Yesterday I rediscovered the JibJab website. If you're not familiar with JibJab (www.jibjab.com) it's a website that allows you to put friends, family, famous people, or yourself into videos - usually silly dance videos set to famous songs. For example, you can replace Psy's face with your Mom's in the Gangnam Style video, you can place your boss's head on Katy Perry's body in the video for California Gurls, or you can relive the 70s or 80s by starring in a Soul Train or Jazzercise video, just like Olivia Newton John.
How it usually works is that you upload a picture of yourself or someone else. You then use the easy editing tool to crop the face and animate the mouth. Finally you cast your video. It's that easy.
I have two nephews in grade school (4th and 6th grade) and my sister was nice enough to give me new school pictures of them on Thanksgiving. Thanks to modern technology I was able to upload their pictures and create a holiday JibJab (well, 12 to be exact. After all, how better to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas than to watch a new silly video each day for 12 days.).
In making the first video, two mariachis dancing to Feliz Navidad, I learned that the creators of JibJab and my nephews share a dance style. That style can best be described as awkwardly awesome. After pondering the coincidence I began to suspect that there might be a gene connected to this style of dance. Call it the Dancing Fools gene, I hypothesize that it is responsible for the creation of a wealth of dorky dances including the Running Man, the Sprinkler, the Robot, the Pop N Loc, the Worm...(I could go on and on). In fact, I would guess that this likely double-recessive gene could be found in the DNA make-up of such individuals as Psy, MC Hammer, everyone involved in the Super Bowl Shuffle, and my nephews.
While most people would just laugh at the ridiculousness of the JibJab videos, my nephews watched the first one over and over to try to perfect the super dorky moves. I would guess that Vanilla Ice and Weird Al would likely do the same. And come the end of the 12 days of JibJab videos for Christmas, they should have quite the repertoire of awesomely goofy moves.
Keep dancing, boys. Keep dancing!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Walken Through Life Amazing
I think that if I had been born in the last century and was a Buddhist and had lived several very well-meaning lives that I would have like to have been reincarnated as Christopher Walken. The veteran actor has long been a favorite of mine, with his spiky hair and uniquely modulated speech.
While IMDB states that Walken "has a reputation for playing mentally unbalanced characters on screen," it was one of his kinder roles that first made me a fan. Walken played Jacob Witting in the TV Movie "Sarah, Plain and Tall." Jacob, a farmer in the late 1800's who has lost his wife, places an ad for a wife to help him raise his two small children. Glenn Close plays Sarah, a spinster from Maine who answers the ad. It may be hard to imagine Walken as a romantic lead, but he's just that in this quiet, heart-warming story that is as special as it is different from most other Walken roles.
After seeing "Sarah, Plain and Tall" I was definitely on the Walken bandwagon, but I really became a fan after seeing him in "A View to a Kill" and then seeing him dance in the video for Fat Boy Slim's "Weapon of Choice." This week I was excited to find Walken back in the spotlight as he promotes his latest film "A Late Quartet." Yesterday while reading an article about Walken I learned something I would have never guessed.
Christopher Walken was once a lion tamer!
I knew he could sing, I knew he could dance, I knew he could act, I knew he was box office gold (minus Gigli - a regrettable error in my opinion), but a lion tamer?!?
Well it is entirely true. In the September 10, 2012 issue of Vanity Fair Julie Miller interviews Walken. When asked about being a lion tamer Walken replies,
It was a touring circus that was owned by a man named Terrell Jacobs. It was just one big tent, and he was a lion tamer. He didn’t have any kids, but the bit was that I would dress up as his son in an identical outfit. When he would finish his act, there would be one lion left, and I used to go in and have this lion do tricks. It was a female named Sheba, and she was very sweet. Like a dog, really. I would wave the whip, and she would run and sit up and roll over and do things.
While IMDB states that Walken "has a reputation for playing mentally unbalanced characters on screen," it was one of his kinder roles that first made me a fan. Walken played Jacob Witting in the TV Movie "Sarah, Plain and Tall." Jacob, a farmer in the late 1800's who has lost his wife, places an ad for a wife to help him raise his two small children. Glenn Close plays Sarah, a spinster from Maine who answers the ad. It may be hard to imagine Walken as a romantic lead, but he's just that in this quiet, heart-warming story that is as special as it is different from most other Walken roles.
After seeing "Sarah, Plain and Tall" I was definitely on the Walken bandwagon, but I really became a fan after seeing him in "A View to a Kill" and then seeing him dance in the video for Fat Boy Slim's "Weapon of Choice." This week I was excited to find Walken back in the spotlight as he promotes his latest film "A Late Quartet." Yesterday while reading an article about Walken I learned something I would have never guessed.
Christopher Walken was once a lion tamer!
I knew he could sing, I knew he could dance, I knew he could act, I knew he was box office gold (minus Gigli - a regrettable error in my opinion), but a lion tamer?!?
Well it is entirely true. In the September 10, 2012 issue of Vanity Fair Julie Miller interviews Walken. When asked about being a lion tamer Walken replies,
It was a touring circus that was owned by a man named Terrell Jacobs. It was just one big tent, and he was a lion tamer. He didn’t have any kids, but the bit was that I would dress up as his son in an identical outfit. When he would finish his act, there would be one lion left, and I used to go in and have this lion do tricks. It was a female named Sheba, and she was very sweet. Like a dog, really. I would wave the whip, and she would run and sit up and roll over and do things.
As if all of his other accomplishments weren't enough Christopher Walken can legitimately claim to have been a lion tamer, making him even cooler than I had previously thought.
I'm sure it's just a matter of time before he adds rocket scientist to that resume.
In honor of such a, well, neat person, here's his brilliant dance to "Weapon of Choice."
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
A Bundle of Joy, A Musical Masterpiece, and a Cherpumple - Now That's a New Frame of Reference
Sometimes you need a new frame of reference. When I reset my blog a few weeks back I was feeling excited and motivated...and then life got in the way. Not completely, but for a few days, which once again snowballed into an overwhelming feeling of panic that I had dropped this personal ball that I am trying so hard to effortlessly juggle.
Anyone who has ever seen me try to juggle is now laughing a huge, tear-producing, belly-shaking laugh. Completely justified, I might add.
So fearing failure a second time I avoided this page like I avoided reading Twilight - successfully and difiantly. But unlike reading Twilight, I am actually interested in and enjoying writing this blog. So I reset my frame of reference. Who said it has to be 365 consecutive days?!? It's my blog. I can write it on my terms without being crippled by guilt and failure on those days when the world just has too many things for me to handle.
So with a much lighter heart, I am back to share my learnings from most days...or maybe some days...or a few days... I guess you'll just have to wait and see.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest it's time to get down to business. (short pause as I sing a few bars from "Business Time" by Flight of the Conchords - and no, that's not the business I'm about to get down to, in case your mind just went there)
So I have actually learned a lot over the past few weeks, but I'll just share a few highlights. I learned of the birth of my new niece Maddie, who is cute as a button (if you had a shirt with super cute baby buttons on it). I am so happy for my borther and sister-in-law and Maddie's new siblings who are all thrilled with their precious new arrival, as they should be. I cannot wait to meet her.
I also learned that the first four notes of Beethoven's 5th symphony was inspired by the call of a yellowhammer bird. This I learned from an awesome new book called "The First Four Notes" by Matthew Guerrieri. You should really check it out. It's facinating even for non or casual muscians like myself. It's available at bookstores everywhere and on-line, but since I think it's so great I'm adding a link to find it on Barnes and Noble. (Full disclosure, I know the author and he's wicked cool, so read his book!)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-first-four-notes-matthew-guerrieri/1111383231
I also learned how to make a cherpumple. According to creator Charles Phoenix it's the turducken of desserts. To celebrate my sister's birthday I endevoured to make a cherpumple. This is accomplished by baking a full apple pie into a spice cake and then layering on it a full pumpkin pie that's been baked into a yellow cake, and topping that with a full cherry pie baked into a white cake. The three cakes are then held together with cream cheese frosting. Having a hard time picturing it? Lucky for you I have photographic evidence of my masterpiece:
Amazing, right? It actually weighed about 20 pounds and provided much humor at the end of my family's Thanksgiving dinner. Should you decide to track the recipe down on the web and try this at home, please note one other important thing that I learned: fruit pies have a lot of moisture in them so it takes a long time for the cake batter to bake around them. While the box may call for 30-35 minutes, plan for closer to 75-90 minutes. This is a dessert that you really need to commit to!
And much like the cherpumple, I am committed to sharing my learnings here. So look foward to more bizarre, interesting, or just plain ordinary (but new to me) learnings in the future. Just maybe not every day!
Anyone who has ever seen me try to juggle is now laughing a huge, tear-producing, belly-shaking laugh. Completely justified, I might add.
So fearing failure a second time I avoided this page like I avoided reading Twilight - successfully and difiantly. But unlike reading Twilight, I am actually interested in and enjoying writing this blog. So I reset my frame of reference. Who said it has to be 365 consecutive days?!? It's my blog. I can write it on my terms without being crippled by guilt and failure on those days when the world just has too many things for me to handle.
So with a much lighter heart, I am back to share my learnings from most days...or maybe some days...or a few days... I guess you'll just have to wait and see.
Now that I've gotten that off my chest it's time to get down to business. (short pause as I sing a few bars from "Business Time" by Flight of the Conchords - and no, that's not the business I'm about to get down to, in case your mind just went there)
So I have actually learned a lot over the past few weeks, but I'll just share a few highlights. I learned of the birth of my new niece Maddie, who is cute as a button (if you had a shirt with super cute baby buttons on it). I am so happy for my borther and sister-in-law and Maddie's new siblings who are all thrilled with their precious new arrival, as they should be. I cannot wait to meet her.
I also learned that the first four notes of Beethoven's 5th symphony was inspired by the call of a yellowhammer bird. This I learned from an awesome new book called "The First Four Notes" by Matthew Guerrieri. You should really check it out. It's facinating even for non or casual muscians like myself. It's available at bookstores everywhere and on-line, but since I think it's so great I'm adding a link to find it on Barnes and Noble. (Full disclosure, I know the author and he's wicked cool, so read his book!)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-first-four-notes-matthew-guerrieri/1111383231
I also learned how to make a cherpumple. According to creator Charles Phoenix it's the turducken of desserts. To celebrate my sister's birthday I endevoured to make a cherpumple. This is accomplished by baking a full apple pie into a spice cake and then layering on it a full pumpkin pie that's been baked into a yellow cake, and topping that with a full cherry pie baked into a white cake. The three cakes are then held together with cream cheese frosting. Having a hard time picturing it? Lucky for you I have photographic evidence of my masterpiece:
And much like the cherpumple, I am committed to sharing my learnings here. So look foward to more bizarre, interesting, or just plain ordinary (but new to me) learnings in the future. Just maybe not every day!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Arian Foster's Inquiring Mind Wants to Know
Yesterday I was half watching Monday Night Football while trying to get some things done around my house. After the game Stuart Scott, Trent Dilfer and Steve Young interviewed Arian Foster, the running back for the Houston Texans. The Texans won the game and the three commentators were presumably asking Foster about his team's success (again, I was only half watching), when I heard Young ask Foster about some of his interests off the field.
A few weeks ago I had read an article in ESPN Magazine about Foster which was fascinating. While it was about some of the controversy around his comments related to fantasy fans, the article described him as both zen and a bit of a renaissance man, interested in learning just about everything. So when Young asked Foster about his love of learning, I wasn't expecting anything new. Then Arian Foster surprised me.
Foster confirmed his love of learning and then I learned that he will regularly ask elders (his word) for three life lessons that they can share with him. I thought that was surprisingly insightful for a man who is only 25 years old, in a profession that is not usually very reflective. Unfortunately they did not ask him what he has learned from his elders, but that is something I would love to learn.
Young did ask him what life lesson he would share, and Foster said that it is important to "smile through everything" even when things get tough. That's a life lesson we all need to remember at times.
I hope that someday way down the road Foster has the opportunity to share that lesson and a couple of others with some young, curious man like himself. Until then, I hope he continues to be a great role model for young, inquisitive kids.
Namaste, Arian Foster.
A few weeks ago I had read an article in ESPN Magazine about Foster which was fascinating. While it was about some of the controversy around his comments related to fantasy fans, the article described him as both zen and a bit of a renaissance man, interested in learning just about everything. So when Young asked Foster about his love of learning, I wasn't expecting anything new. Then Arian Foster surprised me.
Foster confirmed his love of learning and then I learned that he will regularly ask elders (his word) for three life lessons that they can share with him. I thought that was surprisingly insightful for a man who is only 25 years old, in a profession that is not usually very reflective. Unfortunately they did not ask him what he has learned from his elders, but that is something I would love to learn.
Young did ask him what life lesson he would share, and Foster said that it is important to "smile through everything" even when things get tough. That's a life lesson we all need to remember at times.
I hope that someday way down the road Foster has the opportunity to share that lesson and a couple of others with some young, curious man like himself. Until then, I hope he continues to be a great role model for young, inquisitive kids.
Namaste, Arian Foster.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Bat Groening Haunts On
Yesterday I went over to my parents' house for Sunday dinner. After dinner we headed to the family room to watch the second half of the Bears game where Chicago routed Jacksonville 41-3 (taking a little of the sting out of my other team's weekend loss). Throughout the Bears game, which was airing on Fox, they had ads for the annual Simpson's Halloween special.
My parents are super cool. Not in that I'm-trying-way-to-hard-to-be-friends-with-my-kids way, but in a naturally cool cool way. Because they both have great senses of humor, they like the Simpsons (though I'm sure my Dad would say, "in small doses."). The Halloween special is usually a treat since Matt "Bat" Groening and his team usually reference literature (the Raven and the Tell-Tale Heart were both genius inspirations), classic monsters (Dracula and Frankenstein), and some of the scariest movies of all time (The Shining, Nightmare on Elm Street). We were all looking forward to comedy gold as the opening credits rolled.
It was at this point that I learned that this year is the 23rd year of Treehouse of Horrors episodes. I already knew that the Simpsons is the longest continuous scripted television show in history, but I did not realize that there had been 22 previous Halloween episodes.
Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe it would have been funnier if I had seen Paranormal Activity, but this wasn't the greatest Treehouse episode ever. I did laugh, the James Bond references as Bart went back in time ala "Back to the Future" did make me giggle. I also loved that the black hole wouldn't eat Bart's homework. Overall, however, it left me a little disappointed. It also made me want to watch the The Raven from the very first Treehouse of Terror episode. It's so great, I'll share it here. But before I do, I should mention one more thing I learned yesterday. Homer having a threesome with two demons is a little uncomfortable to watch with your parents.
Cinnamon!
Simpson's The Raven
My parents are super cool. Not in that I'm-trying-way-to-hard-to-be-friends-with-my-kids way, but in a naturally cool cool way. Because they both have great senses of humor, they like the Simpsons (though I'm sure my Dad would say, "in small doses."). The Halloween special is usually a treat since Matt "Bat" Groening and his team usually reference literature (the Raven and the Tell-Tale Heart were both genius inspirations), classic monsters (Dracula and Frankenstein), and some of the scariest movies of all time (The Shining, Nightmare on Elm Street). We were all looking forward to comedy gold as the opening credits rolled.
It was at this point that I learned that this year is the 23rd year of Treehouse of Horrors episodes. I already knew that the Simpsons is the longest continuous scripted television show in history, but I did not realize that there had been 22 previous Halloween episodes.
Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe it would have been funnier if I had seen Paranormal Activity, but this wasn't the greatest Treehouse episode ever. I did laugh, the James Bond references as Bart went back in time ala "Back to the Future" did make me giggle. I also loved that the black hole wouldn't eat Bart's homework. Overall, however, it left me a little disappointed. It also made me want to watch the The Raven from the very first Treehouse of Terror episode. It's so great, I'll share it here. But before I do, I should mention one more thing I learned yesterday. Homer having a threesome with two demons is a little uncomfortable to watch with your parents.
Cinnamon!
Simpson's The Raven
1962...Still (10/7/12)
Yesterday I had high hopes. As noted in my last post, I am a very proud Northwestern Wildcat. I am also a huge fan of our football team. This means that I own a ton of purple clothing and I'm used to cheering for a perpetual underdog. Even having gone to the Rose Bowl with the Cats, I'm still always convinced that who ever we're playing might beat us, the 3rd quarter will be the death of me, and every win is like a gift on Christmas.
Yesterday, I got a small taste of what it's like to cheer for an SEC team. That's because I was convinced that Northwestern was going to beat Penn State. Sure, Penn State had won their last three games, and sure the game was at Penn State, and sure it was their Homecoming. Still, I thought we would bag our 6th victory for the season.
It was about this time that I learned that Northwestern had not gone 6-0 in 50 years. 1962 was the last time that the Wildcats had put together a perfect season over the first six games. 50 years - a nice round number for someone mildly obsessed with symmetry like me.
Well, it will be at least 51 years until Northwestern is able to once again reach 6-0 in football because my Wildcats were not able to hang on to the lead, and suffered their first loss of the season in Beaver Stadium.
Winning is a funny thing. When it doesn't happen too often or on a regular basis, the wins are amazing and exciting, and precious. But the losses don't seem so bad, since you're really, deep down, expecting a loss. Once your team starts winning, the wins are still just as amazing, but the losses hurt so much more. I imagine this is how those SEC teams feel when their teams lose, though their wardrobes aren't nearly as stylish as ours.
Now that we've gotten that hurt out of the way, the Cats can get back to winning so that they can go to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 16 years, and win their first bowl game in 63 years.
Go Cats!
Yesterday, I got a small taste of what it's like to cheer for an SEC team. That's because I was convinced that Northwestern was going to beat Penn State. Sure, Penn State had won their last three games, and sure the game was at Penn State, and sure it was their Homecoming. Still, I thought we would bag our 6th victory for the season.
It was about this time that I learned that Northwestern had not gone 6-0 in 50 years. 1962 was the last time that the Wildcats had put together a perfect season over the first six games. 50 years - a nice round number for someone mildly obsessed with symmetry like me.
Well, it will be at least 51 years until Northwestern is able to once again reach 6-0 in football because my Wildcats were not able to hang on to the lead, and suffered their first loss of the season in Beaver Stadium.
Winning is a funny thing. When it doesn't happen too often or on a regular basis, the wins are amazing and exciting, and precious. But the losses don't seem so bad, since you're really, deep down, expecting a loss. Once your team starts winning, the wins are still just as amazing, but the losses hurt so much more. I imagine this is how those SEC teams feel when their teams lose, though their wardrobes aren't nearly as stylish as ours.
Now that we've gotten that hurt out of the way, the Cats can get back to winning so that they can go to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 16 years, and win their first bowl game in 63 years.
Go Cats!
19 and Climbing - Go Cats! (10/6/12)
I'm not usually a terribly competitive person. With a few notable exceptions, I am all about doing your best and getting credit for trying. One of those exceptions, however, is when the competition involves my alma mater, Northwestern University. I am a Wildcat through and through, and am pretty confident that I went to the finest university in the whole wide world.
Well, yesterday I learned that, as of 2012, I went to the 19th finest university in the whole wide world. Northwestern University was ranked #19 of the top 100 universities internationally according to the Times Higher Education. Northwestern climbed seven spots from its #26 ranking in 2011.
19th in the world isn't that bad, considering that there are thousands of universities across the globe. But as any NU alum knows, we really should be #1. We have the right mix of smarts and cool. We have produces some amazing graduates that have gone on to represent NU proudly, including , but not limited to, Stephen Colbert, Matt Grevers, Luck Donald, Clinton Kelly, Gary Marshall, Seth Meyers, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Rahm Emanuel, John Paul Stevens, Brent Musburger, and of course Pat Fitzgerald. This is just a smattering of our genius alumni. Fitz and Colbert alone should get us into the top 10.
I wondered what was holding us back. It seems that a significant part of the ranking is based on the reputation scores given by members of other universities. In reputation we rank just 35th. Maybe I'm biased, but that ranking stinks a little of jealousy. I'm kidding. I do look forward to seeing Northwestern climb even higher next year. Before long we'll be sitting on top of the world, where we should be, shining our purple light over the land.
Go Cats!
Well, yesterday I learned that, as of 2012, I went to the 19th finest university in the whole wide world. Northwestern University was ranked #19 of the top 100 universities internationally according to the Times Higher Education. Northwestern climbed seven spots from its #26 ranking in 2011.
19th in the world isn't that bad, considering that there are thousands of universities across the globe. But as any NU alum knows, we really should be #1. We have the right mix of smarts and cool. We have produces some amazing graduates that have gone on to represent NU proudly, including , but not limited to, Stephen Colbert, Matt Grevers, Luck Donald, Clinton Kelly, Gary Marshall, Seth Meyers, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Rahm Emanuel, John Paul Stevens, Brent Musburger, and of course Pat Fitzgerald. This is just a smattering of our genius alumni. Fitz and Colbert alone should get us into the top 10.
I wondered what was holding us back. It seems that a significant part of the ranking is based on the reputation scores given by members of other universities. In reputation we rank just 35th. Maybe I'm biased, but that ranking stinks a little of jealousy. I'm kidding. I do look forward to seeing Northwestern climb even higher next year. Before long we'll be sitting on top of the world, where we should be, shining our purple light over the land.
Go Cats!
Friday, October 5, 2012
A Day for Tacos
Yesterday I was happy to learn that it was National Taco Day. An entire day devoted to the celebration of one of the finest portable foods ever invented. To celebrate I headed to Masa Azul, a killer restaurant here in Chicago. To celebrate they were serving $2.50 tacos: "Cochinita (Yucatan-braised pork, pickled red onion, habanero salsa), Champignon (ancho-roasted mushrooms, tomatillo salsa, queso fresco), Chicharron (housemade pork skins, tomatillo salsa, radish, queso fresco)" - as described on their Facebook page. Based on these tasty treats I am not surprised there is a national celebration for them.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Super Cheese? Super is Right!
Maybe it's because I'm part Italian, or maybe because it's some of the greatest stuff ever invented, but the truth of the matter is that I love cheese. Muenster, cheddar, feta, Stilton, Colby, cottage, cream, and asiago - it doesn't much matter, I love them all (well, except for Swiss, but that's a story for another day). The problem is, cheese isn't really that good for you. Sure, it has calcium which shouldn't be discounted, but the fat content makes the amount of cheese that is acceptable to eat not nearly enough to satisfy a cheese lover like me. So I do my best to avoid it, considering it a treat for every now and again. You can imagine my surprise then when my Dad told me yesterday that ricotta cheese is a superfood.
"Super delicious, " I thought to myself, imagining the smooth creamy deliciousness of fresh ricotta. Mixed with fresh vegetables, sandwiched between pasta, or just spread on toast, ricotta is as tasty as it is versatile. Could it be possible that something so delectable could also be good for me?
"What do you mean by superfood?" I skeptically asked my Dad.
Well, according to Women's Day (my Dad's source), "ricotta boasts three times the calcium of cottage cheese and is made from whey protein, a nutrient that may help you lose weight by preserving muscle." Wow! It has calcium and can help me lose weight. This is fantastic! But why?
So I did a little more research (emphasis on little) and found out from www.livestrong.com that the whey protein in ricotta cheese sets it apart from other cheeses that are made from milk curd. This means that a half of a cup of fat free ricotta has about 14 grams of protein, which is considered a high quality protein good for building muscles. That's not all - ricotta also contains cysteine which is an amino acid used to produce glutathione. I can't spell it or pronounce it, for that matter, but I learned that studies have shown it to have cancer-fighting properties.
Ricotta cheese - muscle builder, calcium supplier, and cancer fighter. It doesn't get more super than that!
"Super delicious, " I thought to myself, imagining the smooth creamy deliciousness of fresh ricotta. Mixed with fresh vegetables, sandwiched between pasta, or just spread on toast, ricotta is as tasty as it is versatile. Could it be possible that something so delectable could also be good for me?
"What do you mean by superfood?" I skeptically asked my Dad.
Well, according to Women's Day (my Dad's source), "ricotta boasts three times the calcium of cottage cheese and is made from whey protein, a nutrient that may help you lose weight by preserving muscle." Wow! It has calcium and can help me lose weight. This is fantastic! But why?
So I did a little more research (emphasis on little) and found out from www.livestrong.com that the whey protein in ricotta cheese sets it apart from other cheeses that are made from milk curd. This means that a half of a cup of fat free ricotta has about 14 grams of protein, which is considered a high quality protein good for building muscles. That's not all - ricotta also contains cysteine which is an amino acid used to produce glutathione. I can't spell it or pronounce it, for that matter, but I learned that studies have shown it to have cancer-fighting properties.
Ricotta cheese - muscle builder, calcium supplier, and cancer fighter. It doesn't get more super than that!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
What?!? I Can't Hear You Over All of This Grunting!
Yesterday I happened upon an article about grunting. Yep, you heard me right, I said grunting. Well, you actually didn't hear me, since you're reading this, but if you had spent any significant time watching Maria Sharapova play tennis, you might not be able to hear me anyway. That is because she has a grunt that is so loud that it could, in fact, damage your hearing.
According to an article in Time magazine, grunting in tennis is becoming so distractingly problematic, that the Women's Tennis Association is considering putting "limits on how loud players can grunt during matches." This is an idea that surprisingly (at least on the surface) is supported by Sharapova.
Grunting is nothing new in tennis. Monica Seles was a world class grunter back in the 90s, with a odd guttural and high pitched grunt that, while watching from my couch, would make me jump every time she hit the ball. So the idea that the WTA was considering trying to reign in the screamers didn't particularly surprise me. What I did learn, however, was two-fold.
First I learned that current grunters would be grandfathered in, should new rules be put into place. Sharapova, probably the loudest grunter playing the game today, would be allowed to continue here high-pitched yelps while newer players might have to muzzle theirs. This exemption makes it pretty easy for Sharapova to agree with the limits. After all, she gets all the benefit of quiet concentration while still being able to annoy the crap out of her opponent. That seems pretty win win.
What was more interesting to learn was that Sharapova's grunts have been measured at 101 decibels. Not being an expert on sound, I turned to Galen Carol Audio's handy Decibel Comparison Chart (available at http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html) to better understand just how loud Sharapova is during a match.
According to Galen Carol Audio, normal conversation is around 60-65 decibels or dB. Sharapova's 101dB grunt is between a motorcycle (100dB) and a power mower (107dB). That's pretty loud! Even more importantly, sustained exposure to sounds above 95dB can cause hearing loss, so her 101dB grunt repeated over and over for several hours can be doing damage to those around her.
But decibel level is just one component. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, duration of the sound and proximity to the sound are also key factors to hearing loss. They say, "a good rule of thumb is to avoid noises that are 'too loud' and 'too close' or that last 'too long.'"
Hmm...to loud, to close and too long? I wonder if Sharapova is actually hurting her own hearing with her style of play. Her grunts are clearly too loud, she can't get much closer to her ears than her mouth, and she emits these sounds repeatedly and regularly for hours at a time during both play and practice I would imagine. I'm no ENT, but hat seems like a recipe for hearing loss to me.
I guess time will tell if Sharapova is doing more harm than just distracting her opponents. If I were her, however, I would probably invest in a really good pair of earplugs. I'm just saying.
According to an article in Time magazine, grunting in tennis is becoming so distractingly problematic, that the Women's Tennis Association is considering putting "limits on how loud players can grunt during matches." This is an idea that surprisingly (at least on the surface) is supported by Sharapova.
Grunting is nothing new in tennis. Monica Seles was a world class grunter back in the 90s, with a odd guttural and high pitched grunt that, while watching from my couch, would make me jump every time she hit the ball. So the idea that the WTA was considering trying to reign in the screamers didn't particularly surprise me. What I did learn, however, was two-fold.
First I learned that current grunters would be grandfathered in, should new rules be put into place. Sharapova, probably the loudest grunter playing the game today, would be allowed to continue here high-pitched yelps while newer players might have to muzzle theirs. This exemption makes it pretty easy for Sharapova to agree with the limits. After all, she gets all the benefit of quiet concentration while still being able to annoy the crap out of her opponent. That seems pretty win win.
What was more interesting to learn was that Sharapova's grunts have been measured at 101 decibels. Not being an expert on sound, I turned to Galen Carol Audio's handy Decibel Comparison Chart (available at http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html) to better understand just how loud Sharapova is during a match.
According to Galen Carol Audio, normal conversation is around 60-65 decibels or dB. Sharapova's 101dB grunt is between a motorcycle (100dB) and a power mower (107dB). That's pretty loud! Even more importantly, sustained exposure to sounds above 95dB can cause hearing loss, so her 101dB grunt repeated over and over for several hours can be doing damage to those around her.
But decibel level is just one component. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, duration of the sound and proximity to the sound are also key factors to hearing loss. They say, "a good rule of thumb is to avoid noises that are 'too loud' and 'too close' or that last 'too long.'"
Hmm...to loud, to close and too long? I wonder if Sharapova is actually hurting her own hearing with her style of play. Her grunts are clearly too loud, she can't get much closer to her ears than her mouth, and she emits these sounds repeatedly and regularly for hours at a time during both play and practice I would imagine. I'm no ENT, but hat seems like a recipe for hearing loss to me.
I guess time will tell if Sharapova is doing more harm than just distracting her opponents. If I were her, however, I would probably invest in a really good pair of earplugs. I'm just saying.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I'm Calling a Do Over
For the past several days I've been "learning" the same thing over and over. This multiple learning cycle should disqualify the topic from making this blog, but I am making an exception. That is because what I have been continuously learning is that once behind, it is hard for me to catch up on anything. I put learning in quotes because this is not a new theme for my life. There are many examples throughout my storied existence that one could turn to.
Take my high school swimming career. I was never what you would call a come-from-behind swimmer. Once passed I did not posses the skills to regain that lead. On occasion I would try to kick it into high gear early to establish a substantial lead. Like the time I swam my first 300 Freestyle as a freshman. I took off like a shot, swimming the same way I would have attacked a 100 Free race. I was significantly ahead, so much so that for the briefest of seconds my Mom thought I might be an Olympian one day. The trouble was I still had eight laps to go. As I dropped back, the other swimmers gained ground, overtook me, and actually finished the race a good minute to a minute and a half in front of me. I half-seriously considered drowning, thinking that might be easier than having to finish, but I swam on in what most people would have thought was slow motion had the race been televised. When I finished and crawled out of the pool, all the parents in the stands stood up and cheered. I'll tell you, that type of support does not do much to break a laggard out of her back of the pack habits.
TV shows are another nemesis. I will spend whole seasons DVRing serial shows so that I can watch them in order. I will plug my ears, singing "la la la" whenever anyone tries to mention what happened on last week's episode, but when I get home and sit down to watch a little TV, the long list of unwatched shows becomes so daunting to me that I turn on ESPN and watch several consecutive episodes of SportsCenter, sometimes seeing the plays of the week two or three times.
When laundry starts to back up it's a bit of a fashion death knell for me. It starts with a little bit of procrastination when I say to myself, "it's not too bad. I'll do it tomorrow." The next day is snowballs as I think, "I don't have enough time to get it done before 10 pm (when the laundry hours at my building end), I had better wait." And so on and so on until the pile is so big I tell myself, "there's so much. What if I fall trying to carry it?" This is the point where I usually decided that it might be easier to just go shopping than do laundry, which in reality is not a good idea at all as that will just make the pile bigger. So I wear those things in the back of my closet that should have been given to Goodwill years ago, and handwash select things in the sink. After a few days of this I will then start the process of slowly tackling the pile, though it is quite daunting and never fun.
So once again I find myself behind on this very blog. Though I have tried to diligently keep notes and write posts - often on the backs of envelopes or in emails to myself, I have lagged to the point where I cannot dig myself out in a humorous or worth-reading way.
Therefore, I am calling a do over. Just like in my childhood where I would not get the desired outcome (my brothers would beat me at HORSE, I would screw up on a song I was playing during a flute lesson, I would miss a beat on "Miss Mary Mack") I would call a do over to try it again. Well consider this my blog do over declaration! Starting today I am back on track and game to see if once again I can write about one new thing I learned the day before. Wish me luck. Trust me, I'm going to need it!
Take my high school swimming career. I was never what you would call a come-from-behind swimmer. Once passed I did not posses the skills to regain that lead. On occasion I would try to kick it into high gear early to establish a substantial lead. Like the time I swam my first 300 Freestyle as a freshman. I took off like a shot, swimming the same way I would have attacked a 100 Free race. I was significantly ahead, so much so that for the briefest of seconds my Mom thought I might be an Olympian one day. The trouble was I still had eight laps to go. As I dropped back, the other swimmers gained ground, overtook me, and actually finished the race a good minute to a minute and a half in front of me. I half-seriously considered drowning, thinking that might be easier than having to finish, but I swam on in what most people would have thought was slow motion had the race been televised. When I finished and crawled out of the pool, all the parents in the stands stood up and cheered. I'll tell you, that type of support does not do much to break a laggard out of her back of the pack habits.
TV shows are another nemesis. I will spend whole seasons DVRing serial shows so that I can watch them in order. I will plug my ears, singing "la la la" whenever anyone tries to mention what happened on last week's episode, but when I get home and sit down to watch a little TV, the long list of unwatched shows becomes so daunting to me that I turn on ESPN and watch several consecutive episodes of SportsCenter, sometimes seeing the plays of the week two or three times.
When laundry starts to back up it's a bit of a fashion death knell for me. It starts with a little bit of procrastination when I say to myself, "it's not too bad. I'll do it tomorrow." The next day is snowballs as I think, "I don't have enough time to get it done before 10 pm (when the laundry hours at my building end), I had better wait." And so on and so on until the pile is so big I tell myself, "there's so much. What if I fall trying to carry it?" This is the point where I usually decided that it might be easier to just go shopping than do laundry, which in reality is not a good idea at all as that will just make the pile bigger. So I wear those things in the back of my closet that should have been given to Goodwill years ago, and handwash select things in the sink. After a few days of this I will then start the process of slowly tackling the pile, though it is quite daunting and never fun.
So once again I find myself behind on this very blog. Though I have tried to diligently keep notes and write posts - often on the backs of envelopes or in emails to myself, I have lagged to the point where I cannot dig myself out in a humorous or worth-reading way.
Therefore, I am calling a do over. Just like in my childhood where I would not get the desired outcome (my brothers would beat me at HORSE, I would screw up on a song I was playing during a flute lesson, I would miss a beat on "Miss Mary Mack") I would call a do over to try it again. Well consider this my blog do over declaration! Starting today I am back on track and game to see if once again I can write about one new thing I learned the day before. Wish me luck. Trust me, I'm going to need it!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
"It's Pretty Good" (9/17/12)
Yesterday I had to stop at Walgreens to pick up a few things. Walgreens has just rolled out a new rewards program, which I did not know until I saw the signs all over the store. I'm a pretty frequent Walgreens customer so this seemed like a great idea to me, so as I approached the the check out counter I was expecting to be assaulted with a full sales pitch. Despite being surrounded by ads, including clings on the counter, an electronic ad on the credit card machine, and a button on the cashier's shirt, he did not mention it at all. Well, not at all until I was almost done with my transaction, at which point he said, "yeah, so it's pretty good."
Hmm...it's pretty good? I looked quizzically at the cashier who then said, "you should really, you know, sign up or you won't get the sales in a few weeks."
That's the sales pitch?!? It's pretty good AND sign up or you won't get sales?!? Yes, folks, what I learned yesterday is that Walgreens needs to invest some dollars in training their cashiers in pitching their programs.
Hmm...it's pretty good? I looked quizzically at the cashier who then said, "you should really, you know, sign up or you won't get the sales in a few weeks."
That's the sales pitch?!? It's pretty good AND sign up or you won't get sales?!? Yes, folks, what I learned yesterday is that Walgreens needs to invest some dollars in training their cashiers in pitching their programs.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Hey Ref...(9/16/12)
Yesterday I was watching my Wildcats beat the Boston College Eagles (Go Cats!) during one of our preseason football games. There were several suspect calls by the officials (I don't think it's OK for that BC guy to take a swing at one of our players, ref) which sparked a conversation with some of my friends where I learned something new - referees are hired by individual NCAA conferences. I knew that the away team brings their refs with them for inter-conference games (seems weird to me, but I guess it's to offset the home field advantage). In pondering the seemingly biased flags being thrown (and yes, I realize that I don't tend to pay to much attention to the validity of the calls that go in my favor, so it might not be biased at all) I wondered why all of the NCAA refs weren't on some sort of rotating schedule to prevent any type of conference bias at all. That is when a friend of mine let me know that each conference employees their own referees.
This local affiliation is apparently one of the reasons that college football referees were not interested in being replacement refs for the NFL. If they gave up their college jobs they would likely be replaced. Should the referee strike in the NFL wrap up quickly these refs would then be out of a job - no college job and no NFL job (I guess the refs from the lingerie league did not have the same concerns).
So once we hit conference play I will be happy to know that the refs are Big 10 employees and therefore do not have any particular bias one way or the other. Unless, of course, they are Wildcat fans!
Go Cats!
This local affiliation is apparently one of the reasons that college football referees were not interested in being replacement refs for the NFL. If they gave up their college jobs they would likely be replaced. Should the referee strike in the NFL wrap up quickly these refs would then be out of a job - no college job and no NFL job (I guess the refs from the lingerie league did not have the same concerns).
So once we hit conference play I will be happy to know that the refs are Big 10 employees and therefore do not have any particular bias one way or the other. Unless, of course, they are Wildcat fans!
Go Cats!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
A Special Hello Kitty Tribute
Yesterday I was having dinner with some girlfriends, and one of them was telling us about the Hello Kitty birthday party for her 4 year old daughter. As we were talking about Hello Kitty she said, "did you know that Hello Kitty was originally designed by a girl who had been abused by her parents?"
"What?" I exclaimed. I grew up with Hello Kitty and all her friends (truth be told, I was a Keroppi fan) and I had never heard anything controversial about the little white cat.
She insisted that she had read this on where else but the internet. She said the story explained why Hello Kitty has no mouth. Truth be told (I'm very honest today) I had never really noticed that she didn't have a mouth. I just assumed that her fur covered it up. But this new explanation seemed way to bizarre even for Japanese anime so, of course, I pulled out my phone and Googled it.
I started with Wikipedia (my favorite source for pop culture facts) where I learned that, according to the Sanrio company who first launched Hello Kitty, she has no mouth because she speaks from the heart. That was a sufficient answer to me, but my friend insisted that wasn't the story she had read.
I continued searching and came across anitiasnotebook.com, which shed some light on the story. Apparently the abused girl story is an urban legend. It's been in circulation for some time now, but is entirely untrue. Another untrue, but hilarious Hello Kitty urban legend is that she is actually a tribute to the Devil. As the "story" goes, a woman had a dying daughter so she made a pact with the Devil that if he spared the daughter's life, the mother would create a cartoon character to pay tribute to the Devil. A cartoon character, huh? Yes, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what the Devil would have wanted if this were in fact true. More over, I'm sure that the Devil would have wanted said cartoon character to be a cute, white and pink, mouthless but fluffy little kitty. Maybe, like Hello Kitty, the Devil really just wants to speak from his heart.
With the legend disproved, and the real story straight, my friend was feeling much better about having a Hello Kitty theme party for her four year-old daughter.
"What?" I exclaimed. I grew up with Hello Kitty and all her friends (truth be told, I was a Keroppi fan) and I had never heard anything controversial about the little white cat.
She insisted that she had read this on where else but the internet. She said the story explained why Hello Kitty has no mouth. Truth be told (I'm very honest today) I had never really noticed that she didn't have a mouth. I just assumed that her fur covered it up. But this new explanation seemed way to bizarre even for Japanese anime so, of course, I pulled out my phone and Googled it.
I started with Wikipedia (my favorite source for pop culture facts) where I learned that, according to the Sanrio company who first launched Hello Kitty, she has no mouth because she speaks from the heart. That was a sufficient answer to me, but my friend insisted that wasn't the story she had read.
I continued searching and came across anitiasnotebook.com, which shed some light on the story. Apparently the abused girl story is an urban legend. It's been in circulation for some time now, but is entirely untrue. Another untrue, but hilarious Hello Kitty urban legend is that she is actually a tribute to the Devil. As the "story" goes, a woman had a dying daughter so she made a pact with the Devil that if he spared the daughter's life, the mother would create a cartoon character to pay tribute to the Devil. A cartoon character, huh? Yes, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what the Devil would have wanted if this were in fact true. More over, I'm sure that the Devil would have wanted said cartoon character to be a cute, white and pink, mouthless but fluffy little kitty. Maybe, like Hello Kitty, the Devil really just wants to speak from his heart.
With the legend disproved, and the real story straight, my friend was feeling much better about having a Hello Kitty theme party for her four year-old daughter.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Forgetful Jones...er, Joy
Yesterday I learned several things, I'm sure. The problem is that I cannot remember them. I have spent several hours trying to jog my memory to remind myself of the clever and interesting nuggets of information that I stumbled upon yesterday without success. I am sure that, could I remember them, these factoids would be both exciting and noteworthy. If only they had been a tad bit more memorable.
This struggle to remember what I had clearly captured my interest yesterday reminded me of one of my favorite characters from Sesame Street, Forgetful Jones. For those of you who don't remember (the irony is not lost, trust me) Forgetful Jones was a cowboy with a very bad memory. In one very memorable scene Forgetful Jones is trying to sing the theme song from Oklahoma but cannot remember the first letter of the word. Over several takes, in my opinion, hilarity ensues. I will let you make up your own mind, on this point...while I try to remember what I'm going to write about tomorrow.
Forgetful Jones Sings Oklahoma
This struggle to remember what I had clearly captured my interest yesterday reminded me of one of my favorite characters from Sesame Street, Forgetful Jones. For those of you who don't remember (the irony is not lost, trust me) Forgetful Jones was a cowboy with a very bad memory. In one very memorable scene Forgetful Jones is trying to sing the theme song from Oklahoma but cannot remember the first letter of the word. Over several takes, in my opinion, hilarity ensues. I will let you make up your own mind, on this point...while I try to remember what I'm going to write about tomorrow.
Forgetful Jones Sings Oklahoma
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Baby Klum
Yesterday I happened to be watching TLC when I saw a commercial for Heidi Klum's new line of, that's right, baby clothes. Taking a page out of her Project Runway contestents' books, Klum has designed Truly Scrumptious is the new line baby of clothes and furniture for Babies R Us. I hope that none of the kids clothes look like her Halloween costumes.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
A Wagner Marathon
I was at my parents' house yesterday and my Mom was telling me about a documentary that she and my Dad had watched the previous night. It was called Wagner's Dream and it aired on PBS. It's a documentary that takes the viewer behind the scenes of the rehearsals and staging of Wagner's Ring Cycle at the Met in New York.
The Met set out to stage all four of operas in the Ring Cycle with a decidedly modern and high-tech approach, something very new for the Met. Filmmaker Susan Froemke documented the 6 year journey that director Robert Lepage took to bring to life four of the most difficult operas to stage, a challenge that many a director has struggled with including Wagner himself.
I quickly pulled up the app on my phone that lets me find and record programs. While I was sadly unable to find a rebroadcast of Wagner's Dream, I did learn that all four operas directed by Lepage are being shown on PBS this week. I have successfully set my DVR to record all of them and I'm looking forward to my own personal Wagner marathon. Hopefully they will rebroadcast the documentary soon as well. To learn more about this ambitious project visit:
http://wagnersdream.metoperafamily.org/
And if you're not sure you'll like Wagner, here's a pretty good introduction to get you ready:
What's Opera Doc?
The Met set out to stage all four of operas in the Ring Cycle with a decidedly modern and high-tech approach, something very new for the Met. Filmmaker Susan Froemke documented the 6 year journey that director Robert Lepage took to bring to life four of the most difficult operas to stage, a challenge that many a director has struggled with including Wagner himself.
I quickly pulled up the app on my phone that lets me find and record programs. While I was sadly unable to find a rebroadcast of Wagner's Dream, I did learn that all four operas directed by Lepage are being shown on PBS this week. I have successfully set my DVR to record all of them and I'm looking forward to my own personal Wagner marathon. Hopefully they will rebroadcast the documentary soon as well. To learn more about this ambitious project visit:
http://wagnersdream.metoperafamily.org/
And if you're not sure you'll like Wagner, here's a pretty good introduction to get you ready:
What's Opera Doc?
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
The Really Red River
Can you imagine being a fisherman and waking up one morning to find the river that you usually fish in had turned bright red? No imagine that you kind of shrugged it off and when on fishing anyway? That's what at least one man in China did on September 6th when he found that the Yangtze River had mysteriously turned red. Not just kind of red, or pinkish, but full on, tomato juice red. The Daily Mail has a series of amazing photos that you can see here:
Yangtze Turns Red
Officials are still trying to determine the cause of the dye job. Some theories are that pollution was churned up by a storm, or someone illegally dumped waste into the river (this happened a few months ago to another river in China). I suspect that the Yangtze was having a Katy Perry moment that day and wanted to mix things up.
Were this type of thing to happen in the US, the whole river would be cordoned off and you would see people in hazmat suits taking samples. In China, though, people filled water bottles with souvenir red water and that fisherman that I mentioned, well he got back to work.
Yangtze Turns Red
Officials are still trying to determine the cause of the dye job. Some theories are that pollution was churned up by a storm, or someone illegally dumped waste into the river (this happened a few months ago to another river in China). I suspect that the Yangtze was having a Katy Perry moment that day and wanted to mix things up.
Were this type of thing to happen in the US, the whole river would be cordoned off and you would see people in hazmat suits taking samples. In China, though, people filled water bottles with souvenir red water and that fisherman that I mentioned, well he got back to work.
They Don't Call it Crazy for Nothing (9/10/12)
On Saturday I was making guacamole when a particularly stubborn pit caused me to slice my left ring finger open (not to worry, the guac was not contaminated). I followed my typical finger cut protocol - wash it, wrap it in a napkin, hold it in the air for a few minutes, and put a bandage on it.
By Sunday morning it was still prone to bleeding. While some folks might go to the hospital for stitches or maybe to an urgent care clinic, I went to get my nails done (hey, a girl needs priorities, right?). While there my finger once again started to bleed, and my nail tech taught me a neat trick: crazy glue the wound closed. She used the kind of glue that you repair a broken nail with, and it sealed the cut right up.
It did not last all day, and later I was faced with the same problem (though it was getting progressively better). I pulled out my crazy glue and gave it another coat. Sealed once more.
This got me to thinking about whether or not gluing a cut close was a good idea so I checked the web. It turns out there have been quite a few studies about the safety and toxicity of using crazy glue to close wounds. Most seemed to suggest that it was not toxic and in fact very effective in healing cuts. Now, I'm not suggesting you should always use this method, nor am I a doctor, but in a pinch, it does a pretty good job at keeping the blood at bay.
Maybe that glue is not so crazy after all!
By Sunday morning it was still prone to bleeding. While some folks might go to the hospital for stitches or maybe to an urgent care clinic, I went to get my nails done (hey, a girl needs priorities, right?). While there my finger once again started to bleed, and my nail tech taught me a neat trick: crazy glue the wound closed. She used the kind of glue that you repair a broken nail with, and it sealed the cut right up.
It did not last all day, and later I was faced with the same problem (though it was getting progressively better). I pulled out my crazy glue and gave it another coat. Sealed once more.
This got me to thinking about whether or not gluing a cut close was a good idea so I checked the web. It turns out there have been quite a few studies about the safety and toxicity of using crazy glue to close wounds. Most seemed to suggest that it was not toxic and in fact very effective in healing cuts. Now, I'm not suggesting you should always use this method, nor am I a doctor, but in a pinch, it does a pretty good job at keeping the blood at bay.
Maybe that glue is not so crazy after all!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
The Northwestern Stripe
Yesterday was Northwestern University's Football home opener. It was also the first time I got a chance to see our new uniforms in person. They have taken a decidedly retro turn, which I love, by including a series of three stripes, one wide flanked by a narrow one on either side, across the center as seen here:
I learned that Northwestern University was the first team to use this iconic stripe on their uniforms in 1928. Talk about trendsetters! It's nice see we've once again returned to our roots.
GO CATS!
I learned that Northwestern University was the first team to use this iconic stripe on their uniforms in 1928. Talk about trendsetters! It's nice see we've once again returned to our roots.
GO CATS!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
I'm Here to See a Website About a Horse
Yesterday I was driving to work when I heard an odd story on the news: The United States Marshall Service would be auctioning 93 of the over 400 horses that Rita Crundwell, the former city comptroller of Dixon, IL once owned. The US Marshall Service is auctioning off the horses because Crundwell is accused of stealing over $53 Million from the city of Dixon in her 22 years as comptroller.
Now, I am from Chicago so news about a corrupt politician is not really news since it happens so often. What I thought was so interested was that they were auctioning the horses (well, at least some of them) online. I've seen a lot of online auctions, from eBay to charity fundraisers. I've even participated in a few (unsuccessfully) but most of those have been for pretty reliable items - concert tickets, cooking classes, autographed memorabilia, and the like. I have never seen horses in any of the auctions, so I was curious as to how this works.
I went to the auction website http://professionalauction.com and found the auctions listed under "U.S. District Court-ordered Dispersal of horses in United States of America v. Rita A. Crundwell." There you will find two different auctions and online catalogs listing all of the horses. The opening bid is $400, which seems pretty reasonable for a horse, but some of the bids are already up to $36,000.
$36,000 for a horse you've never seen in person?!? I guess it goes to show you that you really can buy anything online!
Now, I am from Chicago so news about a corrupt politician is not really news since it happens so often. What I thought was so interested was that they were auctioning the horses (well, at least some of them) online. I've seen a lot of online auctions, from eBay to charity fundraisers. I've even participated in a few (unsuccessfully) but most of those have been for pretty reliable items - concert tickets, cooking classes, autographed memorabilia, and the like. I have never seen horses in any of the auctions, so I was curious as to how this works.
I went to the auction website http://professionalauction.com and found the auctions listed under "U.S. District Court-ordered Dispersal of horses in United States of America v. Rita A. Crundwell." There you will find two different auctions and online catalogs listing all of the horses. The opening bid is $400, which seems pretty reasonable for a horse, but some of the bids are already up to $36,000.
$36,000 for a horse you've never seen in person?!? I guess it goes to show you that you really can buy anything online!
Friday, September 7, 2012
The Nose Knows
Yesterday I was at happy hour with some friends. I had started with a cocktail, but decided to switch to beer. I ordered a Dogfish Midas Touch, which is an ancient ale with hints of honey and other old stuff (according to the label). I was about to start drinking it when a friend of mine yelled at me.
"Drink that out of a glass," he chided.
"I'm good with the bottle," I replied. Really, I'm not too good for the bottle.
Apparently the bottle is too good for the beer, though. I learned that in order to fully enjoy the beer my nose needs to be included.
According to the Trappist Punks website, the human nose can detect thousands of distinct smells but the human mouth can only detect five or at most six tastes. Yes, the mouth is a slacker, but also only allows a beer drinker to just scratch the surface of the complex flavors that been masters strive to achieve. The nose knows how to enjoy beer fully, but it can't do its job if it can smell the beer. And it can't smell the beer if it's trapped in a long neck bottle.
So it turns out that I am too good for the bottle. From here on out it's glasses for me, if at all possible.
Is it 5:00 yet?
"Drink that out of a glass," he chided.
"I'm good with the bottle," I replied. Really, I'm not too good for the bottle.
Apparently the bottle is too good for the beer, though. I learned that in order to fully enjoy the beer my nose needs to be included.
According to the Trappist Punks website, the human nose can detect thousands of distinct smells but the human mouth can only detect five or at most six tastes. Yes, the mouth is a slacker, but also only allows a beer drinker to just scratch the surface of the complex flavors that been masters strive to achieve. The nose knows how to enjoy beer fully, but it can't do its job if it can smell the beer. And it can't smell the beer if it's trapped in a long neck bottle.
So it turns out that I am too good for the bottle. From here on out it's glasses for me, if at all possible.
Is it 5:00 yet?
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Slap a Logo on It
Yesterday I was very uncharacteristically early to meet a friend for drinks. While I was waiting I because momentarily disorientated because the New York Giants were playing the Dallas Cowboys on TV. Did I miss a day? Was Wednesday cancelled this week and Thursday had to step up? Was it Monday and I had two extra days ahead of me? No, I was sure it was Wednesday, so why was I watching football?
As if in my head hearing my question, Chirs Collinsworth supplied me with the answer: the Thursday night season opener had been rescheduled so as not to conflict with President Obama's speech at the DNC slated for tonight. Chris then went on to tell me that this was the first Wednesday night game in 64 years. The last was played by the Los Angeles Rams who beat the Detroit Lions 44-7 on September 22, 1948.
I have to admit that I couldn't quite remember the score so I went to look it up, and that's when I learned something really interesting. According to www.sportsecyclopedia.com the 1948 season saw the introduction of the horns on the Rams' helmets. They were designed by Frank Gehrke, a halfback who worked as a graphic designer in the off season. Gehrke's design made the Rams the first team to have their logo on their helmet. That iconic design has survived 64 years and relocation to St. Louis.
Frank Gehrke, you were certainly a trendsetter!
As if in my head hearing my question, Chirs Collinsworth supplied me with the answer: the Thursday night season opener had been rescheduled so as not to conflict with President Obama's speech at the DNC slated for tonight. Chris then went on to tell me that this was the first Wednesday night game in 64 years. The last was played by the Los Angeles Rams who beat the Detroit Lions 44-7 on September 22, 1948.
I have to admit that I couldn't quite remember the score so I went to look it up, and that's when I learned something really interesting. According to www.sportsecyclopedia.com the 1948 season saw the introduction of the horns on the Rams' helmets. They were designed by Frank Gehrke, a halfback who worked as a graphic designer in the off season. Gehrke's design made the Rams the first team to have their logo on their helmet. That iconic design has survived 64 years and relocation to St. Louis.
Frank Gehrke, you were certainly a trendsetter!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Phew!
It only took an extra two weeks but I am finally caught up with all of my posts. My poor little notebook has been through the ringer, but has kept me (for the most part) on track! Back to regular posts from here on out (hopefully)!
Two Hours of 916 Pages
Yesterday I learned that it takes nearly 2 hours to page through this year's September issue of Vogue. I purchased the tome (it really is wonderfully huge) with plans to read it at the beach, but it seemed far too overwhelming to flip through while laying out in the sun, so I saved it for last night. I sat down with the goal of just looking at each page. I didn't read any of the articles or content (yet) and kept up a pretty steady pace. It took me nearly two hours to page through all 916 pages!
While I need to go back to confirm, it appears that menswear is going to be popular this fall along with booties and purple nail polish. Hmm...I'm now feeling like the information return for two hours time seems a little weak. I guess you just can't quantify the enjoyment of looking at beautiful clothes on women with really weird hair.
I can only imagine what the articles have in store for me!
While I need to go back to confirm, it appears that menswear is going to be popular this fall along with booties and purple nail polish. Hmm...I'm now feeling like the information return for two hours time seems a little weak. I guess you just can't quantify the enjoyment of looking at beautiful clothes on women with really weird hair.
I can only imagine what the articles have in store for me!
Peeled and Tasty (9/4/12)
Yesterday I learned that kale and beets and ginger and apples and lemons all juiced together are surprisingly good! A friend of mine was in town from Ohio, and before she hit the road she took me over to Peeled, a juice bar that just opened in Evanston. I am usually a coffee/Coke Zero kind of morning person, so I wasn't sure that juice was going to do it for me, but I was willing to give it a try.
We walked and and the first thing I learned is that everything there is vegan, including the gelato. I also learned that most of the questions that I had were not going to be answered by the two young women working there, and I stopped asking technical questions.
Most of the drinks are blends of different fruits and vegetables. Kale is a big player as are apples and nut milks. You can also add in various supplements including hemp powder for protein and tocos, which apparently is vitamin A.
I skipped the supplements and went with the fruit and veggie mix called Focus'd. The woman took easily two bushels of fruits and veggies, cut them up and stuffed them into this big silver machine that looked the the centrifuge that I used to use when I worked in a lab. All of this effort yielded 16 ounces of bright pink juice that, once I got up enough nerve to try it, was delicious!
I am looking forward to trying all of the other brands. It my not be a substitute for caffeine (I went home after and took a nap, actually) but Peeled Juices are darn tasty!
We walked and and the first thing I learned is that everything there is vegan, including the gelato. I also learned that most of the questions that I had were not going to be answered by the two young women working there, and I stopped asking technical questions.
Most of the drinks are blends of different fruits and vegetables. Kale is a big player as are apples and nut milks. You can also add in various supplements including hemp powder for protein and tocos, which apparently is vitamin A.
I skipped the supplements and went with the fruit and veggie mix called Focus'd. The woman took easily two bushels of fruits and veggies, cut them up and stuffed them into this big silver machine that looked the the centrifuge that I used to use when I worked in a lab. All of this effort yielded 16 ounces of bright pink juice that, once I got up enough nerve to try it, was delicious!
I am looking forward to trying all of the other brands. It my not be a substitute for caffeine (I went home after and took a nap, actually) but Peeled Juices are darn tasty!
Yes, That Youngest Brother (9/3/12)
Yesterday I learned that my youngest brother is going to be a first-time dad. My youngest brother who ran across the room to do the Peanut Butter Jelly Time dance at his barbaque yesterday. My youngest brother who recorded a rif on the Muffin Man scene from Shrek as my voice mail message yesterday. My youngest brother that stood in the background of a picture I was taking with several friends, holding a carnation in his mouth yesterday. That youngest brother is going to be a first-time dad in April. It seems pretty appropriate that the due date is April 1st.
Congratulations, little bro!
Congratulations, little bro!
The Distracting Cats (9/2/12)
Yesterday I learned that I wasn't perfect. I actually missed writing this post on time, even in my trusty notebook. I think I was too distracted by the heart-stopping opening season win that Northwestern managed to eek out over Syracuse. It was one of the best possible distractions to be sure. Here's hoping that they settle in and start winning by huge margins so that I can stay on track with my blog!
Go Cats
Go Cats
The Mango on the Sticky Rice (9/1/12)
Yesterday I learned that if you order online from my favorite thai restaurant Thai Sookdee you save 10%. Talk about win-win (for me at least). Thai Sookdee benefits from automated ordering and I don't have to embarrass myself by trying (always unsuccessfully) to pronounce the names of my favorite dishes. I would use online ordering even without the discount, so saving 10% is the icing on the cake, or more accurately, the mango on the sticky rice!
Yum!
Yum!
Lazy River (8/31/12)
Yesterday I learned that the Rio Grande River is very low in New Mexico. Partially because of a lack of rain this season, but largely due to Colorado syphoning off so much water to keep in reserves. Pars of the river in Albuquerque are less than 3 feet deep. this is still deep enough to float a 30 year-old rubber raft down it, just don't be in a hurry.
The Rio Grande River in Alburquerque is the epitome of a lazy river.
The Rio Grande River in Alburquerque is the epitome of a lazy river.
Land For Sale - Radiation Free Location (8/30/12)
Yesterday I was in a talk given by Alan Deutschman, a former journalist and the author of the book Walk the Walk. He was giving an example about the leadership and cultural shift at IBM in the late 90s. He shared an experience he had recently when he visited the new IBM headquarters in NY.
While there some executives took him over to their original world headquarters. As they were driving up to the old headquarters, Deutschman noticed the road was lined with old apple trees (an irony lost on most people in the room I would imagine) and that the road was named Apple Orchard Road. He asked if this had once been an orchard, and was told that indeed it had been before IBM purchased the land back in the 60s. Deutschman then asked why, back in the 60s when all businesses wanted to be in the heart of global commerce in Midtown Manhattan, did IBM want to be 40 miles away in the middle of an apple orchard. The answer was quite surprising.
It turns out tat IBM wanted to make sure that in the even of a nuclear attack on New York by the Russians the would survive. They determined how far the radiation would reach, and then drew a circle around Manhattan to determine where to put their headquarters.
IBM was convinced that the world could not function without them and that nuclear war was pretty darn likely. I guess that's one way of picking real estate.
While there some executives took him over to their original world headquarters. As they were driving up to the old headquarters, Deutschman noticed the road was lined with old apple trees (an irony lost on most people in the room I would imagine) and that the road was named Apple Orchard Road. He asked if this had once been an orchard, and was told that indeed it had been before IBM purchased the land back in the 60s. Deutschman then asked why, back in the 60s when all businesses wanted to be in the heart of global commerce in Midtown Manhattan, did IBM want to be 40 miles away in the middle of an apple orchard. The answer was quite surprising.
It turns out tat IBM wanted to make sure that in the even of a nuclear attack on New York by the Russians the would survive. They determined how far the radiation would reach, and then drew a circle around Manhattan to determine where to put their headquarters.
IBM was convinced that the world could not function without them and that nuclear war was pretty darn likely. I guess that's one way of picking real estate.
Wordle Til Next Year (8/29/12)
Have you ever heard of a wordle? Yesterday I learned what a wordle is. No, it is not a Dr. Seuss character or a children's singing group from Australia. A wordle, also known as a word cloud is a word map, a collage of different words artfully arranged and sized based on the number of times the word appears on the list.
Let's say that you asked 100 people to name their favorite Cubs player. You might get a breakdown that looks like this:
Based on the last names you can now weight them to represent the number of votes and create a wordle that might look a little something like this:
Now, if only all those guys still played on the Cubs. Next year would be here. Ah well...
Let's say that you asked 100 people to name their favorite Cubs player. You might get a breakdown that looks like this:
Ernie Banks: 21 votes
Ryne Sandberg: 16 votes
Ron Santo: 12 votes
Billy Williams: 12 votes
Andre Dawson: 10 votes
Mark Grace: 7 votes
Fegie Jenkins: 7 votes
Jodi Davis: 4 votes
Leon Durham: 4 votes
Joe Girardi: 4 votes
Derek Lee: 3 votes
Yes, those three votes for Derek Lee would be from me. Hey, I'm from Chicago - vote early and vote often!
Based on the last names you can now weight them to represent the number of votes and create a wordle that might look a little something like this:
Now, if only all those guys still played on the Cubs. Next year would be here. Ah well...
Monday, September 3, 2012
A Delay of Hurricane Proportions (8/28/12)
Tropical Storm Isaac is bearing down on the Gulf Coast, gaining speed in its quest to become a hurricane. Yesterday I learned the vast impact the weather can have on the entire country.
Because I haven't been gone enough of late (yes, that is the return of my sarcasm), I thought another trip was in order - this one for work. I headed to the airport to fly to Albuquerque for a few days. I didn't really pay too much attention to the storms since I was going to New Mexico by way of Dallas, both locales far afield from the crazy weather.
My flight to Dallas was delayed just enough to cause me to miss my connection to Albuquerque. I wasn't too worried because there was another fairly open fight just two hours later. What I didn't expect was how difficult it would be for American Airlines to find a plane to take us there. It turns out that many of the planes needed to ferry passengers from one city to the next were stuck in Gulf Coast cities, grounded due to the storm.
Alternate routes and contingency plans were made behind the scenes to find available planes and get them to the cities where passengers were waiting. It took about two extra hours, but they were able to get us on our way to New Mexico.
It was a logistical challenge to be sure, all because of a storm on the other side of the country. Just like that butterfly flapping its wings in Africa...
Because I haven't been gone enough of late (yes, that is the return of my sarcasm), I thought another trip was in order - this one for work. I headed to the airport to fly to Albuquerque for a few days. I didn't really pay too much attention to the storms since I was going to New Mexico by way of Dallas, both locales far afield from the crazy weather.
My flight to Dallas was delayed just enough to cause me to miss my connection to Albuquerque. I wasn't too worried because there was another fairly open fight just two hours later. What I didn't expect was how difficult it would be for American Airlines to find a plane to take us there. It turns out that many of the planes needed to ferry passengers from one city to the next were stuck in Gulf Coast cities, grounded due to the storm.
Alternate routes and contingency plans were made behind the scenes to find available planes and get them to the cities where passengers were waiting. It took about two extra hours, but they were able to get us on our way to New Mexico.
It was a logistical challenge to be sure, all because of a storm on the other side of the country. Just like that butterfly flapping its wings in Africa...
Sunday, September 2, 2012
When Life Does Not Hand You Lemons (8/27/12)
Yesterday I needed lemons. Not a ton of them, but I was hoping to get one or two to put in hot water with some fresh mint - a delicious, soothing drink that I had picked up from my friend's mom in Istanbul. I stopped at Whole Foods where I learned that they do not get shipments on Sunday. This means that Sunday evening is a really bad time to shop for produce.
The Whole Foods that I went to was completely out of lemons, mint, and several other produce items. Lemons? Really? How can you be out of lemons? And yet they were. The woman at the checkout, who rang up my 100% real lemon juice told me that Saturday and Monday evenings were the way to go. Noted.
And now back to your regularly scheduled grocery shopping.
The Whole Foods that I went to was completely out of lemons, mint, and several other produce items. Lemons? Really? How can you be out of lemons? And yet they were. The woman at the checkout, who rang up my 100% real lemon juice told me that Saturday and Monday evenings were the way to go. Noted.
And now back to your regularly scheduled grocery shopping.
Nature's Great Walls (8/26/12)
Yesterday was our last day in Istanbul. Before heading to the airport my sister and I decided to take one more walk around Sultanahmet. We went to the palace gardens of Topkapi where I learned that there is an Istanbul Museum for the History of Science and Technology in Islam. Unfortunately we did not get to do in, since it was too early, but we did get to see a huge globe which depicted the known world as it looked in 200 A.D.
Among other thing, what I learned initially learned is that there were a lot of walls around the world. They seemed clearly depicted all over the globe as you can see here:
10,000 unskilled workers constructed Aya Sofia in less then six years, so maybe they built walls in their spare time. Big, huge walls across the world. Just as I was starting to ponder the number of people it would take to build walls on that magnitude, it occurred to me that maybe those aren't great walls, but mountain ranges.
I guess mountains are natures great walls, but it's just not nearly as impressive to think something formed over thousands and thousands of years instead of having been made by hand just a few months back.
Among other thing, what I learned initially learned is that there were a lot of walls around the world. They seemed clearly depicted all over the globe as you can see here:
I guess mountains are natures great walls, but it's just not nearly as impressive to think something formed over thousands and thousands of years instead of having been made by hand just a few months back.
Don't Judge a Turk By His Cover (8/25/12)
Yesterday I learned that a serious face on a Turk often hides one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet.
My sister and I had lunch at the Para Palace Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote "Murder on the Orient Express." We arrived after lunchtime but before cocktails so we enjoyed the patio nearly all to ourselves. Our server was a very serious woman who seemed almost annoyed to be waiting on us. After we ordered dessert she came back with spoons and cautiously asked, "are you sisters?"
My sister and I both smiled our big, straight-teeth, personable smiles and said yes. Those smiles opened the door to her smile. We found out that she is from Istanbul, has twin four-year olds, and that Turks live by a personal commitment to hospitality. She offered to take our picture, and then agreed to be in a picture with me. She chatted so long with us that she worried she might get in a little trouble with her boss. She was one of the most genuine people we met, and it was all initially hidden behind her serious demeanor.
Later that day we headed to dinner at Balikci Sabahattin, a fish place popular with locals and tourists. Boy was it crowded! There were several groups of people waiting for tables, some very anxiously. I watched one woman repeatedly ask various waiters how much longer her party would have to wait (I'm pretty sure that she was not American, for the record). Not wanting to be difficult, I patiently waited for the owner to have a free moment.
Once I saw that the owner was available, I approached him and smiled. Now, according to my guide book it is not recommended for women to smile at men in Turkey because it is seen as flirtatious, but I can't help it - I smile at everything. I politely told the owner that there were two in my party and that we should have a reservation. He nodded and I told him that we would be waiting by the edge of the patio. I returned to my sister and we patiently waited, enjoying the atmosphere and, of course, the people watching
I'm not sure if it was because we had a reservation, or because we were so polite, or because we were dressed up and smiled, but when the next two person table opened up the owner bypassed several other groups waiting and called us forward. We were seated after waiting only a few minutes clearly much to the chagrin of the others waiting.
Upon being seated another gentleman in a checked shirt, possibly the owner's son, came over to our table. I said "merhaba," which is hello in Turkish. He smiled at me and then said something in Turkish to my sister. Now, neither of us speak Turkish beyond basic phrases and whatever he said was not basic. My sister replied, "pardon?" to which the man in the checked shirt laughed heartily while winking at me. I have no idea what he said, and I'm not sure if he was just testing us to see if we were locals (apparently my hello was very convincing) but he went on his way chuckling to himself. He was replaced by a very stoic waiter, and then fun for the evening was seemingly over...or so I thought.
We had an incredibly delicious dinner which included fish, mezes, salad, and two presents - an extra meze and a dessert with apricots and the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. Both culinary gifts were bestowed upon us in the same stoic fashion that our server had exhibited throughout the whole meal, though his generosity was very much appreciated.
When we had finished our meal, and were leaving, I stopped to thank the owner and let him know how much we had enjoyed our dinner. My sister and I said goodbye and were walking out when our very stoic waiter called to us, "excuse me. Excuse me."
We stopped and he came up to us and said, "he is a policeman," pointing to the man in the checked shirt, who stood several yards away grinning and obviously not a police officer.
"He needs to see your passports,"our waiter continued, as he broke into a huge smile.
My sister and I both laughed. I wonder how much the man in the checked shirt bet our waiter to say that to us, as it definitely felt like a dare. I winked at the man in the checked shirt and we said goodbye. As we walked away we could hear the laughs of the waitstaff, which mingled with those of my sister and myself. A police officer - classic! I would have never pegged our waiter as a prankster, and his silly joke was the perfect way to end an amazing dining experience.
So then next time you encounter a very serious person, especially a Turk, don't be too quick to judge. There is probably a very personable if not hilarious person lurking behind that stoic demeanor.
Oh, and a big smile never hurts either.
My sister and I had lunch at the Para Palace Hotel, where Agatha Christie wrote "Murder on the Orient Express." We arrived after lunchtime but before cocktails so we enjoyed the patio nearly all to ourselves. Our server was a very serious woman who seemed almost annoyed to be waiting on us. After we ordered dessert she came back with spoons and cautiously asked, "are you sisters?"
My sister and I both smiled our big, straight-teeth, personable smiles and said yes. Those smiles opened the door to her smile. We found out that she is from Istanbul, has twin four-year olds, and that Turks live by a personal commitment to hospitality. She offered to take our picture, and then agreed to be in a picture with me. She chatted so long with us that she worried she might get in a little trouble with her boss. She was one of the most genuine people we met, and it was all initially hidden behind her serious demeanor.
Later that day we headed to dinner at Balikci Sabahattin, a fish place popular with locals and tourists. Boy was it crowded! There were several groups of people waiting for tables, some very anxiously. I watched one woman repeatedly ask various waiters how much longer her party would have to wait (I'm pretty sure that she was not American, for the record). Not wanting to be difficult, I patiently waited for the owner to have a free moment.
Once I saw that the owner was available, I approached him and smiled. Now, according to my guide book it is not recommended for women to smile at men in Turkey because it is seen as flirtatious, but I can't help it - I smile at everything. I politely told the owner that there were two in my party and that we should have a reservation. He nodded and I told him that we would be waiting by the edge of the patio. I returned to my sister and we patiently waited, enjoying the atmosphere and, of course, the people watching
I'm not sure if it was because we had a reservation, or because we were so polite, or because we were dressed up and smiled, but when the next two person table opened up the owner bypassed several other groups waiting and called us forward. We were seated after waiting only a few minutes clearly much to the chagrin of the others waiting.
Upon being seated another gentleman in a checked shirt, possibly the owner's son, came over to our table. I said "merhaba," which is hello in Turkish. He smiled at me and then said something in Turkish to my sister. Now, neither of us speak Turkish beyond basic phrases and whatever he said was not basic. My sister replied, "pardon?" to which the man in the checked shirt laughed heartily while winking at me. I have no idea what he said, and I'm not sure if he was just testing us to see if we were locals (apparently my hello was very convincing) but he went on his way chuckling to himself. He was replaced by a very stoic waiter, and then fun for the evening was seemingly over...or so I thought.
We had an incredibly delicious dinner which included fish, mezes, salad, and two presents - an extra meze and a dessert with apricots and the best ice cream I've ever had in my life. Both culinary gifts were bestowed upon us in the same stoic fashion that our server had exhibited throughout the whole meal, though his generosity was very much appreciated.
When we had finished our meal, and were leaving, I stopped to thank the owner and let him know how much we had enjoyed our dinner. My sister and I said goodbye and were walking out when our very stoic waiter called to us, "excuse me. Excuse me."
We stopped and he came up to us and said, "he is a policeman," pointing to the man in the checked shirt, who stood several yards away grinning and obviously not a police officer.
"He needs to see your passports,"our waiter continued, as he broke into a huge smile.
My sister and I both laughed. I wonder how much the man in the checked shirt bet our waiter to say that to us, as it definitely felt like a dare. I winked at the man in the checked shirt and we said goodbye. As we walked away we could hear the laughs of the waitstaff, which mingled with those of my sister and myself. A police officer - classic! I would have never pegged our waiter as a prankster, and his silly joke was the perfect way to end an amazing dining experience.
So then next time you encounter a very serious person, especially a Turk, don't be too quick to judge. There is probably a very personable if not hilarious person lurking behind that stoic demeanor.
Oh, and a big smile never hurts either.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Bazaar Life Lessons (8/24/12)
Yesterday I learned that I could be Russian, or from Texas, or (with the help of tea or lemon salt) thinner or younger. I also learned that Iranian fish eggs are sold in wax pods that look like big peppers and live leaches are still used for medicinal purposes in Istanbul. Finally, I learned that stuffed apricots are stuffed with nuts not cheese (at least not until my sister moves to Istanbul to launch her cheese-stuffed apricots business).
The Spice Bazaar in Istanbul is full of life lessons (not to mention amazing spices).
The Spice Bazaar in Istanbul is full of life lessons (not to mention amazing spices).
Seriously, We Have a Palace (8/23/12)
Last night after a very fun but exhausting day of navigating the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, my sister and I were feeling like a big night on the town would be a little too much. So we opted for dinner just up the street from our hotel at a place called Albura Kathisma. After a very good meal, we were getting ready to leave when our waiter said to us, "have you seen our palace?"
When looked at him skeptically he said, "seriously, we have a palace. Come see."
My sister and I followed our waiter down a passage in the wall to find the ancient remains of an actual palace. It is the Byzantine Magnaura Palace to be precise and it was discovered as construction was beginning for a new hotel. The hotel was never built and four rooms of the palace were excavated deep below the street.
The palace used to play host to foreign dignitaries and, according to our waiter, was once connected to Topkapi Palace. According to hipstanbul.com the Kremlin Palace and San Marco Basilica were both inspired by Magnaura Palace.
For my sister and I it was an archaeological dessert that was deliciously enjoyed!
When looked at him skeptically he said, "seriously, we have a palace. Come see."
My sister and I followed our waiter down a passage in the wall to find the ancient remains of an actual palace. It is the Byzantine Magnaura Palace to be precise and it was discovered as construction was beginning for a new hotel. The hotel was never built and four rooms of the palace were excavated deep below the street.
The palace used to play host to foreign dignitaries and, according to our waiter, was once connected to Topkapi Palace. According to hipstanbul.com the Kremlin Palace and San Marco Basilica were both inspired by Magnaura Palace.
For my sister and I it was an archaeological dessert that was deliciously enjoyed!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Circumcision Ouchfit (8/22/12)
As I've been walking around Istanbul this week I've noticed easily a dozen young boys dressed in all white suits with feather-trimmed capes, maces and hats. These outfits are often trimmed in gold or silver. They look like a cross between the Beatles' Sargent Peppers costumes, Liberace, and what I imagine St. Peter wears to welcome people at the Pearly Gates.
While at dinner last night I asked my friends who live in Turkey why so many boys were all dressed up. My friend casually told me that they were circumcision outfits. Muslim boys are not circumcised until they are between the ages of 7-10 (though some boys looked as young as 5). After consulting various sites on the Web I also learned that the circumcision represents the transition from childhood to adulthood. The boys notonly get a sweet white outfit, they also get gifts from family and friends at a big party held in their honor.
I guess it's similar to a bar mitzvah in Jewish culture, except a bar mitzvah doesn't include a little snip snip before the party can start.
While at dinner last night I asked my friends who live in Turkey why so many boys were all dressed up. My friend casually told me that they were circumcision outfits. Muslim boys are not circumcised until they are between the ages of 7-10 (though some boys looked as young as 5). After consulting various sites on the Web I also learned that the circumcision represents the transition from childhood to adulthood. The boys notonly get a sweet white outfit, they also get gifts from family and friends at a big party held in their honor.
I guess it's similar to a bar mitzvah in Jewish culture, except a bar mitzvah doesn't include a little snip snip before the party can start.
It's the Thought That Counts, Mahmud (8/21/12)
We visited Topkapi Saray yesterday, the palace of the Ottoman Empire. It's an impressive display of wealth and power from the gardens and Sultan's robes to the ornate jewelry and jewel-encrusted treasures.
One of the treasures of Topkapi is the dagger of Topkapi. This gold and jeweled dagger has three huge emeralds on the handle. It was originally meant as a gift from the Sultan Mahud I to Nadir Shah, the Iranian conquerer, but as the delivery entrouge made its way from Constantinople to Iran they received word that Nadir Shah had been killed. So they returned back from whence they came and the dagger remained at Topkapi.
In the late 1960's a movie called Topkapi was released starring Peter Ustinov. This movie is about a group of people trying to steal the dagger of Topkapi. This movie is so going into my Netflix cue!
One of the treasures of Topkapi is the dagger of Topkapi. This gold and jeweled dagger has three huge emeralds on the handle. It was originally meant as a gift from the Sultan Mahud I to Nadir Shah, the Iranian conquerer, but as the delivery entrouge made its way from Constantinople to Iran they received word that Nadir Shah had been killed. So they returned back from whence they came and the dagger remained at Topkapi.
In the late 1960's a movie called Topkapi was released starring Peter Ustinov. This movie is about a group of people trying to steal the dagger of Topkapi. This movie is so going into my Netflix cue!
Monkey Marriage in Istanbul (8/20/12)
Yesterday I was sitting on a rooftop in Istanbul with my sister and my friend Celex. Though it was sunny it started to drizzle rain. Celex told us that in India when it is both sunny and raining they say monkeys are getting married. Monkeys getting married...how cool is that?!? Yesterday they were getting hitched in Istanbul (not Constantinople).
Third time's the charm for Mother Nature in Greece (8/19/12)
Yesterday I visited Akrotiri which I learned is the Greek Pompeii. Located on Santorini, right near the red beach, Akrotiri was once a thriving metropolis of cosmopolitain culture. Despite being a very prosperous village as evidenced by some large houses with distinct signs of wealth, the people of Akrotiri had some challenges. They suffered through an earthquake that destroyed part of the town. They rebuilt and continued to prosper until they were hit by a second earthquake. Not cool, right? But wait, there's more. While still rebuilding from the second earthquake (and this way in the 17th century B.C. so rebuilding was hard work) the down was destroyed when it was engulfed in ash and lava from a volcano.
Archeologists have been working for decades on the excavation of Akrotiri. They've found signs of regulated commerce, advanced amenities for homes, including an indoor toilet, and imports from other parts of the world - my favorite being monkeys.
Unlike Pompeii, the residents of Akrotiri were able to escape before being buried - possibly because they were a port city, possibly because they had already experienced two disasters and were on their game. Maybe they were finally just lucky.
Archeologists have been working for decades on the excavation of Akrotiri. They've found signs of regulated commerce, advanced amenities for homes, including an indoor toilet, and imports from other parts of the world - my favorite being monkeys.
Unlike Pompeii, the residents of Akrotiri were able to escape before being buried - possibly because they were a port city, possibly because they had already experienced two disasters and were on their game. Maybe they were finally just lucky.
Red, White and Black (8/18/12)
Yesterday I learned about the black, red and white beaches of Santorini. Three of the most popular beaches for tourists and locals alike these beaches provide three different experience of Greek paradise.
The white beach is the most secluded of the three. It is accessible only by boat, with small ferries running there several times a day.
The red beach is so named for the red colored cliffs that climb skyward from it. The red beach is fairly secluded and requires visitors to climb a steep, rocky path to reach it. This climb deters few as it is a very popular destination.
Finally the black beach gets its name from the black sand of its beaches. This sand is a result of the volcanic eruption thousands of years ago and is a stark contrast to the bright blue water.
All three provide visitors with an amazing beach-going experience that won't soon be forgotten.
The white beach is the most secluded of the three. It is accessible only by boat, with small ferries running there several times a day.
The red beach is so named for the red colored cliffs that climb skyward from it. The red beach is fairly secluded and requires visitors to climb a steep, rocky path to reach it. This climb deters few as it is a very popular destination.
Finally the black beach gets its name from the black sand of its beaches. This sand is a result of the volcanic eruption thousands of years ago and is a stark contrast to the bright blue water.
All three provide visitors with an amazing beach-going experience that won't soon be forgotten.
White and Blue Pride (8/17/12)
Sailing towards Santorini it is hard to not be struck by its beauty. Rocky cliffs striped with history meet some of the bluest waters one will ever see. Dotting these cliffs are the white churches with the blue domes, know the world over as a symbol of Greece.
A few days ago I learned about why the buildings were white and that nearly every family has a church. But it wasn't until yesterday that I learned why the domes are that beautiful, distinctive blue. According to the captain of our sailboat, the blue domes were a subversive showing of national pride.
The Greeks are no strangers to wars. They have battled the Persians, the Turks, and the Venetians among others. It was during the occupation by the Venetians in the 13th century that Greeks were ordered to no longer fly the Greek flag. Being a people of great national pride and a good deal of smarts, the Greeks chose to paint their churches white with brilliant blue domes to match the colors of their flag. The churches being Greek Orthodox were already a strong symbol of the culture of Greece, so they were a fitting vehicle with which to assert their independence, however small.
Today, much like the whitewash on the buildings, the domes are kept blue out of tradition. When you see them you are touched by the tradition of Greece and its independen
A few days ago I learned about why the buildings were white and that nearly every family has a church. But it wasn't until yesterday that I learned why the domes are that beautiful, distinctive blue. According to the captain of our sailboat, the blue domes were a subversive showing of national pride.
The Greeks are no strangers to wars. They have battled the Persians, the Turks, and the Venetians among others. It was during the occupation by the Venetians in the 13th century that Greeks were ordered to no longer fly the Greek flag. Being a people of great national pride and a good deal of smarts, the Greeks chose to paint their churches white with brilliant blue domes to match the colors of their flag. The churches being Greek Orthodox were already a strong symbol of the culture of Greece, so they were a fitting vehicle with which to assert their independence, however small.
Today, much like the whitewash on the buildings, the domes are kept blue out of tradition. When you see them you are touched by the tradition of Greece and its independen
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