, as all three women produced some of the most enduring and popular novels of all time – Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey.
Too bad the commercial below was never allowed to inspire legions of young girls – it’s something, in my humble opinion that Gloria Steinem would relish.
Talk about smashing the glass ceiling with a “Brontesaurus.”
“I've always looked upon the Ducks as caricature human beings. Perhaps I've been years writing in that middle world that J.R.R. Tolkien describes, and never knew it. “~ Carl Barks ~
In 1976, American playwright David Mamet offered up a small off Broadway theatrical gem, “Duck Variations,” It’s a simple tale of two men sitting on a park bench observing the nature of nearby ducks, and discussing the meaning of life, death and friendship.
Fast forward 32 years and Twin Cities award-winning journalist Boyd Huppert reports a remarkable and heartwarming story for local television station KARE channel 11.
Huppert’s feature is a different kind of ‘duck variation,’ but uses the same touchstones of life, death and friendship, when hunter (Joe Mansheim) and the hunted (Frank the duck) become one of the oddest couples to share a delivery truck.
In this day and age, there aren’t enough news stories that have happy endings, so take a moment to enjoy a very rare tale of bonding.
"In every man's heart, there is a secret nerve that answers to the vibrations of beauty." ~ Christopher Morley ~
The female face has long been inspiration for countless number of artists over the centuries. Take for example the hauntingly elegant oil on canvas that accompanies this post. It is a portrait of 19-year old Amalie von Schintling painted in 1831 by Joseph Karl Stieler, an artist who worked primarily in the service of the Bavarian court.
Stieler painted the portrait at Schloss Nymphenburg in Munich, and endearingly captured von Schintling's hopeful visage. At that time, the young girl was betrothed to her cousin Fritz von Schintling, but sadly would never see her wedding day as she died of tuberculosis shortly after the painting was finished.
Three years ago, St. Louis, Missouri digital artist, Philip Scott Johnson further immortalized Amalie's image in a video, along with that of 89 other beautiful women, all of who had stories of their own to speak from the canvas.
The exquisite video tribute to portraitists and their distaff models displays Johnson’s carefully cropped thumbnail images, which are morphed one on top of the other in a fantasy dance of visual beauty that spans 500 years of Western art.
For two minutes and 53 seconds centuries roll by from face-to-face as we see the passionate works of such artists as Rubens, da Vinci, Reynolds, Winterhalter, Renior and more, as each beauty dissolves and melds accompanied by the sensitive cello performance of Yo-Yo Ma playing Bach’s Sarabande from Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007.
Johnson’s outstanding work was recognized with a nomination for Most Creative Video by YouTube for their 2nd annual awards ceremony.
For a complete list of artists and their un-cropped paintings, please follow this link.
“A word is not the same with one writer as with another. One tears it from his guts. The other pulls it out of his overcoat pocket.” ~ Charles Peguy ~
The literary world is currently being turned on its ear. A couple of days ago a new website that analyzes your personal writing samples, against that of pen worthy famous icons has surfaced.
At no cost to you, you simply cut and paste a sample of your writing into a little screen at “I Write Like” and voilà , your overall style, punctuation and word choice is compared through algorithm magic to that of the big guys.
What I found out about myself still has me scratching my head in amazement as I am either a great mimic, or suffering from an undiagnosed bout of Dissociative Identity disorder.
I decided to start my analysis with something very simple, a few lines of prose from my IMHO post Autumn Leaves from October 2009, and pleasingly discovered it echoes the writings of James Fenimore Cooper.
Feeling quite content on the first go around, I none the less was curious and decided to do an experiment to see if my writing style differed according to subject matter and/or date that I had written a piece. So, I went to my computer archives and resurrected an excerpt from a column I had written a few years ago (LIVING HISTORY) for a small local New England newspaper. The column covered stories about seniors who had lived in the region since birth. It was then I discovered my articles reflected the style of Irish writer and poet James Joyce – here’s an excerpt:
“On August 20, 1915, New Braintree resident, Henry Bishop raced his Model T Ford from his home to the Congregational Church at the corner of Church and Main in West Brookfield to pick up local physician, Dr. Huycke who was to deliver Bishop’s fifth child. According to the family’s story, “Dr. Huycke’s feet never touched the floorboards of the car” as Bishop rushed the physician back to his waiting wife, Julia Hayes Bishop. In the ensuing commotion before the baby’s delivery, ten-year-old Blanche Bishop, the eldest of the Bishop children awoke and wanted to know what all the fuss was about and was sternly sent back to bed. A couple of hours later, calm finally prevailed and it was Henry and Dr. Huycke who would quietly dress the Bishop’s newborn daughter, Elizabeth Alice, for all-the-world to see.”
I then took another of my posts (a fairly recent piece “Plants as Pets” - from a different earlier news column, PLANT TALK) that over the years had been reborn several times through rewrites for radio and newspaper, and I discovered I had taken on the persona of Canadian author, poet, critic, and essayist, Margaret Atwood.
Okay, now here’s the really weird part, on Tuesday, June 1 (on this blog) I posted “What chutzpa: BP CEO, "I want my life back." The post was a rant in response to the seemingly implied indifference of Tony Hayward (BP’s CEO) and the handling of the Gulf oil spill.
When I wrote the post, I was so incensed that it was a true gut departure and uncharacteristic to my typical style. It turned out (according to stats) it was the most popular of my posts - ever. So I plunked it into the “I Write Like” analyzer and discovered much to my amazement it reflected a true split personality – the first half of the post was pure “Lord of the Rings” J.R.R. Tolkien, and the second half, mirrored American novelist and freelance journalist, Chuck Palahniuk.
By this time, I was heady with anticipation for another big name connection, so I copied and pasted another article from another one of my columns, LIFE AND TIMES. Here’s an excerpt:
"... I STILL BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOOD AT HEART
Somewhere between middle school and high school, I remember being introduced to a small book, which at the time was not well known. For me, it was a turning point -“THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK.”
Today, Anne Frank’s diary has practically become a prepubescent rite-of-passage reading. It is the poignant penning of a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl who suffered the indignation and horrors of hiding from the Nazis in World War II Amsterdam. Though first quietly published in 1947 in Holland, it took the notable success of the 1955 Broadway play and the subsequent telling in the delicate and memorable film from 20th Century Fox to make this diary mainstream reading.
In particular, there has always been one passage from her diary that has left the most indelible impression. Written with unshakable faith after having endured a concealed existence in an attic for over two years she scribed, "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." What a curious thing to say, for within twenty days of that eloquent utterance, Anne, her family and friends were captured by the dreaded Green Police and shipped off like cattle to Auschwitz and beyond. Seven months later, and just two months shy of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, according to one survivor's account Anne, "... died peacefully, feeling nothing bad was happening to her."
Well, to my surprise, apparently when the above piece was first written, I had channeled American novelist and humanist Kurt Vonnegut. This truly humbled me.
Okay now, time for you to give it a try - the "I Write Like" site has gone virtually viral in less than 72 hours and apparently, this post, which you are now reading, is pure H. P. Lovecraft – hmmm?
What does your writing say about you? Please stop by and share your results - Cooper, Joyce, Atwood, Tolkien, Palahniuk, Vonnegut, Lovecraft and Slade want to rub elbows with the likes of Dan Brown, Charles Dickens, Walt Whitman and Agatha Christie.
Depending on where in the United States you are located, some of the finest orchestras will pay tribute to our country’s birth with the best entertainment around.
Nothing goes better with a grand fireworks display than a full symphony orchestra playing everything from the traditional John Philip Sousa marches to Tchaikovsky’s stirring 1812 Overture accompanied by a dazzling light display.
It’s an outing that you will remember for a lifetime.
Some of the programs are offered free, and most are set on wide public expanses that allow for picnicking.
Certain shows will actually be performed on alternative dates other than July 4 so check the list that follows and find the city or symphony nearest you; click on the link for informative details of the concert that is being offered, and make your plans for a spectacular Independence Day.
If you’d rather take a pass on the live orchestra, and are only seeking a fabulous pyrotechnic display or a fireworks show with synchronized music, the American Pyrotechnics Association offers a list that they created in 2009 of national alternatives here. As with the concerts, be sure to double check dates for the fireworks displays that are nearest you.
Should the weather not cooperate in your area, there is always the option of tuning in to the annual Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) presentation of the A Capitol Fourth, which is broadcast live on July 4 at 8:00 p.m. EDT / 7:00 p.m. CDT and recorded for rebroadcast in other markets. It’s a spectacular must-see presentation brought to you from our nation’s capital. Check here to find your local PBS station.
"The stomach is the teacher of the arts and the dispenser of invention." ~ Aulus Persius Flaccus ~
Have you ever gone to a party or picnic and brought a bottle of wine only to discover that there is no corkscrew?
Other than trying to pry the cork out with a penknife and your teeth, you can switch to a can of beer and use the pull-tab, or you can open the wine bottle with your shoe.
And, I’m not talking about beating the bottle to death with the heel of your shoe; I’m suggesting you use the inside of the shoe. Not convinced – take a look below.
The following embedded video, from tvvn.org’s YouTube channel is entirely in French. It is nonetheless quite understandable because of the excellent accompanying demonstration.
This is guaranteed to be a conversation starter.
Now, will somebody please pass the cheese and crackers?
“Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.” ~ C.S. Lewis ~
On Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 2245 BST, the British Broadcasting channel 1 will air the documentary, BIONIC VET, which chronicles an amazing medical advancement that has become a news story buzzing around wire services worldwide.
The documentary concerns a 2-1/2 year old cat named "Oscar" and his successfully implanted prosthetic back paws; a true veterinary medical miracle that has technically produced the world’s first bionic kitty.
Oscar’s story began in November, 2009 when he was catching an afternoon catnap in a cornfield in Jersey, a British Crown Dependency island off the coast of France.
As Oscar slept, a harvester combine sliced off his back paws.
Oscar’s owners, Mike Nolan and Kate Allan rushed the cat to the local veterinarian.
Nolan said in an interview with the BBC that it was, "complete panic” and “very traumatic;” Oscar was “covered in blood, bits of flesh, it was very gruesome.”
Nolan was “convinced” that they “were going to have to put him down.”
Local veterinarian, Peter Haworth at the New Era Veterinary Hospital was able to stabilize the cat with painkillers, and then cleaned and dressed his wounds.
Over the next two weeks, Haworth and his owners were in constant contact with Noel Fitzpatrick, a recommended neuro-orthopaedic surgeon in Surrey, England who had been doing pioneering work on prosthetics.
After extensive consultations, x-rays and tests, it was determined that Oscar would be an ideal candidate for this (first of its kind) prosthetics transplant procedure.
Even though there were no total guarantees, Nolan says, "We would never have gone through with it if there was doubt about his quality of life going forward.”
At this point, Oscar is learning to navigate using his bio-engineered custom implants with ankle- to-foot prosthetic paws.
Nolan and Allan know that their cat is receiving the finest most compassionate care during his rehab period and they look forward to his return home to Jersey. Ms. Allan says, "Without this surgery he wouldn't be here, it's as simple as that."
The embedded video below highlights this miracle story.
Oh, and by they way, Oscar still has his eight other lives intact.
“The biggest obstacle to professional writing is the necessity for changing a typewriter ribbon. ” ~Robert Benchley ~
Here’s a post you can archive under the heading of “Gizmos, Gadgets and Stuff.”
Does anyone out in cyberspace remember what it’s like to type on a real typewriter? No, I’m not talking about a word processor, or an IBM Selectric. I’m referring to the old fashioned, click-click-clack sounding typewriter that gave your fingers a true aerobic workout.
The third job I ever held, (before I came to the stark realization that I was not cut out to work nine-to-five in an office setting) was as a secretary for a real estate management company. The office I worked in was unique to say the least; it was like traveling back in time to the turn of the 20th century. Everything in the office was antique, including the owners of the company. This was a firm where I gained mastery over a key, lamp, and cord switchboard, and a real typewriter.
If you’ve never experienced either of these dinosaur office machines, you’re not missing much as far as the switchboard is concerned; they’re rather complicated until you get the knack of handling multiple calls and remembering who is connected on each line.
As far as a typewriter, that’s different. They were actually fun, and if you were having a bad day you could always pound hard on the keys to get your frustration out – plus they made lots of productive-sounding noise.
The only problems with a real typewriter, other than changing their inky ribbon, was when you made a mistake – you either had to use a chalky image blotting tape known as “Lift-off” or drown out your error (along with the carbon copied onionskin paper) with “Whiteout.” No matter how fast you were able to type; ribbons and errors really slowed the whole process down.
Well, guess what? Now you can have your nostalgia cake and eat it too; faster than you can say “Warp drive,” you can retro your PC, Mac or iPad so it functions like a real typewriter, but without the typical drawbacks.
Etsy artist Jack Zylkin has come up with an ingenious idea – a genuine typewriter that connects to your computer via USB port. The product is called a USB Typewriter.™
On Zylkin’s web site, he offers not only the typewriter for sale, but a retro kit for do-it-yourselfers, and if you consider yourself technically challenged or have your own typewriter to convert, just send it to him and he’ll customize your order.
Take a look at the video below. Rather nifty nostalgia I must say.
Born and raised in Chicago, Paula began her career as an on-air announcer/reporter for classical radio, WEFM. An alumnus of NBC-TV’s Daytime Writers Program, she served as head of the Literary Department for the Savage Agency, Hollywood; developed programming for Blair Entertainment, New York and wrote for such diverse publications as: the Martha’s Vineyard Times; Cape Cod Life; Berkshire Eagle; and Scripps-Howard News Service. She is signatory to the Writers Guild of America; a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA. Her acting credits include: "Starman;" “Hardcastle & McCormick;” “Remington Steele,” and “General Hospital;” commercials for clients such as Sears and McDonald’s and stage roles that included Lady Macbeth. She has administered blogs – Paula Slade: In My Humble Opinion and Paula Slade: National Children’s Entertainment as well as a contributing writer and co-administer for Sadie Sapiens: The Voice for Those Who Can’t Speak… At Least Not Yet! Today she is Vice President/Creative Director and audiobook narrator for ARTISTIC MEDIA ASSOCIATES, INC. She and her husband reside on the East coast along with their goofy and loveable cat and dog.
