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.

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.

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.

You Snooze, You Lose...Weight?

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=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!

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. ;)

Rent-A-Friend

Japan's rent-a-friend business is booming

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2009/09/japans-rentafriend-business-is-booming.html?loc=interstitialskip

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.

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=X3oDMTJ0dDQwNTZ0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwOTE2L3VzX29kZF9
mYXNoaW9uX3dlZWtfc251Z2dpZXMEY3BvcwMxBHBvcwMyBHNlYwN5bl9
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