6.30.2006

PostSecret 2

New PostSecrets come out on Sunday! I'm becoming rather obsessive compulsive about these darn little things. I've collected over 100 of them from various websites and am currently working ona website to post them all on, I'll let you know when I finish. In the meantime here's some new info about PostSecret...

The Reading Public Museum in PA is having an exhibit of PostSecrets from June - October. Sadly I live nowhere near PA, but if any of you do you should check it out and think fondly of me while you do!

Here's the link & info:
http://www.readingpublicmuseum.org/exhibits/events/postsecret.html

(posted here for your viewing pleasure)

PostSecret
June 17 - October 8, 2006


What is your deepest, darkest secret? In this extraordinary exhibition at Reading Public Museum, PostSecret post cards showcase secrets shared from around the world. They deal with religion, suicide, violence, drugs, deception, loneliness, love, family and hope.

PostSecret is a worldwide community art project started by Frank Warren in November 2004. He invited strangers at Metro stations, Washington, D.C. art galleries, and used book shops to write down and illustrate a secret anonymously on a post card and mail it to him. The secret had to be true, and it had to be something that had never been shared with another person. These initial secrets were displayed at an art exhibition in D.C. Soon, Warren created a website, http://postsecret.blogspot.com, where he shares new secrets each week, and invites people to join in the project.

Over one year and over 10,000 secrets later, PostSecret has become an international phenomenon. A new secret is published each week in Washington, D.C.'s The City Paper. In December 2005, a PostSecret book was published sharing the secrets' words and pictures with the world.

In many cases, the illustrations on these cards are just as compelling as the accompanying text. If art is a mirror reflecting ourselves, then PostSecret casts a revealing light onto our inner lives, showing the best and worst of what dwells there. Frank Warren calls them “graphic haiku.”

This exhibition is underwritten by grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Reading Public Museum, 500 Museum Road, Reading, PA 19611-1425Telephone: 610-371-5850 - Fax: 610-371-5632

6.29.2006

Sleeping Comcast Technician

Okay this one makes me proud to work for Comcast... this is a video of a comcast tech who fell asleep at a customer's house while waiting on hold for over an hour to comcast:

From the subscriber...
"A Comcast technician came to replace a faulty modem. After spending an hour on hold with Comcast's central office, he fell asleep on my couch. I've been in my apartment for three weeks and my internet connection is still non-functional. This is my tribute to Comcast, their low quality technology and their poor customer service.

UPDATE: My service has been restored. A Comcast team spent five hours to get everything up and running. Thanks for all your advice."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvVp7b5gzqU

And the rebuttal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWFPysDDJNM

Oh and the knowledge base at work says we are supposed to let subscribers know that the man was fired, the subscriber's service was restored and that he is now "happy" with comcast service. Also something about comcast having millions of subscribers, but having one unhappy one is one too many! (LOL not sure how that explains the 30 or so irate people I talk to everyday...)


Here's some other random crap about this...

Sleepy Comcast technician gets filmed, then fired
June 26, 2006 3:18 PM PDT

Comcast might need to reassess its employment techniques. Not only did a technician in the Washington, D.C., area find it necessary to call Comcast's help line in order to fix a straightforward Internet connection issue, but he also fell asleep on customer Brian Finkelstein's couch.

Credit: YouTubeCaught sleeping on the job.

The humorous video Finkelstein produced of the employee, snoozing comfortably on the couch, is available for public entertainment via YouTube. It's edited to include music (Eels pop song "I Need Some Sleep"), as well as humorous text slides in Comcast's signature font with messages like "thanks Comcast for two broken routers, four-hour appointment blocks, weeklong Internet outages." A law student at Georgetown University, Finkelstein made it possible for hundreds of thousands of viewers--the video, called "A Comcast Technician Sleeping On My Couch," has gotten 302,210 views to date--to witness the inactive technician. However, the 58-second film cost the employee his job and meant some not-so-good publicity for Comcast.

But was Finkelstein's effort really worthwhile? My answer is yes. Sure, Finkelstein could have written a letter of complaint to the company for its terrible service. But a story this juicy has to be shared. And it was.

Posted by Sabena Suri
http://news.com.com/2061-10786_3-6088136.html


June 21, 2006
While Comcast was sleeping

Brian Finkelstein of Snakes on a Blog fame was having issues with his Comcast Internet connection.

After several tries, a technician finally arrives to replace the faulty modem. The technician dials the company's support line to activate the replacement modem and... is put on hold for 90 minutes.

While waiting for the activation authorization, the technician falls asleep.
An alert Brian films the napping tech and gives him a starring role is this humorous video.
http://customerevangelists.typepad.com/blog/2006/06/its_not_comcast.html

From Forbes:
Comcast Employee Sleeps During House Call
06.26.2006, 07:22 AM

Comcast Corp. has fired an employee for sleeping on a customer's couch during a house call after video of the incident became a minor Internet sensation.

Philadelphia-based Comcast also said in a statement that it had apologized to customer Brian Finkelstein of Washington, D.C., for the "unsatisfactory customer experience."

Finkelstein posted video of the sleeping technician and told this story on YouTube.com, a site that lets users share videos:

His Comcast Internet connection had worked only intermittently since he moved to a new apartment June 1. A Comcast employee who came to Finkelstein's home June 14 to replace the modem called the company for help. Put on hold for more than an hour, he caught some shut-eye while he waited.

Finkelstein, a Georgetown University law student, picked up his video camera, added an Eels song with the lyrics "I need some sleep," and sent it to YouTube.

The 58-second video has been viewed more than 227,000 times since it was posted Tuesday.

Finkelstein told The Philadelphia Inquirer in an e-mail message Friday that his service has been fixed.

This is not the first customer-service issue to embarrass Comcast. In August, the company said it had fired two employees in the Chicago area for changing a woman's name on her bill to a derogatory term after she repeatedly complained about poor service.

Comcast said that providing a positive customer experience was its top priority. It said that, each year, it interacted with customers more than 225 million times, taking more than 200 million phone calls and sending out trucks 25 million times.
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/06/26/ap2839477.html

6.28.2006

Kool-aid

For something completely different (although I suppose not really considering some of the things I've posted)... the History of Kool-Aid!!

Kool-Aid started out in Hastings, Nebraska created by a man named Edwin Perkins. Kool-Aid started out as a liquid concentrate called "Fruit Smack"(it came in six flavours) that Perkins shipped as part of his mail-order business. A four-ounce bottle could affordably serve a family. The problem was the issue of breakage of the glass bottle on the rail lines. In 1927 Perkins developed a way to remove the liquid from Fruit Smack so the remaining powder could be re-packaged in envelopes (which Perkins designed and printed) under a new name to be called Kool-Ade. (He later changed the spelling to Kool-Aid.)

It was originally sold mail-order to wholesalers and later in 1929 became available to grocery stores. It orignally cost 10 cents a package and came in the six flavours of fruit smack: strawberry, cherry, lemon-lime, grape, orange and raspberry.

During the great depression Perkins dropped the price to five cents a package so most families could afford it, children took an especial liking to the beverage and would set up kool-aid stands. Due to shortages during WWII production did not increase but in 1950, 300 production workers produced nearly a million packets of Kool-Aid each day. In 1953 Kool-Aid was sold to General Foods (later bought by Kraft) and in 1955 two new flavours were added: Root Beer and Lemonade flavors.

In the 50's the Kool-Aid pitcher was marketed as the mascot of Kool-Aid. In the 60's Kool-Aid came out in the pre-sweetened variety and that formula was revamped in the 70's. "Kool-Aid Man" burst onto the scene in 1975, breaking through walls and delighting thirsty children with pitchers of fruity Kool-Aid. In 1994, he received a computer-generated update, allowing Kool-Aid Man to engage in more complex activities such as driving a convertible and doing off-road four wheeling in a monster truck.

Though he traditionally wears a rainbow-striped shirt, jeans and sneakers, Kool-Aid Man is very versatile with his wardrobe. For example, he wears an open Hawaiian print shirt with drawstring bathing suit and flip-flops on the Island Twist varieties of Kool-Aid, and sports an open shirt, khaki walking shorts and hiking boots on the Mega Mountain Twists flavors. He even appears in fatigues and combat boots for packages sold on military bases.

The number of flavors has more than tripled from the six original flavors to 20, with contemporary flavor sensations such as Slammin' Strawberry-Kiwi and Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade. Tropical Punch remains the favorite flavor, with Lemonade, Cherry, Grape and Orange rounding out the top five. In 1999, caffeine-free tea flavor was added to Kool-Aid to create Kool-Aid Fruit T's available in Strawberry Tea, Wildberry Tea, and Lemonade Tea.

More than 563 million gallons are consumed in a year, including 225 million gallons during the summer season

Kool-Aid averages out to under a nickel a glass, from it's origins of a penny a glass, it has beat inflation since 1947.

Kool-Aid is the official soft drink of Nebraska

US Kool-Aid Flavours (including those discontinued):
Arctic Green Apple, Bedrock Orange, Berry Blue, Black Cherry, Blastin' Berry Cherry, Blastin' Berry Cherry (sugar free), Blue Moon Berry, Blue Raspberry, Bunch Berry, Candy Apple, Changin' Cherry (color-changing mix), Cherry, Cherry (sugar-free), Cherry Cracker, Cherry Lime, Cherry Subway, Cola, Eerie Orange (Halloween edition), Golden Nectar, Grape, Grape (sugar free), Grape Berry Splash, Grape Illusion (color-changing mix), Great Bluedini, Ice Blue Island Twist, Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade, Incrediberry Jamaica (hibiscus flavored), Kickin' Kiwi-Lime, Kiwi Strawberry, Lemonade, Lemonade (sugar free), Lemonade Tea, Lemon-Grape, Lemon Ice, Lemon-Lime, Mandarina-Tangerine, Mango, Man-O-Mango-Berry, Mountain Berry Punch, Oh-Yeah Orange-Pineapple, Orange, PiƱa-Pineapple, Pineapple-Grapefruit, Pink Lemonade, Pink Swimmingo, Punch, Purplesaurus Rex, Rainbow Punch, Raspberry, Red Fruit, Mountain Spring, Rock-A-Dile Red, Root Beer, Raspberry Reaction, Scary Blackberry (Halloween edition), Scary Black Cherry (Halloween edition), Sharkleberry Fin, Slammin' Strawberry Kiwi, Soarin' Strawberry-Lemonade, Soarin' Strawberry-Lemonade (sugar free), Starry Strawberry Star Fruit, Strawberry, Strawberry Falls Punch, Strawberry Split, Strawberry Tea, Sunshine Punch, Surfin' Berry Punch, Swirlin' Strawberry Starfruit, Switchin' Secret, Tamarindo, Tangerine, Tropical Punch, Tropical Punch (sugar free), Watermelon Kiwi, Watermelon Cherry, Wildberry Tea, Yabba Dabba Doo Berry


FUN FACT:

The famed frosted KOOL-AID® pitcher has been part of the company since 1954. Three different messages appeared in the frosted pitcher ads that summer:

  • One had drawn in the frost
  • Another had a heart and an arrow, and
  • One had the smiling face that has endured until today.


LINKYS:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/koolaid/
http://www.hastingsmuseum.org/koolaid/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kool-Aid
http://www.faqs.org/faqs/food/kool-aid-faq/


There's a recipe for Kool-Aid playdough on the website!!! ROFL:
http://www.kraftfoods.com/koolaid/2001/scroll/scroll_detail_play_dough.html

6.27.2006

Outlook Express & Hotmail

The other week I thought to myself how nice it would be to hae all my e-mails in one place so I proceeded to configure my Outlook Express to do just that. Easy enough right? six e-mails, one program, create accounts, download mail... easy right? WRONG!

I tried to enter the hotmail e-mail addresses only to get an erro that said that hotmail was no longer accessibly through OE. I proceeded to check the msn site and sure enough they discontinued support unless you have a paid membership. A paid membership is apparently $29.95 USD a year, which isn't too bad, but I have 3 accounts so that's about $100 CDN a year just to use a program I've been using for free for at least 10 years. I figured there had to be an easier way...
http://join.msn.com/Hotmailplus/overview-std

I scoured the web and found a neat little program called FreePOPs. You install this program set the incoming to localhost and outgoing port to 2000 and Voila you can check your hotmail!
http://www.freepops.org/en/

I was of course thrilled. My excitement lasted about a week and a half, just long enough for me to archive my hotmail, transfer my address book and set up folders in OE, essentially get myself all settled and WHAM just like that I get a 0x800CCC92 error in OE. basically invalid username/password combo!
http://freepops.diludovico.it/p26356-16-06-2006-23%3A02%3A28.html#p26356

I find out that hotmail has found out about the little program and has set up security pages on their site that are apparently casuing this error. I go to the programs site and after scouring message boards there is a patch. I install the patch and re-run the program only to get a 0x800CCC91 which is a bad socket error. I check all ports, all sockets, check the router, re-set the tcp/ip stack. re-install OE and still no success. :(
http://freepops.diludovico.it/viewtopic.php?id=4216&p=3
http://www.tiscali.co.uk/help/email/oe_errors_0x800ccc0e.html

Back to the drawing board... I go back to the programs website and although there is much discussion on the topic there is not a solution. I try to install another suggested patch and now Windows is giving me script error and .dll file not found errors! I am not impressed!

So in short I, as of yet, have no solution save for buying the hotmail account, which I may yet do. I figure if I can forward all of one to another then I can only use one e-mail address... but that is a whole other adventure (seems hotmail doesn't allow mail forwarding either!!)

Oh and gmail was able to be routed through OE without a hitch, they even have mail forwarding in their options!!!
http://www.blonnet.com/ew/2005/02/21/stories/2005022100280400.htm

Also for any of you that read this and say to themselves... "I can check my hotmail fine through my OE." I have an answer for you too (as this came up when I brought up the inital dilemma with my colleagues.) Hotmail has a grandfather clause in their user agreement that (for now at least) any hotmail account configued in OE prior to like 2004 will not be de-activiated from using it! So even though I've had my account since (does math in head....) probably 1995 since I never configured it in OE. I'm SOL!! That does not seem fair!!

Although as an aside... I did figure out how to back up OE in it's entirety! LOL


If anyone has any suggestions please let me know!

6.26.2006

Coulee with Dad

Dad came for a visit yesterday all the way from Ontario, we went down to the coulee and had a grand time of it. I got so sunburnt, hot, sore, dehydrated & rashy. LOL but it was worth it. The coulee is so beautiful, it's like another world apart from the city. When you go down into it the first part is like big rolling meadows and then there is a drop and it is all through forested paths. At the bottom is the river that was rather muddy so not as pretty as I've seen it, but the mud was a lot of fun. Here's some pics:




The coulee near the top



Path through the forest



View of the train bridge



The University



My muddy feet!

Song of the Week

"Mack the Knife" – Bobby Darin


Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear
And he shows em, pearly white
Just a jack knife has macheath dear
And he keeps it way out of sight

When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows begin to spread
Fancy gloves though has macheath dear
So theres never, never a trace of red

On the sidewalk, one sunday morning
Lies a body, oozin life
Someones sneaking round the corner
Could that someone be mack the knife

From a tugboat, on the river going slow
A cement bag is dropping on down
You know that cement is for the weight dear
You can make a large bet mackies back in town

My man louis miller, he split the scene babe
After drawing out all the bread from his stash
Now macheath spends like a sailor
Do you suppose our boy, hes done something rash

Old satchmo, louis armstrong, bobby darrin
Did this song nice, lady ella too
They all sang it, with so much feeling
That old blue eyes, he aint gonna add nothing new

But with this big band, jumping behind me
Swinging hard, jack, I now I cant lose
When I tell you, all about mack the knife babe
Its an offer, you can never refuse

We got patrick williams, bill miller playing that piano
And this great big band, bringing up the rear
All the band cats, in this band now
They make the greatest sounds, youre ever gonna hear

Oh sookie taudry, jenny diver, polly peachum, old miss lulu brown

Hey the line forms, on the right dear
Now that macheaths back in town
Youd better lock your doors, and call the law
Because macheaths back in town

6.25.2006

PostSecret

So there is this blog out there called postsecret. (http://www.postsecret.com/)

The blogmaster posts scans of postcards sent in anonymously to him. Each week he posts a dozen or so of these postcards, each with someone’s deepest darkest secret. Sometimes these are sad other times happy, and sometimes just plain creepy.

Every week (on Sunday) he posts new postcards and as best as I can tell if you miss a week of postings there is no way to see them as the site does not appear to have any archive.

I was reading some more about the blog, it was made by an artist as an exhibit, something about exhibiting the human soul…

Here's what the site had to say.

PostSecret Introduction by the artist Would you write down a guarded secret on a postcard and mail it to a stranger?

In November 2004, I started the PostSecret Project (view Related Links below). I invited people at subway stations, movie theaters, art galleries and restaurants to write down a secret anonymously on a postcard and mail it to me. There were two requirements: The secret had to be true and it had to be something that had never been shared with another person.

Over 1,000 people have mailed me their secrets and each one tells a different story with a unique voice. Some are written as though a confidant is whispering it into your ear through cupped hands. But not all secrets are expressed passively. Sometimes while reading a secret, the postcard I hold seems to writhe and flail like a freshly caught fish struggling to escape my grasp and re-enter the cold deep water again.

Secrets can provoke with their raw emotion or by expressing a politically incorrect idea never heard in everyday conversation. They can appear self-contradictory, ambiguous or shocking. They can challenge us to look past the individual suffering to see the shared humanity. But most of all, secrets can surprise us.

One secret written on the back of a photograph reads, “I steal small things from my friends to keep memories of how much I love them.” Is this sentiment tragic, funny, heartwarming? Your reaction may surprise you. It may be different from your spouse or friend. It may even change the second time you read it.

Seeing the soulful revelations of others can evoke in us the secrets we avoid – the ones we chose to forget. Not long after I started reading the postcards I was reminded of a childhood humiliation that had gone untold for over 30 years. I wrote the experience on a postcard, shared it with my wife and daughter, addressed it to myself and physically “let it go” into a mailbox.

The healing I felt from expressing, mailing and sharing my secret helps me look beyond some of the painful details included in the secrets I read everyday. It lets me understand the relief and solace that can come from releasing a secret. It allows me to see why someone would write down a guarded secret on a postcard and mail it to a stranger.

About the ArtistWith absolutely no formal training, Frank Warren is an artist approaching his creative endeavours with a clear mind, prompted only by the heart and soul. Stumbling through the genesis of concepts yet arriving at the compelling with an apparent oblivious ease, Warren even goes so far to describe himself as, "an accidental artist."

Whereas real world public and community art invites interaction and display on the streets or within public spaces, Warren has created his own virtual public space. Intertwining the real and virtual by extending a global invitation for anonymous contributors to send post-card secrets to his U.S. postal address, which are then digitised and uploaded to the PostSecret web-site - a delicate alliance of traditional practices and a contemporary medium.

Piquing Defunktion's interest, PostSecret's juxtaposition of droll confessions and uncomfortable secrets presents a wonderful opportunity to arouse and amuse the inquiring mind. Updated regularly by Warren (as long as those with secrets keep on confessing), PostSecret is a site to keep a curious eye on whilst browsing the web. Defunktion is proud to present this exhibition of sixteen selected secrets from Warren's archive.

http://www.defunktion.net/exhibitions/


There's a book too! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060899190/002-2648785-5748030

(One site makes the comment "bless me, blog, for I have sinned.")


These ones are the most... special...

It says "I think humans would have been better off without eyes.
I am so ashamed to see the damage that I have done."




(This one is just creepy!!)



A few related links:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2005/06/18/profile-postsecret/
http://www.pbase.com/mysticchyna/post_secret_
http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/category/post-secret/

6.22.2006

Quote of the Day

"Don't try to change the world, let the world change you..." - Unknown

6.21.2006

Quote of the Day

"Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." - Newt Gingrich

6.19.2006

Quote of the Day

"Hi, you've reached the Corey hot-line. $4.95 a minute. Here are some words that rhyme with Corey: Gory. Story. Allegory. Montessori." - Simpsons Season 4 episode 14 "Brother From the Same Planet"

Song of the Week

"If Heaven" - Andy Griggs

If heaven was an hour, it would be twilight
When the fireflies start their dancin on the lawn
And suppers on the stove and mammas laughin
And everybodys workin day is done

If heaven was a town it would be my town
On a summer day in 1985
And everything i wanted was out there waiting
And everyone i loved was still alive

Chorus:
Dont cry a tear for me now baby
There comes a time we must all say goodbye
And if thats what heavens made of
You know i ain't afraid to die

If heaven was a pie it would be cherry
Cool and sweet and heavy on your tongue
And just one bite would satisfy your hunger
And hered always be enough for everyone

If heaven was a train it sure would be a fast one
That could take this weary travler round the bend
And if heavne was a tear it'd be my last one
And youd be in my arms again

Chorus:
Dont cry a tear for me now baby
There comes a time we must all say goodbye
And if that's what heaven's made of
You know i ain't afraid to die

6.18.2006

Quote of the Day

"We're all in a feak show man... it's called life! Buy a ticket and enjoy the ride." - Foamy the Squirrel

Happy Father's Day

The Origins of Father's Day:

The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day.


What Makes A Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad

Author is unknown


http://morning-glow.com/holidays/father/father.html

6.17.2006

Spray Paint

Someone, well I suppose a bunch of someones, have gone to work with the spray paint on the road outside our apartment building. Not in a bad way, jus the city, going to work preparing the road for... something or other. I have to wonder what all the colours mean though. They are for the most part a picture of two vertical lines with a veritcal line just less than halfway in between them like a fat H and some have arrows facing up instead of the middle bar of the H. They are very odd.

As best as we can figure orange is for Shaw and Blue is the water, Yellow is the gas and I think red is telus but there are green ones too and I'm not sure what they are... LOL Maybe when they start tearing up the street I'll find out. ;) I think one might be electricty... maybe... I dunno, too many colours for me. :P and the look so ugly all over the grass!! Silly city!

6.16.2006

Peeling Out

This one is particularly random... I hate the noise vehicles make when they peel out at an interstation. It's a horrible squealing noise and truth be told it kind of scares me! I always look twice, I'm worried they are out of control and going to hit something because that's usually the same sound they make right before they crash. I seriously don't know what these people are trying to prove by being so noisy! It's just painful to the ears! Also when they're mufflers are about to go, or they have been replaced by those stupid uber loud mufflers!! That makes almost as horrible a noise! It's terrible!

6.15.2006

Mis-coloured cars.

I hate it when cars have multiple colours on them. Not when the paint is multi-coloured or stylized or chameleon paint or something cool like that, but when they cars have more than one colour on any given part. Like when they've been in an accident and the hood and front end are primer grey and the rest is red. I don't know why they don't just bother painting the whole thing again! I mean I get it if one piece is a different colour but when the same piece has a primer colour and then one (and sometimes two) paint colours it looks so stupid! It makes the cars look ugly!

I mean I know there are a lot of students in this town without a lot of money and there car is just a beater car... but even if they bought a can of spray paint and attempted to make it one colour it would look better than half primer and half paint with and indescript sandpaper/buff line from one to the other! I mean seriously, take some pride in your vehicles people! You're lucky enough to be able to have them, the least you can do is take care of them and make them look presentable!

6.14.2006

First Kisses: The New Rules

Here's an msn today article from awhile back I wanted to share with y'all (sorry I don't have the link anymore):

First kisses: The new rules
By Sari Locker

Your lips touch for the first time: The earth moves. The angels sing...or, at least, that's what you hope will happen, right? The reality is, anticipating that first smooch can be one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking moments in your dating life. So much hangs in the balance: Will your date like how you kiss? Will there be chemistry? Does this person even want to lock lips with you in the first place?

As a sexuality educator, I've helped thousands of singles and couples navigate this tricky first-kiss terrain. And don't worry, there are plenty of ways to pull it off with ease while letting your date know there's plenty more where that came from. Here's how:

Secret #1: Time it rightThe most common question I get about first kisses is this: When should I do the deed? An understandable concern. No one wants to make the move too soon and get the dreaded cheek turn, and yet, wait too long and it sends the vibe you're not interested or that you lack confidence. So when should you dive in? Most women I've spoken to say it should happen on the first or second date—provided you don't wait until that very end when you're standing in their doorway. That's too predictable, awkward and likely to be framed by those "Umm, I had a really good time…" comments. Instead, go for something sexier and more spontaneous. Says Missy Barcic, of New Vernon, NJ: "A first kiss has to have something that's dynamic to it. Surprise me, catch me off guard. That's passion." And creativity, which earns bonus points, too. Women have told me about incredible kisses happening on the way into a restaurant (getting it out of the way early), across a dinner table, in a movie theater (during the opening credits), and just walking down the street, when the guy "noticed" that there was a romantic full moon overhead.

Secret #2: Guys and girls can take the leadSome people think that it's a guy's responsibility to initiate a first kiss. But what I've heard over and over again from men is this: They love, love, love it when a woman makes the first move. "My best first kiss was when my now girlfriend just went for it. We were standing in the kitchen, getting ready to go out, and all of a sudden she just pushed me against the wall, and we sort of melted into each other," recalls Tao Nguyen, of Washington, D.C. Guys love knowing that they're wanted, so I say, go ahead, girls, give him a break and go for it. One woman I interviewed did this with fabulous results. "After our third date, we stayed up talking until 4 am, and still no kiss!" she says. "So at the very beginning of our fourth date, I walked into his apartment, and instead of saying, 'Hello,' I kissed him and we wound up making out for hours. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn't given him that first kiss if we'd even be together today. He assures me that he would have gotten around to it, but I am glad that I took charge. It gave me kind of a rush."

Secret #3: Leave 'em wanting moreSure, you want your first kiss to be passionate...but that doesn't mean rough or messy. As one woman put it, "The worst first kiss is an aggressive, overly wet kiss. If a guy plunges his tongue in my mouth and spreads saliva all around my mouth, I tell him that I have to be at work early in the morning to cut things short." Super-deep kissing communicates that you're overeager, which can convince someone to put on the breaks. Give the recipient some air—that way, they'll be raring for more. "The one time I kissed a guy for the first time I made sure to pull away after a few seconds," recalls one woman. "It was great, since it gave me a second to look into his eyes and silently ask, 'Is this okay? You liking this?' before we dove back in. If we hadn't hit pause, I would never have known whether he was just kissing me to not be rude."

Secret #4: You'll win points for sensuality...While a standard first kiss can be great, the men and women I've spoken with always remember—longingly—the ones that had an extra maneuver that heightened the romance factor. Usually, these are little moves that ramp up the kiss's sensuality. For instance, Samara O'Shea of New York, NY, recalls a great first kiss in which her guy "put his index finger gently on my chin to guide my mouth toward his—it was so sexy." And Lori Conte, of Providence, RI, shares this moment: "My boyfriend first kissed me softly on my neck, worked his way up to my ear, and finally found my mouth—that pretty much blew me away." Guys also love this kind of thing: Dan Allen, of San Antonio, TX, says, "One of my best-ever first kisses was when my date gently raked her nails through my hair—that get my nerve endings revved in an unexpected way." So feel free to add a little fillip like these.

Secret #5: You won't win points for weirdness.While playing with your date's hair or ear may be great, please—don't go out on a limb in the name of originality. A 38-year-old married woman put it this way: "The first time my now-husband kissed me, he licked my face, kind of like a dog. I thought, What the heck is this? Believe me, I thought twice about ever seeing this guy again… I still tease him about it today by calling him 'puppy lips.'"
So there are two lessons to this story: Originality isn't always a good thing when it comes to first kisses, but—if there's enough of a connection there—even the worst of first kisses can be forgiven.

Sari Locker is a sex educator, TV commentator and author of the bestseller, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex. She was the host of Late Date with Sari on Lifetime Television; she has an M.S. in Sexuality Education and an M.A. in Developmental Psychology. Her website is www.sarilocker.com.

6.13.2006

Dining Out Tips

An article I wanted to share from awhile ago... I believe it was an msn today article but I don't have the link anymore, sorry. :(

Top 20 Dining Out Diet Tips
By Melissa Sperl 28/09/2004

Special occasions, road trips, nights when you get home late and dread the thought of cooking — sometimes restaurants are simply the only option. Eating out may seem like a dicey proposition when you're trying to lose weight, but a night out doesn't have to mean a night off your diet. It is possible to eat out, guilt-free, with good health in mind.

We asked real, health-conscious people just like you to share their personal dining tips — from how to make wise choices when ordering to managing restaurant-size portions. The response was overwhelming. Here's what they said:

Be Prepared

1. Bring pre-packaged fat-free dressing with you, so you're not at the mercy of the restaurant's selection.

2. If you're not familiar with the restaurant, try to call ahead or look up their menu online before going out.

3. Keep a bag of small apples or some other healthy snack in your car at all times, and eat one before you go into a restaurant with friends. This will not only satisfy your hunger, but will remind you to eat wisely.

4. Bring a small container of low-fat sour cream.

5. Before you leave home, make an educated choice about which dishes fit best within your "budget" for the day. Then, at the restaurant, if the daily special sounds just too good to miss, do some last-minute computations to be sure you really want to change your choice.

Start Out Right

6. Order a bowl of soup before your meal — not a creamy soup, but a broth-based vegetable or French onion. It's very satisfying and can keep you from overeating.

7. Start with a side salad (minus bacon, cheese and croutons). Ask for fat-free dressing on the side; and be sure to dip your fork into the dressing, then into the salad.

8. Be sure to drink your water. If you decide to order unsweetened iced tea or diet soda, always order water with it, too. If you want a second beverage, ask for a refill of the water.

Choose Wisely

9. Don't even open the menu! Simply know what you want to eat before you get there.

10. Avoid anything fried.

11. Ask for dressings, sauces, butter and sour cream on the side, instead of on the dish itself.

12. Choose lighter fare like marinara sauce rather than Alfredo. Keep it simple.

13. Whatever you order, make sure that it has loads of vegetables. "Even if it's pizza, make it a slice loaded up with veggies," says one dieter. "Or a Portobello mushroom sandwich instead of a mile-high deli sandwich, or a vegetable omelet instead of a cheese one, or fruit salad instead of pastry."

14. Don't be afraid to ask for substitutions. Most restaurants will accommodate your requests. "My favourite salad at Applebee's, Oriental Chicken Salad, comes with fried chicken," says another dieter. "But I always request it with grilled chicken. I think it tastes better and it cuts out fat and calories."

Manage Your Portions

15. When eating at a buffet, survey the food items before you put anything on your plate. The key is to remind yourself that you're eating to be satisfied, not to get your money's worth.

16. Always ask if you can get a smaller portion of the item you order. If not, have the waiter bring a to-go box with the meal. Before you start to eat, put half the item in the box.

17. Split your entrƩe with the person you're with. If you have the impulse to finish everything on your plate, it's better to not have all that food in front of you.

Have a Good Attitude

18. Do your best and practice the art of B.A.M.: Breathe, Accept, Move on.

19. The celebration is about being out with your family and friends, not about food being served. Enjoy yourself and remember that the meal does not need to be your enemy.

20. Definitely go out! As one dieter puts it, "When I [go out] I feel like I'm a normal person, and like I'm not losing out on anything."

6.12.2006

Song of the Week

"Rhythm of the Rain" - Cascades

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain
And let me be alone again

The only girl I care about has gone away
Looking for a brand new start
But little does she know
That when she left that day
Along with her she took my heart

Rain please tell me now does that seem fair
For her to steal my heart away when she don't care
I can't love another when my hearts somewhere far away

The only girl I care about has gone away
Looking for a brand new start
But little does she know that when she left that day
Along with her she took my heart

[Instrumental Interlude]

Rain won't you tell her that I love her so
Please ask the sun to set her heart aglow
Rain in her heart and let the love we knew start to grow

Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been
I wish that it would go and let me cry in vain
And let me be alone again

Oh, listen to the falling rain
Pitter pater, pitter pater
Oh, oh, oh, listen to the falling rain
Pitter pater, pitter pater

6.11.2006

25 Little Tips for Big Weight Loss

An article I wanted to share... I'll be posting a few in the next few days, I'm cleaning up my computer and I have a bunch of stuff saved I want to post here... LOL

This one is from Wait Watchers:



25 Little Tips for Big Weight Loss
By Karen Hammonds

You've decided. You're committed. You're ready to drop some weight. Time to slash your food intake and rent a room at the gym, right? Not necessarily. Small, subtle changes can make a big difference over time. And small changes are easier to work into your current routine.

Think in terms of manageable baby steps, like swapping the cream in your morning coffee for nonfat creamer. There are lots of little changes you can make - in your diet and your daily routine - that will add up to healthy weight loss over the long haul.

Take a look at our 25 tips below. You'll learn to eat smarter, fit exercise into your busy day and revamp your daily routine. Start by picking five changes that you're sure you can tackle and put them into practice this week. Then try another five next week. Not every idea is right for everyone, so experiment and see what works for you. Lots of little changes can yield big weight-loss results - and a healthier new you!

Eating Tips

Good things come in small packages. Here's a trick for staying satisfied while still keeping portions under control: High-calorie foods like cheese and chocolate into smaller pieces. It will seem like you're getting more than you actually are.

Don't give up dips. If you love creamy dips and sauces, don't cut them out of your diet completely. Just use low-fat sour cream or mayo instead of the full-fat stuff.

Get water-wise. Make a habit of reaching for a glass of water instead of a high-calorie snack. It will help your overall health as well as your waistline. Add some zest with a twist of lemon or lime.

Herb it up. Stock up your spice rack, and start growing a small herb garden in your kitchen window. Spices and herbs add fantastic flavor to foods without adding fat or calories.

Slim down your soup. Make a big batch of soup and refrigerate it before you eat it. As it cools, the fat will rise to the top. Skim it off the surface for reduced fat content.

Doggie-bag that dinner. At restaurants, ask the server to put half your entrƩe in a doggie bag before bringing it to your table. Putting the food away before you start your meal will help you practice portion control.

Listen to your cravings. If you're craving something sweet, eat something sweet - just opt for a healthier nosh, like fruit, instead of a high-calorie one. The same goes for crunchy cravings - for example, try air-popped popcorn with soy sauce instead of high-fat tortilla chips. It's just smart substitution!

Ease your way into produce. If you're new to eating lots of fruits and veggies, start slowly. Just add them to the foods you already enjoy. Pile veggies on top of your sandwiches, or add fruit to your cereal.

Look for high-fat hints. Want an easy way to identify high-calorie entrees? Keep an eye out for these words:au gratin, parmigiana, tempura, alfredo, creamy and carbonara, and enjoy them in moderation.

Don't multitask while you eat. If you're working, reading or watching TV while you eat, you won't be paying attention to what's going into your mouth - and you won't be enjoying every bite. Every time you sit down for a meal, sit down. Chew slowly and pay attention to flavors and textures. You'll enjoy your food more and eat less.

Taste something new. Broaden your food repertoire - you may find you like more healthy foods than you knew. Try a new fruit or vegetable (ever had jicama, plantain, bok choy, starfruit or papaya?).

Leave something on your plate at every meal. One bite of bagel, half your sandwich, the bun from your burger. See if you feel satisfied eating just a bit less.

Get to know your portion sizes. It's easy to underestimate how much you're eating. Don't just estimate things - make sure. Ask how much is in a serving, read the fine print on labels, measure your food. And learn portion equivalents: One serving of pasta, for instance, should be around the size of a tennis ball.

Make a healthy substitution. Learn to swap healthier foods for their less-healthful counterparts. Find a substitution that works for you: Use skim milk instead of whole milk; make up a batch of brownie mix with applesauce instead of oil; try whole-grain bread instead of white.

Bring lunch to work. Packing lunch will help you control your portion sizes. It also provides a good alternative to restaurants and fast-food joints, where making healthy choices every day can be challenging (not to mention expensive).

Have some dessert. You don't have to deny yourself all the time. Have a treat that brings you pleasure, but this time enjoy it guilt-free - be sure you're practicing portion control, and compensate for your indulgence by exercising a little more or by skipping your afternoon snack.

Ask for what you need. Tell your mother-in-law you don't want seconds. Ask your sweetie to stop bringing you chocolates. Speak up for the salad bar when your coworkers are picking a restaurant for lunch. Whatever you need to do to succeed at weight loss, ask for it. Make yourself a priority and assert yourself.


Fitness Tips

Improve your treadmill technique. When walking on a treadmill, don't grip the rails. It's fine to touch them for balance, but you shouldn't have to hold on. If you do, that might be a signal you should lower the intensity level.

Simon says ... get fit. Here's an easy way to fit in exercise with your kids: Buy a set of one-pound weights and play a round of Simon Says - you do it with the weights, they do it without. They'll love it!

Make the most of your walks. If your walking routine has become too easy, increase your effort by finding hills. Just be sure to tackle them at the beginning of your walk, when you have energy to spare.

Shop 'til you drop ... pounds. Add a workout to your shopping sessions by parking your car as far from the store as possible, to get more walking in. And try walking up the escalator - getting to your destination faster will be an added bonus.

Walk an extra 100 steps at work. Adding even a little extra exercise to your daily routine can boost your weight loss. Today, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or stroll down the hall to talk to a co-worker instead of sending an e-mail or calling.

Lifestyle Tips

Brush your teeth after every meal and snack. This will be a signal to your mouth - and your mind - that it's time to stop eating. Brushing will also give your mouth a nice fresh taste that you'll be disinclined to ruin with a random potato chip. At work, keep toothpaste and a covered toothbrush in your desk drawer.

Clean your closet! First, it's great exercise. Second, it's an important step in changing your attitude. Get rid of all the clothes that make you look or feel bad. Throw out anything that's too big - don't give yourself the option of ever fitting into those clothes again. Move the smaller clothes up to the front to help motivate you. Soon, you'll be fitting into those too-tight jeans you couldn't bear to part with.

Take your measurements. You might not like your stats now, but you'll be glad you wrote them down when you see how many inches you lose. It's also another way to measure your success, instead of just looking at the scale. Sometimes even when the numbers on the scale aren't going down, the measurements on your body are.

© 2004 Bell Canada, Microsoft Corporation and/or their contributors. All rights reserved. Terms of Use Advertise Privacy Statement About Us


6.09.2006

More icons

Here's a few more really funny icons for y'all to enjoy!! :P

Comcast Part Four

People shouldn't be allowed to own routers unless they know that they own routers!! If I ask a subscriber "do you have a router? or any other networking device?" if they have one they should be able to say with confidence "Why yes I have a router." Now I don't care if they know how to use the thing or what it does, just acknowledging they have one!! There is nothing more furstrating than almost getting someone online, there modem with bloc sync, and they still get the "welcome to comcast" new users page.... 'cuz then you have to find their IP, find out if it's a 192.168 and then explain to them what the router or "network device" is and how to powercycle it!!

I don't even really care if they know that it is called a router, as long at they can tell me I have "internet phone", "a wireless thingy", "more than two computers on the network", "a firewall box", even terms like "security box", "network box", "2nd box with lights on it", or even "oh ther is another box by my comcast box." any of these phrases would be more helpful than "no, I don't have one of those", only to find they have a blooming router 10 minutes into the phone call at which point I have to start troubleshooting all over again!! GRRR!!

6.08.2006

In My Garden

This is a re-post from many, many moons ago... thought I'd like to add to the list though:

A list of plants I'd like to put in my garden, when I have one:
- Lamb's Ear
- Creeping Jenny
- Bleeding Hearts
- Lilac trees
- Sunflowers (red & yellow)
- Irish Moss
- Peonies
- Chrysanthemums
- Daisies
- Bachelor's Buttons
- Hens & chicks
- Blue Bells
- Spanish Moss
- Lavender
- Love-in-a-mist
- Zinnia
- Geranium
- Argyranthemum

6.06.2006

Quote of the Day

"Why wash your Arby's down with a cold beverage?: You could try washing your sandwich down with another sandwich. But a sandwich could be hard to fit in a cup and even harder to sip through a straw." - My Arby's cup (yes it's speaking to me! LOL)

6.05.2006

Song of the Week

"You Know What They do to Guys Like us in Prison" - My Chemical Romance


In the middle of a gun fight...
In the center of a restaurant...
They say, "Come with your arms raised high!"
Well, they're never gonna get me,
Like a bullet through a flock of doves...
To wage this war against your faith in me,
Your life...will never be the same.
On your mother's eyes, say a prayer...say a prayer!

[Chorus]
Now, but I can't
And I don't know
How we're just two men as God had made us,
Well, I can't...well, I can!
Too much, too late, or just not enough of this
Pain in my heart for your dying wish,
I'll kiss your lips again.

They all cheat at cards and the checkers are lost,
My cellmate's a killer, they made me do push-ups (in drag)
But nobody cares if you're losing yourself...am I losing myself?!
Well, I miss my mom,
Will they give me the chair,
Or lethal injection, or swing from a rope if you dare;
Ah, nobody knows...all the trouble I've seen!

[Chorus]

To your room...
What they ask of you
Will make you want to say, "So long..."
Well, I don't remember,
Why remember...YOU?!

Do you have the keys to the hotel?!
'Cause I'm gonna string this motherfucker on fire! (FIRE!!)

Life is but a dream for the dead,
And well I, I won't go down by myself,
But I'll go down with my friends.
Now now now now... (I can't explain)
Now now now... (I can't complain)
Now now, yeah!

6.04.2006

Advertising

It occurs to me that whenever I get a new magazine, which happens about once a week, I end up reading just as many ads as I do articles. Even worse I remember the ads more. I think to myself what a good advertising ploy these magazines advertisers use and with what deft and cunning they make their ads memorable so that I find myself wanting to buy Chlorox disinfectant more than I want to Lose 10 lbs. Which was the whole reason I purchased the magazine in the first place.

On Futurama upon realizing that advertisers advertised in his dreams Fry becomes appalled. He says that in the 20th century advertisers were never sink so low as to advertise in dreams. They only advertise in magazines, TV, billboards, radio ads, on milk cartons, product boxes and in the sky but never in dreams. The sad part is how poignant this observation is. How long until they figure out how to advertise in our dreams?

Those magazine makers are cunning to. One time I considered pulling out all the ads from my magazine but they are all on the backs of actual articles so there is no way to remove the ads without removing the content! Those cunning, cunning advertisers!

6.03.2006

Inflatable Pub

Here's one... just think of the logistics of an inflatable pub... So I guess it would have to be non-smoking huh? LOL


"It seems that there's never a bar around when you really need one, like on days when your editor keeps nitpicking your minor grammatical errors and harping on your use of so-called "inappropriate humor." [You should have seen this post before I got my hands on it. -Ed.] Well those days are over, friends, as now the super-strong among us can carry around our very own portable, inflatable pubs, complete with faux stone siding and tin roof. Measuring 40 x 19 x 22-feet, Airquee's temporary shelter for the alcoholic-on-the-go can be inflated in around 10 minutes (with two small pumps) and is able to pack in 30 of your closest pals. A sturdy, internal aluminum frame can be used for hanging speakers, plasmas, or a disco ball, and doubles as a safety-measure should one of your guests accidently spill that flaming Dr. Pepper all over those plastic walls."
http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/22/airquees-inflatable-pub/

6.02.2006

Now For Something Completely Different....

Okay so this is probably going to be the most random post I've ever made... but that's what happens when I'm left to my own dvices at 3am. LOL

What I have for you is the most random sex toys I have ever found!


1. It's the "Make Your Own Dildo Kit":

"Totally easy, you even get two chances to make it right! Insert your penis and testicles into the quick-form molding gel. Hold them there for 60-90 seconds. Remove and fill the mold with the liquid rubber. Let it dry and pull out your own usable, life-size rubber dildo or vibrator. Guys, this is great to give to your lover, especially as a going away gift if you have to leave town or are in the military on a long tour of duty. Never let your lover feel lonely when you can leave something exactly like you left behind! Standard kit is on sale from $101.20 now $79.00. Vibrating kit is on sale from $109.25 now $85.50. Made in the USA."

http://www.chocolatefantasies.com/adulttoys2.htm


2. The Riding Dildo: "6'' Realistic Cock with E-Z Rider Ball"

"Remember the kids bouncy spacehopper? Well this is the adult version and is lots more fun!Part of the "Vac-U-Loc" modular system.The ball has a connector fitted securely in place. This allows any part of the modular range to be attached. In this pack we include a realistic 6" cock with balls."

http://www.aristocuffs.com/erol/erol.html#854x0&&http%3A%252F%252Fwww.google.ca%252Fsearch%3Fhl%3Den%26rls%3DGGLG%252CGGLG%253A2006-19%252CGGLG%253Aen%26q%3D%2522dildo+mounted%2522%252B%2522ball%2522%26meta%3D

There is also this one that is a dildo mounted on an exercise ball but I can't find the retailer

http://adultfriendfinder.com/blog/30326/post_304653-1.html


3. RealDolls

These are life-sized sex dolls costing about $7000 USD to purchase, they have three orifiaces in them and come in male & female as well as shemale... they can also tint skin & you can dress them up. They will support up to 400lbs.

http://www.realdoll.com/news.asp


4. VR Sex Machines:

These are male masturbators that are plugged into the comptuer via USB cables so that the man can interact with the model on the screen. There is another one that looks like he's getting a blowjob and a third that lets someone remotely control the toy from another computer.

http://www.pleasuremenow.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2911
http://www.babeland.com/page/TIB/PROD/YV270085
http://superstore.sextoyvibes.com/main.link/div/toys/page/browse/cid/417


Here's a random link to some more "new types" of dildos:
http://www.sextoys411.com/dildo_kinds.htm

6.01.2006

June

In June I saw a charming group of roses all begin to droop.
I pepped them up with chicken soup!
Sprinkle once, sprinkle twice, sprinkle chicken soup with rice.