Most of my rockin' is done in a chair these days.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
"Pine-Sol® Pranked"
If that happened to me, I wouldn't react like those sissies. I would just drop dead.
Four for Fridays
Hello everyone! Welcome back to another weekly episode of Four for Fridays! It's been a long and tiring week for me and it isn't over yet... Anyways, here are some questions for you...
1) Have you ever been taken on a tour in a factory?
2) Do you prefer fans or an air conditioner?
3) Have you ever got bitten by a dog or stung by a bee?
4) What kind of allergies do you have?
Enjoy your weekend!
1) Have you ever been taken on a tour in a factory?
2) Do you prefer fans or an air conditioner?
3) Have you ever got bitten by a dog or stung by a bee?
4) What kind of allergies do you have?
Enjoy your weekend!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Dear Madame Zoltar
Hello, my vivacious violets!
How are you? Our spate of splendiferous
weather seems to sustain itself. From the non-winter of 2011-12 to the recent
days of sunny, mid-70’s balminess, it has been almost perfect. We could use rain, but who can complain? (Yes, I know.) I’ve had to water my garden a
few times, but it is no big deal. In
fact, it’s part of gardening. From the
early June returns, the weather appears favorable for the foreseeable
future. The days are so beautiful that I
want to ‘hoard’ them, to savor them later.
Well, of course, the big news today is the elecion. We all know who won, but I predict that this
is not over; it will continue in the courts.
Mr. Governor Walker cannot be recalled again during his term, but how
about a recount, my dears, and allegations of voting irregularity (the bad kind
– tee-hee)? Unortunately, I don’t see
our state ‘healing’ as a result of this.
And I don’t think it would be otherwise if the other side had won. Either way, it looks like Wisconsin
remains wounded.
Thank you so much to our tireless pollworkers throughout the
state who worked so hard and long on this electioon. You are the unsung heroes of every
election. This one was especially
trying. Bless you.
As noted in Mr. OrbsCorbs earlier blog, http://www.jtirregulars.com/2012/06/journal-times-launches-digital.html,
the JournalTimes.com becomes a pay site next week. Good luck to the Journal Times and to the people
who work there.
Believe it or not, we are now less than a month away from
the 4th of July, the premier celebration in Racine. I’m still waiting for spring fever to
hit. In fact, I’m still waiting for this
past winter to kick in. It is incredible
how time gains speed as we age. Is that
what Mr. Einstein meant by his ‘theory of relativity’?
Thank you, my dear readers, for stopping by to visit with me
today. I enjoy writing for you and your
pleasure. Your loyalty is a treasure I
cannot measure.
Who really won the election?
Find out: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com.
Enjoy the fair weather, my lovelies. You deserve a break today. Take good care of yourselves. You are surrounded by more love than you
could ever imagine. Knissomancy!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Cucumbers
Updated
1.Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.
2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.
3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.
4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminium to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.
5 Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!
6.. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!
7 Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.
8.Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.
9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!
10.Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber will react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown to reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.
11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.
12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.
13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!
"Journal Times launches digital subscriptions"
"Dear Reader,
"Beginning Monday, June 11, The Journal Times will begin metered subscription services for our website, journaltimes.com."
Truth for free at Racine Uncovererd , or pay for lies at the Journal Times.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Last Call For the Transit of Venus
Yep, we are less than 24 hours away from the last Venus transit to take place for the next 105.5 years! So you had better get out and see it.
Okay, as many of you may know, Venus orbits closer to the Sun than the Earth. It also orbits the Sun faster than the Earth so every now and then Venus will lap the Earth and pass between the Earth and the Sun. However, we don't get a transit every time Venus passes between the Earth and the Sun. This is due to the fact that Venus and the Earth don't orbit in exactly the same plane. Imagine each of our orbits is a hula hoop but they are not quite lined up. The hoops are tipped relative to each other. Venus might pass us when its orbit is slightly above Earth's or slightly below Earth's orbit. Therefore most of the time we see Venus pass slightly above the Sun or slightly below the Sun.
Transits occur in pairs separated by eight years. There was a transit of Venus in 2004 which I saw from Wisconsin rising over Lake Michigan. This is the second transit in the pair. The next pair won't start until 2117!
But not on June 5th/6th (depending on which side of the International Date Line you are on), 2012, Venus will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun. Venus will appear as a small dot on the surface of the Sun. The entire transit takes over six hours. In Tucson, Venus touches the edge of the Sun around 3:06pm MST and leaves the Sun around 8:47 MST...but the Sun sets around 7:30MST so we miss the end. That is true for most of North America...we see the first part of the transit only. You can find times for your location here.
People in Hawaii and East Asia get to see the whole transit. As you move into Europe, they see the transit at sunrise. Most of south America and west Africa are out of luck this time (hope they watched in 2004!) Here is a map showing who sees what.
First rule of observing the transit: NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITHOUT EYE PROTECTION. Sunglasses don't cut it. Get #14 welder's glass (any welder's shop will know why you are asking for it...they won't look at you funny, I promise), eclipse shades or a properly filtered telescope. If in doubt, leave it to the pros. You can also make a pinhole viewer quickly and cheaply (if you are in Tucson, I have solar eclipse glasses, just drop me a line!)
If you are clouded out, there are lots of online streams you can watch. The National Solar Observatory will have a stream and Universe Today promises to have a lively feed. Look for you local astronomy clubs...many are having viewing events. In Tucson, there is a big event on the University of Arizona Mall tomorrow with free telescope viewing. There are also free events at Tumamoc Hill and Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson. I recommend going out and seeing it while the Sun is up and then joining the streams after the Sun goes down where you are to see the end.
I will be at NOAO with for the first part and then probably hit the east side of Tucson where I normall photograph sunset to take pictures with my scopes.
This is the last time you will get to see a transit of Venus unless you are planning on having your head frozen...don't rely on them figuring out how to reanimate you!
Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
Partial Lunar Eclipse Photos
I managed to get up this morning for the partial lunar eclipse. I didn't try to get up and see the whole thing but just took a few photos near the maximum eclipse (in which Earth's shadow covered about 38% of the Moon).
First picture is with my usual setup: a Canon Digital Rebel Xti and a 70-300mm zoom lens.
I also had my Galileoscope ready to go with a webcam attached (everything was set up in my living room the night before!) I snapped a few quick pics with it as well.
I didn't stay up too much after this. The Moon was getting low in the sky and I would have had to go somewhere else to keep taking pics as it was about to go behind some trees and a building. Nice event and can't wait for the next total lunar eclipse!
Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
A Question to Ponder
Is it your “Patriotic Duty” or your “Patriotic Right” to vote?
To me looking at the word “Duty” it’s like a job or an obligation, you have to do it; whereas “Right” you have the privilege whether to vote or not to vote.