Hey I joined up SwapADVD (see my SwapACD post somewhere below).
As soon as I posted Master Killer (didn't really want to keep it especially since I recently bought 36th Chamber of Shaolin, the Dragon Dynasty release, which is the same movie, but cleaned up and with sub-titles and better audio), I got a request from Arizona to send it (well I guess they were in a queue to get it).
Joined SwapABook too, actually called paperbackswap.
***
There's a couple other swapping sites (from this post) that look intriguing that I may investigate one of these weeks: SwapTree and Goozex.
***
Here's another one from this list of The 100 most useful sites on the Internet: Title Trader.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Blu-Ray
I think it's quite likely I'm going to get a new TV this year (any week now). Which should mean Blu-Ray DVDs to quickly follow.
What movies to get? I'm thinking of getting some of my favorite movies that I think would display nicely on Blu-Ray. (Not that I'm going to actually take the time to sit down and watch the whole movie again. It'll probably be like when I bought the DVDs of the movies I already had on VHS.)
Anyway, Blu-ray.com looks like a good place to for reviews of Blu-Ray movies. [So are High-Def Digest and good ole' dvdtalk.] Here's my preliminary list.
1. The Matrix
2. Independence Day
3. Kung Fu Hustle
4. Planet Earth - if nothing else, but to show off the TV and the Blu-Ray player.
[added 3/5/10]
5. Live Free or Die Hard - I recorded this from cable which was the full-screen PG-13 version but wouldn't mind getting the Blu-Ray. The Blu-Ray version is also the PG-13 version and not the unrated version out on DVD. Which is fine with me.
[5/27/10 - I saw at WalMart yesterday, Live Free or Die Hard with BOTH the PG-13 and unrated versions on it. Plus it was only $7.50. I was tempted, but I'll think I'll hold out for the Blu-Ray version on dvdswap. There were new editions of this movie that came out last month (4/13/10) and I'm guessing maybe these editions now contain both versions of the movie. Well, here's one reference that says both versions are included though the title still says unrated widescreen version.]
[4/19/11 - Here's a page detailing the differences between the PG-13 and Unrated version. I saw this page before (or one like it), but couldn't find it again until now. (Searched for Live Free or Die Hard PG-13)]
On a related note, I might not mind getting a censored version of Blade Trinity either, another movie I also kind of liked, though most critics didn't like it. The IGN review is one of the few favorable ones. I have the unrated DVD. There are indeed two versions of the Blade Trinity DVD: Unrated and Not Unrated, but the movie, unlike Life Free or Die Hard, is an R-rated movie. So maybe not.
[6/2/10] After wasting away much of the day trying to figure out what else to buy on Amazon (besides the motion light -- so I can get free shipping), I decided to buy a WaterPik for my failing teeth. But I really considered getting The Dark Knight which is selling for less than ten bucks and gets excellent reviews. Then later, I looked at a whole bunch of one-star reviews for Up (because the plain DVD has no extras or subtitles). On the other hand, the Blu-Ray mostly gets rave reviews (except for some having DRM problems).
[5/5/13] I saw the LFODH DVD at BookOff (on 4/10/13). But it was $7 instead of $3 so naturally I didn't get it. But I did write down the UPC code 02454347616020. So maybe I can get it at swapadvd. But I think they might have the same UPC code for both the unrated version DVD and the DVD version with both. That was the case with the Buddy Holly Story where they had the same UPC code for both the full-screen version and the full-screen and wide-screen flipper version.
Nope, didn't come up in the search at swapadvd. But I see there's a lot of bar codes for the movie. If I take out the 20 at the end, I get the Unrated edition, which might be the right one. Clicking on the Amazon link shows the unrated cover, but the information states PG-13.
[11/5/13 more bar codes from a slip of paper from I don't know where]
02454347616080
024543838203 (Blu-Ray)
02454347636880
What movies to get? I'm thinking of getting some of my favorite movies that I think would display nicely on Blu-Ray. (Not that I'm going to actually take the time to sit down and watch the whole movie again. It'll probably be like when I bought the DVDs of the movies I already had on VHS.)
Anyway, Blu-ray.com looks like a good place to for reviews of Blu-Ray movies. [So are High-Def Digest and good ole' dvdtalk.] Here's my preliminary list.
1. The Matrix
2. Independence Day
3. Kung Fu Hustle
4. Planet Earth - if nothing else, but to show off the TV and the Blu-Ray player.
[added 3/5/10]
5. Live Free or Die Hard - I recorded this from cable which was the full-screen PG-13 version but wouldn't mind getting the Blu-Ray. The Blu-Ray version is also the PG-13 version and not the unrated version out on DVD. Which is fine with me.
[5/27/10 - I saw at WalMart yesterday, Live Free or Die Hard with BOTH the PG-13 and unrated versions on it. Plus it was only $7.50. I was tempted, but I'll think I'll hold out for the Blu-Ray version on dvdswap. There were new editions of this movie that came out last month (4/13/10) and I'm guessing maybe these editions now contain both versions of the movie. Well, here's one reference that says both versions are included though the title still says unrated widescreen version.]
[4/19/11 - Here's a page detailing the differences between the PG-13 and Unrated version. I saw this page before (or one like it), but couldn't find it again until now. (Searched for Live Free or Die Hard PG-13)]
On a related note, I might not mind getting a censored version of Blade Trinity either, another movie I also kind of liked, though most critics didn't like it. The IGN review is one of the few favorable ones. I have the unrated DVD. There are indeed two versions of the Blade Trinity DVD: Unrated and Not Unrated, but the movie, unlike Life Free or Die Hard, is an R-rated movie. So maybe not.
[6/2/10] After wasting away much of the day trying to figure out what else to buy on Amazon (besides the motion light -- so I can get free shipping), I decided to buy a WaterPik for my failing teeth. But I really considered getting The Dark Knight which is selling for less than ten bucks and gets excellent reviews. Then later, I looked at a whole bunch of one-star reviews for Up (because the plain DVD has no extras or subtitles). On the other hand, the Blu-Ray mostly gets rave reviews (except for some having DRM problems).
[5/5/13] I saw the LFODH DVD at BookOff (on 4/10/13). But it was $7 instead of $3 so naturally I didn't get it. But I did write down the UPC code 02454347616020. So maybe I can get it at swapadvd. But I think they might have the same UPC code for both the unrated version DVD and the DVD version with both. That was the case with the Buddy Holly Story where they had the same UPC code for both the full-screen version and the full-screen and wide-screen flipper version.
Nope, didn't come up in the search at swapadvd. But I see there's a lot of bar codes for the movie. If I take out the 20 at the end, I get the Unrated edition, which might be the right one. Clicking on the Amazon link shows the unrated cover, but the information states PG-13.
[11/5/13 more bar codes from a slip of paper from I don't know where]
02454347616080
024543838203 (Blu-Ray)
02454347636880
Monday, February 22, 2010
We Are The World for Haiti
LOS ANGELES - The charity anthem “We Are the World” has been rerecorded by 80 artists who came together in the same Hollywood studio where the original was cut 25 years ago.
Pink, Natalie Cole, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Brian Wilson and others stood shoulder-to-shoulder on risers at Henson Recording studios Monday night to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief.
“This one, the enthusiasm, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Lionel Richie, who wrote the original with Michael Jackson and oversaw the new version with music mogul Quincy Jones, 76.
Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, announced last week that he planned to redo the song to benefit recovery efforts after the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12.
The original “We Are the World” thundered up the charts when it was released in March 1985.
An unprecedented number of top pop musicians gathered at A&M the night of Jan. 28, 1985, following the American Music Awards, to record the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars, including Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper.
The record raised more than $30 million for USA for Africa, a nonprofit organization the singers founded to fund hunger relief in Africa.
None of the original performers returned Monday because none were asked, said Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live and also Richie’s manager.
***
The video of "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" premiered Friday night (February 12) during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The new incarnation of the 1985 song sticks closely to the arrangement of the original, but the cast is much larger and, of course, much more contemporary.
On television, the song was introduced by a message from original "We Are the World" principals Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, who urged viewers to contribute via World25.org, iTunes or by texting "World" to 50555.
A tightly edited version of the video was aired on Friday night, but the long version is available now on iTunes.
Pink, Natalie Cole, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Celine Dion, Brian Wilson and others stood shoulder-to-shoulder on risers at Henson Recording studios Monday night to raise money for Haiti earthquake relief.
“This one, the enthusiasm, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Lionel Richie, who wrote the original with Michael Jackson and oversaw the new version with music mogul Quincy Jones, 76.
Jones, who produced the 1985 anthem, announced last week that he planned to redo the song to benefit recovery efforts after the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12.
The original “We Are the World” thundered up the charts when it was released in March 1985.
An unprecedented number of top pop musicians gathered at A&M the night of Jan. 28, 1985, following the American Music Awards, to record the tune. The song featured 45 American superstars, including Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper.
The record raised more than $30 million for USA for Africa, a nonprofit organization the singers founded to fund hunger relief in Africa.
None of the original performers returned Monday because none were asked, said Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live and also Richie’s manager.
***
The video of "We Are the World: 25 for Haiti" premiered Friday night (February 12) during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The new incarnation of the 1985 song sticks closely to the arrangement of the original, but the cast is much larger and, of course, much more contemporary.
On television, the song was introduced by a message from original "We Are the World" principals Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, who urged viewers to contribute via World25.org, iTunes or by texting "World" to 50555.
A tightly edited version of the video was aired on Friday night, but the long version is available now on iTunes.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Bill Gates on innovation
In India, just like everywhere else we work, the needs of the poor are greater than the resources available to help them solve their problems. It is important to get more money, but that alone will not solve the big problems. This is why Melinda and I are such big believers in innovations that allow you to do a lot more for the same cost.
During the last two centuries, there have been a huge number of innovations that have fundamentally changed the human condition — more than doubling our life span and giving us cheap energy and more food. Society underinvests in innovation in general but particularly in two important areas. One area is innovations that would mostly benefit poor people — there is too little investment here because the poor can’t generate a market demand. The second area is sectors like education or preventative health services, where there isn’t an agreed-upon measure of excellence to tell the market how to pick the best ideas.
If we project what the world will be like 10 years from now without innovation in health, education, energy, or food, the picture is quite bleak. Health costs for the rich will escalate, forcing tough trade-offs and keeping the poor stuck in the bad situation they are in today. In the United States, rising education costs will mean that fewer people will be able to get a great college education and the public K–12 system will still be doing a poor job for the underprivileged. We will have to increase the price of energy to reduce consumption, and the poor will suffer from both this higher cost and the effects of climate change. In food we will have big shortages because we won’t have enough land to feed the world’s growing population and support its richer diet.
However, I am optimistic that innovations will allow us to avoid these bleak outcomes. In the United States, advances in online learning and new ways to help teachers improve will make a great education more accessible than ever. With vaccines, drugs, and other improvements, health in poor countries will continue to get better, and people will choose to have smaller families. With better seeds, training, and access to markets, farmers in poor countries will be able to grow more food. The world will find clean ways to produce electricity at a lower cost, and more people will lift themselves out of poverty.
Although innovation is unpredictable, there is a lot that governments, private companies, and foundations can do to accelerate it. Rich governments need to spend more on research and development, for instance, and we need better measurement systems in health and education to determine what works.
Melinda and I see our foundation’s key role as investing in innovations that would not otherwise be funded. This draws not only on our backgrounds in technology but also on the foundation’s size and ability to take a long-term view and take large risks on new approaches. Warren Buffett put it well in 2006 when he told us, “Don’t just go for safe projects. You can bat a thousand in this game if you want to by doing nothing important. Or you’ll bat something less than that if you take on the really tough problems.” We are backing innovations in education, food, and health as well as some related areas like savings for the poor.
[2010 Annual Letter from Bill Gates via brknews]
During the last two centuries, there have been a huge number of innovations that have fundamentally changed the human condition — more than doubling our life span and giving us cheap energy and more food. Society underinvests in innovation in general but particularly in two important areas. One area is innovations that would mostly benefit poor people — there is too little investment here because the poor can’t generate a market demand. The second area is sectors like education or preventative health services, where there isn’t an agreed-upon measure of excellence to tell the market how to pick the best ideas.
If we project what the world will be like 10 years from now without innovation in health, education, energy, or food, the picture is quite bleak. Health costs for the rich will escalate, forcing tough trade-offs and keeping the poor stuck in the bad situation they are in today. In the United States, rising education costs will mean that fewer people will be able to get a great college education and the public K–12 system will still be doing a poor job for the underprivileged. We will have to increase the price of energy to reduce consumption, and the poor will suffer from both this higher cost and the effects of climate change. In food we will have big shortages because we won’t have enough land to feed the world’s growing population and support its richer diet.
However, I am optimistic that innovations will allow us to avoid these bleak outcomes. In the United States, advances in online learning and new ways to help teachers improve will make a great education more accessible than ever. With vaccines, drugs, and other improvements, health in poor countries will continue to get better, and people will choose to have smaller families. With better seeds, training, and access to markets, farmers in poor countries will be able to grow more food. The world will find clean ways to produce electricity at a lower cost, and more people will lift themselves out of poverty.
Although innovation is unpredictable, there is a lot that governments, private companies, and foundations can do to accelerate it. Rich governments need to spend more on research and development, for instance, and we need better measurement systems in health and education to determine what works.
Melinda and I see our foundation’s key role as investing in innovations that would not otherwise be funded. This draws not only on our backgrounds in technology but also on the foundation’s size and ability to take a long-term view and take large risks on new approaches. Warren Buffett put it well in 2006 when he told us, “Don’t just go for safe projects. You can bat a thousand in this game if you want to by doing nothing important. Or you’ll bat something less than that if you take on the really tough problems.” We are backing innovations in education, food, and health as well as some related areas like savings for the poor.
[2010 Annual Letter from Bill Gates via brknews]
Friday, February 12, 2010
color and health
Let colors help paint a happier, healthier you
Don't give up on New Year's resolutions. It is never too late to start your exercise program or to lose those few extra pounds. Use the concepts behind your local diner's blue plate special for color motivations.
There might be many articles that have diet and exercise tips, but none that suggest how easy and inexpensive it is to use color to help get to the gym or eat the right foods to inspire better health.
Since ancient Egypt, color has been known to have emotional and physiological associations. Traditionally, the mind disassociates blue with eating because there are very few blue-colored foods in nature. The food psychology of the blue plate gives the impression that you are satisfied while consuming less and the festive qualities of eating blueberries disguise their low-calorie and great health benefits.
I've studied the meaning of colors and their influence on the body and emotions for more than 20 years, presenting color workshops worldwide and teaching color classes, and over time have discovered many motivating ideas people can use to improve all aspects of their life. For example:
NUTRITION
All naturally colored foods have specific antioxidants that reduce aging and not only have proven health benefits, the emotional association of their color reflects those benefits.
Orange is the color of optimism and eating an orange if you have a head cold instantly inspires feeling better; it is known to strengthen the immune system.
TRADITIONAL MOTIVATIONS
Red inspires action. Wear red clothes when popping in an exercise tape or taking a walk around the block to fill your body with extra vitality and stamina.
Yellow is the commitment and confidence-building color. Put a yellow dish towel on the fridge handle to dedicated to eating low-calorie, healthy snacks when standing there with the door open.
Orange is the color of body appreciation. Put some orange flowers on your desk and relish their beauty; feel that your are getting more beautiful when looking at them.
Green is the color of love, and taking care of your health starts with loving yourself. In addition to just eating your veggies, it's many applications can easily help motivate your wellness and make it fun.
Blue is the color for improving mental clarity for clearer communications and decisiveness.
Indigo helps awaken intuition and your higher self.
Violet is the color of the divine, helping individuals find their way toward bliss and making deeper connections to the cosmos.
Here’s another easy, healthy organizing tip. Assign one of the seven rainbow colors for each day to stay on task. I even organize my vitamins in colored, clear-plastic boxes that look like jewels to remember to take them! It also saves time by not having to open up the bottles every day.
--- Jami Lin is the author of six books on feng shui and interior design. More of her work can be view on JamiLin.com and ColorAlchemy.com.
***
[this article appeared in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, 1/24/10, but I could only find this edited version in a google cache. I typed the article using the edited version as a source, but actually the edited version is better written, so it's included below. For some reason, the editor omitted the paragraphs on blue, indigo, and violet.]
***
Color-coordinate your diet and exercise!
Written by Administrator
Friday, 22 January 2010 17:24
By Pam Philpott, Staff Writer
Have you given up on your New Year’s resolutions yet? It is never too late to restart your exercise program or to lose those extra pounds, and you can use color to help.
According to Florida color expert Jami Lin, color has been known to have emotional and physiological associations since the time of ancient Egypt. It’s easy and inexpensive to use color at the gym or eat the right foods to inspire better health.
All naturally colored foods have specific antioxidants that reduce aging, and the emotional association of their color reflects their proven health benefits. For example, orange is the color of optimism and eating an orange when you have a head cold instantly makes you feel better, plus it is known to strengthen the immune system.
The mind disassociates blue with eating because there are very few blue-colored foods in nature. A blue plate gives the impression that you are satisfied with consuming less, while the festive qualities of eating blueberries disguises their low-calorie and great health benefits.
Red inspires action, so Jami advises that you wear red clothes to give your body extra vitality and stamina when popping in an exercise tape, taking a walk around the block or going to the gym. Yellow is the commitment and confidence-building color. Put a yellow dishtowel on the fridge handle to remind yourself to eat low-calorie, healthy snacks when you open the fridge door.
Orange is the color of body appreciation. Put some orange flowers on your desk and feel good about how you look. Green is the color of love, and taking care of your health starts with loving yourself. In addition to just eating your veggies, you can let green motivate your wellness and make it fun.
Here’s an easy, healthy organizing tip from Jami: “By assigning one of the seven rainbow colors for each day, I organize my vitamins in colored, clear-plastic boxes that look like jewels to remember to take them! It also saves so much time by not having to open up the bottles every day,” she says.
Jami has studied the meaning of colors and their influence on the body and emotions for more than 20 years. She has presented color workshops worldwide, taught color classes at Miami-Dade Community College and for professional associations, such as AID (American Society of Interior Designers).
In addition to her award-winning ColorAlchemy book, she has six published books on Feng Shui and Interior Design, several of which became Book-of-the-Month Club selections. For more information, visit JamiLin.com, Feng-Shui-Interior-Design.com, and ColorAlchemy.com.
Don't give up on New Year's resolutions. It is never too late to start your exercise program or to lose those few extra pounds. Use the concepts behind your local diner's blue plate special for color motivations.
There might be many articles that have diet and exercise tips, but none that suggest how easy and inexpensive it is to use color to help get to the gym or eat the right foods to inspire better health.
Since ancient Egypt, color has been known to have emotional and physiological associations. Traditionally, the mind disassociates blue with eating because there are very few blue-colored foods in nature. The food psychology of the blue plate gives the impression that you are satisfied while consuming less and the festive qualities of eating blueberries disguise their low-calorie and great health benefits.
I've studied the meaning of colors and their influence on the body and emotions for more than 20 years, presenting color workshops worldwide and teaching color classes, and over time have discovered many motivating ideas people can use to improve all aspects of their life. For example:
NUTRITION
All naturally colored foods have specific antioxidants that reduce aging and not only have proven health benefits, the emotional association of their color reflects those benefits.
Orange is the color of optimism and eating an orange if you have a head cold instantly inspires feeling better; it is known to strengthen the immune system.
TRADITIONAL MOTIVATIONS
Red inspires action. Wear red clothes when popping in an exercise tape or taking a walk around the block to fill your body with extra vitality and stamina.
Yellow is the commitment and confidence-building color. Put a yellow dish towel on the fridge handle to dedicated to eating low-calorie, healthy snacks when standing there with the door open.
Orange is the color of body appreciation. Put some orange flowers on your desk and relish their beauty; feel that your are getting more beautiful when looking at them.
Green is the color of love, and taking care of your health starts with loving yourself. In addition to just eating your veggies, it's many applications can easily help motivate your wellness and make it fun.
Blue is the color for improving mental clarity for clearer communications and decisiveness.
Indigo helps awaken intuition and your higher self.
Violet is the color of the divine, helping individuals find their way toward bliss and making deeper connections to the cosmos.
Here’s another easy, healthy organizing tip. Assign one of the seven rainbow colors for each day to stay on task. I even organize my vitamins in colored, clear-plastic boxes that look like jewels to remember to take them! It also saves time by not having to open up the bottles every day.
--- Jami Lin is the author of six books on feng shui and interior design. More of her work can be view on JamiLin.com and ColorAlchemy.com.
***
[this article appeared in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, 1/24/10, but I could only find this edited version in a google cache. I typed the article using the edited version as a source, but actually the edited version is better written, so it's included below. For some reason, the editor omitted the paragraphs on blue, indigo, and violet.]
***
Color-coordinate your diet and exercise!
Written by Administrator
Friday, 22 January 2010 17:24
By Pam Philpott, Staff Writer
Have you given up on your New Year’s resolutions yet? It is never too late to restart your exercise program or to lose those extra pounds, and you can use color to help.
According to Florida color expert Jami Lin, color has been known to have emotional and physiological associations since the time of ancient Egypt. It’s easy and inexpensive to use color at the gym or eat the right foods to inspire better health.
All naturally colored foods have specific antioxidants that reduce aging, and the emotional association of their color reflects their proven health benefits. For example, orange is the color of optimism and eating an orange when you have a head cold instantly makes you feel better, plus it is known to strengthen the immune system.
The mind disassociates blue with eating because there are very few blue-colored foods in nature. A blue plate gives the impression that you are satisfied with consuming less, while the festive qualities of eating blueberries disguises their low-calorie and great health benefits.
Red inspires action, so Jami advises that you wear red clothes to give your body extra vitality and stamina when popping in an exercise tape, taking a walk around the block or going to the gym. Yellow is the commitment and confidence-building color. Put a yellow dishtowel on the fridge handle to remind yourself to eat low-calorie, healthy snacks when you open the fridge door.
Orange is the color of body appreciation. Put some orange flowers on your desk and feel good about how you look. Green is the color of love, and taking care of your health starts with loving yourself. In addition to just eating your veggies, you can let green motivate your wellness and make it fun.
Here’s an easy, healthy organizing tip from Jami: “By assigning one of the seven rainbow colors for each day, I organize my vitamins in colored, clear-plastic boxes that look like jewels to remember to take them! It also saves so much time by not having to open up the bottles every day,” she says.
Jami has studied the meaning of colors and their influence on the body and emotions for more than 20 years. She has presented color workshops worldwide, taught color classes at Miami-Dade Community College and for professional associations, such as AID (American Society of Interior Designers).
In addition to her award-winning ColorAlchemy book, she has six published books on Feng Shui and Interior Design, several of which became Book-of-the-Month Club selections. For more information, visit JamiLin.com, Feng-Shui-Interior-Design.com, and ColorAlchemy.com.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Conan leaves NBC
Ending one of the ugliest chapters in NBC’s storied history, the Peacock officially announced today that it has reached an agreement with Conan O’Brien, who has agreed to abdicate his role as the host of The Tonight Show by Jan. 22 in exchange for a large cash payout that sources place at more than $40 million — some of which will go toward severance for his staff — and the promise not to seek employment elsewhere until after Sept. 1.
At the same time, Jay Leno, whose failed primetime show was canceled earlier this month, will return to The Tonight Show on March 1, when job one will no doubt be to restore the franchise’s dwindling ratings: O’Brien just ushered in the Tonight Show’s worst November-sweeps performance since 1993 (a staggering 52 percent loss among viewers versus the same month last year). Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will continue at 12:35 a.m.
***
The late-night guessing game is over, with a startling twist: Conan O'Brien is choosing TBS as his future talk-show home.
Expected to debut in November, the as-yet-untitled show will return O'Brien to the air after an absence that began in January when he left NBC, his employer of 17 years.
O'Brien's new program will air Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. Eastern, which will shift "Lopez Tonight," starring George Lopez, to midnight. O'Brien's show will originate from Los Angeles, where he moved from New York for his unsuccessful stint hosting "The Tonight Show." And the second half of his show will face off against Jay Leno, who now hosts "Tonight."
Upon TBS' announcement Monday, O'Brien quickly fired out a celebratory tweet.
"The good news: I will be doing a show on TBS starting in November! The bad news: I'll be playing Rudy on the all new Cosby Show," he posted on Twitter.
At the same time, Jay Leno, whose failed primetime show was canceled earlier this month, will return to The Tonight Show on March 1, when job one will no doubt be to restore the franchise’s dwindling ratings: O’Brien just ushered in the Tonight Show’s worst November-sweeps performance since 1993 (a staggering 52 percent loss among viewers versus the same month last year). Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will continue at 12:35 a.m.
***
The late-night guessing game is over, with a startling twist: Conan O'Brien is choosing TBS as his future talk-show home.
Expected to debut in November, the as-yet-untitled show will return O'Brien to the air after an absence that began in January when he left NBC, his employer of 17 years.
O'Brien's new program will air Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. Eastern, which will shift "Lopez Tonight," starring George Lopez, to midnight. O'Brien's show will originate from Los Angeles, where he moved from New York for his unsuccessful stint hosting "The Tonight Show." And the second half of his show will face off against Jay Leno, who now hosts "Tonight."
Upon TBS' announcement Monday, O'Brien quickly fired out a celebratory tweet.
"The good news: I will be doing a show on TBS starting in November! The bad news: I'll be playing Rudy on the all new Cosby Show," he posted on Twitter.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Classic Kung Fu Movies
This is a blog that links to classic kung fu movies that you can view over the internet.
Like Shaolin Drunkard, Drunken Tai Chi, Five Deadly Venoms, Invincible Pole Fighter, House of Traps to name a few.
Also interviews with Yuen Woo Ping and Sammo Hung.
***
[5/11/10] I was browsing Chop Socky Cinema Hong Kong as a possible add to my DVD collection. I don't think it won't because I already recorded it from cable (IFC I think) and the DVD doesn't add much to it (I read somewhere but now I can't find it) except some short interviews.
From the Amazon page, listed as what customers buy after viewing this item is the Art of Action, which I already own. And Cinema of Vengeance, another documentary which I wasn't familiar with. But I see it's on youtube.
So is Art of Action for that matter.
And Cinema Hong Kong too.
[7/26/12 - a few more documentaries]
Amazing Masters of Martial Arts (hosted by Ken Howard)
Kung Fu Fighting
Needle Through Brick
[11/4/12] And Masters of the Martial Arts (though not really a documentary, kind of an awards show shown on TNT sort of promoting Wesley Snipes when Blade came out)
[6/21/12] While searching for True Legend, I see a bunch kung fu movies uploaded to youtube (for who knows how long?) Here's a few:
Come Drink With Me (1966)
36th Chamber of Shaolin aka Shaolin Master Killer
Return to the 36th Chamber
8 Diagram Pole Fighter aka Invincible Pole Fighter
5 Deadly Venoms
Descendants of Wing Chun
Ten Tigers of Kwangtung (1980)
Heroes of the East (1978) [I have this on my swapadvd wishlist]
My Young Auntie (1981) [also on my wishlist, evidently it keeps getting removed, then re-uploaded?)
No One Can Touch Her (comment)
Shaolin Temple (Jet Li)
Fong Sai Yuk (1993) (aka The Legend) (Jet Li)
The Legend 2 (Jet Li)
Legend of the Red Dragon (Jet Li)
Deadly China Hero (Jet Li)
Last Hero in China (1993) (Jet Li)
Rumble in the Bronx (Jackie Chan)
City Hunter (Jackie Chan)
Crime Story (Jackie Chan)
Mr. Nice Guy (Jackie Chan)
Who Am I? (Jackie Chan)x
Twin Dragons (Jackie Chan)
Drunken Master II (Jackie Chan)
The Accidental Spy (Jackie Chan)
[11/4/12] Tacquee uploaded a few more
The Young Master (Jackie Chan)
Wheels on Meals (Jackie Chan)
Heart of Dragon (Jackie Chan)
The Myth (Jackie Chan)
Tiger Cage 2 (Donnie Yen)
Iron Monkey (Donnie Yen)
Legend of the Fist: Return of Chen Zhen (Donnie Yen)
Reign of Assassins (Michelle Yeoh) [w/ subtitles]
Invincible Armour (featuring baddest fight scenes)
Lots more uploaded by MrMrkungfu1
Legend of a Fighter (directed by Yuen Woo Ping)
Like Shaolin Drunkard, Drunken Tai Chi, Five Deadly Venoms, Invincible Pole Fighter, House of Traps to name a few.
Also interviews with Yuen Woo Ping and Sammo Hung.
***
[5/11/10] I was browsing Chop Socky Cinema Hong Kong as a possible add to my DVD collection. I don't think it won't because I already recorded it from cable (IFC I think) and the DVD doesn't add much to it (I read somewhere but now I can't find it) except some short interviews.
From the Amazon page, listed as what customers buy after viewing this item is the Art of Action, which I already own. And Cinema of Vengeance, another documentary which I wasn't familiar with. But I see it's on youtube.
So is Art of Action for that matter.
And Cinema Hong Kong too.
[7/26/12 - a few more documentaries]
Amazing Masters of Martial Arts (hosted by Ken Howard)
Kung Fu Fighting
Needle Through Brick
[11/4/12] And Masters of the Martial Arts (though not really a documentary, kind of an awards show shown on TNT sort of promoting Wesley Snipes when Blade came out)
[6/21/12] While searching for True Legend, I see a bunch kung fu movies uploaded to youtube (for who knows how long?) Here's a few:
Come Drink With Me (1966)
36th Chamber of Shaolin aka Shaolin Master Killer
Return to the 36th Chamber
8 Diagram Pole Fighter aka Invincible Pole Fighter
5 Deadly Venoms
Descendants of Wing Chun
Ten Tigers of Kwangtung (1980)
Heroes of the East (1978) [I have this on my swapadvd wishlist]
My Young Auntie (1981) [also on my wishlist, evidently it keeps getting removed, then re-uploaded?)
No One Can Touch Her (comment)
Shaolin Temple (Jet Li)
Fong Sai Yuk (1993) (aka The Legend) (Jet Li)
The Legend 2 (Jet Li)
Legend of the Red Dragon (Jet Li)
Deadly China Hero (Jet Li)
Last Hero in China (1993) (Jet Li)
Rumble in the Bronx (Jackie Chan)
City Hunter (Jackie Chan)
Crime Story (Jackie Chan)
Mr. Nice Guy (Jackie Chan)
Who Am I? (Jackie Chan)x
Twin Dragons (Jackie Chan)
Drunken Master II (Jackie Chan)
The Accidental Spy (Jackie Chan)
[11/4/12] Tacquee uploaded a few more
The Young Master (Jackie Chan)
Wheels on Meals (Jackie Chan)
Heart of Dragon (Jackie Chan)
The Myth (Jackie Chan)
Tiger Cage 2 (Donnie Yen)
Iron Monkey (Donnie Yen)
Legend of the Fist: Return of Chen Zhen (Donnie Yen)
Reign of Assassins (Michelle Yeoh) [w/ subtitles]
Invincible Armour (featuring baddest fight scenes)
Lots more uploaded by MrMrkungfu1
Legend of a Fighter (directed by Yuen Woo Ping)
Friday, January 22, 2010
a savings revolution
there’s evidence that one of the most effective tools to fight global poverty may be neither a fishing rod nor a gun, but a savings accounts. What we need is a savings revolution.
One of the ugly secrets of global poverty is that a good deal of suffering is caused not only by low incomes but also by bad spending decisions. Research suggests that the world’s poorest families (typically the men in those families) spend about 20 percent of their incomes on a combination of alcohol, cigarettes, prostitution, soft drinks and extravagant festivals.
In Kenya, two economists conducted an experiment by paying the fees to open bank accounts for small peddlers. They found that the peddlers who took up the accounts, especially women, enjoyed remarkable gains. Within six months, they were investing 40 percent more in their businesses, typically by buying more goods to be resold.
Many aid groups including CARE and Oxfam now offer savings programs in some form, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is studying how best to promote financial services for the poor. A Web site, www.matchsavings.org, lets donors match a poor person’s savings to increase the incentive to build a savings habit.
So it’s time for a global microsavings movement. Poor countries should ease the regulations (such as requirements for banking licenses) that make it hard for nonprofits to operate microsavings programs.
-- NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
One of the ugly secrets of global poverty is that a good deal of suffering is caused not only by low incomes but also by bad spending decisions. Research suggests that the world’s poorest families (typically the men in those families) spend about 20 percent of their incomes on a combination of alcohol, cigarettes, prostitution, soft drinks and extravagant festivals.
In Kenya, two economists conducted an experiment by paying the fees to open bank accounts for small peddlers. They found that the peddlers who took up the accounts, especially women, enjoyed remarkable gains. Within six months, they were investing 40 percent more in their businesses, typically by buying more goods to be resold.
Many aid groups including CARE and Oxfam now offer savings programs in some form, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is studying how best to promote financial services for the poor. A Web site, www.matchsavings.org, lets donors match a poor person’s savings to increase the incentive to build a savings habit.
So it’s time for a global microsavings movement. Poor countries should ease the regulations (such as requirements for banking licenses) that make it hard for nonprofits to operate microsavings programs.
-- NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Carl Ballantine
Carl Ballantine, an inveterate quipmeister whose stand-up comedy persona, an incompetent magician known as the Amazing Ballantine or Ballantine the Great, predated and influenced the antic characters of Steve Martin and others, died on Nov. 3 at his home in Hollywood. He was 92.
He died of age-related causes, his daughter Saratoga Ballantine said.
“As my father always said to me about why anybody died, ‘He stopped breathing,’ ” Ms. Ballantine said.
Over the course of a six-decade career, Mr. Ballantine became familiar to audiences as a comic actor, especially after landing the role of the scheming, profiteering seaman Lester Gruber on the television series “McHale’s Navy” in 1962.
He died of age-related causes, his daughter Saratoga Ballantine said.
“As my father always said to me about why anybody died, ‘He stopped breathing,’ ” Ms. Ballantine said.
Over the course of a six-decade career, Mr. Ballantine became familiar to audiences as a comic actor, especially after landing the role of the scheming, profiteering seaman Lester Gruber on the television series “McHale’s Navy” in 1962.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
optimism is good for you
A recent issue of the journal Circulation provides hard evidence that optimism and health are connected. Researchers studied nearly 100,000 women over eight years, tracking how many heart attacks they suffered and how long they lived. The conclusion? Optimism is good for you.
“Optimists had a 16% lower risk of having heart attacks,” says the lead author, Dr. Hilary Tindle of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. And this study, it turns out, is not the first to link optimism with better health. A 2004 study of nearly 1000 elderly Dutch people found a connection between optimism and a lower risk of death from heart disease. The reverse seems to hold true, too. Pessimists—who were followed in a 2000 Mayo Clinic study that looked at more than 800 patients over 30 years—ran a 19% higher risk of early death than optimists.
Being an optimist also has been associated with a healthier immune system and an ability to better cope with physical pain. Still other studies have connected a positive attitude to a quicker recovery from heart surgery and a reduced likelihood of re-hospitalization, as well as to a superior ability to handle the emotional upheaval of life-threatening illnesses like cancer.
“Optimism and pessimism affect health almost as clearly as do physical factors,” says Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
“Optimists had a 16% lower risk of having heart attacks,” says the lead author, Dr. Hilary Tindle of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. And this study, it turns out, is not the first to link optimism with better health. A 2004 study of nearly 1000 elderly Dutch people found a connection between optimism and a lower risk of death from heart disease. The reverse seems to hold true, too. Pessimists—who were followed in a 2000 Mayo Clinic study that looked at more than 800 patients over 30 years—ran a 19% higher risk of early death than optimists.
Being an optimist also has been associated with a healthier immune system and an ability to better cope with physical pain. Still other studies have connected a positive attitude to a quicker recovery from heart surgery and a reduced likelihood of re-hospitalization, as well as to a superior ability to handle the emotional upheaval of life-threatening illnesses like cancer.
“Optimism and pessimism affect health almost as clearly as do physical factors,” says Dr. Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
medical observations
I don't remember the title, but it was by a Dr. Rattner who, according to the brief bio, was a longtime AMA member and chief of surgery at Oak Park Hospital.
Dr. Rattner began by saying that the article was not a clinical treatise, but simply his attempt to record a few of his observations as he completed 30 years of medical practice.
His first observation was that every day, about one out of 10 Americans go to some medical practitioner -- doctor, clinician, nurse, etc. -- with some kind of complaint: an ache here, a pain there. He said it was his opinion that at least half of them had no diagnosable physical problem. Oh, he didn't deny that they hurt, but he maintained that half of them had no physical cause for the hurt. So he would do what so many of his colleagues did in such a case: He would give his patients an aspirin or a placebo of some kind and tell them to call the next day, if necessary. Most did not call.
Dr. Rattner began by saying that the article was not a clinical treatise, but simply his attempt to record a few of his observations as he completed 30 years of medical practice.
His first observation was that every day, about one out of 10 Americans go to some medical practitioner -- doctor, clinician, nurse, etc. -- with some kind of complaint: an ache here, a pain there. He said it was his opinion that at least half of them had no diagnosable physical problem. Oh, he didn't deny that they hurt, but he maintained that half of them had no physical cause for the hurt. So he would do what so many of his colleagues did in such a case: He would give his patients an aspirin or a placebo of some kind and tell them to call the next day, if necessary. Most did not call.
Monday, November 09, 2009
22@Barcelona
BARCELONA, Spain - How can a city resuscitate an entire depressed, old inner-city district, many of its blocks marked by abandoned factories?
Even more challenging: How to transform the same area into a high-powered knowledge hub that adds jobs by the thousands and draws dozens of high-powered national and international firms?
The "free enterprise" American approach might be to bring in the bulldozers, create an industrial park that displaces the old residents and maybe offer companies public subsidies to move in.
Not Barcelona. Ten years ago this entrepreneurial city decided to build a modern "knowledge economy" close to downtown in its old, waterfront Poblenou district, once a leading cotton mill center, renaming it "22@Barcelona, The Innovation District."
Their central idea: Talent is the gold of our time, crucial to building thriving new economic clusters. Talented people (and cutting-edge firms) want lively urban environments instead of the isolation of corporate campuses. They're anxious to brush shoulders with other gifted people from companies, universities and the artistic realm.
So the district has been consciously shaped to include attractive green spaces, restaurants and entertainment, bike lanes, and plentiful public transit both within the area and between it and greater Barcelona.
But to create that environment - and not force out the families and workers living there - the Barcelona politicians decided on an ingenious but highly controlled form of real estate redevelopment.
Even more challenging: How to transform the same area into a high-powered knowledge hub that adds jobs by the thousands and draws dozens of high-powered national and international firms?
The "free enterprise" American approach might be to bring in the bulldozers, create an industrial park that displaces the old residents and maybe offer companies public subsidies to move in.
Not Barcelona. Ten years ago this entrepreneurial city decided to build a modern "knowledge economy" close to downtown in its old, waterfront Poblenou district, once a leading cotton mill center, renaming it "22@Barcelona, The Innovation District."
Their central idea: Talent is the gold of our time, crucial to building thriving new economic clusters. Talented people (and cutting-edge firms) want lively urban environments instead of the isolation of corporate campuses. They're anxious to brush shoulders with other gifted people from companies, universities and the artistic realm.
So the district has been consciously shaped to include attractive green spaces, restaurants and entertainment, bike lanes, and plentiful public transit both within the area and between it and greater Barcelona.
But to create that environment - and not force out the families and workers living there - the Barcelona politicians decided on an ingenious but highly controlled form of real estate redevelopment.
Friday, November 06, 2009
How to Live Forever
Hawaii International Film Festival attendees should take note of a new documentary -- submitted after deadline and therefore not part of the print program. "How to Live Forever" screens at 6 p.m. Sunday, and is an intriguing exploration of health and longevity by veteran filmmaker and photojournalist Mark Wexler, who will be available for a question-and-answer session following the screening.
The Los Angeles-based Wexler spent three years interviewing several dozen people over 100 years old (including the oldest woman, who was 115), and visiting "longevity hot spots." Inspired by his mother's death and the arrival of his own AARP card, Wexler began contemplating the question in the minds of many people tiptoeing into middle age: "Is this all there is? Will there be more?" Throughout the film, he explores the benefits -- or detriments -- to society now that technology can extend human life significantly.
Everyone who lives a long time, and remains healthy doing it, is optimistic and possesses a sense of humor. "A lot of it, in the end, is attitude," Wexler said from his home in Los Angeles. Indeed, your belief systems may have as much effect on your longevity as your cholesterol levels.
It's hard not to listen when 94-year-old fitness legend Jack Lalanne walks through his gym and says, "This is where I take care of the most important person on this Earth ... me! I work out for two hours a day. Jack LaLanne can't afford to die; it would wreck my image!" And later in the clip: "The good old days are this second! Who makes it happen? You!"
Learn more about the film at www.liveforevermovie.com ...
The Los Angeles-based Wexler spent three years interviewing several dozen people over 100 years old (including the oldest woman, who was 115), and visiting "longevity hot spots." Inspired by his mother's death and the arrival of his own AARP card, Wexler began contemplating the question in the minds of many people tiptoeing into middle age: "Is this all there is? Will there be more?" Throughout the film, he explores the benefits -- or detriments -- to society now that technology can extend human life significantly.
Everyone who lives a long time, and remains healthy doing it, is optimistic and possesses a sense of humor. "A lot of it, in the end, is attitude," Wexler said from his home in Los Angeles. Indeed, your belief systems may have as much effect on your longevity as your cholesterol levels.
It's hard not to listen when 94-year-old fitness legend Jack Lalanne walks through his gym and says, "This is where I take care of the most important person on this Earth ... me! I work out for two hours a day. Jack LaLanne can't afford to die; it would wreck my image!" And later in the clip: "The good old days are this second! Who makes it happen? You!"
Learn more about the film at www.liveforevermovie.com ...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Queen's Medical Center
The Queen’s Medical Center has witnessed a lot of change since its establishment in 1859. It watched as Honolulu transformed from acres of farm lands to an industrial cityscape. It stood by as sovereign rule was replaced by a democratic government. It has withstood hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and even a few bad fashion fads.
But two things have remained just as they were 150 years ago: the hospital’s location nestled among a garden of trees off of Punchbowl Street and its mission of providing quality healthcare services to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii.
It is hard to imagine that what is today the largest private hospital in the state, not to mention the entire Pacific Basin, was created by two 20-somethings, Alexander Liholiho ‘Iolani and Emma Rooke.
Both were studious and accomplished children, adept in reading, writing and worldly knowledge. Alexander would grow up to rule Hawaii as King Kamehameha IV, and Emma would be his queen.
But two things have remained just as they were 150 years ago: the hospital’s location nestled among a garden of trees off of Punchbowl Street and its mission of providing quality healthcare services to improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all the people of Hawaii.
It is hard to imagine that what is today the largest private hospital in the state, not to mention the entire Pacific Basin, was created by two 20-somethings, Alexander Liholiho ‘Iolani and Emma Rooke.
Both were studious and accomplished children, adept in reading, writing and worldly knowledge. Alexander would grow up to rule Hawaii as King Kamehameha IV, and Emma would be his queen.
talk to your genes
The best thing that could come out of the debate on health care reform won't be the passage of a bill in Congress. It will be a shift in personal attitudes. Health care happens one person at a time. So let me speak personally to you. If you want the best possible health for yourself, the most important thing you can do today is talk to your genes.
I doubt that any doctor has ever made that recommendation. All of us, including medical students, were led to believe that genes are fixed. The ones we are born with don't change; new ones cannot be added. Those facts remain the same, but there's a huge story being overlooked. Genes have no effect unless they are switched on, and when you switch on beneficial genes, every cell in your body benefits.
Recent research by Dr. Dean Ornish and his colleagues has shown that adopting positive measures including exercise, meditation, and diet creates beneficial changes in five hundred genes.
This single finding could revolutionize your health, because what it means is that every bite of food you eat, every step on the treadmill, every moment of deep relaxation is talking to your genes. And your genes talk back by sending chemical signals to every cell indicating how your life is going.
Genes are alert, and when you change anything in your life, they respond.
Nothing is left out. Your cells are getting chemical signals right now that tell them if you are in a good or bad mood. They know if you ate trans fats at lunch, if you are in love, or if you inhale polluted air.
Now is the time to take advantage of this breakthrough by talking to your genes in a new way. Forty years ago it was an uphill battle to convince Americans that smoking was dangerous, but eventually attitudes shifted and a major health risk was dramatically diminished. At present the big risks are just as controllable. They include obesity, sedentary living, and stress.
Start to talk to your genes about these issues. This isn't just another call to get you to exercise, meditate, and diet. Those are all good things, and yet most people ignore them. Why? Because despite their best intentions, people are conditioned by old habits. Your body can't break those habits on its own, but it can become your ally.
To win your body over, take a walk when it's beautiful outside, devote five minutes to meditation or stress management, nourish yourself with healthy food, and above all, be aware that the power to change rests with you. Small beginnings can lead to major results once you know that each step is like a conversation with your body. Your genes are listening. Tell them something good as often as you can.
I doubt that any doctor has ever made that recommendation. All of us, including medical students, were led to believe that genes are fixed. The ones we are born with don't change; new ones cannot be added. Those facts remain the same, but there's a huge story being overlooked. Genes have no effect unless they are switched on, and when you switch on beneficial genes, every cell in your body benefits.
Recent research by Dr. Dean Ornish and his colleagues has shown that adopting positive measures including exercise, meditation, and diet creates beneficial changes in five hundred genes.
This single finding could revolutionize your health, because what it means is that every bite of food you eat, every step on the treadmill, every moment of deep relaxation is talking to your genes. And your genes talk back by sending chemical signals to every cell indicating how your life is going.
Genes are alert, and when you change anything in your life, they respond.
Nothing is left out. Your cells are getting chemical signals right now that tell them if you are in a good or bad mood. They know if you ate trans fats at lunch, if you are in love, or if you inhale polluted air.
Now is the time to take advantage of this breakthrough by talking to your genes in a new way. Forty years ago it was an uphill battle to convince Americans that smoking was dangerous, but eventually attitudes shifted and a major health risk was dramatically diminished. At present the big risks are just as controllable. They include obesity, sedentary living, and stress.
Start to talk to your genes about these issues. This isn't just another call to get you to exercise, meditate, and diet. Those are all good things, and yet most people ignore them. Why? Because despite their best intentions, people are conditioned by old habits. Your body can't break those habits on its own, but it can become your ally.
To win your body over, take a walk when it's beautiful outside, devote five minutes to meditation or stress management, nourish yourself with healthy food, and above all, be aware that the power to change rests with you. Small beginnings can lead to major results once you know that each step is like a conversation with your body. Your genes are listening. Tell them something good as often as you can.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
how to get rid of ants
We have these little tiny light brown ants that don't want to go away. Though they seem sort of controlled by using Terro.
Here's another formula I might try from Kokua Line.
Question: Is there any low price homemade recipe to put on the kitchen counter to get rid of or kill those pesky black ants found in my sink, counter or trash can?
Answer: Bernarr Kumashiro, insect taxonomist at the state Department of Agriculture, suggests a boric acid mixture that he says works well for most ant species.
A general formula calls for one cup water, 1/3 cup sugar and one teaspoon boric acid powder. Mix well, then put a few drops into small containers, such as something the size of a film canister cover, and place along the ant trail.
Kumashiro warned to keep this away from children and pets.
"If ants do not readily take to the bait, use a toothpick, dab into the mixture, and make a small trail of droplets leading to the container," he said. Refill when the mixture hardens.
"Keep in mind that this is a relatively slow-acting ant poison, and that the worker ants must be allowed to lap it up and take it back to the nest to feed the rest of the colony," he said.
Within a few days, Kumashiro said, "the whole colony will be killed and you should see no ants."
For a few ant species, this concoction won't work. If so, Kumashiro suggests putting a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in water in a spray bottle, then spray ants as you see them. This will also get rid of ants, "but new ants will re-appear from the same nest, and this process must be repeated several times," he said.
Here's another formula I might try from Kokua Line.
Question: Is there any low price homemade recipe to put on the kitchen counter to get rid of or kill those pesky black ants found in my sink, counter or trash can?
Answer: Bernarr Kumashiro, insect taxonomist at the state Department of Agriculture, suggests a boric acid mixture that he says works well for most ant species.
A general formula calls for one cup water, 1/3 cup sugar and one teaspoon boric acid powder. Mix well, then put a few drops into small containers, such as something the size of a film canister cover, and place along the ant trail.
Kumashiro warned to keep this away from children and pets.
"If ants do not readily take to the bait, use a toothpick, dab into the mixture, and make a small trail of droplets leading to the container," he said. Refill when the mixture hardens.
"Keep in mind that this is a relatively slow-acting ant poison, and that the worker ants must be allowed to lap it up and take it back to the nest to feed the rest of the colony," he said.
Within a few days, Kumashiro said, "the whole colony will be killed and you should see no ants."
For a few ant species, this concoction won't work. If so, Kumashiro suggests putting a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent in water in a spray bottle, then spray ants as you see them. This will also get rid of ants, "but new ants will re-appear from the same nest, and this process must be repeated several times," he said.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
reasons we pray
72% pray for the well-being of others, 60% for forgiveness, 27% for personal success, and 21% for money or other material things.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Letterman scandal
David Letterman, who built his career skewering philandering politicians and show business “weasels” and “boneheads,” finds himself in the middle of his own celebrity scandal, after he admitted having multiple affairs with employees of his production company, Worldwide Pants.
For the intensely private Mr. Letterman, the revelations, which resulted from a bizarre extortion attempt, are sure to be extremely embarrassing, especially as he tries to extend his lead in the late-night contest. ”I have had sex with women who work for me on this show,” he told his audience on Thursday night, calling himself “creepy.” He added that he hoped “to protect my job.”
More seriously, they raised questions for both his company and CBS about whether his actions constituted sexual harassment or at least abuse of a power relationship over employees.
For CBS, the episode is doubly embarrassing. The network has been put in a precarious position of trying to steer clear of fallout from some highly questionable activities engaged in by its biggest star, who is experiencing his biggest surge in popularity (and ratings) in years.
For the intensely private Mr. Letterman, the revelations, which resulted from a bizarre extortion attempt, are sure to be extremely embarrassing, especially as he tries to extend his lead in the late-night contest. ”I have had sex with women who work for me on this show,” he told his audience on Thursday night, calling himself “creepy.” He added that he hoped “to protect my job.”
More seriously, they raised questions for both his company and CBS about whether his actions constituted sexual harassment or at least abuse of a power relationship over employees.
For CBS, the episode is doubly embarrassing. The network has been put in a precarious position of trying to steer clear of fallout from some highly questionable activities engaged in by its biggest star, who is experiencing his biggest surge in popularity (and ratings) in years.
2009 Ig Nobel Awards
Can't get milk from a cow? Try calling her Bessie or Buttercup. A pair of British researchers who found that dairy cows with names yield more milk than unnamed cows are among this year's winners of the Ig Nobel awards, the annual tribute to scientific research that on the surface seems goofy but is often surprisingly practical.
Other winners honored Thursday at Harvard University's Sanders Theater included scientists who found that empty beer bottles are much better weapons in a bar brawl than full bottles; researchers who used bacteria in panda poop to reduce kitchen waste; and in homage to the worldwide financial meltdown, the executives of four Icelandic banks who contributed to the island nation's economic collapse.
The 19th annual event with the theme "Risk," sponsored by the scientific humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, featured real Nobel laureates handing out the prizes.
Other winners honored Thursday at Harvard University's Sanders Theater included scientists who found that empty beer bottles are much better weapons in a bar brawl than full bottles; researchers who used bacteria in panda poop to reduce kitchen waste; and in homage to the worldwide financial meltdown, the executives of four Icelandic banks who contributed to the island nation's economic collapse.
The 19th annual event with the theme "Risk," sponsored by the scientific humor magazine Annals of Improbable Research, featured real Nobel laureates handing out the prizes.
Kirkland Signature
If you shop smartly, and go for Costco's Kirkland Signature house brand, you can save money.
Costco wants to let consumers know how much they could save by buying its private, in-house Kirkland Signature brand. Some stores recently had a display -- two shopping carts filled with items side by side -- one with national brands amounting to $437.85 and the other one with the Kirkland brand amounting to $229.35. The resulting difference is $208.50, or 47.6 percent in savings.
But what's behind the Kirkland Signature brand?
The Kirkland brand was established 15 years ago, according to Costco, and named after the city in Washington state where the company once had its home base (today's headquarters are in Issaquah).
Kirkland currently makes up about 10 percent of the products you see in a Costco warehouse, and is still growing. You can find Kirkland products in nearly every department -- from olive oil to coffee, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, vanilla ice cream, dog food, vitamins, laundry detergent, cookware, toilet paper, towels, beer and bedsheets.
Costco's goals in developing the brand, said CEO Jim Sinegal, were to develop popular items where the company could control the packaging, and drive down national brand prices. In instances where the right product wasn't available at the right price, Costco decided to create its own.
National brands usually are launched with expensive ad campaigns with the goal of becoming a household name that consumers automatically seek.
House brands, which used to be perceived as a lower-quality version of the national brand, are making a comeback in this economy and gaining a better reputation. Costco insists that its Kirkland products are either better than or equal to the national brands.
Costco wants to let consumers know how much they could save by buying its private, in-house Kirkland Signature brand. Some stores recently had a display -- two shopping carts filled with items side by side -- one with national brands amounting to $437.85 and the other one with the Kirkland brand amounting to $229.35. The resulting difference is $208.50, or 47.6 percent in savings.
But what's behind the Kirkland Signature brand?
The Kirkland brand was established 15 years ago, according to Costco, and named after the city in Washington state where the company once had its home base (today's headquarters are in Issaquah).
Kirkland currently makes up about 10 percent of the products you see in a Costco warehouse, and is still growing. You can find Kirkland products in nearly every department -- from olive oil to coffee, macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, vanilla ice cream, dog food, vitamins, laundry detergent, cookware, toilet paper, towels, beer and bedsheets.
Costco's goals in developing the brand, said CEO Jim Sinegal, were to develop popular items where the company could control the packaging, and drive down national brand prices. In instances where the right product wasn't available at the right price, Costco decided to create its own.
National brands usually are launched with expensive ad campaigns with the goal of becoming a household name that consumers automatically seek.
House brands, which used to be perceived as a lower-quality version of the national brand, are making a comeback in this economy and gaining a better reputation. Costco insists that its Kirkland products are either better than or equal to the national brands.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Huckleberry Farms closing shop
Huckleberry Farms, a natural health foods store at Nuuanu Shopping Plaza, is closing after 24 years in business.
"It's a combination of the economic downturn and other factors," said owner Pete Pascua.
Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., bought the leasehold interest to the plaza last year and plans to redevelop the site and eventually open a store, although no specific timeline has been set.
Huckleberry Farms has agreed to the termination of its lease.
A total of about 25 full- and part-time employees will lose their jobs at the store, although some have found other jobs, according to Pascua.
Customers absorbed the news with sadness, some even breaking into tears, according to Pascua. Many longtime customers are used to being greeted on a first-name basis by the store's employees.
"I am very sad and shocked," said Karen Walker of Kailua, who was stopping in to pick up a few items when she learned the news.
Walker has been a regular for three years and comes in for salads and produce, as well as oatcakes.
"The people here are great," she said.
"It's a combination of the economic downturn and other factors," said owner Pete Pascua.
Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., bought the leasehold interest to the plaza last year and plans to redevelop the site and eventually open a store, although no specific timeline has been set.
Huckleberry Farms has agreed to the termination of its lease.
A total of about 25 full- and part-time employees will lose their jobs at the store, although some have found other jobs, according to Pascua.
Customers absorbed the news with sadness, some even breaking into tears, according to Pascua. Many longtime customers are used to being greeted on a first-name basis by the store's employees.
"I am very sad and shocked," said Karen Walker of Kailua, who was stopping in to pick up a few items when she learned the news.
Walker has been a regular for three years and comes in for salads and produce, as well as oatcakes.
"The people here are great," she said.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
world peace?
The state of Hawaii has observed United Nations International Peace Day since 2007.
What can we do, in practical terms, for world peace?
We pray for world peace every day. We, as Buddhist priests, preach to people about compassion and respect. We say that if all people are compassionate and respectful to each other, there will be no war and world peace will be realized. Therefore, we try to be compassionate and respectful to everyone no matter what their religious beliefs.
Although the ultimate goal for all religions might be the same, unfortunately many people who never see eye to eye are religious leaders. Ideally religious leaders should shake hands, cooperate and lead each of our congregations to the same ultimate goal. But realistically it is hard or even impossible to do this because each belongs to a separate organization. If I suggested doing something to realize our ideal with other religions, the headquarters of the organization I belong to would understand and sympathize with the basic concept, but on a practical level they would not be able to accept it.
There are surely some religious leaders who have been trying to realize the harmony of all religions, too, which gives me hope. Recently, interreligion dialogue has been active all over the world and even here in Hawaii. In order to lead each of our congregations toward the same ideal, it would be a good idea to share common issues. World peace surely would be the common issue that we can cooperate on to do something on a practical level. It is important for everyone, all countries in this world, to realize that.
What can we do, in practical terms, for world peace?
We pray for world peace every day. We, as Buddhist priests, preach to people about compassion and respect. We say that if all people are compassionate and respectful to each other, there will be no war and world peace will be realized. Therefore, we try to be compassionate and respectful to everyone no matter what their religious beliefs.
Although the ultimate goal for all religions might be the same, unfortunately many people who never see eye to eye are religious leaders. Ideally religious leaders should shake hands, cooperate and lead each of our congregations to the same ultimate goal. But realistically it is hard or even impossible to do this because each belongs to a separate organization. If I suggested doing something to realize our ideal with other religions, the headquarters of the organization I belong to would understand and sympathize with the basic concept, but on a practical level they would not be able to accept it.
There are surely some religious leaders who have been trying to realize the harmony of all religions, too, which gives me hope. Recently, interreligion dialogue has been active all over the world and even here in Hawaii. In order to lead each of our congregations toward the same ideal, it would be a good idea to share common issues. World peace surely would be the common issue that we can cooperate on to do something on a practical level. It is important for everyone, all countries in this world, to realize that.
Monday, September 28, 2009
complaining to the city
this is a good opportunity to let readers know how to report a missing, misspelled or mangled sign or other city-related problems:
Go to the department's "Information and Complaints" Web page — www.co.honolulu.hi.us/csd/publiccom — and click on "Report a Problem." Fill out an online form to report problems about traffic signals, street lights, road conditions, street signs, curbs or gutters, sewers or storm drains, sidewalks, refuse/bulky-item pickups, fire hydrants, public restrooms, parks or beaches, playgrounds/equipment or "other."
Or do one of the following:
» E-mail the complaint to complaints@honolulu.gov.
» Fax the complaint to 768-3751.
» Call in the complaint to the department at 768-4381.
» Stop by in person at the Complaints Office at Room 302-B at City Hall.
"Our complaints officer will then direct the problem to the appropriate agency for action," said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Customer Services Department.
The procedure outlined can be used for all city-related complaints, said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Department of Customer Services.
The exceptions, she said, involve potholes and abandoned vehicles, which have their own hot lines.
Call the pothole hot line directly at 768-7777 or the abandoned-vehicle hot line at 733-2530. Both numbers are also listed on the city Web page.
Go to the department's "Information and Complaints" Web page — www.co.honolulu.hi.us/csd/publiccom — and click on "Report a Problem." Fill out an online form to report problems about traffic signals, street lights, road conditions, street signs, curbs or gutters, sewers or storm drains, sidewalks, refuse/bulky-item pickups, fire hydrants, public restrooms, parks or beaches, playgrounds/equipment or "other."
Or do one of the following:
» E-mail the complaint to complaints@honolulu.gov.
» Fax the complaint to 768-3751.
» Call in the complaint to the department at 768-4381.
» Stop by in person at the Complaints Office at Room 302-B at City Hall.
"Our complaints officer will then direct the problem to the appropriate agency for action," said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Customer Services Department.
The procedure outlined can be used for all city-related complaints, said Gail Haraguchi, acting director of the Department of Customer Services.
The exceptions, she said, involve potholes and abandoned vehicles, which have their own hot lines.
Call the pothole hot line directly at 768-7777 or the abandoned-vehicle hot line at 733-2530. Both numbers are also listed on the city Web page.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
longevity diet
So what does the world's oldest man eat? The answer is not much, at least not too much.
Walter Breuning, who turned 113 on Monday, eats just two meals a day and has done so for the past 35 years.
"I think you should push back from the table when you're still hungry," Breuning said.
At 5 foot 8, ("I shrunk a little," he admitted) and 125 pounds, Breuning limits himself to a big breakfast and lunch every day and no supper.
"I have weighed the same for about 35 years," Breuning said. "Well, that's the way it should be."
"You get in the habit of not eating at night, and you realize how good you feel. If you could just tell people not to eat so darn much."
Walter Breuning, who turned 113 on Monday, eats just two meals a day and has done so for the past 35 years.
"I think you should push back from the table when you're still hungry," Breuning said.
At 5 foot 8, ("I shrunk a little," he admitted) and 125 pounds, Breuning limits himself to a big breakfast and lunch every day and no supper.
"I have weighed the same for about 35 years," Breuning said. "Well, that's the way it should be."
"You get in the habit of not eating at night, and you realize how good you feel. If you could just tell people not to eat so darn much."
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Disney unites with Marvel
The Walt Disney Co. is punching its way into the universe of superheroes and their male fans with a deal announced Monday to acquire Marvel Entertainment Inc. for $4 billion, bringing characters such as Iron Man and Spider-Man into the family of Mickey Mouse and "Toy Story."
The surprise cash-and-stock deal sent Spidey senses tingling in the comic book world. It could lead to new rides, movies, action figures and other outlets for Marvel's 5,000 characters, although Marvel already was aggressively licensing its properties for such uses.
Stan Lee, the 86-year-old co-creator of "Spider-Man" and many more of Marvel's most famous characters, said he was thrilled to be informed of the marriage Monday morning.
"I love both companies," he said. "From every point of view, this is a great match."
The deal is expected to close by the end of the year and marks Disney's biggest acquisition since it purchased Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the maker of "Up" and "Cars," for $7.4 billion in stock in 2006.
Marvel would follow another storied comic book publisher into the arms of a media conglomerate. DC Comics, the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, was bought by Warner Bros. — now part of Time Warner Inc. — in 1969.
There will be some lag before Marvel's trove of characters are fully developed at Disney, because of licensing deals Marvel has with other studios.
For example, Sony Corp.'s Columbia Pictures is developing the next three "Spider-Man" sequels, starting with "Spider-Man 4" set for a May 2011 release. News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox has the long-term movie rights to the "X-Men," "Fantastic Four," "Silver Surfer" and "Daredevil" franchises.
Both studios maintain those rights in perpetuity unless they fail to make more movies.
Separately, Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures has a five-picture distribution deal for Marvel-made movies, the first of which will be "Iron Man 2," set for release next May. Paramount said it expects to continue working with Marvel and Disney.
The surprise cash-and-stock deal sent Spidey senses tingling in the comic book world. It could lead to new rides, movies, action figures and other outlets for Marvel's 5,000 characters, although Marvel already was aggressively licensing its properties for such uses.
Stan Lee, the 86-year-old co-creator of "Spider-Man" and many more of Marvel's most famous characters, said he was thrilled to be informed of the marriage Monday morning.
"I love both companies," he said. "From every point of view, this is a great match."
The deal is expected to close by the end of the year and marks Disney's biggest acquisition since it purchased Pixar Animation Studios Inc., the maker of "Up" and "Cars," for $7.4 billion in stock in 2006.
Marvel would follow another storied comic book publisher into the arms of a media conglomerate. DC Comics, the home of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, was bought by Warner Bros. — now part of Time Warner Inc. — in 1969.
There will be some lag before Marvel's trove of characters are fully developed at Disney, because of licensing deals Marvel has with other studios.
For example, Sony Corp.'s Columbia Pictures is developing the next three "Spider-Man" sequels, starting with "Spider-Man 4" set for a May 2011 release. News Corp.'s 20th Century Fox has the long-term movie rights to the "X-Men," "Fantastic Four," "Silver Surfer" and "Daredevil" franchises.
Both studios maintain those rights in perpetuity unless they fail to make more movies.
Separately, Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures has a five-picture distribution deal for Marvel-made movies, the first of which will be "Iron Man 2," set for release next May. Paramount said it expects to continue working with Marvel and Disney.
Friday, September 11, 2009
heart-healthy foods
What we know for sure about diet and what protects the heart is a relatively short list.
That's the conclusion of new research based on an analysis of nearly 200 studies involving millions of people.
Vegetables, nuts and the Mediterranean diet made the grocery list of "good" heart foods. On the "bad" list: starchy carbs like white bread and the trans fats in many cookies and french fries.
The "question mark" list includes meat, eggs and milk and many other foods where there's not yet strong evidence about whether they're good or bad for the heart.
***
Ten Foods for a Healthy Heart
That's the conclusion of new research based on an analysis of nearly 200 studies involving millions of people.
Vegetables, nuts and the Mediterranean diet made the grocery list of "good" heart foods. On the "bad" list: starchy carbs like white bread and the trans fats in many cookies and french fries.
The "question mark" list includes meat, eggs and milk and many other foods where there's not yet strong evidence about whether they're good or bad for the heart.
***
Ten Foods for a Healthy Heart
protect against identify theft
A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks..
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271
[via raynette 2/12/09]
Scambusters' look at the above advice.
Here's the FTC site on identity theft. And the U.S. Department of Justice site.
1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'
2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.
3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.
4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.
Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have first hand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieves ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:
5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.
6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).
But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)
7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.
The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks..
Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):
1-800-269-0271
[via raynette 2/12/09]
Scambusters' look at the above advice.
Here's the FTC site on identity theft. And the U.S. Department of Justice site.
Monday, September 07, 2009
HMSA on YouTube
The Hawaii Medical Service Association has branched out from digital cable television to YouTube to reach more people with healthy-living information.
Residents have access to a variety of free videos 24 hours a day on YouTube.com/HMSANow.
The greatest thing about the move is that HMSA Now will be available to an unprecedented number of people because most people prefer going online for health information and videos," Michael Stollar, HMSA vice president of marketing and communications, said in announcing the development. "On YouTube we'll reach hundreds of thousands more people in the community."
Videos are available about healthy lifestyles, disease prevention and health promotion.
Residents have access to a variety of free videos 24 hours a day on YouTube.com/HMSANow.
The greatest thing about the move is that HMSA Now will be available to an unprecedented number of people because most people prefer going online for health information and videos," Michael Stollar, HMSA vice president of marketing and communications, said in announcing the development. "On YouTube we'll reach hundreds of thousands more people in the community."
Videos are available about healthy lifestyles, disease prevention and health promotion.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Successful Don'ts
In my last two columns, I shared 16 time-saving tactics of successful people. In this column, I'd like to share 10 things successful people DON'T do.
Successful people:
1. Don't major on the minors. Don't waste time on those unimportant, unessential things that are not relevant to your life or work.
In "The Purpose-Driven Life," Rick Warren writes, "It's human nature to get distracted by minor issues. We play Trivial Pursuit with our lives." Determine what's important and meaningful to you. Weigh how much time and effort you've put into something and compare it with the result or satisfaction you get from it.
2. Don't procrastinate on things that are important. Accomplishment requires action. There's always a price to pay for procrastination, and that price could be your success. Let your desire for success and progress be greater than the urge to procrastinate.
3. Don't try to be perfect in everything. Although we might like to do all things to perfection, in today's busy world there isn't enough time or energy to do this. Thankfully, not everything we do needs to be a masterpiece.
Be perfect in those areas that demand perfection (i.e. taxes, legal and financial matters). Identify those things for which "good enough is good enough."
4. Don't focus only on themselves. Make it a habit to express appreciation, give credit where credit is due, and do what you can to help others succeed.
5. Don't compare themselves with others. There will always be people who are better than you are, and that can make you bitter. And there will always be those who are worse than you, and that can make you vain. Any way you look at it, being bitter and vain is a bad combination!
6. Don't fill their lives so full that there's no margin for peace or relaxation. Just as it would be difficult to read a book that has no margins or paragraph breaks — one that has text filling the entire page — so is a life that is crammed too full with work and other activities. Be sure to leave margins in your life. For well-being it's a necessity, not a luxury!
7. Don't always stay in their comfort zone. Too often we get too comfortable where we are and don't enlarge our boundaries and abilities. There isn't anyone who isn't capable of doing or being more.
Dare to venture out and be all that you can be. According to Erica Jong, "If you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." If we're afraid to do something, sometimes we just have to "do it afraid."
8. Don't give up. There is a saying that "if at first you don't succeed, you're about average." We need to go beyond that first attempt. The more we persevere, the closer we get to our goal. According to famed football coach Vince Lombardi, "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."
9. Don't let one incident ruin the entire day. Don't let something that happened this morning ruin your entire day, and definitely not something that happened yesterday or last week! Let bygones be bygones.
10. Don't always take themselves too seriously. Cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself. Nobody's perfect all the time. Find the humor in what happened. Someone has said, "He who can laugh at himself will never lack for amusement." Perhaps we might be our own best source of amusement!
According to professional golfer Arnold Palmer, "The road to success is always under construction." That being so, the good news is that we are all "works in progress"!
Successful people:
1. Don't major on the minors. Don't waste time on those unimportant, unessential things that are not relevant to your life or work.
In "The Purpose-Driven Life," Rick Warren writes, "It's human nature to get distracted by minor issues. We play Trivial Pursuit with our lives." Determine what's important and meaningful to you. Weigh how much time and effort you've put into something and compare it with the result or satisfaction you get from it.
2. Don't procrastinate on things that are important. Accomplishment requires action. There's always a price to pay for procrastination, and that price could be your success. Let your desire for success and progress be greater than the urge to procrastinate.
3. Don't try to be perfect in everything. Although we might like to do all things to perfection, in today's busy world there isn't enough time or energy to do this. Thankfully, not everything we do needs to be a masterpiece.
Be perfect in those areas that demand perfection (i.e. taxes, legal and financial matters). Identify those things for which "good enough is good enough."
4. Don't focus only on themselves. Make it a habit to express appreciation, give credit where credit is due, and do what you can to help others succeed.
5. Don't compare themselves with others. There will always be people who are better than you are, and that can make you bitter. And there will always be those who are worse than you, and that can make you vain. Any way you look at it, being bitter and vain is a bad combination!
6. Don't fill their lives so full that there's no margin for peace or relaxation. Just as it would be difficult to read a book that has no margins or paragraph breaks — one that has text filling the entire page — so is a life that is crammed too full with work and other activities. Be sure to leave margins in your life. For well-being it's a necessity, not a luxury!
7. Don't always stay in their comfort zone. Too often we get too comfortable where we are and don't enlarge our boundaries and abilities. There isn't anyone who isn't capable of doing or being more.
Dare to venture out and be all that you can be. According to Erica Jong, "If you don't risk anything, you risk even more." Eleanor Roosevelt said, "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." If we're afraid to do something, sometimes we just have to "do it afraid."
8. Don't give up. There is a saying that "if at first you don't succeed, you're about average." We need to go beyond that first attempt. The more we persevere, the closer we get to our goal. According to famed football coach Vince Lombardi, "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will."
9. Don't let one incident ruin the entire day. Don't let something that happened this morning ruin your entire day, and definitely not something that happened yesterday or last week! Let bygones be bygones.
10. Don't always take themselves too seriously. Cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself. Nobody's perfect all the time. Find the humor in what happened. Someone has said, "He who can laugh at himself will never lack for amusement." Perhaps we might be our own best source of amusement!
According to professional golfer Arnold Palmer, "The road to success is always under construction." That being so, the good news is that we are all "works in progress"!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Green Lama
A lot of comics from the past are offensive to modern sensibilities, reflecting as they do the derogatory racial stereotypes prevalent at the times. Not so "Green Lama," a 1940s character being reprinted by Dark Horse.
In some ways, the Lama is fairly forgettable as '40s characters go. He was published by the obscure Spark Publications. His costume was unremarkable -- hood, cape and leotard ensemble, all in various shades of emerald. Like Superman, Dr. Fate and a half-dozen others, his powers were super-strength, speed, flight and invulnerability. Like Batman, Sandman, Green Arrow and a host of others, his secret identity was the standard-issue "bored playboy" (Jethro Dumont). Like Captain Marvel, Johnny Quick and others, his powers were activated by a magic word or phrase ("Om Mani Padme Hum"). Like the Lone Ranger, Mandrake the Magician, The Spirit and many others, he had an ethnic sidekick (Tsarong).
But in other ways, the Lama was unique. For one thing, despite his regrettable name, Tsarong often acted more as an adviser than a sidekick -- despite not being white. Plus, the Lama was drawn by the remarkable Mac Raboy ("Captain Marvel Jr."), who was revered then and now for his graceful figures, clean embellishment, storytelling skills and breathtaking mastery of anatomy, foreshortening, design, perspective and rendering. Also, as his name implies, the Green Lama's powers didn't derive from the scientific and industrial prowess of the West -- they came from, and practically idolized, Tibet and its Buddhist tenets.
But most importantly, "Green Lama" may be the most enlightened comic book I've read from the '40s. For example, a full-page house ad in "Green Lama" No. 2 (February 1945) makes a plea -- no, a demand -- for tolerance. Under a stark image of a U.S. helmet next to a battlefield grave marker with no name, the text reads in part, "Let's put an end to the foul prejudice fanned by our enemies ... When you find anyone -- yourself included -- thinking, speaking, acting with racial or religious prejudice -- STOP IT! If Smith, Kelly, Cohen or Svoboda is good enough to die for us, he's good enough to live with us ... as an equal. Be American!"
You're not going to read that in "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" in the 1940s!
And in "Green Lama" No. 5 (May 1945), there's a story even more remarkable. The Lama reacts to a bigoted American soldier by taking him behind enemy lines and showing him the logical end of racial prejudice: Nazi Germany. Realizing that he's acting like the enemy, the soldier has a change of heart, even buying the "Negro" soldiers he had previously abused some ice-cream sodas!
As Chuck Rozanski says in his foreword, "though the underlying egalitarian message may seem obviously virtuous today, it was practically suicidal in 1945."
And it was. Spark Publications began receiving hate mail, of course. But the publisher didn't back down -- in fact, they turned it up a notch. In "Green Lama" No. 6, they published a real letter from an anti-Semite on the first page of the hero's adventure. In "An American Story," the Lama goes to Texas (where the letter was from) to confront the writer (fictionalized), whom he shows the error of his ways -- as he breaks up a KKK-like hate group, complete with white hoods.
Wow! Why is this title not famous?
Here's a hint: It was canceled two issues later.
There are a number of pedestrian reasons why this might be so. The market was flooded with new comics after the wartime paper-rationing was eased, and a lot of books came and went during the Lama's short run (1944-46). And some of the Lama's backup features, like Angus MacErc and Lt. Hercules, were painfully bad.
But it seems more likely, as Rozanski speculates in his foreword, that "Green Lama" was simply too liberal for its times. "It doesn't take a huge leap of logic," he writes, "to realize that when you write comics that are deeply offensive to a significant number of your readers, for many of whom racism was a deeply ingrained value in 1945, you're going to lose some sales."
In some ways, the Lama is fairly forgettable as '40s characters go. He was published by the obscure Spark Publications. His costume was unremarkable -- hood, cape and leotard ensemble, all in various shades of emerald. Like Superman, Dr. Fate and a half-dozen others, his powers were super-strength, speed, flight and invulnerability. Like Batman, Sandman, Green Arrow and a host of others, his secret identity was the standard-issue "bored playboy" (Jethro Dumont). Like Captain Marvel, Johnny Quick and others, his powers were activated by a magic word or phrase ("Om Mani Padme Hum"). Like the Lone Ranger, Mandrake the Magician, The Spirit and many others, he had an ethnic sidekick (Tsarong).
But in other ways, the Lama was unique. For one thing, despite his regrettable name, Tsarong often acted more as an adviser than a sidekick -- despite not being white. Plus, the Lama was drawn by the remarkable Mac Raboy ("Captain Marvel Jr."), who was revered then and now for his graceful figures, clean embellishment, storytelling skills and breathtaking mastery of anatomy, foreshortening, design, perspective and rendering. Also, as his name implies, the Green Lama's powers didn't derive from the scientific and industrial prowess of the West -- they came from, and practically idolized, Tibet and its Buddhist tenets.
But most importantly, "Green Lama" may be the most enlightened comic book I've read from the '40s. For example, a full-page house ad in "Green Lama" No. 2 (February 1945) makes a plea -- no, a demand -- for tolerance. Under a stark image of a U.S. helmet next to a battlefield grave marker with no name, the text reads in part, "Let's put an end to the foul prejudice fanned by our enemies ... When you find anyone -- yourself included -- thinking, speaking, acting with racial or religious prejudice -- STOP IT! If Smith, Kelly, Cohen or Svoboda is good enough to die for us, he's good enough to live with us ... as an equal. Be American!"
You're not going to read that in "Sheena, Queen of the Jungle" in the 1940s!
And in "Green Lama" No. 5 (May 1945), there's a story even more remarkable. The Lama reacts to a bigoted American soldier by taking him behind enemy lines and showing him the logical end of racial prejudice: Nazi Germany. Realizing that he's acting like the enemy, the soldier has a change of heart, even buying the "Negro" soldiers he had previously abused some ice-cream sodas!
As Chuck Rozanski says in his foreword, "though the underlying egalitarian message may seem obviously virtuous today, it was practically suicidal in 1945."
And it was. Spark Publications began receiving hate mail, of course. But the publisher didn't back down -- in fact, they turned it up a notch. In "Green Lama" No. 6, they published a real letter from an anti-Semite on the first page of the hero's adventure. In "An American Story," the Lama goes to Texas (where the letter was from) to confront the writer (fictionalized), whom he shows the error of his ways -- as he breaks up a KKK-like hate group, complete with white hoods.
Wow! Why is this title not famous?
Here's a hint: It was canceled two issues later.
There are a number of pedestrian reasons why this might be so. The market was flooded with new comics after the wartime paper-rationing was eased, and a lot of books came and went during the Lama's short run (1944-46). And some of the Lama's backup features, like Angus MacErc and Lt. Hercules, were painfully bad.
But it seems more likely, as Rozanski speculates in his foreword, that "Green Lama" was simply too liberal for its times. "It doesn't take a huge leap of logic," he writes, "to realize that when you write comics that are deeply offensive to a significant number of your readers, for many of whom racism was a deeply ingrained value in 1945, you're going to lose some sales."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
taking care of your brain
| Most of us start worrying about dementia after retirement - and that may be too little, too late. Experts say that if you really want to ward off dementia, you need to start taking care of your brain in your 30s and 40s - or even earlier. | |
| 1.
| Join clubs or organizations that need volunteers. If you start volunteering now, you won't feel lost and unneeded after you retire. |
| 2.
| Develop a hobby or two. Hobbies help you develop a robust brain because you're trying something new and complex. |
| 3.
| Practice writing with your nondominant hand several minutes everyday. This will exercise the opposite side of your brain and fire up those neurons. |
| 4.
| Take dance lessons. In a study of nearly 500 people, dancing was the only regular physical activity associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease. The people who danced three or four times a week showed 76 percent less incidence of dementia than those who danced only once a week or not at all. |
| 5.
| Need a hobby? Start gardening. Researchers in New Zealand found that, of 1,000 people, those who gardened regularly were less likely to suffer from dementia! Not only does gardening reduce stress, but gardeners use their brains to plan gardens; they use visual and spatial reasoning to lay out a garden. |
| 6.
| Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day. Walking daily can reduce the risk of dementia because cardiovascular health is important to maintain blood flow to the brain. |
| 7.
| Read and write daily. Reading stimulates a wide variety of brain areas that process and store information. Likewise, writing (not copying) stimulates many areas of the brain as well. |
| 8.
| Start knitting. Using both hands works both sides of your brain. And it's a stress reducer. |
| 9.
| Learn a new language. Whether it's a foreign language or sign language,you are working your brain by making it go back and forth between one language and the other. A researcher in England found that being bilingual seemed to delay symptoms of Alzheimer's disease for four years. And some research suggests that the earlier a child learns sign language, the higher his IQ - and people with high IQs are less likely to have dementia. So start them early. |
| 10.
| Play board games such as Scrabble and Monopoly. Not only are you taxing your brain, you're socializing too. Playing solo games, such as solitaire or online computer brain games can be helpful, but Nussbaum prefers games that encourage you to socialize too. |
| 11.
| Take classes throughout your lifetime. Learning produces structural and chemical changes in the brain, and education appears to help people live longer. Brain researchers have found that people with advanced degrees live longer - and if they do have Alzheimer's, it often becomes apparent only in the very later stages of the disease. |
| 12.
| Listen to classical music. A growing volume of research suggests that music may hard wire the brain, building links between the two hemispheres. Any kind of music may work, but there's some research that shows positive effects for classical music, though researchers don't understand why. |
| 13.
| Learn a musical instrument. It may be harder than it was when you were a kid, but you'll be developing a dormant part of your brain. |
| 14.
| Travel. When you travel (whether it's to a distant vacation spot or on a different route across town), you're forcing your brain to navigate a new and complex environment. A study of London taxi drivers found experienced drivers had larger brains because they have to store lots of information about locations and how to navigate there. |
| 15.
| Pray. Daily prayer appears to help your immune system. And people who attend a formal worship service regularly live longer and report happier, healthier lives. |
| 16.
| Learn to meditate. It's important for your brain that you learn to shut out the stresses of everyday life. |
| 17.
| Get enough sleep. Studies have shown a link between interrupted sleep and dementia. |
| 18.
| Eat more foods containing omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, sardines, tuna, ocean trout, mackerel or herring, plus walnuts (which are higher in omega 3s than salmon) and flaxseed. Flaxseed oil, cod liver oil and walnut oil are good sources too. |
| 19.
| Eat more fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables mop up some of the damage caused by free radicals, one of the leading killers of brain cells. |
| 20.
| Eat at least one meal a day with family and friends. You'll slow down, socialize, and research shows you'll eat healthier food than if you ate alone or on the go. |
http://www.northjersey.com/news/health/The_time_is_now_for_preventing_dementia.html
[forwarded from Donna]
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Paula Abdul leaving American Idol
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Paula Abdul has decided to quit the top-rated U.S. television show "American Idol," ending weeks of speculation about her future as a judge on the popular singing contest.
Making her announcement on her Twitter feed on Tuesday, Abdul said "with sadness in my heart," she had decided not to return to "Idol" which is due to start auditions for its ninth season within days. She did not give any reason.
Abdul, 47, a singer/dancer turned TV personality, has been a mainstay of the show since it was launched in 2002 and quickly became an audience juggernaut for News Corp's Fox network, growing into an estimated $1 billion-plus brand.
"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon," said Abdul, who was known for finding something positive in almost every performance.
"What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me."
Fox and the show's producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment said they were "saddened" that Abdul would not be returning to the show as she had been "an important part of the 'American Idol' family over the last eight seasons."
"While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best," they said in a joint statement, also giving no reason for her departure.
Abdul's future with the show had been unclear since the eighth season ended in May with speculation rising as producers locked in new contracts with some of the other key players.
Making her announcement on her Twitter feed on Tuesday, Abdul said "with sadness in my heart," she had decided not to return to "Idol" which is due to start auditions for its ninth season within days. She did not give any reason.
Abdul, 47, a singer/dancer turned TV personality, has been a mainstay of the show since it was launched in 2002 and quickly became an audience juggernaut for News Corp's Fox network, growing into an estimated $1 billion-plus brand.
"I'll miss nurturing all the new talent, but most of all being a part of a show that I helped from day 1 become an international phenomenon," said Abdul, who was known for finding something positive in almost every performance.
"What I want to say most, is how much I appreciate the undying support and enormous love that you have showered upon me."
Fox and the show's producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment said they were "saddened" that Abdul would not be returning to the show as she had been "an important part of the 'American Idol' family over the last eight seasons."
"While Paula will not be continuing with us, she's a tremendous talent and we wish her the best," they said in a joint statement, also giving no reason for her departure.
Abdul's future with the show had been unclear since the eighth season ended in May with speculation rising as producers locked in new contracts with some of the other key players.
10 Secrets To Success
For years, Investors Business Daily has run a daily column with their "10 Secrets to Success," as follows:
1. How you think is everything. Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2. Set goals. Write down goals and devise a plan to reach them.
3. Take action. Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started now. Just do it.
4. Never stop learning. Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills.
5. Be persistent and work hard. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.
6. Analyze details. Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus your time and money. Don't let other people or things distract you.
8. Don't be afraid to innovate; be different. Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. Deal and communicate with people effectively. No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.
10. Be honest and dependable; take responsibility. Otherwise, Nos. 1 through 9 won't matter.
1. How you think is everything. Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment.
2. Set goals. Write down goals and devise a plan to reach them.
3. Take action. Goals are nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started now. Just do it.
4. Never stop learning. Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills.
5. Be persistent and work hard. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up.
6. Analyze details. Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes.
7. Focus your time and money. Don't let other people or things distract you.
8. Don't be afraid to innovate; be different. Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity.
9. Deal and communicate with people effectively. No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others.
10. Be honest and dependable; take responsibility. Otherwise, Nos. 1 through 9 won't matter.
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