I'm going to keep it short and sweet today. Hooray for Christopher Baker, who returned his Eagle Scout medal, his way of protesting the Boy Scout's of America's anti-gay position. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/eagle-scouts-return-medals-over-organization-anti-gay-184508093.html Boo-hiss to the Boy Scouts hierarchy for refusing to allow gays to act as leaders or to be members of the Boy Scouts.
Here's a long article on whether or not there is a connection between homosexuality and child molestation. http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/facts_molestation.html The article freely admits that studies on this topic are hard to conduct. So, forget studies. Just ask yourself, do you really think a gay man is any more interested in pedophilia than a heterosexual man? During my twenty five years at the welfare board, I ran across a handful of child molesters. Those jokers were all married to women - at least before they got caught and went to jail.
I suggest that the Boy Scout organization ask themselves a question. Does the ban on homosexual members and leaders really exclude them? Isn't it possible that there are gay people in the organization right now who are so closeted that no one knows their secret? It's about time the Boy Scouts dropped their homophobic stance. Otherwise, they might as well award badges for bigotry.
An aside: Two snaps up for the mayor of Boston who told Chick-fil-A to take a hike.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/boston-mayor-letter-chick-fil-menino-dan-cathy-201952237--finance.html
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Not Just for Girls
I remember the days when I was mortified if I had to take a box of sanitary napkins through the supermarket check out. I would rather disappear than chose the line with the male cashier. Of course, that was when I was thirteen. Fortunately, I graduated to being able to brazenly toss a box of tampons on the belt in front of an eighteen year old boy, even handing him a coupon for said purchase.
Today, I saw a survival video which details alternative uses for tampons. If you are stranded in the wilderness, and you have a tampon handy, you can use it to start a fire. Tampons are constructed of highly flammable material. Watching the two guys in the video dissect the tampon and extol its virtues was amusing. Several other uses for a tampon were listed at the end of the fire making video. Does anyone remember the email that made the rounds that listed one hundred and one uses for coffee filters? Look out coffee filters, here come tampons. http://dailyshotofcoffee.com/24-uses-for-coffee-filters/
Now, getting back to those other uses for tampons:
1. Trapping bears - Bears are drawn to menstruating females. Used tampons will help capture of an errant bear. http://www.idiotlaws.com/bears-like-menstruating-women-wear-tampons-not-pads/
2. Filtering water
3. Dressing a wound
4. Making a candle
5. Setting a trap
http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/featured-wilderness-survival-blog-entries/yes-thats-a-tampon-in-my-mouth-the-swiss-army-survival-tampon-7-survival-uses/
There's another use for tampons that gets me all riled up. They are used in the ear cropping and taping process inflicted on Doberman Pinschers. I witnessed this process when a Doberman loving friend had her dog's ears done. After the dog's floppy hound ears were cut into the proper shape, tampons with adhesive on the outside were inserted into the ears. The ears were pressed against the adhesive, then tape was used to fix the ears in an upright position. The process was repeated until the ear muscles were strong enough to keep the ears upright. http://www.protectioncanines.com/Doberman_Ear_Taping.html My friend wanted her dog to have the signature Doberman look - evil pointy ears. Ear cropping is illegal in the United Kingdom and most of Europe. The practice is unrestricted in the United States. I'd like to see that changed. You can write letters to your legislators asking them to sponsor a bill to make ear cropping (and tail docking) illegal. Check out this website: http://www.stopthecrops.com/
Let's have one less use for tampons.
Today, I saw a survival video which details alternative uses for tampons. If you are stranded in the wilderness, and you have a tampon handy, you can use it to start a fire. Tampons are constructed of highly flammable material. Watching the two guys in the video dissect the tampon and extol its virtues was amusing. Several other uses for a tampon were listed at the end of the fire making video. Does anyone remember the email that made the rounds that listed one hundred and one uses for coffee filters? Look out coffee filters, here come tampons. http://dailyshotofcoffee.com/24-uses-for-coffee-filters/
Now, getting back to those other uses for tampons:
1. Trapping bears - Bears are drawn to menstruating females. Used tampons will help capture of an errant bear. http://www.idiotlaws.com/bears-like-menstruating-women-wear-tampons-not-pads/
2. Filtering water
3. Dressing a wound
4. Making a candle
5. Setting a trap
http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/featured-wilderness-survival-blog-entries/yes-thats-a-tampon-in-my-mouth-the-swiss-army-survival-tampon-7-survival-uses/
There's another use for tampons that gets me all riled up. They are used in the ear cropping and taping process inflicted on Doberman Pinschers. I witnessed this process when a Doberman loving friend had her dog's ears done. After the dog's floppy hound ears were cut into the proper shape, tampons with adhesive on the outside were inserted into the ears. The ears were pressed against the adhesive, then tape was used to fix the ears in an upright position. The process was repeated until the ear muscles were strong enough to keep the ears upright. http://www.protectioncanines.com/Doberman_Ear_Taping.html My friend wanted her dog to have the signature Doberman look - evil pointy ears. Ear cropping is illegal in the United Kingdom and most of Europe. The practice is unrestricted in the United States. I'd like to see that changed. You can write letters to your legislators asking them to sponsor a bill to make ear cropping (and tail docking) illegal. Check out this website: http://www.stopthecrops.com/
Let's have one less use for tampons.
 |
| For shame! |
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Moveable Feasts
As kids, we couldn't wait for the Mr. Softee truck to cruise the neighborhood. I thought ice cream on wheels was the coolest concept. Sometime during my junior high years, I found out about "roach coaches" - whole meals could come out on trucks.
New York City is the place where they take the lunch wagon's fare to a whole new level. You don't have to accept chicken nuggets and greasy burgers. You can experience crazy gastronomic combinations like vanilla ice cream coated in crushed wasabi peas or burgers topped with caviar and foie gras and wrapped in $100 bills (FYI - you don't eat the $100 bills). Check out this video featuring some New York City lunch trucks -
http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/york-citys-wildest-food-trucks-173600045.html;_ylt=AscS_cJZhMcQI_J_D_jWO7NZc0Iv;_ylu=X3oDMTRuNmwzYWVtBG1pdANCbHVlIFJpYmJvbiBIdW50ZXIgUmVjaXBlcyBUZXN0IDMEcGtnA2RkYzNlNjQ2LWZiNzQtMzBhZS1iZDM5LWYxYThhNzI5NzNjYwRwb3MDMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFGZWF0dXJlZENhcm91c2VsBHZlcgNhMWZhMWQ5NS1jZjY3LTExZTEtOWYwZi0xZjE1Y2MxZWQ4YjE-;_ylg=X3oDMTFoOTlpZTNlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDdmlkLWdhbGxlcnk-;_ylv=3
One thing these meals from diners on wheels have in common is great big globs of cholesterol. I'd like to suggest that someone offer a low cholesterol menu. I could start them out with a recipe that my sister-in-law created.
Colette's Turkey and Salsa Plate
Spray a frying pan with Pam or other cooking spray.
Saute peppers and onions for a couple of minutes. You could also add mushrooms.
Add ground turkey with the least fat content available.
Fry until the meat is cooked through.
Add a generous glob of hot salsa.
Stir and serve.
This stuff is delicious.
If this recipe doesn't take you away from the burger joints, you're meshuga.
http://screen.yahoo.com/rabbi-burger-30061110.html?pb_list=f98d7405-694c-44f4-99c7-e6d7f1032375
New York City is the place where they take the lunch wagon's fare to a whole new level. You don't have to accept chicken nuggets and greasy burgers. You can experience crazy gastronomic combinations like vanilla ice cream coated in crushed wasabi peas or burgers topped with caviar and foie gras and wrapped in $100 bills (FYI - you don't eat the $100 bills). Check out this video featuring some New York City lunch trucks -
http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/york-citys-wildest-food-trucks-173600045.html;_ylt=AscS_cJZhMcQI_J_D_jWO7NZc0Iv;_ylu=X3oDMTRuNmwzYWVtBG1pdANCbHVlIFJpYmJvbiBIdW50ZXIgUmVjaXBlcyBUZXN0IDMEcGtnA2RkYzNlNjQ2LWZiNzQtMzBhZS1iZDM5LWYxYThhNzI5NzNjYwRwb3MDMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFGZWF0dXJlZENhcm91c2VsBHZlcgNhMWZhMWQ5NS1jZjY3LTExZTEtOWYwZi0xZjE1Y2MxZWQ4YjE-;_ylg=X3oDMTFoOTlpZTNlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDdmlkLWdhbGxlcnk-;_ylv=3
One thing these meals from diners on wheels have in common is great big globs of cholesterol. I'd like to suggest that someone offer a low cholesterol menu. I could start them out with a recipe that my sister-in-law created.
Colette's Turkey and Salsa Plate
Spray a frying pan with Pam or other cooking spray.
Saute peppers and onions for a couple of minutes. You could also add mushrooms.
Add ground turkey with the least fat content available.
Fry until the meat is cooked through.
Add a generous glob of hot salsa.
Stir and serve.
This stuff is delicious.
If this recipe doesn't take you away from the burger joints, you're meshuga.
http://screen.yahoo.com/rabbi-burger-30061110.html?pb_list=f98d7405-694c-44f4-99c7-e6d7f1032375
Monday, July 23, 2012
Downsizing
When I was a kid it seemed that a lot of the big, beautiful houses in Mt. Holly were divided into apartments. They no longer served as stately single family homes. Families lived in the developments in ranchers and split levels. Families of four, five, or even six got by on 1400-1600 square feet. We didn't have a separate room dedicated to laundry. The washer was in the basement (which also housed an extra TV, and maybe, a ping pong table). There was no foyer or mud room. Visitors walked directly into the living room from the front door or the kitchen from the back door. We didn't even know the term en suite. Jack and Jill were a couple of clumsy kids, not a dual entry bathroom. We fought for our turn in sole bath which was usually located in the hall outside the bedrooms.
In the 1980's, as baby boomers got richer (and maybe their kids demanded their own rooms), McMansions started sprouting up. Since then, it seems that houses get bigger and bigger. Mike and I marvel at the grand edifices that pop up on any spot of open ground. "Who can afford this?" we say time and time again. What will happen to these big places after the kids grow up? Will they be divided into apartments like their Victorian predecessors? It seems to us that houses are getting too big to be sensible.
Maybe they are also getting too small to be sensible. Jay Shafer builds tiny houses, some of which are on wheels. His designs are cute, but I don't know if they make any sense for more than one person. I think an Airstream makes more sense than Shafer's houses on wheels. I also don't know if the bigger homes would meet zoning requirements in more developed areas. Still, these places probably make great vacation homes in remote areas. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
I just read an article about Van Bo Le-Mentzel's one square meter house experiment. http://news.yahoo.com/behold-worlds-smallest-house-totaling-one-sq-meter-133000787.html Mr. Le-Mentzel is an architect in Berlin, Germany. He, along with BMW Guggenheim, is asking people to design and build one square meter houses. These "houses" will be displayed, and even rented out for $1.30 per night, during the experiment. When the project is over on July 29, 2012, contributors can retrieve their houses and take them home. Le-Mentzel fled his homeland of Laos as a refugee; hence, his fascination with portable housing.
Mr. Le-Mentzel's plywood and plexiglass boxes provide better shelter than a cardboard box, but if I had my druthers, I would rather live in a van down by the river.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3sJa_qJYgM
In the 1980's, as baby boomers got richer (and maybe their kids demanded their own rooms), McMansions started sprouting up. Since then, it seems that houses get bigger and bigger. Mike and I marvel at the grand edifices that pop up on any spot of open ground. "Who can afford this?" we say time and time again. What will happen to these big places after the kids grow up? Will they be divided into apartments like their Victorian predecessors? It seems to us that houses are getting too big to be sensible.
Maybe they are also getting too small to be sensible. Jay Shafer builds tiny houses, some of which are on wheels. His designs are cute, but I don't know if they make any sense for more than one person. I think an Airstream makes more sense than Shafer's houses on wheels. I also don't know if the bigger homes would meet zoning requirements in more developed areas. Still, these places probably make great vacation homes in remote areas. http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/
 |
| The Bodega model is 356 sq. ft. |
I just read an article about Van Bo Le-Mentzel's one square meter house experiment. http://news.yahoo.com/behold-worlds-smallest-house-totaling-one-sq-meter-133000787.html Mr. Le-Mentzel is an architect in Berlin, Germany. He, along with BMW Guggenheim, is asking people to design and build one square meter houses. These "houses" will be displayed, and even rented out for $1.30 per night, during the experiment. When the project is over on July 29, 2012, contributors can retrieve their houses and take them home. Le-Mentzel fled his homeland of Laos as a refugee; hence, his fascination with portable housing.
 |
| Would a homeless person roll one of these around instead of a shopping cart? |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3sJa_qJYgM
Friday, July 20, 2012
Pranks
Val Patterson, a Utah resident, died last week. He wrote his own obituary, and in it, confessed to the many pranks he pulled off during his life. His biggest scam was the PhD. that opened the door to his career as an engineer. Through a paperwork error, his student loan payment was mistaken for payment of the PhD. processing fees. Once he got the certificate, he decided to leave school and go to work. He also stole a safe from a drive in, clogged up a geyser, and raised such a ruckus that he was on the banned for life list at Sea World and Disneyland. Mr. Patterson died from throat cancer caused by his cigarette habit. He expressed regret that this habit robbed him of more time with his family. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/utah-man-confessional-obituary-owns-life-pranks-180934687.html
I decided I'm not going to wait until I'm dead to confess my most secret sins. I'll make a clean breast of it right now.
When I was in elementary school, I made a crank phone call from the pay phone in the hallway at Hainesport School.
I borrowed a nickel from Ellen Homan when we went to Harmony Heart Camp, and I never paid her back.
I robbed a couple of quarters from the change jar in the kitchen cabinet when I was a kid.
During college, I cleaned for one of the residence counselors. I accidentally tossed a cleaning rag down the toilet while dumping a bucket of scrub water. I decided to stay mum about the incident. The university maintenance people eventually had to deal with the backed up toilet. Since the counselor's husband had a colon problem, no one suspected I was the cause.
When I was out of a job for a while, back in the mid 70's, a friend of the family hired me to help clean up a rental between tenants. Every day for three weeks, we stopped at a deli to pick up lunch before going to the apartment. My friend, an older woman, always gave me just enough money to get the least expensive hoagie which we split for our noon time meal. After about two weeks, I was sick of the same old thing. I ordered a roast beef hoagie and paid the difference. My boss carried on long afterward about how tasty our "accidental" sandwich had been. For me, each re-telling was delicious.
I don't know if I will write my obit. That's a tough assignment. Maybe I'll leave it to the undertaker who will stick with just the facts. She was born. She died. She worked. She retired. She left some people behind. The ones I leave behind can add the juicy details. I hope I'll leave them with delicious memories.
I decided I'm not going to wait until I'm dead to confess my most secret sins. I'll make a clean breast of it right now.
When I was in elementary school, I made a crank phone call from the pay phone in the hallway at Hainesport School.
I borrowed a nickel from Ellen Homan when we went to Harmony Heart Camp, and I never paid her back.
I robbed a couple of quarters from the change jar in the kitchen cabinet when I was a kid.
During college, I cleaned for one of the residence counselors. I accidentally tossed a cleaning rag down the toilet while dumping a bucket of scrub water. I decided to stay mum about the incident. The university maintenance people eventually had to deal with the backed up toilet. Since the counselor's husband had a colon problem, no one suspected I was the cause.
When I was out of a job for a while, back in the mid 70's, a friend of the family hired me to help clean up a rental between tenants. Every day for three weeks, we stopped at a deli to pick up lunch before going to the apartment. My friend, an older woman, always gave me just enough money to get the least expensive hoagie which we split for our noon time meal. After about two weeks, I was sick of the same old thing. I ordered a roast beef hoagie and paid the difference. My boss carried on long afterward about how tasty our "accidental" sandwich had been. For me, each re-telling was delicious.
I don't know if I will write my obit. That's a tough assignment. Maybe I'll leave it to the undertaker who will stick with just the facts. She was born. She died. She worked. She retired. She left some people behind. The ones I leave behind can add the juicy details. I hope I'll leave them with delicious memories.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Keeping Up to Date
John Tettis, RV's driving instructor, taught me to drive in the summer of 1970. Back then we had power steering, power brakes, and seat belts. One of the cardinal rules of driving was to keep our hands on the wheel in the ten o'clock and two o'clock positions.
That's a rule that can be ignored these days. You'll want to keep your hands at nine o'clock and three o'clock, or even at eight o'clock and four o'clock. The reason for this is the airbag. Positioning your hands the old way will cause you to smack yourself in the face if your airbag deploys.
Another thing they didn't have in 1970 is anti-lock brakes. Many people lift their foot off the brake pedal when they hear the banging and feel the pulsing of the anti-lock braking system. That's the wrong thing to do. Bear down on that brake pedal as hard as you can and steer carefully, without jerking the wheel.
Check out this article -
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/4-things-you-didn-t-learn-in-driver-s-ed.html
To be the best driver you can be, you might also want to take a defensive driving course. The Burlington County Sheriff's Department sponsors a one day class. Completion of the class earns you a 5% (or better) deduction on your auto insurance. There is a $10.00 fee. Call 609-265-3788 to register by phone. You can also register online through the website.
http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/upload/Sheriff/Images/DDC_Program.pdf
That's a rule that can be ignored these days. You'll want to keep your hands at nine o'clock and three o'clock, or even at eight o'clock and four o'clock. The reason for this is the airbag. Positioning your hands the old way will cause you to smack yourself in the face if your airbag deploys.
Another thing they didn't have in 1970 is anti-lock brakes. Many people lift their foot off the brake pedal when they hear the banging and feel the pulsing of the anti-lock braking system. That's the wrong thing to do. Bear down on that brake pedal as hard as you can and steer carefully, without jerking the wheel.
Check out this article -
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/4-things-you-didn-t-learn-in-driver-s-ed.html
To be the best driver you can be, you might also want to take a defensive driving course. The Burlington County Sheriff's Department sponsors a one day class. Completion of the class earns you a 5% (or better) deduction on your auto insurance. There is a $10.00 fee. Call 609-265-3788 to register by phone. You can also register online through the website.
http://www.co.burlington.nj.us/upload/Sheriff/Images/DDC_Program.pdf
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Divorce, Oregon Style
Elle Zober recently went through the crushing disappointment of losing her husband of ten years to a younger woman. Now she's a single mom and has to dispose of her marital home. She decided that the best way to accomplish this is with truth and humor. The "For Sale" sign posted on her front lawn reads, "Husband left us for a 22 year old. House for sale by scorned, slightly bitter, newly single owner .... Adulterers need not apply." The ex-husband is okay with the marketing tactics and even went halfsies on the sign. According to the former Mrs. Zober, both she and her ex want to sell the house and avoid foreclosure. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/ex-wife-uses-story-cheating-former-husband-sell-221218162.html
Once you click the link to the story, be sure to click KPTV-FOX 12 (located at the top of the article). When the Fox-12 news box pops up, scroll down to the section marked "Most Popular Stories" and click on "Jilted ex-wife's unique tactic to sell Beaverton home." You'll be able to watch a video interview with Elle Zober.
It's obvious that Ms. Zober is a creative person. One of the outlets of her creativity is her greeting card business. Check that out. http://www.totallyradcards.com/contact.html Ms. Zober's speciality is birth annoucements, but she also does holiday, thank you, and graduation cards, invitations, and save the date cards. I would like to suggest another product to add to the line - divorce announcements. Maybe those inclined to proclaim their new status by way of announcements could include a refrigerator magnet in the mailing which contains their new contact information.
Once you click the link to the story, be sure to click KPTV-FOX 12 (located at the top of the article). When the Fox-12 news box pops up, scroll down to the section marked "Most Popular Stories" and click on "Jilted ex-wife's unique tactic to sell Beaverton home." You'll be able to watch a video interview with Elle Zober.
 |
| You can buy a frig magnet of this sign. Elle Zober has set up a site for selling them. Now that's enterprising. http://www.greatfamilyhome.com/merchandise.html |
It's obvious that Ms. Zober is a creative person. One of the outlets of her creativity is her greeting card business. Check that out. http://www.totallyradcards.com/contact.html Ms. Zober's speciality is birth annoucements, but she also does holiday, thank you, and graduation cards, invitations, and save the date cards. I would like to suggest another product to add to the line - divorce announcements. Maybe those inclined to proclaim their new status by way of announcements could include a refrigerator magnet in the mailing which contains their new contact information.
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