Do or do not, there is no try.
- Yoda (Star Wars movie)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
In Memoriam
According to iCasualties, this brings the total number of allied servicemembers killed in Iraq to 4,693; in Afghanistan, 1,611. During this same period, Iraq Body Count lists 111 Iraqi civilians killed.
Website of the Day
Out of the millions of photos uploaded to Flickr’s galleries from all over the world, this is the page where the ones deemed the most interesting are spotlighted. Just hit refresh for a new page of photos, as often as you like.
Out of the mouths of babes
One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of Chicken Little to her class. She came to the part of the story where Chicken Little tried to warn the farmer. She read, ".... and so Chicken Little went up to the farmer and said, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!"
The teacher paused then asked the class, "And what do you think that farmer said?"
One little girl raised her hand and said,
"I think he said: 'Holy Mackerel! A talking chicken!'"
The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.
The teacher paused then asked the class, "And what do you think that farmer said?"
One little girl raised her hand and said,
"I think he said: 'Holy Mackerel! A talking chicken!'"
The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.
Ravioli With Spinach and Bacon
Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 20m
Ingredients
* 1 pound ravioli (fresh or frozen)
* 6 slices bacon
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* 2 cloves garlic, sliced
* 2 bunches fresh spinach, thick stems removed (about 8 cups)
* kosher salt and black pepper
* 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Directions
1. Cook the ravioli according to the package directions. Drain and divide among bowls.
2. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes; transfer to a paper towel–lined plate. Crumble.
3. Wipe out the skillet and heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the spinach, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook, tossing, until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Stir the bacon and lemon juice into the spinach. Spoon the mixture over the ravioli.
Daily Dilemma
If you could spend one year in perfect happiness but afterwards would remember nothing of the experience would you do so? If not, why not?
Colbert rips ‘butt-sniffing’ Harold Ford
| The Colbert Report | Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Alpha Dog of the Week - Harold Ford Jr. | ||||
| ||||
US Households Struggle to Afford Food
Nearly one in five U.S. households ran out of money to buy enough food at least once during 2009, said an antihunger group on Tuesday, urging more federal action to help Americans get enough to eat.
Read more
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Ginger Chocolate-Chip Bars
Makes 32 bars
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 1hr 05m
Ingredients
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pan
* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
* 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
* 4 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan and line it with 2 crisscrossed pieces of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugars, using an electric mixer, until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Mix in the chocolate chips.
4. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Cool completely in the pan, then cut into 32 bars (8 rows by 4 rows).
To store: The tight seal on a take-out container will keep the bars moist and chewy.
To freeze: Instead of baking the batter, freeze it in the pan for up to 2 months. To bake, follow the recipe instructions, baking from frozen, and use the upper end of the time rang
Iceman on Everest: 'It Was Easy'
It's a bitterly cold winter day and students on the University of Minnesota campus are bundled up, hurrying to their next class. Wim Hof, dressed in shorts, sandals and nothing else, appeared from the doorway of a school building.
He's known as 'The Ice Man."
Scientists can't really explain it, but the 48-year-old Dutchman is able to withstand, and even thrive, in temperatures that could be fatal to the average person.
Read more
He's known as 'The Ice Man."
Scientists can't really explain it, but the 48-year-old Dutchman is able to withstand, and even thrive, in temperatures that could be fatal to the average person.
Read more
Beer at Burger King
Burger King is opening a restaurant in Miami Beach that will serve beer along with its burgers and fries.
Read more
Read more
10 Dirtiest Hotels in America
Readers of Trip Advisor write reviews about hotels they have recently stayed in, and usually tell it like it is. Here, compiled from the thousands of reviews submitted, are the hotels that guests found the dirtiest. They also have listings for the dirtiest hotels in different parts of the world.
Why it's getting harder to pick up women
Contrary to certain notions of chivalry, women are increasingly likely to drive to a date rather than be picked up, according to an unscientific survey by LeaseTrader.com.
The "Sex Drive" poll found that about 33 percent of women who were not in a relationship did the driving when on a date in 2009, compared with about 24 percent in 2008 and a little less than 14 percent in 2005. Of women in a relationship, about 28 percent said they drove when on dates in 2009, up from about 26 percent in 2008 and about 10 percent in 2005.
Read more
The "Sex Drive" poll found that about 33 percent of women who were not in a relationship did the driving when on a date in 2009, compared with about 24 percent in 2008 and a little less than 14 percent in 2005. Of women in a relationship, about 28 percent said they drove when on dates in 2009, up from about 26 percent in 2008 and about 10 percent in 2005.
Read more
Does the health care bill specifically exempt members of Congress and their staffs from its provisions
No. This twisted claim is based on misrepresentations of the House and Senate bills, neither of which exempts lawmakers.
Here's The Joke
A teacher asked little Johnny if he knows his 1 to 10 well
"Yes! Of course! My pop taught me...even more than 10"
"Good. What comes after three?”
"Four," answers the boy.
"What comes after six?"
"Seven."
"Very good," says the teacher. "Your erm...dad did a good job. Now...so what comes after...lets say ten?"
"A jack"
"Yes! Of course! My pop taught me...even more than 10"
"Good. What comes after three?”
"Four," answers the boy.
"What comes after six?"
"Seven."
"Very good," says the teacher. "Your erm...dad did a good job. Now...so what comes after...lets say ten?"
"A jack"
Whose Rights? Challenging Corporate Power
A new Supreme Court decision promotes corporate rights at the expense of the rights of citizens. Changing the legal structure itself may be the best way to protect democracy.
Read more
Read more
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Unraveled? Here’s How to Knit Yourself and the World Together
Have you ever looked into the mirror and wondered who is staring back at you? Or longed to unite the many parts within you? The friendly one, the angry one, the resentful one, the sad one, the calm one, the impatient one, the confused one – that are all jumbled up behind a public persona that’s buffed and glossed – but tends to crack when you’re angry or upset.
This post is about how we become unraveled and alienated – and how we can reunite with ourselves and the whole world.
It is about the healing power of love.
There are four ways we become divided within:
This post is about how we become unraveled and alienated – and how we can reunite with ourselves and the whole world.
It is about the healing power of love.
There are four ways we become divided within:
Rubbing Salt in Guantanamo's Wounds: Task Force Announces Indefinite Detentions
By Andy Worthington
With a stunning lack of sensitivity, President Barack Obama's Guantánamo Review Task Force chose the anniversary of the president's failed promise to close the prison to announce its conclusions regarding the eventual fate of 196 prisoners.
As the Washington Post explained, the Task Force said, with no trace of irony, that "nearly 50" of the men still imprisoned at Guantanamo "should be held indefinitely without trial under the laws of war."
The administration's invocation of the laws of war actually refers to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), passed by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which authorized the President "to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001" (or those who harbored them), as interpreted by the Supreme Court in June 2004, in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, in which it was asserted that "Congress has clearly and unmistakably authorized detention" of individuals covered by the AUMF.
This may technically be legal in the United States, but it is at odds with everyone else's understanding of the laws of war. As every other civilized country understands them, the laws of war involve holding combatants for the duration of hostilities according to the Geneva Conventions, which, under Common Article 3, prohibits the "humiliating and degrading treatment" and coercive interrogations to which the men in Guantánamo were subjected, after President Bush declared in February 2002 that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to al-Qaeda or the Taliban.
Moreover, these men were never screened to ascertain whether they were actually combatants in the first place. Under Article 5 of the Third Geneva Convention (relative to the treatment of prisoners of war), if there is any doubt about whether those detained fit the description of Article 4 (broadly speaking, regular armed forces), they should be treated as Article 4 prisoners until their status has been determined by a competent tribunal. Held close to the time and place of capture, these were convened in every U.S. war from Vietnam onwards, and in the first Gulf War, for example, 1,196 tribunals were held, and 886 men were subsequently released.
Read more
With a stunning lack of sensitivity, President Barack Obama's Guantánamo Review Task Force chose the anniversary of the president's failed promise to close the prison to announce its conclusions regarding the eventual fate of 196 prisoners.
As the Washington Post explained, the Task Force said, with no trace of irony, that "nearly 50" of the men still imprisoned at Guantanamo "should be held indefinitely without trial under the laws of war."
The administration's invocation of the laws of war actually refers to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), passed by Congress in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which authorized the President "to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001" (or those who harbored them), as interpreted by the Supreme Court in June 2004, in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, in which it was asserted that "Congress has clearly and unmistakably authorized detention" of individuals covered by the AUMF.
This may technically be legal in the United States, but it is at odds with everyone else's understanding of the laws of war. As every other civilized country understands them, the laws of war involve holding combatants for the duration of hostilities according to the Geneva Conventions, which, under Common Article 3, prohibits the "humiliating and degrading treatment" and coercive interrogations to which the men in Guantánamo were subjected, after President Bush declared in February 2002 that the Geneva Conventions did not apply to al-Qaeda or the Taliban.
Moreover, these men were never screened to ascertain whether they were actually combatants in the first place. Under Article 5 of the Third Geneva Convention (relative to the treatment of prisoners of war), if there is any doubt about whether those detained fit the description of Article 4 (broadly speaking, regular armed forces), they should be treated as Article 4 prisoners until their status has been determined by a competent tribunal. Held close to the time and place of capture, these were convened in every U.S. war from Vietnam onwards, and in the first Gulf War, for example, 1,196 tribunals were held, and 886 men were subsequently released.
Read more
Pasta e Fagiole
Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:30 min
makes:6 servings
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 carton (32 oz) Progresso® reduced-sodium chicken broth (4 cups)
1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
2 cans (15 oz each) Progresso® cannellini (white kidney) beans, drained, rinsed
1/2 cup ditalini or other small pasta
4 cups chopped Swiss chard or spinach
1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft.
2. Add the broth, tomatoes (with juice), beans, and pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente. Add the Swiss chard or spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, or until the chard or spinach is wilted.
Brave New Conversations Trailer
The Yes Men. Thom Hartmann. Shepard Fairey. Amy Goodman Janeane Garofalo. Tom Morello... they've all joined the Conversation. You can too. Find out how at www.BraveNewFoundation.org
Website of the Day - Gives Me Hope
GivesMeHope is where people submit short stories of random acts of kindness.
Peanut Butter Crunch Cookies
Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 35m
Ingredients
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 1/4 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
* 1 large egg
* 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 cups crispy rice cereal (such as Rice Krispies)
* 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
* 1/2 cup strawberry jam (optional)
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Using an electric mixer set on high speed, cream the butter and sugars in a large bowl. Lower to medium speed and add the egg, peanut butter, and vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture on low speed. Beat until incorporated. Fold in the rice cereal and peanuts.
2. Form the dough into approximately 1 1/2 -inch balls. Place on parchment- or foil-lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart. Gently press the cookies with the back of a fork to create classic hatch marks. Use your thumb to create a shallow well in the center of each cookie and fill with a spoonful of jam, if desired.
3. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.
Supreme Court's 'Radical and Destructive' Decision Hands Over Democracy to the Corporations
"The Supreme Court has just predicted the winners of the next November election," Sen. Chuck Schumer announced this morning. "It won't be Republicans. It won't be Democrats. It will be Corporate America."
Indeed, in a momentous 5 to 4 decision the New York Times called a "doctrinal earthquake," the U.S. Supreme Court handed down an unprecedented ruling today that gives new significance to the phrase "corporate personhood." In it, the Roberts court overturned the federal ban on corporate contributions to political campaigns, ruling that forbidding corporations from spending money to support or undermine political candidates amounts to censorship. Corporations, the court ruled, should enjoy the same First Amendment rights as individuals.
Read more
Indeed, in a momentous 5 to 4 decision the New York Times called a "doctrinal earthquake," the U.S. Supreme Court handed down an unprecedented ruling today that gives new significance to the phrase "corporate personhood." In it, the Roberts court overturned the federal ban on corporate contributions to political campaigns, ruling that forbidding corporations from spending money to support or undermine political candidates amounts to censorship. Corporations, the court ruled, should enjoy the same First Amendment rights as individuals.
Read more
Here's The Joke
Boss Asks Employee: 'Do you believe that there is Life After Death?'
Employee: 'Certainly not, there's no proof of it', he replied.
Boss: 'Well, there is now. After you left early yesterday to go to your brother's funeral, he came here looking for you.'
Employee: 'Certainly not, there's no proof of it', he replied.
Boss: 'Well, there is now. After you left early yesterday to go to your brother's funeral, he came here looking for you.'
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Today's Quote
"Everyone wants to be appreciated, so if you appreciate someone, don't keep it a secret."
Mary Kay Ash
1915-2001, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
Mary Kay Ash
1915-2001, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
Howard Zinn, Historian who Challenged Status Quo, Dies at 87
Howard Zinn, the Boston University historian and political activist who was an early opponent of US involvement in Vietnam and a leading faculty critic of BU president John Silber, died of a heart attack today in Santa Monica, Calif, where he was traveling, his family said. He was 87.
"His writings have changed the consciousness of a generation, and helped open new paths to understanding and its crucial meaning for our lives," Noam Chomsky, the left-wing activist and MIT professor, once wrote of Dr. Zinn. "When action has been called for, one could always be confident that he would be on the front lines, an example and trustworthy guide."
For Dr. Zinn, activism was a natural extension of the revisionist brand of history he taught. Dr. Zinn's best-known book, "A People's History of the United States" (1980), had for its heroes not the Founding Fathers -- many of them slaveholders and deeply attached to the status quo, as Dr. Zinn was quick to point out -- but rather the farmers of Shays' Rebellion and the union organizers of the 1930s.
Read more
"His writings have changed the consciousness of a generation, and helped open new paths to understanding and its crucial meaning for our lives," Noam Chomsky, the left-wing activist and MIT professor, once wrote of Dr. Zinn. "When action has been called for, one could always be confident that he would be on the front lines, an example and trustworthy guide."
For Dr. Zinn, activism was a natural extension of the revisionist brand of history he taught. Dr. Zinn's best-known book, "A People's History of the United States" (1980), had for its heroes not the Founding Fathers -- many of them slaveholders and deeply attached to the status quo, as Dr. Zinn was quick to point out -- but rather the farmers of Shays' Rebellion and the union organizers of the 1930s.
Read more
J.D. Salinger, author of 'Catcher in the Rye,' dead at 91
J.D. Salinger, the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose "The Catcher in the Rye" shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned, has died. He was 91.
Salinger died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, the author's son said in a statement from Salinger's literary representative. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in the small, remote house in Cornish, N.H.
"The Catcher in the Rye," with its immortal teenage protagonist, the twisted, rebellious Holden Caulfield, came out in 1951, a time of anxious, Cold War conformity and the dawn of modern adolescence.
Read more
Salinger died of natural causes at his home on Wednesday, the author's son said in a statement from Salinger's literary representative. He had lived for decades in self-imposed isolation in the small, remote house in Cornish, N.H.
"The Catcher in the Rye," with its immortal teenage protagonist, the twisted, rebellious Holden Caulfield, came out in 1951, a time of anxious, Cold War conformity and the dawn of modern adolescence.
Read more
Roeder jury can't consider manslaughter in Tiller killing
In a blow to the defense, the judge in Scott Roeder’s murder trial ruled Thursday that jurors will not be allowed to consider the less serious charge of voluntary manslaughter.
Read more
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Daily Dilemma
If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one ability or quality what would it be?
Business Quotes
Accomplishing the impossible only means the boss will add
it to your regular duties.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to
be lazy.
Any simple problem can be made insoluble if enough meetings
are held to discuss it.
Anything not worth doing is not worth doing well.
By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually
get to be boss and work twelve hours a day. (Robert Frost)
A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.
A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and
then quietly strangled. (Sir Barnett Cocks)
Doing nothing is tiring because you can't stop to rest.
Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
Everyone rises to their level of incompetence.
(Dr. Lawrence J. Peter - The Peter Principle)
The first thing a new employee should do on the job
is learn to recognize his boss' voice on the phone.
(Martin Buxbaum)
Go the extra mile--It makes your boss look like an
incompetent slacker.
The Golden Rule of Bureaucracy: Whoever has the gold makes
the rules.
Hang in there: Retirement is only 30 years away!
I always arrive late to work, but I make up for it by
leaving early.
I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a
salary.
If we knew what we were doing it wouldn't be called
research.
If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do
it?
The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who
hate you away from those who are still undecided. (Casey
Stengal)
The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due
to budget cuts.
A memorandum is not written to inform the reader but to
protect the writer. (Dean Acheson)
Of course I don't look busy...I did it right the first
time!
Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along
without it.
Who says nothing is impossible. I've been doing nothing for
years.
it to your regular duties.
Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to
be lazy.
Any simple problem can be made insoluble if enough meetings
are held to discuss it.
Anything not worth doing is not worth doing well.
By working faithfully eight hours a day you may eventually
get to be boss and work twelve hours a day. (Robert Frost)
A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.
A committee is a cul-de-sac down which ideas are lured and
then quietly strangled. (Sir Barnett Cocks)
Doing nothing is tiring because you can't stop to rest.
Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
Everyone rises to their level of incompetence.
(Dr. Lawrence J. Peter - The Peter Principle)
The first thing a new employee should do on the job
is learn to recognize his boss' voice on the phone.
(Martin Buxbaum)
Go the extra mile--It makes your boss look like an
incompetent slacker.
The Golden Rule of Bureaucracy: Whoever has the gold makes
the rules.
Hang in there: Retirement is only 30 years away!
I always arrive late to work, but I make up for it by
leaving early.
I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted a
salary.
If we knew what we were doing it wouldn't be called
research.
If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do
it?
The key to being a good manager is keeping the people who
hate you away from those who are still undecided. (Casey
Stengal)
The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off due
to budget cuts.
A memorandum is not written to inform the reader but to
protect the writer. (Dean Acheson)
Of course I don't look busy...I did it right the first
time!
Tell me what you need, and I'll tell you how to get along
without it.
Who says nothing is impossible. I've been doing nothing for
years.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Be Specific
During a bank robbery the police chief told the sergeant to
cover all exits so the robbers could not get away.
Later the sergeant reports to the chief. "Sorry Sir, but
they got away."
The chief very angry says, "I told you to cover all of the
exits!"
"I did," replied the sergeant, "but they got away through
the entrance."
cover all exits so the robbers could not get away.
Later the sergeant reports to the chief. "Sorry Sir, but
they got away."
The chief very angry says, "I told you to cover all of the
exits!"
"I did," replied the sergeant, "but they got away through
the entrance."
How to time your purchases to save money
If you want to spend less on ketchup, stock up in May when it's on sale. It seems that for every purchase, even ketchup, there is a discount season.
Most people generally know they can get a deal by timing some purchases to a season -- to buy when demand is low or supply is high. Clothing is cheaper when it's "out of season" and certain fruits and vegetables are cheaper when they're "in season."
But the strategy is not so obvious with some items, such as ketchup. Condiments, including mustard and relish, are cheapest when the weather warms in May so supermarkets can lure you with visions of picnics and barbeques. "I know people who buy a year's worth of ketchup in May," said Mark Di Vincenzo, author of "Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There."
Here are examples of how to time your purchases to save money:
Most people generally know they can get a deal by timing some purchases to a season -- to buy when demand is low or supply is high. Clothing is cheaper when it's "out of season" and certain fruits and vegetables are cheaper when they're "in season."
But the strategy is not so obvious with some items, such as ketchup. Condiments, including mustard and relish, are cheapest when the weather warms in May so supermarkets can lure you with visions of picnics and barbeques. "I know people who buy a year's worth of ketchup in May," said Mark Di Vincenzo, author of "Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That and Go There."
Here are examples of how to time your purchases to save money:
Here's The Joke
A man and an ostrich walk into a restaurant. The waitress asks, "What will it be?"
The man replied "a burger and a coke." "And you?" "I'll have the same," the ostrich replies. They finish their meal and pay. "That will be $4.50," The man reached into his pocket and pulled out the exact amount. They do this every day till Fri.
"The usual?" she asked. "No, today is Friday. I'll have steak and a coke."
"Me too." says the ostrich. They finish and pay. "That will be $10.95"
The man reached in and pulls out the exact amount again just like all week.
The waitress was dumb-founded. "How is it that you always have the exact amount?"
"Well," says the man. "I was cleaning my attic and I found a dusty lamp. I rubbed it and a genie appeared." Wow!" said the waitress. "What did you wish for?"
"I asked that when I needed to pay for something, the exact amount would appear in my pocket." "Amazing! Most people would ask for a million dollars. But what's with the ostrich?" "Well," said the man. "I also asked for a chick with long legs."
The man replied "a burger and a coke." "And you?" "I'll have the same," the ostrich replies. They finish their meal and pay. "That will be $4.50," The man reached into his pocket and pulled out the exact amount. They do this every day till Fri.
"The usual?" she asked. "No, today is Friday. I'll have steak and a coke."
"Me too." says the ostrich. They finish and pay. "That will be $10.95"
The man reached in and pulls out the exact amount again just like all week.
The waitress was dumb-founded. "How is it that you always have the exact amount?"
"Well," says the man. "I was cleaning my attic and I found a dusty lamp. I rubbed it and a genie appeared." Wow!" said the waitress. "What did you wish for?"
"I asked that when I needed to pay for something, the exact amount would appear in my pocket." "Amazing! Most people would ask for a million dollars. But what's with the ostrich?" "Well," said the man. "I also asked for a chick with long legs."
Healthified Chicken and Broccoli-Parmesan Pasta
70% less sat fat • 33% less fat than the original recipe.
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:30 min
makes:6 Servings
8 ounces dried whole wheat or multigrain penne pasta (about 2 1/2 cups)
3 cups Fresh Broccoli, cut into florets OR use frozen broccoli instead of fresh.
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan cheese
1. In a Dutch oven cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Drain well. Return to hot Dutch oven.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine chicken pieces and adobo seasoning; toss to coat. In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir for 30 seconds. Add chicken; cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally.
3. Add chicken to drained pasta and broccoli in Dutch oven. Stir in mayonnaise and pepper. Cook over low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
4. To serve, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Chocolate Crinkles
Makes 36 cookies Hands-On Time: 35m Total Time: 2hr 00m
Ingredients
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
* 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process)
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 1 cup light brown sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350° F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
2. With an electric mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just incorporated.
3. Form the dough into balls (each equal to 1 level tablespoon). Roll the balls in the confectioners’ sugar and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake until the cookies are firm and the tops crack, 13 to 15 minutes.
4. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Note: Total Time includes cooling time.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Glazed Lemon Cookies
Makes 48 cookies
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 1hr 45m
Ingredients
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar
* 2 large egg yolks
* 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup confectioners' sugar
* 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more if necessary
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Directions
1. With an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and salt and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated.
2. Divide the dough in half and shape into 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
3. Heat oven to 350° F. Slice the logs into 3/8-inch-thick pieces and space them 1 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until lightly golden, 16 to 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and zest until it forms a thick but pourable glaze (add more lemon juice if necessary). Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze and let set, about 15 minutes.
To wrap: Give a nut tin a second life. Wipe it clean with a damp towel, then peel off the label. Tie a bow with extra-wide ribbon to hide any glue remnants. Note: If nut allergies are a concern, use a coffee can instead.
To freeze: Instead of refrigerating the dough, freeze the logs for up to 2 months. To bake, follow the recipe instructions, cutting and baking the dough from frozen, and use the upper end of the time range.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Action Item - Close Guantonamo
It has been one year since President Barack Obama signed an Executive Order calling for the closure of the prison at Guantanamo Bay.
Today, 20 veterans are on Capitol Hill, representing over 2000 veterans who have signed the letter telling Congress to follow through and support President Obama's call to close the detention center at Guantanamo as a matter of national security.
Let's join these veterans and tell Congress:
http://www.democrats.com/close-guantanamo-petition
Today, 20 veterans are on Capitol Hill, representing over 2000 veterans who have signed the letter telling Congress to follow through and support President Obama's call to close the detention center at Guantanamo as a matter of national security.
Let's join these veterans and tell Congress:
http://www.democrats.com/close-guantanamo-petition
Kucinich shreds Democrats for betraying the promise of change
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) on Wednesday said the Massachusetts election was a "wake up call" for Democrats and that his party had better change course or it could suffer devastating losses come November.
"People elected Democrats in 2008 to change the country's direction," he told Raw Story in a nearly hour-long interview.
"And the same entrenched interests that George Bush could not shake, this current White House is having great difficulty in shaking. One could suggest they might be more entrenched than ever."
Kucinich staunchly defended liberalism but alleged that Democrats are not behaving like liberals.
Read more
"People elected Democrats in 2008 to change the country's direction," he told Raw Story in a nearly hour-long interview.
"And the same entrenched interests that George Bush could not shake, this current White House is having great difficulty in shaking. One could suggest they might be more entrenched than ever."
Kucinich staunchly defended liberalism but alleged that Democrats are not behaving like liberals.
Read more
The Myth of Multitasking – How to Break an Unproductive Habit
According to recent research at Stanford University, people who routinely multitask are poor at filtering out irrelevant information and have poorer short-term memory – in other words, at the skills necessary to ‘multitask’ successfully!
Another problem with ‘multitasking’ is that you can end up doing damage to your relationships. Isn’t it annoying when someone you’re taking to is doing something else at the same time? Doesn’t it make you feel undervalued? The danger of this kind of behaviour is erosion in the quality of your relationships and this quality is, as I suppose we all know, is the cornerstone of productivity and happiness.
Read more
Another problem with ‘multitasking’ is that you can end up doing damage to your relationships. Isn’t it annoying when someone you’re taking to is doing something else at the same time? Doesn’t it make you feel undervalued? The danger of this kind of behaviour is erosion in the quality of your relationships and this quality is, as I suppose we all know, is the cornerstone of productivity and happiness.
Read more
Charitable Giving
In light of the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti, many people are looking to make a donation to help the victims and many organizations are trying to make it easy to do so. Here are a few things to keep in mind when making a charitable donation to help ensure your kindness gets to those who need it most.
• Check to see if the charity is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the government (the designation means the organization has been set up for charitable purposes). Click here to search a listing of charities in the U.S.
• Check the Better Business Bureau Web site for information about the charity's mission, compensation, expenses and rating.
• Guidestart.org can also help you find some of the top rated charities and direct links to make donations. You can also check Guidestar for the charity’s most recent Form 990 to calculate what percentage of the charity’s donation go directly to those in need and what percentage goes to overhead.
• Do a little research online to see if there are postings, concerns or adverse ratings about the charity you are considering donating to. A lot of negative comments online could mean the charity is not what they represent themselves to be.
• When in doubt, give to a charity you are familiar with, such as the American Red Cross or your local community foundations or religious organizations. There are a lot of organizations who have already mobilized volunteers in Haiti to help those in need and could use your support.
Don’t let these few extra steps change your mind about making a donation—there are so many easy ways to help out. Even small donations contribute to the effort to help those in need.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips!
• Check to see if the charity is classified as a 501(c)(3) organization by the government (the designation means the organization has been set up for charitable purposes). Click here to search a listing of charities in the U.S.
• Check the Better Business Bureau Web site for information about the charity's mission, compensation, expenses and rating.
• Guidestart.org can also help you find some of the top rated charities and direct links to make donations. You can also check Guidestar for the charity’s most recent Form 990 to calculate what percentage of the charity’s donation go directly to those in need and what percentage goes to overhead.
• Do a little research online to see if there are postings, concerns or adverse ratings about the charity you are considering donating to. A lot of negative comments online could mean the charity is not what they represent themselves to be.
• When in doubt, give to a charity you are familiar with, such as the American Red Cross or your local community foundations or religious organizations. There are a lot of organizations who have already mobilized volunteers in Haiti to help those in need and could use your support.
Don’t let these few extra steps change your mind about making a donation—there are so many easy ways to help out. Even small donations contribute to the effort to help those in need.
Visit www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips!
Another Blonde Joke
A Blonde is standing at a vending machine putting money in the slot and collecting can after can after can of Coke. A Guy behind her is getting more and more impatient. 'For Crying out loud, hurry up!' he says. And she replies, 'Can't you see I'm winning?'
Experts: Sitting too much could be deadly
Here's a new warning from health experts: Sitting is deadly.
Scientists are increasingly warning that sitting for prolonged periods -- even if you also exercise regularly -- could be bad for your health. And it doesn't matter where the sitting takes place -- at the office, at school, in the car or before a computer or TV -- just the overall number of hours it occurs.
Research is preliminary, but several studies suggest people who spend most of their days sitting are more likely to be fat, have a heart attack or even die.
Read more
Scientists are increasingly warning that sitting for prolonged periods -- even if you also exercise regularly -- could be bad for your health. And it doesn't matter where the sitting takes place -- at the office, at school, in the car or before a computer or TV -- just the overall number of hours it occurs.
Research is preliminary, but several studies suggest people who spend most of their days sitting are more likely to be fat, have a heart attack or even die.
Read more
Michelle Obama unveils anti-obesity initiative
Saying childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years, first lady Michelle Obama asked the nation's mayors to help her battle an epidemic that could see today's kids lead shorter lives than their parents.
Obama, speaking before the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said no matter how much she'd read and thought about the problem of obesity among young people, the pertinent statistics "never fail to take my breath away."
She said nearly one-third of U.S. children now are overweight or obese. She said one-third of today's children eventually will suffer from diabetes, and, in the African American and Latino communities, the proportion will be almost half.
Obesity, she said, "could now be an even greater threat to America's health than smoking." And if the nation stays on its current path, nearly 50 percent of all Americans will be obese in 10 years -- "not just overweight, but obese."
Read more
Obama, speaking before the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said no matter how much she'd read and thought about the problem of obesity among young people, the pertinent statistics "never fail to take my breath away."
She said nearly one-third of U.S. children now are overweight or obese. She said one-third of today's children eventually will suffer from diabetes, and, in the African American and Latino communities, the proportion will be almost half.
Obesity, she said, "could now be an even greater threat to America's health than smoking." And if the nation stays on its current path, nearly 50 percent of all Americans will be obese in 10 years -- "not just overweight, but obese."
Read more
How an HIV-Positive Prostitute in Africa Fulfilled her Dreams
In this inspiring speech from the TED conference, Acumen Fund founder Jacqueline Novogratz tells the story of an HIV-positive Nairobi prostitute who found the strength to rebuild her life and find fulfillment. Though she didn't reach the goals that she had hoped for, she realized that she'd created exactly the life she wanted for herself.
Pan-Seared Dumpling Salad
Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 25m
Total Time: 25m
Ingredients
* 2 tablespoons canola oil
* 12 frozen dumplings, pot stickers, or Japanese gyoza
* 2 shallots, thinly sliced
* 1 cup frozen shelled edamame
* 2 tablespoons grated ginger
* 2 bunches watercress, thick stems removed
* kosher salt
* 1 tablespoon sesame oil
* 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
* 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
Directions
1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the dumplings and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Add 3 tablespoons water and cook, covered, until cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat the remaining canola oil in another large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the edamame, ginger, and 2 tablespoons water. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until the edamame are heated through, about 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and add the watercress and 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss until just wilted. Divide among individual bowls and top with the dumplings.
4. Whisk the sesame oil, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a small bowl and drizzle over each salad.
School Lunches: Push for Healthier Foods Faces Barriers
On a frigid February day last year, Michele Hays filed into Evanston Township High School with other concerned parents to talk with district administrators about school lunches.
One specific target of the parents' ire was a cafeteria meal called "Brunch for Lunch." As luck would have it, administrators brought a sample of the meal with them.
"When I actually saw it, it was so much worse than I thought it would be," she remembered.
"So I got up at the meeting and said, 'You may be meeting all the guidelines ... but I think it is unconscionable that you are serving pancakes, a tub of maple-flavored high-fructose corn syrup and a side of cookies for lunch.'
Read more
One specific target of the parents' ire was a cafeteria meal called "Brunch for Lunch." As luck would have it, administrators brought a sample of the meal with them.
"When I actually saw it, it was so much worse than I thought it would be," she remembered.
"So I got up at the meeting and said, 'You may be meeting all the guidelines ... but I think it is unconscionable that you are serving pancakes, a tub of maple-flavored high-fructose corn syrup and a side of cookies for lunch.'
Read more
Snickerdoodles
Didn't anyone who took HS Home Ec make Snickerdoodles?
Makes 60 cookies
Hands-On Time: 25m
Total Time: 3hr 25m
Note: Total time includes cooling time
Ingredients
* 3 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 1/2 cup light brown sugar
* 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375° F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt.
2. With an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and 1 cup of the granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
3. In a shallow bowl, combine the cinnamon and the remaining ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Form the dough into balls (each equal to 1 level tablespoon). Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
4. Bake until the edges are golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
New disease going 'round
A woman calls her boss one morning and tells him that she is staying home because she is not feeling well.
"What's the matter?" he asks.
"I have a case of anal glaucoma," she says in a weak voice.
"What the hell is anal glaucoma?"
"I can't see my ass coming into work today."
"What's the matter?" he asks.
"I have a case of anal glaucoma," she says in a weak voice.
"What the hell is anal glaucoma?"
"I can't see my ass coming into work today."
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Why women need abortion rights
THIRTY-SEVEN years after the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, the myriad attacks on its availability has limited access to such an extent that women across the U.S. are turning to so-called do-it-yourself abortions.
No governmental agency or private institution tracks the incidence of self-induced abortions. So it's left to anecdotal reports from health care providers, along with a few recent studies, to hint at what has become a dangerous pattern.
"Our local hospital tells me they see 12 to 20 patients per year, who have already self-induced or had illegal abortions," said an administrator of a women's health clinic in the South. "Some make it, some don't. They are underage or poor women mostly, and a few daughters of pro-life families."
In a 2006 interview with University of California-Davis professor Carole Joffe, the administrator described women risking cardiac arrest by swallowing whole bottles of quinine pills along with castor oil, and women who douche with a variety of dangerous chemical products in an attempt to terminate pregnancies.
The administrator said that other abortion providers around the country also noticed a perceptible rise in the number of patients they were treating for complications from illegal abortions.
Read more
No governmental agency or private institution tracks the incidence of self-induced abortions. So it's left to anecdotal reports from health care providers, along with a few recent studies, to hint at what has become a dangerous pattern.
"Our local hospital tells me they see 12 to 20 patients per year, who have already self-induced or had illegal abortions," said an administrator of a women's health clinic in the South. "Some make it, some don't. They are underage or poor women mostly, and a few daughters of pro-life families."
In a 2006 interview with University of California-Davis professor Carole Joffe, the administrator described women risking cardiac arrest by swallowing whole bottles of quinine pills along with castor oil, and women who douche with a variety of dangerous chemical products in an attempt to terminate pregnancies.
The administrator said that other abortion providers around the country also noticed a perceptible rise in the number of patients they were treating for complications from illegal abortions.
Read more
Feel Young Your Whole Life
Incorporate these 10 steps into a health plan that simply keeps the rust and sticky stuff out of your body and strengthens your garbage disposal—or immune system.
Has President Obama taken more vacation time than his predecessors?
Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush spent more time on "vacation" during their first year than President Obama did. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton spent less time on "vacation."
Read more
Read more
Unlimited Calls + Data on Blackberry $60 - $80 Month
If you use a Blackberry, listen up! Instead of paying a fortune to your regular cell company (typically $30 extra on top of your minutes/text plan's cost), you can now get unlimited service (calls, text, web, email, data) for $60 to $80 a month. Of the three offerings, Boost Mobile's (owned by Sprint) $60 deal seems the best. It uses the Sprint network (previous only Nextel's net). The catch: you apparently cannot bring your own phone, you have to buy their Blackberry Curve 8330 for $249. Keep in mind, the monthly savings will pay off the phone in less than a year.
Kate and Anna McGarrigle: Heart Like a Wheel (Caffe Lena, 1990)m
CBC News is reporting that Canadian musician Kate McGarrigle has died at the age of 63. McGarrigle was best known as one half of the singing duo Kate And Anna McGarrigle, whose songwriting and performing career dated back to their time attending college in Montreal together in the 1960s. Linda Ronstadt gave their career a boost by recording the McGarrigle original "Heart Like A Wheel," and the attention led to their excellent 1975 debut album Kate And Anna McGarrigle. Nine more albums offering modern takes on traditional English and French folk music and suffused with the sisters' warm but difficult-to-pin-down personalities, their songs' mature sentiments thrown into sharp relief by the sisters' vulnerable, often girlish voices.
Kate married American singer Loudon Wainwright III in the 1970s, a union that produced another musical generation in the form of Rufus and Martha Wainwright before ending in divorce. 1998's The McGarrigle Hour finds Kate's children and both sisters performing alongside Loudon and guest stars like Emmylou Harris.
The Supreme Court Handed Anyone, Including bin Laden or the Chinese Govt., Control of Our Democracy
The Court's decision is far, far more dangerous to U.S. democracy. Think: Manchurian candidates.
Sunday Funnies
A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!"
While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again!
As she ran she once again began to pray "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!"
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50."
The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."
The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead."
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem . A small child replied, "They couldn't get a baby-sitter."
While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again!
As she ran she once again began to pray "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!"
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
Three boys are in the schoolyard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50."
The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."
The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead."
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem . A small child replied, "They couldn't get a baby-sitter."
Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie
Serves 6
Hands-On Time: 35m
Total Time: 1hr 10m
Ingredients
* 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 2 onions, chopped
* 4 carrots, diced
* 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup dry white wine
* 2 cups 1 percent milk
* 1 10-ounce package frozen peas
* 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
* kosher salt and black pepper
* 1 9-inch store-bought piecrust, thawed if frozen
Directions
1. Heat oven to 400° F. Cook the chicken in a pot of simmering water until cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes; let cool, then shred.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and carrots and cook, stirring, until they begin to soften, 6 to 8 minutes (do not let them darken). Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
3. Add the wine and cook until evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the milk and simmer until the sauce thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the chicken, peas, thyme, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Transfer to a shallow 1½- to 2-quart baking dish.
4. Lay the crust on top, pressing to seal. Cut several vents in the crust. Place the pot pie on a baking sheet and bake until bubbling and the crust is golden, 30 to 35 minutes
40 Tips for a Better Life
1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’
5. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the nagative blues away.
18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Next 20 after the jump.
21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Remember God heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often.
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’
5. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
7. Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more. It will keep the nagative blues away.
18. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
Next 20 after the jump.
21. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
23. Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
26. Forgive everyone for everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Remember God heals everything.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
33. The best is yet to come.
34. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
35. Do the right thing!
36. Call your family often.
37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____.
38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
40. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.
Pressed-Crust Pear Tart
Serves 8
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 1hr 05m
Ingredients
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for the pan, at room temperature
* 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for your fingers
* 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup sugar, plus 1 1/2 tablespoons
* 1 large egg
* 2 to 3 Bosc pears, peeled, halved, and cored
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/4 cup apricot jam
* 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
* whipped cream (optional)
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350° F.
2. Butter a 14-inch rectangular tart pan and set aside.
3. Combine the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl and set aside.
4. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and 1/2 cup sugar at high speed in a large bowl. Lower speed to medium, add the egg, and beat until incorporated. Gradually add the flour mixture until fully incorporated. The dough will be very soft.
5. Push the dough into the pan with floured fingers to form an even crust. Arrange the pear halves, top to bottom, cut-side down. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and the remaining sugar. Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 45 minutes; let cool.
6. Heat the apricot jam and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, mixing until combined. Remove from heat and brush gently over the entire tart. Serve with the whipped cream, if desired.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Today's Quote
"You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it. Value your present moments. Using them up in any self-defeating ways means you've lost them forever."
Wayne Dyer
Author and Speaker
Wayne Dyer
Author and Speaker
Superpower - This Is A Must Watch Movie
The heart of Superpower lies in the analysis produced from a re-examination of history through a series of interviews with historians, documentarians, and academians such as Bill Blum, Chalmers Johnson, Michael Chossudovsky, and Noam Chomsky, and others with expertise in this subject such as the Executive Producer of The Unit, Command Sergeant (Ret.) Eric Haney; former Chief Economist for the US Department of Labor, Morgan Reynolds; three-time Noble Peace Prize nominee, Kathy Kelly; and Lt. Col. (Ret) Karen Kwiatkowski.
Examining key moments in America's history elicits a more consistent and plausible set of motives for US foreign policy actions guided by global expansion and military dominance, rather than the hyperbolic calls for democracy and totalitarian regime change that we have become so accustomed to hearing.
Should citizens trust that their government will keep them safe, a government that keeps secrets, and lies, in the name of national security? Does the simple act of withholding information lead to a world of eroding civil liberties and corruption? Superpower presents a view of US foreign policy, which lies in stark contrast to that depicted by corporate media, popular pundits, and US heads of state.
Please visit http://www.superpowerthemovie.com/home.html to purchase this movie.
Examining key moments in America's history elicits a more consistent and plausible set of motives for US foreign policy actions guided by global expansion and military dominance, rather than the hyperbolic calls for democracy and totalitarian regime change that we have become so accustomed to hearing.
Should citizens trust that their government will keep them safe, a government that keeps secrets, and lies, in the name of national security? Does the simple act of withholding information lead to a world of eroding civil liberties and corruption? Superpower presents a view of US foreign policy, which lies in stark contrast to that depicted by corporate media, popular pundits, and US heads of state.
Please visit http://www.superpowerthemovie.com/home.html to purchase this movie.
Sterilized for Being Poor?
When a Welfare-collecting mother of nine was allegedly sterilized against her will, she was shocked by the outpouring of public support—for the doctors who did it.
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Friday, January 22, 2010
FBI Illegally Collected Telephone Records
From 2002 to 2006, the FBI was illegally collecting thousands of U.S. telephone call records and approving them afterward to "justify their actions," reports The Washington Post. To do this, they cited terrorism emergencies that didn't exist, and in some cases simply convinced telephone companies to hand over the records. "We should have stopped those requests from being made that way," said FBI General Counsel Valerie Caproni. "What this turned out to be was a self-inflicted wound." According to Caproni, FBI Director Robert Mueller III was unaware of the problem until it surfaced in 2006, but documents show other senior managers approved the procedures for two years. The FBI now claims they revised their ways with safeguards enacted in 2007.
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Website of the Day - Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule
Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocals, the lightning rod, and the first odometer, and helped draft the Constitution, among his many feats. He’s probably one of the most productive people of all time—so there’s a lot we can all learn from his daily schedule. Each morning, follow Ben’s example and ask yourself: “What good shall I do this day?”
Freedom of Speech Has Been Destroyed
Unless there is a citizen uprising - mark your calenders - yesterday was the day our Supreme Court killed democracy. Those of you who don't pay attention to what's going on and what it means - I despise you for the unraveling we've watched over the last 20+ years. With citizenship comes responsibility. You have a calling higher than just living your life and being absorbed with endless pleasures. You have a responsibility to apply your critical thinking skills to what is being fed to you by the media and to go beyond the sound bytes. You have a responsibility to see if there is any truth to what is being presented to you. Our march into Iraq is just one example of how we are deceived by our own government. Now, it may be too late to reverse the course we've been placed on. I am afraid for the future of my country. If I had the wealth - I'd move to another.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Daily Dilemma
If you knew you would live to the age of 90 and could retain either the mind or the body of a 30 year old for the last 60 years of your life which would you want and why?
Allow Change
In long-term relationships, you want to be with someone who allows you to change and grow. And nothing's more important than having supportive relationships with others.
Hear the podcast.
Hear the podcast.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Reality Show Seeks People Needing Financial Help
People Farm Casting, a casting agency that focuses on finding non-actors for reality television shows and commercials, contacted Consumerism Commentary to let us know about a new project. The agency, whose team has experience casting shows like Pimp My Ride and commercials like that Dos Equis ad with the “most interesting man in the world,” has been hired by a large consumer financial institution to cast a new reality show.
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10 Inexpensive Home Improvements
Many people see huge dollar signs flash like neon lights whenever they hear the words "home improvement," but there are many things you can do to spiff up the old place without spending a fortune.
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Real Money Saving Tips from Real People
Experts always have money saving strategies (that they probably never use themselves). But what do real people do to save money? Here are over 2000 money saving tips submitted by readers of the New York Times.
Serial Rapist Targets Older Women
A serial rapist is loose in central Texas, and he's targeting older women. Beginning with the rape of a 65-year-old woman in Yokum last January, at least eight sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults, and four robberies or attempted robberies have been linked to the predator, dubbed the "Twilight Rapist" because most of the attacks happened around dawn. The victims have been women age 65 to 91. All of them live alone in towns with 6,000 residents or fewer, and one woman had more than $10,000 stolen. The attacks appear to have been planned—victims have had phone lines cut and porch lights unscrewed. Police have only a vague description of the suspect, a thin, young dark-skinned man between 5 1/2 and 6 feet tall, and so far, the DNA he's left behind hasn't matched anything in the state system.
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Surrender to God
When you surrender to God, you're getting your sense of guidance from an internal source. God is an aspect of your consciousness. Let all things be according to God's will. God can be your navigation system. Hear the podcast.
Daily Dilemma
If you were to die this evening with no oppportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? Why haven't you told them yet?
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
10 Good Reasons You Should Hate Oprah Winfrey
She's an incredibly successful self-made philanthropist, yes. But she's also a materialistic fat-shamer. And lest we forget, Dr. Phil is her fault.
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Website of the Day - What I Keep
This work explores ideas of class, race, ownership, value, cultural identification and faith. I collaborate with members of The Church Under the Bridge in Waco, Texas, a non-denominational, multi-cultural Christian church that has been meeting under Interstate 35 for sixteen years. Many of the people have had significant disruptions in their lives, experienced periods of homelessness or incarceration, addiction to drugs and alcohol, mental illness or profound poverty and hopelessness. Many are working toward a new measure of stability and accomplishment through the programs and opportunities offered through the church. Other members have more stable lives and are drawn to service at the Church Under the Bridge. I ask each person what he or she keeps and why it is valued.
Spritz Cookies
Makes 40 cookies
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 1hr 30m
Ingredients
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup coarse sanding or turbinado sugar
* Cookie press
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375°. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and salt.
2. With an electric mixer, beat the butter and confectioners’ sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
3. Following the manufacturer’s instructions, fill the cookie press with the dough and squeeze the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing the cookies 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with the sanding sugar and bake until the edges are golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
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