07.02.11
Animal Blooper
Huffington Post had a section which showed 10 funniest animal bloopers in the news. This video made me laugh the most.
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06.26.11
Something Unusual and Progress on My Readings
Last week I was driving along when I found myself behind this vehicle . .
I couldn’t help but notice something unusual mounted on the back spare tire. Here’s a closer shot. . .
Yikes! That was not a picture! It was a taxidermed head of what, I’m not sure. This is the first time I’ve seen such a thing. Yes, I’ve seen taxidermed animals before, but not one mounted on a spare tire. Maybe because I live in the city, this is unusual to me, I don’t know. At first I thought it was a fox, but I think it’s illegal to hunt those, so I think this is a dog? I didn’t grow up doing or seeing this kind of thing, so it’s a bit weird to me, and thus why I had to take a picture of it.
Okay, so I didn’t see anything else unusual that day. We just went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant and did a little shopping. I’m still working on another one of my cross stitch projects and reading some of the library books I checked out. I’ve slowed down on the Hiroshima in America book because I ran into the portion where the author seems to be psychoanalyzing Truman to determine what his thought process was in deciding to go ahead and use the atomic bomb on Japan. Personally, it’s easier for me to just read the known facts and perhaps even use those facts to try to speculate why something was done but, I have a hard time psychoanalyzing people. I would make a terrible shrink! So instead I have been spending more time reading Weller’s writings from First Into Nagasaki. Included in the book is part of a daily diary written by a U.S. Marine who, along with a friend, managed to hide out on Wake Island after the Japanese took control of it.
Wake Island is very small, and there were about 3,000 Japanese troops occupying the island during the writing of Scotty’s diary (one of the two Marines, the other being Stevens). That made it tricky for those two Americans to evade capture, but they managed to hide out for about three months before turning themselves in. While they hid, Scotty wrote a daily diary. I found it quite interesting because it explained how the two men managed to hide and find food while the Japanese troops were literally all around them, almost stepping on them at times! They basically laid down all day long, then scrounged for food late at night and buried the cans (when the Japanese bombed Wake Island, the military rations got strewn all over the place). Luckily for them they had plenty of food that way, although he did complain that they were lacking starch, which he believed added to his weakness. Of course everything was canned, too, so I bet that didn’t help, either. One thing I couldn’t help noticing was at even amongst the danger and fear, these guys still managed to have a sense of humor. I found that while reading other books of POW accounts. Here’s one daily entry that I found humorous.
“Feb 4
Fred has a hunch help is coming soon–first time he has been optimistic about it. With planes up all morning half the day is licked, which is something to us as we are living from hour to hour now. Little lizards crawl over us catching flies. They are so tame now we have to brush them off while writing. Their heads and bodies are just 2 in. long and tails about 3 in., dark brown with three gold stripes from end to end of body. There are six on me as I write and I love them. One has a purple tail and one little fellow is speckled an has not stripes–I guess he’s just a private.”
Tee hee! Funny.
So I’m about 3/4ths of the way through the book and have just started the section regarding the “Hellships.” I had read a little about that from other sources, so I’m interested to learn what else others reported.
Okay, so other than that I’ve just been doing the regular family stuffs. I’ve been a bit disappointed with how the media has forgotten all about the Fukushima disaster and hasn’t updated much on the condition of the Nebraska nuclear plants, either. It has forced me to scour the internet for any info on those plants, which seems like such a shame. Normal citizens are doing the work that paid journalists should be doing. I saw “nothing” in our TV networks regarding the nuclear protests in Japan. It was only through the internet and home videos that I saw anything about those protests. At least Italy and Germany have come to their senses and are making the effort to go nuclear-free. The U.S., on the other hand, acts like nothing is wrong. Where are all the “environmentalists?” They seem very silent on this issue. . .
Marlakins
04.03.11
Modern Times
There’s just so much bad news on these days that half the time I just don’t feel like blogging about any of it. Then in light of that news, I feel like blogging about other things are so petty. So what to do? Well, laughter is good for the soul, right? And Chaplin usually makes me laugh. I especially like this particular clip–Modern Times. Enjoy!
Marlakins
05.01.10
Glad I Don’t Live in Arizona
Just got a chuckle out of this from the Boston Globe. . .
There are just some facts of life that we conveniently forget.
Along these lines I also found an interesting article on Greg Palast’s blog titled Behind the Arizona Immigration Law: GOP Game to Swipe the November Election. He has an interesting twist to the new Arizona immigration law wherein he claims that,
“. . . The way the media plays the story, it was a wave of racist, anti-immigrant hysteria that moved Arizona Republicans to pass a sick little law, signed last week, requiring every person in the state to carry papers proving they are US citizens.
“I don’t buy it. Anti-Hispanic hysteria has always been as much a part of Arizona as the Saguaro cactus and excessive air-conditioning.
“What’s new here is not the politicians’ fear of a xenophobic “Teabag” uprising.
“What moved GOP Governor Jan Brewer to sign the Soviet-style show-me-your-papers law is the exploding number of legal Hispanics, US citizens all, who are daring to vote — and daring to vote Democratic by more than two-to-one. Unless this demographic locomotive is halted, Arizona Republicans know their party will soon be electoral toast. Or, if you like, tortillas.”
Well, I certainly don’t know how true that all is, but the rest of the article explains Palast’s reasoning for that. It certainly makes one go, “hmmmm.”(For now I can say that I’m glad that I don’t live in Arizona since not only am I considered a minority, but I have often been mistaken for other nationalities like American Indian, which some look a lot like Mexicans. I feel much safer here in Los Angeles in the melting pot, which btw there’s supposed to be a large rally tomorrow protesting the Arizona immigration law. Wonder if it’s really going to be as big as they expect). But in reality, this type of thing (differences of opinions) has been going on since after the civil war, no? Way back then there were both those who believed in slavery and those who did not. Does that mean one was more patriotic than the other? Even back during the founding of our government the Federalist and the Republicans exchanged heated debates similar to today–Jefferson was in favor of limited government, and Adams was in favor of expanding government. Same ‘ole same ‘ole argument, but both are considered our founding forefathers. The difference I see today is now if someone wants government assistance, the GOP cry “socialism” or the “constitution is being shredded”, or “unpatriotic”. It gets to be annoying at times. Can’t we focus on the “issues” or “specifics” or even “facts” rather than name calling or raising suspicions as to who the “real” Americans are? Can’t we have differences of opinions without being labeled “unpatriotic?” I can understand being cautious, but somehow I think there’s a fine line to paranoia, too.
Marlakins
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10.23.09
A Pinoy Moment
Way back in February I tried to get the recipe for rellenong bangus from my aunt. Unfortunately this aunt isn’t internet/computer savvy, but my other cousins said that my other aunt could give me the tricks to making this rellenong banus. Sadly, that aunt has been very sick and is still in the hospital.
This is the rellenong bangus that my aunt prepared and my boys loved.
Aaron and I were checking out the net when we came across this video on “how to make rellenong bangus.” Ah! Not sure if these are the exact methods and ingredients my aunts use, but it looks pretty good. Check it out.
Not sure when I’ll be able to try this, but at least now I have a better idea of what is involved and can mull it over in my head until I get down to it. And I do realize that there’s likely some variations on how to prepare this because I do remember hearing that my aunt BBQed it wrapped in banana leaves. . . hmmm
Anyhoo, while I’m on the Filipino kick, here’s a video from Happy Slip that we watched the other night that gave us a little chuckle.
I just took my sister to the airport yesterday, so I might get some interesting pictures after the flooding. It so, I’ll try to share some of those pictures. However, they are still in flood season and anticipating another storm. So we’ll see what that brings. Gee, come to think of it, I bet she still hasn’t landed yet. . . but almost!
Well, better get on with the day. . . Toodles for now!
Marlakins
05.31.09
A Tortoise Story
I’m currently reading a book by Chinua Achebe called, Things Fall Apart. The story is situated in an Ibo village in Nigeria. The main character is a man by the name of Okonkwo. A lot of the book so far shows a bit about their culture and how the villagers interact with each other from day to day. The later half of the book will deal with the arrival of European missionaries and how the two cultures clash. I haven’t gotten to that part yet, but I just read one of their “tales,” which I thought was cute and made me laugh, especially since I didn’t see the end coming. I love to hear folk stories, and this one was quite different from any that I’ve heard so far, so I thought I would share it. In this book, Okonkwo has three wives. In the evening they tell stories to their children, each mother takes turns. This night the second wife, Ekwefi, tells a story. . .
“Once upon a time,” she began, “all the birds were invited to a feast in the sky. They were very happy and began to prepare themselves for the great day. They painted their bodies with red cam wood and drew beautiful patterns on them with uli.
“Tortoise saw all these preparations and soon discovered what it all meant. Nothing that happened in the world of the animals ever escaped his notice, he was full of cunning. As soon as he heard of the great feast in the sky his throat began to itch at the very thought. There was a famine in those days and Tortoise had not eaten a good meal for two moons. His body rattled like a piece of dry stick in his empty shell. So he began to plan how he would go to the sky.”
“But he had no wings,” said Ezinma.
“Be patient, ” replied her mother. “That is the story. Tortoise had no wings, but he went to the birds and asked to be allowed to go with them.
“‘We know you too well,’ said the birds when they had heard him. ‘You are full of cunning and you are ungrateful. If we allow you to come with us you will soon begin your mischief.’
“‘You do not know me,’ said Tortoise, ‘I am a changed man. I have learned that a man who makes trouble for others is also making it for himself.’
“Tortoise had a sweet tongue, and within a short time all the birds agreed that he was a changed man, and they each gave him a feather, with which he made two wings.
“At last the great day came and Tortoise was the first to arrive at the meeting place. When all the birds had gathered together, they set off in a body. Tortoise was very happy and voluble as he flew among the birds, and he was soon chosen as the man to speak for the part because he was a great orator.
“There is one important thing which we must not forget,’ he said as they flew on their way. ‘When people are invited to a great feast like this, they take new names for the occasion. Our hosts in the sky will expect us to honor this age-old custom.’
“None of the birds had heard of this custom but they knew that Tortoise, in spite of his failings in other directions, was a widely traveled man who knew the customs of different peoples. And so they each took a new name. When they had all taken, Tortoise also took one. He was to be called All of you.
“At last the party arrived in the sky and their hosts were very happy to see them. Tortoise stood up in his many-colored plumage and thanked them for their invitation. His speech was so eloquent that all the birds were glad they had brought him, and nodded their heads in approval of all he said. Their hosts took him as the king of the birds, especially as he looked somewhat different from the others.
“After kola nuts had been presented and eaten, the people of the sky set before their guests the most delectable dishes Tortoise had even seen or dreamed of. The soup was brought out hot from the fire and in the very pot in which it had been cooked. It was full of meat and fish. Tortoise began to sniff aloud. There was pounded yam and also yam pottage cooked with palm-oil and fresh fish. There were also pots of palm-wine. When everything had been set before the guests, one of the people of the sky came forward and tasted a little from each pot. He then invited the birds to eat. But Tortoise jumped to his feet and asked; ‘For whom have you prepared this feast?’
“‘For all of you,’Replied the man.
“Tortoise turned to the birds and said; ‘You remember that my name is All of you. The custom here is to serve the spokesman first and the others later. They will serve you when I have eaten.’
“He began to eat and the birds grumbled angrily. The people of the sky thought it must be their custom to leave all the food for their king. And so Tortoise ate the best part of the food and then drank two pots of palm-wine, so that he was full of food and drink and his body filled out in his shell.
“The birds gather round to eat what was left and to peck at the bones he had thrown all about the floor. Some of them were too angry to eat. They chose to fly home on an empty stomach. But before they left each took back the feather he had lent to Tortoise. And there he stood in his hard shell full of food and wine but without any wings to fly home. He asked the birds to take a message for his wife, but they all refused. In the end Parrot, who had felt more angry than the others, suddenly changed his mind and agreed to take the message.
“Tell my wife,’ said Tortoise, ‘to bring out all the soft things in my house and cover the compound with them so that I can jump down from the sky without very great danger.’
“Parrot promised to deliver the message, and then flew away. But when he reached Tortoise’s house he told his wife to bring out all the hard things in the house. And so she brought out her husband’s hoes, machetes, spears, guns and even his cannon. Tortoise looked down from the sky and saw his wife brings things out, but it was too far to see what they were. When all seemed ready he let himself go. He fell and fell and fell until he began to fear that he would never stop falling. And then like the sound of his cannon he crashed on the compound.”
“Did he die?” asked Ezinma.
“No,” replied Ekwefi. “His shell broke into pieces. But there was a great medicine man in the neighborhood. Tortoise’s wife sent for him and he gathered all the bits of shell and stuck them together. That is why Tortoise’s shell is not smooth.”
Ha ha! I just love that story. . . Again, that’s a story told in the book, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. Speaking of falling, heheh. I came across an old picture of Brian that gave me a chuckle. This is his rendition of how he would react if he fell on some cactus, ta ha!
This was actually taken around 2004 at the LA Arboretum. After reading the news today that since California has such a huge deficit, many of our national parks might close after Labor Day. . . Wah. Makes me want to run out and visit them again before they close! Yikes!
Well, back to reading. . .
Marlakins
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12.09.08
Somehow, I can relate to this song
It seems that I’m still realizing more stuff that I’ve lost on my computer since my hard drive crash a couple months ago. Not only did I lose so many notes, saved emails, email addresses, and photos; I found that I also lost all the music I downloaded from ITunes. . . Then my son sent me a link with computer poems, and I found one that felt appropriate to my situation.
If the Beatles Were Computer Geeks
Sing along…
Yesterday
Yesterday,
All those backups seemed a waste of pay.
Now my database has gone away.
Oh I believe in yesterday.
Suddenly,
There’s not half the files there used to be,
And there’s a milestone hanging over me.
The system crashed so suddenly.
I pushed something wrong
What it was I could not say.
Now all my data’s gone
and I long for yesterday-ay-ay-ay.
Yesterday,
The need for back-ups seemed so far away.
I knew my data was all here to stay,
Now I believe in yesterday.
I know. . . too lazy to blog, but it amused me, anyway.
Marlakins
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03.13.08
A Glimpse of Our Wacky World
March 1st was my youngest son’s, birthday. He turned 14. He has been wanting his own computer, and since he’s been pretty good lately, Brian and I decided he was ready for his own. Now all three boys have their own computers, and they have been sharing files. While sorting through files, Matthew, my middle son, discovered some old home videos they had made several years ago. At the time the boys seemed interested in photography and video, so we got Matthew a small video camera and let them film whatever they wanted. The reason for that is I wanted to see what types of things interested them without my coaxing. One of the things they did was make goofy interviews using the stuffed animals around the house. We found the videos funny because they were just so goofy. And the things they said. . . I was amused by the voices they chose to use as well as which stuffed animals they picked out, not to mention the topics they chose to speak about and how they mimicked the interview process. When I got home today after picking my parents up at the airport, I found that Matthew had uploaded a couple of the videos onto YouTube. So I watched them, and they still make me laugh. One thing that came to mind is that years ago when Aaron was younger and his voice still hadn’t gone through the “change,” people used to mistake him for a girl when he answered the phone. Watching these videos reminds me of what his voice sounded like back then, ha! He is the voice for “Macaroni” and “Shadow.” Matthew is the voice for “Draco,” the interviewer. These were spontaneous clips with no prior scripting. That’ll become very apparent once the video is viewed, ha! The video quality is quite grainy partly because it’s easier to upload like that when it takes less pixel space. Just click onto the pictures to get to the YouTube link.
Below is a link to the second Draco talk show video. Matthew again is Draco. Aaron is Macaroni, and Brian is the “rabbit.” Again, just click onto the picture to get to the link.
Well, that’s a taste of the wacky things that go on in our household. These videos are full of memories for me, not only of the kids and their antics, but also the stuffed animals were acquired during my AA sickness. I managed to collect a family of bears, and the little dragon Matthew uses is actually his dragon that Brian got him when I was first hospitalized for AA. Matthew was about 8 years old then, and he’s kept that dragon to this day. He’s now 17 years old. Oh, and by the way, Aaron no longer sounds like a little girl! Ha! I’m the only female voice around here, now, and the shortest one in the house, ha!
Marlakins
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08.15.07
The Atheist in the Woods
This gave me a chuckle, so thought I’d share. . .
An atheist was walking through the woods.
“What majestic trees! “What powerful rivers! “What beautiful animals!” he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look and saw a 7-foot grizzly charge towards him.
He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw the bear closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again and the bear was even closer. He tripped and fell, rolled over, and found the bear right on top of him with a paw slashing toward his face.
The atheist cried out, “Oh my God!”
Time Stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. “You deny My existence for all these years, teach others I don’t exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect Me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to now count you as a believer?”
The atheist looked directly into the light, “It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?”
“Very well,” said the voice.
The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear brought his swiping paw down. Then he drew both paws together, bowed his head and said, “Lord, bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord, Amen.”
Tee hee!
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05.25.07
Oh, why not?
If this museum were located near me, I would definitely go visit it. But unfortunately, it’s not. It’s located in Dedham, Massachusetts and is called, “Museum of Bad Art” (MOBA). Being that I am interested in arts, this particular museum caught my eye, not only because of the “artwork” it displays, but because when Brian and I checked out their website, we laughed so hard it hurt. This is the picture that had us almost rolling on the floor in laughter. It was under the landscape section and is called, “Dog.”
For more details on this lovely piece along with a gallery of their other pieces, here’s the link.
Marlakins
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