I am quite sure this is my last post. I had always wanted to have a blog, but I always procrastinated doing it. Maybe now since I have an account I will finally do it. Maybe.
Like almost everyone one in the world, I have a Facebook page. Everyday my feed is cluttered with those stupid, stupid things that say, "Mac just leveled up in MafiaWars!" or "Suzanna just cleaned her tank in AquariumWorld!" I hate those. I have rejected every invite I have ever received to join any kind of game. It just seems so stupid and pointless. It screams, "I have no life!"
Yesterday, however, I was very bored. I had read through all the Facebook gossip and new MLIA posts. I had chatted with my cousin. I wasn't motivated enough to do my homework. Then, for some unknown reason, I started thinking about Farmville. I proceeded to start my own farm and now, less than twenty-four hours later, I am anxiously waiting for my first big harvest. . . Got to go! My strawberries are ready!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Say what?!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091129/ap_on_re_eu/eu_sweden_killer_moose
So last year a Swedish woman was found dead in the woods. The husband was charged with the murder, but has been released after police decided that the murderer was most likely a moose. How in the world could those two be confused? If she was killed by a moose, wouldn't she have obvious signs of that? Like being stabbed with antlers or hoof-shaped bruises from being trampled? If things like that were not present then how did the police decide that a moose was to blame? I am so confused. This would be rather funny if a woman had not lost her life.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Word of the Year Twenty-oh-nine. . .
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091117/lf_nm_life/us_words_unfriend
Oh the things you learn mindlessly clicking on link after link! Apparently, each year the New Oxford American Dictionary, or more than likely a committee rather than the tome itself, picks a word to represent the year. This year the list of finalists included hashtag (where you tag someone in your status, etc. using @, which is called a hash, not an at symbol); freemiums (business model in which some basic services are provided for free); funemployed (when people who are unemployed use their new free time to pursue fun); and intexticated (when people are distracted by texting while driving. I had never heard of any of these words until today, much less knew what they meant. The winner was "unfriend," meaning to remove someone from your friends list on a social networking site, which I have been using for a while but never knew was a real word.
Oh the things you learn mindlessly clicking on link after link! Apparently, each year the New Oxford American Dictionary, or more than likely a committee rather than the tome itself, picks a word to represent the year. This year the list of finalists included hashtag (where you tag someone in your status, etc. using @, which is called a hash, not an at symbol); freemiums (business model in which some basic services are provided for free); funemployed (when people who are unemployed use their new free time to pursue fun); and intexticated (when people are distracted by texting while driving. I had never heard of any of these words until today, much less knew what they meant. The winner was "unfriend," meaning to remove someone from your friends list on a social networking site, which I have been using for a while but never knew was a real word.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
They're Back. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRiUjXp_BOE
Remember how we watched those flamboyant Filipino prison inmates dance to Micheal Jackson's Thriller? (How could you forget?) Well, they are back, this time rocking to a medley of Queen hits. Supposedly, this is part of a rehabilitation program. Maybe getting all of the choreography right takes a bit of teamwork and the actual dance is quite an accomplishment, but I think allowing the cross-dressing is unnecessary and disturbing.
Remember how we watched those flamboyant Filipino prison inmates dance to Micheal Jackson's Thriller? (How could you forget?) Well, they are back, this time rocking to a medley of Queen hits. Supposedly, this is part of a rehabilitation program. Maybe getting all of the choreography right takes a bit of teamwork and the actual dance is quite an accomplishment, but I think allowing the cross-dressing is unnecessary and disturbing.
Monday, November 2, 2009
http://usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-11-02-cereal-immunity-claim_N.htm?se=yahoorefer
Yet again, this story is not odd, persay, but it is interesting and very related to the class.
Kids are particularly susceptible to the H1N1 flu and can have some of the worst cases. Naturally, parents would want to protect their children. Kellogg apparently caught on to this and siezed the opportunity to capitalize on it. They have now increased the amount of vitamins and antioxidants in their cereals and updated the boxes. Now the front of Cocoa Krispies boasts in bold print, "Now helps support your child's IMMUNITY!"
I think this is pretty ingenious as far as advertising goes if this is how they intended it, but the move has upset a lot of people. Several have filed complaints with the FDA. Kellogg denies that this had anything to do with the flu outbreak and points out that the product was developed more than a year ago and was put out back in May 2009. Spokeswoman Susanne Norwitz says the product was developed in response to a need for more positive nutrition. (Because vitamins are going to make up for the chocolate and 10.5 grams of sugar, assuming kids are eating the 3/4 cup portion.) It would be interesting to find out how sales have changed since the launch of the product and since the media coverage of the H1N1 flu has began.
Yet again, this story is not odd, persay, but it is interesting and very related to the class.
Kids are particularly susceptible to the H1N1 flu and can have some of the worst cases. Naturally, parents would want to protect their children. Kellogg apparently caught on to this and siezed the opportunity to capitalize on it. They have now increased the amount of vitamins and antioxidants in their cereals and updated the boxes. Now the front of Cocoa Krispies boasts in bold print, "Now helps support your child's IMMUNITY!"
I think this is pretty ingenious as far as advertising goes if this is how they intended it, but the move has upset a lot of people. Several have filed complaints with the FDA. Kellogg denies that this had anything to do with the flu outbreak and points out that the product was developed more than a year ago and was put out back in May 2009. Spokeswoman Susanne Norwitz says the product was developed in response to a need for more positive nutrition. (Because vitamins are going to make up for the chocolate and 10.5 grams of sugar, assuming kids are eating the 3/4 cup portion.) It would be interesting to find out how sales have changed since the launch of the product and since the media coverage of the H1N1 flu has began.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Dishing out some PB&J style love
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091011/NEWS/910110342
Imagine taking a walk in the park. It's a beautiful day, you are carefree, blahblahblah, and then someone hands you a PB&J sandwich. Pretty much, that would make my day because I love, Love, LOVE a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Think then, how much more that PB&J would mean if you were a homeless teenager living in that park. Imagine that was the only meal you didn't have to fight for, steal, or do without.
This is one of the simplest, yet most loving, ministries I have heard of. Anyone could do this, anyone who isn't afriad to be the hands and feet of Jesus. That is what this couple is doing and they are reaching those who no one else is reaching. It is action, not words. This is love.
I put this in my "Odd News Catagory" because love like this is an odd and rare thing indeed.
Imagine taking a walk in the park. It's a beautiful day, you are carefree, blahblahblah, and then someone hands you a PB&J sandwich. Pretty much, that would make my day because I love, Love, LOVE a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Think then, how much more that PB&J would mean if you were a homeless teenager living in that park. Imagine that was the only meal you didn't have to fight for, steal, or do without.
This is one of the simplest, yet most loving, ministries I have heard of. Anyone could do this, anyone who isn't afriad to be the hands and feet of Jesus. That is what this couple is doing and they are reaching those who no one else is reaching. It is action, not words. This is love.
I put this in my "Odd News Catagory" because love like this is an odd and rare thing indeed.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
A sad strange story becomes stranger still
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6391911/Balloon-boys-father-wanted-TV-fame-before-world-ends-in-2012.html
First a family builds a giant balloon that looks like a space ship. Then their six-year-old son supposedly is in the aforementioned balloon when it accidentally takes off. Turns out he was in the attic the whole time, but this is only discovered after the whole nation is on edge for almost an entire day. Then on national TV, the boy lets it slip that the entire incident was an elaborate scheme his parents planned to get their own reality show. (This is my favorite part. I laughed when I watched it.) So they are facing possible charges for being complete idiots. Now a family friend tells the press that the real reason for this stunt is that Robert Thomas wanted to get rich quick because he wants to build an underground bunker. Why? He believes that sometime during the year 2012 the world as we know it will come to an end. His family needs an underground bunker so that they can survive if the sun explodes. LIKE A BUNKER IS GOING TO BE ANY HELP IF THE SUN BLOWS UP?!?! The sad part, beside the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas basically exploited their children, is that they will probably get a reality show.
First a family builds a giant balloon that looks like a space ship. Then their six-year-old son supposedly is in the aforementioned balloon when it accidentally takes off. Turns out he was in the attic the whole time, but this is only discovered after the whole nation is on edge for almost an entire day. Then on national TV, the boy lets it slip that the entire incident was an elaborate scheme his parents planned to get their own reality show. (This is my favorite part. I laughed when I watched it.) So they are facing possible charges for being complete idiots. Now a family friend tells the press that the real reason for this stunt is that Robert Thomas wanted to get rich quick because he wants to build an underground bunker. Why? He believes that sometime during the year 2012 the world as we know it will come to an end. His family needs an underground bunker so that they can survive if the sun explodes. LIKE A BUNKER IS GOING TO BE ANY HELP IF THE SUN BLOWS UP?!?! The sad part, beside the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Thomas basically exploited their children, is that they will probably get a reality show.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
And the winner is. . .
I meant for the tone of this blog to be light, carefree, and slightly tongue in cheek. I feel that I have gotten a little serious and next week I will go back to what I used to blog about.
This week, however, I must laugh at the President of the United States. In the past people have received the Nobel Peace Prize for accomplishing things that made the world a better place. People like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gandi who have ACCOMPLISHED great things are awarded the prize. Organizations like UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders are awarded the prize because they make the world a better place. Individuals are not awarded the prize because they are famous and they TALK about doing things.
When President Obama said during his acceptance speech that he really didn't deserve the prize, I think he meant that. I think he was as shocked as the rest of the world was. I guess it really isn't his fault; as far as we know he didn't bribe the committee to choose him. I think that instead of honoring him though they just made him look stupid.
This week, however, I must laugh at the President of the United States. In the past people have received the Nobel Peace Prize for accomplishing things that made the world a better place. People like Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., and Gandi who have ACCOMPLISHED great things are awarded the prize. Organizations like UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders are awarded the prize because they make the world a better place. Individuals are not awarded the prize because they are famous and they TALK about doing things.
When President Obama said during his acceptance speech that he really didn't deserve the prize, I think he meant that. I think he was as shocked as the rest of the world was. I guess it really isn't his fault; as far as we know he didn't bribe the committee to choose him. I think that instead of honoring him though they just made him look stupid.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
You Snooze, You Lose...Weight?
If I were to diet, this is the one I would choose. It is ridiculously easy and I would be happy to schedule large amounts of it into my day. Just imagine, shedding the pounds while simply sleeping.
Sounds to good to be true? Well, it is.
Recent studies have shown, however, that sleep can affect you weight. When you do not get enough sleep, levels of ghrelin, a hormone which increases hunger, rise and levels of leptin, which promotes feelings of fullness, drop. Also not getting enough sleep causes the stress hormone cortisol to rise, which increases cravings for high-carb, high-calorie “comfort foods.”
So tonight when you put off those hundred things that need to be done in favor of some shut eye, don't feel bad. Just think of it as prevenative medicine and take all you can get!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Consequences of an Interrupting Call
Video captures Jackman chiding cell phone offender
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_THEATER_JACKMAN_CELL_PHONE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-09-28-21-07-42
I never turn my cell phone off when I am told to. I, however, do put it on silence or vibrate as to aviod scenes like the one that occured recently in New York.
Picture this, you have paid a gazillion dollars to go see the gorgeous Hugh Jackman perform on Broadway and are happily drooling over him. During a particularly dramatic scene where Jackman is pouring out his soul to co-star Daniel Craig, a phone goes off. The usual "everyone-turn-and-stare-like-we-have-no-clue-how-such-a-thing-could-happen" is accompanied by something new and hilarious. Jackman comes out of character and gets onto the guy! He singles the lucky soul out and tells him to get the phone. To top it off, the same phone rings two minutes later. I mean, come on.
People are so rude, but if every actor got onto every interrupting cell phone user, I think people would do this on purpose. I know I would. ;)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_THEATER_JACKMAN_CELL_PHONE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-09-28-21-07-42
I never turn my cell phone off when I am told to. I, however, do put it on silence or vibrate as to aviod scenes like the one that occured recently in New York.
Picture this, you have paid a gazillion dollars to go see the gorgeous Hugh Jackman perform on Broadway and are happily drooling over him. During a particularly dramatic scene where Jackman is pouring out his soul to co-star Daniel Craig, a phone goes off. The usual "everyone-turn-and-stare-like-we-have-no-clue-how-such-a-thing-could-happen" is accompanied by something new and hilarious. Jackman comes out of character and gets onto the guy! He singles the lucky soul out and tells him to get the phone. To top it off, the same phone rings two minutes later. I mean, come on.
People are so rude, but if every actor got onto every interrupting cell phone user, I think people would do this on purpose. I know I would. ;)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Rent-A-Friend
Japan's rent-a-friend business is booming
If you ever happen to be in Japan and need a date, best friend, or long lost brother, simply give Ryuichi Ichinokawa a call! For a small sum ($150 for weddings, more if he has to give a speech or sing), he or one of his thirty agents will be your psuedo-family member/friend.
This is really convenient and can help one avoid embarrassing situations, but I worry about the consequences. In today's world, we are so disconnected from reality. The whole concept is sad, really; we don't have real friends so we make ones up. If we can just invent a person to fill a need so we don't have to deal with the embarrassment and stress real life, what does that mean? What does that say about us? What does the future hold for a people who have forgotten how to connect with each other and face the truth?
I don't have any answers, but if I had the need and the money, I would not be above using this service.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Exclusive New York Fashion: The Snuggie
Snuggie shows new styles at NY Fashion Week
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090916/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_fashion_week_snuggies;_ylt=ApTxN8d56K5FgHA2uV52KxjtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ0dDQwNTZ0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwOTE2L3VzX29kZF9mYXNoaW9uX3dlZWtfc251Z2dpZXMEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bl9
0b3Bfc3RvcnkEc2xrA3NudWdnaWVzaG93cw--
I point you to yet another ridiculous story. The beloved Snuggie held a fashion show in New York City today. OK, so the show was a fake, the company's answer to all of the Snuggie parodies, but it was an effort to launch new colors and styles. Animal prints, tye-dye, a "luxury micro-plush," and even Snuggies for your puppies, what more could you want?
I do not and in the foreseeable (How in the world do you spell that?) future do not plan to own a Snuggie either for myself or for my precious little rat terrier. I, like most people, laugh every time I see a Snuggie. I am amazed, however, that something so stupid and silly can become a pop icon. Have you ever met some one who did not know what a Snuggie is? Have you not ever recognized one the moment you saw it? Have you ever watched late night TV with out the Snuggie commercial coming on, forcing you laugh, cheering you up, and making you forget how hopeless you feel in this world?
What? That's just me? How embarassing. . .Well, maybe I have taken this too far and shared way too much personal information, but my point is that, in spite of their ridiculousness, Snuggies are pretty much going to take over the world. The End.
An adorable child and dog duo complete with their own Snuggies
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Facial Hair and Deep Fried Butter
The World Beard and Moustache Championships
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0%2C29307%2C1658835_1439509%2C00.html
Last week the World Beard and Moustache Championships were held in Brighton, England. Competitors came from all over the world including the U.K., the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. I never would have thought so many guys (No women competitors were featured, so hopefully there were none.) would invest so much in their beards and moustaches. What surprised me was how organized the whole thing was; there were all these different catagories, participants knew what was required to enter those catagories, and . I was disappointed that there was no Santa Claus Look Alike catagory :(.
This old man was my favorite.
Deep Fried Butter to Hit Texas State Fair
http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/03/deep-fried-butter-to-hit-texas-state-fair/
I wanted to gag when I first read this. The very thought of it is completely disgusting to me. Who would eat this? Someone would be as well off drinking the grease it was fried in. And it comes in different flavors? Sorry, but neither grape nor cherry butter appeals to me. Don't get me wrong, I like butter. I believe, however, that it is supposed to be a condiment, not the main dish.
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0%2C29307%2C1658835_1439509%2C00.html
Last week the World Beard and Moustache Championships were held in Brighton, England. Competitors came from all over the world including the U.K., the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. I never would have thought so many guys (No women competitors were featured, so hopefully there were none.) would invest so much in their beards and moustaches. What surprised me was how organized the whole thing was; there were all these different catagories, participants knew what was required to enter those catagories, and . I was disappointed that there was no Santa Claus Look Alike catagory :(.
This old man was my favorite.
Deep Fried Butter to Hit Texas State Fair
http://www.slashfood.com/2009/09/03/deep-fried-butter-to-hit-texas-state-fair/
I wanted to gag when I first read this. The very thought of it is completely disgusting to me. Who would eat this? Someone would be as well off drinking the grease it was fried in. And it comes in different flavors? Sorry, but neither grape nor cherry butter appeals to me. Don't get me wrong, I like butter. I believe, however, that it is supposed to be a condiment, not the main dish.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Introduction
I know this sounds like the most boring blog you have never read and the fact that I am doing it for a class makes it ten times worse, but I am really going to try to make this interesting. I am going to focus on odd news, those crazy and random stories that make you stop, smile, and think about what a crazy wonderful world this is.
To be honest, this is the only kind of news I read regularly. I like to be informed about our economy, government, weather, and so on but it all gets boring and redundant after a while. So here is my shot at making things interesting:
To be honest, this is the only kind of news I read regularly. I like to be informed about our economy, government, weather, and so on but it all gets boring and redundant after a while. So here is my shot at making things interesting:
Girl gorillas go ape for guy gorilla pic
This is just funny; I don't care who you are. I wonder if they knew the picture was of a guy gorilla or if they just recognized that the picture was similar to them. He must be a handsome devil to get screams from the ladies when they simply look at his face. Eating the picture... That is a little extreme. I wonder what will go down when he actually arrives. That would probably not be a good day to take your kids to the zoo. . .
Beds made of hay are latest hotel craze
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/08/25/hay.hotels/index.html
I would have honestly never thought anyone would ever go for this. Sleeping in an old barn like the hobos used to do? Seriously? When I saw the headline I thought to myself, "That is ridiculous! I would never do that!" After reading the article, however, the idea seems a little appealing. The manager of the Hufgut has a good point; I would have loved to do this when I was younger. I cannot help but to think of all of the drawbacks though: the dust, lots of sneezing, straw poking you while you are trying to sleep. I think the worst thing would be the bugs. Bugs get in hay. That is a fact of life. Right now farmers in Faulkner county cannot move their hay outside of the county because of the fire ant infestation, so imagine what would be in European hay. Even though the idea seems a bit romantic, I think I would prefer to stay somewhere more modern when I travel.
Beds made of hay are latest hotel craze
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/08/25/hay.hotels/index.html
I would have honestly never thought anyone would ever go for this. Sleeping in an old barn like the hobos used to do? Seriously? When I saw the headline I thought to myself, "That is ridiculous! I would never do that!" After reading the article, however, the idea seems a little appealing. The manager of the Hufgut has a good point; I would have loved to do this when I was younger. I cannot help but to think of all of the drawbacks though: the dust, lots of sneezing, straw poking you while you are trying to sleep. I think the worst thing would be the bugs. Bugs get in hay. That is a fact of life. Right now farmers in Faulkner county cannot move their hay outside of the county because of the fire ant infestation, so imagine what would be in European hay. Even though the idea seems a bit romantic, I think I would prefer to stay somewhere more modern when I travel.
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