"For centuries, the battle of morality was fought between those who claimed that your life belongs to God and those who claimed that it belongs to your neighbors—between those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of ghosts in heaven and those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of incompetents on earth. And no one came to say that your life belongs to you and that the good is to live it."
- ATLAS SHRUGGED [1957] Ayn Rand
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Frank Abagnale
Labels:
videos
Frank Abagnale is the person whose life the movie "Catch Me if You Can" is based on. He is is an American security consultant best known for his history as a former confidence trickster, check forger, skilled impostor, and escape artist. He became notorious in the 1960s for successfully passing US$2.5 million worth of meticulously forged checks across 26 countries over the course of five years, starting when he was only 17 years old. In the process, he claimed to have assumed no fewer than eight separate identities, successfully impersonated an airline pilot, a doctor, a prison inspector, and a lawyer. He escaped from police custody twice (once from a taxiing airliner and once from a US federal penitentiary), all before he was 21 years old.
Going 'doody'
Labels:
Humor
A LITTLE FOUR YEAR OLD BOY IS SITTING ON THE TOILET. HIS MOTHER THINKS HE HAS BEEN IN THERE TOO LONG, SO SHE GOES IN TO SEE WHAT'S UP.
THE LITTLE BOY IS GRIPPING ON TO THE TOILET SEAT WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND HITTING HIMSELF ON TOP OF THE HEAD WITH HIS RIGHT HAND..
HIS MOTHER SAYS: "BILLY, ARE YOU ALRIGHT? YOU'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR AWHILE."
BILLY SAYS: "I'M FINE, MOMMY. I JUST HAVEN'T GONE 'DOODY' YET."
MOTHER SAYS: "OK, YOU CAN STAY HERE A FEW MORE MINUTES. BUT, BILLY, WHY ARE YOU HITTING YOURSELF ON THE HEAD?"
BILLY SAYS:
"WORKS FOR KETCHUP."
THE LITTLE BOY IS GRIPPING ON TO THE TOILET SEAT WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND HITTING HIMSELF ON TOP OF THE HEAD WITH HIS RIGHT HAND..
HIS MOTHER SAYS: "BILLY, ARE YOU ALRIGHT? YOU'VE BEEN IN HERE FOR AWHILE."
BILLY SAYS: "I'M FINE, MOMMY. I JUST HAVEN'T GONE 'DOODY' YET."
MOTHER SAYS: "OK, YOU CAN STAY HERE A FEW MORE MINUTES. BUT, BILLY, WHY ARE YOU HITTING YOURSELF ON THE HEAD?"
BILLY SAYS:
"WORKS FOR KETCHUP."
Lest We Forget, Where Our Stuff Comes From
Protests by workers at Bangladesh's many garment factories are spreading, even as riot police fire tear gas and water cannons at crowds of up to 20,000 people, including children. The workers are protesting conditions and wages, which now average $25 a month for sewing clothes for the western likes of Wal-Mart. One more reason among so many not to shop there. More photos here.
30 Habits that Will Change your Life
I don't know the author of this or I'd give credit. I received it in my email and thought it worth sharing.
Developing good habits is the basic of personal development and growth. Everything we do is the result of a habit that was previously taught to us. Unfortunately, not all the habits that we have are good, that’s why we are constantly trying to improve.
The following is a list of 30 practical habits that can make a huge difference in your life.
You should treat this list as a reference, and implement just one habit per month. This way you will have the time to fully absorb each of them, while still seeing significant improvements each month.
Health habits
1. Exercise 30 minutes every day. Especially if you don’t do much movement while working, it’s essential that you get some daily exercise. 30 minutes every day are the minimum recommended for optimal health.
2. Eat breakfast every day. Breakfast is the more important meal of the day, yet so many people skip it. Personally, I like to eat a couple of toasts in the morning along with a fruit beverage.
3. Sleep 8 hours. Sleep deprivation is never a good idea. You may think that you are gaining time by sleeping less, when in reality you are only gaining stress and tiredness. 8 hours are a good number of hours for most people, along with an optional 20 minutes nap after lunch.
4. Avoid snacking between meals. Snacking between meals is the best way to gain weight. If you are hungry, eat something concrete. Otherwise don’t. Update: for clarification, I mean don’t eat junk food between meals, but eating real food it’s ok.
5. Eat five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. Our body and brain loves getting vegetables and fruit, so I highly recommend eating as much of them as possible. Five portions is the dose that’s usually recommended by many health associations.
6. Eat fish. Fish is rich of omega 3 and other healthy elements. At least one meal per week of fish should be enough for getting all these nutrients.
7. Drink one glass of water when you wake up. When you wake up, your body is dehydrated and needs liquid. Make the habit of drinking one glass of water after you wake up in the morning. Also, drink more during the day.
8. Avoid soda. Soda is often one of the most unhealthy beverage you can find. Limit your consumption of soda as much as possible and you’re body will be grateful for that.
9. Keep your body clean. I don’t advise spending your day in front of the mirror, but a minimum of personal care does never hurt.
10. If you smoke, stop it. There’s no reason to smoke anymore, and quitting is easy.
11. If you drink, stop it. Same as above. Don’t think that alcohol will solve your problems. It never does. The only exception is one glass of wine per day during meals.
12. Take the stairs. This is just a hack that forces you to do a minimum of exercise. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs.
Productivity habits
1. Use an inbox system. Make the habit of keeping track of all the ideas and things that comes to mind. You can use a notebook to do this, and then sync everything on your computer.
2. Prioritize. If you have a list of things to do, where do you start? One way is to prioritize your list. If you are in doubt, ask yourself: “If I could only accomplish one thing today, what would it be?”
3. Plan, but not too much. Planning is important, and you should decide in advance what you are going to do today or this week. However, planning for more than a few weeks is usually inefficient, so I would not worry too much about that.
4. Wake up early. Waking up early in the morning is a great way to gain extra time. I personally like to wake up at 5 am, so that by 9 am I have already accomplished what otherwise would have taken me many days.
5. Check your email only twice per day. Email can easily become an addiction, but it’s usually unnecessary to check it every 10 minutes. Make an effort and check your email only once or twice per day, see if the world will still rotate as before after you try this.
6. Eliminate unimportant tasks. Being busy all day does not mean you are doing important stuff. Eliminate every activity that’s not important, and focus on what really matters.
7. Clean off your desk and room. Having a clear room and desk is important to maintain focus and creativity.
8. Automate. There are a lot of tasks that you need to perform every day or every week. Try to automate them as much as possible.
9. Set strict deadlines. When you do something, decide in advance when you’re going to stop. There’s a rule that states that you will fulfill all the time you have available for completing a task, so make an habit of setting strict deadlines for maximizing your productivity.
10. Take one day off per week. Instead of working every day, take one day off per week (for example sunday) where you are not going to turn on your computer. Use that time for doing recreational activities like going for a walk.
Personal Development habits
1. Read 1 book per week. Reading is a good way to keep your brain active. With just 30 minutes per day you should be able to read one book per week, or more than 50 books per year.
2. Solve puzzles. Quizzes, word games, etc. are all good ways to exercise your brain.
3. Think positively. You are what you think, all the time.
4. Make fast decisions. Instead of thinking for one hour wherever you are going to do something, make your decisions as fast as possible (usually less than 1 minute).
5. Wait before buying. Waiting 48 hours before buying anything is a tremendous money saver, try it.
6. Meditate 30 minutes per day. A great way to gain clearness and peace is through meditation. 30 minutes are not a lot, but enough to get you started with meditation.
Career habits
1. Start a blog. Blogging is one of the best way to put your word out. It doesn’t have to be around a specific topic, even a personal blog will do.
2. Build a portfolio. If your job is creating stuff, building a portfolio is a great way to show what you are capable of. You can also contribute stuff for free if that applies to your work.
Developing good habits is the basic of personal development and growth. Everything we do is the result of a habit that was previously taught to us. Unfortunately, not all the habits that we have are good, that’s why we are constantly trying to improve.
The following is a list of 30 practical habits that can make a huge difference in your life.
You should treat this list as a reference, and implement just one habit per month. This way you will have the time to fully absorb each of them, while still seeing significant improvements each month.
Health habits
1. Exercise 30 minutes every day. Especially if you don’t do much movement while working, it’s essential that you get some daily exercise. 30 minutes every day are the minimum recommended for optimal health.
2. Eat breakfast every day. Breakfast is the more important meal of the day, yet so many people skip it. Personally, I like to eat a couple of toasts in the morning along with a fruit beverage.
3. Sleep 8 hours. Sleep deprivation is never a good idea. You may think that you are gaining time by sleeping less, when in reality you are only gaining stress and tiredness. 8 hours are a good number of hours for most people, along with an optional 20 minutes nap after lunch.
4. Avoid snacking between meals. Snacking between meals is the best way to gain weight. If you are hungry, eat something concrete. Otherwise don’t. Update: for clarification, I mean don’t eat junk food between meals, but eating real food it’s ok.
5. Eat five portions of fruits and vegetables every day. Our body and brain loves getting vegetables and fruit, so I highly recommend eating as much of them as possible. Five portions is the dose that’s usually recommended by many health associations.
6. Eat fish. Fish is rich of omega 3 and other healthy elements. At least one meal per week of fish should be enough for getting all these nutrients.
7. Drink one glass of water when you wake up. When you wake up, your body is dehydrated and needs liquid. Make the habit of drinking one glass of water after you wake up in the morning. Also, drink more during the day.
8. Avoid soda. Soda is often one of the most unhealthy beverage you can find. Limit your consumption of soda as much as possible and you’re body will be grateful for that.
9. Keep your body clean. I don’t advise spending your day in front of the mirror, but a minimum of personal care does never hurt.
10. If you smoke, stop it. There’s no reason to smoke anymore, and quitting is easy.
11. If you drink, stop it. Same as above. Don’t think that alcohol will solve your problems. It never does. The only exception is one glass of wine per day during meals.
12. Take the stairs. This is just a hack that forces you to do a minimum of exercise. Instead of taking the elevator, take the stairs.
Productivity habits
1. Use an inbox system. Make the habit of keeping track of all the ideas and things that comes to mind. You can use a notebook to do this, and then sync everything on your computer.
2. Prioritize. If you have a list of things to do, where do you start? One way is to prioritize your list. If you are in doubt, ask yourself: “If I could only accomplish one thing today, what would it be?”
3. Plan, but not too much. Planning is important, and you should decide in advance what you are going to do today or this week. However, planning for more than a few weeks is usually inefficient, so I would not worry too much about that.
4. Wake up early. Waking up early in the morning is a great way to gain extra time. I personally like to wake up at 5 am, so that by 9 am I have already accomplished what otherwise would have taken me many days.
5. Check your email only twice per day. Email can easily become an addiction, but it’s usually unnecessary to check it every 10 minutes. Make an effort and check your email only once or twice per day, see if the world will still rotate as before after you try this.
6. Eliminate unimportant tasks. Being busy all day does not mean you are doing important stuff. Eliminate every activity that’s not important, and focus on what really matters.
7. Clean off your desk and room. Having a clear room and desk is important to maintain focus and creativity.
8. Automate. There are a lot of tasks that you need to perform every day or every week. Try to automate them as much as possible.
9. Set strict deadlines. When you do something, decide in advance when you’re going to stop. There’s a rule that states that you will fulfill all the time you have available for completing a task, so make an habit of setting strict deadlines for maximizing your productivity.
10. Take one day off per week. Instead of working every day, take one day off per week (for example sunday) where you are not going to turn on your computer. Use that time for doing recreational activities like going for a walk.
Personal Development habits
1. Read 1 book per week. Reading is a good way to keep your brain active. With just 30 minutes per day you should be able to read one book per week, or more than 50 books per year.
2. Solve puzzles. Quizzes, word games, etc. are all good ways to exercise your brain.
3. Think positively. You are what you think, all the time.
4. Make fast decisions. Instead of thinking for one hour wherever you are going to do something, make your decisions as fast as possible (usually less than 1 minute).
5. Wait before buying. Waiting 48 hours before buying anything is a tremendous money saver, try it.
6. Meditate 30 minutes per day. A great way to gain clearness and peace is through meditation. 30 minutes are not a lot, but enough to get you started with meditation.
Career habits
1. Start a blog. Blogging is one of the best way to put your word out. It doesn’t have to be around a specific topic, even a personal blog will do.
2. Build a portfolio. If your job is creating stuff, building a portfolio is a great way to show what you are capable of. You can also contribute stuff for free if that applies to your work.
How to Correct Your Mind to Get Out of a Funk
Labels:
well being
by Andrew Deitrick
“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” -Lao Tzu
You’re stuck.
We’ve all been there. Even the things that normally make you happy begin to bring you down. Worst of all, you can’t seem to understand why.
So you give it time, let it take its course, and just when you think you’ve escaped the funk, something drags you back in. You know it’s happening, but you can’t stop from slipping back under.
What’s happening here is simple. Something—be it your job, peers, or general lifestyle— is contaminating your mind. You’ve lost track of the calmness you know you possess, and it’s like your mind’s been tricked. You’re stuck in a painful and decisive delusion that causes everything to be toxic.
It’s time to wake up. Seriously, the snooze button is off-limits.
Read more
“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” -Lao Tzu
You’re stuck.
We’ve all been there. Even the things that normally make you happy begin to bring you down. Worst of all, you can’t seem to understand why.
So you give it time, let it take its course, and just when you think you’ve escaped the funk, something drags you back in. You know it’s happening, but you can’t stop from slipping back under.
What’s happening here is simple. Something—be it your job, peers, or general lifestyle— is contaminating your mind. You’ve lost track of the calmness you know you possess, and it’s like your mind’s been tricked. You’re stuck in a painful and decisive delusion that causes everything to be toxic.
It’s time to wake up. Seriously, the snooze button is off-limits.
Read more
Coffee Jello
Labels:
recipes
Serves: 5
Preparation Time: 5 min
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon plain gelatin powder
* 1/4 cup cold water
* 6 tablespoons sugar
* dash salt
* 1 3/4 cups hot strong coffee
Instructions
1. Soak gelatin in cold water for five minutes.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir.
3. Chill until firm. Serve with a bit of heavy cream or whipped cream. Serves 4.
Preparation Time: 5 min
Ingredients
* 1 tablespoon plain gelatin powder
* 1/4 cup cold water
* 6 tablespoons sugar
* dash salt
* 1 3/4 cups hot strong coffee
Instructions
1. Soak gelatin in cold water for five minutes.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir.
3. Chill until firm. Serve with a bit of heavy cream or whipped cream. Serves 4.
Media Matters for America Fox News is BP oil spill misinformation clearinghouse
Media Matters for America has compiled a list of myths and falsehoods about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, all of which have been pushed by Fox News.
Fox News' staunch defense of BP
Myth: Obama waited weeks before responding to the oil spill
Myth: Moratorium is not needed because oil companies are equipped to handle spill
Myth: BP was only drilling "out there" because environmentalists and the federal government "made them" do it
Myth: Obama, unlike Bush, "was off on vacation" during crisis
Myth: "Ridiculous" and "offensive" to blame Bush for spills
Myth: Obama is the "single largest recipient of BP's cash"
Myth: Obama admin turning away foreign aid by refusing to waive union-supported Jones Act
Myth: Obama admin defied Constitution when they "told" BP to create escrow account
Myth: Obama admin unreasonably delayed purchase of Maine company's oil boom
Myth: Obama unnecessarily delayed berm plan
Myth: Coast Guard docked oil-collecting barges for no good reason
READ MORE/FIND LINKS TO THER ABOVE LISTED ITEMS
Fox News' staunch defense of BP
Myth: Obama waited weeks before responding to the oil spill
Myth: Moratorium is not needed because oil companies are equipped to handle spill
Myth: BP was only drilling "out there" because environmentalists and the federal government "made them" do it
Myth: Obama, unlike Bush, "was off on vacation" during crisis
Myth: "Ridiculous" and "offensive" to blame Bush for spills
Myth: Obama is the "single largest recipient of BP's cash"
Myth: Obama admin turning away foreign aid by refusing to waive union-supported Jones Act
Myth: Obama admin defied Constitution when they "told" BP to create escrow account
Myth: Obama admin unreasonably delayed purchase of Maine company's oil boom
Myth: Obama unnecessarily delayed berm plan
Myth: Coast Guard docked oil-collecting barges for no good reason
READ MORE/FIND LINKS TO THER ABOVE LISTED ITEMS
Ultimate Onion
Labels:
recipes
This is one of the ultimate party appetizer recipes around! This onion recipe is sure to give you tears of joy.
Ingredients
* 3 cups cornstarch
* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 2 teaspoons garlic salt
* 2 teaspoons paprika
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon pepper
* 24 ounces beer
* 4-6 colossal onions (4 inch diameter or larger)
* Seasoned flour (recipe below)
* 1 quart Creamy Chili Sauce (recipe below)
Instructions
Onion
1. Prheat your deep fryer to 375 to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix cornstarch, flour, and seasonings until well-blended.
3. Add beer and mix well.
4. Cut about 3/4 inch off top of onion, peel onion.
5. Cut onion into 12 to 16 vertical wedges, but do not cut through bottom (root end).
6. Remove about 1 inch of "petals " from center of onion.
7. Dip cut onion in seasoned flour and remove excess by shaking. Dip in batter and remove excess by gently shaking.
8. Separate "petals" to coat thoroughly with batter.
9. Mix batter after standing to blend ingredients.
10. Gently place in fryer basket and deep-fry at 375 to 400 degrees F for 1-1/2 minutes.
11. Turn over and fry 1 to 1-1/2 minutes longer or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
12. Place onion upright in shallow bowl and remove center core with a circular cutter or apple corer.
13. Serve hot with creamy chili sauce.
Seasoned Flour
* 2 cups flour
* 4 teaspoons paprika
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
Creamy Chili Sauce
* 1 pint mayonnaise
* 1 pint dairy sour cream
* 1/2 cup chili sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Combine mayonnaise, dairy sour cream, chili sauce, and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
Ingredients
* 3 cups cornstarch
* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 2 teaspoons garlic salt
* 2 teaspoons paprika
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon pepper
* 24 ounces beer
* 4-6 colossal onions (4 inch diameter or larger)
* Seasoned flour (recipe below)
* 1 quart Creamy Chili Sauce (recipe below)
Instructions
Onion
1. Prheat your deep fryer to 375 to 400 degrees F.
2. Mix cornstarch, flour, and seasonings until well-blended.
3. Add beer and mix well.
4. Cut about 3/4 inch off top of onion, peel onion.
5. Cut onion into 12 to 16 vertical wedges, but do not cut through bottom (root end).
6. Remove about 1 inch of "petals " from center of onion.
7. Dip cut onion in seasoned flour and remove excess by shaking. Dip in batter and remove excess by gently shaking.
8. Separate "petals" to coat thoroughly with batter.
9. Mix batter after standing to blend ingredients.
10. Gently place in fryer basket and deep-fry at 375 to 400 degrees F for 1-1/2 minutes.
11. Turn over and fry 1 to 1-1/2 minutes longer or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
12. Place onion upright in shallow bowl and remove center core with a circular cutter or apple corer.
13. Serve hot with creamy chili sauce.
Seasoned Flour
* 2 cups flour
* 4 teaspoons paprika
* 2 teaspoons garlic powder
* 1/2 teaspoon pepper
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
Creamy Chili Sauce
* 1 pint mayonnaise
* 1 pint dairy sour cream
* 1/2 cup chili sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Combine mayonnaise, dairy sour cream, chili sauce, and cayenne pepper. Mix well.
Pineapple-Chicken Kabob Packets
Labels:
recipes
Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:40 min
makes:4 servings
1/3 cup pineapple preserves
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch cubes (1 lb)
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup pineapple chunks
1/4 teaspoon salt
1. Heat gas or charcoal grill. In small bowl, stir together pineapple preserves, brown sugar, soy sauce and crushed red pepper.
2. Cut 4 (24x12-inch) sheets of heavy-duty foil. Divide chicken, bell peppers, pineapple chunks and pineapple preserves mixture among foil sheets. Sprinkle with salt. Bring up 2 sides of foil so edges meet. Seal edges, making tight 1/2-inch fold; fold again, allowing space for heat circulation and expansion. Fold other sides to seal.
3. Place packets on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 6 minutes. Using tongs, carefully turn packets over, taking care not to puncture foil. Cook 10 to 12 minutes longer or until chicken is no longer pink in center and vegetables are crisp-tender.
Website of the Day
Labels:
website of the day
Pugcam
Okay, this one’s not exactly wildlife, but if you love dogs, you’re bound to get a kick out of the adventures of Layla and Pepper, two pugs whose lives are broadcast around the clock.
Okay, this one’s not exactly wildlife, but if you love dogs, you’re bound to get a kick out of the adventures of Layla and Pepper, two pugs whose lives are broadcast around the clock.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Today's Quote
Labels:
Today's Quote
"You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogma or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt."
Robert M. Pirsig
From ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE [1974]
Robert M. Pirsig
From ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE [1974]
rinsethealgorithm @ Marham Jazz Festival - 'Hibiscus'
Labels:
music videos
Tis the season of Jazz Festivals. Enjoy!
Why Do Murderers Get Mailbags Full of Love Letters and Marriage Proposals?
Murder suspect Joran van der Sloot has been bragging about receiving a deluge of attention from women since confessing to the murder of Stephany Flores. What gives?
READ MORE
READ MORE
Website of the Day
Labels:
animals,
website of the day
Dogs Love Cars - A collection of photos depicting 'mans best friend' engaging in on of his/her favorite pastimes.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Three Wishes
Labels:
Humor
A man is walking down the beach and comes across an old bottle. Picking it up, he pulls out the cork...
Sure enough, out pops a huge blue genie. The genie says, "Thank you for freeing me from my prison. In return I will grant you three wishes."
The man says "Perfect.... I always dreamed of this and I know exactly what I want. First, I want 1 Billion dollars in a Swiss bank account."
Suddenly, there is a flash of light and a detailed list with Swiss Bank account numbers appears in his hand.
He continues, "Next, I want a brand new red Ferrari right here."
There is another flash of light and a bright red Ferrari appears right next to him.
He continues, "Finally, I want to be irrestible to women."
A final blaze of light and he turns into a box of chocolates!
Sure enough, out pops a huge blue genie. The genie says, "Thank you for freeing me from my prison. In return I will grant you three wishes."
The man says "Perfect.... I always dreamed of this and I know exactly what I want. First, I want 1 Billion dollars in a Swiss bank account."
Suddenly, there is a flash of light and a detailed list with Swiss Bank account numbers appears in his hand.
He continues, "Next, I want a brand new red Ferrari right here."
There is another flash of light and a bright red Ferrari appears right next to him.
He continues, "Finally, I want to be irrestible to women."
A final blaze of light and he turns into a box of chocolates!
Here's The Joke
Labels:
Humor
The banana loaf I was making was in the oven when my 16-year-
old came into the kitchen where the family had gathered.
"That bread smells about done don't you think, Mom?" he asked.
I told him I had set the timer and it was fine.
A little later he repeated his suggestion. "Mom, I really
think that loaf is done. Maybe you should check it."
Always quick to come to my defence, my 13-year-old son said,
"Eddie, Mom's been burning that banana bread for 20 years
now. I think she knows when to take it out."
On my way to a picnic, I stopped at a fast-food place to
order a quart of potato salad. "We don't sell it by the
quart," the clerk snapped. "Okay, then give me two pints,
please," I replied.
I'm proud to say I held my tongue when she asked, "Do you
want it in one container?"
old came into the kitchen where the family had gathered.
"That bread smells about done don't you think, Mom?" he asked.
I told him I had set the timer and it was fine.
A little later he repeated his suggestion. "Mom, I really
think that loaf is done. Maybe you should check it."
Always quick to come to my defence, my 13-year-old son said,
"Eddie, Mom's been burning that banana bread for 20 years
now. I think she knows when to take it out."
On my way to a picnic, I stopped at a fast-food place to
order a quart of potato salad. "We don't sell it by the
quart," the clerk snapped. "Okay, then give me two pints,
please," I replied.
I'm proud to say I held my tongue when she asked, "Do you
want it in one container?"
CPR for Cats & Dogs
Labels:
animals
CPR for cats and dogs is similar to CPR for humans. These directions assume the animal is unconscious and the risk of being bitten by the animal is not present
1. Remove any obstruction.
Open animals mouth and make sure the air passage is clear. If not remove the object obstructing the air passage.
2. Extend the head and give several artificial respirations:
A. For large dogs: close the animal's jaw tightly and breathe into the nose. The animal's chest should rise. Give 2 breaths.
B. For small dogs and cats you may be able to cover the nose and mouth with your mouth as you breathe. The animal's chest should rise. Give 2 breaths.
3. Next perform chest compression
A. For large dogs you may be able to position the dogs on its back and compress the chest just like for humans.
B. For small dogs and cats as well as large dogs with funnel chests, you may need to lie the animal on its side and compress the side of the rib cage. Alternatively you can position the animal on its back and press on both sides of the rib cage.
C. The rate of chest compressions varies with the size of the animal
i. Dogs over 60 lbs: 60 compressions per minute
ii. Animals 11 to 60 lbs: 80-100 compressions per minute
iii. Animals 10 lbs or less: 120 compressions per minute
4. Alternate breaths with compressions
The ratio of compressions to breaths should be approximately the same as for humans - 30:2 Continue doing this until the animal responds or begins to breathe on its own.
1. Remove any obstruction.
Open animals mouth and make sure the air passage is clear. If not remove the object obstructing the air passage.
2. Extend the head and give several artificial respirations:
A. For large dogs: close the animal's jaw tightly and breathe into the nose. The animal's chest should rise. Give 2 breaths.
B. For small dogs and cats you may be able to cover the nose and mouth with your mouth as you breathe. The animal's chest should rise. Give 2 breaths.
3. Next perform chest compression
A. For large dogs you may be able to position the dogs on its back and compress the chest just like for humans.
B. For small dogs and cats as well as large dogs with funnel chests, you may need to lie the animal on its side and compress the side of the rib cage. Alternatively you can position the animal on its back and press on both sides of the rib cage.
C. The rate of chest compressions varies with the size of the animal
i. Dogs over 60 lbs: 60 compressions per minute
ii. Animals 11 to 60 lbs: 80-100 compressions per minute
iii. Animals 10 lbs or less: 120 compressions per minute
4. Alternate breaths with compressions
The ratio of compressions to breaths should be approximately the same as for humans - 30:2 Continue doing this until the animal responds or begins to breathe on its own.
Website of the Day
Labels:
website of the day
Eaglecam
From a camera perched high in a pine tree on the Maine coast, check out amazing live footage of a nesting pair of bald eagles, who’ve lived in this tree for 13 years.
From a camera perched high in a pine tree on the Maine coast, check out amazing live footage of a nesting pair of bald eagles, who’ve lived in this tree for 13 years.
Oreo Cookie Tube Cake
Labels:
recipes
Your favorite cookies are now a cake! Oreo cookies are chocolaty, crunchy, delicious and are also a great component for baking. This cake freezes well and tastes great cold out of the refrigerator.
Ingredients
* 25 cream filled sandwich cookie
* 3 cups flour
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 1/4 cups milk
* 1 cup shortening
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 4 large eggs
* 1 tablespoon milk
* 1 tablespoon corn syrup
* 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate-chips
* 3 tablespoons shortening
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 9" fluted tube pan.
2. Cut each cookie into quarters.
3. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat flour and remaining ingredients except cookies and chocolate glaze until blended. Increase speed to high, beat 2 minutes, scraping bowl. Spoon about 3/4 cup batter into pan.
4. Gently stir cut-up cookies into remaining batter and spoon into same pan.
5. Bake 50 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger (toothpick test won't work).
6. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan; cool on rack. When cake is cooled, prepare chocolate glaze.
7. In 1 quart saucepan over low heat, heat chocolate chips, shortening, milk, corn syrup, stirring until melted and smooth. Pour warm glaze over top and sides of cake.
Ingredients
* 25 cream filled sandwich cookie
* 3 cups flour
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 1 1/4 cups milk
* 1 cup shortening
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 4 large eggs
* 1 tablespoon milk
* 1 tablespoon corn syrup
* 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate-chips
* 3 tablespoons shortening
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 9" fluted tube pan.
2. Cut each cookie into quarters.
3. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat flour and remaining ingredients except cookies and chocolate glaze until blended. Increase speed to high, beat 2 minutes, scraping bowl. Spoon about 3/4 cup batter into pan.
4. Gently stir cut-up cookies into remaining batter and spoon into same pan.
5. Bake 50 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched with finger (toothpick test won't work).
6. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes; remove from pan; cool on rack. When cake is cooled, prepare chocolate glaze.
7. In 1 quart saucepan over low heat, heat chocolate chips, shortening, milk, corn syrup, stirring until melted and smooth. Pour warm glaze over top and sides of cake.
Mexican Rice
Labels:
recipes
One of the women who works for me sent me this....
1 Lb ground beef and chopped onion
1 16oz Salsa ( hotness you choice )
1 11oz Freshlike can corn w/peppers
1 1/2 C. water
1 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 C. Instant rice ( uncooked )
2 C.shreeded cheese ( mexican )
Brown beef and drain. Stir in salsa,corn,water and chili powder. Bring to boil.
Stir in rice. Cover . Remove from heat. let stand 5 to 7 min. until water absorbed. Fluff with fork. Stir in cheese. Cover let stand until cheese melted.
This is so EASY and heats up well so I always make extra.
1 Lb ground beef and chopped onion
1 16oz Salsa ( hotness you choice )
1 11oz Freshlike can corn w/peppers
1 1/2 C. water
1 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 C. Instant rice ( uncooked )
2 C.shreeded cheese ( mexican )
Brown beef and drain. Stir in salsa,corn,water and chili powder. Bring to boil.
Stir in rice. Cover . Remove from heat. let stand 5 to 7 min. until water absorbed. Fluff with fork. Stir in cheese. Cover let stand until cheese melted.
This is so EASY and heats up well so I always make extra.
The Magnificent Seven -Trailer and Theme
Labels:
Movie Trailers
One of my favorite movies turns 50 and AMC ran it a few times over the weekend. I watched it twice - back to back. Love the actors and Yul Brynner is particularly hot in this movie. The theme to the movie is also magnificent - and if you've never seen the movie you'll probably recognize the music. If you enjoy a good western this is a MAGNIFICENT one and is available to own on DVD.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Labels:
Humor
Dear Mom,
Scoutmaster Webb told us to write our parents in case you heard about the flood and got worried. We're all okay. Only one of our tents and two of our sleeping bags got washed away. Nobody drowned because we were all on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yeah, please call Chad's mother and tell her he's okay. He can't write her because of the cast on his arm.
I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps! It was neat! We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been for all the lightning.
Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire, so he probably didn't hear him.
Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up? It was so cool! The wet wood still wouldn't burn, but one of our tents did, and some of our clothes. Boy, Johnny is going to look weird until his hair grows back!
We'll be home Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets the car fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked good when we left. But he said with a car that old you have to expect something to break down. That's probably why he can't get insurance. We think it's a neat car. He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. It gets pretty hot with 15 people in the car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and yelled at him.
This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldn't let me because I can't swim, and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the canoe across the lake. It was great. You can still see some of the trees under the water from the flood. And Scoutmaster Webb isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about us leaving the life jackets behind. He has to spend a lot of time working on the car, so we're trying not to cause him any trouble.
Guess what? We passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Also, Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food poisoning from the left over chicken. He said they got sick like that with the food they ate in prison. I'm so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster. He said he figured out how to do things better while he was doing time.
I have to go now. We are going in to town to mail this and buy some bullets and more gasoline. Don't worry about anything. We are doing just fine.
Love,
Your son
Scoutmaster Webb told us to write our parents in case you heard about the flood and got worried. We're all okay. Only one of our tents and two of our sleeping bags got washed away. Nobody drowned because we were all on the mountain looking for Chad when it happened. Oh yeah, please call Chad's mother and tell her he's okay. He can't write her because of the cast on his arm.
I got to ride in one of the search and rescue jeeps! It was neat! We never would have found him in the dark if it hadn't been for all the lightning.
Scoutmaster Webb got mad at Chad for going on a hike alone without telling anyone. Chad said he did tell him, but it was during the fire, so he probably didn't hear him.
Did you know that if you put gas on a fire, the gas can will blow up? It was so cool! The wet wood still wouldn't burn, but one of our tents did, and some of our clothes. Boy, Johnny is going to look weird until his hair grows back!
We'll be home Saturday if Scoutmaster Webb gets the car fixed. It wasn't his fault about the wreck. The brakes worked good when we left. But he said with a car that old you have to expect something to break down. That's probably why he can't get insurance. We think it's a neat car. He doesn't care if we get it dirty, and if it's hot, sometimes he lets us ride on the tailgate. It gets pretty hot with 15 people in the car. He let us take turns riding in the trailer until the highway patrolman stopped and yelled at him.
This morning all of the guys were diving off the rocks and swimming out in the lake. Scoutmaster Webb wouldn't let me because I can't swim, and Chad was afraid he would sink because of his cast, so he let us take the canoe across the lake. It was great. You can still see some of the trees under the water from the flood. And Scoutmaster Webb isn't crabby like some scoutmasters. He didn't even get mad about us leaving the life jackets behind. He has to spend a lot of time working on the car, so we're trying not to cause him any trouble.
Guess what? We passed our first aid merit badges. When Dave dove in the lake and cut his arm, we got to see how a tourniquet works. Also, Wade and I threw up. Scoutmaster Webb said it probably was just food poisoning from the left over chicken. He said they got sick like that with the food they ate in prison. I'm so glad he got out and became our scoutmaster. He said he figured out how to do things better while he was doing time.
I have to go now. We are going in to town to mail this and buy some bullets and more gasoline. Don't worry about anything. We are doing just fine.
Love,
Your son
Hot Spring on Planet Earth
Labels:
climate change,
environment
It is getting more and more difficult to deny that global warming is occurring. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a report recently about the state of the global climate, and the results were not pretty. It turns out the combined global land and ocean surface temperatures set a record in May. In fact, from March to May, it was the hottest spring on record. Furthermore, the whole first half of the year, from January to May was also the warmest on record.
Read more
Obama Making BP Pay Is Good Government, and That's Why Republicans and the Corporate Media Are Freaking Out
Obama's hardline move on BP is exactly what government is supposed to do; whatever it can, within the limits of the law, to protect its citizens' interests.
READ MORE
READ MORE
Low-fat Pineapple French Toast
Labels:
recipes
This fun spin on french toast is a great brunch dish and is sure to please. The kids will love it. Try sifting powdered sugar over the finished product for an extra special touch.
Serves: 2
Ingredients
* 2 egg whites
* 1/4 cup pineapple juice
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* Fat free butter spray
* 4 slices French bread
* 4 pineapple rings
* 4 teaspoons honey
Instructions
1. In medium bowl, beat egg whites with wire whisk until light and fluffy. Then beat in pineapple juice and cinnamon; mix completely.
2. Spray butter on nonstick griddle until it sizzles. Dip 1 slice bread in egg mixture. Place on griddle and cook until browned on both sides. About 1 minute each side.
2. Repeat until all bread is cooked. Top with pineapple ring and 1 teaspoon of honey.
Serves: 2
Ingredients
* 2 egg whites
* 1/4 cup pineapple juice
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* Fat free butter spray
* 4 slices French bread
* 4 pineapple rings
* 4 teaspoons honey
Instructions
1. In medium bowl, beat egg whites with wire whisk until light and fluffy. Then beat in pineapple juice and cinnamon; mix completely.
2. Spray butter on nonstick griddle until it sizzles. Dip 1 slice bread in egg mixture. Place on griddle and cook until browned on both sides. About 1 minute each side.
2. Repeat until all bread is cooked. Top with pineapple ring and 1 teaspoon of honey.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
YUUUMMMEEEEEEE
This candy bar is bold enough for Scotch lovers and smooth enough for all chocolate lovers.
The combination of Single Malt Scotch and Dark Chocolate is one of the more special sensations in the confectionery world. From the first taste to the seductive aftertaste, new and complex flavors emerge that seem to enhance both the Scotch and the chocolate. Our Scotch Bar rounds out the experience with chewy caramel and delicate flakes of Maldon Sea Salt.
We use Talisker Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch, from the Isle of Skye. It was transferred from traditional bourbon oak into amoroso sherry casks to finish its maturation.
Buy here
Warm Caramel Apple Cake
Labels:
recipes
Serve this yummy apple upside-down cake warm from the oven.
Cake
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (about 2 1/3 cups)
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
Topping
2/3 cup Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting (from 12-oz container)
1/2 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping
Caramel topping, if desired
1. Heat oven to 350°F. In 1-quart heavy saucepan, cook butter, whipping cream and brown sugar over low heat, stirring occasionally, just until butter is melted. Pour into 13x9-inch pan. Sprinkle with pecans; top with sliced apples.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, eggs and apple pie spice with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Carefully spoon batter over apple mixture.
3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Loosen sides of cake from pan. Place heatproof serving platter upside down on pan; carefully turn platter and pan over. Let pan remain over cake about 1 minute so caramel can drizzle over cake. Remove pan.
4. In small bowl, mix frosting and whipped topping. Serve warm cake topped with frosting mixture and drizzled with caramel topping.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 45 to 50 minutes.
Cake
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 large cooking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (about 2 1/3 cups)
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
Topping
2/3 cup Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting (from 12-oz container)
1/2 cup frozen (thawed) whipped topping
Caramel topping, if desired
1. Heat oven to 350°F. In 1-quart heavy saucepan, cook butter, whipping cream and brown sugar over low heat, stirring occasionally, just until butter is melted. Pour into 13x9-inch pan. Sprinkle with pecans; top with sliced apples.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil, eggs and apple pie spice with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat on medium speed 2 minutes. Carefully spoon batter over apple mixture.
3. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Loosen sides of cake from pan. Place heatproof serving platter upside down on pan; carefully turn platter and pan over. Let pan remain over cake about 1 minute so caramel can drizzle over cake. Remove pan.
4. In small bowl, mix frosting and whipped topping. Serve warm cake topped with frosting mixture and drizzled with caramel topping.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 45 to 50 minutes.
Grilled Pork Chops With Cherry Tomatoes and Garlic Butter
Labels:
recipes
Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 25m
Ingredients
* 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature
* 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
* 4 1-inch-thick bone-in pork chops (about 2 1/2 pounds)
* Kosher salt and black pepper
* 2 pounds cherry tomatoes
Directions
1. Heat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic, and thyme; set aside.
2. Season the pork with ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper and grill until cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes per side.
3. Meanwhile, divide the tomatoes among 2 pieces of heavy-duty foil and season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Close to form 2 pouches. Grill the pouches alongside the pork, gently shaking occasionally, for 8 minutes.
4. Top the pork chops and tomatoes with the garlic butter just before serving.
Two Big Boobs
Labels:
Humor
A young, flat-chested woman discovered the fabled magic lamp, and sure enough, when she rubbed it, out popped a magic genie, ready to grant her a single wish.
"I want two of the biggest boobs in the whole world!" she said.
The genie nodded, waved his hand, and, all of a sudden *poof!* there was a great cloud of smoke.
When it had cleared, the woman saw, standing beside her, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney
"I want two of the biggest boobs in the whole world!" she said.
The genie nodded, waved his hand, and, all of a sudden *poof!* there was a great cloud of smoke.
When it had cleared, the woman saw, standing beside her, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney
Rand Paul to long-term jobless: Just go back to work
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul on Friday urged Americans who have been unemployed for many months to consider returning to the workforce in less desirable jobs rather than continue relying on government unemployment assistance.
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Read more
Media Missing the McChrystal Point
The media firestorm over the Rolling Stone profile (6/22/10) of General Stanley McChrystal mostly missed the real point of the article, which was a damning portrait of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.
Much of the media coverage stressed the criticism and insults hurled by McChrystal and his staff at various administration figures. Some of these remarks were more substantive than others. A joke about Joe Biden ("Bite Me") has been overblown; McChrystal and his staff seemed to be suggesting a list of possible gaffes the general might make following a speech.
The real significance of the piece is in the criticism--voiced by soldiers in Afghanistan and military experts--of the war itself. "Even those who support McChrystal and his strategy of counterinsurgency know that whatever the general manages to accomplish in Afghanistan, it's going to look more like Vietnam than Desert Storm," wrote Rolling Stone's Michael Hastings.
Read more
Much of the media coverage stressed the criticism and insults hurled by McChrystal and his staff at various administration figures. Some of these remarks were more substantive than others. A joke about Joe Biden ("Bite Me") has been overblown; McChrystal and his staff seemed to be suggesting a list of possible gaffes the general might make following a speech.
The real significance of the piece is in the criticism--voiced by soldiers in Afghanistan and military experts--of the war itself. "Even those who support McChrystal and his strategy of counterinsurgency know that whatever the general manages to accomplish in Afghanistan, it's going to look more like Vietnam than Desert Storm," wrote Rolling Stone's Michael Hastings.
Read more
Did Obama turn down foreign offers of assistance in cleaning up the Gulf oil spill? Did he refuse to waive Jones Act restrictions on foreign-flag v
No to both questions. So far, five offers have been accepted and only one offer has been rejected. Fifteen foreign-flag vessels are working on the cleanup, and none required a waiver.
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Crunchy Oven Baked French Toast
Labels:
recipes
Add a crunchy texture to rich baked french toast with the addition of cornflakes. You can prepare this baked french recipe the night before and bake in the morning for ease.
Ingredients
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup half and half
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups cornflakes, crushed to equal 1 c
* 8 diagonally cut slices French bread (3/4 inch thick)
*
Instructions
1. Butter a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
2. Combine eggs, half and half, sugar, vanilla, and salt; mix well.
3. Place crushed cereal in shallow dish. Dip bread in egg mixture, making sure all of the mixture is absorbed. Then dip bread into crushed cereal.
4. Place in greased pan. Cover and freeze 1-2 hours or til firm.
5. Heat oven to 425F. Bake 15-20 minutes or til golden brown, turning once. Serve either with Strawberry Syrup and strawberries OR with maple syrup.
Ingredients
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup half and half
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups cornflakes, crushed to equal 1 c
* 8 diagonally cut slices French bread (3/4 inch thick)
*
Instructions
1. Butter a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.
2. Combine eggs, half and half, sugar, vanilla, and salt; mix well.
3. Place crushed cereal in shallow dish. Dip bread in egg mixture, making sure all of the mixture is absorbed. Then dip bread into crushed cereal.
4. Place in greased pan. Cover and freeze 1-2 hours or til firm.
5. Heat oven to 425F. Bake 15-20 minutes or til golden brown, turning once. Serve either with Strawberry Syrup and strawberries OR with maple syrup.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Indian reservations on both U.S. borders become drug pipelines
Traffickers in Mexico and Canada increasingly are using Indian reservations along the borders as conduits for bringing marijuana, Ecstasy and other illicit drugs into the U.S. The drug gangs take advantage of weak and underfunded tribal police forces and the remoteness of tribal lands, and they find that high unemployment rates and resentment of federal law enforcement agencies make some young native Americans ready allies.
Read more/video
Read more/video
Marital Bliss
Labels:
Humor
Three old couples were having tea one fine day. There were all chatting and whatnot when one of the men, trying to get a chuckle, said to his wife, "Pass the honey, honey!” Getting the chuckle he expected, he carried on. A moment later, the second man said, "Pass the sugar, sugar!" This got a bit of a bigger laugh, so the third man, although not quite as clever or quick-witted as the other two, decided to join in the fun. He waited for the perfect opportunity, cleared his throat and then confidently said, "Pass the tea, bag!"
"Restrepo" Trailer
Labels:
Movie Trailers
Winner of the US Documentary Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
www.restrepothemovie.com
"Restrepo" is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, Restrepo, named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the US military. This is an entirely experiential film: our cameras never leave the valley, we dont interview generals or diplomats. Our only goal is to make you feel as though you have just done a 90-minute deployment. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.
www.restrepothemovie.com
"Restrepo" is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan's Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, Restrepo, named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the US military. This is an entirely experiential film: our cameras never leave the valley, we dont interview generals or diplomats. Our only goal is to make you feel as though you have just done a 90-minute deployment. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.
Website of the Day
Labels:
website of the day
The National Zoo
The National Zoo in Washington, DC is home to almost 400 animal species. They don’t all have their own webcams, but plenty of them do. Choose from a selection of otters, bear cubs, cheetahs, sloths, tigers, and much more.
The National Zoo in Washington, DC is home to almost 400 animal species. They don’t all have their own webcams, but plenty of them do. Choose from a selection of otters, bear cubs, cheetahs, sloths, tigers, and much more.
Super Lemon Jello Cake
Labels:
recipes
This light and easy lemon jello cake is perfect for picnics and summer parties. The moist cake is topped with a sweet lemon glaze and is perfect served with fresh berries.
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 40 min
Ingredients
* 1 package lemon cake mix
* 1 cup boiling water
* 1 package lemon jello
* 4 eggs
* 3/4 cup oil
* 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
* 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
* 1/2 cup lemon juice
Instructions
1. Dissolve lemon jello in boiling water.
2. Add oil to lemon cake mix. Add eggs, one at a time. Add jello and lemon extract. Mix well. Bake in a 9"x13" pan at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes.
3. Mix powdered sugar with lemon juice to a pourable consistency. While cake is still warm, prick the top with a fork and drizzle the glaze all over.
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 40 min
Ingredients
* 1 package lemon cake mix
* 1 cup boiling water
* 1 package lemon jello
* 4 eggs
* 3/4 cup oil
* 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
* 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
* 1/2 cup lemon juice
Instructions
1. Dissolve lemon jello in boiling water.
2. Add oil to lemon cake mix. Add eggs, one at a time. Add jello and lemon extract. Mix well. Bake in a 9"x13" pan at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes.
3. Mix powdered sugar with lemon juice to a pourable consistency. While cake is still warm, prick the top with a fork and drizzle the glaze all over.
Free Meat
Labels:
Humor
It was many years ago since the embarrassing day when a young woman, with a baby in her arms, entered his butcher shop and confronted him with the news that the baby was his and asked what was he going to do about it?
Finally he offered to provide her with free meat until the boy was 16.
She agreed.
He had been counting the years off on his calendar, and one day the teenager who had been collecting the meat each week, came into the shop and said, "I'll be 16 tomorrow."
"I know," said the butcher with a smile, "I've been counting too, tell your mother, when you take this parcel of meat home, that it is the last free meat she'll get, and watch the expression on her face."
When the boy arrived home he told his mother.
The woman nodded and said, "Son, go back to the butcher and tell him I have also had free bread, free milk, and free groceries for the last 16 years and watch the expression on HIS face!"
Finally he offered to provide her with free meat until the boy was 16.
She agreed.
He had been counting the years off on his calendar, and one day the teenager who had been collecting the meat each week, came into the shop and said, "I'll be 16 tomorrow."
"I know," said the butcher with a smile, "I've been counting too, tell your mother, when you take this parcel of meat home, that it is the last free meat she'll get, and watch the expression on her face."
When the boy arrived home he told his mother.
The woman nodded and said, "Son, go back to the butcher and tell him I have also had free bread, free milk, and free groceries for the last 16 years and watch the expression on HIS face!"
Orange Pork and Pineapple on the Grill
Labels:
recipes
Here’s a Polynesian-inspired recipe you’ll turn to all summer long. It’s luscious and ready in just 20 minutes.
Prep Time:5 min
Start to Finish:20 min
makes:4 servings
4 boneless top loin pork chops, cut 3/4 inch thick (about 1 1/4 pounds total)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 fresh pineapple, peeled and cored
3/4 cup Yoplait® plain fat-free yogurt
1/3 cup low-sugar orange marmalade
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped toasted pecans
1 tablespoon snipped fresh thyme
1. Sprinkle both sides of pork chops with salt and pepper. Cut pineapple crosswise into eight 1/2-inch-thick slices; set aside. Combine yogurt and 2 tablespoons of the marmalade; set aside.
2. For a charcoal grill, grill chops on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 4 minutes. Turn; add pineapple to grill. Brush chops and pineapple with remaining marmalade. Grill 3 to 5 minutes more or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in pork registers 160°F and pineapple has light grill marks, turning pineapple once.
3. Arrange pineapple and chops on serving plates. Spoon yogurt mixture over chops and pineapple; sprinkle with nuts and thyme.
4. Cost-Saving Tip: Instead of using a peeled fresh pineapple from the produce section of the grocery store, use a 15.25-ounce can pineapple slices (juice pack)—it contains 8 slices, perfect for 4 servings.
Impossibly Easy Breakfast Bake (Crowd Size)
Labels:
recipes
Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 1 hour 10 min
Makes: 12 servings
2 packages (12 oz each) bulk pork sausage
1 medium bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
3 cups frozen hash brown potatoes
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
2 cups milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 eggs
1. Heat oven to 400°F. Grease rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Cook sausage, bell pepper and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir together sausage mixture, potatoes and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese in baking dish.
2. Stir Bisquick mix, milk, pepper and eggs until blended. Pour into baking dish.
3. Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 1 to 2 minutes longer or just until cheese is melted. Cool 5 minutes.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Another Blonde Joke
Labels:
blonde jokes,
Humor
From Spadoman at Roundcircle Blog
A Blonde goes over to her friend's house wearing a T.G.I.F. Tee-shirt.
Her friend asks: 'Why are you wearing a Thank GOD It's Friday Tee-shirt on
Monday?'
'Oh, crap!', the blonde says, 'I didn't realize it was a religious T-shirt. I
thought it meant "Tits Go In
Front".'
A Blonde goes over to her friend's house wearing a T.G.I.F. Tee-shirt.
Her friend asks: 'Why are you wearing a Thank GOD It's Friday Tee-shirt on
Monday?'
'Oh, crap!', the blonde says, 'I didn't realize it was a religious T-shirt. I
thought it meant "Tits Go In
Front".'
Pet Photos
Labels:
animals,
photographs
'You'd think that looking like a panda I would get a bit more attention around here. Hello....? Pat me please. Hellooooo??'
15 Things You Should Repair Instead of Replace
There are other benefits to fixing things, including learning more about how things work, gaining a sense of accomplishment, spending bonding time with family members and preserving heirloom and unique items.
Read more
Read more
The Wayback Juke Box - Waylon Jennings - Stop The World ( And Let Me Off )
Labels:
music videos,
Wayback Juke box
I really feel like this some days.....Enjoy!
Despondent fishing captain working on oil spill clean-up commits suicide
The company temporarily removes the containment cap collecting crude, and the human toll of the leak rises as a fishing captain apparently commits suicide.
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Hope Fades For the Unemployed
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Ed Schultz,
videos
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The GOP's misplaced values
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Ed Schultz,
music videos
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Buy in Advance
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Weekly Savings Tip
For the best savings, it can be important to plan and purchase items in advance. This is true for many items you may need for your home or apartment, or on travel for upcoming trips.
According to the American Home Furnishing Alliance, July can be the best month for furniture purchases as many stores have clearance sales to make room for new inventory. If you're in the market for new furniture, consider whether this July is the right time for you to take advantage of lower prices. If not, January is another time for low furniture prices as stores begin to make room for new spring inventory. Before buying, make sure you're buying because you need it, not just because you want it and it's on sale.
Are you planning any travel for the fourth of July or over the summer?
Some bus carriers offer steep discounts if you book in advance. You might be able to score a ticket for $15 or less. Bus travel has improved greatly over the past several years. Increased competition has resulted in multiple clean, WiFi enabled bus lines that generally arrive on time. Airline tickets fluctuate as to the best time to purchase them—for non-holiday domestic travel, purchasers should watch for potential price cuts at the 21-day mark.
Join us for a Twitter chat with a CPA this Thursday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m. EST. Ask a CPA your questions by tagging your twitter updates with the hashtag #cpachat.
Visit www.feedthepig.org for more money-saving tips.
According to the American Home Furnishing Alliance, July can be the best month for furniture purchases as many stores have clearance sales to make room for new inventory. If you're in the market for new furniture, consider whether this July is the right time for you to take advantage of lower prices. If not, January is another time for low furniture prices as stores begin to make room for new spring inventory. Before buying, make sure you're buying because you need it, not just because you want it and it's on sale.
Are you planning any travel for the fourth of July or over the summer?
Some bus carriers offer steep discounts if you book in advance. You might be able to score a ticket for $15 or less. Bus travel has improved greatly over the past several years. Increased competition has resulted in multiple clean, WiFi enabled bus lines that generally arrive on time. Airline tickets fluctuate as to the best time to purchase them—for non-holiday domestic travel, purchasers should watch for potential price cuts at the 21-day mark.
Join us for a Twitter chat with a CPA this Thursday, June 24 at 11:30 a.m. EST. Ask a CPA your questions by tagging your twitter updates with the hashtag #cpachat.
Visit www.feedthepig.org for more money-saving tips.
Website of the Day
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website of the day
Let's face it. There's a lot of movies out there and very little time to watch them in. Well sit back and relax, because your troubles are solved! We here at Movie-A-Minute have come up with a solution. We've taken several classic and contemporary movies and extracted the important stuff, cutting out all the filler. (You'd be surprised how much filler there is sometimes.) With our ultra-condensed versions of your favorite films, you can experience whole movies in just one minute! As an added bonus, Movie-A-Minute protects against torture by bad movies -- if you don't have to sit through them, well, you don't have to sit through them.
Baked Stuffed French Toast
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recipes
Stuffed with cream cheese and raspberry jam, this baked french toast recipe is an interesting and delicious variation. Top this french toast off with the apricot sauce provided or raspberry syrup.
Serves: 6
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Ingredients
* 16 slices firm white sandwich bread
* 8 ounces package whipped or low-fat cream cheese
* 1 cup raspberry jam
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1 cup milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 12 ounces jar apricot jam
* 3/4 cup apricot nectar
* 4 bananas, sliced
* 1 pint raspberries
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. and spray a large cookie sheet with Pam or a similar spray.
2. Spread 8 slices of the bread with the cream cheese and the other 8 slices with the raspberry jam. Sandwich the cream cheese and jam slices together.
3. Beat together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and vegetable oil in a shallow dish. Dip both sides of each sandwich in this mixture and place on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 5 minutes each side, or until golden.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the apricot sauce by putting the apricot jam in a saucepan with the apricot nectar. Let it bubble over medium heat, stirring to prevent sticking.
5. To serve, cut the sandwiches into quarters or triangles. Arrange on 6-8 plates. Slice the bananas and scatter on top along with the raspberries. Then drizzle with the apricot sauce. Raspberry syrup or powdered sugar can be used instead of making the apricot sauce.
Serves: 6
Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Ingredients
* 16 slices firm white sandwich bread
* 8 ounces package whipped or low-fat cream cheese
* 1 cup raspberry jam
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1 cup milk
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 12 ounces jar apricot jam
* 3/4 cup apricot nectar
* 4 bananas, sliced
* 1 pint raspberries
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. and spray a large cookie sheet with Pam or a similar spray.
2. Spread 8 slices of the bread with the cream cheese and the other 8 slices with the raspberry jam. Sandwich the cream cheese and jam slices together.
3. Beat together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and vegetable oil in a shallow dish. Dip both sides of each sandwich in this mixture and place on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 5 minutes each side, or until golden.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the apricot sauce by putting the apricot jam in a saucepan with the apricot nectar. Let it bubble over medium heat, stirring to prevent sticking.
5. To serve, cut the sandwiches into quarters or triangles. Arrange on 6-8 plates. Slice the bananas and scatter on top along with the raspberries. Then drizzle with the apricot sauce. Raspberry syrup or powdered sugar can be used instead of making the apricot sauce.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Profiling 10 of the Deeply Troubled Individuals Leading the Right-Wing Government Hating Crusade
Militias and the larger antigovernment "Patriot" movement are on the rise, accompanied by the rapid expansion of other sectors of the radical right.
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40 Burgers That Can Kill You
We measured all burgers across the four categories available for each eatery: calories, saturated fat, sodium, and carbohydrates. Each burger was ranked within each nutritional category, then the ranking each burger received for each nutritional category was totaled to determine the final ranking. Ties were broken by saturated fat content.
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10 Things You Shouldn't Buy Used
Ultimate bargain hunters eschew even deep discount sales in favor of buying products (hopefully only gently) used. Experts say, however, that for some items, buying used is not the way to go.
Ten Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott
1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.”
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.”
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. “There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it’s yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, “life.”
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately “work.”
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There’s no part of life that doesn’t contain its lessons. If you’re alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. “There” is no better a place than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here”, you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life’s questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.
Website of the Day
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website of the day
Scottish Seabird Centre
The Firth of Forth, off the coast of Scotland, offers a rich array of beautiful birds and other native wildlife. Eight webcams around the harbor will offer you a choice of animals like puffins, gannets, guillemots, and occasionally even some dolphins or whales.
The Firth of Forth, off the coast of Scotland, offers a rich array of beautiful birds and other native wildlife. Eight webcams around the harbor will offer you a choice of animals like puffins, gannets, guillemots, and occasionally even some dolphins or whales.
Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies
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recipes
Brownie Base
1 box (1 lb 6.5 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme brownie mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on brownie mix box
Filling
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons milk
Topping
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray or shortening. (For easier cutting, line pan with foil, then grease foil on bottom only of pan.)
2. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, pouch of chocolate syrup, water, oil and eggs until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
3. In medium bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over brownie base.
4. In small microwavable bowl, microwave topping ingredients uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds; stir until smooth. Cool 10 minutes; spread over filling. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. For brownies, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Follow High Altitude directions for 13x9-inch pan on brownie mix box.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Today's Quote
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Today's Quote
“Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.”
―Erica Jong
―Erica Jong
21 of the Best Natural Sunscreens
Sunscreen — not only does it protect you from skin damage and sunburn, but it’s also a valuable weapon in the fight against skin cancer
Did Congress slip a $150 to $250 monthly tax into the new health care law to pay for home care for the elderly?
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FactCheck.org
No. The new CLASS Act program is voluntary. Premiums are estimated to be $123 per month for workers who choose to participate. It covers home care for those who become disabled at any age, not just those over age 65.
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How to Cook Tofu Like the Pros: Dry-fry and Marinate Method
If you are a vegetarian or vegan who would love to make your own delicious tofu dishes at home, this recipe is perfect for you. Pass this web page along to your friends and family as well, and, when you visit for dinner, you will no longer have to subsist on side dishes or choke down their well meant but disastrous attempts at tofu.
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