I just reread a blog I wrote over 3 months ago. It was about being heroic...seeking to understand each other rather than punish or overreact. My intent, at that time, was to take a stride towards middle ground where anyone can speak their mind without being called names. To truly listen and respect each other's opinions. However, a recent post on …
This weeks true and funny story comes from Corpus Christi, Texas. Just the other day, in a bank that was being remodeled, an ATM repariman was there to replace a lock inside the machine. He left his phone in his truck while he went inside the bank and inside the ATM machine. Unfortunately he locked himself inside the machine and couldn't call for …
Last Tuesday, July 4th, I agreed to go totally "off the grid." No phone or computer at all...not even to check to see if there was an emergency. And I only told 4 people I was doing this. It wasn't that hard but I must admit that I kept reaching for my phone in my back pocket quite a bit. At one point I even felt my butt buzz as if I was getting …
I've been asked many times what my favorite meal is and my answer changes each time. Although I do have a couple of favorite restaurants, it has as much to do with the people I'm with as much as the food. For restaurants, nothing beats the chicken scapriello at Steve's Piccola Busaala, or the steak at Bryant & Cooper and the veal milanese at …
A sacred cow is an idea, custom, or institution held, especially unreasonably, to be above criticism...a taboo. Essentialy something that people do not like to question. Regardless of your political leanings, we are in an environment where it seems a lot of sacred cows are up for grabs. NAFTA Paris Agreements NATO Foreign trade Governme …
Another news nugget from your intrepid blogger. This files under the category of whaaaaaatttttt?!?!?! Italy's highest court ruled on Friday that lobsters must not be kept on ice in restaurant kitchens because it causes them unjustifiable suffering before they head for death by fine dining. They actually were upholding a sentence by a lower cour …
Ever been driving behind a car on a one lane road only to find they stop for seemingly no reason at all? Then, much to your suprise, they make a left hand turn. No blinker, hand signal or even a smoke signal. This non-blinker using driver is most likely thinking (or not thinking) "I know where I'm going, I don't need to use a blinker." What they …
This is an official warning for all users of canned hair spray. A Washington state woman returned to her car after work to discover a can of hairspray had exploded and embedded itself in her windshield. Temperatures in the area were only in the low 90s. Karmend Ayers, the woman who left the can in her car told the local news "At first I looked …
My cousin Helene, Norman's daughter, tragically passed away last Wednesday. As I reflect through this heartbreaking loss, my memories take me back to meeting her when Norman and Mara were married in my parents house. She was bright and beautiful with a big smile. Helene had a great voice and even sang at my wedding reception. When we had her over …
Being the guy in the hospital bed, you gain a unique perspective. A little over two years ago, I was that guy. Recently, my brother-in-law was that guy. He had a heart attack, got a stent and is doing fine. We talked about "being in the bed" when I saw him last weekend. We both had the same reaction. When you're in the bed it's your reality. Yo …
Looks like our education system will need to step it up a notch in an effort to stem tide of tech-related cheating. A Guardian investigation revealed that these cases have risen 42%. As an example, a British law student was caught red-handed using a James Bond style gadget to cheat in a university exam. The woman was found with 24 pages of note …
Another funny and true story comes to us from Michigan this week. A Michigan village clerk, Julie Glenn, sent a couple their water bill addressed to the woman "and the [expletive] who lives here too." (see below) Ms Glenn ended up sending a letter of apology to Annette Tolis and Kevin Barthel after they noticed the profane insult in the wate …
In honor of Earth day today, I thought I might share some interesting facts: • First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day is now is observed in over 190 countries. • In 1969, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to be celebrated on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphe …
As I prepare to celebrate Easter with my family, I am reminded how fallible we, humans, are. Even bible printers 300 years ago made mistakes. In New Jersey, a 300-year-old Bible at Christ Episcopal Church sits locked in a glass case, untouched since 1916. It's opened to Luke 20, and that is not random. There, on the heading of the left-hand page, …
After reading and commenting on Fred's blog, a thought occurred to me. Did you know that the average human's attention span has decreased over the past few years? According to a study by Microsoft Corporation, human attention span has supposedly dropped from 12 seconds in 2002 to only eight seconds in 2013. Do you know what animal has a longer …
It's Saturday...and anything goes.
