Thursday, August 28, 2008

Round Up

Just in case you were curious as to the real identity of Flo the Progressives Insurance woman.

National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections.

Have you wondered what happened to the Quinn Cummings, the little girl that starred in The Goodbye Girl, the original with Marsha Mason, not the latest version (not as good IMHO) with Patricia (overpopulationist) Heaton. Well, she was nominated for an Oscar for her performance, and now she's an inventor and a blogger. Ms. Cummings invented the Hip Hugger, a sling-type baby carrying device. Her blog is the QC Report.

If you are a fan of Moleskinerie, then you may also enjoy Notebookism. Notebookism is a little scant on posts, but what is there is interesting. We had this discussion a few times in library school, but is it true that most library workers are office supply junkies? I know I am.

I don't know if anyone watched The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr when it was on, but I did and I loved it. It was a combination of western with a science fiction/pop culture bent. And it starred the irrepressible Bruce Campbell as lawman Brisco County, Jr. One of the supporting characters was Lord Bowler, a bounty hunter who would team up with Brisco County to hunt down the bad guys. I just found out last week that Julius Carry the actor who portrayed Lord Bowler passed away. He died from complications of pancreatic cancer. He was 56. He was a fine character actor.

Dark Island, the home of Singer (sewing machine folks) Castle, is for sale for only $22 million.


Martha Stewart bloopers. You must watch these they are very funny.

Have a great weekend and a good Labor Day.

"Sometimes it's important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it's essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow." ~Douglas Pagels

Monday, August 25, 2008

Peeves and Stuff

Is it too much to ask that people show decent manners? I'm not speaking of exemplary manners or anything, just decent.

Why oh why do people blow their noses when they are sitting at their table in a restaurant? Get your behind up and go to the rest room to do that. Good grief!!! I don't have a weak stomach by any stretch of the imagination, but some folks do. Plus, it's just good manners.

I will be so glad when summer is over. Yes, yes, yes I do go on a bit about the heat, but I suffer more than anyone can possibly imagine. A. says if we could swing it financially I could go to Tuktoyaktut for the summer. Then I could fullfil my dream to be an ice road trucker.

I also will be thrilled to not have to see flip flops, people and their ungroomed nasty feet, way too much skin exposure and blasting car radios because everyone has their windows down. Also, I don't care what shape your body is in, women of a certain age should leave the Daisy Dukes to the young'uns. Nobody wants to see middle-age thuttocks. Of course, I also don't care for long hair on women over 30(your face and head seem to change, and the long hair makes most look too haggard) but that's just my opinion.

Also, is it too much to ask for people to say please and thank you. Since I am taking public transportation now, I see so much bad behavior. I also have seem people go out of their way to show politeness to someone, and it's sad to say, but I am always shocked to see good behavior. I heard that Usain Bolt, the just-turned 22-year old Jamaican track and field wonder gave $50,000 to the earthquake victims in China, and that brought tears to my eyes. I am just incredible touched when I see people doing good things. I sort of veered off subject here, but you know what I mean.

A couple of years ago I gave a book to a co-worker for her son who I guess was maybe 10 or 11 at the time. He wrote me the nicest thank you card that I will treasure always. It shows that he has good home training. These gesture mean something to people and I don't care if I am considered old school or not. Good manners, thoughtfulness and courtesy should never be considered old school and never go out of style.

My next bunch of peeves are under the heading of insensitivity. They are also a subtle form of racism. Here goes: 1. I am a black woman. Guess what? I know some of the things that you know and I know things that you don't know. So stop looking so shocked when I know what you now or have already been there, down that, or feel you have to explain something to me. I have an IQ way the hell up in the triple digits. 2. I have things that you don't have and I don't have things that you have. Don't assume!!! 3. No, I don't know every black person in Pennsylvania, my home state. I also don't know every black person with my last name. Get real folks. 4. Also, when you first meet me don't assume that I am a nitwit because I am ethnic. I see so much of that. Or don't expect much from someone because they are ethnic. That falls under the soft bigotry of low expectations so STOP IT.

I think I am finished for now.

"What annoyances are more painful than those of which we cannot complain?" Marquise De Custine

Marquis De Custine

Friday, August 22, 2008

Round Up

Please Save Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. I confess. I think I may have been a bit to old for his show when he came on the scene of children's programming, but I still think in this day and age he has a lot to say to the young folk of today.

I am thoroughly amazed and captivated by this house, including it's totally appropriate name- Clingstone.

More places, like the federal government, should institute the 4-day week. I have been saying this for years. Better for the environment, more than likely better for the workers. I would not have a problem at all working a 10 hour day. As I sit on the bus looking down into people's vehicles, and yes I am still seeing loads of SUVs and even worse, Hummers. And guess what, most of the vehicles that I see on my twice daily commute have 1 person in their car. It just makes me want to SCREAM!!! Sorry, I got on my soapbox, but it just aggrevates me so. We talk a good game about the environment, but how many individuals and places of employment are willing to make the big changes. 4-day week and telecommuting are the way to go as far as I am concerned.

Index to Railroad Historical Societies. (yes, I like trains)



Doesn't this Chesapeake Hammock make you want to stretch out with a good book and a cool drink? You would think they would have used a Chesapeake Bay Retriever with this hammock, but I guess they thought the Golden Retriever was more photogenic.

If you live in or are visiting the Washington, DC area you must visit President Lincoln's Cottage. The cottage located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, DC. I think most people call it the Soldiers' Home. Quite a few interesting tidbits in the 100 things list.

Also, if you have kids and live in the Baltimore area, and the Washington, DC area as well, you might want to visit the Kid Baltimore blog. This blog is full of things to do with the kiddies in the Baltimore area.

I love this. Calling all Frida's.

Cute idea for a kids party-Party Dotts.

I've been hearing so much about the wonders of bamboo charcoal, so I decided to research it a bit. Here is one article about this wonder material, and another, and one more article.

Martha Rich and Esther Pearl Watson are driving across the country creating a multi-media project on beauty. Their blog records their travels.

I like the products that Yellow Owl Workshop creates.

I 've been watching quite a bit of the Olympics and I have seen some amazing feats and also a lot of heart break. I feel that Nastia Liukin was robbed of the gold medal and that the age of some of the Chinese female gymnasts are questionable. Watching Usain Bolt, Dara Torres and Michael Phelps has been incredible. I'm glad that Misty and Keri got the gold again, but I am kind of tired of the way woman's beach volleyball is handled. I 'm not going to go on and on about it. I don't know what is going on with American Track and Field. Both the men and the women's relay teams dropped the baton-YIKES, which leads me to Olympic Torch designs from 1936 to the present.

This sounds like fun. New York City in the fall and books. What could be better?

I'm not a science fiction reader, but I have had friends that read nothing but science fiction. Here is a list of the essential science fiction books of the last 20 years. A list plus loads of comments.

TORCH, poetry, prose, and short stories by African American women.

These Springback manuscript binders rule.

Have a good weekend (39 days until my favorite month)

"Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement." - C. S. Lewis

Friday, August 15, 2008

Round Up

Rest in peace Estelle Getty, Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes.

Isn't this beautiful. It's from the upcoming State by State, an anthology due out in October. This excerpt was in the July edition of Travel and Leisure magazine. Louise Erdrich wrote this about her home state of North Dakota, " Shattering, spectacular, inescapable. The North Dakota sky is a former tallgrass prairie heaven tarp that stretches down on every side and quiets the mind. In the summer distance melts off into mirage, a jitter of shaking air on hot dust. When the sun is magnified by a dust storm, it can fill the sky like nuclear dawn. Sounds travel as far as the ear allows. Vision stretches as far as the eye can strain. Pure sky pulls you right out of yourself and yet bears down so close it seems crushing." I swoon at how lyrical this is. Reading this makes me want to take a trip to North Dakota immediately.

Nothing to See Here is a collaborative guide to some lesser-known spots in the world. Most of the post seem to be in the U.K. Fun read.

Bill Moyers has a blog.

I love when something simple like a knife has such a history. Read about the Opinel Knife. There is even a museum.

It's about time. Adhesive gift wrap.

I think I would love to work at the Gingerbread Construction Company.

More publisher and bookstore blogs: Vroman's Bookstore, Schaffner Press, Countryman Press, Penguin and Overlook Press. Vroman's Bookstore has a wonderful website and a great blog, but I am having problems linking to them.

Doris Probst is the first woman to win the annual hog calling contest at the Indiana State Fair. Sueeeee, Here pig, pig, pig.

I love this video Legal Land. The winner will win $10,000 towards attending law school.

Look at these individual pie slice pans. When I get my King Arthur Flour catalog in the mail it is a happy, happy day.

I think that I have been in a Starbucks maybe 2 or 3 times in my life and once was just the other day to use the rest room. I don't drink coffee, and if I did I can't imagine that I could afford to pay their prices. I was shocked in these difficult economic times that the line was literally out the door. (I don't have a link for this comment; I just wanted to comment)

I love this.

Have a nice weekend.

"Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want." ~Margaret Young

Friday, August 08, 2008

Round Up (2)

Color-coded blogs: pink and brown love, the chocolate blues, and DecorGreen.

Army Archerd has a blog.

Singers Glen, Virginia certainly has the correct name.

The shopping site Mighty Goods has spawned-now there's Mighty Haus and Mighty Jr.

I love these Pyrex medical jars.

Bookgasm-reading material to get excited about.

I came across Titlepage the other day, and I am in love. Titlepage is a web show hosted by Daniel Menaker. Mr. Menaker interviews a group of authors and each show has a theme . I am such an author/poet groupie anyway, and I am having a ball watching the different episodes.

I was reminded the other day how wonderfully hilarious Benjamin Franklin's Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout is when I was reading the New York Times Paper Cuts blog. The dialogue is included in the August 4, 2008 post on the blog. Here's another link for the text.

The Smithsonian has a wonderful traveling exhibit Key Ingredients: American by Food. Check out the site. I especially like the American Cookbook Project.

This cookbook title cracks me up: Pork and Sons.

That's all for today. Have a great weekend.

"Would I write if I could?
Bet your glitzy ass I would."
~Hayden Carruth (poet)

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

RoundUp

I might have two round ups this week. I have run across a ton of cool things in the past few days. At least I think they are cool.

As I am typing this I think I might have posted this previously, but what the hell. Lunchology is a very cute idea, and a great way to educate the kiddies. It just goes to show that there might be something that you do all the time that you think is nothing, which might be truly something unique and profitable.

Contrariwise-literary tatoos.

I stumbled across Skyscraperpage.com when I was looking for some examplse of Bermuda Shutters. Skyscraperpage.com is a resource for all of you skyscraper fans out there. Why there was a post about Bermuda Shutters on this page I don't know, but there goes the way of the web. By the way, here is a photo of Bermuda or Bahama shutters. They are hinged at the top and they are prevalent in the Caribbean hence the name. I think with global warming on the rise we might be seeing more of these lovelies. They can be more expensive than regular shutters, but will no doubt aid in decreasing energy bills.


If you are going to go all out for Bermuda Shutters, perhaps you are in the market for some new house numbers. I am sort of a stickler about house nubmers, as I am about any sort of signage. Honestly, you would think I was a graphics designer they way I tend to go on and on about signage. Anywho, I like these Eichler Numbers.

The peace symbol is 50 years old this year. Happy Birthday Peace Symbol. May you never go out of style.

If I were a bird I think I would live here.

If you are a fan of the magazine Everyday Food, as well as the Everday Food program, they have a blog entitled Dinner Tonight.

If I were wealthy would I pay $100 dollars for acake. First of all I like coconut out of the bag. I don't like it in anything. I know WEIRDO. This cake is from the chef at the Peninsula Grill in Charleston, South Carolina. What is it with Southerners and coconut cake. You can order, like I said, for $100 plus shipping. I saw the chef making this cake on Martha Stewart's show and it did look diving. And I've decided that even if were wealthy I would probably attempt to bake the cake or maybe go to the Peninsula Grill and try a piece there, maybe giving a companion the side with the coconut.

Do you still have a beloved stuffed animal from your childhood, threadbare, but still has a place of honor in your home. Alas, I no longer have Mr. Bear, Belly or the Pahs. (don't ask). Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz also have a love for their threadbare friends. They have penned Dirty Wow Wow and Other Love Stories: A Tribute to the Threadbare Companions of Childhood.

Vox features research-based policy analysis and commentary from leading economists. Lots and lots of relevant information on from this site.

It should have been a no-brainer to me that Lorcan Demsey(OCLC and all around information guru) has a fantastic blog.

If you look closely you can see the salt pan homes where the salt workers lived. This photograph is of the Secovlje, Slovenia Salt Pan Heritage Park. Here is some more information on this unique way of life. Here is more information. Here is a link to an image of a close up of one of the salt pan houses.



That's all for today.

“A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.” Benjamin Franklin