Monday Morning Madness Mayhem

Date:                                                   Monday, February 28th, 2011
Word of the Day:
Weight:                                               two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                   lose one hundred (100) in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                   ninety-two (92)
Waist Size:                                         forty-three (43) inches of flubber
Days until Royal Wedding:                sixty (60)
Rowing Cruelty:                                 thirty (30) minutes, thirteen (13) seconds

I am feeling ill and do not have much to say, but I do want to comment on the Academy Awards which were televised last night, if you missed them, you didn't miss much. 

Did you watch the 83rd Academy Awards?  I have to tell you I was very disgusted by the Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress swearing and using the F word.  I sure hope that Melissa Leo thinks long and hard about the poor choice she made and makes an apology to the Academy and its' viewers.  If I were in charge, Miss Leo would not even be able to get her old job back on the soap opera "All My Children."  I bet people are sorry they voted for her!

The Oscars were rather predictable, Colin Firth and Natalie Portman won, Christian Bale and the aforementioned Melissa Leo won in the supporting actor/actress categories.

Have a good, safe day.

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Politics
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Snowy Sunday

Date:                                                    Sunday, February 27th, 2011
Word of the Day:                                 halcyon(HAL\see\uhn); a kingfisher; ; a mythical bird identified with the kingfisher that was fabled to nest at sea about the time of the winter solstice and to calm the waves during incubation; calm, quiet, peaceful

Weight:                                                two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                    lose one hundred (100) pounds in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                    ninety-two (92) pounds
Waist Size:                                          forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding:                 sixty-one (61) days, just two (2) months away
Rowing Duration:                                seventy-eight (78) minutes, ten (10) seconds

I did not write a post yesterday as I could not get access on the Internet to create one, my modem was old, and needed to be replaced, which it was, this morning.  Evidently, one's modem needs to be replaced every year or so, so if you find your access on the Internet is sluggish, maybe you should think about having your modem replaced, yes, learn from my misfortune.

Since I had some extra time from not writing a post yesterday, I did extra house-cleaning, which is the thing I hate doing most in this world, house-cleaning that is.  However, even I can find a positive in doing housework.   Occasionally, while your cleaning, you will come across, or find, an object that you've misplaced, or was missing for a long time, and sometimes its money, tell your children this fact, and you may have just given them an incentive to cleaning their room!!!!!

If any of you out there are on a special diet, or your trying to eat carefully, trust me, coffee and celery sucks as a meal!!!!

Do you wash a pot that you've just boiled water in?, please advise as I may be washing a pot that I really don't need to wash!

Yesterday was a good day, Zac, Judy and I went to see the musical "The Secret Garden" at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, it was an excellent production and quite a bit different from the version Zac and I saw in New York City a few years ago.  I want to give special cudos to Sophie Bould, who played the part of Mary Lennox, Miss Bould was exceptional, had a lovely singing voice, and deserved the standing ovation she got at the curtain call.  If you can get them, do purchase a pair of tickets and run to see this outstanding musical, and should you need someone to go with you, I'm available.

Okay, true confession time, yet again, yes I have a habit of dangling modifyers, and it is something I'm especially sensitive about,  watch your step, especially if you email me any helpful suggestions.

Earlier this morning, I was looking at some pictures of Zac's cottage on the lake, and simultaneously while looking out at the abundance of snow covering everything,  makes it hard for me to believe that going to the cottage is only two (2) months away. yippee!
Okay, ladies, this blurb is especially for you, in the "In the News" add-on this morning, it is reported that hot flashes may be a sign of heart health weakness.  A new study suggests that women who experience intense menopausal symptons,  like hot flashes at the start of menopause,  may not be suffering in vain.  It found that, compared to women who reported no menopausal symptons, women who experienced  hot flashes,  and night sweats arond the time of menopa.use, had an eleven (11) percent lower risk of having a heart-related health problem, and an eight (8) percent lower risk of dying during the study's  nearly ten (10) year follow up.  Meanwhile, women who developed hot flashes after menopause actually had an increased risk of heart-related health problems.  Gee, its not like women have a say in when they get their hot flashes, and isn't hot flashes enough punishment without the heart-related health problems!

Today was the birthday of one 1) of my all-time favourite writers, Mr. John Steinbeck.  Mr. Steinbeck was an American writer perhaps best remembered for his strong, Pulitzer-prize winning socialogical novel "The Grapes of Wrath," which is widely considered one (1) of the great American novels of the twentieth (20th) century.  John Steinbeck's later noves include "Cannery Row," "The Pearl," and "East of Eden."  John Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1962.  One of John Steinbeck's last works was "Travels with Charley," a travelogue about a road trip across America.  Charley, for those of you who are dog lovers, and for those of you who aren't,  Charley was a pet poodle which was a Blue Standard!

Well, this post is already late so I'm publishing it now, have a safe, warm day.

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Fluffy Friday

Date:                                                   Friday, February 25th, 2011
Word of the Day:                                lexicography(lek\suh\KAH\gruf\fee); the writing or compiling of dictionaries; the editing or making of dictionaries

Weight:                                              two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds, too many
Goal:                                                  lose one hundred (100) pounds in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                  one (1) ton
Waist Size:                                        forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding:               sixty-two (62) days and counting down is going quickly
Rowing Duration:                              sixty-one (61) minutes, ten (10) seconds

My post will not be long this morning as I am not feeling well, but I do have a couple of items I want to address with you.

Happy Birthday to my sister, Yvonne, I hope the day is a great one for you and that you are blessed with continued good health, family, and love.

Good for CBS for pulling the plug on the television show, "Two and a Half Men," it looks like it may be just a suspension, but if Charlie Sheen continues his tirade against everyone, and everything, the show may be gone forever.

There is an ice cream parlour in London, England that now serves an ice cream dish wherein the ice cream is made from breast milk, yup, you read it here first!

This morning, Prince William and fiancee Kate Middleton returned to the university where they met and fell in love with an official visit to St. Andrews, Scotland.   The university has established a new scholarship as a wedding gift to Kate and Prince William.

It is snowing again today and I really don't know what to say about this weather, except that when my health gets even slightly better, I'm going back to Florida!


On that note, (moving to Florida,) I'm ending today's post, have a great day, an even better weekend, and take care of yourself and the person next to you, why not?

Topics coming soon:

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Politics
Cartoons

Image by Gaynoir_ via Flickr

Thursday Today

Date:                                                     Thursday, February 24th, 2011
Word of the Day:                                  hypnagogic(hyp\nuh\GO\ik); of, pertaining to, or occurring in the state of drowsiness preceding sleep

Weight:                                                  two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                      lose one hundred (100) pounds in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                      ninety-two (92)
Waist Size:                                            forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding:                   sixty-three (63) days and now Kate is counting hours as well
Rowing Duration:                                  twenty-nine (29) minutes, four (4) seconds

Cover via Amazon

Okay, I could not get into rowing this morning, that happens, quite frequently to me.   I guess I should step on that scale more to keep myself motivated!

Okay, confession time, yet again.  In my post yesterday I said it was expected that the City of San Francisco would get snow, well I was wrong, or at least premature, San Francisco did not get snow yesterday, they MAY get it today.

Are any of you throwing a "knees-up" on April 29th of this year?  A "knees-up" is an English expression and means a party.  Speaking of parties, will you be throwing one (1) this Sunday to commemorate the Academy Awards, also known as (aka) The Oscars!

It has been reported that Prince William and Kate Middleton will reside in Anglesey, Wales for two (2) years, and the people of Anglesey couldn't be more pleased.

It is snowing yet again today and I am so glad that Zac and I do not have to shovel, that is why we pay a rather high amount of maintenance money.  By the way, a rather severe snowstorm is expected so ensure that you have extra supplies around, just in case!!!!!

In "In the News" add-on today, there is a blurb regarding cell Phones and whether or not they increase brain cell activity.   Despite years of research, there remains no conclusive proof that cell phones radiation causes cancer or other health problems in the brain.  At the same time, mobile phones have not been proven to be safe either.  New findings from a United States (U.S.) Government-funded study raises further questions about the safety of cell phone use, as they demonstrate that radiation from the devises has a measurable effect on brain activity.  Researchers found that glucose metabolism, an indicator or brain activity, was increased in brain regions nearest a cell-phone antenna.  Whether this is harmful has yet to be determined.

Currently, I am reading two (2) books, "The GodFather Legacy," and "GodFather," concurrently, and even though these two (2) books are about the movie, "The Godfather," with a related theme,  I frequently read two (2) books at the same time, with no connection whatsoever, and I wonder if any of you do so as well?

While in the vein of books, I want to mention that whenever I am reading something serious, such as Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes.   I always keep handy a book of lighter fare.  I do this to remind myself that not everything is grim, and I find that referencing another book while reading something of gravity will help me get through a heavy book!  One book that I always try to keep with me, (I take it whenever I travel,) is Sue Townsend's book, "The Adrian Mole Diaries!" 

I love "The Adrian Mole Diaries,"  and many years ago, there was a televised British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) series of it.   Do any of you know where I may be able to obtain the entire series?, as I would love to add this series to my collection.  Also, if you have not yet read "The Adrian Mole Diaries," do yourself a favour and go and purchase it, or borrow it from your local library.  Some people believe that "The Adrian Mole Diaries" will eventually be considered a classic and will be right up there with "The Catcher in The Rye!"   I do confess there are similarities between Adrian Mole and Holden Caulfield!

Lindsay Lohan could be watching the Oscars from a jail cell this weekend, any thoughts on this people?  Miss Lohan wants to take the stand to defend herself, I say, let her, I hope it gets televised!

Chris Medina, whose fiance was injured in a car accident, (I believe she is now permanently handicapped,)  was eliminated from "American Idol," last night, and Jennifer Lopez, who delivered the sad news, is saying that she doesn't want to do this anymore.  Whether or not Miss Lopez was referring to being a judge on "American Idol," or if she was simply saying that she doesn't want to do her own laundry is not certain,  as Miss Lopez was rather nebulous.

I sure hope that all of you have included those poor people that are in New Zealand, Christchurch, in particular, in your prayers.  An earthquake on Tuesday has devastated those people,  and they will need alot of support in order to recover from this unfortunate experience.

Kim Cattrall, of "Sex and the City" fame, uses Oil of Olay to retain "that look," so if you want "that look," go to Shoppers Drug Mart and buy a supply!   Do you think Miss Cattrall will make a good Cleopatra?, I mean, she's not Elizabeth Taylor.  Just for a little bit more information on the Sex and The City Sex Goddess, Kim Cattrall hails from Liverpool, England, just like the Beatles!!!!

It is my sister, Yvonne's, birthday tomorrow, so you know that today I will be getting my voice ready to sing the big number.  As an aside, I was just talking to Yvonne, and my older sister told me that she has received mail from Zac, Winter and I, and the mail does look like it could be a card, but Yvonne doesn't know for sure as she will not open up the mail until tomorrow.  I find this behaviour remarkable because the mail is not a present, it is just a card.   I never heard of people waiting until the appropriate day to open up a card, have you?   I miss Yvonne, it has been over two (2) years since I last saw her, that is far too long to go without seeing one's sibling, especially when the sibling only lives a forty-five (45) drive away!

The Space Shuttle Discovery will soon be making it's last voyage, today at four o'clock Eastern Standard Time (EST) will you watch this historic journey?  And speaking of journeys, Carrie Fisher is now a Jenny Craig representative, and I'm sure you, as well as I, wish Miss Fisher well on her journey to getting in better health.

As a former smoker, I'm not sure how I feel on the following article that I read in the Yahoo News.  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has signed into law a ban on smoking in city parks, beaches, public plazas and boardwalks.  The ban goes into effect ninety (90) days after Tuesday's signing. That means that by this summer, those who break the law could face fines of fifty ($50) per violation, although the city has said it plans to rely on signs and social pressure instead of active enforcement.

Health Commissioner Thomas Farley says the law will protect people from dangerous secondhand smoke.   But some health experts question whether the smoke poses a serious danger in open, outdoor spaces.   Critics of the law say the city is trampling on civil liberties.   Bloomberg's administration banned smoking in restaurants, bars and other public indoor spaces in 2002.

Whilst I agree that non-smokers should be able to go to public places without encountering second-hand smoke, I also feel that smokers should also be able to visit these public places and be allowed to smoke in designated areas of these public places.  I mean, first you take away the right to smoke in public places, what will you take away next?  And don't kid yourself, there is always something that someone will find we can do without,  and they will make it their mission for it to become law!

Do any of you know where I could buy a man's pink cashmere, or angora, sweater.  I saw an old picture of Dick Clark wearing such a sweater and I just know that I would look dynamite wearing a similar jumper.  Any suggestions, or are any of you in the mood to knit me one(1), of course, I would pay you for the wool!

It is almost noon and I suspect that you've waited long enough for todays post, so I shall conclude it by saying that I hope you all have a great day.   Efrem, you really need to come up with something more original!


Topics coming soon:

Art
Politics
Cartoons

Wishes on Wednesday

Date:                                                          Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
Word of the Day:                                       nimbus(NIM\buhs); a circle, or disk, or any indication of radiant lights around the heads of divinities, saints, and sovereigns, upon medals, pictures, etc.; a halo

Weight:                                                      two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                          lose one hundred (100) pounds in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                          ninety-two (92)
Waist Size:                                                forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding:                      sixty-four (64) days
Rowing Duration:                                     seventy-seven (77) minutes, nine (9) seconds

Zac ended up going back to the hospital yesterday, but only so that his surgeon could examine him to try and determine the reason why Zac is experiencing so much pain.  The surgeon could not explain why Zac has so much pain, but did prescribe some antibiotics for Zac as there was quite a bit of inflammation around the area wherein the doctor did his operation.  Lets all hope and pray that Zac recovers from this operation sooner rather than later.

There are plenty rumours abound that there will be a movie based on the television series "24."  I feel ambivalent about this as the last two (2) seasons of the action show didn't maintain my interest, did you enjoy the show until the very end?

Yes, I'm getting up later and later, and then I insist on doing my time on Cruella before I can face The Camden Plus to create my post for you to peruse and enjoy.  You're just going to have to be patient with me until I get myself back to an early schedule.

San Francisco is going to get snow today, how about that?  I'm sure it has been a rather long time since that Golden Gate Bridge needed shovelling, well, today may be that day!

The Academy Awards Show is getting closer and closer, do you intend to watch?, I do.   I am especially interested in the categories of Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress.  I would like Amy Adams to win the Best Supporting Actress category, but feel that Melissa Leo is going to take home the award, did you know that Melissa Leo was once on the soap opera "All My Children?" 

Yes, I remember Melissa on my favourite soap, Miss Leo played the sister of Cliff Warner,  and her name was Linda Warner, pretty good memory eh?  And I want Annette Bening to win the Best Actress award, this category is extremely tough this year, and I fear that Natalie Portman's name is going to be the one (1) called, I will not be disappointed if Nicole Kidman wins again, but Miss Kidman does already have one (1,)we shall see.  Why not tune into the Oscar show and see how my predictions go?

So Justin Bieber cut his hair, well a hairdresser cut it, it is said that Mr. Bieber cut his hair for charity, regardless, it doesn't look bad, but I wonder if his new "do" will affect much reaction among the throngs of young girls that are madly in love with the singer, time will tell!

The English language can be maddening to native speakers and learners alike, but is also delightfully rich, especially for those who seek to convey a lighthearted tone in their writing.   Here are one hundred (100) words it’s difficult to employ without smiling.  Though their meanings may be obscure, they each present a challenge,  I mean an opportunity for you to paint a vivid word picture. Some of you will recognize some of the following words as previous words of the day!   Remember, imbue your musings with mirth by incorporating these terms:


absquatulate: to flee, abscond
abstemious: restrained in consumption of food and alcohol
balderdash: nonsense
ballyhoo: commotion, hype
bindle stiff: hobo
bodacious: remarkable, voluptuous
borborygmus: sound of intestinal gas
cahoots (in the expression “in cahoots with”): scheming
callipygian: possessing a shapely derriere
cantankerous: irritating, difficult
carbuncle: pustule
caterwaul: to wail or protest noisily
cattywampus: in disarray
cockamamie (also cockamamie): ridiculous
comeuppance: just deserts
concupiscent: possessed of erotic desire
copacetic (also copasetic, copesetic): satisfactory
curmudgeon: ill-tempered (and often old) person
debauchery: sensual gratification
doohickey: gadget or attachment
effluvium: unpleasant smell
factotum: all-around servant or attendant
farrago: confused mixture
festoon: to decorate; dangling decorative chains
finagle: to trick
fisticuffs: fighting with fists
flabbergasted: dumbfounded
flagitious: villainous
flibbertigibbet: flighty person
flummoxed: confused
foible: fault
folderol: nonsense
foofaraw: flash, frills
fusty: moldy, musty, old-fashioned
gallimaufry: mixture, jumble
gallivant: to jaunt or carouse
gobbledygook: nonsense, indecipherable writing
haberdasher: men’s clothier; provider of sundries
harridan: shrewish woman
higgledy-piggledy: in a disorganized or confused manner
high jinks (also hijinks): boisterous antics
hodgepodge: mixture, jumble
hokum: nonsense
hoodwink: to deceive
hoosegow: jail
hornswoggle: to dupe or hoax
hortatory: advisory
hullabaloo: uproar
ignoramus: dunce
imbroglio: confused predicament
jackanapes: impudent or mischievous person
jiggery-pokery: deceit
kerfuffle: disturbance
lackadaisical: bereft of energy or enthusiasm
loggerheads (in the expression “at loggerheads”): quarrelsome
lollygag: to meander, delay
loquacious: talkative
louche: disreputable
lugubrious: mournful, dismal
malarkey (also malarky): nonsense
maleficence: evil
mendacious: deceptive
oaf: clumsy or stupid person
obfuscate: confuse, obscure
obloquy: condemning or abusive language, or the state of being subject to such
obsequious: flattering
orotund: sonorous, or pompous
osculate: to kiss
paroxysm: convulsion or outburst
peccadillo: minor offense
periwinkle: light purplish blue; creeping plant; aquatic snail
perspicacious: astute
pettifogger: quibbler; disreputable lawyer
poltroon: cowardly, coward
prognosticate: to predict
pusillanimous: cowardly
raffish: vulgar
ragamuffin: dirty, disheveled person
rambunctious: unruly
resplendent: brilliantly glowing
ribaldry: crude or coarse behavior
rigmarole (also rigamarole): confused talk; complicated procedure
ruckus: disturbance
scalawag: scamp
scofflaw: lawbreaker
shenanigans: tricks or mischief
skedaddle: flee
skulduggery: devious behavior
spiffy: stylish
squelch: to suppress or silence; act of silencing; sucking sound
subterfuge: deception, or deceptive ploy
supercilious: haughty
swashbuckler: cocky adventurer; story about the same
sylph: lithe woman
tatterdemalion: raggedly dressed person; looking disreputable or decayed
termagant: shrewish woman
whirligig: whirling toy; merry-go-round; dizzying course of events
widdershins (also withershins): counterclockwise, contrary
willy-nilly: by force, haphazardly

Well, I'm afraid that that is all that is on my mind today, you take care and have yourself a wonderful, wonderful day.


Topics coming soon:


Art

Image via Wikipedia

Politics
Cartoons

Trimming down on Tuesday

Date:                                                      Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011
Word of the Day:                                   baliwick(BAY\luh\wik); a person's specific area of knowledge; authority, interest, skill, or work

Weight:                                                  two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                      lose one hundred (100) pounds in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                      ninety-two (92) this may be difficult to achieve
Waist Size:                                            forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding:                  sixty-five (65) days and Kate is still hanging in there
Rowing Duration:                                 seventy-five (75) minutes, eight (8) seconds

Whew!  What a workout this morning, am I ever exhausted, I know, I'm also late with getting out the post this am. that's going to happen from time to time, don't worry, and remember, better late than never!

I am very concerned about Zac who is experiencing quite alot of pain again, I hope that Zac's infection is not coming back, and I really hope that Zac calls his doctor so that this matter can be attended to as soon as possible, doctors really do make the worst patients!

It is so bloody bitter out, I am really quite sick of winter and cannot wait until the weather turns to the warmer!

Zac and I talked to our nieces, Sally and Jessie yesterday, they both are quite well, although Sally told both Zac and I off for not telling her that her Uncle Zac had been in the hospital.  Sally, is very close to Zac and worries about him incessantly.  For the record, we couldn't talk with Raphael, our nephew, as he was not home when we called on the phone.

Okay, I'll admit it, I wouldn't mind living in Derek Jeter's house,  although I do admit, nine (9) bathrooms is a bit excessive.

I really like Lady Gaga and would love to go to one (1) of her concerts!

The "In the News" add-on featured a curious bit of information this day.  A recent study involving two thousand, seven hundred and twenty-nine (2,729) volunteers recruited online, all of whom were at least thirteen (13) years of age, and typically ran ten (10) miles (sixteen (16) kilometres) per week, found that stretching before a run, does not affect the risk of injury.   The runners were randomly divided into two (2) groups, one (1) of which was instructed to perform three (3) to five (5) minutes of stretching exercises immediately before a run, and one (1) of which was told to run without stretching first.   After three (3) months, both groups reported injury rates of sixteen (16) percent, and both reported similar types of injuries.   However, changing one's routine by either starting or abandoning a pre-run stretching was found to increase the risk of injury.

Calgary is one of the best places to live in the world.  Yes, according to a recent survey, the Albertan city ranked fifth out of one hundred and forty (140) cities and was third among Canadian locales, behind Vancouver and Toronto which placed first and fourth respectively.  How about that?

Okay, why doesn't just everyone rub salt in my wounds.  The Beckhams, Victoria and David, have been invited to the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton and I haven't, what is the world coming to?, I ask you!

Rush Limbaugh is criticising the First Lady, Michelle Obama today, calling her a hypocrite after she ate ribs at a local restaurant this weekend all the while promoting her anti-obesity campaign.  It does seem a little contradictory, but I don't think the First Lady is over-weight, however, she should practice what she preaches, don't you think?

Well I know the post is a little on the short side, but that is all that is on my mind aujourdhui, so that gives you more time to do the things you have to do, all the best people, and,  have a nice day.


Topics coming soon:

Art
Politics
Cartoons

Image by dinoboy via Flickr

Meandering on Monday

Date:                                                   Monday, February 21st, 2011
Word of the Day:                               malinger (muh\LING\guhr); to feign or exaggerate illness or inability to avoid work or duty

Weight:                                               two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                   lose one hundred (100) pounds in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                   ninety-two (92) pounds
Waist Size:                                         forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding:               sixty-six (66) short days Kate, they'll go by quickly, get moving!
Rowing Duration:                              fifty-five (55) minutes

Ah, the beginning of another work week, a work week with no mistakes in it, as Anne Shirley of "Anne of Green Gables" would say, gosh Lucy Maude Montgomery was clever.

Actually, today is Family Day and is a statutory holiday, so lets all celebrate our family, especially if it gives us a day off work!

The new season of The Amazing Race began, again, on television last night, this time the race features players of previous races who lost.   I love watching this show as it travels to so many countries, and one gets to learn things on those countries that one may not have known previously.  Too bad, Canadians cannot enter The Amazing Race, I would have liked to contend.

Okay, here they grow again, McDonalds will open restaurants in India, and what we know as a Big Mac will be known there as the Maharaja Mac, I kid you not!

Todd Palin is participating in the world's longest snowmobile race and Miss Sarah, his wife, is cheering him on.  Todd Palin has previously won The Iron Dog race four (4) times, good luck Todd, even though I'm not Republican!

I came across a H. L. Mencken quote this morning which I want to share with you as I think you will enjoy it as much as I, it is:  A puritan is a person who is haunted by the fear that someone somewhere is having fun!!!!!!

Will Jane Fonda ever get stopped being called "Hanoi Jane?"  It seems a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) source passed information to Mountie spies about talks between Tommy Douglas and actress Miss Jane Fonda on efforts to stop the Vietnam war   Can you imagine having any talk you might have had with anyone being put in the news?  Gosh, come on everybody, lets all move on!

I like Jane Fonda and certainly do not think she deserves to be called a dried up old skank, which is what a media source has referred to her as, please remember what we were told as children, "if you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all!"  I just know my saying this is going to come back and haunt me!

I'm not sure if I've already published the following on abbreviations, however, as I am not feeling terribly clever this morning, I am publishing them for your edification, perhaps, again. 


Abbreviations deriving from Latin terms and phrases can be troublesome for we non-Latin speakers.   Here’s the long and short of the most common short forms adopted into English from the classical language:

1.      e.g.

The abbreviation of exempli gratia (“for example”) is not only often left bereft of its periods (or styled eg.), it’s also frequently confused for a similar abbreviation you’ll find below.   Use e.g. (followed by a comma) to signal sample examples.

2.      etc.

The sloppily formed abbreviation of et cetera (“and so forth”) is often misspelled ect., perhaps because we’re accustomed to words in which c precedes t,  but not vice versa.   (Curiously, Merriam-Webster spells out etcetera as such as a noun, but at the end of an incomplete list, retain the two-word form, or translate it.)   A comma should precede it.

Refrain from using etc. in an e.g. list; the abbreviations are essentially redundant,  and note that etc. is also redundant in a phrase that includes including.

3.      et al.

The abbreviation of et alia (“and others”), used almost exclusively to substitute for the names of all but the primary author in a reference to a multi author publication or article but occasionally applied in other contexts,  should have no period after et, because that word in particular is not an abbreviation.

Also, unlike as in the case of etc., refrain from preceding it with a comma, presumably because only one name precedes it.   Fun fact:  We use a form of the second word in this term, alias,  to mean “otherwise known as” (adverb) or “an assumed name” (noun).

4.      i.e.

The abbreviation of id est (“that is”) is, like e.g., is frequently erroneously styled without periods (or as ie.).   It, followed by a comma, precedes a clarification, as opposed to examples, which e.g. serves to introduce.

5.      fl.

The abbreviation of flourit (“flourished”) is used in association with a reference to a person’s heyday, often in lieu of a range of years denoting the person’s life span.


6.      N.B.

The abbreviation for nota bene (“note well”), easily replaced by the imperative note, is usually styled with uppercase letters and followed by a colon.


7.      per cent.

The British English abbreviation of per centum (“for each one hundred”) is now often (and in the United States always) spelled percent, as one word and without the period.


8.      re

The abbreviation, short for in re (“in the matter of”) and often followed by a colon, is often assumed to be an abbreviation for reply, especially in email message headers.


9.      viz.

The abbreviation of videlicet (“namely”), unlike e.g., precedes an appositive list, one preceded by a reference to a class that the list completely constitutes:  “Each symbol represents one of the four elements, viz. earth, air, fire, and water.”   Note the absence of a following comma.

10.      vs.

The abbreviation of versus (“against”) is further abbreviated to v. in legal usage.   Otherwise, the word is usually spelled out except in informal writing or in a jocular play on names of boxing or wrestling matches or titles of schlocky science fiction movies.   (“In this title bout of Greed vs. Honesty, the underdog never stood a chance.”)

Have a great, safe, day!

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Cover of Madonna

Singing off-key on Sunday

Date:                                                   Sunday, February 20th, 2011
Word of the Day:                                lucubration (loo\kyoo\BRAY\shun); the art of studying by candlelight; nocturnal study; meditation

Weight:                                              two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                  lose one hundred (100) pounds in one (1) year duration
Pounds to lose:                                  ninety-two (92)
Waist Size:                                         forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding:               sixty-seven (67)
Rowing Duration:                              fifty-nine (59) minutes, four (4) seconds

Gee I guess there is a large word for just about everything, although I didn't think that studying by candlelight was an art!!!

Yes, I know I didn't report on how many days until the Royal Wedding in yesterday's post, this was an oversight, yes, even I, Efrem, make mistakes!  On the plus side, my weight did not increase, I didn't lose any weight, but I'm trying to stay positive!!!

So Judy and I went to see the musical "South Pacific" yesterday afternoon.  Quite honestly, I did not enjoy it as much as I did the first time I saw it, but there were some good changes.

There was a new actor portraying Emile De Beck (that's how his surname sounds) and this was quite an improvement, this man could act!!!!  There were also changes to the cast that were not an improvement, such as the actors that replaced the original Billis and Lieutenant Joseph Cable.

The venue was quite nice, and all of the ushers were wearing leis which was nice, it kind of got you in the South Seas mood.  The set had a slight improvement as well, there were more palm trees and the backdrop looked more like it was the South Pacific, quite a good improvement.

As many of you know, my mother died of Alzheimer's Disease, because of this, I am concerned that I may inherit this disease from genetics.  This is why I frequently research causes, and strategies surrounding the dreaded disease and I recently discovered the following one (1).

Mastering a second language can pump up the brain in ways that seem to delay getting Alzheimer's disease later on, scientists said Friday.   While the new research focuses mostly on the truly long-term bilingual, scientists say even people who tackle a new language later in life stand to gain.  The more proficient the person becomes, the better, but "every little bit helps," said Ellen Bialystok, a psychology professor at York University in Toronto.

Much of the study of bilingualism has centred on babies, as scientists wondered why simply speaking to infants in two languages allows them to learn both in the time it takes most babies to learn one.  Their brains seem to become more flexible, better able to multitask.   As they grow up, their brains show better "executive control," a system key to higher functioning,  as Bialystok puts it, "the most important part of your mind."

Does that mental juggling in youngsters translate into protection against cognitive decline when in older people?   Bialystok studied four hundred and fifty (450) Alzheimer's patients, all of whom showed the same degree of impairment at the time of diagnosis.   Half are bilingual; they have spoken two languages regularly for most of their lives.   The rest are monolingual.
 
The bilingual patients had Alzheimer's symptoms and were diagnosed between four (4) and five (5) years later than the patients who spoke only one language, she told the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Being bilingual does nothing to prevent Alzheimer's disease from striking.   But once the disease does begin its silent attack, those years of robust executive control provide a buffer so that symptoms do not become apparent as quickly, Bialystok said.   "They've been able to cope with the disease," she said.  Her work supports an earlier study from other researchers that also found a protective effect.


What is it about being bilingual that enhances that all-important executive control system?   Both languages are essentially turned on all the time, but the brain learns to inhibit the one that is not needed, said psychology professor Teresa Bajo of the University of Granada in Spain.   That is pretty constant activity.

That is not the only area.   University of British Columbia psychologist Janet Werker studies infants exposed to two (2)  languages from birth to see why they do not confuse the two (2,) and says bilingual babies learn very early to pay attention better.   Werker tested babies in Spain who were growing up learning both Spanish and Catalan.   She showed the babies videos of women speaking languages they'd never heard, English and French,  but with the sound off.   By measuring the tots' attention span, Werker concluded that babies could distinguish between English and French simply by watching the speakers' facial cues.   It could have been the different lip shapes.


"It looks like French people are always kissing," she joked, while the English "th" sound evokes a distinctive lip-in-teeth shape.  Whatever the cues, monolingual babies could not tell the difference, Werker said Friday at the meeting.   But what about people who were not lucky enough to have been raised bilingual?  Scientists and educators know that it becomes far harder to learn a new language after puberty.  Partly that's because adults' brains are so bombarded with other demands that they do not give learning a new language the same attention that a young child does, Bialystok said. 

At the University of Maryland, scientists are studying how to identify adults who would be good candidates to master a new language, and then what types of training are best.   Having a pretty strong executive control system, like the lifelong bilinguals have, is among the good predictive factors, said Amy Weinberg, deputy director of the university's Center for Advanced Study of Language.

But people do not have to master a new language to benefit some, Bialystok said.   Exercising your brain throughout life contributes to what is called cognitive reserve, the overall ability to withstand the declines of aging and disease.   That is the basis of the use-it-or-lose-it advice from aging experts who also recommend such things as crossword puzzles to keep the brain nimble.   "If you start to learn at 40, 50, 60, you are certainly keeping your brain active," she said.

Did you hear that Sarah Ferguson has NOT been invited to the Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, true, but Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have been invited, they are, after all, Prince William's cousins, I'm not surprised.

I don't think any of us should be surprised with Lady Gaga's costumes.  Miss G's latest outfit put forth an effort to promote safe sex, yup, Lady Gaga wore a head to toe latex outfit resembling that of a condom, good for Lady Gaga, people are still getting AIDS, and we all need to stay aware and focused on how we all can stop the spread of AIDS!, GO GAGA GO!!!!!

I'm going to have a feather today, this morning I missed recording the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" which played on The Turner Classic Movie (TCM) channel, I have been waiting to get this movie on tape for quite some time, and this morning, I blew it big time!!!!!  Oh well, I'm sure they'll play it again!

I called my kids yesterday, Sally, Jessie, and Raphael, alas, the older two (2,) Sally, and Raphael were busy with activity, but I did get to talk to Jessie, who was delightful as usual, gosh, I miss my kids so much, as does Zac and Winter!

By the way, God Bless my reader who informed me that there used to be a talk show called "Sally Jessie Raphael," I had no idea???????

And on that note, I think I will end today's post, have a great day, and lay your clothes out tonight for tomorrow's day of work!!

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Selective on Saturday

Date:                                                Saturday, February 19th, 2011
Word of the Day:                             libation(ly\BAY\shun); the act of pouring a liquid, (usually wine,) either on the ground or on a victim in sacrifice to some deity; also, the wine, or liquid thus poured out

Weight:                                             two hundred and twenty-four (224) pounds
Goal:                                                 lose one hundred (100) pounds
Pounds to lose:                                  ninety-two (92)
Waist Size:                                        forty-three (43) inches
Days until Royal Wedding: 
Rowing Duration:                              thirty-five (35) minutes, one (1) second

Here it is Saturday and I'm sure that alot of you have been up for awhile doing activities and chores, alas, I have just got up recently, I've done my rowing, but that is about it.

Zac told me that he though my post of yesterday was one of my better ones, I guess he likes a good chuckle, okay Lily, don't be so picky, Zac likes a chuckle!

My sister Judy and I are going to North York to the Centre for Performing Arts to see the musical "South Pacific" again this afternoon, I sure hope it is as good as the first time we saw it, but, usually nothing is as good as you remember it.

I have a headache this morning that is bothering me, I don't usually get headaches and this one seems to be a doozie!

The add-on "In the News" offers new insight into Bear Hibernation today, which is something a little different from the usual things I write about.  An in-depth study of hibernating bears has revealed some surprising facts about the biological changes they undergo while in this inactive state.  (I think that is how I'm going to refer my rest time from now on, I'll tell people that I'm hibernating.)

Unlike small mammals, hibernating bears experience only a moderate reduction in body temperature, yet their metabolisms plummet much more dramatically, to just twenty-five (25) percent of their normal rate.  In addition, bears' heart rates drop so low that ten (10) to twenty (20) seconds can pass between beats.  Understanding how bears survive with such low amounts of oxygen could help improve treatments for heart attack and stroke.

Did any of you see Dateline on television last night?  It featured the story or Russell Williams, the ex-Colonel of Canada who disgraced us all with committing murder on two (2) women and burgled homes to remove women's articles of clothing.  Gosh, this story still gives me the goose bumps on how someone could lead such a double life!!!!

I need to call my kids in Florida today.  It has been awhile since I last spoke to Sally, Jessie and Raphael and I miss them greatly.

Looks like one of my idols, Oprah Winfrey, is in for some more bad press.  A dead baby has been found at Oprah's school in South Africa.

Thank you to all of those of you who included Elizabeth Taylor in your prayers.  It is being reported that Miss Taylor seems to be improving, let's all hope that Liz makes a full recovery, she is, after all, one of the last stars from The Golden Age of Hollywood.

Few constructions cause as much consternation for editors as that in which a contrast is represented with the phrase “not only, . . but.”   The solution to garbled syntax in such constructions is simple but bears repeating, so multiple sample sentences follow.  But before we go any further, note not only that a comma following “not only” is unnecessary but also that also (or too or as well) is essential after but.


At its most basic, the erroneous sentence structure you will see played out in several variations here is “(Subject) (this) (verb) and (that).”   The correct sequence is “(Subject) (verb) (this) and (that).”


1.      “I not only knew where this person was shopping and how much he or she was spending, but the exact time of each transaction.”

For such a sentence to exhibit proper parallel structure, the verb following the subject must precede “not only” so that it applies to both parallel phrases, or the verb must be repeated.   In the latter case, the sentence would read, “I not only knew where this person was shopping and how much he or she was spending;  I also knew the exact time of each transaction."  This solution is correct but cumbersome.  (I was tempted to write “not only correct but also cumbersome,” but one is favorable and the other unfavorable, so introducing parallel structure seems inappropriate.)

For clarity and simplicity, try this:  “I knew not only where this person was shopping and how much he or she was spending but also the exact time of each transaction.”

2.      “When the United Kingdom went through its mad cow mess, it had to bury not just the dead animals that had gotten sick, but had to change its butchering methods.”

That’s a clumsy (and erroneous) attempt to provide the verb twice.   It’s far more elegant to compose the sentence so that a single had is strong enough:   “When the United Kingdom went through its mad cow mess,  it had to not only bury the dead animals that had gotten sick but also change its butchering methods.”

3.      “Their drinking may not only reflect difficulties in sleeping and calming down,  but the fact that their parents provided a chaotic and inconsistent home environment.”

This sentence almost sounds right, but may, the verb that precedes “not only,” is an auxiliary, or helper, verb;   it’s playing second banana to reflect, which must also precede “not only”:   “Their drinking may reflect not only difficulties in sleeping and calming down but also the fact that their parents provided a chaotic and inconsistent home environment.”

4.      “Extended-stay lodging may not only fulfill a practical purpose but an emotional one.”

The error is most easily seen in sentences such as this one, in which the “but (also)” phrase is brief and noisily clatters to the floor, unsupported by the sentence structure:   “Extended-stay lodging may fulfill not only a practical purpose but also an emotional one.”

5.      “They understood that the devastation was not solely about the lack of water, but about the way the land had been used.”

This sentence, in which solely stands in for only, places the “not only” element correctly, but, again, the comma is extraneous, and an inserted also is not:  “They understood that the devastation was not solely about the lack of water but also about the way the land had been used.”

Well, dear Reader, it is time for me to get some breakfast, shower, shave, find the theatre-tickets and then dress in my finest outfit to go and see the musical "South Pacific."   For those of you not going to the theatre today, the Turner Classic Movie (TCM) channel is showing a honey of a movie this morning, "Captains Courageous" with Mr. Spencer Tracy in an Oscar-winning role, enjoy it, and the weekend.

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Image by Getty Images via @daylife

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