Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I Rescued a Human Today


Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me. I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her. Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship.

A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well. Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes. I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor. So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors. So many more to be saved. At least I could save one. Yes, I could save one.
I rescued a human today.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

For Word Freaks


These are Paraprosdokian Sentences (thanks Marlene)

A paraprosdokian (from Greek "παρα-", meaning "beyond" and "προσδοκία", meaning "expectation") is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.

Ø I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

Ø Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

Ø The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

Ø Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Ø If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

Ø We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

Ø War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Ø Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Ø The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Ø Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

Ø To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

Ø A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

Ø How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

Ø I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted pay checks.

Ø A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.

Ø Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR".

Ø I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

Ø Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Ø Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

Ø Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America ?

Ø Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

Ø A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

Ø You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

Ø The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

Ø Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.

Ø A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

Ø Hospitality: making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were.

Ø Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

Ø Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.

Ø There's a fine line between cuddling, and holding someone down so they can't get away.

Ø I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.

Ø I always take life with a grain of salt, plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

Ø When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

Ø You're never too old to learn something stupid.

Ø To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

Ø Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Ø Some people hear voices. Some see invisible people. Others have no imagination whatsoever.

Ø A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it.

Ø If you are supposed to learn from your mistakes, why do some people have more than one child?

Ø Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.


Thursday, August 19, 2010

Ten Thoughts to Ponder


Ten Thoughts to Ponder

Number 10
Life is sexually transmitted.

Number 9
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Number 8
Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich.

Number 7
Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day, teach a person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Number 6
Some people are like a Slinky ... Not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Number 5
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing.

Number 4
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to Criticism.

Number 3
Why does a slight tax increase cost you $200.00, and a substantial tax cut saves you $30.00?

Number 2
In the 60's, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is Weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

And The Number 1 Thought For 2010

"Life is like a jar of Jalapeno peppers;
What you do today, might Burn Your Ass Tomorrow"

regarding this last one...go hear here


Sunday, June 20, 2010

Henri


Henri is a haunted kitty. Written and directed by Will Braden.




Sunday, June 6, 2010

Neologistic Humor


The Washington Post publishes the winning submissions to its yearly neologism contest, in which readers are asked to supply alternative meanings for common words.

Some winners are:

1. Coffee (n.), the person upon whom one coughs.
2. Flabbergasted (adj.), appalled over how much weight you have gained.
3. Abdicate (v.), to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach.
4. Esplanade (v.), to attempt an explanation while drunk.
5. Willy-nilly (adj.), impotent.
6. Negligent (adj.), describes a condition in which you absentmindedly answer the door in your nightgown.
7. Lymph (v.), to walk with a lisp.
8. Gargoyle (n), olive-flavored mouthwash.
9. Flatulence (n.) A smelly British apartment.
10. Balderdash (n.), a rapidly receding hairline.
11. Testicle (n.), a humorous question on an exam.
12. Rectitude (n.), the formal, dignified bearing adopted by proctologists.
13. Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.
14. Oyster (n.), a person who sprinkles his conversation with Yiddishisms.
15. Frisbeetarianism (n.), (back by popular demand): The belief that, when you die, your soul flies up onto the roof and gets stuck there.
16. Circumvent (n.), an opening in the front of boxer shorts worn by Jewish men.

The Washington Post's Style Invitational also asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition.More winners:

1. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.
2. Foreploy (v): Any misrepresentation about yourself for the purpose of getting laid.
3. Cashtration (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
4. Giraffiti (n): Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
5. Sarchasm (n): The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
6. Inoculatte (v): To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
7. Hipatitis (n): Terminal coolness.
8. Osteopornosis (n): A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
9. Karmageddon (n): its like, when everybody is sending off all these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.
10. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
11. Glibido (v): All talk and no action.
12. Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
13. Arachnoleptic fit (n..): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
14. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
15. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half a grub in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:
16. Ignoranus (n): A person who's both stupid and an asshole.


Puns for the Higher IQ


A man's home is his castle, in a manor of speaking.
Dijon vu - the same mustard as before.
Practice safe eating - always use condiments.
Shotgun wedding - A case of wife or death.
A man needs a mistress just to break the monogamy.
A hangover is the wrath of grapes.
Dancing cheek-to-cheek is really a form of floor play.
Does the name Pavlov ring a bell?
Condoms should be used on every conceivable occasion.
Reading while sunbathing makes you well red.
When two egotists meet, it's an I for an I.
A bicycle can't stand on its own because it is two tired.
What's the definition of a will? (It's a dead give away.)
In democracy your vote counts. In feudalism your count votes.
She was engaged to a boyfriend with a wooden leg but broke it off.
A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion.
If you don't pay your exorcist, you get repossessed
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.
You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.
Local Area Network in Australia - the LAN down under.
Every calendar's days are numbered.
A lot of money is tainted - Taint yours and taint mine.
A boiled egg in the morning is hard to beat.
He had a photographic memory that was never developed.
Once you've seen one shopping center, you've seen a mall.
Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead-to-know basis.
Acupuncture is a jab well done.


Breakfast at Ginger's


Ginger enjoys a leisurely breakfast:




3D Projections on Buildings


3D Projections on Buildings from NuFormer Digital Media and featured on Vimeo:


Projection on Buildings from NuFormer Projection on Vimeo.


Sunday, May 9, 2010

Lost Generation





Church Bulletin Bloopers


These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
--------------------------
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
--------------------------
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
--------------------------
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
--------------------------
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
--------------------------
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
--------------------------
For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
--------------------------
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
--------------------------
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
--------------------------
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow..
--------------------------
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
--------------------------
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
--------------------------
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
--------------------------
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered..
--------------------------
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
--------------------------
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
--------------------------
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
--------------------------
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
--------------------------
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.
--------------------------
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
--------------------------
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
--------------------------
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
--------------------------
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
--------------------------
The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours


Monday, March 29, 2010

Hubble Ultra Deep Field 3D


What happens when you point the Hubble Space Telescope to a seemingly blank patch of sky? A view that takes you to the edge of the universe!

Hubble Ultra Deep Field 3D


Advice


These are 40 expressions of advice that one must remember.

Advice.pps


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Fukitol



DAMNITOL
Take two and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to eight full hours.

EMPTYNESTROGEN
Suppository that eliminates melancholy and loneliness by reminding you of how awful they were as teenagers and how you couldn't wait till they moved out!

ST. MOMMA'S WORT
Plant extract that treats mom's depression by rendering preschoolers unconscious for up to two days.

PEPTOBIMBO
Liquid silicone drink for single women. Two full cups swallowed before an evening out increases breast size, decreases intelligence, and prevents conception.

DUMBEROL
When taken with Peptobimbo, can cause dangerously low IQ, resulting in enjoyment of country music and pickup trucks.

FLIPITOR
Increases life expectancy of commuters by controlling road rage and the urge to flip off other drivers.

MENICILLIN
Potent anti-boy-otic for older women. Increases resistance to such lethal lines as, 'You make me want to be a better person.'

BUYAGRA
Injectable stimulant taken prior to shopping. Increases potency, duration, and credit limit of spending spree.

JACKASSPIRIN
Relieves headache caused by a man who can't remember your birthday, anniversary, phone number, or to lift the toilet seat

ANTI-TALKSIDENT
A spray carried in a purse or wallet to be used on anyone too eager to share their life stories with total strangers in elevators.

NAGAMENT
When administered to a boyfriend or husband, provides the same irritation level as nagging him, without opening your mouth.


This Blessing Is For You


A blessing from Andie's Isle.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Style Your Garage

"The days of boring garage doors are numbered! That’s because there are now photo tarpaulins for garage doors from style-your-garage.com! Our Top 20 is now available in 2 sizes: 2,45 m x 2,10 m and new 2,75 m x 2,45 m.

Garage doors have until now mostly been mouse gray and ugly – and often spoil the appearance of well-maintained homes. But now, the days of those hideous garage doors are numbered! That’s because the new photo tarpaulins from style-your-garage.com can give monochrome up-and-over garage doors a whole new look. The printed-on 3D motifs are deceptively realistic and will cause neighbors, friends and passers-by to stop and stare!" - style-your-garage.com



















Sunday, March 14, 2010

More Likely Endings To Stories We Heard As Children

Cinderella:



Snow White:


Belle:


Little Red Riding Hood:


Sleeping Beauty:


Rapunzel:



Saturday, March 13, 2010

Back to Work

A woman goes back to work after 30 years off the job.




Thursday, March 11, 2010

Chick Wish

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks them for their orders .  

The man says, 'A hamburger, fries and a coke,' and turns to the ostrich, 'What's yours?'  

'I'll have the same,' says the ostrich.  

A short time later the waitress returns with the order 'That will be $9.40 please,' and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.  

The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, 'A hamburger, fries and a coke.'  

The ostrich says, 'I'll have the same.'  

Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.  

This becomes routine until the two enter again. 'The usual?' asks the waitress.  

'No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and a salad,' says the man.  

'Same,' says the ostrich.  

Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, 'That will be $32.62.'  

Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.  

The waitress cannot hold back her curiosity any longer. 'Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change in your pocket every time?'  

'Well,' says the man, 'several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and the right amount of money would always be there.'


'That's brilliant!' says the waitress. 'Most people would ask for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want and for as long as you live!'  

'That's right. Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there,' says the man..  

The waitress asks, 'What's with the ostrich?'  

The man sighs, pauses and answers, 'My second wish was for a tall chick with a big butt and long legs who agrees with everything I say.'

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Automatic Blinds

What engineers do when they retire - or - How to open your blinds automatically: Click Here

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Puns For Educated Minds


1. The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

6. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

7. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

8. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

9. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall.. The police are looking into it.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway.. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

13.. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

15. The short fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

16. The man who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

17. A backward poet writes inverse.

18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris , you'd be in Seine.


The Shoplifting Seagull





Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Simon's Cat


"Simon's Cat" began as a series of short, animated films by Simon Tofield. Simon draws all the films by hand using an A4-size Wacom Intuos 3 pen and tablet. This can require up to 25 drawings per second of animation, which is done using Adobe Flash. Simon also makes all of the character's sounds himself, working with sound designer, 'Shrooty'.

Now you can see Simon's cat in his very own book.


Cat Man Do:
The very first Simon's Cat film! See how it all began.



Let Me In:
There's a reason man invented the cat-flap.

TV Dinner:
Watching TV can be bad for your health.

Fly Guy:
The Cat is back! Just when you thought it was safe to fall asleep on the sofa...

Hot Spot:
This film was created to celebrate the release of the first Simon's Cat book. It brings to life one of the sketches from within its pages.

Snow Business:
There's no business like Snow Business. The entire film is ready to view now!

Fed Up:
Created for the RSPCA's 'Give Animals A Voice' Campaign. The film helps to raise awareness about animal obesity.

Interview with Simon:
Simon interviewed about the Simon's Cat book and the inspiration behind Simon's Cat.


Simon now has four cats providing inspiration for his drawings:
Hugh, Maisie, Jess and Teddy, the most recent addition to the family.


The Official Simon's Cat Website:
www.simonscat.com

Subscribe to Simon's Cat on YouTube and always be one of the first to know when new Simon's Cat films are uploaded. The Simon's Cat films have been viewed through YouTube over 55 million times!
www.youtube.com/user/simonscat

Become a fan of Simon's Cat on Facebook and share cat stories and photos with thousands of other Simon's Cat fans across the world.
www.facebook.com/simonscat

Follow Simon's Cat on Twitter to hear the latest Simon's Cat news and ponderings. And if you're very lucky, maybe you'll also get Simon's Cat tweeting back at you!
www.twitter.com/simonscat


Sunday, February 7, 2010

Saturday, February 6, 2010

The Stillness

A slide presentation made by Jim Cleveland:

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

50 Years of History

Whether you are a Billy Joel fan or not, you probably remember his great song, "We Didn't Start the Fire." Here it is, set to pictures... very, very cool. I never did know the words. Turn up volume, sit back and enjoy a review of 50 years of history in less than 3 minutes! Thanks to Billy Joel and some guy from the University of Chicago  with a lot of spare time and Google. Top left gives you full screen....top right lets you pause Bottom left shows the year. The older you are, the more pictures you will recognize. Anyone over age 50 should remember over 90% of what they see. But it's great at any age.


http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Your Birth Year News

Click on the year you were born, or any other year, and read the news for that year.
                   
          1900          1911          1922          1933          1944
          1901          1912          1923          1934          1945
          1902          1913          1924          1935          1946
          1903          1914          1925          1936          1947
          1904          1915          1926          1937          1948
          1905          1916          1927          1938          1949
          1906          1917          1928          1939          1950
          1907          1918          1929          1940          1951
          1908          1919          1930          1941          1952
          1909          1920          1931          1942          1953
          1910          1921          1932          1943          1954


          1955          1965          1975          1985          1995
          1956          1966          1976          1986          1996
          1957          1967          1977          1987          1997
          1958          1968          1978          1988          1998
          1959          1969          1979          1989          1999
          1960          1970          1980          1990          2000
          1961          1971          1981          1991          2001
          1962          1972          1982          1992          2002
          1963          1973          1983          1993          2003
          1964          1974          1984          1994          2004


          2005
          2006


Monday, January 25, 2010

Waves of Hawaii

Waimea Bay shore-break surfing pioneer, husband, and father of two, Clark Little has gained nationwide recognition for his photography with appearances on Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and many local news stations across the U.S.

Clark Little on Good Morning America (2009):

It all started in 2007 when Clark 's wife wanted a nice piece of art to decorate a wall. Voluntarily, Clark grabbed a camera, jumped in the water, and starting snapping away capturing the beauty and power of monstrous Hawaiian waves from the inside out.

"Clark's view" is a unique view of the ocean that most will only be able to experience safely on land while studying one of Clark's photos.

Now with a camera upgrade and an itch to get that better shot, Clark has taken this on full time and has moved his office from land, to the inside of a barrel.

Since the recent stir of Clark 's work, his images have been run on the Today Show, ABC World News Now, Nature's Best Photography, Paris Match (France), La Vie (France), Hana Hou (Hawaiian Airlines) magazine, Surfer magazine, Surfer's Journal as well as multiple publishers and newspapers in the U.S. and overseas.

These incredible images of waves in the Hawaiian Islands were taken by Clark Little, the number one photographer of surf. He is dedicated to photographing the waves and has published a selection of his best images.

He captures magical moments inside the tube as surfers say.


Sun Glints Off Wave




Sand in Surf

This shot captures sand from the ocean's floor being swept up by a monstrous wave and resembles a sandstorm. Little calls it the 'Sand Monster'. "There were clouds of sand ten feet high and I'm standing there. I'm holding on to my camera and my trigger as long as I can. Then I have to jump into the cloud of sand to try to get out of danger's way."





His fans pay as much as $4,000 for his gorgeous photos.


Tubular Shining




Beach - Surf Crashes Down




Molten Liquid Gold



 

White Tumultuous Water





Splash - Stunning Shot




Red Mysterious Shot




Break - Wave Crashes Down




Beauty - Water Drops

This shot is his favorite. With a high shutter speed he caught the brilliant fanned effect of two waves  intersecting each other and throwing out this beautiful fan of water.



Stellar Photos

Stellar work: Our dazzling galaxy at night captured by photographer during 16-year mission around the world:

The twinkling stars that shine above our planet will cause most of us to gaze up in amazement every so often.

But for Iranian photographer and journalist Babak Tafreshi they are a daily obsession. Spending the last 16 years travelling the world, he has spent every day for his entire adult life capturing the sky at night.

From his native country to as far afield as Norway and Nepal, the 34-year-old has set up his camera to reveal our galaxy in all its splendour while also showing some of the most awesome sights of this world.

Mr Tafreshi, who won last year's Lennart Nilsson Award for best scientific photography, has visited all the continents including Antarctica in his quest.

Oh my Dog!

Meet 'Giant George' the 7ft-long Blue Great Dane Who Could be the World's Tallest Dog

Standing at nearly 43 inches tall from paw to shoulder and weighing a staggering 245lbs could this be the world's new tallest dog?

Pictured here in the parks of Tuscon, Arizona, George, a four-year-old blue great dane, looks more like a miniature horse than a dog.  Read More

The '35 Chevy

GM takes you around the country in a 1935 Chevy! Learn about the "new" road to Key West, the amazing truck/bus/train of the future, and how many "bathing beauties" you can fit on a '35 Chevy. This is classic Americana!

Know It All Quiz

A quiz for people who think they know it all:

This  is a  quiz for people who know everything!  I  found  out in a hurry that I didn't. These are not trick questions.  They are straight questions with straight  answers.

1.  Name the one sport in which neither the spectators  nor the participants know  the score  or  the  leader until the contest ends.

2.  What famous North American landmark is constantly moving  backward?

3.  Of  all vegetables, only two can live to produce on  their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only  two perennial vegetables?

4.  What fruit has its seeds on the  outside?

5.  In  many liquor stores, you can buy 20 pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is  whole and ripe, and the bottle is  genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the  pear get inside the bottle?

6.  Only three words in standard English begin with the  letters " dw" and they are all common  words. Name two of them.

7.  There are 14 punctuation marks in English  grammar. Can you name at least half of them?

8.  Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold  frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.

9.  Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet  beginning with the letter "S."

Scroll  down    .......................

Answers  To  Quiz:

1.  The  one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the  contest ends: Boxing

2.  North American landmark constantly moving backward: Niagara Falls (The rim is worn down about two and a half  feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water  that rush over it every minute.)

3.  Only two vegetables that can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons: Asparagus and  rhubarb.

4.  The  fruit with its seeds on the outside:  Strawberry.

5.  How did the pear get inside the brandy bottle?  It grew  inside the bottle... The bottles are placed over pear buds  when they are small, and are wired in place on the  tree. The bottle is left  in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are  snipped off at the stems.

6.  Three English words beginning with dw:  Dwarf, dwell  and dwindle.

7.  Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar:  Period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation mark, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.

8.  The  only vegetable or fruit never sold frozen, canned,  processed, cooked, or in any other form but  fresh:  Lettuce

9.  Six  or more things you can wear on your feet beginning with  "S": Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts.

Hot Chocolate Wisdom


Latte Art

"Latte Art is a style of pouring steamed milk into a shot of espresso that creates a pattern or design on the surface of the resulting latte. It can also be created or embellished by simply “drawing” in the top layer of foam. Latte art is particularly difficult to create consistently, due to the demanding conditions required of both the espresso shot and milk. This, in turn, is limited by the experience of the barista and quality of the espresso machine. The pour itself, then, becomes the last challenge for the latte artist.

Creating steamed milk requires the introduction of steam to the milk until a certain amount of froth is created. As the milk is poured, the froth phase separates from the liquid phase and rises to the top. If the milk and espresso shot are “just right,” and the pitcher is moved during the pour, the foam will rise to create a pattern on the surface.

The foam content is controlled by the barista during the steaming process. Too much foam creates a totally white surface (see cappuccino), while not enough creates a homogeneous, light-brown coffee drink, with no foam or patterning. To pour latte art, the milk should be shiny, slightly thick, and should have very small, uniform bubbles. It is not particularly "foamy"- it is better described a “gooey,” and closely resembles melted marshmallows. There have been a variety of names used for this ideal standard, such as “microfoam,” “velvet milk,” “microbubbles,” and so forth.

The quality of the espresso shot is also important, the Espresso should have an extraction time of 20-30 seconds. Before the milk is added, the shot must have a creamy brown surface of foam, known as crema. As the white foam from the milk rises to meet the red/brown surface of the shot, a contrast is created and the design emerges.

Video: Latte Art: Making Art with Latte Coffee

Some controversy exists within the coffee community as to whether or not there is excessive focus on latte art amongst baristas. The argument is that too much focus on the appearance of a drink leads some to ignore more important issues, such as taste. This is especially relevant with new baristas.

The most common form of poured latte art is known as the "rosetta,” and resembles a type of flower. This design is usually poured while keeping the cup tilted in one direction. As the milk is poured straight into the cup, the foam begins to surface on one side (due to the tilt). The barista then moves the pitcher from side to side as he or she levels the cup, and finishes by making a quick strike through the previously poured pattern. This "strike" creates the stem portion of the flower design, and bends the poured zig-zag into a flower shape. Although the rosetta design is common, many others are possible. These can range from simple geometric shapes to complicated drawings, such as crosshatched patterns, apples, hearts, animals, and flowers. Some can be done with a single pour, others require multiple pours, and still others call for etches in the design after pouring, usually with a coffee stirrer of some sort." - Wikipedia "Latte Art"

Video: Sammy Lin's Latte Art - Part One
Video: Sammy Lin's Latte Art - Part Two


Google search the Latte Printer

Painted Hands

"Guido Daniele is an artist who lives and works in Milan, Italy. He was born in Soverato. In 1972, he graduated from Brera School of Arts, majoring in sculpture and then attended the Tankas school in Dharamsalawent, India until 1974. He has worked as a hyper-realistic illustrator, co-operating with editing and advertising companies, innovating with airbrush and testing out various painting techniques. He has painted backcloths up to 400 square meters in size. He has also painted trompe l'oeil images for private houses and public buildings. In 1990, he developed a body painting technique, and his work has been used in advertising images and commercials, as well as fashion events and exhibitions.

Guido was the 2007 Hero of the Year. An award given to him by the Animal Planet television network." - Wikipedia "Guido Daniele"

A montage of some of Guido's hand paintings:


To see more of Guido's work visit: www.guidodaniele.com

Hendrix Speed Painting

Performance painter, David Garibaldi, paints Jimi Hendrix for an audience in under six minutes:




Denny Dent doing it: