The top
ten viewers to my blog this past
month in order were:
United
States, Russia, Germany, France,
Ukraine, Canada, Portugal, United
Kingdom, India, and Poland.
Thank you to all of my new friends from
around the globe.
Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year! Hope you continue
to enjoy the content next
year and please let me know what
you think about it.
Dec 25, 2015
Dec 18, 2015
Crass Personal Promotion
It was the late Lenore Hershey, a prominent editor of
women's magazines, who once offered this bit of wisdom about
Christmas shopping: "Do give books - religious or otherwise - for
Christmas. They are never fattening, seldom sinful, and
permanently personal."
My never fattening, seldom sinful, always fun, and permanently personal books are available here Amazon.com. Thanks.
My never fattening, seldom sinful, always fun, and permanently personal books are available here Amazon.com. Thanks.
Happy Friday
Happiness brings smiles and smiles bring happiness.
Happiness and smiles also share a Happy Friday!
Happiness and smiles also share a Happy Friday!
Mark Twain Christmas Wish
In 1890 the editor of the New York World invited Mark
Twain to offer a message of holiday goodwill to its readers. Twain sent this, "It is my
heart-warm and world-embracing Christmas hope and aspiration
that all of us -
the high, the low, the rich, the poor, the admired, the
despised, the loved, the hated, the civilized, the savage - may eventually be
gathered together in a heaven of everlasting rest and peace and
bliss - except
the inventor of the telephone."
Wordology, Pundit
A pundit is a person who offers mass
media their opinion or commentary on a particular subject area
(typically political analysis, social sciences, technology, or
sport) about which they are (supposed to be) knowledgeable.
Islam, ISIS, ISIL, Islamism, and Muslim
Many headlines are littered with these terms and I have
noticed that many reporters use them incorrectly. So, I went
searching to find the most succinct way to define each. I kept
spelling of the words consistent, but many variations apply,
depending on the writer's origin.
Islam is a religion. Islam is generally used in conversation to denote the religion or community of believers as a whole, such as, "The Islamic community responded to press release."
A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam, a monotheistic religion based on the Quran (Koran). Muslims consider the Quran to be the verbatim word of Allah (God) as revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
All people who accept the religion of Islam are Muslim, but not all Muslims follow the religion of Islam, just as all Methodists, etc. do not practice their religion.
Muslims agree that Allah is One, Muhammad is His last Prophet, the Quran is His last Book for mankind, and that one day Allah will resurrect all human beings, and they will be questioned about their beliefs and actions. Nearly one quarter of the world population are Muslim.
Muslims are mainly broken down into two sects: Shia and Sunni. The great majority of Muslims are Sunnis, estimated to be about 85% to 90%. Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. The differences between these two main sub-groups within Islam initially stemmed from political differences. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or Allah (God) Himself.
Islam is the act of submitting to the will of God. Muslim is person who participates in the act of submission.
All Sunni are Muslims, but not all Muslims are Sunni, just as all Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Catholic.
Islamists do not represent religious Islam. They believe Islamic law should be implemented as a political system or theocracy. Islamism is an extremist, and at times violent ideology that seeks to ground its legitimacy in Islam and focuses its recruitment efforts almost entirely on Muslims. Islamism wants to create a new world order, grounded in the imagined past of 7th century deserts.
Current manifestations of Islamism include a variety of Islamist movements, such as the (mostly) non-violent Muslim Brotherhood, violent Boko Haram, and the violent Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Although these groups employ different tactics, at their core they share a common political ideology.
Although ISIS/ began as part of Al-Qaeda. It has since broken relations and Al -Qaeda has not pledged allegiance to ISIL.
Not all Muslims are Islamist, but virtually all Islamists are Muslims.
Islam good - Radical Islamist bad!
Terms:
The Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) or simply Islamic State - On 8 April 2013 changed its name from ISIS to ISIL (although most journalists ignore this).
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Levant is a geographic term including Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and more.
Da'ish (Daesh) is another name used by others for ISIL and is considered derogatory to it.
A caliphate is an Islamic government operating under Sharia law. It is led by a caliph (currently Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi), who is a political and religious leader and successor (caliph) to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. His power and authority is absolute. In June, 2014, ISIL announced it has established an Islamic caliphate across Syria and Iraq. It currently claims to control 10 million people.
On 14 May 2014, the United States Department of State announced its decision to use Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as the group's primary name. However, in late 2014, top US officials shifted toward using Daesh (da eesh or Dash), because this is the name a growing number of countries and Arab allies prefer to use. US officials still variously refer to all three.
Incidently, 90% of Syrians, 97% of Iraqis, 98% Turks, 99% of Iranis, 99.8% Afghanistanis, 96% Pakistanis, 94% Egyptians, and 88% Indonesians are Muslim.
Many US football and basketball players are Muslim. American Muslims include: Dave Chappele, Casey Kasem, Doctor Oz, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Fareed Zakaria (TV), Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, Huma Abedin, Jermaine Jackson, and Snoop Dogg, among others.
Hope this makes it a bit less confusing.
Islam is a religion. Islam is generally used in conversation to denote the religion or community of believers as a whole, such as, "The Islamic community responded to press release."
A Muslim is a person who follows the religion of Islam, a monotheistic religion based on the Quran (Koran). Muslims consider the Quran to be the verbatim word of Allah (God) as revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
All people who accept the religion of Islam are Muslim, but not all Muslims follow the religion of Islam, just as all Methodists, etc. do not practice their religion.
Muslims agree that Allah is One, Muhammad is His last Prophet, the Quran is His last Book for mankind, and that one day Allah will resurrect all human beings, and they will be questioned about their beliefs and actions. Nearly one quarter of the world population are Muslim.
Muslims are mainly broken down into two sects: Shia and Sunni. The great majority of Muslims are Sunnis, estimated to be about 85% to 90%. Both Sunni and Shia Muslims share the most fundamental Islamic beliefs and articles of faith. The differences between these two main sub-groups within Islam initially stemmed from political differences. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or Allah (God) Himself.
Islam is the act of submitting to the will of God. Muslim is person who participates in the act of submission.
All Sunni are Muslims, but not all Muslims are Sunni, just as all Catholics are Christian, but not all Christians are Catholic.
Islamists do not represent religious Islam. They believe Islamic law should be implemented as a political system or theocracy. Islamism is an extremist, and at times violent ideology that seeks to ground its legitimacy in Islam and focuses its recruitment efforts almost entirely on Muslims. Islamism wants to create a new world order, grounded in the imagined past of 7th century deserts.
Current manifestations of Islamism include a variety of Islamist movements, such as the (mostly) non-violent Muslim Brotherhood, violent Boko Haram, and the violent Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Although these groups employ different tactics, at their core they share a common political ideology.
Although ISIS/ began as part of Al-Qaeda. It has since broken relations and Al -Qaeda has not pledged allegiance to ISIL.
Not all Muslims are Islamist, but virtually all Islamists are Muslims.
Islam good - Radical Islamist bad!
Terms:
The Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) or simply Islamic State - On 8 April 2013 changed its name from ISIS to ISIL (although most journalists ignore this).
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
Levant is a geographic term including Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and more.
Da'ish (Daesh) is another name used by others for ISIL and is considered derogatory to it.
A caliphate is an Islamic government operating under Sharia law. It is led by a caliph (currently Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi), who is a political and religious leader and successor (caliph) to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. His power and authority is absolute. In June, 2014, ISIL announced it has established an Islamic caliphate across Syria and Iraq. It currently claims to control 10 million people.
On 14 May 2014, the United States Department of State announced its decision to use Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as the group's primary name. However, in late 2014, top US officials shifted toward using Daesh (da eesh or Dash), because this is the name a growing number of countries and Arab allies prefer to use. US officials still variously refer to all three.
Incidently, 90% of Syrians, 97% of Iraqis, 98% Turks, 99% of Iranis, 99.8% Afghanistanis, 96% Pakistanis, 94% Egyptians, and 88% Indonesians are Muslim.
Many US football and basketball players are Muslim. American Muslims include: Dave Chappele, Casey Kasem, Doctor Oz, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Fareed Zakaria (TV), Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, Huma Abedin, Jermaine Jackson, and Snoop Dogg, among others.
Hope this makes it a bit less confusing.
Sandwich Origins
Club - The Club Sandwich
consists of three slices of white toast making two layers, each
holding bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on top of either
turkey, chicken, or roast beef. Most agree that this classic
originated in resorts and country clubs in the late 1800s. One of
the first documented records of the sandwich appeared in an 1889
menu at the Steamer Rhode Island restaurant, where it was called
as we know it today, a Club Sandwich.
Croque-Monsieur - Originating in a café on the Boulevard de Capucines in Paris in 1910, the Croque-Monsieur is essentially a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It is generally made with lean ham, Gruyere or Emmentaler cheese, and covered in a warm béchamel sauce. French for Crusty or Crispy Mister, depending on whom you ask, this sandwich is as famous for its variants as well as its original. With added tomato, it is the Croque-Provencal, and with mustard and topped with a fried egg, it is a Croque-Madame. The Croque Auvergnat replaces the mild cheese with a Bleu, and the Croque Norvegien uses salmon in place of the ham.
Dagwood - Named after Dagwood Bumstead in the popular comic strip Blondie, the Dagwood Sandwich was first seen in the 1930s. The only requirement is that it be comprised of a wide variety of ingredients from leftovers and other things in the kitchen. Although no formal recipe exists, some have tried. Emeril Lagasse has one with 19 ingredients, and iChef’s version includes cold spaghetti, 2-day old fish, lobster tail, and bacon.
Grinder/Hero/Hoagie/Sub - Like the Dagwood, there are an infinite number of combinations of meats, cheeses, condiments, vegetables, and pickled things.
The Grinder arose in New England and, according to one account, was named after the dockworkers whose jobs involved a lot of noisy grinding to repair and refurbish the ships. Others attribute the name to the amount of chewing and grinding it took to work through the crusty Italian bread and tough meats on the typical sandwich. Many believe the Hero Sandwich was named by food columnist, Clementine Paddleworth in 1936 when she noted, “You had to be a hero to eat it.” However, the Oxford English Dictionary credits the naming to armored car guards. Philadelphia chose the name Hoagie for its version. Most claim that the name came originally from Al De Palma who thought that a person “had to be a hog” to eat such a large sandwich. When he opened his own sandwich place during the Great Depression, he called his big subs “hoggies.” It is assumed that the strong Philadelphia accent changed the pronunciation, and eventually, the spelling. Although the Oxford English Dictionary notes that the Submarine Sandwich was around by 1940, many, especially in Connecticut, believe it originated in New London during World War II (then home to a Navy shipyard). Reportedly invented by an Italian shopkeeper who crafted the sandwich out of oblong bread, its resemblance to the nearby submarines was not lost on his patrons.
Gyro - Greek for 'turn', the Gyro (pronounced yee-ro) derived its name from the method used to cook the meat, which revolves on a vertical spit. The typical sandwich includes a large portion of thinly sliced gyro meat, tomato, onion, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce, rolled into an oiled and lightly grilled, thick pita. Gryo meat is traditionally made with lamb, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs, ground together into a paste, then packed together and slow cooked. Tzatziki sauce is made by straining yogurt and mixing it with finely chopped and strained cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill, and salt.
Croque-Monsieur - Originating in a café on the Boulevard de Capucines in Paris in 1910, the Croque-Monsieur is essentially a grilled ham and cheese sandwich. It is generally made with lean ham, Gruyere or Emmentaler cheese, and covered in a warm béchamel sauce. French for Crusty or Crispy Mister, depending on whom you ask, this sandwich is as famous for its variants as well as its original. With added tomato, it is the Croque-Provencal, and with mustard and topped with a fried egg, it is a Croque-Madame. The Croque Auvergnat replaces the mild cheese with a Bleu, and the Croque Norvegien uses salmon in place of the ham.
Dagwood - Named after Dagwood Bumstead in the popular comic strip Blondie, the Dagwood Sandwich was first seen in the 1930s. The only requirement is that it be comprised of a wide variety of ingredients from leftovers and other things in the kitchen. Although no formal recipe exists, some have tried. Emeril Lagasse has one with 19 ingredients, and iChef’s version includes cold spaghetti, 2-day old fish, lobster tail, and bacon.
Grinder/Hero/Hoagie/Sub - Like the Dagwood, there are an infinite number of combinations of meats, cheeses, condiments, vegetables, and pickled things.
The Grinder arose in New England and, according to one account, was named after the dockworkers whose jobs involved a lot of noisy grinding to repair and refurbish the ships. Others attribute the name to the amount of chewing and grinding it took to work through the crusty Italian bread and tough meats on the typical sandwich. Many believe the Hero Sandwich was named by food columnist, Clementine Paddleworth in 1936 when she noted, “You had to be a hero to eat it.” However, the Oxford English Dictionary credits the naming to armored car guards. Philadelphia chose the name Hoagie for its version. Most claim that the name came originally from Al De Palma who thought that a person “had to be a hog” to eat such a large sandwich. When he opened his own sandwich place during the Great Depression, he called his big subs “hoggies.” It is assumed that the strong Philadelphia accent changed the pronunciation, and eventually, the spelling. Although the Oxford English Dictionary notes that the Submarine Sandwich was around by 1940, many, especially in Connecticut, believe it originated in New London during World War II (then home to a Navy shipyard). Reportedly invented by an Italian shopkeeper who crafted the sandwich out of oblong bread, its resemblance to the nearby submarines was not lost on his patrons.
Gyro - Greek for 'turn', the Gyro (pronounced yee-ro) derived its name from the method used to cook the meat, which revolves on a vertical spit. The typical sandwich includes a large portion of thinly sliced gyro meat, tomato, onion, feta cheese and tzatziki sauce, rolled into an oiled and lightly grilled, thick pita. Gryo meat is traditionally made with lamb, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs, ground together into a paste, then packed together and slow cooked. Tzatziki sauce is made by straining yogurt and mixing it with finely chopped and strained cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill, and salt.
What's in a Name, Zoolophone
Like xylophones and
glockenspiels, the Zoolophone is an instrument with tuned metal
bars that produce sound when struck. The tone and amplification it
makes depends on the shape of the instrument itself. A zoolophone
can be thought of as a xylophone with keys shaped like animals,
where different shapes have different sounds.
Most zoolophones require hand-crafting to get resonant frequencies and amplification correct. They use rigid geometries, like bars and hand-drilled dimples on their undersides to create predictable sounds.
Most zoolophones require hand-crafting to get resonant frequencies and amplification correct. They use rigid geometries, like bars and hand-drilled dimples on their undersides to create predictable sounds.
Klopfelnachte
(Literally Knocking Night or loosely,
Knocking Day) In Germany on the four Thursdays before Christmas,
children in rural parts of Southern Germany dress up in masks and
go door to door chanting rhymes that always start with the word
'knock'. They make noises as the go from house to house, singing
carols, cracking whips, clattering dishes, and ringing cowbells.
This commotion is supposed to drive away evil spirits. Children
offer or receive treats such as fruit, candy, or coins. Think of
it as the opposite of Halloween trick or treat.
Dec 11, 2015
Happy Friday
A
smile is a sign of joy. A hug is a sign of love. A
laugh is a sign of happiness.
Smiles, hugs, and laughs are also all signs of a Happy Friday!
Smiles, hugs, and laughs are also all signs of a Happy Friday!
Sprinkles and Jimmies
If you are from the Northeast you likely call those chocolate little
things that are sprinkled
on ice cream as Jimmies. Most of the rest of the US calls them
sprinkles.
Jimmies were invented by the Just Born company in 1930 and named after an employee, Jimmy Bartholomew, who worked the chocolate pellet machine. Born marketed the freshness of his line of daily-made candy with a sign that declared, “Just Born.”
Samuel Born (no relation to Jason Bourne) was a Russian immigrant who invented the machine that inserted sticks in lollipops, the machine that coats chocolate on ice cream and the extruder that makes Easter 'peeps'. Before his machine, each peep was made by hand squeezing marshmallow in with a pastry tube. Other notable goodies from the company include including MIKE AND IKE® chewy fruit flavored candies, spicy, cinnamon-flavored HOT TAMALES®, and TEENEE BEANEE® gourmet jelly beans. The "Just Born" company no longer manufactures jimmies.
Jimmies were invented by the Just Born company in 1930 and named after an employee, Jimmy Bartholomew, who worked the chocolate pellet machine. Born marketed the freshness of his line of daily-made candy with a sign that declared, “Just Born.”
Samuel Born (no relation to Jason Bourne) was a Russian immigrant who invented the machine that inserted sticks in lollipops, the machine that coats chocolate on ice cream and the extruder that makes Easter 'peeps'. Before his machine, each peep was made by hand squeezing marshmallow in with a pastry tube. Other notable goodies from the company include including MIKE AND IKE® chewy fruit flavored candies, spicy, cinnamon-flavored HOT TAMALES®, and TEENEE BEANEE® gourmet jelly beans. The "Just Born" company no longer manufactures jimmies.
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