Thursday Thirteen # 31 - Thirteen Things That Obama Supporters Should Not Do

I received this email from a good friend. It was perfect because it contained 13 statements.

They’ll be watching us on November 5th (the day after the election) for signs
of the end times. To keep the peace and keep a lot of folks from getting nervous, I think we should develop a list of acceptable celebrations and behaviors we should probably avoid – at least for the first few days:

1. No crying, hugging or shouting “Thank you Lord” – at least not in public

2. No high-fives – at least not unless the area is clear and there are no witnesses


3. No laughing at the McCain/Palin supporters

4. No calling in sick on November 5th. They’ll get nervous if too many of us don’t
show up

5. We’re allowed to give each other knowing winks or nods in passing. Just try to keep from grinning too hard

6. No singing loudly, We’ve come this Far By Faith (it will be acceptable to hum softly)

7. No bringing of barbeque ribs or fried chicken for lunch in the company lunchroom for at least a week (no chittlings at all) (this may make us seem too ethnic)

8. No leaving kool-aid packages at the water fountain (this might be a sign that poor folks might be getting a break through)

9. No Cupid Shuffle during breaks (this could indicate a little too much excitement)

10. Please no Moving on Up music (we are going to try to remain humble)

11. No doing the George Jefferson dance (unless you're in your office with the door closed)

12. Please try not to yell----BOOOO YAH!

13. Just in case you're wondering, Doing the Running Man, cabbage patch, or a backhand spring on the highway is 100% okay

If I’ve missed anything feel free to add to the list. I just want to make sure we’re all on the same page when Obama brings this thing home on November
5th.
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Thursday Thirteen #29 -Thirteen Movie Disasters

I haven’t been around for Thursday Thirteen in a month of Sundays (literally). Notice that the title of this TT is "Thirteen Movie Disasters" and not "Thirteen Disaster Movies", big difference! This week I shed light on thirteen of Hollywood’s potboiler (disastrous) films. Certainly there are more than thirteen, but alas I can only list the magic number (13). I will save you the agony of sitting through a clip of any of these films. You might rather sit around and watch paint dry :-P

13. Battlefield Earth (2000) – John Travolta’s two decade long quest to put L. Ron Hubbard’s work on film bombed in a big way. It won seven Razzies, a feat only accomplished by another famous box office bomb “Showgirls” (I am not even going to pick on Showgirls). Budget 73 Million, U.S. Box Office 21 Million.

12. The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) – Eddie Murphy really needs to quit! Sometimes he is pure genius, while other times he really needs to chill, have a seat and think about what he is doing. This was one of those times. Budget 100 Million, U.S. Box Office 4.4 Million.

11. Heaven’s Gate (1980) – Mix cattle rustlers, rich WASP ranch owners and roller skating and you have a recipe for disaster. This film destroyed the career of director Mike Cimino and shut down the United Artist Studio. Budget 40 Million, Box Office 3.5 Million.

10. Town & Country (2001) – Not even Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, and Goldie Hawn could save this fiasco. Budget 90 Million, U.S. Box Office 6.7 Million.

9. Cleopatra (1963) – While not quite as bad as others film on this list as far as budget goes, it none-the-less lost plenty of moolah. Budget 44 Million, Box Office 26 Million.

8. Hudson Hawk (1991) – Oh Bruce, this surely is no “Die Hard”. Rumor has it that a special effects firm had to go through the film and airbrush his bald spot. Talk about sensitive! A hat would have been a hell of a lot cheaper. Budget 65 Million, U.S. Box Office 17 Million.

7. Cutthroat Island (1995) – Director Renny Harlin convinced Carolco Pictures that his then wife Geena Davis could carry this action film. She couldn’t. The film shut down Carolco Studio and derariled Ms. Davis’s career. Budget 98 Million, U.S. Box Office 19 Million.

6. Ishtar (1987) – In spite of good reviews by the New York Times, this film about two lounge singers caught up in the cold war flopped. Budget 55 Million, U.S. Box Office 14 Million.

5. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) – This film flopped at the box office, but picked up steam on video and DVD. Budget 47 Million, Box Office 8 Million.

4. Howard the Duck (1986) – It is hard to believe that George Lucas was affiliated with this foolishness. A cigar smoking duck from Cleveland…As my uncle would say “Like Wow!” Budget 38 Million, U.S. Box Office 16 Million.

3. The Postman (1997) – Believe it or not Kevin Costner’s Waterworld actually made money, but Dirt World (as the crew so lovingly called this one, did not. Budget 80 Million, U.S. Box Office 17.6 Million.

2. ZYZZYZX Road (2005) – This road really exists. It is an exit in California close to the Nevada border. I have passed it numerous times on my way to Lost Wages, Nevada. A lot of indie films don’t make money, but this box office payoff was less than the price of filling up my Toyota Matrix! Budget 2 Million, Box Office 30.00 (Yep! That’s Right! 30 freakin dollars).

1. Dave (2008) – Eddie Murphy strikes again. This is the #1 potboiler of the summer with a Budget 60 Million and a U.S. Box Office of 11.6 Million.

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GO GREEN ! – Thursday Thirteen #28 – 13 Ways to Go Green

Here are thirteen tips we can all consider in order to live a greener life without becoming fanatic. Not that fanatic is a bad thing in this case. I wish I could grow my own veggies and walk to work, but I don’t have a green thumb and logistically walking or riding my bike is impossible (1 live at least 26 miles from work). I actually do several things on this list, not only because they save the ecosystem, but they also save me money.

1. Kill Your Junk Mail
The average adult American receives 41 pounds of junk mail - catalogs, credit-card come-ons and other assorted crap - every year. It wastes your time, millions of trees, billions of gallons of water, and tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. Sign up for online non-profit 41pounds.org's junk mail killer service, it costs $41 for five years' coverage, and they'll break the bad news to retailers and financial institutions for you. They'll also donate to the charity of your choice.

2. Keep electronics out of the trash
Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible. Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxins and is a growing environmental problem.

3. Think about what you throw away
Often things that we throw away could be easily recycled which would help reduce otherwise wasted energy, water and natural resources. Start by checking with your trash removal service or your town/county to see if they offer recycling removal.

4. Less gas = more money (and better health!)
Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.

5. Shorten your showers
Showers account for two-thirds of all water heating costs. Shave a few minutes off your shower time and you will reduce the amount of energy and keep bills lower.


6. Skip the bottled water
Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.


7. Buy reusable shopping bags
Most supermarket chains offer reusable bags at the checkout counter now for a couple of bucks, and companies like Sage Green and Chico Bag offer them in several styles. Don't forget to take them with you to the supermarket!


8. Eat Smart, Eat Green
If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.

9. Save energy to save money
Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.

10. Wait to wash
Reduce your use of water and electricity by waiting to run your dishwasher and washing machine until you have a full load.


11. Find Cheap Gas
Comparison shop. Be a proactive consumer. Don't just pay the high prices at the closest station. Shop around to find the most competitive price in town. For a little help, visit http://gasprices.mapquest.com to compare prices in your area. You can find the best deal by zip code and street name, as well as check out prices by grade of gasoline.

12. Buy a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Consider buying a fuel-efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative-fuel vehicle. It could save you a lot at the gas pump and not to mention help the environment. FuelEconomy.gov offers tips on buying a new fuel-efficient car or truck.

13. Slow It Down
Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph, costing an additional 10 cents per gallon. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% on city streets, resulting in 7 cents to 49 cents per gallon. Don't get too emotional driving, its supposed to be a time to relax and reflect. Next time you get in your car stay calm, cool, and collected put your car on cruise control.

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Thursday Thirteen # 27 - Thirteen Actors Who Died Before The Premiere Of Their Final Film

I went to see the latest Batman movie "The Dark Knight" and Heath Ledger’s performance was superb. His death puts him in a class occupied by an elite few, artists who died before the release of their last film. Their deaths caused most of these artists’ to remain forever young and some of them still make us wonder what might have been if they had lived. Here are thirteen stars that died before their final film was released. Can you think of actors that missed their premieres because of their untimely passing?

1. Aaliyah – Died in a 2001 plane crash before the release of vampire film “Queen of the Damned”

2.James Dean – “Rebel Without a Cause” was released one month after Dean was killed in a 1955 automobile accident.

3.Clark Gable – died at the age of 59 before the release of the 1960 film “The Misfits”

4.River Phoenix - died of a drug-induced heart attack four months before the film “Silent Tongue” was slated for release.

5.Jean Harlow – She was just 26 years old when she died of kidney failure just a month before the release of her 1937 film “Saratoga”

6.Marilyn Monroe – died of an alleged drug overdose (I have never quite believe this theory as an adult) while still filming “Something’s Got To Give”, which was later redone as “Move Over Darling”

7.Bruce Lee – Died at the age 32 from a cerebral edema, one month before the release of “Enter the Dragon”.

8.Brandon Lee – Son of Bruce Lee also died on the filming of “The Crow” in an on set mishap

9.Natalie Wood- drowned in 1981 just before the completion of the science fiction thriller “Brainstorm”

10.John Candy – Died during the filming of the motion picture “Wagons East”

11.. Tupac Shakur – The 25 year old rapper was killed in a 1996 Las Vegas drive by shooting after filming two films “Gridlock’d” and “Gang Related”, both of which were released the following year.

12.Phil Hartman – SNL star was shoot and killed by his wife in a 1998 murder-suicide, just two months before the release of “Small Soldiers”

13.Chris Farley – Died of a drug overdose in 1997 just a month before the release of “Beverly Hills Ninja”

Thursday Thirteen #26 – Retro Candies and Snacks

I am a fan of retro stuff. I have rotary dial phones in three rooms in my home. I own a turntable with loads of vinyl from a variety of artist from Duke Ellington to Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan. I was over visiting Pop Art Diva blog (a wonderful blog about all things retro) and she inspired this week’s Thursday Thirteen about snack foods I ate as a child. So come take this trip down memory lane with me and feel free to share some of the candies and snacks you loved as a kid. You can find all the candies and snacks mentioned below and so many more at The Old Time Candy Company.

1.Indian Brand Pumpkin Seeds – I love pumpkin seeds as a child and this brand was my favorite. They cost a nickel a package and they were well worth it. I remember eating the seed, shell and all. They were so good and salty.

2. Kits - We had a candy store around the corner from my house called the Confectionary. Mr Jarrod suggested I buy this candy call kits-he let me choose the flavor-chocolate. I took off the outside wrapper to discover it held 4 pieces. I shared them with my friends. I liked the smooth texture in my mouth. I made sure to always pick up some kits!

3. Mary Janes - In 1884, Charles H. Miller and his three sons founded a small business manufacturing and selling homemade candy. The building where they began making their candy had a notable past -- it was the Paul Revere House in Boston's Faneuil Hall/North End area.

4. Squirrel Nut Chews – I have fond memories of stopping at Eddie’s corner store on my way to Roosevelt Elementary school in Flint, Michigan and purchasing this chewy peanut concoction.

5. Bit-O-Honey – That sweet chewy morsel with the bits of almond was and still is one of my favorite. Bit-O-Honey first appeared in 1924 and was made by the Schutter-Johnson Company of Chicago. Bit-O-Honey was a new kind of candy bar consisting of six pieces of candy wrapped in wax paper and then packaged in a wrapper. Today, Bit-O-Honey is made by the Nestle Company.

6. Bazooka – How cool is a bubblegum that has a comic in every pack. The Bazooka Joe comics were introduced in 1953 to add interest for children.

7. Candy Necklace - When I was little I used to eat candy necklaces all the time. I loved the chalky taste.

8. Coconuts Neapolitan Sundaes - I still remember the somewhat tedious process of unwrapping this candy (could be tricky at times because they were pretty sticky, but so worth it!) But most of all I remember the particular way I would eat them - usually nibbling off the pink end, then the white center and leaving the chocolate part for last! Yummy coconut goodness!

9. Mallo Cups – I was a fan of coconut back in the day and Mallo Cups has a marshmallow coconut filling that was so good.

10. Smarties – I still eat these today when I can find them. As a young girl when I would go trick or treating I would always hope that those old folks would throw some Smarties in my little Trick or Treat bag.

11. Tootsie Rolls – This candy is one that has stood the test of time and never lost its popularity. Leo Hirshfield was looking around for a name for the new confection he was making from a recipe he'd brought over from Europe in 1896. He chose the name of his 6 year old daughter, Clara, whose nickname was Tootsie. This is the first candy to be individually wrapped in paper.

12. Sweet Tarts – This is my first experience eating candy that was sour, yet sweet, a wonderful combination.

13. Cracker Jacks – Who growing up in the 60’s didn’t love Cracker Jacks? Not only did you get syrupy sweet caramel corn, but a prize too! According to legend, in 1893 a unique popcorn, peanuts and molasses confection that was the forerunner to Cracker Jack caramel coated popcorn and peanuts is introduced by F.W. Rueckheim and Brother, at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago's first World's Fair.

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