Haircut of the Year

Why?

Boy, that 4th dude is doing some looking back on life...
Wait...is this those guys, you know, pre-Wiggles?



A man went to his dentist because he feels something
wrong in his mouth. The dentist examines him and says,
"that new upper plate I put in for you six months ago is
eroding. What have you been eating?" The man replies, "all
I can think of is that about four months ago my wife made
some asparagus and put some stuff on it that was
delicious...Hollandaise sauce. I loved it so much I now put
it on everything --- meat, toast, fish, vegtables, everything."

"Well," says the dentist, "that's probably the problem.
Hollindaise sauce is made with lots of lemon juice, which is
highly corrosive. It's eaten away your upper plate. I'll make
you a new plate, and this time use chrome." "Why
chrome?" asks the patient.

To which the dentist replies,
"It's simple. Everyone knows that there's no plate like
chrome for the Hollandaise!"


And others:

"Cauliflower is nothing but a cabbage with a college education." -Mark Twain

"The beet is the most intense of vegetables. The radish, admittedly, is more feverish, but the fire of the radish is a cold fire, the fire of discontent, not of passion. Tomatoes are lusty enough, yet there runs through tomatoes an undercurrent of frivolity. Beets are deadly serious." -Tom Robbins, author

OK. So I had some time to kill.

Unique Mug #6

Ball & Socket Mug

Unique Mug #5

I know it's a tiki mug, but I LOVE tiki mugs! What? You can drink coffee from it too! and mai tais.... and b52's.....I need to stop.

I'll pass...

I have a hobby of examining restaurant menus for typos and just stupid things people do. Yesterday while waiting for my to-go order I was reading a posted notice for a benefit on behalf of an ill person. Apparently, they were making a big pot of stew to sell in portions. This is exactly how it read:

stew = by the bowel
or bring a contaner

Umm, I think I'll "pass" on the stew...

I am sorry this person is ill and I hope they make a killin' at the benefit, but that really should have been proofed before posting all over town.

Pay closer attention to the menus you see. You'll be amazed at what you find. I once put this in a church bulletin:

"Following the service, a lunch will be herld"

Luckily, I was the secretary and caught it before I made 300 copies. Keep your eyes open and let me know what you find! ( I hope I haven't misspelled (sp?) anything!)

Home Remedies for Bad Breath

Found this very interesting:

Brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily can help to remove odor-causing bacteria. Before trying any natural remedies for bad breath, it's important to visit your dentist to have your teeth examined and cleaned. If a cause isn't identified, consult your doctor for further investigation. Here are some home remedies to consider:

*Drink tea. Preliminary research suggests that compounds in both green and black tea called polyphenols may stop the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath. Polyphenols may also prevent existing bacteria from producing malodorous compounds such as hydrogen sulfide. Both green and black tea have polyphenols. Get some tips on how to brew green tea.

*Try a mouthwash containing zinc ions. Zinc appears to directly neutralize malodorous sulfur compounds and improve breath. It's found in several health food store mouthwashes as well as some drug store brands.

*Use a tongue scraper, which helps to remove dead cells, food particles and bacteria from the tongue. A tongue scaper is a special plastic instrument found in drug stores and some health food stores, that costs several dollars. In Ayurveda, a thick coating on the tongue is called "ama" and is thought to be caused by improper or incomplete digestion. Tongue cleaning with a scaper is recommended as a daily regimen to remove ama. The key is to do it gently and to rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward. If you can't find a tongue scraper, use a toothbrush to clean your tongue.

*Drink plenty of fluids. Drinking water and other fluids will help keep your mouth moist. Another reason drinking fluids might help: In traditional Chinese medicine, bad breath is often the result of excess heat in the stomach. Water, soup and watery fruits and vegetables, such as cucumber, are thought to help to rebalance the body.

*According to traditional Chinese medicine, bitter foods, such as Belgian endive and many dark green leafy vegetables are also believed to help stomach heat. Certain foods, such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, milk and fried or spicy foods are thought to worsen the problem.

*Snack on crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, celery, carrots or jicama. Crunchy foods can help remove food, bacteria and plaque from teeth.

*Try a mouthwash that contains essential oils. Preliminary studies suggest that essential oils, which are plant oils, may help to reduce bad breath. One study compared an essential oil mouthwash containing tea tree oil, peppermint oil and lemon oil to a standard mouthwash and found that the level of volatile sulfur compounds was significantly less after the essential oil mouthwash compared to the conventional mouthwash. It's best to use a commercially-prepared product (check the health food store) rather than buying essential oils and making your own mouthwash. If in doubt, consult your dentist.

*Use herbs to freshen your breath. Chew on a small sprig of fresh rosemary, parsley, spearmint, or tarragon for up to a minute.

*Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol. Alcohol can dry out the mouth, which contributes to bad breath.

*Get help managing stress. Many people have bad breath that doesn't have a clearly identifiable cause. One small preliminary study found that in healthy young men with good oral hygiene and general health, stress increased the production of volatile sulfur compounds in the mouth. To learn specific relaxation techniques, go to my section on mind/body techniques. Also, find out about natural remedies for anxiety.

Preparing for March 11

Okay. Time is getting tight for the Presidential Primary. I am still doing my research. My opinion thusfar, is that Obama is possibly too inexperienced for the spotlight he is seeking. Hillary has been there and done that, in a sense. I know, she hasn't been president or anything, but she has been on that scene and I think she is a little bit more capable of entering the scene as president in a competent manner. She has all the limelight stuff behind her, and is ready to get moving. I don't know if those were the appropriate words to use or not, but I am pressed for time and blogging this because it's on my mind.

I am a people reader. Mainly right now, because I haven't had time to do much listening. I am not a TV person, either. I am listening to debates a little late and getting on with research. When I listened to and viewed the video on Obama's website and listened to Obama debate in New York, I saw a spotlight seeking, people-person whom I felt was inexperienced and with whom we could likely end up in a mess. But, I have alot of reading and listening to do.

On that same debate in New York, Hillary made the statement taht she had already brought about change. She has. I was impressed with that. I plan to search out all of the changes she has made.

The whole "Woman in the White House" "Black man in the White House" thing is so immature. Let go of it already, people. It's not about gender or race anymore. These are real people and we are a country of real people. Don't be so one-sided. So simple minded.

I have to do so much more research. It's overwhelming to think about.

Unique Coffee Mug #4

Found at Into The Void

Unique Coffee Mug #3

Mug...and family. Ordinarily, I don't go for stripes, but I do like a little color now and then. I believe this is a Pittman, Sandi.

Unique Coffee Mug #2

Groundhogs aren't the only animals that predict weather:

While groundhogs are known to predict the weather, they aren´t the only animals that can tip you off about the climate outside.

For example:
* When a cow endeavors to scratch its ear, it means a shower is very near.
* If the robin sings in the bush, then the weather will be coarse;
* If the robin sings on the barn, then the weather will be warm.
* Wild geese, wild geese, going out to sea, all fine weather it will be.
* Wolves always howl more before a storm.
* Deer and elk come down from the mountains at least two days before a storm
* When a squirrel eats nuts in a tree, weather is as warm as warm can be.
* Good weather may be expected when a cat washes itself, but when it licks its coat against the grain, expect bad weather.
* When dogs rub themselves in winter, it will thaw soon.

So before you put away those winter boots or your rain gear, observe how your pets or wild animals are behaving. ~ Compiled by Farmers´ Almanac TV staff

Unique Mug #1

Cafediem: Caffeinate the day!!

And other entries from the Urban Dictionary:

Electile Dysfunction : The inability to become aroused over any of the choices for President put forth by either party during an election year.

robocracy: 1. Government run by robots. They will be able to lie and have scandals more efficiently than humans. 2. A system of ruling whereby the majority in a country choose to be robbed by a minority.

Hobosexual: Adjective. The opposite of metrosexual; one who cares little for one's own appearance.

purge the cabin: Rolling the windows down on a vehicle for some fresh air, usually after one of the passengers has passed gas.

Summer Teeth: A dental condition where some teeth are there and some are not.

pizza tumor: A large burned air bubble that sometimes forms in the crust of a pizza, rendering the slice that contains it significantly less appealing.

peasantvision: Television channels you get without a cable or satellite TV subscription.

nillionaire: Person without any money of their own.

Ha ha ha!

moar funny pictures

From Notes From the Suburbs/Mississippi Moms

Breakfast Squares

2 8-ounce tubes of crescent rolls
2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese (softened)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Press one tube of crescent rolls onto cookie sheet or baking dish. Seal seams. Combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Mix well and spread over the raw crescent rolls.
Top with the second tube of crescent rolls.

Topping: ½ stick butter
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Melt ½ stick of butter. Pour over top layer. Mix ¼ cup sugar and cinnamon well. Sprinkle evenly over buttered top. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into bite size pieces.

Yum!

Ask the Magic Bottle...

From the Old Farmers Almanac 1/29/08

It’s true: Hot chicken soup and lots of garlic help to reduce cold symptoms. Modern science now backs that up. Try Granny’s Best Chicken Soup from our archives.

And some studies suggest that virtually any way to inhale steam is beneficial. So, savoring a steaming cup of herbal tea may be a good idea.

Other home remedies said to prevent colds in the first place are: garlic, onions, thyme, sage, and vitamin C, used regularly. Or, if you dare, a daily sandwich of whole wheat bread, raw yellow onion, a half-inch of horseradish, slice of meat, cheddar cheese, and brown mustard. According to old-timers, this really works!

Sincerely,
The Old Farmer’s Almanac
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Looking for something special to serve friends who just drop in? Try this fruity glogg, a traditional Scandinavian drink, prepared here without alcohol
Yield: Makes 10 to 12 servings.

1 6-ounce can frozen lemonade concentrate, reconstituted
1 6-ounce can frozen raspberry concentrate, reconstituted
4 cinnamon sticks
1/8 teaspoon cloves
4 cardamom pods
1/4 cup raisins (optional)
3 tablespoons sugar
1 orange, sliced
1 lemon, sliced

Combine all ingredients except for the fruit slices, and heat to steaming. When ready to serve, float citrus slices on top.
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Make a cup of hot chocolate from scratch, and you will never want to go back to the prepackaged stuff.

Yield: 3 servings

1-1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup light cream
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, plus a pinch to garnish
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
Pinch salt
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
Whipped cream

Combine ingredients over medium heat until chocolate melts. Serve with whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon.
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A delicious hot soup for a cold day. Uses root vegetables in season and a pear.

Yield: 6 servings

Inspired by a traditional Finnish recipe, this soup is delicious served either as an appetizer or as a main course with a hearty dark bread and a sharp cheese.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium-size onion, chopped
3 medium-size parsnips, peeled and sliced
4 to 5 medium-size carrots, sliced
1 sweet potato, peeled and sliced
1 ripe pear, peeled, cored, and chopped
2 cans (14 ounces each) chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup white wine or apple cider (or juice)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

In a large saucepan or stockpot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, parsnips, carrots, sweet potato, and pear and saute for 10 to 15 minutes. Add the broth, water, wine, and all the spices. Simmer for 20 minutes. Let cool slightly, then puree in a food processor or blender until smooth. Serve hot.
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Chicken stock with many healthy vegetables. Serve hot with a slice of crusty bread
Yield: Makes 8 servings.

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup peeled, sliced carrots
1 cup peeled, chopped onions
1 cup peeled, sliced leeks
1/2 cup sliced celery
1 teaspoon fresh (or 1/2 teaspoon dry) thyme
2 pounds mushrooms, sliced
6 cups chicken broth
salt and pepper, to taste
4 teaspoons minced chives, for garnish

Heat oil, add vegetables (except mushrooms) and saute. Stir in thyme and mushrooms and cook 5 minutes. Add broth and seasonings. Simmer covered for 30 minutes. Puree soup in a blender and serve hot, garnished with chives. (If desired, the mushrooms can be sauteed separately and added after the soup is pureed.)

The Facial Flex

Apparently works better after a couple glasses of wine.....




It's also on QVC!!

Tattoos for the Blind

The Braille Tattoo, designed by Klara Jirkova (a student at the University of the Arts Berlin), is a series of implantable surgical steel, titanium, or medical plastic that's placed under the skin. The tattoo can then be read via touch. Subdermal implants are nothing new, but using them to create body art for the visually impaired is an interesting idea. Jirkova thinks the implants could be used in the divet between thumb and pointer finger, so when people shake hands they can "read" each other's names and info. From Blog.wired

How cool is that?!?