- From Montel Williams - Coconut water is really good for you. In fact, it is a great natural energy drink. It s excellent for replacing lost electrolytes from exercise and illness. It actually has 15 times the amount of potassium as most sports and energy drinks which helps regulate blood pressure and heart function. It also regulates the functioning of the intestine which can help to promote digestive health and can can help promote smoother, more hydrated skin. Another odd and interesting fact: The electrolyte profile of the coconut water is similar to human plasma. In World War II and the Vietnam War coconut water saved many soldiers lives. Doctors used coconut water as an intravenous solution to prolong life on the battlefield when IV solutions were in short supply. Coconut water was also injected directly into the blood stream to prevent dehydration. Coconut water can be found at health food stores and stores like Whole Foods.
- From Rachel Ray - Black Vinegar has a hearty taste like balsamic vinegar and is great in salad dressings. It is also good for reducing high blood pressure and drinking a dose of vinegar each day became a popular health trend in Asia, so much so that vinegar bars started to become all the rage in Tokyo. In fact, drinking 15 milliliters of vinegar each day has been shown to lower high blood pressure. The compound also suppresses the buildup of lactic acid, which helps people to recover from fatigue; promotes secretion of saliva, which aids digestion; and contains antifungal agents. Black vinegar can be found at Asian markets.
- From Suze Orman on Oprah - A messy house is an indicator that there is disorder and something unsettled in your life that needs attention. She was actually helping a family stop bailing out a sister/daughter who was using them as her own emergency fund and an excuse to not exercise her own fiscal responsibility. But I find that I do this when I am troubled, overwhelmed, or stressed by something in my life. I lose the energy to clean up and put away things. But it is important for me to take that time because it is an indicator about how I feel about myself.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
What I have learned from daytime TV....
I seem to not have the patience to watch soap operas anymore. I basically don't watch anything between 12-3 because there are not any other choices besides soap operas (and maybe judge shows) and I really could be doing something more productive with my time. But I have learned a few things from the shows that come on during the other hours of the day.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Want to know how your produce is grown?
Months ago I posted about Ideal Bite and have been getting their daily emails ever since. Here is an interesting tip to help you tell quickly if the produce you are buying is conventionally grown, organic or genetically modified.
Thanks Ideal Bite!
Look for the labels stuck on your fruits and veggies:
- A four-digit number means it's conventionally grown.
- A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it's organic.
- A five-digit number beginning with 8 means it's GM.
Thanks Ideal Bite!
Monday, January 28, 2008
US Political Science 101
Given all the energy around the presidential elections this year, I decided I needed a little personal refresher on the American electoral process and I thought I would share it with you!
Most Americans are of the belief that the United States is a true democracy and that our president is popularly elected. However, this is not the case. In fact, as we have seen most recently in the 2000 election between George Bush and Al Gore, it is possible for a president to be elected without winning the majority of the popular vote. (Bush actually had 500,000 fewer popular votes than Al Gore.)
But how can this be!?!?
It is because of a little thing called the electoral college. The electoral college is a system in which states are assigned a certain number of delegates and these delegates are the ones who actually determine who becomes president. The electoral college system was devised by the framers of the Constitution, ostensibly because of the difficulty of actually counting each popular vote at the time, and also as a way to ensure that smaller states were not penalized and were given a more even shot at determining a president.
So, how are the number of electoral college delegates a state gets determined?
The Constitution stipulates that the state are allowed to have a number of delegates equal to their total congressional representation, the number of senators and representatives they have in Congress. And, since 1836, all states, except Maine and Nebraska, have chosen to give the winner of the popular vote in a state all of their electoral votes. So when you think about election day coverage and you remember seeing, as the votes rolled in, states on a map being classified as Red (Republican) or Blue (Democrat) that is what is happening. And they are classified as such because that party's candidate has been awarded all of that states electoral votes.
While most of the time the electoral college system serves to amplify the results of the popular vote, the winner of the popular vote receives proportionally speaking a higher percentage of the popular vote, there have been 3 times, included the election in 2000 (when Bush won with 5 more electoral votes than Gore) when the popular and electoral votes were not in line. Both Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison, in 1876 and 1888 respectively, were elected with a electoral majority but popular minority. And these types of occurrences, especially in the modern day when popular votes can easily be counted, bring into question whether or not the electoral college system is truly out of date. But since it would take a constitutional amendment to change this and there is significant fear among smaller states that it would jeopardize their ability to shape a presidential election, it seems unlikely that this will change in the near future.
But what about the presidential primaries?? What purpose do they serve in all of this?
When citizens vote in presidential primaries and caucuses, they are determining the number of delegates that will vote for a particular candidate in that political parties national presidential convention the summer before the presidential election. At this convention, the Republican and Democratic parties officially announce their presidential nominees, although the results are often known beforehand given the scrutiny with which the media tracks the primaries.
With that being said, please see the Presidential leaderboard I have added to my blog, at the bottom of the left nav bar, for up to the minute presidential primary results.
And that is the end of your US political science lesson for the day! ;-) Now, you know how important your vote can be! If you are already registered to vote, please come out and vote in your state's presidential primary. The margins separating the presidential candidates on both sides are very small. Also, please make sure that you are register and come out and vote in November. This is going to be a very important and pivotal election. We have seen where 8 years of complacency have gotten us! Exercise your rights as US citizens and remember those who don't have the ability to shape the political futures of the countries in which they live!
Most Americans are of the belief that the United States is a true democracy and that our president is popularly elected. However, this is not the case. In fact, as we have seen most recently in the 2000 election between George Bush and Al Gore, it is possible for a president to be elected without winning the majority of the popular vote. (Bush actually had 500,000 fewer popular votes than Al Gore.)
But how can this be!?!?
It is because of a little thing called the electoral college. The electoral college is a system in which states are assigned a certain number of delegates and these delegates are the ones who actually determine who becomes president. The electoral college system was devised by the framers of the Constitution, ostensibly because of the difficulty of actually counting each popular vote at the time, and also as a way to ensure that smaller states were not penalized and were given a more even shot at determining a president.
So, how are the number of electoral college delegates a state gets determined?
The Constitution stipulates that the state are allowed to have a number of delegates equal to their total congressional representation, the number of senators and representatives they have in Congress. And, since 1836, all states, except Maine and Nebraska, have chosen to give the winner of the popular vote in a state all of their electoral votes. So when you think about election day coverage and you remember seeing, as the votes rolled in, states on a map being classified as Red (Republican) or Blue (Democrat) that is what is happening. And they are classified as such because that party's candidate has been awarded all of that states electoral votes.
While most of the time the electoral college system serves to amplify the results of the popular vote, the winner of the popular vote receives proportionally speaking a higher percentage of the popular vote, there have been 3 times, included the election in 2000 (when Bush won with 5 more electoral votes than Gore) when the popular and electoral votes were not in line. Both Rutherford B. Hayes and Benjamin Harrison, in 1876 and 1888 respectively, were elected with a electoral majority but popular minority. And these types of occurrences, especially in the modern day when popular votes can easily be counted, bring into question whether or not the electoral college system is truly out of date. But since it would take a constitutional amendment to change this and there is significant fear among smaller states that it would jeopardize their ability to shape a presidential election, it seems unlikely that this will change in the near future.
But what about the presidential primaries?? What purpose do they serve in all of this?
When citizens vote in presidential primaries and caucuses, they are determining the number of delegates that will vote for a particular candidate in that political parties national presidential convention the summer before the presidential election. At this convention, the Republican and Democratic parties officially announce their presidential nominees, although the results are often known beforehand given the scrutiny with which the media tracks the primaries.
With that being said, please see the Presidential leaderboard I have added to my blog, at the bottom of the left nav bar, for up to the minute presidential primary results.
And that is the end of your US political science lesson for the day! ;-) Now, you know how important your vote can be! If you are already registered to vote, please come out and vote in your state's presidential primary. The margins separating the presidential candidates on both sides are very small. Also, please make sure that you are register and come out and vote in November. This is going to be a very important and pivotal election. We have seen where 8 years of complacency have gotten us! Exercise your rights as US citizens and remember those who don't have the ability to shape the political futures of the countries in which they live!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Waging war!
So for a little while now, I had been hearing little noises in my ceiling downstairs at night. It took me a while to suspect that it was living things. And I wasn't sure that it was mice because I hadn't seen any evidence. Then, one Friday night, I had fallen asleep downstairs and I heard a bunch of them screeching through a vent! And finally. about 2 weeks ago, I saw some droppings (yick) in the closet where I keep the dog food and I realized that 3 entire boxes of dog treats had been devoured, through little holes gnawed in the corners of the boxes. Ah ha! Confirmation at last!
So, I went out and got these humane, nice sanitary round plastic traps. You put the bait inside and then the mouse goes in, the door closes and, voila, the mouse if caught! Nothing to see or touch. Well, they didn't work at all! And it started to sound like there was a party going on under my sink at night. I also went out and bought the ultrasonic things that you plug into an outlet and it is supposed to keep the mice out. But, apparently, the sound doesn't travel so well through walls and stuff.
So today, I just had it! I went out and, as much as I didn't want to, I got the old-school mousetraps. Except, the old school traps don't require bait anymore. They have this yellow plastic piece that looks sort of like swiss cheese. I don't know if it smells like cheese to mice too but it didnt smell like anything to me.
Anyway, when I went to set the traps under the sink, I discovered the following.....
They had chewed through the bottom of 3 2 liter bottles of soda and 1 64 oz bottle of cranberry juice, drank all the juice and soda (don't ask me how they acheived this) and shredded all the labels, They had also gone in the back of the drawers and eaten more dog treats and chewed on a rawhide bone. It was totally disgusting! They are such dirty nasty creatures! Everything was dirty. At least they left the cans of soda alone. I guess mice can't chew through metal.
So I set the traps about 2 hours ago and within 15 minutes I heard the first "snap!" And two more since then. Followed by scratching and stuff. I am totally disgusted! I think it will take a day before I can summon up the courage to look under there! I tell ya, sometimes owning a house is nasty business! Yick!!!
So, I went out and got these humane, nice sanitary round plastic traps. You put the bait inside and then the mouse goes in, the door closes and, voila, the mouse if caught! Nothing to see or touch. Well, they didn't work at all! And it started to sound like there was a party going on under my sink at night. I also went out and bought the ultrasonic things that you plug into an outlet and it is supposed to keep the mice out. But, apparently, the sound doesn't travel so well through walls and stuff.
So today, I just had it! I went out and, as much as I didn't want to, I got the old-school mousetraps. Except, the old school traps don't require bait anymore. They have this yellow plastic piece that looks sort of like swiss cheese. I don't know if it smells like cheese to mice too but it didnt smell like anything to me.
Anyway, when I went to set the traps under the sink, I discovered the following.....
They had chewed through the bottom of 3 2 liter bottles of soda and 1 64 oz bottle of cranberry juice, drank all the juice and soda (don't ask me how they acheived this) and shredded all the labels, They had also gone in the back of the drawers and eaten more dog treats and chewed on a rawhide bone. It was totally disgusting! They are such dirty nasty creatures! Everything was dirty. At least they left the cans of soda alone. I guess mice can't chew through metal.
So I set the traps about 2 hours ago and within 15 minutes I heard the first "snap!" And two more since then. Followed by scratching and stuff. I am totally disgusted! I think it will take a day before I can summon up the courage to look under there! I tell ya, sometimes owning a house is nasty business! Yick!!!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Rising above....
I am not a very dramatic person. I give people the benefit of the doubt and try to see all sides of something. I do not fly off the handle. You have to do something really extreme to make me mad. But when I do get mad, I get mad.
Even when I am mad though, I do not fly off the handle right then and there. But I have an intense need to confront the person afterwards, especially if I feel that something was done deliberately.
But when someone does something to you purposefully to illicit a reaction then you lose your power in the situation when you react. And, lets face it, many people often don't really learn the consequences of their actions unless the consequences are clear and definite.
So, I am in a situation where a person's actions makes me question if I even want to be around them anymore. What makes it even more disappointing is that it was immediately preceded by a very enjoyable time when I thought we were really connecting. I really want to yell and go off on this person, maybe even hang up the phone on them (which I never do) if I hear anything other than an apologetic tone. But I am going to rise above, at least for now. Silence can have a powerful message.
Even when I am mad though, I do not fly off the handle right then and there. But I have an intense need to confront the person afterwards, especially if I feel that something was done deliberately.
But when someone does something to you purposefully to illicit a reaction then you lose your power in the situation when you react. And, lets face it, many people often don't really learn the consequences of their actions unless the consequences are clear and definite.
So, I am in a situation where a person's actions makes me question if I even want to be around them anymore. What makes it even more disappointing is that it was immediately preceded by a very enjoyable time when I thought we were really connecting. I really want to yell and go off on this person, maybe even hang up the phone on them (which I never do) if I hear anything other than an apologetic tone. But I am going to rise above, at least for now. Silence can have a powerful message.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Bureaucracy - Your Tax Dollars At Work
Today, I did one thing that I have been dreading. No one really wants to go try to get something done at a place where you know you are going to get the run around. But that is what you have to expect when you deal with a government agency. Today, I went to try to dispute the property taxes charged on some properties I purchased last year. I noticed that the amounts are severely out of wack for the value of the properties and their location within the city. I expected that this wouldn't be a simple thing to fix, especially since the county has already gotten their money but I decided today was the day to start trying to unravel the process. After all, it means money back for me which, especially at this time, is sorely needed.
So first, I went to one office that could only help with with disputes for taxes for the current year. The woman was very helpful and told me that I needed to get copies of the deeds for the properties in the courthouse next door and then come back and go to the office next door to hers to speak to the assessor in charge of the area where the property is. Getting the deeds was a relatively simple and quick process. The woman at the records office was very helpful. And then I came back to talk to the assessor. My assessor was actually in court that day so another guy filled in for him. He and I spent 2 hours trying to sort through everything. The end result was that I was told that there were not individual parcel numbers for each property, they were still in larger lots and that the assessments for the properties were not up to date -- last done in February and did not reflect completed construction. So the plan I left with was to do or make sure everything got done to get individual parcel numbers for each property (that included surveys etc.) and also schedule a time for the assessor to come back out and re-assess the property. This would require him having access to the inside of the buildings which are all already occupied -- not very convenient. All this has to be done before I can even talk to the people who set and collect the taxes about getting money back!
After this, I decided, I might as well make a day of it and go to the unemployment office and file for unemployment. It couldn't be worse, right? After all, people file for unemployment every day..... The process was rather streamlined, simple, and non-particularly time consuming. I was out in about an hour and 20 minutes. I was glad to get that off my list.
However, it seems that there will be many more days at the tax assessors office ahead for me. The builder claims that they have already gotten parcel numbers for the individual properties and that they were issued by the City, although the COunty has no record of them. So, I am going to try to go back with the builder to the assessors office for another saga of "Bureaucracy - Your Tax Dollars At Work." Stay tuned!
So first, I went to one office that could only help with with disputes for taxes for the current year. The woman was very helpful and told me that I needed to get copies of the deeds for the properties in the courthouse next door and then come back and go to the office next door to hers to speak to the assessor in charge of the area where the property is. Getting the deeds was a relatively simple and quick process. The woman at the records office was very helpful. And then I came back to talk to the assessor. My assessor was actually in court that day so another guy filled in for him. He and I spent 2 hours trying to sort through everything. The end result was that I was told that there were not individual parcel numbers for each property, they were still in larger lots and that the assessments for the properties were not up to date -- last done in February and did not reflect completed construction. So the plan I left with was to do or make sure everything got done to get individual parcel numbers for each property (that included surveys etc.) and also schedule a time for the assessor to come back out and re-assess the property. This would require him having access to the inside of the buildings which are all already occupied -- not very convenient. All this has to be done before I can even talk to the people who set and collect the taxes about getting money back!
After this, I decided, I might as well make a day of it and go to the unemployment office and file for unemployment. It couldn't be worse, right? After all, people file for unemployment every day..... The process was rather streamlined, simple, and non-particularly time consuming. I was out in about an hour and 20 minutes. I was glad to get that off my list.
However, it seems that there will be many more days at the tax assessors office ahead for me. The builder claims that they have already gotten parcel numbers for the individual properties and that they were issued by the City, although the COunty has no record of them. So, I am going to try to go back with the builder to the assessors office for another saga of "Bureaucracy - Your Tax Dollars At Work." Stay tuned!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Starved for interaction!
So one of the things that is hard about being out of work is that everyone else is at work. After wearing the same clothes for 3 days and sitting in the house without going further than the sidewalk in front of my house, I can honestly say I am starved for human interaction!! There definitely is a social component to going to work and right now I miss it. I think I am doing all my annoying customer service errand calls in an attempt to have someone to talk to!
I am not sure that I would be good at working from home, unless it was just something that I have really passionate about. And I am going to have to arrange to have lunch with some friends or something so I won't become some crazy hermit who has conversations that are way too long and involved with her dog!
I am not sure that I would be good at working from home, unless it was just something that I have really passionate about. And I am going to have to arrange to have lunch with some friends or something so I won't become some crazy hermit who has conversations that are way too long and involved with her dog!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Is it cheating? My disclaimer.
So I seem to have this bad habit. I write blog posts in my head but then don't manage to get them typed in. If I am lucky, I get the titles written in draft in Blogger to trigger my memory about what I want to write about so that I will remember when I actually get around to or feel like writing it.
So, I will confess that the next few posts, while they were written in my head on the dates listed, were not actually up on the blog on the dates listed. So, if you are wondering where all these posts came from all of a sudden, I confess that I have fudged the dates to more accurately reflect the time when I was thinking about these things.....
So, I will confess that the next few posts, while they were written in my head on the dates listed, were not actually up on the blog on the dates listed. So, if you are wondering where all these posts came from all of a sudden, I confess that I have fudged the dates to more accurately reflect the time when I was thinking about these things.....
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Presidential musings....
I saw a funny bumper sticker the other day that, after I realized what it said, made me chuckle. It said:
So I have been watching the presidential primaries/caucuses this week, especially the Democratic race. Many things have been said in recent weeks about who should or will become president, why this person could, why this person shouldn't etc...
I was listening to the radio the other day and I overheard the DJ talking about a comment posted on the website of a well-respected African-American organization saying something about how if Barack Obama was to become president it would be a step back for the black race because he would undoubtedly be killed in office. Whether he would or not remains to be seen, but I just thought that this was one of the stupidest comments I had ever heard. This is a smart man, he and his family know the potential personal security risk that they are taking by him running for President and making a stand for change in our political arena. And this is a risk that he is willing to make. And which is better for the black race, to ask our leaders to hold back and not aspire to the highest heights so they won't be killed. This also means that they won't be as effective. I don't wish assassination on anyone but part of the reason the those like Martin Luther King Jr are so inspiring to us is because they paid the ultimate sacrifice, and this ultimate sacrifice was what spurred and motivated a greater populace to work and fight for change. It is unfortunate that this has to happen to get people of their butts in protest but lets face it, it really does. There is too much complacency in this country.
I am really puzzled about what the outcome of this presidential race will be come November. It will likely become clearer after the primaries are over. There are thousands of polls being taken across the country to try to predict how and why people are and will vote the way they do. But it possible that the most accurate predictors and most telling polls that anyone could ask could probably end up being the following:
Who would you rather have as president of the United States? A Mormon or a black guy? or..... A Mormon or a woman? (although it is unlikely that you would actually get people to respond honestly.)
I can't wait to see what the results of this election are. We have had enough of Bush (I actually had enough of him in November 2000 but apparently the rest fo a you all didn't!) and it's time for some new, smarter, more articulate more worldly blood in the White House!
Democrats are sexy
Who ever heard of a fine piece of elephant?
Who ever heard of a fine piece of elephant?
So I have been watching the presidential primaries/caucuses this week, especially the Democratic race. Many things have been said in recent weeks about who should or will become president, why this person could, why this person shouldn't etc...
I was listening to the radio the other day and I overheard the DJ talking about a comment posted on the website of a well-respected African-American organization saying something about how if Barack Obama was to become president it would be a step back for the black race because he would undoubtedly be killed in office. Whether he would or not remains to be seen, but I just thought that this was one of the stupidest comments I had ever heard. This is a smart man, he and his family know the potential personal security risk that they are taking by him running for President and making a stand for change in our political arena. And this is a risk that he is willing to make. And which is better for the black race, to ask our leaders to hold back and not aspire to the highest heights so they won't be killed. This also means that they won't be as effective. I don't wish assassination on anyone but part of the reason the those like Martin Luther King Jr are so inspiring to us is because they paid the ultimate sacrifice, and this ultimate sacrifice was what spurred and motivated a greater populace to work and fight for change. It is unfortunate that this has to happen to get people of their butts in protest but lets face it, it really does. There is too much complacency in this country.
I am really puzzled about what the outcome of this presidential race will be come November. It will likely become clearer after the primaries are over. There are thousands of polls being taken across the country to try to predict how and why people are and will vote the way they do. But it possible that the most accurate predictors and most telling polls that anyone could ask could probably end up being the following:
Who would you rather have as president of the United States? A Mormon or a black guy? or..... A Mormon or a woman? (although it is unlikely that you would actually get people to respond honestly.)
I can't wait to see what the results of this election are. We have had enough of Bush (I actually had enough of him in November 2000 but apparently the rest fo a you all didn't!) and it's time for some new, smarter, more articulate more worldly blood in the White House!
A funny Journeyman coincidence?
An article on Yahoo News about a recently re-opened FBI case where a man hijacked a plane and parachute jumped out of it with a briefcase of money, alluding authority sounds extremely familiar to all of us Journeyman watchers! Um, can you say Dylan McCleen?!?!?
This story smack of an episode on Journeyman, The Legend of Dylan McCleen, about a soldier from Vietnam who jumps from a plan with $150,000 never to been seen again and how Dan Vasser, the shows main character, ends up rendezvousing with him throughout time.
So this is interesting because we have a family friend who is in business development for a TV production studio in LA (at least through the end of January -- if this writer's strike continues she will be out of work in February but that is another story!) Anyway, her job is to not only read new scripts that come into the studio but also to look for interesting news stories etc that might make good ideas for new shows. I guess the writers of Journeyman follow a similar process to get ideas for new episodes. I think what they came up with sounds a little more interesting than this true story, although I am amazed that this guy was actually allowed to hijack a commercial airliner, submit demands and actually get them.
Watch episode 105, The Legend of Dylan McCleen here on NBC.com
This story smack of an episode on Journeyman, The Legend of Dylan McCleen, about a soldier from Vietnam who jumps from a plan with $150,000 never to been seen again and how Dan Vasser, the shows main character, ends up rendezvousing with him throughout time.
So this is interesting because we have a family friend who is in business development for a TV production studio in LA (at least through the end of January -- if this writer's strike continues she will be out of work in February but that is another story!) Anyway, her job is to not only read new scripts that come into the studio but also to look for interesting news stories etc that might make good ideas for new shows. I guess the writers of Journeyman follow a similar process to get ideas for new episodes. I think what they came up with sounds a little more interesting than this true story, although I am amazed that this guy was actually allowed to hijack a commercial airliner, submit demands and actually get them.
Watch episode 105, The Legend of Dylan McCleen here on NBC.com
Monday, January 07, 2008
No, no, no! We must save Journeyman!!!
http://www.candorville.com/wordpress/2008/01/01/journeyman/
I am upset! You may remember in my post about visiting LA a few months ago I mentioned seeing the pilot for a new show named Journeyman that is on NBC. On the surface this show seemed a little Quantum Leap-esque but week after week I continued to get drawn into this show! It is not often that I like a new show so much right off. I mean, I let a whole season of Lost go by and it wasn't until the summer season re-run that I got interested in that show. But Journeyman is really pretty intriguing and smart. It is not a corny travel back in time show. It really shows a more "realistic" viewpoint of what might happen if you mysteriously started traveling back in time randomly with little control, what it would do to you, the effect it would have on your family and job, what would happen if you were tempted to try to change things about your life, what would happen if you left things from the future in the past etc....
I mean this is really interesting stuff! And I have been sitting rivoted to my TV (or Tivo) after Heroes every Monday just to see the next installment. Now there are very strong rumors that the show has been canceled by NBC, right in the midst of this writer's strike and the show's ardent fans (I am starting to become one of those as well) are launching a multi-faceted campaign to let NBC and other networks know how much we like the show.
Prong 1: Spreading comments across numerous message boards, comment areas etc, sharing our enthusiasm for the show and our disappointment at a possible cancellation, especially NBC messageboards. Here is a listing of a few key ones to hit:
http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/index.php?showforum=93
http://save-journeyman.blogspot.com/
http://www.ew.com/ew
Prong 3: Organized download-aramas organizing fans to download episodes from NBC.com at organized times to show NBC how big the fan base is. The first one is scheduled for today, January 7 at 10pm (the regular time for the show, which is not airing today.) Fans, those interested in finding out what the show is about etc should download/stream/watch the first episode of the season "Love of a Lifetime" at 10pm from NBC.com
It just upsets me that in this age where what is real TV is being increasingly replaced by meaningless reality dribble like he return of American Gladiators, any number of the new mindless gameshows based strictly on luck or chance, oh, and lets not forget the karaoke shows, or the 50 million shows about the real life of some rapper or celebrity du jour (Irv Gotti, the Kardasians, Kimora Lee Simmons, Snoop -- do I really need to see their everyday life on a weekly basis!?!?) that a show that is complex, detail oriented, smart and intriguing can be canceled while shows like Fear Factor are allowed to live on in perpetuity!
I urge you, if you are a fan of Journeyman, let your voice be heard. If you have not ever watched an episode, check them out at NBC.com. But please people, let the studio know that we actually care to see well-written, suspenseful fiction protrayed by professional actors on our TVs!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080101/ap_on_re_us/looking_for_cooper
I am upset! You may remember in my post about visiting LA a few months ago I mentioned seeing the pilot for a new show named Journeyman that is on NBC. On the surface this show seemed a little Quantum Leap-esque but week after week I continued to get drawn into this show! It is not often that I like a new show so much right off. I mean, I let a whole season of Lost go by and it wasn't until the summer season re-run that I got interested in that show. But Journeyman is really pretty intriguing and smart. It is not a corny travel back in time show. It really shows a more "realistic" viewpoint of what might happen if you mysteriously started traveling back in time randomly with little control, what it would do to you, the effect it would have on your family and job, what would happen if you were tempted to try to change things about your life, what would happen if you left things from the future in the past etc....
I mean this is really interesting stuff! And I have been sitting rivoted to my TV (or Tivo) after Heroes every Monday just to see the next installment. Now there are very strong rumors that the show has been canceled by NBC, right in the midst of this writer's strike and the show's ardent fans (I am starting to become one of those as well) are launching a multi-faceted campaign to let NBC and other networks know how much we like the show.
Prong 1: Spreading comments across numerous message boards, comment areas etc, sharing our enthusiasm for the show and our disappointment at a possible cancellation, especially NBC messageboards. Here is a listing of a few key ones to hit:
http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/index.php?showforum=93
http://save-journeyman.blogspot.com/
http://www.ew.com/ew
imdb.com Journeyman message board
youtube.com (search and comment on journeyman videos)
digg.com (search for Journeyman articles, digg them and comment. If you don’t already have a digg account, it’s really quick to create one and very easy to use)
Prong 3: Organized download-aramas organizing fans to download episodes from NBC.com at organized times to show NBC how big the fan base is. The first one is scheduled for today, January 7 at 10pm (the regular time for the show, which is not airing today.) Fans, those interested in finding out what the show is about etc should download/stream/watch the first episode of the season "Love of a Lifetime" at 10pm from NBC.com
It just upsets me that in this age where what is real TV is being increasingly replaced by meaningless reality dribble like he return of American Gladiators, any number of the new mindless gameshows based strictly on luck or chance, oh, and lets not forget the karaoke shows, or the 50 million shows about the real life of some rapper or celebrity du jour (Irv Gotti, the Kardasians, Kimora Lee Simmons, Snoop -- do I really need to see their everyday life on a weekly basis!?!?) that a show that is complex, detail oriented, smart and intriguing can be canceled while shows like Fear Factor are allowed to live on in perpetuity!
I urge you, if you are a fan of Journeyman, let your voice be heard. If you have not ever watched an episode, check them out at NBC.com. But please people, let the studio know that we actually care to see well-written, suspenseful fiction protrayed by professional actors on our TVs!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080101/ap_on_re_us/looking_for_cooper
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Calling for advice/suggestions from my fellow bloggers
I am looking for help with two very different geographically-specific problems that friends of mine are having. I thought I would put them out to they blogging community to see if any of your can help and/or have suggestions....
First, I have a friend who's 8 year old son decided a few months ago that we wanted to have locks. So he has been growing out his hair for a few months and now they are ready to get his locks (palm-rolled) started. Does anyone out there have suggests for a good place in the Atlanta area (preferably in Cobb County) where his parents can take him to get his locks started and maintained? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Unfortunately, since I have always maintained my hair myself I am not a good resource. Hopefully, one of you will be!
Second, a friend of mine called me because a friend of hers is in a dilemma. She is scheduled to arrive in Paris tomorrow to start an exchange program for a quarter. Unfortunately, she and her roommate were scammed and have no place to stay! It seems that they had found a place through Craigslist, like a lot of their other classmates, and sent in a $2000 deposit in October but when her roommate arrived earlier this week, she discovered that the building where the apartment is supposed to be does not exist! So, they are out of a deposit and are scrambling for some place to stay through the end of March. Does anyone know of anyplace in Paris that does short term rentals or have any suggestions for where they might look? They both have places to stay for the next few days but need to find something more permanent.
Thanks in advance, my Blogger fam!
First, I have a friend who's 8 year old son decided a few months ago that we wanted to have locks. So he has been growing out his hair for a few months and now they are ready to get his locks (palm-rolled) started. Does anyone out there have suggests for a good place in the Atlanta area (preferably in Cobb County) where his parents can take him to get his locks started and maintained? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Unfortunately, since I have always maintained my hair myself I am not a good resource. Hopefully, one of you will be!
Second, a friend of mine called me because a friend of hers is in a dilemma. She is scheduled to arrive in Paris tomorrow to start an exchange program for a quarter. Unfortunately, she and her roommate were scammed and have no place to stay! It seems that they had found a place through Craigslist, like a lot of their other classmates, and sent in a $2000 deposit in October but when her roommate arrived earlier this week, she discovered that the building where the apartment is supposed to be does not exist! So, they are out of a deposit and are scrambling for some place to stay through the end of March. Does anyone know of anyplace in Paris that does short term rentals or have any suggestions for where they might look? They both have places to stay for the next few days but need to find something more permanent.
Thanks in advance, my Blogger fam!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
New Year traditions
So, for some reason, maybe in an attempt at comfort, I decided on a whim to make black eyed peas this year. This is funny because 1) I have never made them before and 2) I never really liked them when I was a kid and I don't think that I have ever had them since then. Also, I decided to buy 2 1 lb bags of beans. Maybe subconsciously I figured, the more good luck the better! So now, having convinced myself that I could make them taste good, I have a 9 qt stockpot full of peas and you know... they really taste good! I think the difference is that I cooked them in chicken stock instead of just water.
So the New Years tradition with black eyed peas is that you are supposed to eat them on New Years Day for good luck but I was talking to a friend of mine and she mentioned something her mother told her about not washing clothes or dishes on New Years Day because that would be bad luck --- something about washing away good fortune or something like that. Have you heard of this tradition? What other New Years traditions do you know about?
So the New Years tradition with black eyed peas is that you are supposed to eat them on New Years Day for good luck but I was talking to a friend of mine and she mentioned something her mother told her about not washing clothes or dishes on New Years Day because that would be bad luck --- something about washing away good fortune or something like that. Have you heard of this tradition? What other New Years traditions do you know about?
I resolve.....
It is that time. The time when millions of us take the turning of a new year as an opportunity to make a change in our lives. But what is so special about the start of a new year? January 1st is just the day after December 31st. Perhaps it is because the concept of rebirth, cleansing and rededication is such a comforting theme to us all. The thought that we can make right what has gone wrong in the prior year. The thought that you can actualize new opportunities for yourself because a new period of time has started. Or maybe it is the fact that you are not alone and the fact that millions of others are focused on self-improvement as are you is what spurs people on.
My thinking is that whatever makes you resolve to do things better is a good thing. Just think what would happen if we could get people to go through this exercise at the end of each month, or each week or each day even!
So, on to my resolution....... My resolution is to re-focus myself on the goals that I have already set for myself and found myself straying from and loosing momentum towards the end of the year.
But what about you? What are you going to do better in 2008? Please share if you feel so inclined!
My thinking is that whatever makes you resolve to do things better is a good thing. Just think what would happen if we could get people to go through this exercise at the end of each month, or each week or each day even!
So, on to my resolution....... My resolution is to re-focus myself on the goals that I have already set for myself and found myself straying from and loosing momentum towards the end of the year.
- Finding a satisfying/motivating job that is in line with my overall career goals, while at the same time embracing non-traditional opportunities that come my way
- Rededicating myself to my health and physical and emotional well-being
- Progressing on long term fixes to past (and occasionally present) poor financial choices
But what about you? What are you going to do better in 2008? Please share if you feel so inclined!
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