Ponderings: Donder and Blitzen

Extra, Extra, Read All About It: There's Such a Thing as a News Poet!

2012-01-28T20:38:00.000-08:00

Extra, Extra, Read All About It: There's Such a Thing as a News Poet!

You've heard of a newshound and a news junkie. How about a news poet?

Read all about it by clicking here.

A Class Trip to Remember: Students Attending Prestigious Sundance Film Festival

2012-01-28T15:17:00.000-08:00

A Class Trip to Remember : Students Attending Prestigious Sundance Film Festival

Quinnipiac film students attending Sundance
HAMDEN, Conn. (AP) -- Eighteen seniors at Connecticut's Quinnipiac University are rubbing elbows with directors, producers, writers and other film professionals at the Sundance Film Festival.

The 18 students from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania are seniors enrolled in a seminar focusing on independent cinema. They are at the noted annual film festival in Park City, Utah, as part of that class with three professors.

Click here for the full story. Looking for more info? Click here.

At Auction: Book Sale Worth Crowing About...

2012-01-21T11:41:00.000-08:00

At Auction: Book Sale Worth Crowing About...

Audubon's 'Birds of America' books fetch $7.9 million
The four-volume set depicts more than 400 life-size North American species

NEW YORK — A rare first edition of John James Audubon's illustrated "The Birds of America" depicting more than 400 life-size North American species in four monumental volumes was purchased at auction Friday for $7.9 million.

Christie's auction house identified the buyer as an American collector who bid by phone.

The winning bid was within the presale estimate of $7 million to $10 million for the work, considered a masterpiece of ornithology art.

Click here for a link to the full story.

Looking for more information on this book sale? Click here.

Holy Cow! They Found the Goat on the Lam!

2012-01-20T16:15:00.000-08:00

Holy Cow! They Found the Goat on the Lam!

Goat on the lam since Christmas Eve found safe
By Sylvia Wood, msnbc.com

A longhaired goat that ran away from a Minnesota nativity scene on Christmas Eve is finally back home after being on the lam for 25 days.

The errant animal, named Curley, turned herself in when she wandered onto the farm owned by Tony Loomer and family, near Fergus Falls, Minn.

Click here for the full story.

The Power of Example

2012-01-19T14:59:00.000-08:00

The Power of Example

"Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing." -- Albert Schweitzer

"Well done, is better than well said." -- Benjamin Franklin

"Example moves the world more than doctrine. The great exemplars are the poets of action, and it makes little difference whether they be forces for good or forces for evil." -- Henry Miller

"History is Philosophy teaching by examples." -- Thucydides

“Few things are harder to put up with than a good example." -- Mark Twain

When Did "Friend" Become a Verb?

2012-01-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

When Did "Friend" Become a Verb?

The word friend was born a noun, but in recent time -- after the creation of Facebook -- it's became a verb as well.

Click here to a link on a story called How Friend Became a Verb.

He Knows What He's Talking About...

2012-01-15T19:40:00.000-08:00

He Knows What He's Talking About...

"Few things are more irritating than when someone who is wrong is also very effective in making his point.” -— Mark Twain

A Photographer's Baby: The Baby Bird Project

2012-01-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

A Photographer's Baby: The Baby Bird Project

Have you heard of The Baby Bird Project? No, I'm not talking about Cornish game hens ... or any other bird you might find on your dinner plate.

What I am talking about is a project which showcases the work of wildlife photographer Gavin Parsons with his photographs of rescued baby birds of Britain.

Click here for more information. (When you click on the link, you'll also find a baby bird photo that is so cute, it'll have you saying, "Awwww.")

Poetry in Motion

2012-01-13T18:09:00.000-08:00

Poetry in Motion

If the thought of a new book of poetry makes you giddy, then you'll be thrilled with an article previewing 12 books of poetry.

The author of the NPR article, "Not Your Parents Poems: A 2012 Poetry Preview", writes: If you only read one poetry book in 2012, The Collected Poems of Lucille Clifton, out in September from BOA, ought to be it. This landmark book collects all the published poems of this major poet, plus a handful of unpublished ones, edited by the poet Kevin Young with an introduction by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison.

Click here for the full preview.

What About Ben?

2012-01-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

What About Ben?

"Weigh the meaning and look not at the words." -- Ben Jonson

“Art hath an enemy called Ignorance.” -- Ben Jonson

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man." -- Benjamin Franklin

"Genius without education is like silver in the mine." -- Benjamin Franklin

Click here for a look at the Elton John video, Bennie and the Jets.

Click here for the lyrics to Michael Jackso n's song, Ben.

Pronounce This!

2012-01-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

Pronounce This!

Ever come across an unfamiliar word that you're not certain how to pronounce? Fret no more. There is an online remedy for the problem in a website called howjsayit.

Click over to the link and type in a word. You'll be given the correct pronunciation.

I'm told both American and British spellings work, although I've only tried it with American versions.

The first word I tried? Peony. I know how it is pronounced, but after being in the recent company of someone who insisted on mispronouncing it, it was a luxury to hear it properly spoken.

Peony.

Common Ground: Snooki and Ron Paul

2011-12-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

Common Ground: Snooki and Ron Paul

You might not find Snooki and Ron Paul seated next to each other at the next dinner party you attend. You will, however, find them on a list of the top 20 current hot topics on the web. (Kendall Jenner and Mega Millions also make the list.)

Want to take a look? Try clicking here.

(Editor's Note: Lists of top web topics change frequently. It's anyone's guess how long Snooki and Ron will be hanging out in the same circle of hot topics.)

Banking on Speeches

2011-12-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

Banking on Speeches

Banks. Nearly every day you hear about them, whether they are financial banks, sperm banks or blood banks. But did you know there is such a thing as a speech bank?

There is.

Curious? Click here and here to see for yourself.

You Say Tomato, I Say....Poinsettia

2011-12-09T16:41:00.000-08:00

You Say Tomato, I Say...Poinsettia

Poinsettias, watch out. Tomato plants are ready to take your place as a traditional Christmas plant. At least, that's what some folks at the University of New Hampshire are hoping.

Read on...

Deck the hall with...tomatoes?

By HOLLY RAMER

DURHAM, N.H. (AP) - Think poinsettia plants are passe? Had enough holly at the holidays? Try tomatoes.

Besides growing dozens of varieties of poinsettias for a national research project, the University of New Hampshire has been experimenting with dwarf tomato plants as holiday decor. Researchers grew about six dozen plants in three varieties of tomatoes and showed them off along with the poinsettias at a holiday open house recently.

"There's been so much interest in vegetable gardening in the last few seasons, and it's starting to become a larger part of spring production in retail greenhouses across the country. People are interested in growing their own food," said David Goudreault, assistant manager of the Macfarlane Greenhouses at the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station.

"We just thought it's green, it's got red on it, and it kind of fits in with that whole concept," he said of the tomato plants. "It's something that could be locally grown, and it could be a nice little gift to bring to a holiday dinner."

Read the full story by clicking here.

Perkins, Galbraith and Vaughan: Quotes on Literature, Leadership and a College Education

2011-12-08T19:17:00.000-08:00

Perkins, Galbraith and Vaughan: Quotes on Literature, Leadership and a College Education

“Exciting literature after supper is not the best digestive.” -- Charlotte Perkins

"All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership." -- John Kenneth Galbraith

"Economists report that a college education adds many thousands of dollars to a man's lifetime income - which he then spends sending his son to college." -- Bill Vaughan

Remembering Buchwald's Birthday: Oct. 20

2011-10-20T19:21:00.000-07:00

Remembering Buchwald's Birthday: Oct. 20

Arthur "Art" Buchwald (1925) (From the Freedictionary)

Buchwald was an American humorist who started as a columnist covering the lighter side of Parisian life. After moving to Washington, DC, in 1961, he began poking fun at issues in the news and soon became one of the sharpest satirists of American politics and modern life. His syndicated column of wry humor eventually appeared in more than 500 papers worldwide, and he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his work in 1982. What was unusual about his video obituary featured by The New York Times?
More...

'Til Two Years Do Us Part: Will Mexico Redefine Marriage?

2011-10-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

'Til Two Years Do Us Part: Will Mexico Redefine Marriage?

If Mexican lawmakers have their way, they'll be redefining the institution of marriage. Instead of pledging a "'til death do us part" union, couples will instead enter into a try-it-and-see-if-you-like-it two-year pact.

Sure, a two-year marriage gig would be one way of shacking up with a member of the opposite sex while still keeping your mother happy. "No, they did not live together in sin. They were married but it just didn't work out," a mother could tell her friends. Lawmakers say it might also save some couples the grueling legal process of divorce. Currently in Mexico, nearly 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Most of the divorces occur within the first two years of marriage.

Religious leaders, however, are not buying any of the supposed benefits of a marriage with term limits. The Catholic Church was quick to criticize the proposed change. (Mexico has the world's second largest Catholic population after Brazil.)

"This reform is absurd. It contradicts the nature of marriage," said Hugo Valdemar, spokesman for the Mexican archdiocese, as quoted in Reuters. "It's another one of these electoral theatrics the assembly tends to do that are irresponsible and immoral."

Webster's Dictionary and Wikipedia get ready. A vote on the marriage issue is expected before the end of 2011.If it passes, the definition of marriage will be forever changed.

Looking for more on the subject? Try clicking here and here.

Steve Jobs: A Quote

2011-10-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs: A Quote

"I want to put a ding in the universe." -- Steve Jobs

Call: An Option, a Registry and a Yell

2011-08-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Antonyms of "call"

Call
1. (noun) call, phone call, telephone call
a telephone connection
Synonyms: claim, cry, margin call, outcry, yell, call option, birdcall, phone call, vociferation, birdsong, shout, telephone call, call, song

2. (noun) Call
a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course
Synonyms: claim, cry, margin call, outcry, yell, call option, birdcall, phone call, vociferation, birdsong, shout, telephone call, song

3. (noun) cry, outcry, call, yell, shout, vociferation
a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
Synonyms: vociferation, birdcall, song, rallying cry, call option, outcry, phone call, watchword, battle cry, claim, margin call, yell, call, cry, birdsong, war cry, telephone call, shout -- Synonyms.net

The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. -- National Do Not Call Registry

Call Option
A call option, often simply labeled a "call", is a financial contract between two parties, the buyer and the seller of this type of option.[1] The buyer of the call option has the right, but not the obligation to buy an agreed quantity of a particular commodity or financial instrument (the underlying) from the seller of the option at a certain time (the expiration date) for a certain price (the strike price). The seller (or "writer") is obligated to sell the commodity or financial instrument should the buyer so decide. The buyer pays a fee (called a premium) for this right. -- Wikepedia

Rumor Has It.: Rumor, Rumer, Rumour...

2011-08-11T14:42:00.000-07:00

Rumor Has It: Rumor, Rumer, Rumour...

Rumor
ru·mor
[roo-mer]
noun
1.
a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts: a rumor of war.
2.
gossip; hearsay: Don't listen to rumor.
3.
Archaic . a continuous, confused noise; clamor; din.
verb (used with object)
4.
to circulate, report, or assert by a rumor: It is rumored that the king is dead. -- Dictionary.com

Rumer
Rumer Willis, Writer Rumer Godden

Rumour
Rumour Has It by the singer Adele.

Frost and Twain Quotes

2011-08-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

Frost and Twain Quotes

"Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down." -- Robert Frost

"So I became a newspaperman. I hated to do it but I couldn't find honest employment." - Mark Twain

Oh So Popular: What's on the Web...

2011-07-07T12:56:00.000-07:00

Oh So Popular: What's on the Web...

What are the most popular pages on the web right now? Here's the list! That is, here is the current list, according to the Alexa Toolbar. Please note: the list is frequently undated.

Hot Topics
1. Facebook video chat
2. Casey Anthony verdict
3. iPad
4. famous quotes
5. Brooke Daniels
6. Taylor Swift
7. flowers
8. Harry Potter
9. Rebekah Brooks
10. flash
11. Visa Bulletin
12. National chocolate...
13. John Mackey
14. Grooveshark
15. Phoenix dust storm
16. ZAGG
17. Droid 3
18. Paige Duke
19. Rupert Murdoch
20. headline news

Top Technorati Tags for Today

4th of july
casey
casey anthony
casey anthony trial
casey anthony verdict
caylee anthony
charlie sheen
daniel radcliffe
fireworks
google plus
jailbreakme
jessica biel
mark zuckerberg
nancy grace
news of the world
picasa
portugal
rupert murdoch
spotify
the office
trial verdict video
calling video
chat
wordless wednesday

How Thomas Jefferson Got the Last Word

2011-06-28T15:38:00.000-07:00

How Thomas Jefferson Got the Last Word

Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph. It reads:

HERE WAS BURIED
THOMAS JEFFERSON
AUTHOR OF THE
DECLARATION
OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
OF THE
STATUTE OF VIRGINIA
FOR
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
AND FATHER OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
BORN APRIL 2, 1743 O.S.
DIED JULY 4. 1826

Looking for more information on epitaphs? Try clicking here.

Looking for more random facts? Check out the the Random History site. How? Click here. You'll be treated to a Random Fact of the Day.

So You Think You Can Dance?

2011-06-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

So You Think You Can Dance?

"Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world." -- Voltaire

"Dancing is the poetry of the foot." -- John Dryden

"I would believe only in a God that knows how to dance." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

Words, Words, Words

2011-06-17T13:46:00.000-07:00

Words, Words, Words

"The time to begin writing an article is when you have finished it to your satisfaction. By that time you begin to clearly and logically perceive what it is you really want to say." -- Mark Twain

"You can't measure the mutual affection of two human beings by the number of words they exchange." -- Milan Kundera

"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." -- Rudyard Kipling

A Headline to Ponder: Tiny People in Your Food

2011-05-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

A Headline to Ponder: Tiny People in Your Food

The online edition of the Telegraph highlights a headline/cover blurb -- Tiny People in Your Food -- that links to a short article and a big photo.

Click here for the link. Not sure you want to? Go ahead, be brave, click.

The downside of not looking at the link? Being worried that you may find something -- or someone -- crunchy in your applesauce.

Yes, They Are...

2011-05-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yes, They Are...

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." -- Charles W. Eliot

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx

A New Book From Robert B. Parker

2011-04-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

A New Book From Robert B. Parker

I found this press release in my in-box:

On Sale May 3

Sixkill
by Robert B. Parker
An extraordinary new Spenser novel from the beloved New York Times-bestselling author.

On location in Boston, bad-boy actor Jumbo Nelson is accused of the rape and murder of a young woman. From the start the case seems fishy, so the Boston PD calls on Spenser to investigate. The situation doesn't look good for Jumbo, whose appetites for food, booze, and sex are as outsized as his name. He was the studio's biggest star, but he's become their biggest liability...

Completed the year before he passed away, Sixkill is Spenser and Robert B. Parker at their electrifying best.

Visit www.robertbparker.net to learn more about SIXKILL and all of Robert B. Parker's books.

Click here for a link to an earlier Robert B. Parker post from Ponderings Donder and Blitzen.

Thinking About Thinking (X 3...)

2011-04-10T14:25:00.000-07:00

Thinking About Thinking (X 3...)

1. Think (think), think (think), think (think),think (think)....Click here if you think you want to think about this song....

2. Thinking about improving your thinking? Click here.

3. "Never be afraid to sit awhile and think." - Lorraine Hansberry

Tweaking Twitter

2011-04-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

Tweaking Twitter

Did you try to get onto Twitter today only to be turned away? You are not alone.

From Rueters...SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter experienced service disruptions on Tuesday, displaying an older version of the social networking website to some users and becoming completely inaccessible to others.

A message on Twitter's Web page that provides updates on the service's status said: "We've temporarily disabled #NewTwitter. Our engineers are working on re-enabling it and we'll update you shortly."

Twitter, which allows users to send short, 140-character messages to groups of "followers," has more than 200 million registered accounts...

Click here for the full story.

Quotes: A Pair to Ponder

2011-04-04T17:54:00.000-07:00

Quotes: A Pair to Ponder

“He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.” -- Johann Kaspar Lavater

“Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.” -- Johann Kaspar Lavater

FYI: OMG Makes the OED...

2011-03-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

FYI: OMG Makes the OED...

LONDON (AP) — OMG! The exclamatory online abbreviation has won the approval of the Oxford English Dictionary.

The term — short for "Oh my God" or "Oh my gosh" — is one of dozens of new entries in the authoritative reference book's latest online update.

Other Internet-inspired expressions given the stamp of approval include LOL, "laughing out loud"; IMHO, "in my humble opinion"; and BFF, "best friends forever."

Dictionary compilers said that although the terms are associated with modern electronic communications, some are surprisingly old...

Click here for the full story.

Looking for more information on internet slang, abbreviations and expressions? Try clicking here... here ... and here.

Going, Going, Gone: Say "Goodbye" to Privacy

2011-02-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

Goning, Goning, Gone: Say "Goodbye" to Privacy

Privacy -- it's a lovely,seven-letter word. And it used to mean something. But in 2011 -- with the popularity of Facebook, social networking and the internet-- the idea of privacy is all but obsolete.

Privacy may be a concept that exists only the past.

Click here for the story.

Looking for more information on privacy itself? Try clicking here as well as here and here.

Passages: Author Brian Jacques

2011-02-07T16:59:00.000-08:00

Passages: Author Brian Jacques

Redwall author Brian Jacques dies at age 71
Brian Jacques was a former merchant sailor whose children's books sold millions worldwide. Jacques has died at age 71.

Brian Jacques' Redwall series of books were translated into 29 languages and sold 20m globally.

He first wrote the series, set in an abbey populated by animals, for children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool.

The Liverpool-born writer's weekly show, Jakestown, ran on BBC Radio Merseyside for more than 20 years. -- BBC

Click here for the full story.

Collection of Wonder: A Quote, Some Lyrics and a Carbohydrate

2011-02-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

Collection of Wonder: A Quote, Some Lyrics and a Carbohydrate

A Quote
"Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man's desire to understand." -- Neil Armstrong

Some Lyrics
"...and I wonder, wonder, wonder, wonder, who wrote the book of love...."

A Carbohydrate
Wonderbread

An Apple a Day

2011-02-02T14:01:00.000-08:00

An Apple a Day

A new newspaper -- designed specifically for Apple's iPad -- is born. The name of the paper? The Daily.

The paper is available from News Corp, the company that also owns the Wall Street Journal.

Click here and here to read the story.

Whopper Winter Storm Wallops U.S.: A Collection of Snow- Inspired Headlines

2011-02-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

Whopper Winter Storm Wallops U.S.: A Collection of Snow-Inspired Headlines

Check out this collection of storm-related headlines. Interested in reading the stories that accompany the headlines? Simply click on the link.

Monster Snows and Megastorms, Oh My!

Snow Hits Region, Canceling Hundreds of Flights, Schools

Sleet Pelting Providence

Shovels, Snow Rakes, Snow Blowers in Short Supply

"Postponed" is Word of the Day

Monster Storm Muscles Its Way Eastward

Who, What, When, Where, Why...and Howe

2011-01-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

Who, What, When, Where, Why...and Howe

"You may easily play a joke on a man who likes to argue -- agree with him." -- Edgar Watson Howe

E. W. Howe -- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Edgar Watson Howe, sometimes referred to as E. W. Howe, was an American novelist and newspaper and magazine editor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was perhaps best known for his magazine, E.W. Howe's Monthly. Howe was well traveled and known for his sharp wit in his editorials.

The Little Engine That Could

2011-01-14T17:57:00.000-08:00

The Little Engine That Could

"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts." -- Albert Einstein

"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." -- Edgar Allen Poe

“It's kind of fun to do the impossible.” -- Walt Disney

"Just do it." -- Nike ad

"I think I can, I think I can..." -- The Little Engine That Could

Looking for information on with the charming children's story, The Little Engine that Could? Click here and here for more information.

A New Year, A New Logo ... and The Passage of Author Dick King-Smith

2011-01-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

A New Year, A New Logo

Starbucks starts off the New Year with an announcement of a new logo -- one without the company's name:

Starbucks (SBUX) unveiled a new logo Wednesday (today) that no longer includes the company’s name.

Starbucks' streamlined logo removes the outer green circle that bears the Starbucks Coffee name, enlarging the inner siren, sometimes referred to as a sea nymph, in the company's signature green hue.

In a video posted on the Starbucks Web site, CEO Howard Schultz talked about the decision to update its emblematic logo on the 40th anniversary of the company in March.
Click here for the full story.

Farewell to Author Dick King-Smith

Dick King-Smith, the British author whose novel The Sheep-Pig inspired the hit film Babe, has died at the age of 88.
Click here for the story.

Walk This Way (Robert Frost, Steven Tyler and More...)

2011-01-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

Walk This Way (Robert Frost, Steven Tyler and More...)

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal." -- Friedrich Nietzsche

"A black cat crossing your path signifies that the animal is going somewhere." -- Groucho Marx

----------------------------------------------------------

"Walk This Way" is a song by American hard rock group Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released as the second single from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. -- Wikepedia

----------------------------------------------------------

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (1915)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Write it Down: The Journal

2010-12-30T08:27:00.000-08:00

Write it Down: The Journal

Your journal can be a collection of notes on scraps of paper, reflections in a leather-bound notebook or a detailed electronic "blog" diary.

Click here for a link to information on the rich -- and lengthy -- history of the journal.

Looking for more information on journals and journaling? Try clicking here and here.

Concision

2010-12-29T14:44:00.000-08:00

Concision

WORD OF THE DAY: from The Free Dictionary concision

Definition: (noun) Terseness and economy in writing and speaking achieved by expressing a great deal in just a few words.

Synonyms: conciseness, pithiness, succinctness

Usage: "Got him," answered the Assistant Commissioner with a concision which did not mean to be repellent in the least.

Time to Go Gaga

2010-12-28T18:06:00.000-08:00

Time to Go Gaga

Think you'll find Lady Gaga and Sarah Palin on the guest list for your next dinner party? Probably not. But you will find them on Time magazine's list of the World's 100 Most Influential People. Bearded funny man Conan O'Brien is on the Time list as well.

Click here for the story.

Fifty in 365...

2010-12-12T17:56:00.000-08:00

Fifty in 365...

Up for a literary challenge? Here's one for you. Meet the New Bedford, MA Public Library's challenge to read 50 books in one year.

Think you're up for it? If so, you'll want the skinny on the particulars. Find out everything you need to know by clicking here for the story.

Being Fearless

2010-11-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

Being Fearless

"Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened." -- Billy Graham

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." -- Sir Winston Churchill

"There is something even more valuable to civilization than wisdom,and that is character." -- H.L. Mencken

What Walter Said...

2010-11-05T18:40:00.000-07:00

What Walter Said

“No great work has ever been produced except after a long interval of still and musing meditation.” -- Walter Bagehot

"A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do." -- Walter Bagehot

"In seeking truth you have to get both sides of a story." -- Walter Cronkite

"Our job is only to hold up the mirror - to tell and show the public what has happened." -- Walter Cronkite

Mark Twain: A Wink and a Boo Hoo...

2010-11-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

Mark Twain: A Wink and a Boo Hoo...

Twain understood publicity so well that he was merely amused when Huck Finn was banned by libraries across the US; when it was banned in Omaha, Nebraska, for example, he sent a telegram to the local newspaper, observing facetiously: "I am tearfully afraid this noise is doing much harm. It has started a number of hitherto spotless people to reading Huck Finn [. . .] The publishers are glad, but it makes me want to borrow a handkerchief and cry."

Click here for the full article Guardian article.

What Kind of Cake do You Bake for the Birthday of a Phrase?

2010-10-29T21:55:00.000-07:00

What Kind of Cake do You Bake for the Birthday of a Phrase?

It was 50 years ago this month — Oct. 20, 1960 — that one of America’s favorite language disputes showed up in print, in the form of a letter to Ann Landers. A reader wanted Ann to settle a dispute with his girlfriend: “You know that common expression: ‘I couldn’t care less,’ ” he wrote. “Well, she says it’s ‘I COULD care less.’ ”

Click here for the full story.

On the Road Again...

2010-10-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

On the Road Again...

"Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

“You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” -- Albert Einstein

"A goal is a dream with a deadline." -- Napoleon Hill

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." -- C. S. Lewis

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -- Henry Ford

Click here for a link to the YouTube video of Willie Nelson performing "On the Road Again."

How Now, Brown Cow. . .

2010-10-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

How Now, Brown Cow...

Remember when your grade school English teacher had you write how-to papers? That how-to paper is all grown up --- and ever so helpful -- at this handy website.

Click here to see for yourself! Don't dawdle; you might miss something good!

Really, Charles...

2010-09-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

Really, Charles...

A Popular Name...
Charles is a popular English name for males. But it's also a popular name -- no matter how you spell it -- in other languages. In Dutch, Charles is Karel. In Norweigen, it's Karl or Carl. In Gaelic, it's Searlas. And in Italian, it's Carlo.

Thought-Provoking Quotes From Notables Named Charles...
"It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." -- Charles Spurgeon

"Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties." -- Charles Spurgeon

"Learn to say no. It will be of more use to you than to be able to read Latin." -- Charles Spurgeon

“I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time." -- Charlie Brown

"The very essence of instinct is that it's followed independently of reason." -- Charles Darwin

“That's the secret to life... replace one worry with another....” -- Charlie Brown

The Real Test: Power

2010-09-14T20:24:00.000-07:00

The Real Test: Power

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." -- Abraham Lincoln

“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.” -- Lao Tzu

"Knowledge is power." -- Sir Francis Bacon

"Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power" -- Seneca

"Power..." -- Kanye West

Birds, Books and Billionaires....

2010-09-09T11:48:00.000-07:00

Birds, Books and Billionaires...

Hurry! The world's most expensive book is about to be auctioned off by Sotheby's. Click here for the story.

The book is a rare copy of John James Audubon's Birds of America.

The Writing's on the Wall (Kind of...)

2010-09-01T21:08:00.000-07:00

The Writing's on the Wall (Kind of...)

The writing's on the wall. Well, actually, the carpet. And not just any carpet. The writing's on the carpet in the Oval Office. (Yes, that Oval Office.)

Read a British take on this American news-worthy wordy-decor by clicking here.

Things of Value

2010-08-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

Things of Value

"One of the frequent sources of legal confusion between cost and value is the tendency of courts, in common with other persons, to think of value as something inherent in the thing being valued, rather than an attitude of persons toward that thing in view of its estimated capacity to perform a service. Whether or not, as a matter of abstract philosophy, a thing has value except to people whom it has value, is a question that need not be answered for the sake of appraisal theory. Certainly for the purpose of a monetary valuation, property has no value unless there is a prospect that it can be exploited by human beings." -- James C. Bonbright; Professor of Finance, Columbia University

"Humor is richly rewarding to the person who employs it. It has some value in gaining and holding attention, but it has no persuasive value at all." -- John Kenneth Galbraith

"T" Times Three: Twain, Thoreau and Thurber

2010-08-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

"T" Times Three: Twain, Thoreau and Thurber

"When in doubt, tell the truth."- Mark Twain

"Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with." -- Mark Twain

"There are two kinds of light -- the glow that illuminates, and the glare that obscures." -- James Thurber

"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." -- Henry David Thoreau

"Cultivate the habit of early rising. It is unwise to keep the head long on a level with the feet." -- Henry David Thoreau

"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life. Aim above morality. Be not simply good; be good for something." -- Henry David Thoreau

Looking for information on Mark Twain? Check out this link to a site from the University of California, Berkley. Hankering to learn more about Henry David Thoreau? Click over to this link from Virginia Commonwealth University. Looking for a link to a list of James Thurbers' major works? Try clicking here. (You'll find yourself at a site from the Alamo Colleges.)

Sweet Sleep: Once Lost, Can it Be Found?

2010-08-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

Sweet Sleep: Once Lost, Can it Be Found?

"Recovery Sleep" Somewhat Helps the Sleep Deprived
For many adults, getting the recommended number of hours of sleep each night is little more than a distant dream. To investigate the effects of sleep deprivation experienced by many people during the workweek, participants in a recent study were allowed only four hours of sleep a night for five nights in a row. On the following night, they were allowed up to ten hours of "recovery sleep." Researchers found that test scores, attention spans, reaction times, and fatigue levels improved after the "recovery sleep," however, some deficits still remained. -- from the Freedictionary.com

Click here for more information.

Snacks

2010-08-08T11:54:00.000-07:00

Snacks

"I am living on hope and faith ... a pretty good diet when the mind will receive them." -- Edwin Arlington Robinson

"We never repent having eaten too little." –- Thomas Jefferson

The Silver Lining

2010-07-26T13:52:00.000-07:00

The Silver Lining

"Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents that in times of prosperity would have lain dormant." -- Horace

Looking for information about Horace? Try clicking here and here.

Do thoughts of Horace get your knickers in a twist...or at least cause you to think of other notables with names starting with the letter H? Thinking instead of Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who? An easy mistake to make. Really...

Smell The Roses!

2010-07-22T19:49:00.000-07:00

Smell The Roses!

"No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately." -- Michel de Montaigne

"Common sense is not so common." -- Voltaire

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." -- Albert Einstein

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." -- Bill Cosby

"All of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon - instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today." -- Dale Carnegie

"What you want to do, you do. The rest is just talk." -- John Cleek

Don't Throw That Rotten Tomato

2010-07-15T15:59:00.000-07:00

Don't Throw That Rotten Tomato

Name calling is never nice. However, I just received a call about a fictional name-calling incident. It took place in a novel an associate is reading. Hearing about it was nice indeed.

What was the name that was called? "A bombastic little nit." The novel? One in the Maisie Dobbs series by author Jacqueline Winspear.

Know any bombastic little nits? If you do, you needn't call them that. Just take pleasure in the knowledge that you could.

A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That...

2010-07-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That...

I could be writing about the lyrics to A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That. I could be referring to a philosophy for living...or even how to add ingredients to a recipe.

But I'm not.

What I am doing is giving you two quotes -- something to sprinkle on your day, something to think about. You know, a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Read on...

A Bit of This...
"If your vision is for a year, plant wheat. If your vision is for ten years, plant trees. If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people."- Chinese Proverb

A Bit of That...
"Love thy neighbour as yourself, but choose your neighbourhood." --
Louise Beal

To be Chuffed or Not to be Chuffed...

2010-07-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

To be Chuffed or Not to be Chuffed...

I'm always chuffed to become aquainted with a new friend -- or a new word. This time it's a word. Which one? One I used in the first sentence: chuffed. It means to be quite pleased or delighted. It's a British expression -- one I think I'll use from time to time. I'm chuffed just thinking about it!

Spontaneity: A Thought, a Quote, a Definition

2010-06-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

Spontaneity: A Thought, a Quote, a Definition

Ever have someone tell you to be more spontaneous? Ever suggest it to someone else?

Spontaneity is tough to embrace when you have a lot of responsibility and a packed schedule. Does spontaneity enhance life...or make it more stressful?

It depends on what else is going on in your life.

Consider this quote:
"Spontaneity is total sincerity - and as a rule the civilized adult is goaded into it only by despair, suffering or imminent death." -- Alan Watts

Consider this definition:
spontaneity [ˌspɒntəˈniːɪtɪ -ˈneɪ-]
n & pl -ties
1. the state or quality of being spontaneous
2. (Psychology) (often plural) the exhibiting of actions, impulses, or behaviour that are stimulated by internal processes
(From the Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003)

Kate's Wit

2010-06-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

Kate's Wit

"If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased." -- Katherine Hepburn

"Trying to be fascinating is an asinine position to be in." --Katherine Hepburn

"If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married." -- Katherine Hepburn

"Enemies are so stimulating." -- Katherine Hepburn

Looking for information about legendary actress Katherine Hepburn? Try clicking here, for the Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, CT. Looking for more? Click here, here and here.

Harnessing the Power of Happiness

2010-06-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Harnessing the Power of Happiness

Found this email in my in-box. It's from the Harvard Medical School.

Tough economic times are the perfect setting to begin using positive psychology to your advantage, says a new report from Harvard Medical School. Positive Psychology: Harnessing the power of happiness, personal strength, and mindfulness is a guide to the concepts that have made "Positive Psychology" the most popular course at Harvard University, and teaches how to put positive emotion to work in your life.

The happiness-health connection

Want to improve your health? Start by focusing on the things that bring you happiness. There is some scientific evidence that positive emotions can help make your life longer and healthier.

But to produce good health, positive emotions may need to be long term. In other words, thinking positive thoughts for a month when you already have heart disease won’t cure the disease. But lowering your stress levels over a period of years with a positive outlook and relaxation techniques could reduce your risk of heart problems.

Pathways to happiness

In an early phase of positive psychology research, University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson of the University of Michigan chose three pathways to examine:

Feeling good. Seeking pleasurable emotions and sensations, from the hedonistic model of happiness put forth by Epicurus, which focused on reaching happiness by maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.
Engaging fully. Pursuing activities that engage you fully, from the influential research by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. For decades, Csikszentmihalyi explored people’s satisfaction in their everyday activities, finding that people report the greatest satisfaction when they are totally immersed in and concentrating on what they are doing—he dubbed this state of intense absorption “flow.”
Doing good. Searching for meaning outside yourself, tracing back to Aristotle’s notion of eudemonia, which emphasized knowing your true self and acting in accordance with your virtues.
Through focus groups and testing hundreds of volunteers, they found that each of these pathways individually contributes to life satisfaction.

Things that won’t make you happy

People tend to be poor judges of what will make them happy. While most people say they want to be happy, they often believe in myths or carry assumptions that actually get in the way.

Here are some widely held myths about what will bring happiness:

Money and material things. The question of whether money can buy happiness has, for more than 30 years, been addressed by the “Easterlin paradox,” a concept developed by economist Richard Easterlin. His research showed that people in poor countries are happier when their basic necessities are covered. But any money beyond that doesn’t make much difference in happiness level. This idea has been challenged periodically, as in 2008 when two University of Pennsylvania researchers analyzed Gallup poll data from around the world. They showed, in contrast to Easterlin’s work, that people in wealthier countries are happier in general. The two studies were not directly comparable in method, however. And Easterlin points out that the new study may be flawed by cultural bias, as people from different countries may have different ways of answering questions about wealth and happiness.

Youth. Being young and physically attractive has little or no bearing on happiness. In a study published by Richard Easterlin in 2006 in the Journal of Economic Psychology, not only did being young fail to contribute to happiness, but adults grew steadily happier as they moved into and through middle age. After that, happiness levels began to decline slowly as health problems and other life problems emerged.

Children. Children can be a tremendous source of joy and fulfillment, but their day-to-day care is quite demanding and can increase stress, financial pressures, and marital strife. When ranking their happiness during daily activities, mothers report being more happy eating, exercising, shopping, napping, or watching TV than when spending time with their children. In several studies, marital satisfaction declines after the first child is born and only recovers after the last child leaves home. Personal relationships of all types are important, however. In studies, being married, having more friends, and having sexual intercourse more often are all moderately or strongly associated with happiness.

How do you know if you’re in flow?

You lose awareness of time. You aren’t watching the clock, and hours can pass like minutes. As filmmaker George Lucas puts it, talent is “a combination of something you love a great deal and something you can lose yourself in—something that you can start at 9 o’clock, look up from your work and it’s 10 o’clock at night … .”

You aren’t thinking about yourself. You aren’t focused on your comfort, and you aren’t wondering how you look or how your actions will be perceived by others. Your awareness of yourself is only in relation to the activity itself, such as your fingers on a piano keyboard, or the way you position a knife to cut vegetables, or the balance of your body parts as you ski or surf.

You aren’t interrupted by extraneous thoughts. You aren’t thinking about such mundane matters as your shopping list or what to wear tomorrow.
You are active. Flow activities aren’t passive, and you have some control over what you are doing.

You work effortlessly. Flow activities require effort (usually more effort than involved in typical daily experience). Although you may be working harder than usual, at flow moments everything is “clicking” and feels almost effortless.

Hold the Lemon: I Like My Tea Black

2010-06-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hold the Lemon: I Like My Tea Black

Do writers drink black tea?

Of course!

How to be sure? It's a statistics thing. Since black tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, it stands to reason that writers do drink it.

What is black tea? Check out what the FreeDictionary has to say. Looking for more sources? Try Wikipedia as well as WebMD.

Nutmeg and Google

2010-06-07T11:23:00.000-07:00

Nutmeg and Google

The Nutmeg State is asking Google to answer new privacy concerns. Is the giant search engine Google collecting private personal and business wi-fi information?

Click here for the story.

Do Donuts Make You a Better Writer?

2010-06-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

Do Donuts Make You a Better Writer?

No nutritionist would ever tell you to gnosh on donuts as part of a healthy eating plan. But sometimes, you've just gotta have a donut. Or two!

If you're going to indulge, why not go for the best! How to find them? Check out this online listing of America's top donuts.

Looking for top bananas instead of top donuts? Try clicking here for the 2010 Forbes list of billionaires.

Dial a Human

2010-06-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

Dial a Human

Tired on waiting endlessly for a real person to come on the line when you call the utility company? Want to forget about wasting time in voice-mail land when you want to order a pair of pants from your favorite catalog? Then check out the website Dial a Human. You might just find a direct number that will get you to a real person and end your telephone waiting-woes.

No Mistake About It: Morgan Freeman

2010-05-31T14:25:00.000-07:00

No Mistake About It: Morgan Freeman

What did honorary degree recipient actor Morgan Freeman say to Brown University president Ruth Simmons and later relay to graduating seniors at Brown's commencement? Read on...

"So I really have a hard time imagining the truth that I am standing here on the stage of such a distinguished university being honored with a doctorate in fine arts. As I told President Simmons last night, if this was a mistake I totally understand." -- Morgan Freeman

Click here for the link.

Really and Truly?

2010-05-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

Really and Truly?

"Nothing is more conducive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all."-- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg

"My self-confidence comes from the fact that I have discovered my dimensions. It does not behoove me to make myself smaller than I really am." -- Edith Sodergran

"The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership." -- Harvey S. Firestone

"I guess we all like to be recognized not for one piece of fireworks, but for the ledger of our daily work." -- Neil Armstrong

Rivers

2010-05-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

Rivers

"What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn't have any doubt - it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn't want to go anywhere else." -- Hal Boyle

"All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full." -- King Solomon

"I succeeded by saying what everyone else is thinking." -- Joan Rivers

Where the Twains Meet: Quotes and Such...

2010-05-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

Where the Twains Meet: Quotes and Such...

Looking for information on Shania Twain? Try clicking here. How about information on Mark Twain? Try clicking here and here.

Looking for Mark Twain and Shania Twain quotes? That's easy. Just keep reading....

The Quotes
"By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean." -- Mark Twain

"I really feel like life will dictate itself. You should allow it to unfold as naturally as possible. Just go with the flow. When you're really desperate, you say a few prayers and hope for the best. That's the way I've always lived my life." -- Shania Twain

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." -- Mark Twain

"It's important to give it all you have while you have the chance." --
Shania Twain

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear." --
Mark Twain

"Writing is very much a playground - an artistic playground. It's the most fun thing I do." -- Shania Twain

"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't." -- Mark Twain

Sweet! (Bill Cosby and Jello Together Again...)

2010-05-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Sweet! (Bill Cosby and Jello Together Again...)

Bill Cosby and Jello become partners again
From the WREX website....Posted: May 16, 2010 4:40 PM EDT
NEW YORK -- Kraft Foods wants to freshen up the image of its Jell-O brand by pairing up with an old friend.

Comedian Bill Cosby joins the gelatin and pudding brand again after a 10-year hiatus. But this time he'll be behind the camera as part of the brand's biggest marketing effort ever.

The comedian, whose work with Jell-O dates to 1974, will be executive producer for the "Hello Jell-O" campaign. It starts with national ads Monday. In return, Jell-O will be the presenting sponsor of Cosby's new weekly Web series called "OBKB." On the show he interviews children in the style of the classic show "Kids Say the Darndest Things."

Cosby last appeared in a Jell-O ad in 1999.

Click here for more on this story.

Looking for more information on Bill Cosby? Try clicking here and here.

Golf Perspectives

2010-05-11T17:39:00.000-07:00

Golf Perspectives

What is it about golf that inspires such devotion, passion and obsession? Is golf more than a game? Could golf be a calling, a kind of vocation? Some would like to convince you it is! And some would swear it's anything but.

Read on to see what Arnold Palmer, Paul Harvey,Phyllis Diller, Dan Marino, Winston Churchill and Mark Twain have to say about the age-old sport.

"I have a tip that can take five strokes off anyone's golf game. It is called an eraser." -- Arnold Palmer

"Golf is a game in which you yell 'fore'...shoot six...and write down five." -- Paul Harvey

"The reason the pro tells you to keep your head down is so you can't see him laughing." -- Phyllis Diller

"Swing hard in case you hit it." -- Dan Marino

"Playing golf is like chasing a quinine pill around a cow pasture."-- Sir Winston Churchill

"Golf is a good walk spoiled." -- Mark Twain

Drawing on Cartoons for Laughs

2010-05-05T08:44:00.000-07:00

Drawing on Cartoons for Laughs

Need the kind of laugh cartoons provide? Click here for a link. Once on site, you'll find links to different cartoons as well as options for emailing the funny stuff to yourself or to loved ones.

Go ahead: yuck it up!

Forbear

2010-04-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

Forbear

You've waited long enough. Here, yes here, is the word of the day from The Free Dictionary. The word: Forbear.

This is what The Free Dictionary has to say about forbear:

Definition:(verb) Resist doing something.
Synonyms: refrain
Usage: His assailant could not forbear laughing heartily at his plight, but was also quick to lend his aid.

Here is the link to more Free Dictionary information on forbear. Go ahead, click on over! You know you want to...

Spock

2010-04-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

Spock

"Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do." -- Benjamin Spock

For Teens: Texting Beats Talking

2010-04-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

For Teens: Texting Beats Talking

Want to get a teenager's attention? Try texting.

A new study by Pew Research indicates texting -- not talking -- has become the most popular form of communication for American teenagers. Talking on cell phones does, however, run a close second place in the communications popularity race.

Click here for the link.

Children's Book Week: Vote! Attend a Gala!

2010-04-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

Children's Book Week: Vote! Attend a Gala!

From my email in-box:
Children's Choice Book Awards 2010
Read to Vote!
Be a part of Children's Book Week (May 11th - May 17th), the oldest literary event in the nation, by voting in the 2010 Children's Choice Book Awards! Between now and May 3rd, you can cast your vote online at: www.bookweekonline.com/voting for the books, authors and illustrators that kids and teens love.

Winners will be announced live at a gala evening hosted by bestselling children's author, Mo Willems, in New York City on Tuesday, May 11th. On this evening,First Book's co-founder, Ms. Kyle Zimmer, will be the 2010 event honoree and recipient of the Impact Award, joining past recipients Al Roker and Whoopi Goldberg.

If you would like to attend this gala evening honoring children's literature, contact the Children's Book Council at 212-966-1990 or 2010gala@ecarfoundation.org by April 19th to make a sponsorship or ticket purchase.

So, read to vote! And join us as we celebrate the 2010 Children's Choice Book Awards.

Commonground: Conan O'Brien and Google Books

2010-04-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Commonground: Conan O'Brien and Google Books

What do Conan O'Brien and Google Books have in common?

It's all in the the Twittering....

Conan O'Brian and Google Books both only follow one Twitter. And both have a plethora of Twitter followers.

If you want to see what I mean, click here and here.

The Curious Life of a Monkey Named George

2010-04-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Curious Life of a Monkey Named George

Published: March 25, 2010 in the New York Times By Edward Rothstein
You don’t really think about Curious George saving the day, as the title of the new exhibition at the Jewish Museum puts it. A “good little monkey,” he is called in the classic series of picture books by Margret and H. A. Rey, but he was no savior. He was a mischief maker, an innocent, born in the jungle and lured into the strange world of humans.

Click here for the link to the full story.

Click here for information on the Curious George exhibition.

Listen to This, Ponder That (and That...)

2010-04-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Listen to This, Ponder That (and That...)

Listen to This
Listen to this.

Ponder That....

"Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others." -- Buddha

...and That

"Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing." -- Abraham Lincoln

Play it Again Sam: Snappy Latin Phrases for Polyglots and Word Hounds

2010-04-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Snappy Latin Phrases for Polyglots and Word Hounds

o Beneficium accipere libertatem est vendere - To accept a favor is to sell one's freedom. (Publilius Syrus)

o Quidquid excusatio prandium pro - Any excuse for lunch.

o Quidquid Latine dictum sit, altum viditur - Whatever is said in Latin sounds profound.

o Rerum Sapientia custos - Wisdom is the guardian of all things.

o Sane, paululum linguae latinae dico - Sure, I speak a little Latin.

o Ventis secundis - Go with the flow.

o Veritas odit moras - Truth hates delay. (Seneca)

(Editor's Note: This post is back by popular demand.)

Triplets: Three Quotes by John Donne

2010-04-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Triplets: Three Quotes by John Donne

“Poetry is a counterfeit creation, and makes things that are not, as though they were.” -- John Donne

"More than kisses, letters mingle souls." -- John Donne

"Art is the most passionate orgy within man's grasp." -- John Donne

(Editor's Note: If it is true that art is the most passionate orgy within man's grasp, chocolate would run a close second...)

The List of Hot Topics

2010-04-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

The List of Hot Topics

Hot Topics on MSN Lifestyle
Spring Cleaning
Love
Miss Manners
UpdoHairstyle
Jeans
Home Décor
Short Hairstyles
Wedding Dresses
Cheap Chic
Organizing Tips
Men's Style
Curly Hairstyles
Spring Décor
Marriage
Shoes
Dating Dos
Makeovers
Baby Names
Giving Back
Engagement Rings
Makeup Tips
Single in the Suburbs
Emotional Affair
Spring Fashion

Popular tags used on Technorati.com over the last month
A
apple android apps american idol australia advertising academy awards abc andrew podolsky africa abortion a new earth alcoholism aubrey coleman airline fees at t amazon adventure travel arnold schwarzenegger a e alcohol ari fleischer andrew andronikou alicia keys anywhere anna paquin alex anderson cooper
B
blogging business blogs blog bravo bizcats blackberry buzz brian solis bruce willis brian boucher business valuation boston boston celtics business worth bullying businessweek banks
C
corporate blogging church of scientology corey haim customer service congress catholic church cnn counseling charlotte bobcats crm clarence thomas continental airlines communication charles rangel customers chile chatroulette cisco cloud computing corey feldman cash flow calendar chrome cyndi lauper cbs christianity consumer spending cdc
D
diet digital media dancing with the stars dallas stars david beckham drunk driving disney
E
eds pick eckhart tolle entrepreneur economy eric cantor employment education embedded europe england english premier league energy e books economics eds picks epublishing
F
facebook fox foursquare food film ford fabio capello fox news fifa family travel finance family france firefox
G
google google maps gay gadgets google buzz games gmail gene simmons family jewels growth george w bush generation x gaming gm gurshan singh
H
health care htc health hotels hbo houston cougars hyundai hacking haiti humor harry reid hobby hollywood
I
ipad iphone italy it india internet marketing internet in the spotlight
J
jesse james jobs john roberts jill johnny depp john terry
K
keywords kevin garn kathryn bigelow kindle karun chandhok kentucky
L
lifestyle local search linkedin law lindsay lohan liberty central listening lost
M
marketing mobile microsoft music video media motivation meditation mashable mobile gaming melbourne miley cyrus mississippi state michelle mcgee marriage music malware mercedes maryland michael jordan michael bennet myspace murray state mls
N
ncaa basketball nba nhl nfl new york times nexus one new york nestle networking ncaa women s basketball
O
obama oscars os ohio university old dominion ohio state oscar
P
politics president obama pakistan patches personal development productivity peaches geldof police philadelphia flyers prius professional services pr planning paypal public relations
R
religion radar online rogers wireless relationships rnc rachel uchitel rielle hunter reviews roy ashburn robert morris republicans ramona reduce expenses real housewives of nyc real madrid review reality tv republican
S
social media sxsw sandra bullock small business social networking security spirituality sales software soccer south africa strategy scotus sarah palin sex self help self improvement social media marketing sex scandal skype surgery switzerland soccer world cup 2010 sprint social media strategy sex addiction sxswi search slide to play senate social
T
twitter travel technology toyota tiger woods true blood therapy tim rattray texas trailer t mobile top 12 television the hurt locker tea party technologizer
U
unemployment updates usa uk unemployment
V
verizon vodafone virus
W
windows world cup 2010 world cup 2010 friendlies wikipedia
Y
youtube yoga yahoo

Think! (About the Freedom of Information Act...)

2010-03-26T13:17:00.000-07:00

Think! (About the Freedom of Information Act...)

Looking for some information on the Freedom of Information Act? You've stopped at the right place for directions. Head on over to the National Archives and Records Administration website for up-to-date information on your right to access Government information. Click here for the link. Want more info? Try clicking here and here.

What to do if the mention of the word freedom has you looking for a clip of Aretha Franklin's Think? Click here and you'll find a YouTube link of Aretha performing Think, belting out the refrain "freedom," on a visit to the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Garden of Eden: Plotting Happiness

2010-03-22T07:14:00.001-07:00

Garden of Eden: Plotting Happiness

"I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy." -- J. D. Salinger

Writing Quotes by Asminov and Lewis

2010-03-16T15:12:00.000-07:00

Isaac Asminov and C. S. Lewis: Quotes on Writing

"If the doctor told me I had six minutes to live, I'd type a little faster." -- Isaac Asminov

"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it." -- C. S. Lewis

Historical Newspapers and the Library of Congress

2010-03-11T04:58:00.000-08:00

Historical Newspapers and the Library of Congress

Want to check out a coffee advertisement from 1919? Looking for an article about your great aunt's turn-of-the-century wedding? Check out Chronicling America. -- Ponderings: Donder and Blitzen

The site introduces itself nicely: Welcome to Chronicling America, enhancing access to America's historic newspapers. This site allows you to search and view newspaper pages from 1880-1922 and find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program.

Click here for the link.

Loquacious... Flirtatious...

2010-03-06T10:38:00.000-08:00

Loquacious...Flirtatious...

WORD OF THE DAY: from The Free Dictionary
disputatious
Definition: (adjective) Inclined or showing an inclination to dispute or disagree, even to engage in law suits.
Synonyms: combative, contentious, disputative, litigious
Usage: Her disputatious nature and exceptional verbal skills made her a perfect candidate for a career in law.

Looking for another source for a word of the day? Try clicking here for Dictionary.com.

Old English: Elegant But Brutal

2010-03-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

Old English: Elegant But Brutal

From HUMANITIES, January/February 2010
Violent but Charming...
The Dictionary of Old English explores the brutality and elegance of our ancestral tongue.

BY AMMON SHEA
“Dictionaries are like watches, the worst is better than none, and the best cannot be expected to go quite true.” So said Samuel Johnson, according to James Boswell—and if any man can get away with making a pithy, slightly nonsensical, yet somehow illuminating statement about the merits of dictionaries, repositories of our language, it is Johnson.

Click here for the link to the full story.

Betwixt and BeTwain (Plus Two Bonus Links!)

2010-03-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

Betwixt and BeTwain (Plus Two Bonus Links!)

"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform. " -- Mark Twain

"A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain." -- Mark Twain

"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest." -- Mark Twain

"By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity -- another man's I mean." -- Mark Twain

"Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't. " -- Mark Twain

Two Bonus Links
"While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior." -- Henry C. Link

"Tis easy enough to be pleasant, when life flows along like a song; but the person worth while is the one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong." - - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Is There Quivering in Britain's Stiff Upper Lip?

2010-02-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Is There Quivering in Britain's Stiff Upper Lip?

There are signs there's quivering in Britain's collective stiff upper lip. Has a nation's self-restraint gone awry?

Read the story by clicking here.

Pause for Pizza

2010-02-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

Pause for Pizza

"Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." -- G. K. Chesterton

From a First Book Email: Read Across America; Delivering Books

2010-02-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

From a First Book Email: Read Across America; Delivering Books

Celebrate Read Across America Day with Books from the First Book Marketplace
This March, celebrate NEA's Read Across America Day and the birthday of Dr. Seuss with books from the this march, celebrate NEA's Read Across America Day and birthday of Dr. Seuss with books from the First Book Marketplace! Classic titles like The Cat in the Hat and Put Me in the Zoo are currently available for as little as $2.25 a copy (and as much as 64% off retail price).

Delivering Books to the Sunshine State and Beyond
Earlier this month, First Book traveled to Jacksonville, Florida and distributed 450,000 new books, generously donated by Schuster Children's Publishing, to children in need nationwide. More than 200 Recipient Groups in the Sunshine State and beyond received new books from this distribution! First Book thanks our warehouse partner Teacher Supply Depot for helping bring new books and stories to thousands of children through this distribution.

Looking for more information on First Book? Click here.

Did You Know...

2010-02-24T12:44:00.000-08:00

Did You Know...

The Harvard University Library holds 15.8 million volumes, second in the U.S. only to the Library of Congress with 32.1 million volumes. - -The World Almanac 2009

Please (Don't) Rob Me!

2010-02-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

Please (Don't) Rob Me!

PleaseRobMe website reveals dangers of social networks

By Zoe Kleinman
Technology reporter, BBC News

A website called PleaseRobMe claims to reveal the location of empty homes based on what people post online.

The Dutch developers told BBC News the site was designed to prove a point about the dangers of sharing precise location information on the internet.

The site scrutinises players of online game Foursquare, which is based on a person's location in the real world.

PleaseRobMe extracts information from players who have chosen to post their whereabouts automatically onto Twitter.

"It started with me and a friend looking at our Twitter feeds and seeing more and more Foursquare posts," said Boy Van Amstel, one of PleaseRobMe's developers.

Click here for the full story.