Bossa music

[11/1/12] I've written about Bossa music on previous posts (for example, Bossa Beatles in the previous post - for more search this blog for Bossa).  But I figure I'll make a new post devoted just to it.  It seems the singer on these albums (or at least some of them) is Rita Lee.

Well I'll just cut and paste here..

Fly Me to the Moon (saxophone)
Fly Me to the Moon (Olivia Ong)
Fly Me to the Moon (Astrud Gilberto)
The Girl From Ipanema (Astrud Gilberto)

My favorite Bossa album is Bossa N' Chicago.  Anyway, here's some tracks from youtube.  I guess I should one day make a playlist.

If You Leave Me Now
Will You Still Me Love Me?
Happy Man

shucks, I thought I could find more.  [I might have downloaded it on my other computer.]

Hey, I see the tracks available for streaming on grooveshark.  I'll write them down before they disappear (since they're being sued for copyright violations by all the major music companies).

Just You N' Me
Will You Still Love Me? (youtube)
If You Leave Me Now (takko27)
Colour My World
You're the Inspiration
Hard Habit To Break
Glory Of Love
Here in my Heart
Hard to say I'm Sorry
After The Love Has Gone
I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love
Happy Man (nestormena3000)
The Next Time I Fall
Take Me Back To Chicago

[12/8/16]  Found this note in the divider, they're the Bossa N' Chicago Tracks, but in a different order.  Maybe this was the order on my custom playlist?  I dunno.  But here it is..

If you leave me now (bal27rck)
you're the inspiration (bal27rck)
will you still love me (bal27rck)
glory of love (bal27rck)
happy man (bal27rck)
hard habit to break (bal27rck)
hard to say I'm sorry (bal27rck)
I don't want to live without your love (bal27rck)
just you n' me (bal27rck)
after the love is gone (bal27rck)
colour my world (bal27rck)
next time I fall (bal27rck)
here in my heart (bal27rck)
take me back to chicago (bal27rck)

Looking at the youtube links, I see the first one (Will You Still Love Me) no longer works, but I found a couple more attributed to Sitti [actually got 'em all!].  I'll link them above.  And before they're gone, I'll download them too (using keepvid).  Tried downloading the mp3 with keepvid and I couldn't get it working, so I used listentoyoutube.com.  Funny the mp3 is bigger than the mp4 file.

Hmm.  Now I see the scribbled list was (the bulk of) my playlist labelled Bossa's and that I looked at those videos almost four years ago - see 3/17/13 post below.  One video is missing from the playist (which is will you still love me).  I'll add it back.  I also notice some deleted videos from the playlist: top of the world and you got a ....

OK, here's a replacement for Top of the World (by Taryn Szpilman).  Actually I like this one (uploaded by Harris Syach) better.  As for You got a friend, I like this one by Susan Wong.  And this one by Lisa Ono.  OK, I'll add the second and third to the list to replace the deleted ones.

So here's the current playlist (the first 14 are from Bossa N' Chicago)
If You Leave Me Now (takko27)
Happy man (nestormena3000)
You're the inspiration (bal27rck)
Will you still love me
Glory of love
Hard habit to break
Hard to say I'm sorry
I don't wanna live without your love
Just you n' me
After the love has gone
Colour my world
The next time I fall
Here in my heart
Take me back to Chicago
Fly to me the moon (Sinval Fonseca)
Can't buy me love (mony0728)
Hey Jude (TATIMELMONO)
Let It Be (mitodrumR)
Here Comes the Sun (mitodrumR)
Beat It (TATIMELMONO)
Top of the World (Harris Syach)
I won't last a day without you (alcatraz0700915)
You've got a friend (evosound)
Killing Me Softly (rizos5224)
More than words (Breeze BossaNova)
Just the way you are (Breeze BossaNova)
Can't Help Falling in Love (BRUTALTECHNOCORE)

[3/17/13 - I see that bal27rck has uploaded the tracks to youtube between 12/1/12 and 12/3/12 and attributes the singer as sitti.  Looking up sitti, I see she is Sitti Navarro and is credited with the Cafe Bossa and My Bossa Nova albums (on which she sings If You Leave Me Now).  They're pretty good, but to me sounds different from the singer on the Bossa N' Chicago which I still believe to Rita Lee.]

I like Bossa n' Marley too.

Is This Love?
Waiting in Vain
I Shot The Sheriff
Redemption Song
No Woman No Cry
Buffalo Soldier

[Hey, I see this album on megazip.]

I guess I'll just listen on grooveshark while I can.

[1/23/14] Hey rdio is streaming free.  Lisa Ono - Soul & Bossa caught my ear (while trying to listen to songs from Slim Whitman Country Classics).  And here's a reggae version of Send Me The Pillow.

[12/5/15] Listening to Bossa n' Essentials on spotify.  Love it.

[5/14/22] The Boss N Chicago songs from bal27rck have gone private.  But I see a new playlist "provided to YouTube by Warner Music Phillipines".  So this kind of looks official.  The songs are dated 9/26/14, but the playlist was last updated 4/11/22.

Beatles covers

I love Beatles music, but since I've heard it played over and over by the Beatles, I've kind of collected a bunch of Beatles cover music (over the like the last 20 years or so).

But now I see I can get some on youtube.  Here's some I found.

I'm Looking Through You (ukelele)
Blackbird (Cameron Mitchell)
Blackbird (Kenny Rankin)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Jake Shimabukuro)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Sungha Jung)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Eric Clapton, Concert for George)
My Sweet Lord (Billy Preston, Concert for George)
Here Comes The Sun (Paul Simon, David Crosby, Graham Nash)
Here Comes The Sun (James Taylor with John Williams)
Here Comes the Sun (Yuna - via roy)
Here Comes the Sun (Landon Austin)

Something (reggae cover)
Imagine (Bruddah Waltah)

Don't Let Me Down (Bruddah Waltah)

[11/5/12] Here's my play list (so far).

Fool on the Hill (Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66)

Daytripper (Sergio Mendes & Brazil 66)

Can't Buy Me Love (in Bossa)

A Hard Day's Night (Rita Lee)

She Loves You (Rita Lee)

All My Loving (Bossa N' Beatles)

With A Little Help From My Friends (Rita Lee)

In My Life (Rita Lee)

Here, There, Everywhere (Rita Lee)

If I Fell (Rita Lee)

Michelle (Rita Lee)

Hey Jude (Cool Songs in Bossa)

Let It Be (Bossa 'n Beatles)
Til There Was You (Barbara Williams)

Top 10 best Beatles covers

***

Top Tracks for the Beatles (100)

[11/4/12] the covers project shows just how many people have covered Beatles music

The Complete Beatles 1 album

Star Wars VII

The Force is strong with this merger. Disney announced on Tuesday that it had purchased Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion in cash and stock shares. In conjunction with the news, Disney also revealed that plans for a seventh "Star Wars" film, "Star Wars: Episode VII," are in motion with eyes on theatrical release in 2015.

TV shows watched by liberals and conservatives

A new survey reveals political partisans are divided when they reach for the TV remote, too. And not just between Fox News and MSNBC.

Larry the Cable Guy and Jon Stewart appear to split conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats as surely as President Barack Obama's health reform law.

Republicans prefer competitive reality TV and shows about hard work, while Democrats are looking for sarcastic humor and complex characters.

Some seem obvious: Democrats love the Daily Show with Jon Stewart for the biting criticisms of (often Republican) politicians and wry wit that the program dishes out from New York City.

Conservatives list Jon Stewart's program as one of their most hated for his sarcastic commentary and his pretentious media-watching.

Republicans, meanwhile, are drawn to Only in American with Larry the Cable Guy, a show featuring the self-styled plain-talking comedian and his adventures exploring everyday people doing strange jobs across the United States.

To liberals, Larry the Cable Guy is a caricature of a redneck, an anti-intellectual who plays the the lowest grade of humor. They rank his show among the worst on TV.

On the late-night lineup, Republican viewers love Jay Leno, while Democrats split their time between David Letterman, Craig Ferguson and Conan O'Brien.

This was the 2011 survey.

***

The 2012 Survey by Experian Simmons rates the shows in these categories: Super Democrats (The Daily Show with Jon Steward), Ultra Conservatives (College Football on ESPN), Mild Republicans (Rules of Engagement), On The Fence Liberals (The Graham Norton Show), Green Traditionalists (Lizard Lick Towing).

***

And according to Conservapedia:

The Worst Liberal TV Shows

The Greatest Conservative TV Shows (including Family Ties, The Office, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Cosby Show, Ozzie and Harriet, American Idol, Star Trek, The Waltons, The Lawrence Welk Show, Little House on the Praire, The Bob Newhart Show, Dick Van Dyke Show)

Paul Shaffer leaving Letterman?

He has remained his loyal and steadfast companion over three decades of national TV.

But now it appears that David Letterman’s musical director Paul Shaffer may be about to quit the show - and his $5m a year contract.

The 62-year-old said that 30 years with the talk show host could be enough because he is worn out.

He suggested that the late nights could be getting to him and that he would love to spend his evenings napping rather than on camera.

Were Letterman to lose Shaffer it would mean the end of an era for the two men who have built a close relationship based a strong and enduring loyalty to each other.

***

It looks like Paul Shaffer isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

The longtime Late Show bandleader gave an interview to TV Guide Canada over the weekend in which he seemed to suggest he might step down as David Letterman's sidekick once his contract is up in 2014.

"We've been on 30 years so now we've got another two years...I'm going to be certainly ready to lie down after that, take a nap," he said.

However, on Monday, Shaffer was quick to clarify that he didn't mean to imply he was quitting his day, er, night job.

"In an interview with a reporter, I made two unrelated points which, joined together, seem to say something that isn't true," the 62-year-old musical director said in a statement. "It's true that the show was recently extended for two years, and yes, someday when it's all over, I will most likely take a nap. But I hope that day never comes. As long as the show goes on, I will be there for as long as Dave wants me on it."

Cafe Paris (or whatever)

I thought I wrote about it here, but can't find it.

Some years ago, WalMart used to sell this CD called Paris Cafe or French Cafe (or none of the above), that featured accordion music.

I wish I had bought it because it would have been kind of funky to play it for dinner.  But now I can't find it.  And the memorial.

I think it was french accordion music.

Like
La Vie En Rose
or Smoke Get In Your Eyes

Moulin Rouge

or whatever this is

or Enchanted Rendezvous (I don't know the title obviously, the one Paul Shaffer plays when Dave encounters a pretty girl)

or was it Speak Softly Love

or something like that

maybe one day I'll find it.  But I'm getting my fill of accordion music for now..

left-wing (and right-wing) news

There's zillions of right wing news sites on the internet (not even counting FoxNews).  For example, NewsMax which keeps popping up on the sidebars of various web sites.

But to counter that, there's a bunch of left wing news sites too (not even counting MS-NBC).

Here's a couple I came across while googling medicare voucher.  I didn't know they were left-wing at first, but after glancing at their headlines for a split-second...

Think Progress
MediaMatters For America

I don't want to look much further, as it gets too depressing..

And back to Medicare, here's wikipedia on The Path to Prosperity which was the Republican budget proposal for 2012.

dishwashing spirit

I guess it's just me, but when I start up my dishwasher it sounds like the beginning of Spirit In The Sky.

Ohio State marching band takes on video games

They don't call Ohio State's band “The Best Damn Band In The Land” for nothing.

[via blake]

saving water

One bathroom fact you might not be aware of is that the biggest water user in the home is the toilet.  Toilets account for about 30% of an average home's indoor water consumption according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - even more for older toilets.

-- Costco Connection, February 2010

James Bond

The James Bond film franchise turns 50 today, so we're celebrating something called Global James Bond Day. And if you don't, the studio bosses will evaporate the world's oceans with lasers from space.

Really and clearly, Global James Bond Day is all about promoting the 23rd 007 film, which opens next month.

To help you assess the looming threat of Global James Bond Day, we present our list of 22 the previous Bond films, ranked from worst to best.

***

I saw Costco was selling the entire James Bond collection in Blu-Ray.  Amazon too.

***

The Best of Bond.

Hungry Guy

I keep seeing the Burger King commercials with a guy singing Hungry Guy and a girl singing Hungry Girl.

Looking it up..

The girl is Kimie.  Here's the blurb from her website:

I recently filmed a commercial for Burger King Hawaii to air state wide on July 30, 2012. I recorded the "Hungry Girl" song to the melody of Sean Na'auao's famous  "Fish and Poi".

[Ah, I knew the song sounded familiar.]
​
Much mahalo go out to the team at Harris Agency, Cottage by the Sea for the beautiful yellow and gray dress, Hooked Up Hawaii for the beautiful sunrise earrings and seashell jewelry, Bridgette at The Hair Box, Debbie Nishimoto for styling, Sean Na'auao, Malia Chung and Lauren Fonseca. 

And here's her commercial.

The guy is Duncan Osorio.  And here's his commercial.  And a MidWeek story.  He's Jon Osorio's son (of Jon & Randy fame).

Andy Williams

Andy Williams, the affable, boyishly handsome crooner who defined both easy listening and wholesome, easygoing charm for many American pop music fans in the 1960s, most notably with his signature song, “Moon River,” died on Tuesday night at his home in Branson, Mo. He was 84 and also had a home in La Quinta, Calif.

The cause was cancer, his publicist, Paul Shefrin, said. Mr. Williams, who had continued to perform until last year, announced in November that he had bladder cancer.

“Moon River” was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer, and Audrey Hepburn introduced it in the 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” but it was Mr. Williams who made the song indisputably his own when he sang it at the 1962 Academy Awards ceremony and titled a subsequent album after it. When he built a theater in Branson, he named it the Andy Williams Moon River Theater.

“Moon River” became the theme song for his musical-variety television series “The Andy Williams Show,” which, along with his family-oriented Christmas TV specials, made him a household name.

“The Andy Williams Show” ran on NBC from 1962 to 1971 and won three Emmy Awards for outstanding variety series. But its run also coincided with the social and cultural upheavals of the 1960s, and with a lineup of well-scrubbed acts like the Osmond Brothers (whom Mr. Williams introduced to national television) and established performers like Judy Garland and Bobby Darin, the show, at least to many members of a younger, more rebellious generation, was hopelessly square — the sort of entertainment their parents would watch.

Despite that image, “The Andy Williams Show” was not oblivious to the cultural moment. Its guests also included rising rock acts like Elton John and the Mamas and the Papas, and its offbeat comedy skits, featuring characters like the relentless Cookie Bear and the Walking Suitcase, predated similar absurdism on David Letterman’s and Conan O’Brien’s talk shows by decades.

best TV shows of all time

 More than 60 years after it premiered, the iconic television sitcom "I Love Lucy" nabbed top honors with TV fans in a survey conducted by ABC News and People Magazine for "Best in TV," a special edition of "20/20" that aired Tuesday night.

"Lucy" was voted the best show of all time, beating out finalists "Seinfeld," "M*A*S*H," "All in the Family" and "Cheers." All five finalists were comedies.

"We were not surprised Americans chose comedies as their favorites of all time," said ABC News' Barbara Walters, who hosted the special. "We all like to laugh and these shows still make us laugh today."

how to tell a democrat from a republican

Many of you have expressed great confusion, in these troubled times, in trying to tell a Republican from a Democrat. Sure, we know what they say they are; most of them have well displayed nameplates. But could you tell one from the other in a blind test? That is, without prior knowledge and access to his/her nameplate, could you determine which was which simply by his/her actions? Probably not. The purpose of this essay is to assist you in making such an identification. In the following paragraphs, I will list the major issues of our times and clearly identify the differences between the Republican and Democrat approaches to these issues.

[note: as this article is sure to rile up both sides, the author is Leon Felkins, not me]

eat fish, not fish oil

Omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish such as sardines and salmon and once touted as a way of staving off heart disease and stroke, don't help after all, according to a Greek study.

Based on a review and analysis of previous clinical trials including more than 68,000 participants, Greek researchers whose report appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association said the fatty acids have no impact on overall death rates, deaths from heart disease, or strokes and heart attacks.

This was true whether they were obtained from supplements such as pills, or from fish in the diet, said the researchers, led by Mosef Elisef at the University Hospital of Ioannina.

A decade ago, medical evidence suggested that boosting omega-3s, including the acids known as EPA and DHA, with food or supplements had a strong protective effect even though the mechanism wasn't understood.

Scientists cited improvements in levels of triglycerides - a type of fat in the blood - as well as blood pressure levels and heart rhythm disturbances.

But since then, the picture has grown clouded. Earlier this year, a group of Korean researchers found that omega-3 supplements had no effect on heart disease or death based on 20,000 participants in previous trials.

Because people who eat a lot of fish have been found to have less heart disease, researchers figured that perhaps putting the supposed "active ingredients" in a pill could provide similar benefits, said Alice Lichtenstein, director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at Tufts University in Boston.

 "What we have learned over the years is you can't think about individual nutrients in isolation," she added.
People who eat fish often may be replacing things like steak, hamburgers or quiche, making for a healthier diet.

Instead of supplements, Lichtenstein recommended eating fish at least twice a week, having a diet rich in whole grains and vegetables, getting lots of physical activity, and not smoking.

***

The medical world long ago noted that societies in which diets were high in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel and others had lower rates of heart disease. A large 1989 study found that men who had already had a heart attack and changed their diets to include more fatty fish rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid were 29% less likely to die in the next two years. Because of these and other findings, many medical groups suggest that people at risk for heart disease either increase their fatty fish intake or take omega-3 supplements.

However, subsequent studies that looked at omega-3 fatty acid supplements derived from fish were less clear. Some supported and some refuted the findings, though overall the connection between supplements and lowered heart disease has been elusive. The study released today attempts to pull together all the current research.

The message Americans may not want to hear is that eating healthy foods, not taking pills, is what helps heart health, says Richard Karas, director of the preventive cardiology center at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
Time and time again research shows that a diet rich in a certain vitamin or nutrient is beneficial. But then people think "if you take a pill containing that ingredient, you'll be healthier," Karas says. It doesn't work that way.

He now tells his cardiac patients to eat fatty fish in at least two meals a week.

mindfulness decluttering

Cleaning and decluttering, for me, are mindfulness practices. They are not chores that I dread, nor ways to strive for a perfect living environment, but ways to practice living in the present moment. As such, they are some of my favorite things to do.

As I wipe the counter, I notice the crumbs and dried spilled liquid. I feel the rag going over the bumpy surface of the counter, and gradually feel the surface smoothing out. I feel the tension in my shoulders and jaw, and relax them. I become aware of my breath as it comes in and goes out. I rinse the rag out carefully, cleaning it and watching the dirty water run down the drain.

This is practice for a mindful life. It is also life, already, not practice but the actual event. Wiping things down, mindfully, is just as full of wonder as any other moment in my life.

Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan, nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1999 film "The Green Mile," died Monday morning at age 54, according to a representative for his family.

Duncan "suffered a myocardial infarction on July 13 and never fully recovered," a written statement from Joy Fehily said.

Clarke died at a Los Angeles hospital where he had been since having the heart attack more than seven weeks ago.

In his 20s, he worked digging ditches for Peoples Gas during the day and as a bouncer at night. He told CNN in 1999 that his coworkers at the gas company called him "Hollywood" because he'd often talk about becoming a movie star.

"I'd be digging a ditch and they'd say, 'Hey, man, Bruce Willis wants to talk to you about a movie.' And they'd just crack up laughing," he said while doing press for 'The Green Mile.'

"Those coworkers had no way of knowing how that joke would turn on them."

In 1990, he decided to measure up his nickname and he moved to Los Angeles. He worked as a bodyguard then got a part in a commercial as a drill sergeant.

More roles followed -- often ones that depended more on his 315-pound frame than his acting ability. He was a guard in "Back in Business," a bouncer in "A Night at the Roxbury," a bouncer for 2 Live Crew in "The Players Club," and a bouncer at a bar in the Warren Beatty film "Bulworth."

In 1998, he landed his first significant movie part, playing Bear in the film "Armageddon," where a crew of drillers from an oil rig save the Earth from an asteroid.

"Armageddon" was the beginning of his friendship with Bruce Willis. They appeared in four films together. And it was Willis who called 'The Green Mile' director Frank Darabont to put in a good word for Duncan.

"I am terribly saddened at the loss of Big Mike," The Green Mile costar Tom Hanks said in a statement. "He was the treasure we all discovered on the set of The Green Mile. He was magic. He was a big love of man and his passing leaves us stunned."

***

I have at least three of his movies on DVD, Armageddon, The Scorpion King, The Whole Nine Yards.  Looking at imdb, Kung Fu Panda, The Last Mimzy too.  He also played The Kingpin in Daredevil.

pretending works!

CAMBRIDGE, MA—A study released Thursday by researchers at Harvard University's Department of Psychology has found that the simple act of pretending one's life is not a complete shambles threatening to collapse at any moment works.

"Even when everything is coming apart at the seams and disaster is almost certainly imminent, putting up a good front for friends and loved ones makes everything better," said Professor Christine Wanamaker, who explained that smiling a lot and evasive answers were usually enough to get by. "Tell everyone that things are fine, and they will be fine. Just don't over-think it."

When asked about her study's methodology, Wanamaker said the research was rock-solid, had been looked over by a bunch of scientists, and definitely wasn't anything to worry about.

***

Or maybe you don't have to pretend..

There's a theory in behavioral psychology called the fading affect bias. In simple terms, it states that negative emotions leave our memories much faster than positive ones -- a sort of natural aversion to unpleasant thoughts.


In 1948, psychologist Sam Waldfogel gave a group of participants 85 minutes to write down every event they could remember from the first eight years of their life, and rank them as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. Logically, events should have been spread evenly between the three. But they weren't. Pleasant memories outweighed negative ones by almost twofold. People had a distinct positive bias when recalling their past.


So, what's this mean for your investments? People worry and the economy slows down. Then they get over it and it recovers. Same story again and again. John Maynard Keynes called these shifts animal spirits -- "a spontaneous urge to action rather than inaction." The important thing is that they happen consistently and predictably. You get to choose whether you want to stop worrying before the crowd, or wait and follow the crowd. It's the epitome of being fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful. And it may be the single largest factor in determining whether you'll be a successful investor or not.

Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller, the zany housewife-turned-stand-up comic with the electrified hairdo, outlandish wardrobe and a barrage of self-deprecating jokes punctuated by her trademark laugh, has died. She was 95.

Diller, whose career in comedy clubs spanned nearly 50 years, died in her sleep Monday at her longtime home in Brentwood, said her agent, Fred Wostbrock.

As a professional comedian, Diller was a late bloomer: The Ohio native was an Alameda, Calif., mother of five when she made her nightclub debut at the Purple Onion in San Francisco in 1955 — at age 37.

Jack Paar once described her as looking "like someone you avoid at the supermarket." Bob Hope called her "a Warhol mobile of spare parts picked up along a freeway."

But Diller was always the first to address her colorfully eccentric stage persona, describing herself as "The Elizabeth Taylor of'The Twilight Zone'" and a woman who once worked "as a lampshade in a whorehouse."

During her long career, she was in more than two dozen movies, including three with Hope, with whom she also appeared on numerous TV specials and traveled with to Vietnam to entertain U.S. troops.

But the outlandish Diller always shined best in nightclubs, showrooms and concert halls, where one of her favorite targets was her domestic life, including her fictional husband "Fang."

"I don't like to cook; I can make a TV dinner taste like radio," she'd say.

"Fang's idea of a seven-course dinner is a six-pack and a bologna sandwich. The last time I said let's eat out, we ate in the garage."

"I put on a peekaboo blouse. He took a peek and booed."

my sink is clogged again :(

After having the bathroom sink clogged a few weeks ago, now it's the kitchen sink.

Last time I used Drano.  The half a bottle didn't work, so I poured in the whole bottle.  After two or three hours the sink finally drained.  Happiness.

I had been having trouble lately with the water backing up, but running the disposal for several seconds got the water drained.  This time it drained, then came right back up :(

This time I'm using Liquid Plumber.  Poured in a half a bottle.  The water was still there standing 45 minutes later.  So poured in the whole bottle.

About four hours later, the water is still there.  Now about six hours later, the water level is slightly down.

What to do?  (Besides calling a plumber.  Last time I called Glenn and he wound up having the cut the large pipe from under where I'm sitting - outside the kitchen - and snaking the pipe under the lawn toward the manhole.  But I think the heavy duty Drano I dumped into the pipe might have eventually worked.)

The easiest solution (for me) would be to pour some more chemicals down the sink.  Maybe Drano in addition to the Liquid Plumber.  Drano recommends Drano Max Gel -- it pours through water straight to the clog.

Then there's the baking soda and vinegar proponents.  [But maybe I shouldn't try it after using the Liquid Plumber]

1) Dump 1/2 box of baking soda down both sides of your two sided sink (I don't know why two sides in my case since the side seems to be draining fine.  Looking under the house I see each side going down separate pipes then merging into a big pipe.  Evidently the clog is above the merge.

2) Follow with a chaser of 1/2 cup of vinegar

3) Let sit for 10 minutes

4) Boil water and send down both drains

5) Halfway fill both basins with hot water

6) Stop up the non-disposal basin

7) Plunge the disposal side for 5 to 10 minutes

***

OK, now I see the water finally drained.  But running the faucet and now there's new water in there.  At least it's not completely clogged now.

***

Here's more steps to try.

Try the plunger (w/o the baking soda)

Clean the P-trap

Snake the line

Hopefully it won't come to the snake.

***

OK tried plunging a few times.  Seems to have clogged the sink even more.

WTH, turn on the disposal.  Sink drains.  But when I turn it off, the water fills up again.  Now the thing is stuck again.

Thinking about it, I've got a suspicion that it's leftover pie crust that's clogging up the sink.

***

OK went down to Longs, bought the Drano Max Gel (as well some some vinegar from Times for possible future use), and poured half the bottle in.  I didn't see anything happening for about five minutes so I poured the rest of the bubble.  I saw a little bubbling coming out of the sink hole (whatever you call it), so that was encouraging.  But now I see nothing.

OK guess I'll have to wait.

***

When this thing gets unstuck, I'll try not to throw the pie crust down there next time.  And/or maybe use that Drano Build-Up Remover.

***

Left overnight and hope for the best

Hey wake up and see the sink has been drained.

Run water.  Doesn't back up.

Thank you Drano!  Happy :)

The 60s (Sixties)

The '60s   This is the one of the best

 presentations of the sixties that I have

 ever seen online. It is very well done.

 Just click on the link and sit back and

 enjoy the memories. Great photos and

 facts, & Especially Songs!!

Click on the highlighted  link below .

                           the sixties 

-- from a chain mail (not to be confused with the PBS documentary)

J. Akuhead Pupule

Hal Lewis, better known as J. Akuhead Pupule, was the top deejay in the islands from 1947 until his death 29 years ago on July 21, 1983.

Aku was one of the highest paid deejays in the nation at the time, earning an estimated $500,000 a year. He was born April 14, 1917, as Herschel Laib Hohenstein.

By the time he came to Hawaii as a violinist on the Matsonia, he had changed it to Hal Lewis. KPOA (now KORL) gave him his first radio job.

"Aku had a perfect voice for AM radio," says KSSK's Michael W. Perry. "He just had the right timbre and register. He was a musician. He understood sound and how music and voice fit together."

Aku was one of the first to take phone calls on the air. "Hello dere," he would say. Listeners would ask about current events or tell him jokes. He took calls from President Richard Nixon, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. He had an array of bells, whistles, buzzers and sound effects to provide color.

When the rock 'n' roll era washed over the radio waves, Aku stuck with classical and big-band music. His 100,000 daily listeners stuck with him.

Lewis was given the nickname "Akuhead" by an irate listener when he gave the wrong time on air, sending her running to the office an hour early.

*** 11/13/20

‘A Day in the Life of a Fish-head’

calcium and vitamin D

I was looking up vitamin D (or something) and read somewhere that over 500 Mg of calcium is ineffective and that it was better to take them in separate doses.  So I started giving mom her calcium pill at night.

But now I can't find a reference.

And now I read that post-menopausal women should NOT take vitamin D and calcium according to a "government advistory panel".  WTH.

For years, experts have been touting the health benefits of these nutrients. Both calcium and vitamin D are key nutrients for bone health.

The Institute of Medicine, which provides independent advice on health, recommends that people daily get 600-800 IUs (international units) of vitamin D and 700-1,300 milligrams of calcium, depending on their age.

The task force's draft recommendation looked at doses up to 400 IUs (international units) of vitamin D and 1,000 milligrams of calcium for fracture prevention, and recommended against taking them, saying the nutrients slightly increase the risk for kidney stones. The authors add that there is insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about taking larger doses to prevent fractures.

Taylor Wallace, senior director of scientific and regulatory affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade group that represents supplement makers, says research shows that supplementation with calcium and vitamin D is beneficial for bone health, particularly in post-menopausal women and the elderly. "You want try to your best to get your calcium and vitamin D from food, but most Americans do not, so when there is a gap, they can fill that gap with supplements."

He points out that last month this same government task force said supplementation with vitamin D was beneficial in preventing incidences of falls among adults ages 65 and older. "Since falls commonly result in fractures, it's common sense for the elderly to consider supplementing with vitamin D and calcium."

***

Well, here's one link.  According to Dr. Bill Salt

Since most of us cannot absorb more than 600 milligrams of calcium at a time, it is best to divide the daily dose in two and take it twice a day.

And here's one from the Mayo Clinic

Calcium is absorbed most efficiently when it's taken in amounts of 500 or 600 milligrams (mg) or less at one time. If you take 1,000 mg of calcium a day, split it into two or more doses over the course of the day.

And here's another one

It is also important not to consume too much calcium at one time. For the most efficient calcium absorption, it is best to consume calcium (from food and/or supplements) in amounts of 600mg or less at one time. Your body uses calcium best when it is spread out through the day.

And from wikipedia

Most experts recommend that supplements be taken with food and that no more than 600 mg should be taken at a time because the percent of calcium absorbed decreases as the amount of calcium in the supplement increases.

Toyota key won't turn

I've been having this problem for a number of months. The key won't turn in the ignition. I found that I had to jiggle the key back and forth and kind of shove it in. And if that didn't work, turn the key upside down. Eventually it worked. But now a new problem. The key wouldn't insert all the way in. Had to try pushing it in and out a number of times and eventually it worked. I went home and sprayed it with some silicon spray. And now the key goes in easier. But when I tried the old (less used key) it wouldn't turn. And only the more worn out key works putting it in one way. Though even that doesn't work sometimes on the first crack. Google. Sounds like it's the lock cylinder. I think I'll take it to B&A and see what they say.

[8/20/12] Took it to B&A and they said there's nothing they could do, but that the keys looked worn out.

So I went to City Mill and made a duplicate of the key that was in mom's closet.  That seems to work better.  But now that the lubricant has settled in, I can put the old key in and turn it after jiggling a couple times.  The other old key still doesn't work though.  I'm keeping the new duplicate key on my keychain but trying not to use it so I don't wear it out.  I'm also keeping the other old key on my keychain too.  I can still use it to unlock the door.

Charmed

After finally having bought all the Charmed DVD sets for Christie (not that I know that she knows where all of them are), I see some Charmed episodes have been uploaded on youtube.

1.0 - Unaired Pilot (just uploaded today, an older upload)
1.1 - Something Wicca This Way Comes
etc.

Amazon sales tax

The free ride is ending..

Attention Amazon shoppers: Be prepared to pay more when you purchase goods, depending on where you live.
 
The online retail giant will start charging sales tax in eight additional states in coming years, starting with California and Pennsylvania in September, as it puts down physical roots in more places. Amazon already collects sales tax in six states.

Tyler and JLo leaving American Idol

LOS ANGELES >> Jennifer Lopez is the second judge in two days to say she's leaving "American Idol."

Her representative, Mark Young, said today that Lopez is ending her time on television's most popular show after two years. Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler said the same thing on Thursday.

Lopez broke the news to "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest on his radio show.

"I really was dreading this phone call with you," she told him. "I honestly feel like the time has come that I have to get back to doing the other things that I do that I've put kind of on hold because I love 'Idol' so much."

That means the show's judging panel is down to one, Randy Jackson, and there are reports that he may take a different role on the program moving forward.

[9/1/12] The dawg days are over at "American Idol" ... TMZ has learned Randy Jackson is officially LEAVING the judge's table ... but will still remain a part of the show as a "mentor."

Sources connected to "Idol" tell us ... there's some concern among the brass that Jackson is not well-suited for the mentor role ... but they feel they need him because he's the glue that helps keep the show together.

As for his replacement ... sources tell us Nicki Minaj's deal is 99% done ... but still not a sure thing just yet.

American Idol may be ready for a major makeover. Last year's season finale, with Jessica Sanchez vs. Phil Phillips, had the smallest audience of any American Idol finale; even smaller than the first American Idol finale which aired in the slower summer months. Season 11's finale got just 21.5 million viewers. The biggest viewership for an American Idol finale was 38.1 million in 2003.

American Idol remains a cash cow for Fox. It pulls in about $500,000 for a 30-second commercial, and it remains one of the biggest draws on TV, despite a decline in audience in recent years. But few blame the cast of judges as responsible for the decline. Most observers say the ebb is a result of a combination of audience atigue and the rise of copy cat competition, especially, the arrival of Simon Cowell's "X-Factor" and NBC's "The Voice."

[9/16/12] The "American Idol" judges' panel is now complete with the naming of singer-rapper Nicki Minaj and country crooner Keith Urban.

The Fox network officially tapped the pair with an announcement today, confirming rumors surrounding them both just hours before the first round of auditions for next season was due to begin in New York.

The announcement also settled the status of Randy Jackson. He will stay put as the sole remaining original "Idol" judge, scotching rumors he might assume a different role on the popular talent competition.

This trio will join pop star Mariah Carey at a judges' panel now expanded to four members from its previous three.

KITV blacked out

Wow, this gotta be front page news in Hawaii.

KITV, the local ABC affiliate is no longer being carried by Oceanic (the Time Warner cable channel which is probably used by 90% of Hawaii's TV audience).

And not only in Hawaii, but cities like Boston, Kansas City, Lincoln NE, Louisville (CBS), Cincinnati, Pittsburgh.

Score one for Direct TV.

Amazingly, I see nothing of this in the Star Advertiser.  Well, wait for Hawaii to wake up to that message!

We'll see how many days this lasts.

***

OK, here's the Star-Advertiser story.

*** [7/20/12]

KITV is back on Oceanic!

Ernest Borgnine

Ernest Borgnine, the beefy screen star known for blustery, often villainous roles, but who won the best-actor Oscar for playing against type as a lovesick butcher in "Marty" in 1955, died Sunday. He was 95.

His longtime spokesman, Harry Flynn, told The Associated Press that Borgnine died of renal failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with his wife and children at his side.

Borgnine, who endeared himself to a generation of Baby Boomers with the 1960s TV comedy "McHale's Navy," first attracted notice in the early 1950s in villain roles, notably as the vicious Fatso Judson, who beat Frank Sinatra to death in "From Here to Eternity."

Then came "Marty," a low-budget film based on a Paddy Chayefsky television play that starred Rod Steiger. Borgnine played a 34-year-old who fears he is so unattractive he will never find romance. Then, at a dance, he meets a girl with the same fear.

"Sooner or later, there comes a point in a man's life when he's gotta face some facts," Marty movingly tells his mother at one point in the film. "And one fact I gotta face is that, whatever it is that women like, I ain't got it. I chased after enough girls in my life. I-I went to enough dances. I got hurt enough. I don't wanna get hurt no more."

The realism of Chayefsky's prose and Delbert Mann's sensitive direction astonished audiences accustomed to happy Hollywood formulas. Borgnine won the Oscar and awards from the Cannes Film Festival, New York Critics and National Board of Review.

"The Oscar made me a star, and I'm grateful," Borgnine told an interviewer in 1966. "But I feel had I not won the Oscar I wouldn't have gotten into the messes I did in my personal life."

Those messes included four failed marriages, including one in 1964 to singer Ethel Merman that lasted less than six weeks.

But Borgnine's fifth marriage, in 1973 to Norwegian-born Tova Traesnaes, endured and brought with it an interesting business partnership. She manufactured and sold her own beauty products under the name of Tova and used her husband's rejuvenated face in her ads.

During a 2007 interview with The Associated Press, Borgnine expressed delight that their union had reached 34 years. "That's longer than the total of my four other marriages," he commented, laughing heartily.

Although still not a marquee star until after "Marty," the roles of heavies started coming regularly after "From Here to Eternity." Among the films: "Bad Day at Black Rock," ''Johnny Guitar," ''Demetrius and the Gladiators," ''Vera Cruz."

Then he successfully made the transition to TV comedy.

From 1962 to 1966, Borgnine a Navy vet himself starred in "McHale's Navy" as the commander of a World War II PT boat with a crew of misfits and malcontents. Obviously patterned after Phil Silvers' popular Sgt. Bilko, McHale was a con artist forever tricking his superior, Capt. Binghamton, played by the late Joe Flynn.

The cast took the show to the big screen in 1964 with a "McHale's Navy" movie.

Borgnine's later films included "Ice Station Zebra," ''The Adventurers," ''Willard," ''The Poseidon Adventure," ''The Greatest" (as Muhammad Ali's manager), "Convoy," ''Ravagers," ''Escape from New York," ''Moving Target" and "Mistress."

More recently, Borgnine had a recurring role as the apartment house doorman-cum-chef in the NBC sitcom "The Single Guy." He had a small role in the unsuccessful 1997 movie version of "McHale's Navy." And he was the voice of Mermaid Man on "SpongeBob SquarePants" and Carface on "All Dogs Go to Heaven 2."

On Jan. 24, 2007, Borgnine celebrated his 90th birthday with a party for friends and family at a West Hollywood bistro. He seemed little changed from his years as a lusty villain or sympathetic hero on the screen. His only concession to age had come at 88 when he gave up driving the bus he would take around the country, stopping to talk with local folks along the way.

During an interview at the time, Borgnine complained that he wanted to continue acting but most studio executives kept asking, "Is he still alive?"

"I just want to do more work," he said. "Every time I step in front of a camera I feel young again. I really do. It keeps your mind active and it keeps you going."

Andy Griffith

(CBS News) Actor Andy Griffith, whose portrayal of a rural sheriff in a popular 1960s TV show earned him the title of "America's Favorite Sheriff," died Tuesday morning. He was 86.

Pictures: Andy Griffith, 1926-2012

Read more: Celebrities remember Andy Griffith

His death was confirmed in a statement from the Dare County, N.C., sheriff's office. Griffith died at his home on Roanoke Island, Dare County, N.C., at approximately 7 a.m.

"Andy Griffith passed away, after an illness ... Mr. Griffith has been laid to rest on his beloved Roanoke Island," explained a statement from Griffith's family.

"Andy was a person of incredibly strong Christian faith and was prepared for the day he would be called Home to his Lord," the actor's wife, Cindi Griffith, said in a statement.

CBS News correspondent Bill Whitaker reports that while Griffith's long career stretched from nightclubs to radio to movies to music, it was a role as a small-town sheriff that made him beloved to millions of Americans.

Viewers tuned in to "The Andy Griffith Show" not to watch Sheriff Andy Taylor solve big crimes, but to watch him solve the little problems of life in the fictional Mayberry, N.C. Don Knotts played Deputy Barney Fife, and Jim Nabors portrayed Gomer Pyle, the gas pumper. Most critics consider the show, which ran from 1960 to 1968, one of the top four or five sitcoms ever shown on television.

my movies on youtube (and other places)

I keep seeing more and more full-length movies on youtube.  Not sure how they upload full length movies.  And since they're probably violating copyright, the videos are likely to be taken off in a few weeks or months.  But anyway, here's some that I have found.

(Many of which I already have on DVD, so I have little to gain by watching them on youtube.  The other disadvantage?  No subtitles.)

Let's start with some Bruckheimer
Deja Vu (uploaded 3/25/12)
Gone in 60 Seconds (uploaded 6/25/12)
Enemy of the State (1998) (uploaded 2/18/12)
Armageddon (in 14 parts, uploaded 7/25/08)
The Rock (1996) (uploaded 2/20/12)
Con Air (8 parts, uploaded 6/7/12)
Crimson Tide (1996) (uploaded 2/22/12)

So you see, 5 of the 6 were uploaded this year (thus unlikely to last the year).
[7/13/12 - All except Deja Vu and Armageddon are gone]

Here's a few more that caught my eye
Independence Day (uploaded 11/1/11)
Push (uploaded 6/26/12)

X-Men (uploaded 6/25/12)
Hulk vs. Thor (uploaded 4/8/12)
Ultimate Avengers (uploaded 4/15/12)

[9/23/12] Green Lantern on vimeo (after I rented it from RedBox last night)

[2/9/13] checking the above links.  all the movies are gone except for Armageddon (which I have Criterion Collection DVD anyway).

shopping on Amazon

Went looking for Lysol disinfectant spray today (or equivalent) today. Checked Safeway and Longs. The best deal I found was $6 for a 12.5 oz can at Safeway.

Now I'm checking Amazon. They have a 3 pack for only $9.86. And these are 19 oz cans! Next time.

Also looked for bathmats. This is sort of hard to find. Didn't see any at Costco. They had a $6 one at Longs and also a $13 one. Wound up buying the $6 one. Amazon? The cheapest one I see is this $6 deal. I guess this real deal would be this Rubbermaid mat for $9.

How about coffee stirrers? Couldn't find any at Safeway or Longs. The best deal is this Genuine Joe 1000 pack for $5.95. Well I guess this one is even cheaper per stirrer. But I don't think I need 5000.

One thing that caught my eye was the Angry Bird hooded blankie (or whatever). I think this is the one. It was cheaper at Costco Also the Angry Bird pillow which was out of stock at Costco. This might be it. It was also cheaper at Costco (if they had them). How about the Angry Bird plush toy which they're selling at roku.com. Amazon has one with sound for $8.55. The one at roku is for $6.99 but I don't know if it has sound.

I wonder if they sell cranberry juice? Actually they do. But you have to buy in quantity, like this 8-pack.

Hmm. I can see you can almost buy everything by mail order. How about bread? The one I buy from Costco is Oroweat Oatnut. Nope. Though they do have Arnold oatnut whole grains bread who's packaging looks very similar. Apparently they're the same company. But it's much cheaper at Costco.

So I'll keep Amazon in mind for future purchases, but Costco does give free samples..

Little Princes

SEEING, THEY SAY, is believing. Little Princes, by Conor Grennan, is eye-opening. It describes the stark reality faced by thousands of children in Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. Gren nan writes, often surprisingly humorously, about his experience working as a volunteer at Little Princes — an orphanage in the region—and  how it transformed him from an “average, ordinary American guy” to a man who has risked life and limb to help stranded Nepalese children reconnect with their families.

-- Costco Connection, February 2011

toto toilet

We got a toto toilet some years ago.  It was good at first.  But then the flapper broke and now the handle broke.

It seemed our old toilet lasted much longer.  Though I remember we had to change the flappers too.  So maybe not.

Anyway, it looks like the part is available on Amazon for $20.77.  The part number is THU68-CP and the toilet model is the St743S. Looking on the inside of the handle I see the numbers 9592.

I remember the last time, Home Depot directed me to The Bathroom Store.  But maybe the part might be available at City Mill too.

***

Nope, not at City Mill.  Not at Lowes either.  And I figured not at Home Depot.  $34+ at The Bathroom Store.  So it cost me $13 (plus gas).

Wee-N-See

Potty training your little one is an important milestone for the whole family. Yet sometimes it’s easier said than done. Fortunately, Tammi Umeno has developed a product that can make potty training as easy as 1, 2, 3. Enter the Wee-N-See, a fun and easy way to toilet train your child.

The Wee-N-See works in three easy steps: First, place the Wee-N-See in the water of the toilet when your child is ready to “go.” Then, when urine makes contact with the WeeN-See, it will chemically activate the aid, and a picture design will be revealed. Finally, flush when done. There are 10 fun designs to choose from, including a dinosaur, ladybug, sun, train, bee, whale, dragonfly and more.

slideshow

how to raise a good man

The instant you looked into your newborn son’s eyes you knew that every hope you had for his future rested on what you did from that moment on. Would you be able to help him grow into a caring, confident, responsible man? Every mother questions how she’s doing when it comes to raising her boy. But if you follow the advice below, chances are, your son will turn into the kind of man you want him to be.

Read more: How To Raise Boys - Tips for Raising Sons - Woman's Day

-- Woman's Day, June 2011

Richard Dawson

Richard Dawson brought a saucy, unabashedly touchy-feely style to television game shows as host of "Family Feud."

The British-born entertainer, who died Saturday at age 79 from complications related to esophageal cancer, earlier had made his mark in the unlikely 1960s sitcom hit "Hogan's Heroes," which mined laughs from a Nazi POW camp whose prisoners hoodwink their captors and run the place themselves.

But it is as the kissing, wisecracking quizmaster of "Feud" that he will be remembered.

Enlarge Image

Associated Press

Richard Dawson, host of 'Family Feud,' in June 1978.

The show, which initially ran from 1976 to 1985, pitted a pair of families against each other as they tried to guess the most popular answers to poll questions such as "What do people give up when they go on a diet?"

Mr. Dawson made his hearty, soaring pronouncement of the phrase "Survey says..." a national catchphrase among the show's fans.

coconut oil and alzheimers / dementia

First the video that has been going around via email.

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS

Then a followup from Snopes

Then some people reportedly getting results.

I wonder if haupia ice cream and coconut pie can be beneficial?  [Coconut bao too!]  Even if it doesn't, at least we'll enjoy the food. 

[6/15/12] After looking on ebay for coconut oil, I see that it's also available at amazon.  Surprisingly there are only 34 reviews of Mary Newport's book, but 29 are five star and 3 are four star.

[8/7/12] Yep, it sure sounds like, from the way she's been acting, that mom has dementia.  Whether she has Alzheimer's or not, is another story.

Dementia is the gradual deterioration of mental functioning, such as thinking, concentration, memory, and judgment, which affects a person’s ability to perform normal daily activities.

Dementia occurs primarily in people who are over the age of 65, or in those with an injury or disease that affects brain function. While dementia is most commonly seen in the elderly, it is not a normal consequence of the aging process.

Dementia is caused by the death of brain cells. Brain cells can be destroyed by brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or strokes (called vascular or multi-infarct dementia), which decrease blood flow to the brain.

In most cases, the symptoms of dementia occur gradually, over a period of years. Symptoms of dementia caused by injury or stroke occur more abruptly.

Difficulties often begin with memory, progressing from simple forgetfulness to the inability to remember directions, recent events, and familiar faces and names.

[8/7/12] Here's a couple of threads from Dementia Weekly:

What's Bad About Using Coconut Oil for Dementia?

Testimonials for Coconut Oil as a Dimentia Therapy

[8/19/12] Finally bought some coconut oil, found it at GNC.  Nutiva brand.  Put it on oatmeal but it didn't have much taste. So the next day I added honey too.  Not bad.

I remember Dr. Oz mentioning coconut oil on his show.  As far as I know, he didn't mention the affect on dementia, but it has some other benefits.  Here's some links:

Coconut Oil Super Powers, Part 2

What is coconut oil?

The Benefits of Coconut Oil (by Charles Mattocks)

Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola

Joe Mercola, quack doctor

Dr. Oz changed his mind

one more for Jackie Chan

Cannes, France >> Jackie Chan is landing his last punch as an action star, but says he is stepping into retirement having made one of the most important films of his career.

The Hong Kong actor told the AP on Friday that his latest film "Chinese Zodiac" will be his last action movie.

Chan, launching the movie at the Cannes Film Festival with co-stars Kwone Sang Woo, Yao Xingtong and Liao Fan, said that people don't believe him when he says he is going to retire.

"They say 'no, you're still young, you can still do it,' but I have to stop one day."

The 58-year-old says he is bowing out with "Chinese Zodiac" — in which he plays a fortune hunter, travelling the world trying to track down missing astrological antiques — because it is one of the "most important" films in his career.

Chan says he spent seven years working on the movie — writing, producing, directing and coordinating fight scenes.

"For the last ten years I've been choosing the director to direct me. This one I direct myself." he said. "I hope this movie, 20 years later, people still remember it. For me, for the audience, for my future, for my history — it's very important."

Chan says "Chinese Zodiac," and the many films before it, have taken their toll on his body.

using your dishwasher

A Word About Prerinsing
Don’t do it. Yes, you read that correctly—prerinsing is wrong. “Dishes should be scraped to remove large chunks,” says Dries. “But if you’re rinsing, you’re really just wasting water and electricity.”

So why is everyone in the habit of prerinsing? Because older dishwashers removed food soil by diluting the food in water, and then hoping it went down the drain. Which it often didn’t.

The vast majority of today’s models have filtration systems designed to catch food and pump it down the drain so that very little dirty water carries over to the next cycle. Higher-end models not only have self-cleaning filters, but hard food disposers as well, which grind food and send it down the drain.

In addition, modern detergents are designed to attack food, which can actually cause problems if there isn’t any food on the dishware. “The detergent in the unit aggressively goes after something, and if you don’t have food soil in the unit, it attacks the glasses, which will get cloudy,” says Mike Edwards, a dishwasher designer and senior engineer for Bosch. So ignore your friends when they tell you that you have to prerinse.

How to Load the Right Way
Mike Edwards knows a thing or two about how to load a dishwasher—he’s been designing them for 22 years. His suggestion: “Read the manual. We put a lot of effort into it!” Each tub is a little different, but even so, there are two golden rules: Like items shall be loaded with like. (More items fit that way.) And all items should face the middle of the unit—that’s where the jet spray comes from.

• Avoid nesting Water, water vapor and heat need to touch every surface of the items being washed, so leave space between dishes and don’t overfill.

• Place Items facing Down Placing bowls, pans and cups upright means they’ll fill with dirty water and won’t be able to drain.

• The Lower Rack Put bigger dishes here, close to the jet spray. Plates, pots, pans, mixing bowls all go here; platters go against an outside edge so they don’t block other items. Durable mugs and thick glasses can also go on this rack.

• Silverware Load the silverware basket in the sink—knives handle-up, and forks and spoons handle-down—making sure not to overfill. Many baskets are designed to sit in a variety of bottom rack locations; after you load other items, place the basket where your remaining empty space is.

• The Top Rack Place glasses and cups along the edges, next to the tines (not on them; if you put them on the tines, the tines can break and you’ll fit fewer items). Load smaller plates and saucers in neat rows facing the middle. Long spatulas, cooking spoons and knives lie flat, in the long basket for this purpose, if your unit has one.

Read more: How to Use a Dishwasher - Use Your Dishwasher Efficiently at WomansDay.com - Woman's Day

***

[6/27/12] To rinse or not to rinse?

***

[2/13/13] using Quick Wash

Goober

NASHVILLE, Tenn. >> George Lindsey, who spent nearly 30 years as the grinning Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hee Haw," has died. He was 83.

A press release from Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home in Nashville said Lindsay died early Sunday morning after a brief illness. Funeral arrangements were still being made.

Lindsey was the beanie-wearing Goober on "The Andy Griffith Show" from 1964 to 1968 and its successor, "Mayberry RFD," from 1968 to 1971. He played the same jovial character — a service station attendant — on "Hee Haw" from 1971 until it went out of production in 1993.

"America has grown up with me," Lindsey said in an Associated Press interview in 1985. "Goober is every man; everyone finds something to like about ol' Goober."

He joined "The Andy Griffith Show" in 1964 when Jim Nabors, portraying Gomer Pyle, left the program. Goober Pyle, who had been mentioned on the show as Gomer's cousin, thus replaced him.