Monday, September 04, 2006
Eating Healthy...
Yahoo! News
Web site steers diners to healthy eats
By CANDICE CHOI, Associated Press WriterSun Sep 3, 9:36 PM ET
Restaurants, under fire from health advocates for too-big servings and not enough detail on nutrition, are fighting back.
The National Restaurant Association is building a Web site that will provide a hefty list of healthy meals and restaurants across the country where they can be found.
While the Healthy Dining Finder site isn't as upfront as the onsite brochures and posters that health experts have called for, it is a step in the right direction, said Christine Gerbstadt, a nutritionist with the American Dietetic Association.
The Web site is a way to discreetly court dieters willing to do research without offending others who may not want to be confronted with shockingly high calorie counts.
"It's a happy medium," said Sue Hensley, spokeswoman for the National Restaurant Association.
Arming diners with nutritional information is especially critical now, with Americans eating out more than ever before, Gerbstadt said. "People need to know what they're consuming," she said.
Tricia Bliss, a petite 35-year-old, always logs onto the Internet to check nutritional information before going to lunch with co-workers.
If their chosen restaurants don't have anything she can eat, she'll persuade her friends to go elsewhere.
That's just the type of customer the Healthy Dining Finder — http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/ — is intended to reach.
The site is collecting nutritional information on the four to 10 healthiest dishes at restaurants in a community. Users can punch in their town or ZIP code and search for restaurants by cuisine or price range. It is already available for preview, but a formal launch with more than 10,000 restaurant listings is scheduled for January.
"It's going to be the Grand Central of nutritional information," said Erica Bohm of Healthy Dining, the company that developed the site with the restaurant association.
Their hope is to dispel the notion that dieters must stay at home or leave their diets at the door.
"When people go on a diet, they think 'Oh, my God, I'll never be able to eat out again,'" said Netty Levine, a nutritionist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
But with some help, Levine said, people can find ways to stick to their diets wherever they go. It's a matter of doing a little research and asking servers the right questions. (Is the spinach sauteed in oil? Is the sea bass breaded?)
The Healthy Dining Finder will make that work easier, although Levine cautions that online calorie counts might not always be accurate. Two plates of chicken parmigiana, even from the same restaurant, can vary greatly.
The Web site begs the question: Why not post the information in the restaurants or on menus?
"It's sort of sneaky that they do it online but not in the store," said Elizabeth Picker, a 19-year-old Albany resident. "When people go out, it's usually a spur-of-the-moment thing, and they aren't going to be able to go online."
Some cafes are more upfront about what they serve. At Au Bon Pain bakeries, computer kiosks calculate calories and other details for sandwiches and pastries, and Applebee's uses the Weight Watchers point system on its menu. Subway boasts of its sandwiches' nutritional value — even printing the information on its napkins.
"If it's a fine dining restaurant, there's not going to be a poster. The type of restaurant is going to drive how the information is made available," Hensley said.
___
On the Net:
National Restaurant Association: http://www.restaurant.org/
American Dietetic Association: http://www.eatright.org/
My comments...
This could catch on and hopefully will. Right now, I'm not too sure of this. I'm this way and that way. I never can make up my mind on anything. It has its pros and cons. If someone were on a special diet, they could go to the above links and look for a healthy place to eat. If you were in a rush and wanted to eat anything, you won't bother looking where you can eat healthy stuff.
Not all restaurants are on that list. I ciecked it out. McDonalds claims to have healty food. I live close by a McDonalds. I went to http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/ and found out that Arby's was a healty restuarant. It asks you for your street, which is optional, I didn't put that in, it asks you for your town and state, I put those in. I live about a mile from the nearest McDonalds. About 5 miles from Arby's. If McDonalds has healty food they better get in there!
Feel free to comment.
Web site steers diners to healthy eats
By CANDICE CHOI, Associated Press WriterSun Sep 3, 9:36 PM ET
Restaurants, under fire from health advocates for too-big servings and not enough detail on nutrition, are fighting back.
The National Restaurant Association is building a Web site that will provide a hefty list of healthy meals and restaurants across the country where they can be found.
While the Healthy Dining Finder site isn't as upfront as the onsite brochures and posters that health experts have called for, it is a step in the right direction, said Christine Gerbstadt, a nutritionist with the American Dietetic Association.
The Web site is a way to discreetly court dieters willing to do research without offending others who may not want to be confronted with shockingly high calorie counts.
"It's a happy medium," said Sue Hensley, spokeswoman for the National Restaurant Association.
Arming diners with nutritional information is especially critical now, with Americans eating out more than ever before, Gerbstadt said. "People need to know what they're consuming," she said.
Tricia Bliss, a petite 35-year-old, always logs onto the Internet to check nutritional information before going to lunch with co-workers.
If their chosen restaurants don't have anything she can eat, she'll persuade her friends to go elsewhere.
That's just the type of customer the Healthy Dining Finder — http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/ — is intended to reach.
The site is collecting nutritional information on the four to 10 healthiest dishes at restaurants in a community. Users can punch in their town or ZIP code and search for restaurants by cuisine or price range. It is already available for preview, but a formal launch with more than 10,000 restaurant listings is scheduled for January.
"It's going to be the Grand Central of nutritional information," said Erica Bohm of Healthy Dining, the company that developed the site with the restaurant association.
Their hope is to dispel the notion that dieters must stay at home or leave their diets at the door.
"When people go on a diet, they think 'Oh, my God, I'll never be able to eat out again,'" said Netty Levine, a nutritionist at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
But with some help, Levine said, people can find ways to stick to their diets wherever they go. It's a matter of doing a little research and asking servers the right questions. (Is the spinach sauteed in oil? Is the sea bass breaded?)
The Healthy Dining Finder will make that work easier, although Levine cautions that online calorie counts might not always be accurate. Two plates of chicken parmigiana, even from the same restaurant, can vary greatly.
The Web site begs the question: Why not post the information in the restaurants or on menus?
"It's sort of sneaky that they do it online but not in the store," said Elizabeth Picker, a 19-year-old Albany resident. "When people go out, it's usually a spur-of-the-moment thing, and they aren't going to be able to go online."
Some cafes are more upfront about what they serve. At Au Bon Pain bakeries, computer kiosks calculate calories and other details for sandwiches and pastries, and Applebee's uses the Weight Watchers point system on its menu. Subway boasts of its sandwiches' nutritional value — even printing the information on its napkins.
"If it's a fine dining restaurant, there's not going to be a poster. The type of restaurant is going to drive how the information is made available," Hensley said.
___
On the Net:
National Restaurant Association: http://www.restaurant.org/
American Dietetic Association: http://www.eatright.org/
My comments...
This could catch on and hopefully will. Right now, I'm not too sure of this. I'm this way and that way. I never can make up my mind on anything. It has its pros and cons. If someone were on a special diet, they could go to the above links and look for a healthy place to eat. If you were in a rush and wanted to eat anything, you won't bother looking where you can eat healthy stuff.
Not all restaurants are on that list. I ciecked it out. McDonalds claims to have healty food. I live close by a McDonalds. I went to http://www.healthydiningfinder.com/ and found out that Arby's was a healty restuarant. It asks you for your street, which is optional, I didn't put that in, it asks you for your town and state, I put those in. I live about a mile from the nearest McDonalds. About 5 miles from Arby's. If McDonalds has healty food they better get in there!
Feel free to comment.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Saturday, September 02, 2006
I like to play games on my computer. One game I like a lot is Bulldozer. You get to push boulders onto a target. You're moving the boulder with a bulldozer, hence the name of the game, Bulldozer. Here's a picture to show you what I'm talking about.
It's not as easy as it looks. There's Bulldozer 1 and Bulldozer 2. There are 60 levels you have to complete to finish the game. With Bulldozer 1 I have completed 56b levels. This is what level 56 looks like.
I have yet to figure it out. The problem is if you get a boulder against a wall there is no way to get it away from the wall. I'll show you what I mean. I have gotten up to level 41 in Bulldozer 2 and found a glitch in level 41.
Do you see the boulder against the wall on the top of the picture? There is no way to get the boulder to move away from the wall.
If anyone can help me out with this it would be much appreciated.
I might add this is a Windows 95 game. It came on a CD with 40 games made by Expert Software.
I might add this is a Windows 95 game. It came on a CD with 40 games made by Expert Software.
Instant messaging
Do any of my blogger friends have instant messengers, such as AOL instant messenger or Yahoo instant messenger? With Yahoo instant messenger I can talk to people on MSN messenger.
If you would like to chat please email me with your screen name and we can chat. You can find my email addy in my profile.
If you would like to chat please email me with your screen name and we can chat. You can find my email addy in my profile.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Bananas
After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again!
Bananas Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.
Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS:
Forget the pills -- eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.
Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.
Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.
Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.
Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.
Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.
Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.
Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.
Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.
Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.
Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, rese archers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.
Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.
Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.
Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.
Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine," eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!
So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"
Thursday, August 31, 2006
I was trying to group three things together and had a hard time doing it. It FINALLY got done.
Sometimes I think Word has a mind of its own. I think computers do too. I also think they do things just to annoy us, like crash. They get us nice and attached to them so we pay attention to them, get attached to going online and do what we do online, and then they crash. They want us to pay attention to just them without going online. They break down so we have to fix them.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Tomorrow I go back to work. Yes, I do use four letter words. Work is a four letter word.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
What some people will do for their pets
Woman crashes when teaching dog to drive
Mon Aug 28, 8:19 PM ET
A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday.
No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged, it said.
The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog "was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive," according to Xinhua.
"She thought she would let the dog 'have a try' while she operated the accelerator and brake," the report said. "They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car."
Xinhua did not say what kind of dog or vehicles were involved but Li paid for repairs.
My comments
Who in their right mind would teach a dog to drive? I know you can teach a dog to do almost anything, but to drive?
Let's say you did teach your dog to drive, imagine the possiblities. YOu could sleep on your way to work, providing your dog was a good driver. but the thing is, would the dog knwo what time to pick you up?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I saw a cute T-shirt at work today. Toto wrote Dorothy a letter, from the Wizard of Oz. It said,
"Dear Dorothy,
I hate Oz. I took the ruby slippers. Find your own way home.
Toto."
I thought that was so cute.
Mon Aug 28, 8:19 PM ET
A woman in Hohhot, the capital of north China's Inner Mongolia region, crashed her car while giving her dog a driving lesson, the official Xinhua News Agency said Monday.
No injuries were reported although both vehicles were slightly damaged, it said.
The woman, identified only be her surname, Li, said her dog "was fond of crouching on the steering wheel and often watched her drive," according to Xinhua.
"She thought she would let the dog 'have a try' while she operated the accelerator and brake," the report said. "They did not make it far before crashing into an oncoming car."
Xinhua did not say what kind of dog or vehicles were involved but Li paid for repairs.
My comments
Who in their right mind would teach a dog to drive? I know you can teach a dog to do almost anything, but to drive?
Let's say you did teach your dog to drive, imagine the possiblities. YOu could sleep on your way to work, providing your dog was a good driver. but the thing is, would the dog knwo what time to pick you up?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I saw a cute T-shirt at work today. Toto wrote Dorothy a letter, from the Wizard of Oz. It said,
"Dear Dorothy,
I hate Oz. I took the ruby slippers. Find your own way home.
Toto."
I thought that was so cute.
Ernesto, again...
Ernesto is still a tropical storm. If we can survive a bunch of major hurrcanes, we can survive an itty bitty tropical storm. All this hype about Ernesto turning into a catagory 3 hurricane, honestly!
Monday, August 28, 2006
Ernesto
We may get hit by yet another hurricane. Boss Lady said we weren’t going to get any this year, so we’ll see. Ernesto is now a Tropical Storm. It supposed to gain hurricane strength by the time it reaches Florida. It’s supposed to hit the Keys first, so they’re evacuating all the tourists. Every time they do this the silly hurricane goes some place else. EVERY SINGLE time it seems. All of Florida is under a hurricane watch.
We’ll know more as it heads this way.
GO AWAY ERNESTO!!!! WE’VE HAD OUR FAIR SHARE OF HURRICANES!!!! IT’S SOMEBODY’S ELSE’S TURN!!!! OH, AND DON’T GO TO LOUISIANA THEY STILL HAVE TO RECOVER FROM LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE TO RECOVER FROM 2 YEARS OF HURRICANE DAMAGE!!!!
What gets to me, is, last year we had plenty of time to prepare. Wilma took its sweet time getting here. It kept stalling and taunting Florida. You still had the long lines at the gas station and waiting for food stamps and everything.
Stay tuned...
We’ll know more as it heads this way.
GO AWAY ERNESTO!!!! WE’VE HAD OUR FAIR SHARE OF HURRICANES!!!! IT’S SOMEBODY’S ELSE’S TURN!!!! OH, AND DON’T GO TO LOUISIANA THEY STILL HAVE TO RECOVER FROM LAST YEAR AND WE HAVE TO RECOVER FROM 2 YEARS OF HURRICANE DAMAGE!!!!
What gets to me, is, last year we had plenty of time to prepare. Wilma took its sweet time getting here. It kept stalling and taunting Florida. You still had the long lines at the gas station and waiting for food stamps and everything.
Stay tuned...
Sunday, August 27, 2006
???
What would you think of someone who doens't like America, and thinks this country is a joke, who lives here, and won't go back to their own country? Plus this person has fathered two children and won't support his own kids. This person is on disability.
I believe this person is on disability so he doesn't have to support his own kids. This person also has 2 part time jobs and is too lazy to get up in the morning. One job is off the books.
What would you think of such a person?
I believe this person is on disability so he doesn't have to support his own kids. This person also has 2 part time jobs and is too lazy to get up in the morning. One job is off the books.
What would you think of such a person?
Saturday, August 26, 2006
My work week...
First off, let me say I will try to start blogging on a regular basis. I will try not to slack off. I just have to find stuff to write about.
My work weed starts on Tueday and ends on Saturday. 5 days straight. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I have 2 days off. Sunday and Monday. I hate that schedule. I want my weekends, Saturday and Sunday off. That's how its supposed to be.
I consider my work week to be Monday to Friday. L:ke this:
Tuesday is my Monday
Wednesday is my Tuesday
Thursdzy is my Wednesday
Friday is my Thursday
Saturday is my Friday
Is that so hard? No, I didn't think so. Boss lady doesn't like it that way. She's happy with the days of the week we work. So to keep every body happy I just keep my mouth shut and keep my week the way I like it.
When one of us takes a Saturday off and Friday is their last day, it is actually Friday for them.
Understand?
My work weed starts on Tueday and ends on Saturday. 5 days straight. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I have 2 days off. Sunday and Monday. I hate that schedule. I want my weekends, Saturday and Sunday off. That's how its supposed to be.
I consider my work week to be Monday to Friday. L:ke this:
Tuesday is my Monday
Wednesday is my Tuesday
Thursdzy is my Wednesday
Friday is my Thursday
Saturday is my Friday
Is that so hard? No, I didn't think so. Boss lady doesn't like it that way. She's happy with the days of the week we work. So to keep every body happy I just keep my mouth shut and keep my week the way I like it.
When one of us takes a Saturday off and Friday is their last day, it is actually Friday for them.
Understand?
Friday, August 25, 2006
The people I work with
are something else.
First we have the “Screecher” this one has a high pitched voice when they talk loudly. She’ll be right next to you and then schreech. She’ll watch you jump and then laugh.
Then we have “Loud Mouth.” You know when she’s around. She speaks loudly and yells. And if she’s not saying anything she bangs things around. This one is LOUD. She talks like a sailor or truck driver.
I don't work with these two all day, but we do run into each other. I work for a non profit organization processing donated clothes. I work with people who hang the clothes. I process and pick out the good stuff and the hanger hangs them on a rack and brings the rack out and someone else puts them away, like Big Mouth.
My supervisor will be referred to as the "Boss lady." I called her a bad name one time and found out that was not a good idea.
I process clothe for the "Grabber" in the morning and "Slacker" in the afternoon. Grabber grabz the clothes and quick hangs them before I even know there gone and then wants more clothes. As soon as I turn my back the clothes are gone. If I'm not finished with them, I have to quick grab them back and finish with them.
"Slacker" is the total opposite. You have to push clothes to him or he won't touch them, unless, of course you give him the clothes out of order they were processed in.
These are some real characters.
First we have the “Screecher” this one has a high pitched voice when they talk loudly. She’ll be right next to you and then schreech. She’ll watch you jump and then laugh.
Then we have “Loud Mouth.” You know when she’s around. She speaks loudly and yells. And if she’s not saying anything she bangs things around. This one is LOUD. She talks like a sailor or truck driver.
I don't work with these two all day, but we do run into each other. I work for a non profit organization processing donated clothes. I work with people who hang the clothes. I process and pick out the good stuff and the hanger hangs them on a rack and brings the rack out and someone else puts them away, like Big Mouth.
My supervisor will be referred to as the "Boss lady." I called her a bad name one time and found out that was not a good idea.
I process clothe for the "Grabber" in the morning and "Slacker" in the afternoon. Grabber grabz the clothes and quick hangs them before I even know there gone and then wants more clothes. As soon as I turn my back the clothes are gone. If I'm not finished with them, I have to quick grab them back and finish with them.
"Slacker" is the total opposite. You have to push clothes to him or he won't touch them, unless, of course you give him the clothes out of order they were processed in.
These are some real characters.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Survivor is going to be better than ever!!!
A Racy Twist for "Survivor"
By Gina SerpeWed Aug 23, 7:21 PM ET
Some may call it exploiting racial tensions. CBS calls it darn good television.
Jeff Probst popped in on The Early Show Wednesday morning, confirming the reports that the 20 castaways for Survivor: Cook Islands will be grouped by race, with competitors divided into four tribes consisting of whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics.
Apparently, "separate but equal" holds only the warmest of connotations for Mark Burnett.
Like a good host, Probst had nothing but praise for the producers' controversial brainchild, calling the exercise in segregation a valuable social experiment, rather than a stunt to dig up some controversy--and raise ratings.
"The idea for this actually came from the criticism that Survivor was not ethnically diverse enough, because for whatever reason, we always have a low number of minority applicants apply for the show," Probst said.
"So we set out and said, 'Let's turn this criticism into creative for the show.' And I think it fits perfectly with what Survivor does, which is, it is a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment, which is taking the show to a completely different level."
Different level, yes. Good level, still to be determined.
"If I had been a producer of this show, it is not an idea I would have come up with or given approval to," Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University, told E! Online. "It's like a return back to segregated leagues in sports. The unseemly interest this will invite certainly is not worth the dramatic elements it's going to bring."
"To the less-than-open minded person, it is very easy to trash us," Burnett explained to Entertainment Weekly. "But we're smart enough to not make it negative. We're smart enough to have gotten rid of every racist person in casting."
Though more to the point, the producers haven't and can't weed out every racially sensitive person in their audience who may take offense to the seemingly archaic, and potentially socially irresponsible, division.
While the 43-year-old host admitted that the players themselves had "mixed reactions" to the racial separation, he made clear that the division was not meant to incite any controversy, add to the tension during the competition or simply be viewed as a gimmick.
"Our original idea was simply to have the most ethnically diverse group of people on TV. It wasn't until we got to casting and started noticing this theme of ethnic pride that we started thinking, 'Wow, if culture is still playing such a big part in these people's lives, that's our idea. Let's divide them based on ethnicity,' " he said.
Though not everyone is as excited about the idea as Probst and his Survivor crew.
"It sounds like a gimmick a lot of people are going to have real issues as to the taste of," Thompson said.
Referencing Burnett's previous experiments on Survivor and The Apprentice to divide teams by boys vs. girls and, more recently on the latter, by street smarts vs. book smarts, Thompson said that "these things don't often work so well in less dicey situations."
And any publicity is good publicity, right?
"As far as getting some attention, getting it talked about again, this'll do it," Thompson said. "Survivor is a great game. It's the gold standard of reality TV. But nobody seems to talk about it anymore."
Or watch it.
Survivor: Cook Islands will be the reality show's 13th installment and comes on the heels of the least watched season in the series' history. Despite garnering an Emmy nod for Best Reality Competition, Survivor: Panama--Exile Island, which split the tribes based on gender and age, averaged a franchise-low 16.8 million viewers. Hence the latest drastic measure.
CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler told EW that while she was hesitant to give the go-ahead on the "risky idea," she finally relented, saying it was the logical next step in "a show that explores social politics."
"It's not just 18 white people," Probst told the magazine. "Suddenly you have new slang, new rituals--people doing things like making fire in ways that haven't been done on Survivor. I think we have a season where people will say you can never go back to what you were before."
It's not the first time a primetime reality show has flirted with race, though it will be the first time one follows through.
Last year, Donald Trump hinted that The Apprentice was toying with the idea of dividing his two teams by race, only to backtrack on the notion when backlash started up, saying "I personally don't like it, so it will never happen."
Survivor: Cook Islands kicks off Sept. 14. Here's a list of the competitors:
By Gina SerpeWed Aug 23, 7:21 PM ET
Some may call it exploiting racial tensions. CBS calls it darn good television.
Jeff Probst popped in on The Early Show Wednesday morning, confirming the reports that the 20 castaways for Survivor: Cook Islands will be grouped by race, with competitors divided into four tribes consisting of whites, blacks, Asians and Hispanics.
Apparently, "separate but equal" holds only the warmest of connotations for Mark Burnett.
Like a good host, Probst had nothing but praise for the producers' controversial brainchild, calling the exercise in segregation a valuable social experiment, rather than a stunt to dig up some controversy--and raise ratings.
"The idea for this actually came from the criticism that Survivor was not ethnically diverse enough, because for whatever reason, we always have a low number of minority applicants apply for the show," Probst said.
"So we set out and said, 'Let's turn this criticism into creative for the show.' And I think it fits perfectly with what Survivor does, which is, it is a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment, which is taking the show to a completely different level."
Different level, yes. Good level, still to be determined.
"If I had been a producer of this show, it is not an idea I would have come up with or given approval to," Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University, told E! Online. "It's like a return back to segregated leagues in sports. The unseemly interest this will invite certainly is not worth the dramatic elements it's going to bring."
"To the less-than-open minded person, it is very easy to trash us," Burnett explained to Entertainment Weekly. "But we're smart enough to not make it negative. We're smart enough to have gotten rid of every racist person in casting."
Though more to the point, the producers haven't and can't weed out every racially sensitive person in their audience who may take offense to the seemingly archaic, and potentially socially irresponsible, division.
While the 43-year-old host admitted that the players themselves had "mixed reactions" to the racial separation, he made clear that the division was not meant to incite any controversy, add to the tension during the competition or simply be viewed as a gimmick.
"Our original idea was simply to have the most ethnically diverse group of people on TV. It wasn't until we got to casting and started noticing this theme of ethnic pride that we started thinking, 'Wow, if culture is still playing such a big part in these people's lives, that's our idea. Let's divide them based on ethnicity,' " he said.
Though not everyone is as excited about the idea as Probst and his Survivor crew.
"It sounds like a gimmick a lot of people are going to have real issues as to the taste of," Thompson said.
Referencing Burnett's previous experiments on Survivor and The Apprentice to divide teams by boys vs. girls and, more recently on the latter, by street smarts vs. book smarts, Thompson said that "these things don't often work so well in less dicey situations."
And any publicity is good publicity, right?
"As far as getting some attention, getting it talked about again, this'll do it," Thompson said. "Survivor is a great game. It's the gold standard of reality TV. But nobody seems to talk about it anymore."
Or watch it.
Survivor: Cook Islands will be the reality show's 13th installment and comes on the heels of the least watched season in the series' history. Despite garnering an Emmy nod for Best Reality Competition, Survivor: Panama--Exile Island, which split the tribes based on gender and age, averaged a franchise-low 16.8 million viewers. Hence the latest drastic measure.
CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler told EW that while she was hesitant to give the go-ahead on the "risky idea," she finally relented, saying it was the logical next step in "a show that explores social politics."
"It's not just 18 white people," Probst told the magazine. "Suddenly you have new slang, new rituals--people doing things like making fire in ways that haven't been done on Survivor. I think we have a season where people will say you can never go back to what you were before."
It's not the first time a primetime reality show has flirted with race, though it will be the first time one follows through.
Last year, Donald Trump hinted that The Apprentice was toying with the idea of dividing his two teams by race, only to backtrack on the notion when backlash started up, saying "I personally don't like it, so it will never happen."
Survivor: Cook Islands kicks off Sept. 14. Here's a list of the competitors:
- Rebecca Borman, 24, makeup artistLaurelton, New York;
- Anh-Tuan "Cao Boi" Bui, 42, nail salon managerChristiansburg, Virginia;
- Sekou Bunch, 45, jazz musician, Los Angeles;
- J.P. Calderon, 30, pro volleyball player, Marina Del Rey, California;
- Cristina Coria, 35, police officer, Los Angeles;
- Stephannie Favor, 35, nursing student, Columbia, South Carolina;
- Billy Garcia, 36, heavy metal guitarist, New York City;
- Adam Gentry, 28, copier sales, San Diego;
- Nathan Gonzalez, 26, retail sales, Los Angeles;
- Jenny Guzon-Bae, 36, real estate agent, Lake Forest, Illinois;
- Yul Kwon, 31, management consultant, San Mateo, California;
- Becky Lee, 28, attorney, Washington, D.C.;
- Oscar "Ozzy" Lusth, 25, waiter, Venice, California;
- Cecilia Mansilla, 29, technology risk consultant, Oakland;
- Sundra Oakley, 31, actress, Los Angeles;
- Jonathan Penner, 44, writer/producer,
- Los Angeles; Parvati Shallow, 23, boxer/waitress, Los Angeles;
- Jessica Smith, 27, performance artist/rollergirl, Chico, California;
- Brad Virata, 29, fashion director, Los Angeles;
- Candice Woodcock, 23, premed student, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Watch out!
When you go to bed at night and forget to shut down your computer, do you know where your icons are?What they are doing?
See what goes on....
Turn up the sound and Click on the link below"
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jvdkuyp/flash/see.htm
See what goes on....
Turn up the sound and Click on the link below"
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jvdkuyp/flash/see.htm
Thursday, August 17, 2006
What I don't understand is how was this an accident???
Suspect says Ramsey death 'an accident'
By SUTIN WANNABOVORN, Associated Press Writer 23 minutes ago
BANGKOK, Thailand - A former American school teacher said publicly Thursday he was with
JonBenet Ramsey when she was killed and called the 6-year-old's death "an accident," a stunning admission that should help answer 10 years of questions in the unsolved murder case.
John Mark Karr, 41, will be taken within the week to Colorado, where he will face charges of first degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault, Ann Hurst of the Department of Homeland Security told a news conference in Bangkok.
"I was with JonBenet when she died," John Mark Karr told reporters afterward, visibly
nervous and stuttering as he spoke. "Her death was an accident."
Asked if he was innocent of the crime, Karr said: "No."
Karr confessed to the killing after his arrest Wednesday at his downtown Bangkok apartment by Thai and American authorities, said Lt. Gen. Suwat Tumrongsiskul, head of Thailand's immigration police.
He said Karr insisted his crime was not first-degree murder but that she died during a kidnapping attempt that went awry.
"He said it was second-degree murder. He said it was unintentional. He said he was in love with the child, she was a pageant queen," Suwat said.
Karr declined to say what his connection was to the Ramsey family. Dressed in a turquoise polo shirt and khaki trousers, he appeared ashen with an expressionless look on his face.
An attorney for the Ramsey family said Wednesday that Karr once lived near the family in Conyers, Ga.
JonBenet was found beaten and strangled in the basement of the family's home in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 26, 1996.
Wednesday's arrest was a surprise development in one of America's most lurid murder cases, which had left a cloud of suspicion over her family after years went by with no arrests. Some feared the case would never be solved.
Striking video images of the blonde-haired girl in child beauty pageants helped propel the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States.
A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that Karr had been communicating periodically with somebody in Boulder who had been following the case and cooperating with law enforcement officials.
A University of Colorado spokesman, Barrie Hartman, said journalism professor Michael
Tracey communicated with Karr over several months and contacted police. The university spokesman said he didn't know what prompted Tracey to become suspicious of Karr.
Tracey produced a documentary in 2004 called "Who Killed JonBenet?" A woman who answered the phone at a number under his name said he didn't live there anymore; his office phone mailbox was full.
The Ramseys learned that police were investigating Karr at least a month before the June death of JonBenet's mother, Patsy Ramsey, of ovarian cancer, the family said.
In a statement Wednesday, father John Ramsey said that if his wife had lived to see Karr's arrest, she "would no doubt have been as pleased as I am with today's development almost 10 years after our daughter's murder."
Suwat quoted Karr as saying he tried to kidnap JonBenet for a $118,000 ransom but that his plan went awry and he strangled her. Patsy Ramsey reported finding a ransom note in the house demanding $118,000 for her daughter.
Investigators said at one point that JonBenet's parents were under an "umbrella of
suspicion" in the slaying, and some news accounts cast suspicion on JonBenet's older
brother, Burke. But the Ramseys insisted an intruder killed their daughter, and no one was ever charged.
Over the years, some experts suggested that investigators had botched the case so
thoroughly that it might never be solved. The Ramseys moved back to Atlanta after their aughter's slaying.
"It's been a very long 10 years, and I'm just sorry Patsy isn't here for me to hug her neck," said Lin Wood, the family's longtime attorney.
"John and Patsy lived their lives knowing they were innocent, trying to raise a son despite the furor around them," Wood told MSNBC.
Suwat said U.S. authorities informed Thai police on Aug. 11 that an arrest warrant had been issued for Karr on charges of premeditated murder. The warrant was sent to Thai police on Wednesday.
"Through investigation we were able to determine where his residence was and the Thais arrested him," Hurst said. "He did not resist. He did express surprise."
Hurst said Karr has been "very cooperative" with authorities and that he's shown a "variety of emotions."
Suwat said Karr arrived in Bangkok on June 6 from Malaysia to look for a teaching job. It was not clear whether he had gotten a job, the police officer said.
Karr's visa has been revoked as an "undesirable person" given the accusations against him, and U.S. authorities were expected to take him to the United States in the next few days, Suwat said.
Hurst, with the department's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Bangkok, said that Karr had left the United States several years ago and had not returned.
The immigration and customs office had assisted the Boulder County District Attorney's Office and the Royal Thai Police in the investigation.
The suspect, who has been in Thailand five times over the past two years, was being
detained by immigration police pending arrival of U.S. officials, Suwat said.
When asked how he could travel for so many years in Asia, and whether he was independently wealthy, Hurst responded, "We're asking the same questions."
Police said Karr had been living in a dormitory-style hotel called The Blooms in a
neighborhood of massage parlors and travel agents that cater to expatriate residents and sex tourists. The nine-story hotel offers rooms for as short as three-hour rentals.
The district attorney in Boulder, Mary Lacy, said the arrest followed several months of work.
She said Karr, who had traveled extensively across the world, may also be connected to a prior case in Santa Rosa County, Calif. She did not provide further details.
Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse confirmed the child pornography charges and arrest warrant against a John Mark Karr, though she cautioned that she didn't know if he was the same person held Bangkok. State records show Karr lost his teaching credential in 2002.
By SUTIN WANNABOVORN, Associated Press Writer 23 minutes ago
BANGKOK, Thailand - A former American school teacher said publicly Thursday he was with
JonBenet Ramsey when she was killed and called the 6-year-old's death "an accident," a stunning admission that should help answer 10 years of questions in the unsolved murder case.
John Mark Karr, 41, will be taken within the week to Colorado, where he will face charges of first degree murder, kidnapping and child sexual assault, Ann Hurst of the Department of Homeland Security told a news conference in Bangkok.
"I was with JonBenet when she died," John Mark Karr told reporters afterward, visibly
nervous and stuttering as he spoke. "Her death was an accident."
Asked if he was innocent of the crime, Karr said: "No."
Karr confessed to the killing after his arrest Wednesday at his downtown Bangkok apartment by Thai and American authorities, said Lt. Gen. Suwat Tumrongsiskul, head of Thailand's immigration police.
He said Karr insisted his crime was not first-degree murder but that she died during a kidnapping attempt that went awry.
"He said it was second-degree murder. He said it was unintentional. He said he was in love with the child, she was a pageant queen," Suwat said.
Karr declined to say what his connection was to the Ramsey family. Dressed in a turquoise polo shirt and khaki trousers, he appeared ashen with an expressionless look on his face.
An attorney for the Ramsey family said Wednesday that Karr once lived near the family in Conyers, Ga.
JonBenet was found beaten and strangled in the basement of the family's home in Boulder, Colo., on Dec. 26, 1996.
Wednesday's arrest was a surprise development in one of America's most lurid murder cases, which had left a cloud of suspicion over her family after years went by with no arrests. Some feared the case would never be solved.
Striking video images of the blonde-haired girl in child beauty pageants helped propel the case into one of the highest-profile mysteries in the United States.
A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AP that Karr had been communicating periodically with somebody in Boulder who had been following the case and cooperating with law enforcement officials.
A University of Colorado spokesman, Barrie Hartman, said journalism professor Michael
Tracey communicated with Karr over several months and contacted police. The university spokesman said he didn't know what prompted Tracey to become suspicious of Karr.
Tracey produced a documentary in 2004 called "Who Killed JonBenet?" A woman who answered the phone at a number under his name said he didn't live there anymore; his office phone mailbox was full.
The Ramseys learned that police were investigating Karr at least a month before the June death of JonBenet's mother, Patsy Ramsey, of ovarian cancer, the family said.
In a statement Wednesday, father John Ramsey said that if his wife had lived to see Karr's arrest, she "would no doubt have been as pleased as I am with today's development almost 10 years after our daughter's murder."
Suwat quoted Karr as saying he tried to kidnap JonBenet for a $118,000 ransom but that his plan went awry and he strangled her. Patsy Ramsey reported finding a ransom note in the house demanding $118,000 for her daughter.
Investigators said at one point that JonBenet's parents were under an "umbrella of
suspicion" in the slaying, and some news accounts cast suspicion on JonBenet's older
brother, Burke. But the Ramseys insisted an intruder killed their daughter, and no one was ever charged.
Over the years, some experts suggested that investigators had botched the case so
thoroughly that it might never be solved. The Ramseys moved back to Atlanta after their aughter's slaying.
"It's been a very long 10 years, and I'm just sorry Patsy isn't here for me to hug her neck," said Lin Wood, the family's longtime attorney.
"John and Patsy lived their lives knowing they were innocent, trying to raise a son despite the furor around them," Wood told MSNBC.
Suwat said U.S. authorities informed Thai police on Aug. 11 that an arrest warrant had been issued for Karr on charges of premeditated murder. The warrant was sent to Thai police on Wednesday.
"Through investigation we were able to determine where his residence was and the Thais arrested him," Hurst said. "He did not resist. He did express surprise."
Hurst said Karr has been "very cooperative" with authorities and that he's shown a "variety of emotions."
Suwat said Karr arrived in Bangkok on June 6 from Malaysia to look for a teaching job. It was not clear whether he had gotten a job, the police officer said.
Karr's visa has been revoked as an "undesirable person" given the accusations against him, and U.S. authorities were expected to take him to the United States in the next few days, Suwat said.
Hurst, with the department's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Bangkok, said that Karr had left the United States several years ago and had not returned.
The immigration and customs office had assisted the Boulder County District Attorney's Office and the Royal Thai Police in the investigation.
The suspect, who has been in Thailand five times over the past two years, was being
detained by immigration police pending arrival of U.S. officials, Suwat said.
When asked how he could travel for so many years in Asia, and whether he was independently wealthy, Hurst responded, "We're asking the same questions."
Police said Karr had been living in a dormitory-style hotel called The Blooms in a
neighborhood of massage parlors and travel agents that cater to expatriate residents and sex tourists. The nine-story hotel offers rooms for as short as three-hour rentals.
The district attorney in Boulder, Mary Lacy, said the arrest followed several months of work.
She said Karr, who had traveled extensively across the world, may also be connected to a prior case in Santa Rosa County, Calif. She did not provide further details.
Sonoma County Chief Deputy District Attorney Joan Risse confirmed the child pornography charges and arrest warrant against a John Mark Karr, though she cautioned that she didn't know if he was the same person held Bangkok. State records show Karr lost his teaching credential in 2002.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Can you believe this???
Doggie hotel opens -- 23 dollars a night, television optional
by Virginie MontetTue Jul 18, 3:12 AM ET
Washingtonians can now drop their pooches off at a pet hotel that cares for their friendly canines in a five-star environment -- pet-themed television shows optional.
In the mahogany paneled lobby of the PetSmart PetHotel, which just opened in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, the pets' human "parents" line up to plunk down 23 dollars plus tax for each night their pooch stays.
The doggie hotel is nothing like kennels of yore: in this inn there is lactose-free ice cream, indoor recreation, and for 10 more dollars a night, pooch can stay in a roomier "suite" with a television set showing an "animal related movie all day," said Vince Malanaphy, who manages the Bethesda PetsHotel.
"It helps them to relax and to adjust as they are used to hearing TV at home," Malanaphy says.
In one "suite" a little white poodle named Bijou is lost in the embrace of Morpheus with "Little Nemo" and his cartoon friends swimming by in an eternal loop on the TV set.
A stay at "Doggie Day Camp" without the overnight goes for 20 dollars the day.
Half of the boarders come every day. "It's better than leaving them at home alone," said Cyra, one of the pet "mothers," as she drops off her Labrador and her poodle for Day Camp before running off to the office. Here "they can socialize," she said.
For potty breaks there is a 20 square meter (215 square foot) "relief room" complete with a plastic tree. "For security reasons, no outdoor walking," says Malanaphy.
Meredith, in charge of animal recreation, says that if dogs "are aggressive or play too rough, we give them a time out in a cage" for 15 minutes. "After twice, they get the message," she says.
The Bethesda site has room for 180 dogs and 26 cats. Cats stay in plexiglass cages known as "kitty cottages" for a mere 14 dollars plus tax a night, which includes 15 minutes of TLC -- Tender Loving Care, otherwise known as petting.
The Phoenix, Arizona-based PetSmart Inc. launched the pet hotel concept three years ago and it is "the fastest growing sector" of the pet business, said spokesman Bruce Richardson. "Now we have 32 hotels; we anticipate 240 by 2010," he said.
Gina Martin, a consumer retail analyst at Wachovia Bank, sees only growth in the pet care industry.
"General spending for pets is growing at an extraordinary pace," said Martin. "There is a trend for the treatment of the pet as another human being."
Americans spend nearly 40 billion dollars a year on their household pets -- 30 percent more than five years ago. The figure is close to what Americans spend on toys for children -- 48 billion dollars -- and more than twice the 17 billion spent on cosmetics, Martin said.
by Virginie MontetTue Jul 18, 3:12 AM ET
Washingtonians can now drop their pooches off at a pet hotel that cares for their friendly canines in a five-star environment -- pet-themed television shows optional.
In the mahogany paneled lobby of the PetSmart PetHotel, which just opened in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, the pets' human "parents" line up to plunk down 23 dollars plus tax for each night their pooch stays.
The doggie hotel is nothing like kennels of yore: in this inn there is lactose-free ice cream, indoor recreation, and for 10 more dollars a night, pooch can stay in a roomier "suite" with a television set showing an "animal related movie all day," said Vince Malanaphy, who manages the Bethesda PetsHotel.
"It helps them to relax and to adjust as they are used to hearing TV at home," Malanaphy says.
In one "suite" a little white poodle named Bijou is lost in the embrace of Morpheus with "Little Nemo" and his cartoon friends swimming by in an eternal loop on the TV set.
A stay at "Doggie Day Camp" without the overnight goes for 20 dollars the day.
Half of the boarders come every day. "It's better than leaving them at home alone," said Cyra, one of the pet "mothers," as she drops off her Labrador and her poodle for Day Camp before running off to the office. Here "they can socialize," she said.
For potty breaks there is a 20 square meter (215 square foot) "relief room" complete with a plastic tree. "For security reasons, no outdoor walking," says Malanaphy.
Meredith, in charge of animal recreation, says that if dogs "are aggressive or play too rough, we give them a time out in a cage" for 15 minutes. "After twice, they get the message," she says.
The Bethesda site has room for 180 dogs and 26 cats. Cats stay in plexiglass cages known as "kitty cottages" for a mere 14 dollars plus tax a night, which includes 15 minutes of TLC -- Tender Loving Care, otherwise known as petting.
The Phoenix, Arizona-based PetSmart Inc. launched the pet hotel concept three years ago and it is "the fastest growing sector" of the pet business, said spokesman Bruce Richardson. "Now we have 32 hotels; we anticipate 240 by 2010," he said.
Gina Martin, a consumer retail analyst at Wachovia Bank, sees only growth in the pet care industry.
"General spending for pets is growing at an extraordinary pace," said Martin. "There is a trend for the treatment of the pet as another human being."
Americans spend nearly 40 billion dollars a year on their household pets -- 30 percent more than five years ago. The figure is close to what Americans spend on toys for children -- 48 billion dollars -- and more than twice the 17 billion spent on cosmetics, Martin said.
Monday, July 17, 2006
I haven't been feeling well for the past week. I woke up one Saturday morning thinking to myself, "Self, I feel terrible. I don't think I'll be able to work today. I would probably have to ask to leave work early.
I was going to give myself a chance to wake up and see how I felt then. I felt horrible. I called in sick that day. I slept for a good protion of the day and headaches statted. I was eating tylenol extra strength every 4 hours like clock work. I slept a good part of the day and night. The headaches started after I lied down. I think they woke me up.
I went to church on Sunday, not feeling good. I stayed home Sunday night because my head was pounding.
I went to the doctor Momday morning. She gave me medicine for my headache and checkled my heartbeat. It was irregular. The next day I went back for more medicine I could take during the day for my headaches. While I was there, they scheduled me for an MRI of the brain and an Echo doppler which is an echocardiagram. The MRI didn't show amything, but the echocardiagram did. They told me what they found, but I don't know what it is. And I don't know what it means. They want me to take a stress test and they will schedule one for me they said.
I have been back to work and now my back hurts something fierce. Other then that, I'm fine. The doctor gave my exercises to do with some medicine to take.
Do I sound like a drug addict?
My back still hurts, but I will continue taking the medicine and doing the exercises.
I was going to give myself a chance to wake up and see how I felt then. I felt horrible. I called in sick that day. I slept for a good protion of the day and headaches statted. I was eating tylenol extra strength every 4 hours like clock work. I slept a good part of the day and night. The headaches started after I lied down. I think they woke me up.
I went to church on Sunday, not feeling good. I stayed home Sunday night because my head was pounding.
I went to the doctor Momday morning. She gave me medicine for my headache and checkled my heartbeat. It was irregular. The next day I went back for more medicine I could take during the day for my headaches. While I was there, they scheduled me for an MRI of the brain and an Echo doppler which is an echocardiagram. The MRI didn't show amything, but the echocardiagram did. They told me what they found, but I don't know what it is. And I don't know what it means. They want me to take a stress test and they will schedule one for me they said.
I have been back to work and now my back hurts something fierce. Other then that, I'm fine. The doctor gave my exercises to do with some medicine to take.
Do I sound like a drug addict?
My back still hurts, but I will continue taking the medicine and doing the exercises.
Monday, June 05, 2006
New website!!!
I have my very own website now. It's a forum that we can talk about stuff in. C'mon and take a look. it's located at: http://littlelamb.me.uk/
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