Monday, September 29, 2008

I DIDN'T KNOW: find out who is googling you, ziggs.com

digg 1: Zakaria: McCain's VP choice is 'fundamentally irresponsible'
digg 2: 10 People From Your Past Who Will Haunt You On Facebook

I didn't know that there is a new social networking site that allows you to find out who is googling you. It is called ziggs.com, and after you set up a profile, when someone googles you and finds your ziggs profile, you get an email that tells you who that someone is. Sounds interesting, but I already have profiles on enough networking sites to keep me plenty busy. Not to mention my recent addiction to political blogs--I mean, I must keep track of what's going on during this most fascinating presidential race. Some of my favorites are fivethirtyeight.com, democraticunderground.com and thinkprogress.org. Check them out!

TALK2ME: roll call bailout vote, 1929 stock market crash

digg 1: I WONDER: Homecoming hairstyles online
digg 2: McCain: Instead of emergency room, go to Wal-Mart

Today, of course, everyone is talking about the economy, so TALK2ME: What happened this morning in the United States House of Representatives? How did my congressman vote in the roll call bailout vote, and why? Will we experience another 1929 stock market crash-type event? Here's what I think: we do have to do something, but Paulson and Bush are unwilling to even consider any alternatives to the toxic bill that, ironically, brought progressive Democrats and fiscally conservative Republicans together to send a message. That message is this: Do not rush through a bill that few have had time to read, let alone digest. And do not put more taxpayer dollars into the hands of those who got us into this mess. There are numerous alternative plans being floated by numerous economic experts, many of whom in my opinion are smarter than Paulson and Bush put together. OK, I know that is not saying much, but there it is.

To see one of my favorite alternatives, try this: http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=303317

Talk to me! What do you think?

Monday, September 22, 2008

I DIDN'T KNOW: ephelides, mabon

digg 1: Our WWWorld Blog
digg 2: WSJ.com - Lawmakers Battle Over Rescue Plan

I didn't know that there are two types of freckles. The first is ephelides, the light-colored kind that come and go with sun exposure. Now that the autumnal equinox is upon us, those who get those summer freckles should notice fewer of them soon. Lentigines, the second type, don't fade in the winter and are usually isolated spots.

I also did not know that mabon is what pagans call the beginning of the fall season. It seems everyone has a way of celebrating fall. For Jews it is rosh hashanah and of course here in my country almost everyone celebrates Thanksgiving. How do you celebrate the turning of the seasons from summer to winter? I would love to hear from you.

MY OWN WAY: fall begins, fall leaves, first day of fall 2008

digg 1: ourwwworld pilot game: week 2 update
digg 2: One thought pushes fence-sitters to the left: Palin

As fall begins, my own way of celebrating is to enjoy the fact that I don't have to turn on the air conditioner anymore. Here in the LA area, the seasons are not as pronounced as they are in other parts of the country, but we still enjoy such autumn pleasures as colorful fall leaves and cooler temperatures. It's planting season here, so I am looking forward to buying some iceland poppies and snapdragons for my garden. Here's to the first day of fall 2008!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

TALK2ME: tax policy center, fannie mae and freddie mac

digg 1: Palin Slashed Funding for Teen Moms
digg 2: The Muppet Show Cake (Slideshow)

Come on people, Talk2Me about taxes. I keep hearing McCain supporters say that Obama wants to raise your taxes. But report after report from non-partisan analysts say otherwise. The latest comes from the Tax Policy Center. Its report, released today, says that Obama's plan "would provide the greatest tax relief to middle-class families, while the McCain plan provides the greatest tax relief to the wealthiest families." Pretty much what ALL of the other studies done in the last few months have concluded. So, I suppose if you are incredibly wealthy, then your taxes will be higher under Obama, but of course few of us are. Since we are fighting two wars, borrowing billions from communist nations, millions of our countrymen are going without health care, fannie mae and freddie mac are having to be bailed out, and care for our awesome veterans goes unfunded, I really don't think that it is unfair to ask those who have benefited the most from living in this great country to kick in a few extra bucks.

What do you think?

I WONDER: hbo entourage, under the yum yum tree

digg 1: I WONDER: when in the course of human events; declaration of
digg 2: Can a family eat on $100 a week?

I WONDER why people are searching for under the yum yum tree, a 1963 film starring Jack Lemmon and Carol Lynley? I am pretty sure I haven't seen it, but I love the title. Among the new movies coming out this week is one called barbie and the diamond castle. I am certainly going to be missing that one. At my house, we all love movies, and hbo entourage, a show that goes behind the scenes of the movie business, is one of our favorites. It is funny and very well-written. I recommend it if you get HBO.

COMMON THREAD: nfl scores, nfl fantasy, hello kitty jewlery

digg 1: I WONDER: earthquakes today, white plague,
digg 2: Sarah Palin may have women flocking - to Barack Obama

Again today, as others have noted before, the COMMON THREAD on the google trends list is football. Everything from nfl scores, dallas cowboys schedule, and nfl cheerleaders to myfantasyleague and nfl fantasy. So I had to laugh when, buried among all of these testosterone-loaded search terms, there at number 21 sat hello kitty jewelry. Apparently they are debuting a new line today. I wonder if jillian reynolds, an nfl on fox commentator, likes Hello Kitty. My guess is not.

Friday, September 5, 2008

MY OWN WAY: caribou barbie, walter reed middle school, heart barracuda

digg 1: Talk2Me - This is intelligent politics?
digg 2: Why we were falsely arrested

Nicknames like caribou barbie and McSame are interesting, but did you know that Walter Reed Middle School and heart barracuda (song by the band Heart) both got unwanted attention at the RNC? It seems the photo behind McCain was supposed to be the military hospital, but was instead the middle school (in North Hollywood, CA) of the same name. OOPS! And the song Barracuda being played after the speech violated copyright laws. Apparently the mccain speech ratings were through the roof anyway.