TV-B-Gone

Ever sit in a lobby or other location where a TV (or multiple TVs) presented an annoying interruption? Couldn't find the right employee with the ability to turn the dang thing off, or at least down a bit? Then you need TV-B-Gone. Just listen to the Motley Fool interview of the device's inventor.

Soap or... War Paint?

Behold, the Soap Warrior!

French Fries and French Toast Are Not Included

We (Americans) eat poorly because we were taught to eat poorly, or so "they" say. But we have not always been this way; who changed the teaching? The rising "epidemic" of obesity and related medical problems are very recent. Is it food additives, media bombardment of junk food advertisements, video games, television, genetics, or maybe just bad hoodoo?

We are missing the essence of the problem. In short, we're not French. Understand, if you don't already, that there is a phenomenon known as the "French Paradox". The Paradox is thus: why, with a non-lowfat diet, consisting mainly of "eating as they like", are the French so slim and healthy on average? Simple, says Mireille Guiliano:

"Food is one of the best pleasures in life. We should not eat like we're robots or on autopilot. That's not like eating. That's like stuffing yourself."

Mirielle continues on, and I am intrigued. The French eat very fresh, whole, natural foods; very little processed or "fake" foods. They take time to prepare it properly, and eat it slowly. They savor every bite. They eat a smaller quantity of higher quality. Added to this mixture is a healthy balance of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, and meats, with no end of herbs and spices and cooking methods that make it all taste like heaven.

I couldn't have agreed with her more! But Mireille is lucky; she lives in France, where workers are protected by government in such ways as to give them the time that they need to be healthy. Guaranteed length workdays, guaranteed medical and retirement benefits, guaranteed months of paid vacation time, and guaranteed protection from layoffs -- these are hallucinogenic dreams to most United States citizens. But, perhaps, the French are not simply lucky. Perhaps this is our own fault. We have not fought for this as hard as we have fought for the right to accumulate stupidly enormous amounts of personal wealth, which most of us don't acquire anyway. What does this leave the aforementioned most of us with?

Not much.

The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword

... or so the cliche goes. As a software writer, I am struck by the power of my keyboard. Myself and my kind compose a digital prose that translates to some very real consequences. During my two years or so at CompuServe, my syntactical machinations were the power behind financial transactions, such as when you "swipe" your debit card at the grocery store. Today, I and my immediate corporate kin are the great keepers of an Alexandrian library of such writings. Without these strange compositions, our corporation's large, forklift-delivered products would be nothing more than collosal paperweights.

Silver Screen Queen?

My Grandmother (father's mother) who currently resides in Elyria, Ohio, had this picture taken by a studio photographer who wanted to use her photo for his front window advertisement. I found this scan on my computer while I was browsing around my picture folders; the digital "shoe-box in the attic". I have her on video tape from a couple years ago telling stories about her days of swing when she went to clubs where gangsters would hang out. I will review her stories and transcribe them into this blog sometime soon.

We Hope You Had A Merry Christmas

And a fabulous New Year!