... dancing monkey ...

the tin man

2008-05-10T20:49:00.001-07:00

current Facebook status: Liz is sad and sometimes so angry she turns into an Irrational Hulk, which doesn't make anything better and is really terrible for her wardrobe. I pride myself on being coldly rational --- why wear cute shoes if they hurt? shouldn't an ideal mate be employed (or at least be capable of employment) as well as hot? And then something terrible happened: my friend died.

by popular request

2008-04-03T23:33:00.000-07:00

For some reason, Wikipedia's list of internet phenomena* is disappointing ... if I used this as a gauge, it's unsettling how much I've missed, despite years spending lots of time in front of computer monitors. Then again, is Wikipedia really equivalent to peer review? Perhaps more so than the more mainstream forms of juried work, because nothing is a meritocracy.I think I must have gotten stuck

Adopt-a-sitcom

2008-03-25T21:04:00.001-07:00

Why was 80s pop culture so obsessed with adoption?I suppose Annie was based on a story that had existed for decades, but what about Diff'rent Strokes, Webster, Jem? She's truly truly truly outrageous ... and raises money for Jerrika's Home for Wayward Rock Stars. Let's not forget Punky Brewster and Rags to Riches.TV shows like ALF, Mr. Belvedere, Small Wonder, Silver Spoons, Gimmie A Break!,

Botanicalls

2008-03-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

Here's one way to keep your plants alive.

Which came first?

2008-03-03T08:30:00.001-08:00

The turducken or the stuffed camel?

calories: hidden in plain sight

2008-02-20T08:55:00.001-08:00

For most of my life I discounted the calories I consumed in liquid form --- soda, juice, etc. Now I'm more conscious, drinking only diet soda (which I do NOT enjoy) if I really want something fizzy and/or caffeinated, to try to discourage myself from going that route. I also paid a lot of attention to the filling of my sandwiches rather than the bread that encased them ... without realizing that

the song that's stuck in my head

2008-02-11T08:37:00.001-08:00

And for once, it's not awful. Check it out.

the year in review

2008-01-27T05:59:00.001-08:00

Here are some things that happened this year. I know New Year's was a long time ago, but since I wrote last year's in February, posting during the last week of January is an improvement. * Went back to Hawaii and Boston, and stopped in on Miami, St. Louis and San Antonio; * Got promoted, at least on paycheck, into a job I didn't choose, and got transferred through a reorganization into one that

movie previews

2008-01-27T05:43:00.001-08:00

Couldn't believe this David Pogue post I read a few weeks ago, about movie trailers not actually showing scenes or storylines depicted in the film being advertised. Shocking! Misleading! Annoying! As annoying as movie previews that basically give away the entire story line? I'm not sure the former lives up to the latter ... the one that sticks out in my mind, the preview for The Wedding Planner,

spotted on consumerist.com ...

2008-01-09T09:42:00.001-08:00

Has anyone used this site or these coupons? You buy a restaurant gift certificate for $10 that is worth $25. Guess you need a printer ... Restaurant.com: 50% off restaurant gift certificates with coupon code SAVINGS

This is why I'm hot

2008-01-01T13:51:00.001-08:00

I enjoyed this post:http://www.facebook.com/marketplace/listing.php?classified_id=2436601119

surprise, surprise

2007-12-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

Okay, so what rhyme scheme do you think is used for the Wikipedia entry on iambic pentameter?

Carl Kasel on my home answering machine

2007-12-29T10:20:00.001-08:00

It's been too long.Months ago at a silent auction, I purchased the opportunity to have Carl Kasel's voice on my voice mail. Carl, who the WSJ describes as "the National Public radio newscaster and the judge/scorekeeper/second banana on NPR's weekly call-in quiz show" usually offers his voice as a prize for winners.But the pressure ... this is such a great opportunity, and I lack inspiration for

phantom mice and others

2007-12-27T09:15:00.001-08:00

I still remember the first time I realized I had roommates that didn't pay rent. It was the early part of 2003, after a snowstorm so bad that it destroyed the roof of the B&O railroad museum's roundhouse. I was sitting at my dining table, reading, when I glimpsed something scurrying out of the corner of my eye. My feet left the floor. My thoughts, however, went to my landlord. Mom had read

Boston is not Baltimore

2007-12-13T18:45:00.001-08:00

Why do things like this happen in Boston and not in Baltimore? On second thought, I'm not sure whether I want to be clubbed by soft objects in the cold. Especially when things like this happen here. As The Sun says (fourth item), it's nice that they put up a barrier so people don't splashed with paint.

saving water

2007-12-12T13:36:00.001-08:00

Some of these tips you probably know ... I'm not sure about the one I've quoted below, however. "Don't pour cooking water down the drain. Water from pasta, vegetables, rice and potatoes can be saved in the refrigerator for a couple of days and used for soup. That captures flavor and water-soluble vitamins and minerals, too. (Potato cooking water is great for making bread.)"I like the idea of

happy news

2007-12-10T16:14:00.001-08:00

The city of Baltimore will now accept more plastic through its recycling program! Yes, of course we should reduce our waste and reuse what we can, but hopefully this will encourage more people to sort their trash. I'm glad that my yogurt cups will be reincarnated into something else! If you live in an apartment and your landlord does not recycle, you can find a location to drop off your items

the Urban Word of the Day

2007-12-04T07:13:00.001-08:00

makes me laugh and laugh and laugh.---------- Forwarded message ----------From: Date: Dec 4, 2007 7:00 AMSubject: Urban Word of the Day: HobosexualUrban Word of the Daywww.urbandictionary.comDecember 04, 2007: Hobosexual http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hobosexual&defid=1179918Adjective. The opposite of metrosexual; one who cares little for one's own

Vote early and often

2007-12-02T17:39:00.001-08:00

Laura Vozzella (third item) writes that HGTV is offering a "municipal makeover" for cities like Baltimore --- but it's just one Northeast Baltimore neighborhood, Pen Lucy, that's in contention for sprucing. Mayor says to vote as often as you wantRemember when big-city mayors looked to Washington for money? Today, they turn to HGTV. Sheila Dixon is urging residents to stuff the ballot box in a

check out the blotter version of my life

2007-11-29T10:54:00.001-08:00

It's the third item. Police are on the lookout for someone fragrant, yet germy (because s/he left the hand sanitizer). CentralTheft // A 2007 Honda Civic was parked in the 300 block of E. Biddle St. early Wednesday when someone shattered a passenger window with a rock and stole coconut-scented hand lotion and an iPod cable. Total value of the property and the shattered window was $310. The rock

the charms of Charm City

2007-11-28T16:47:00.001-08:00

I finally feel like I'm a real resident of Baltimore, because someone smashed in my car window between midnight and noon today --- first time in five years!Or, perhaps this is a sign I should leave.To tell you the truth, it's not unexpected. I had a really bad feeling when I parked my car yesterday on the bridge over Interstate 83, between Guilford Avenue and east Baltimore next to at least two

lies the Little People told me

2007-11-27T16:26:00.001-08:00

You know, the children's playset is probably not a bastion of historical accuracy. But, I'm pretty sure there were no black people on the Mayflower. Perhaps he is a stowaway!

the best URL ever

2007-11-19T08:50:00.001-08:00

http://www.losanjealous.com

Down with the heteronormative agenda!

2007-11-15T08:49:00.001-08:00

Baltamour blogged about relationship articles that expound about what boys do and girls do better, assuming we all fit into neat categories based on our gender. Lists such as these particularly burn me up when it comes to the presumption that women are better nurturers ... No, I'm not the best equipped human in the room to care for children, just because I have ovaries. Frankly, the best child

Coffee, meet tea

2007-11-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

So what is a "chai latte"?"Chai" is a blend of tea and spices. "Latte" is espresso with steamed milk.So is a "chai latte" coffee or tea? Is it coffee-flavored tea? Is it tea-flavored coffee? Wouldn't that be "toffee"?Amazing that we've managed as a society to complicate the combination of dried beans (or leaves) in water. Confounded pumpkin pie chai latte! I shake my fist at you.

An announcement

2007-10-30T20:01:00.001-07:00

I've often said that the world would be a safer place if I did not drive in it.Unfortunately, it's just gotten more dangerous.Maliavale and I are putting together PL8WTCH --- a blog about vanity plates. Please send contributions you've spotted our way.

A spoonful of sugar helps the theology go down

2007-10-30T19:54:00.001-07:00

In my Line of Work, I encounter a lot of marketing of consumer goods with a somewhat tenuous tie to religion. Here's a great taste-test of candies with a religious theme --- gotta love the chocolate Om and Biblical Sandy Candy. Maybe you'll get some in your treat bag this All Hallow's Eve! It was compiled by a panel at beliefnet.com ... perhaps a little redundancy in the URL, but they've got

shocking omission: unidentified delights

2007-10-08T23:25:00.001-07:00

I can't believe I went on and on about chocolate and savory things and did not mention that I finally tried the mac & cheese & chocolate at Jack's Bistro! We went on my birthday, which was a Sunday, to take advantage of the $12 entrees-in-the-bar special. The event was doubly sweet because I was not working and we ended it with a short trip to Vaccaro's in O'Donnell Square.We started the meal

Invasion of giant nuns, thwarted

2007-10-08T23:06:00.001-07:00

So after The Sun confirmed on Page 2b that the Giant Nuns were in fact larger than life-size, some not-so-Good Samaritan rats them out to the city's Department of Public Works , according to City Paper! But not before the enormous consecrated women waged havoc on the city, leaving rubble in their wake.

unidentified delights

2007-10-07T17:13:00.001-07:00

The Redhead's mom is a sweet, intelligent woman who I enjoy visiting with, especially because the two of us become a unified force in ganging up on the Redhead when the three of us are in close proximity. She's also funny, because she does not believe that the Redhead checks his mail at his apartment, so she sends gifts and birthday cards to him at my address. I think his aunt and grandmother

putting the numbers in context

2007-10-07T15:40:00.001-07:00

This work by Seattle artist Chris Jordan attempts to put American consumption in context ... I like the simple depictions much better than the photomosaic style pieces. But still --- fascinating.Updated: found via bagsintrees.com.

a classic New York City statement

2007-09-17T21:23:00.001-07:00

found, not unexpectedly, in this quote from overheard in new york:Nor the Commissions That Run ThemSmall girl: Mama, can we take off our shoes when we get to the park?Mother: Absolutely not! I don't trust parks.Overheard in New York, Sep 13, 2007

warning, unauthorized product placement ahead!

2007-09-08T18:08:00.001-07:00

So I am the owner of a savings account with ING Direct. Today I got an e-mail from them, wishing me a happy birthday! What kind of bank is this?And it gave me a coupon to buy stuff in its store! ING sells t-shirts in its store! And yoga mats and tents for you outdoorsy types, and an air compressor, if that's your bag. It also has cafes in cities near you (especially if you live within the I-95

the ultimate parking fantasy

2007-09-05T08:43:00.001-07:00

You've all seen that Mentos commercial where the young woman, upon finding her Citroen suddenly blocked by another car employs several burly Eastern Bloc construction workers to extricate it from its parking space. I've often wished I could perform the same trick, but in reverse --- calling upon legions of stronger people to shift other cars so I could squeeze my car into a space --- but not

everyone should do this

2007-08-30T20:25:00.001-07:00

if you've got cool phones that let you record your own ring tone ... http://lifehacker.com/software/cell-phones/the-inconspicuous-cell-phone-ring-194312.php

funny nuns

2007-08-30T20:18:00.001-07:00

Near Mercy Medical Center, they have these cardboard photo cutouts of various Sisters of Mercy ( these sisters, not these), welcoming patients to the hospital. I'm willing to start a betting pool on when the first act of vandalism will occur. But also: are these nuns lifesize, or have they been blown up to greater heights?

revelation

2007-08-30T20:12:00.001-07:00

A transcript of a recent e-mail conversation I had with my sister, after trying to reach her for a few days:---------- Forwarded message ----------From: dancing monkey Date: Aug 23, 2007 6:37 PMSubject: older niece's birthday party?To: Anne-Anne can u confirm it will be sat., sept 22? ---------- Forwarded message ----------From: Anne-Anne < anneanne@

Read a Book, addendum

2007-08-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

P.S. I'm sure many sports reporters would object to D'mite's instruction to put down the sports section ... I mean, that's a gateway medium, right?

Read a Book

2007-08-30T17:27:00.000-07:00

Fellow METPRO graduate Sufiya Abdur-Rahman writes about "Read a Book" by Bomani "D'mite" Armah ... check it out!

traffic ticket myths

2007-08-21T09:11:00.001-07:00

From Bankrate.com, via Consumerist: Don't believe these myths about traffic tickets.

is conspicuous consumption worse

2007-08-17T11:44:00.001-07:00

when it takes place in a country with a greater disparity between the rich and the poor? Or a larger population of poor? Or is it just easy to turn up one's Western nose at people in developing nations who espouse the same zest for material goods as we do? http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2199285.ece From The Sunday Times August 5, 2007 My big fat Indian birthday party

You think you've got it rough?

2007-08-11T06:48:00.001-07:00

Over the last few months, I've realized that things aren't so bad. There have been quite a few changes, but it really could be worse. Like when you find out you're suddenly working nights but then come to appreciate that at least you have two consecutive days off. That's a good thing. Or if you get a schedule you expect to dislike but it lets you see your nocturnal significant other more

In the center of the rainbow

2007-07-30T20:49:00.001-07:00

So I'm spending a few days in south Florida at the Asian American Journalists Association's annual convention. I made it down here despite a delay that afforded me enough time to enjoy a paraffin manicure. FYI: it's kind of like getting a hand sculptures at the state fair, only not as much fun.But! Perhaps if the flight were on time, I would not have seen from the plane my first "full-circle"

bad reality tv

2007-07-19T07:50:00.001-07:00

I stumbled on Instant Beauty Pageant on the Style Network one night and regret that I can never get that hour of my life back again ... five women randomly approached in a mall and given three hours to prepare for a beauty pageant, complete with gratuitous product placements. The highlight of the episode I saw: when contestants almost came to blows in the bar of a chain restaurant while

Just when you think your life is difficult

2007-07-19T07:44:00.001-07:00

stories like this put everything into perspective: Wide awake, Costa ready to fish again By Candus Thomson Sun reporter July 18, 2007 It took persistence and medicine, but Tim Costa no longer sleeps with the fishes. Today,

This made me happy

2007-07-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

When I first opened the box (I get a lot of hopeful promotional items in My Line of Work) I was convinced it's was the ugliest teddy bear I'd ever seen, or as the Redhead said, like it shouldn't be fed after midnight. Now, after consultations with others, I realize it's a sheep, though it could be a lamb. Symbolism works either way, I suppose. Lined in rabbit's fur, though?Perhaps I should

okay, now I'm impressed

2007-07-10T22:53:00.001-07:00

Most of the plastic-bag reuse projects I've encountered are heavy on virtue but low on style, except for these plastic bag chickens fashioned by South African crafters. Really gorgeous.

Yup, this makes me go ew.

2007-07-09T21:48:00.001-07:00

So, I've been roaming the craft-er sites lately, looking for directions for all kinds of projects I probably won't finish anytime soon. There's some interesting recycling-reclaiming projects out there, with people knitting iPod covers out of cassette tape and fusing plastic bags into raincoats .But this one really made me want to hurl, and I don't know why, because I've been known to wear an

parking

2007-06-22T07:55:00.001-07:00

So this black girl reads posted about hunting for premium parking spots yesterday.I'm definitely in one of the first two categories, lot laissez-faire or parking pragmatist. Whenever I find myself hunting for a close spot I think about how I have these perfectly functional legs that might not be so functional someday. When or if that happens, I'll hunt for a good parking spot. Until then, I'll

the Enzyme theory of relationships

2007-06-22T07:10:00.001-07:00

Apologies in advance for mangling scientific theories for my own personal use. So let's pretend humans are like atoms, bouncing around in the universe. Most atoms are at a higher "energy state" when they haven't formed a bond with other atoms. They're kind of tooling around faster, trying to get in the right position so they can share electrons with another atom. Then they kind of 'relax'

Won't you take me to

2007-06-16T10:42:00.001-07:00

Funkstown?

A Prairie Home Companion

2007-06-14T07:40:00.001-07:00

I have to say that although I'm a self-avowed NPR addict, I could be persuaded to change stations instead of listening to all the news from Lake Woebegone. But I can't live without Garrison Keillor's columns. Here's a great excerpt from this week's column:"Unrestricted immigration is a dangerous thing - look at what happened to the Iroquois. They failed to impose border controls and before they

financial survival

2007-06-03T22:38:00.001-07:00

The NYT has published a sequel to its 2006 column advising young people to lay off the lattes and instead put the money that would buy fancy coffee in a piggy bank (read: IRA) that will allow you to survive until you die. Survival, it should be noted, is what we're talking about here --- not necessarily living a life enhanced by pleasures that Americans often purchase regardless of their

Say it ain't so

2007-05-26T21:26:00.001-07:00

Rochester, N.Y. makes the NYT's most-e-mailed list, but wish it weren't for this reason. Two Failures Do Not End Dreams of a Rochester-to-Toronto Ferry By FERNANDA SANTOS ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 23 — Two years ago, this city of 190,000 people — with more per-capita murders, high school dropouts and children living in poverty than any other in the state — paid $32 million for a

The Namesake

2007-05-26T20:44:00.001-07:00

Not the movie, silly ... funny what a little vanity surfing will dredge up. Loving the creepy robo-dancing and wine glass smashing.

not the kind of thing you'd expect to read in Christianity Today ...

2007-05-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

much less on the 'most-read' list ... unless you've added their most-read list to your Google homepage and now know exactly what kinds of those things those Christians be readin' ... but it's interesting, even for you secular humanists out there ... 7 things you need to know about sex

LDRs

2007-05-18T16:50:00.001-07:00

So the Divine Miss James has been posting observations this week about long-distance lovin' on her blog, BaltAmour.I noted that technology like IM and unlimited nationwide cell phone minutes -- and discount airlines -- make LDRs much, much easier to maintain than they probably were in the Pony Express era, when people had to rely on Cold- Mountain-style missives to keep the home fires burning. I

I like new friends!

2007-05-17T18:54:00.001-07:00

Thank you, sad panda, for introducing me to the lovely resident of Scarlett Place ... I am actively seeking to introduce him, with the assistance of the Redhead and other compadres, to the joy that is Charm City.

addendum to: the Pretty Woman rule?

2007-05-13T18:32:00.001-07:00

Speaking of arbitrary lines ... according to other Swingin' Friend, sometimes even boys at speed-dating events abide by the following standard:I Never Talk On The First DatePeople are so impatient nowadays. Everyone's rushing to find someone, get married, settle down, and have kids. Call me old- fashioned, but I....onion_embed {background: rgb(256, 256, 256) !important;border: 4px solid rgb(65,

Doesn't this restore your faith

2007-05-13T18:28:00.001-07:00

in the youthful vigor of the Catholic Church?

the Pretty Woman rule?

2007-05-12T20:18:00.001-07:00

Okay, so my swingin'-single friend told me something that threw me for a loop today. She said some guys will mess around with girls but refuse to kiss them, saying they've reserved that intimate act for serious relationships. Because, it's really far more intimate to put your tongue in someone's mouth than your penis ... anywhere. Right, of course. You may recognize this scheme as first

turn-ons, turn offs

2007-05-11T21:50:00.001-07:00

I like to jokingly respond that my turn-ons are strong hands and windy nights, a combination I swear I wasn't creative enough to come up with on my own. But the meditative state induced by a giant Diet Coke (yuck) and a three-hour drive prompted these realizations, in no particular order: Turn-offs -- apathy. Damn, I hate it when people don't care. Don't care about this, don't care about

a great idea ...

2007-05-11T21:34:00.001-07:00

or perhaps not. I drove from Charm City to NYC tonight, and something the Redhead called to ask prompted a Great Idea. He asked whether my high school had a special uniform for pregnant students, which it did not -- girls just left when they started to show. Apparently one of his current grad school-mates attended a school that made the pregnant scholars wear special jumpers. I asked her,

Hey! You!

2007-05-10T00:41:00.001-07:00

Although I'm not sure I'm down with the heartbreaker msg of this song, the clap-happy beat is very fun. I think some people believe it's a public service to break up couples that aren't meant for each other?That is a question I've never been able to resolve.

so many new friends ...

2007-05-06T08:45:00.001-07:00

So Scrabble fundraiser was a success yesterday. More people walked in than expected, which was nice, despite my counter-programming with the Kinetic Sculpture race and the Maryland Film Festival. The stalker did *not* come, but that's okay. That let the redhead off the hook. And I have no idea who won the pirate cruise, and that's okay, too. I'm glad somebody likes pirates.But again, here's to

rules of the road

2007-05-06T08:14:00.001-07:00

Recently returned from a lovely trip to California, where I met up with partner-in-crime Loh-rider and road-tripped to see M.E.G. and the Mahimanator ... here are some lessons and observations: 1. Fine wines and spirits are a wonderful accompaniment to fine dining, but its best complement is excellent service.While waiting for our table at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, I had a beer. Then the first

the funniest headline in Friday's paper

2007-04-29T22:59:00.001-07:00

Peter Falk should not be used as a walk-on

addendum to year in review

2007-04-18T18:55:00.001-07:00

I've finally kicked a nasty habit. It only took about three decades, but I no longer bite my nails. During that (first) fateful trip to Hawaii, perhaps the longest stretch of un-stressed-ness I've experienced, I managed to not chew on the tips of my fingers until they resembled bloody stumps as I usually do. And, I've managed to return to work -- and fairly intense (sometimes self-induced) stress

peep jousting

2007-04-18T18:47:00.001-07:00

I first found a reference to this pastime in a WaPo story, but Anica Skywalker tipped me off to this link . Man, newspapers are offering valuable multimedia content these days ...

Father Crunk

2007-03-27T20:54:00.001-07:00

"Roll deep, and buy your own drinks, for one knows not what someone has put in that appletini." --- Fr. Bailey The New York TimesJune 17, 2006 SaturdayLate Edition - FinalA Hard Core, Hip-Hop Spiritual Journey BYLINE: By BRENDA GOODMANSECTION: Section B; Column 4; Metropolitan Desk; Religion Journal; Pg. 5LENGTH: 892 wordsDATELINE: ATLANTA, June 16Just as the sun started to burn through the smog

where in the world

2007-03-23T19:50:00.001-07:00

is Carmen SanDiego?Not the geography video game, but the PBS game show for kids with the annoying acappella band ...

year in review

2007-03-20T22:58:00.001-07:00

I fully intended to post a look back at my life as lived in 2006, but instead here's a rough, belated outline:1. started the new job at the same company, this time at the office just blocks away from my home. That means I can walk to work, making the world a safer place because I'm not driving in it. 2. discovered that cars usually work better if you change the transmission fluid more frequently

solving the mystery

2007-03-20T22:45:00.001-07:00

So tonight BJones answered the question that's troubled him since he was a wee pre-teen: what exactly was Eddie Money singing in the chorus of the 80s song "Take Me Home Tonight"?You know the one. It goes like this: "Take me home tonightI don't want to let you go (something something something)Take me home tonightBecause just like (something something)And then a woman's voice interjects "Be my

the redhead's show

2007-02-14T17:46:00.001-08:00

Here's the review of the redhead's show in the CityPaper. http://www.citypaper.com/arts/story.asp?id=13247 Time's Arrow Group Photography Eloquently Captures The Mercurial Glimmers Of Changes Here's the good part: "Ten untitled ink-jet prints from Kelly Egan's "Velocity Series" do take what Furlong sets up and translates it poetically into a still experience. These are landscapes, too--

A shocking line

2007-02-01T19:03:00.001-08:00

This story is so outrageous ... it's like it's embedded with smaller chunks of outrage, like chocolate chips in a chocolate-chocolate chip cookie. For example, this line: "The authorities said Mr. Stiffler and Mr. Snow were shocked, too, and angry about being duped by an adult posing as a minor." So, the would-be pedophiles were upset that a 29-year-old had tricked them into having sex

Well, Frank is my middle name ...

2006-12-28T16:45:00.000-08:00

Now, I know I have a bit of a neurosis about my middle initial. Once I hit confirmation age I rarely wrote my name without it, much less signed anything. I even introduced myself that way. What can I say? My parents blessed me with few syllables, so I tried to include letters as many as possible. But according to this article, Harry S Truman had a lot more to complain about. "Harry S

I'm the [insert carbohydrate here] man!

2006-12-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

I'm not ready to concede defeat on a $20 bet I made with my sister over the weekend, about a children's story I remember my parents reading to me. The details are a bit fuzzy, but I remember the oft-repeated phrase "Can't catch me, I'm the Pancake Man!"My sister remembers nothing of the sort and instead insists that the protagonist of this fable was in fact a gingerbread man, pointing to his

It's not the size ...

2006-12-10T15:03:00.000-08:00

but how you use it. A desi friend sent me this link to a BBC story that could make many South Asian men shudder --- Condoms 'too big' for Indian men : A survey of more than 1,000 men in India concludes that condoms made according to international sizes are too big for most Indian men. Clearly they have not heard of this product .

curse words

2006-12-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

Profanity is always exciting... its origins are ripe for urban legands and creative uses (different parts of speech, for example) should be applauded. Here is a link to fascinating commentary about the use of curses in Francophone Canada. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/04/AR2006120401286.html

a more affectionate form of biological warfare

2006-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

So, I'm sick. Every day this week I've had symptoms that are slowly assembling (kind of like Voltron) to form a pretty nasty nasty cold. Sunday and Monday, I had a fever. Tuesday and Wednesday brought on a runny nose. Now my nose is so stuffy that my throat is getting scratchy as a result. Actually, I have a fever but no chills, because it's so amazingly hot outside. Over 60 degrees in

the search begins

2006-11-19T20:13:00.000-08:00

So, since the sibling-offspring are still too young to read this blog, I can reveal here first that Auntie Santa is going to be packing watches for at least two of the three of them.Now, I haven't always stuck to my values when purchasing a gift for the kids. I bought A.J. his first GameBoy when he was 3 -- an original (and used) model from eBay. And Kayla can wile away the hours playing Barbie

Guinea hen, not Constantinople

2006-11-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

I think that for as long as I've celebrated Thanksgiving and had a reasonable understanding of geography I've been confused by the coincidence that both a bird and a country are named "Turkey."A quick search on dictionary.com reveals that turkeys were originally confused with what wikipedia describes in greater detail as a guinea fowl of Turkish origin.

Akeelah and the Bee

2006-11-18T00:32:00.000-08:00

I defied usual patterns of behavior moments ago by making it entirely through Akeelah and the Bee without falling asleep, after working until nearly 1 a.m. Saturday morning. Usually, the redhead says, the whir of a DVD sliding into the player is enough to lull me into a deep slumber, but perhaps the skim latte I sucked down at 6 p.m. helped stave off the ZZZs. Anyway, although I'm inclined to

but does it taste any good?

2006-11-14T20:28:00.000-08:00

Seems like the nicotini does in fact exist, at least if you believe Google. But how does it taste? Maggie Downs says it's swill.

Urban Word of the Day: nicotini

2006-11-14T20:20:00.000-08:00

Could this really be possible? Would people really serve tobacco-infused vodka, and would people really stave off the cravings with it?---------- Forwarded message ----------From: daily@urbandictionary.com Date: Nov 9, 2006 7:55 AMSubject: Urban Word of the Day: nicotiniUrban Word of the Daywww.urbandictionary.comNovember 09, 2006: nicotinihttp://www.urbandictionary.com

robocalls

2006-11-09T06:04:00.000-08:00

This was a phenomenal election year for robocalls ... I got three from Bill Clinton and one from Jesse Jackson, as well as the usual rings from actual candidates themselves. But I was inspired by this headline on Kevin Cowherd's election column. Imagine if we could robocall all the people who were elected to office and say, "Hi, I'm [insert name here]. Yesterday was Election Day, and I'd like

more minorities on the slopes

2006-11-05T08:06:00.000-08:00

My father once told me he had no sympathy for me as I froze in my western NY dorm room because I also voluntarily chose to put myself in the line of danger by going ice skating and leaving the house on holidays such as Halloween and New Year's Eve. But apparently marketers are trying to overcome the biases brown people have against legitimately treacherous endeavours. http://www.cnn.com/2006/

the weight of Indian Cosmo

2006-11-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

Good grief! What a way to measure 'progress' or perhaps just progression toward the western norm.http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1552720,00.html

the numbers on those fruit stickers

2006-11-01T22:01:00.000-08:00

Hey, who would have thought that these strings of numbers actually served a purpose? http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/bal-fo.fruitstickers01nov01,0,3389911.story?coll=bal-pe-alacarte

Happy Halloween, take II

2006-10-31T21:44:00.000-08:00

Lemme try this again:Here I am as the Utz Girl at Saturday's party, or perhaps, given my resemblance to Little Orphan Annie, the trendy brown child that all the hip celebrities are adopting these days.Maybe the outfit was a little on the naughty side, because of the ankle socks and Mary Janes, but it's nothing like the Little Bo Peep Show costumes you've read too much about already.

Happy Halloween

2006-10-31T18:01:00.000-08:00

If this works correctly, you'll be able to check out my costume this year ... either the Utz Girl (of east-coast snack food fame) or, given my resemblance to Little Orphan Annie, perhaps I was a "Trendy Brown Child for Celebrities to Adopt". Perhaps it was slightly tempting, with the ankle socks and Mary Janes, but it was nothing like the revealing costumes you've read too much about.

a quandry

2006-10-30T20:43:00.000-08:00

So, I made this low fat broccoli soup tonight, but as usual it seemed like it was missing something ... I realize, now, that the one problem with low fat soup (both the broccoli one and the mizuna soup I made the other night ,substituting the spicy Japanese mustard green for arugula) is that it tastes a lot better when you add some fat to it.

scientists: ghosts, vampires, zombies aren't real

2006-10-29T07:40:00.000-08:00

thanks for clearing this up, guys! http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061026/ap_on_sc/vampire_science Funny, I think this does speak to the inconsistant abilities of superheros in our society. I remember thinking how strange it was that sometimes Superman could withstand the force of an enormous projectile, for example, without flinching but other times would react like he wasn't more powerful

Halloween redux

2006-10-29T07:36:00.000-08:00

Some very, very creative costumes out there this year, including: highlights @ the MICA party --- Crocodile Hunter Steve Kirwin, complete with death-inducing sting ray; --- Lynndie England (looked great against the backdrop of one student's piece about the Iraq war) --- a pair of blood thirsty, frightening Republicans; --- a DickTater (with a potato on his belt); --- the monster from Lost; ---

some lists

2006-10-29T07:10:00.000-08:00

things I need to purchase ... bears no resemblance to what I actually have purchased in the last month: --- boots: slouchy? platform? pointy toed? the options on nordstrom.com are pretty extensive. --- straight-legged jeans: only if the boot mission is successful) --- gloves: I lose one at the end of every winter season, it seems. --- hat: something I could wear to work and still look vaguely

this is really hard

2006-10-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/102106dnrelcelebrityquiz.55399a99.html Take our 'Faith of the Famous' quiz 09:44 AM CDT on Saturday, October 21, 2006 By SARAH PRICE BROWN / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News From Hollywood stars to politicians to pro athletes, the rich and famous live their lives in plain view. But the public usually knows

mmm, grass-fed beef

2006-10-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

Seems like it's the source of our burgers that are the real problem when it comes to E.Coli on our spinach, not just the farms themselves ... From "The Vegetable-Industrial Complex," by Michael Pollen, NYT magazine, October 15, 2006. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/magazine/15wwln_lede.html?em&ex=1161662400&en=cd1657b8d8c3e52d&ei=5070 "The lethal strain of E. coli known as 0157:H7,

puking pumpkins!

2006-10-21T09:21:00.000-07:00

Finally, some creative carvers have found a way to represent the putrid smell of pumpkin guts in jack o'lantern style. The site also has some great ideas for scaring the bejesus out of small children, and at least attempting to thwart the teenagers who show up each year sans costume. That seems like a fruitful Halloween endeavor.Other great tips, courtesy of links compiled on Al's Morning Meeting

try this at your next novena

2006-10-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/100523,CST-NWS-ros18.article

picking up after your SO

2006-10-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

Check out the response Dan Savage received for the first letter in this issue of his column. I'm all for equal distribution of labor based on each individual's talents, but how do you reconcile different thresholds for untidy, messy and dirty? "And incidentally, for what it's worth, statistics show that women still do more than their share of unpaid work in heterosexual couples, even when both