Something May Be Missing Here

I just happened across an article which you may read here if you like, but, the part that caught my eye is: British researchers looking at the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome have received death threats from protesters angry at their focus on possible mental triggers, a report said Friday.


Now, I do not have chronic fatigue. I do not mean to make light of the condition in any way. BUT I do have to wonder if there might be a better way for people to make the point here. Making death threats and sending explosive devices to researchers hardly seems the way to convince them of your mental stability.


That is all.

More Sugar Need Amongst the Bananalets

Miss Dance is a girl who lobbies for a snack every night after the younger ones are to bed. This is in addition to the snack every night BEFORE the younger ones go to bed.  :-P


Tonight, when I suggested we have bananas for snack, she helped me "clarify what an actual snack is:


S - sugar
N - not fruit or vegetables
A - adequate quantity (that's very important)
C - cookies and cake are good
K - kitchen worthy"


*headed off now to see what will meet her criteria and pass the Mom Test*

In the Kitchen with Mr Music

Mr Music saved a donut from last night's snack for his breakfast today. First thing I saw it, he had added some white chocolate and candy raspberries, apparently in an effort to make it more nutritious.

He was kind enough to share it with Miss Dance, who dubbed it "a donut with an upgrade."

Unfortunate Design Consideration

Miss Language pointed out an ad for sneakers. We are, um, less than impressed with their logo. And I just want to say I wish I were making this up. I am posting it here in the "cultural literacy" category.


Here is the shoe:  

Yeah. What do you think of that logo? I can't help thinking of John Kerry's famous photo: 

The strangest part? 


We assumed the resemblance was an unfortunate oversight. However, according to this article, that is exactly what was intended. Inconceivable. (possibly bad word choice there  :-P ) 


The words of the ad were so over-the top you cannot even make fun of them. But I will kindly share some of my favorite parts. (I am skipping the lines that were funnier before we knew the resemblance was deliberate and are now just nasty):
    * I received my package... and rushed to tear it open like a kid at Christmas.
  * I was holding a miracle of technology. This was the real thing. (isn't that Coke?)
  * In minutes I was out the door. I was invincible.


Here is a link to a similar ad. Again, inconceivable. Please do not buy them.  


And thus ends the Cultural Literacy lesson du jour.

Pure

Yet another Mr Music story. Devastatingly Handsome had some distilled water left from coffee-making and Mr Music wanted to try it. I told him it is flat and tasteless but to go ahead. He does not like water in the first place.


So, he tried it and said it is good. I was surprised and he said, "It doesn't have that nasty taste of bugs in the sewers."


*wondering if he has a future in writing advertisements*

Yet Another Get Rich Quick Scheme

Maybe, just maybe, Mr Music should not give up his day job just yet.


I only say this because every now and then, he spouts an interesting marketing idea. The latest, out of the blue, I kid you not:


They ought to make fake scabs that you can pick off over and over again.


Ewwwwwww.

Glimpses from My World

Some days I love ants and sit back on my heels and watch them like any good self-respecting three-year-old and of course think of Merlin and the Wart:

Other days the scouts that I allow in my kitchen go back and file a full report at their anthill HQ about the location of my sugar canister and I set little terrorist traps for them:

And I highly recommend, if you are bored, reading some of the comments on the amazon page for these traps with a great Latin-derivative name. Rocco's comment that it is like a free beer and pizza party for ants is spot-on for our experience. This picture was taken about two hours after setting out the bait and the ants are partying heavy. By the next morning, as far as we could tell, the party was over. All the little ants must be home nursing hang-overs, or worse.


~ ~ ~ 


Proverbs 30:25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer. ~ ~ ~  Except, of course, when they have been duped into providing poison.

Breaking News

Well, actually, this is not breaking news but just something I am finally getting around to posting. Sadly I cannot figure out a way to embed the video so you will have to go here and watch for yourself if you are interested in hearing about a banana attack on a monkey. And, no worries, relax ~ Melrose was not involved in any way. I am sure I'm not the only one who wishes there was actual footage of the attack.

For Those Who Care About Doctor Who

You might be interested in knowing what we spotted at a minor leagues game last week: The TARDIS. Seems the Doctor himself may have been cheering for our team.  :)

I think you can see that it is doing its vibrate thing, no doubt ready to leave for another adventure.

Carpe Picasso

Every now and then I hear a story of a criminal with something I appreciate. This is one of those stories. 


Apparently the thief found a work by Picasso he liked. A lot. And I can't say I blame him especially not if he's a homeschooling Dad. This is exactly how I look after getting everyone through a productive day and having laundry done and dinner cooked. C'mon, tell me I'm not the only one with eyes like that.

So. He must have had a different art appreciation prof than I did. I had the class back in the day when powerpoints were called "slides" on nifty little carousel racks. My prof would project the photos on the screen, and if he particularly liked it, would close his eyes and sigh just a bit before continuing with the lecture.


Anyhow, Mr Innes had certain works that made him close his eyes and sigh longer than others, mainly Vermeers and Rembrandts. He counseled us that (unless we became wealthy enough to buy great works), we should do as he had done, and construct a "mental gallery" of our own favorites which we could visit at any time.


Apparently this guy's prof took it one step farther and counseled his students to forget mental and actually build the gallery. I gotta say I just admire his straight-forward approach to helping himself to art. No face mask. No gun or weapons. No threats or lies. Just walk in and own it.


Hmmm... Mr Innes did not see the coming of the internet. Perhaps I can cut and paste and make my own mental gallery digital... 

Don't Worry

I got this on a tweet today: 

I have a feeling this could use fleshed out a bit more, but there it is in a nutshell. 


Peter 5: 6-7 ~ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. 

Kind of Missing the Point

We had a visit to a conservatory where they have a big "green" exhibit on taking care of the earth. There was a place for visitors to take a tag, write a note, and leave it as part of the display. 


Most of the tags said things like "I promise to take care of Mother Nature."


A precious few recognized the Creator of everything.


A few were funny, I liked the very restricted promise of this one: "I promise to let the next spider I see live to see another day."  one spider, one day... way to make a difference.


But this one, this one, gotta love it. It seems the author didn't quite get the point of greenness: