Ok, so here is your chance to post your 2012 New Year's Resolutions and have them here to look at a year from now. See how you do!
Just add your resolutions in the comment's section!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Resolved for 2012 / The Twitter Club
Ok, so here is your chance to post your 2012 New Year's Resolutions and have them here to look at a year from now. See how you do!
Just add your resolutions in the comment's section!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
New Year's Eve, a little early
I always loved a good holiday buffet, especially on New Year's Eve. The more, the merrier. Garry Marshall has provided a buffet of his own with the release of "New Year's Eve", the movie. This is an ensemble cast production and every performance in this movie is a perfect dish in the buffet.
The cast is charming, the plot lines are so clever and well thought out. This is an intricate weave of ingredients that does not skimp on the fun. There are appearances by a couple of Hollywood greats, namely Robert DeNiro and Hector Elizondo who produce some of the main courses, but one of the standout performances is dished by Lea Michele. Her chemistry with Ashton Kutcher is extremely believable and very pleasant to watch. Another great, Hilary Swank, gives the type of performance we've come to expect, and proves herself to be quite comically capable.
I hesitate to describe even a bit of the action because, while this is a cinematic smorgasbord, every dish comes together in a way that would make even Emeril proud, and to give even a hint of the plot twists would spoil this feast. Suffice to say that if you are looking for a real feel-good movie that warms the heart without being too sweet or cloying, then you are in for a real treat with this production. There are no lackluster performances, and every cast member shines in his or her respective roles. This is one of the best jobs of fitting the actors to the parts I have seen in a long time. You'll love Michelle Pfieffer, Hallie Berry will bring tears to your eyes, and Garry Marshall enlisting Alyssa Milano in a role with such an appropriate line, well that is the cherry on the sundae for me.
Do yourself a favor and get to see this movie before the actual New Year's Eve. You'll be full, satisfied and energized to have a holiday that's just a little bit sweeter.
The cast is charming, the plot lines are so clever and well thought out. This is an intricate weave of ingredients that does not skimp on the fun. There are appearances by a couple of Hollywood greats, namely Robert DeNiro and Hector Elizondo who produce some of the main courses, but one of the standout performances is dished by Lea Michele. Her chemistry with Ashton Kutcher is extremely believable and very pleasant to watch. Another great, Hilary Swank, gives the type of performance we've come to expect, and proves herself to be quite comically capable.
I hesitate to describe even a bit of the action because, while this is a cinematic smorgasbord, every dish comes together in a way that would make even Emeril proud, and to give even a hint of the plot twists would spoil this feast. Suffice to say that if you are looking for a real feel-good movie that warms the heart without being too sweet or cloying, then you are in for a real treat with this production. There are no lackluster performances, and every cast member shines in his or her respective roles. This is one of the best jobs of fitting the actors to the parts I have seen in a long time. You'll love Michelle Pfieffer, Hallie Berry will bring tears to your eyes, and Garry Marshall enlisting Alyssa Milano in a role with such an appropriate line, well that is the cherry on the sundae for me.
Do yourself a favor and get to see this movie before the actual New Year's Eve. You'll be full, satisfied and energized to have a holiday that's just a little bit sweeter.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Why Men Can't Write Advice Columns:
I didn't write this. I stole it from a friend. Sue me!
Why Men Can't Write Advice Columns
Dear Walter:
I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a few hundred yards down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help.
When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was parading in front of the wardrobe mirror dressed in my underwear and high-heel shoes, and he was wearing my make up.
I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he tried to make out that he had dressed in my lingerie because he couldn't find his own underwear. But when I asked him about the make-up, he broke down and admitted that he'd been wearing my clothes for six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him.
He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. I don't feel I can get through to him anymore.
Can you please help?
Sincerely,
Sheila
Reply:
Dear Sheila:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the jubilee clips holding the vacuum pipes onto the inlet manifold. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber. I hope this helps.
Walter
Why Men Can't Write Advice Columns
Dear Walter:
I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't gone more than a few hundred yards down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help.
When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was parading in front of the wardrobe mirror dressed in my underwear and high-heel shoes, and he was wearing my make up.
I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he tried to make out that he had dressed in my lingerie because he couldn't find his own underwear. But when I asked him about the make-up, he broke down and admitted that he'd been wearing my clothes for six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him.
He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. I don't feel I can get through to him anymore.
Can you please help?
Sincerely,
Sheila
Reply:
Dear Sheila:
A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the jubilee clips holding the vacuum pipes onto the inlet manifold. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber. I hope this helps.
Walter
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Fixing Facebook
Note: this info is current as of 11/15/2011.
OK so if all you want to see on Facebook is Status Updates, no videos, no games, no any-other-nonsense, then this is a good way to do it. It works only with Google Chrome. I haven't tried any fixes for other browsers, so I don't know what's available.
You have to install Google Chrome browser on your computer. If you haven't done that, get it here: www.google.com/chrome
Once you have that up and running, you can go to the Google Chrome Store here: chrome.google.com/webstore
Ok here we go. First, do a search for "Minimalist for Facebook"
You should then see this:
Then, click this:
OK the next step is to do another search. Search for "Hide Facebook SideBar Ticker"
You should see this:
Once again, click this:
When that is installed, close the browser completely. CLOSE IT!
Now open the browser again and go to www.facebook.com
Up in the address bar, you should see some little icons.
Click on this particular icon:
And you will see the pop-up menu appear:
Click on the options button and a new tab will open in your browser. (look up top)
On the next page, you'll see a menu on the left. For now, we'll just worry about the main menu options.
Once the page loads, you can make your selections here:
This is important! When you've checked all the boxes you want to hide, look at the top left of the page you're on.
Be sure to click the "Refresh Facebook to Apply" link.
And that's it. You should only see the things you want to see on Facebook. I've hidden mostly everything, so I only see "status updates" on my page now.
Hope that helps.
Heroes Anyone?
CNN columnist LZ Granderson wrote an Op-Ed piece "America, a nation without heroes", http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/15/opinion/granderson-america-without-heroes/index.html?hpt=hp_c3 in which he concludes that few people are as good as advertised, and that we really don't have heroes anymore.
His statement that he sometimes just turns the TV off because he doesn't want to know "who's next." struck a chord with me. He says that if we look at our heroes from the past in the same way we scrutinize them today, we'd learn that America was probably never as great as we thought it was.
And that strikes a huge note with me.
Heroes have not changed. Trust me, there are plenty of people out there who are willing to do great things every day. Selfless, altruistic people really do exist, and we see evidence of that anytime there is a disaster, or someone is dire straits. People do step up.
What I believe has changed is our desire to cut people down. From the moment that someone steps into the spotlight, there is a subculture that sees a challenge. That challenge is to dig through every aspect of a hero's life, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of imperfection, of that "juicy story" that will make millions. And those millions will come from people who thrive on negative news. Gossip magazines exist solely because people love to see the famous at their worst.
Our heroes haven't changed. We have.
Think about it a second. Who benefits from seeing a matinee idol without her make-up? Or a pregnant celebrity dressed in less than her Sunday Best? Consider that TMZ has become a go-to news source. Why?
Frankly, I'm amazed that anyone would consider running for any office in this Country anymore. Accepting a nomination these days is like painting a big, giant bullseye on one's back. When someone steps into the political, the entire family becomes subject to the spotlight as well. The job of a publicist has got to be a veritable nightmare.
Now, I agree that it always feels good when some self-righteous, pompous ass gets taken down a few pegs. The downfall of Larry Craig brought smiles to a few faces, I'm sure. But why have we become obsessed with "crash & burn" stories? When Sully Sullenberger rose to fame after he safely landed his US Airways plane in the Hudson River, I remember thinking, "How long before we find out how many affairs he's had?"
Our heroes are out there. I will stand by my belief that it is just as okay to worship heroes as it is to revel in their downfalls. And the day I wake up a perfect human being, I'll be okay with expecting my heroes to be perfect.
His statement that he sometimes just turns the TV off because he doesn't want to know "who's next." struck a chord with me. He says that if we look at our heroes from the past in the same way we scrutinize them today, we'd learn that America was probably never as great as we thought it was.
And that strikes a huge note with me.
Heroes have not changed. Trust me, there are plenty of people out there who are willing to do great things every day. Selfless, altruistic people really do exist, and we see evidence of that anytime there is a disaster, or someone is dire straits. People do step up.
What I believe has changed is our desire to cut people down. From the moment that someone steps into the spotlight, there is a subculture that sees a challenge. That challenge is to dig through every aspect of a hero's life, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of imperfection, of that "juicy story" that will make millions. And those millions will come from people who thrive on negative news. Gossip magazines exist solely because people love to see the famous at their worst.
Our heroes haven't changed. We have.
Think about it a second. Who benefits from seeing a matinee idol without her make-up? Or a pregnant celebrity dressed in less than her Sunday Best? Consider that TMZ has become a go-to news source. Why?
Frankly, I'm amazed that anyone would consider running for any office in this Country anymore. Accepting a nomination these days is like painting a big, giant bullseye on one's back. When someone steps into the political, the entire family becomes subject to the spotlight as well. The job of a publicist has got to be a veritable nightmare.
Now, I agree that it always feels good when some self-righteous, pompous ass gets taken down a few pegs. The downfall of Larry Craig brought smiles to a few faces, I'm sure. But why have we become obsessed with "crash & burn" stories? When Sully Sullenberger rose to fame after he safely landed his US Airways plane in the Hudson River, I remember thinking, "How long before we find out how many affairs he's had?"
Our heroes are out there. I will stand by my belief that it is just as okay to worship heroes as it is to revel in their downfalls. And the day I wake up a perfect human being, I'll be okay with expecting my heroes to be perfect.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Cry
I do think that sometimes making someone cry is a good thing. A great thing even.
Reminding her that the world is so much better with her in it, yeah that can do it.
Making her feel as beautiful as she deserves to feel.
Thanking her for being her and telling her that without her, the word "great" could not be defined. I think that can do it.
Telling her that there isn't an hour of the day that goes by that she isn't thought of, and then somehow proving it.
I want to make someone cry like that.
Reminding her that the world is so much better with her in it, yeah that can do it.
Making her feel as beautiful as she deserves to feel.
Thanking her for being her and telling her that without her, the word "great" could not be defined. I think that can do it.
Telling her that there isn't an hour of the day that goes by that she isn't thought of, and then somehow proving it.
I want to make someone cry like that.
Movies
I changed my cable package recently. I decided to try some of the movie channels.
I miss the days when "HBO" meant "Home Box Office" and HBO showed movies. Hit movies. Hit movies with titles that I actually heard of. And not "Hellboy", over and over again. Or the sequel.
And "Showtime" is even worse. They haven't had a hit movie air in years.
Thank God for Netflix.
I miss the days when "HBO" meant "Home Box Office" and HBO showed movies. Hit movies. Hit movies with titles that I actually heard of. And not "Hellboy", over and over again. Or the sequel.
And "Showtime" is even worse. They haven't had a hit movie air in years.
Thank God for Netflix.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Rental
Rental cars are a bad thing. Most times, they're better than the car we normally drive. They have all the gadgets and toys, they smell good and for some reason they always get great gas mileage.
This leads to awful behavior. We're mean to our own car after we drop off the rental and go back home. We say bad things to our vehicle, telling it how much better the "other" car was, comparing features, mileage and smells.
We do that to our cars and then we get mad when they break down.
It's just wrong.
This leads to awful behavior. We're mean to our own car after we drop off the rental and go back home. We say bad things to our vehicle, telling it how much better the "other" car was, comparing features, mileage and smells.
We do that to our cars and then we get mad when they break down.
It's just wrong.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Stole This...
Me? Behave? Seriously...
As a child I saw Tarzan strolling naked.
Cinderella arrived home after midnight.
Pinocchio told lies.
Aladdin was a thief.
Batman drove over 200 miles an hour.
Snow White lived in a house with 7 men.
Popeye smoked a pipe and had many tattoos,
and in later years, Pac-Man ran with digital music eating pills that enhanced his performance.
The fault is not mine!
As a child I saw Tarzan strolling naked.
Cinderella arrived home after midnight.
Pinocchio told lies.
Aladdin was a thief.
Batman drove over 200 miles an hour.
Snow White lived in a house with 7 men.
Popeye smoked a pipe and had many tattoos,
and in later years, Pac-Man ran with digital music eating pills that enhanced his performance.
The fault is not mine!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
In A Day?
So yeah, this was the kind of day I had here.
First off, I baked a cake, from scratch. Flour, eggs, baking powder, milk, sugar. Only I forgot the sugar. Know what you get when you bake a cake from scratch, but without the sugar? You get really lousy bread, is what you get.
Then some kid I don't even know goes upstairs, uses the bathroom. Next thing, I hear running around up there, and then water starts cascading through the ceiling. Whatever went on in that bathroom, well the toilet clogged and overflowed. That's enough about that. I'll be burning my socks.
Oh and I got this bright idea. I had a dark blue shirt. When I was doing the laundry, I must have splashed bleach on the shirt. Now I had a dark blue shirt with white sprinkles. I figured I might as well go on ahead and bleach the whole shirt. Into the washer went the shirt with a lot of Clorox. Soaked it, rinsed it.
How in God's name does a blue shirt bleach out and become pink? Yes, my shirt is pink. Looks like the frosting on my bread.
That's it for now.
First off, I baked a cake, from scratch. Flour, eggs, baking powder, milk, sugar. Only I forgot the sugar. Know what you get when you bake a cake from scratch, but without the sugar? You get really lousy bread, is what you get.
Then some kid I don't even know goes upstairs, uses the bathroom. Next thing, I hear running around up there, and then water starts cascading through the ceiling. Whatever went on in that bathroom, well the toilet clogged and overflowed. That's enough about that. I'll be burning my socks.
Oh and I got this bright idea. I had a dark blue shirt. When I was doing the laundry, I must have splashed bleach on the shirt. Now I had a dark blue shirt with white sprinkles. I figured I might as well go on ahead and bleach the whole shirt. Into the washer went the shirt with a lot of Clorox. Soaked it, rinsed it.
How in God's name does a blue shirt bleach out and become pink? Yes, my shirt is pink. Looks like the frosting on my bread.
That's it for now.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Less-Famous People You Should Follow Part 2
I've discovered something about myself, and that is, no matter how "scientific" or "journalistic" I try to be with my writing, it always winds up coming from the heart. I guess there isn't going to be any room for me at the Wall Street Journal.
That's not going to worry me much. As I said, I approach Twitter from the "social" aspect of "social media." I like the friendly chatter, the heart-to-hearts that are achieved despite the limitations of an electronic medium. People manage to shine no matter by what means their words are shared.
That being said, here are some more people I'd suggest following, if you like the "social" side of things.
Ash @ashIeymegan is a sweet, engaging lady. She tweets frequently, sharing her thoughts and words, what she's doing, all the things that make Twitter fun for me. And she always has time to say "hi". She's got a bright future and is working hard to get there. One of my favorites.
Daniel @Danielzio Manages a bar & restaurant supply company in NYC. He's a good guy who specializes in Tweets regarding a favorite topic of mine: food! Check out his timeline. A lot of good stuff there!
Tommy Geraci @teeco71 Loves to promote talent, and has a lot of friends to work with. He also manages to mix in some great tweets about celebs, great quotes and a bright outlook on life. Fun guy to follow. Check it out!
Ashley @randomlyhappy Here's her Twitter bio: Student. Crazy fangirl. Has too much compassion for people. Tear ducts are broken. Loves horses, cars, and sports. Yes. I AM a girl. She's so engaging, entertaining and interesting. I love when her name pops up in my timeline. Give her a follow!
Cali Lewis @CaliLewis What can I say, I'm a geek who's fond of people fluent in tech-speak. And she likes bacon! Host of GeekBeat.TV. Tech correspondent for CNN, FOX and Sirius 101's GeekTime. Puts out a lot of good info and GeekBeat TV is a worthwhile daily visit.
Jess Mahler @babyjay4 I love "slice of life" tweets. I love people with a keen eye for observation when it comes to people and her tweets get my full attention every time. I'm so glad I chose to follow her because how could ya not love someone who posted this quote: "It takes more than a heartbeat to feel alive."
Charlene McAvennie @Charlie8Charlie This is her bio: Just a girl who hearts Africa, orphans, Jesus, chocolate, ☮ and ♥! Oh & self-appointed World Champion Procrastinator (challenge if you wish but you'll lose!) She is delightful, if I may use that word, kind, because there is no other word, and loving. Someone I enjoy knowing and someone whose heart I admire.
Angel LaCombe @angelmarie_3 is someone close to my heart. Her timeline is like a great daily movie. Finds the good in so many things in life. She's my partner-in-crime when it comes to twitter-projects for Alyssa's Army and someone I'm lucky to consider a friend.
OK that wraps up this edition. Hope you make the effort to follow these great folks. You won't regret it. More to come, so stay tuned!
That's not going to worry me much. As I said, I approach Twitter from the "social" aspect of "social media." I like the friendly chatter, the heart-to-hearts that are achieved despite the limitations of an electronic medium. People manage to shine no matter by what means their words are shared.
That being said, here are some more people I'd suggest following, if you like the "social" side of things.
Ash @ashIeymegan is a sweet, engaging lady. She tweets frequently, sharing her thoughts and words, what she's doing, all the things that make Twitter fun for me. And she always has time to say "hi". She's got a bright future and is working hard to get there. One of my favorites.
Daniel @Danielzio Manages a bar & restaurant supply company in NYC. He's a good guy who specializes in Tweets regarding a favorite topic of mine: food! Check out his timeline. A lot of good stuff there!
Tommy Geraci @teeco71 Loves to promote talent, and has a lot of friends to work with. He also manages to mix in some great tweets about celebs, great quotes and a bright outlook on life. Fun guy to follow. Check it out!
Ashley @randomlyhappy Here's her Twitter bio: Student. Crazy fangirl. Has too much compassion for people. Tear ducts are broken. Loves horses, cars, and sports. Yes. I AM a girl. She's so engaging, entertaining and interesting. I love when her name pops up in my timeline. Give her a follow!
Cali Lewis @CaliLewis What can I say, I'm a geek who's fond of people fluent in tech-speak. And she likes bacon! Host of GeekBeat.TV. Tech correspondent for CNN, FOX and Sirius 101's GeekTime. Puts out a lot of good info and GeekBeat TV is a worthwhile daily visit.
Jess Mahler @babyjay4 I love "slice of life" tweets. I love people with a keen eye for observation when it comes to people and her tweets get my full attention every time. I'm so glad I chose to follow her because how could ya not love someone who posted this quote: "It takes more than a heartbeat to feel alive."
Charlene McAvennie @Charlie8Charlie This is her bio: Just a girl who hearts Africa, orphans, Jesus, chocolate, ☮ and ♥! Oh & self-appointed World Champion Procrastinator (challenge if you wish but you'll lose!) She is delightful, if I may use that word, kind, because there is no other word, and loving. Someone I enjoy knowing and someone whose heart I admire.
Angel LaCombe @angelmarie_3 is someone close to my heart. Her timeline is like a great daily movie. Finds the good in so many things in life. She's my partner-in-crime when it comes to twitter-projects for Alyssa's Army and someone I'm lucky to consider a friend.
OK that wraps up this edition. Hope you make the effort to follow these great folks. You won't regret it. More to come, so stay tuned!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Less-Famous People You Should Follow Part 1
I'm more of a social Twitter user. I don't have a lot of profound things to say, and I mostly engage in little conversations all day. I love quotes, I love humor and cartoons, and most of all I love silliness. And there's no place like Twitter for a kind word when you need it.
I'm also very partial to people who share the love for Alyssa Milano because I probably wouldn't even be on Twitter if it weren't for her. I have connected to so many great people through the Twitter activity of Alyssa and I'm so happy and grateful for that.
Anyway, I'm not famous. And while I do follow a lot of people who are, my day to day activity is so much better because of the people I "tweet" with who aren't quite celebrities (yet? I say that because there are some talented folks who haven't broken out just yet, but it's in the cards!) So here are some people you might want to check out:
note: this article is the first attempt at this. I can't list everyone in one shot, but I'll be doing this pretty regularly and if I love ya, I'll get to your name! I'm kind of doing this in the order I met people so, patience please? :)
Alyssa Milano @Alyssa_Milano is always going to be first on my list. She turned me on to Twitter, showed me how to use it and how powerful a tool it can be. I call her the BossLady because she is my fearless Twitter leader. She has a heart of gold, and an endless supply of love and charity toward people and animals and I couldn't think of anyone whose lead I'd rather follow.
Calauren @Calauren is one of my best friends, and one of the best people on Earth. She's funny, very smart and hasn't killed me yet. She is the personification of "loyal", someone who knows how to be there for her friends.
Dick Lewis @DickLewis13 has been with me since the first day of Alyssa's Army on Twitter. I call him the "Colonel" because he has my back whenever there is some Army business to tend to. He spreads a lot of happy Tweets around for all to enjoy and share. A good man!
Bill Carlson @BillCarlson_27 is another veteran of Alyssa's Army. He's been with me since it was formed. He's a good guy (likes White Castle too) who always joins in the fun. He likes to chat back and forth and keeps the social part of Twitter going for me.
Andrea Emmes @AndreaEmmes makes me smile every single day. It's not complete for me until I see her in my timeline. She's very thoughtful, smart and eloquent. Manages to make 140 characters matter. She's someone I'm very proud to call a friend.
Claire @palacegirl is a charming Lady who is so much fun to follow. She is part of my list of UK Tweeps, and I'm so glad to have connected to her. Seems everything she Tweets is worth reading because I either smile or learn something.
Sapphire Bufton @0wlheart is one of my first connections. We share a love of Pokemon games, and she has an incredibly beautiful voice. She is another of my UK tweeps and is never too busy to say hello. I love when she is on a roll and lets fly with a few tweets. She is very smart and funny too.
Niki @Phoebe1_ is part of Alyssa's Army. She is actually the Lady who let me know that "Charmed" is still airing on TV around the world, and I'm so happy she did. I love having friends around the world, and I count her as one.
Nia Peeples @nia_peeples showed me that people can be as they seem on TV. She is a Lady who appreciates her fans and gives back too. She has a website http://www.niaselementsoflife.com/ that you should really check out because it's full of inspiration for me, and I think you'll like it too. And she is such a nice Lady. Say hello.
Kadda @kaddaki is another Alyssa's Army soldier. She too, has met the BossLady (in Pittsburgh) and is a great part of Alyssa's Army. She is a sweet, kind, funny Lady and doesn't mind making fun of me! (I love that)
Kimberly @Kmullen12 is someone I feel like I'm best buds with. Haven't met, but we come from the same area originally. We are Yankee die-hards (well I like the Indians too, but she doesn't hold that against me), we both sit on the same side of the political aisle and we both adore soccer. How could we not be friends?
I hope to make this a regular piece in my blog. More to follow!
This is the first list of many. As I said, these follow recommendations are going to be written based on the order in which I've met people, so I'll get to all the people I want to give a shout-out to.
I'm also very partial to people who share the love for Alyssa Milano because I probably wouldn't even be on Twitter if it weren't for her. I have connected to so many great people through the Twitter activity of Alyssa and I'm so happy and grateful for that.
Anyway, I'm not famous. And while I do follow a lot of people who are, my day to day activity is so much better because of the people I "tweet" with who aren't quite celebrities (yet? I say that because there are some talented folks who haven't broken out just yet, but it's in the cards!) So here are some people you might want to check out:
note: this article is the first attempt at this. I can't list everyone in one shot, but I'll be doing this pretty regularly and if I love ya, I'll get to your name! I'm kind of doing this in the order I met people so, patience please? :)
Alyssa Milano @Alyssa_Milano is always going to be first on my list. She turned me on to Twitter, showed me how to use it and how powerful a tool it can be. I call her the BossLady because she is my fearless Twitter leader. She has a heart of gold, and an endless supply of love and charity toward people and animals and I couldn't think of anyone whose lead I'd rather follow.
Calauren @Calauren is one of my best friends, and one of the best people on Earth. She's funny, very smart and hasn't killed me yet. She is the personification of "loyal", someone who knows how to be there for her friends.
Dick Lewis @DickLewis13 has been with me since the first day of Alyssa's Army on Twitter. I call him the "Colonel" because he has my back whenever there is some Army business to tend to. He spreads a lot of happy Tweets around for all to enjoy and share. A good man!
Bill Carlson @BillCarlson_27 is another veteran of Alyssa's Army. He's been with me since it was formed. He's a good guy (likes White Castle too) who always joins in the fun. He likes to chat back and forth and keeps the social part of Twitter going for me.
Andrea Emmes @AndreaEmmes makes me smile every single day. It's not complete for me until I see her in my timeline. She's very thoughtful, smart and eloquent. Manages to make 140 characters matter. She's someone I'm very proud to call a friend.
Claire @palacegirl is a charming Lady who is so much fun to follow. She is part of my list of UK Tweeps, and I'm so glad to have connected to her. Seems everything she Tweets is worth reading because I either smile or learn something.
Sapphire Bufton @0wlheart is one of my first connections. We share a love of Pokemon games, and she has an incredibly beautiful voice. She is another of my UK tweeps and is never too busy to say hello. I love when she is on a roll and lets fly with a few tweets. She is very smart and funny too.
Niki @Phoebe1_ is part of Alyssa's Army. She is actually the Lady who let me know that "Charmed" is still airing on TV around the world, and I'm so happy she did. I love having friends around the world, and I count her as one.
Nia Peeples @nia_peeples showed me that people can be as they seem on TV. She is a Lady who appreciates her fans and gives back too. She has a website http://www.niaselementsoflife.com/ that you should really check out because it's full of inspiration for me, and I think you'll like it too. And she is such a nice Lady. Say hello.
Kadda @kaddaki is another Alyssa's Army soldier. She too, has met the BossLady (in Pittsburgh) and is a great part of Alyssa's Army. She is a sweet, kind, funny Lady and doesn't mind making fun of me! (I love that)
Kimberly @Kmullen12 is someone I feel like I'm best buds with. Haven't met, but we come from the same area originally. We are Yankee die-hards (well I like the Indians too, but she doesn't hold that against me), we both sit on the same side of the political aisle and we both adore soccer. How could we not be friends?
I hope to make this a regular piece in my blog. More to follow!
This is the first list of many. As I said, these follow recommendations are going to be written based on the order in which I've met people, so I'll get to all the people I want to give a shout-out to.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Things Little Kids Know
1. No matter how hard you try, you cannot baptize cats. 2. When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair. 3. If you sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person. 4. Never ask your 3-year-old brother to hold a tomato. 5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food. 6. Reading what people write on desks can teach you a lot. 7. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair. 8. Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic tac. 9. Never hold a dustbuster and a cat at the same time. 10. School lunches stick to the wall. 11. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk. 12. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts. 13. The best place to be when you are sad is in Grandma's lap.
Courtesy of http://parents.berkeley.edu/jokes/truths.html
Friday, July 29, 2011
Phishing Alert!
I received an email tonight, and I thought I would share the info with anyone who might use PayPal. Below is the body of the message. It was accompanied by an attachment named "AccountVerification.html". A couple of key points to remember:
Dear Valued Member,
As of the 24th of July 2011, our system has blocked unusual charges to a credit
card linked to your account.
We detected an intrusion that someone tried to access your
PayPal account
without your permission. Due to this, we have limited access to your account.
Moreover, we
have sent you an attachment which contains all the necessary steps in order to
restore your
account access. Please download and open it in your browser.
Thank you for your attention to this problem. Please do
understand
that this is a security measure taken with intention to protect you and your
account.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Sincerely,
PayPal Account Review Team
- Paypal would never send an email with such an attachment
- When corresponding with its customers, the email would be addressed to your name and not "Valued Member"
- Never, ever, ever, ever click on a link in an email. If you think there might be some validity to the email, close all windows, open a new browser window, and type in the website address (i.e. www.paypal.com) yourself.
Might seem silly to rehash this, but I know of two people who ran into trouble by not remembering those points in the last two months alone. Just take a minute to read below and familiarize yourself with the content.
Dear Valued Member,
As of the 24th of July 2011, our system has blocked unusual charges to a credit
card linked to your account.
We detected an intrusion that someone tried to access your
PayPal account
without your permission. Due to this, we have limited access to your account.
Moreover, we
have sent you an attachment which contains all the necessary steps in order to
restore your
account access. Please download and open it in your browser.
Thank you for your attention to this problem. Please do
understand
that this is a security measure taken with intention to protect you and your
account.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Sincerely,
PayPal Account Review Team
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
10 Things It IS ok to Say to a Pregnant Woman
- "I thought you said you were pregnant!" - this one comes straight out of the American Brown-nose Handbook. Sort of self-explanatory.
- "Funny, I have these gift-certificates to the Spa, and no one to use them! Hmm..." One of the very few times in life you can actually buy love.
- "Did I mention I am an expert foot-masseur?" Be ready.
- "Just to keep you up to speed, I'll be doing all the chores. Thanks." Let her know who's in charge here, damn it. Oh this shows how grateful you are to be allowed to work for her
- "You know, texting is a great way to get whatever you crave, whenever you want it." - shows her that you're very tech-savvy. And willing to do what it takes to survive.
- "I have no problem creating a 10-course meal and then throwing it away 'cause the smell makes you sick." Foodies, write this one down, k?
- "Want me to take that waist in a little?" Ok, this one might get you punched, as it is a little over the top. Still worth it.
- Another good thing to say to overdue pregnant women- “Whatever you want”. Period. (courtesy of "What To Expect")
- "You should really gain some weight. The baby's well-being depends on it!" Not sure how close you should be standing if you try this one. Try the preface: "You're stunning, ya know that?" first. Sort of tests the waters for you.
- "Your wish is my command." Sort of makes you sound like a Genie. No one ever throws rocks at Genies. They mostly like Genies. Go ahead, be brave.
I hope I've contributed in some small way to the peaceful survival of the species. These ideas could mean the difference between making it through the Baby Festival and finding out what pain is.
Final thought: learn how to say "yes." A lot.
If you have any you'd like to add, there are some people out here who would really appreciate it.
*Note: some of these gems came about as a result of some polling and research. Some of them came about as a result of me having a really keen survival instinct.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Why Will I Follow You On Twitter?
I'm someone who enjoys the "social" side of "social media". Twitter, in particular, has given me a lot of joy since I began getting to know people 140 characters at a time. I love that there is no limit to the kinds of people to interact with, (although the Twitter rules sometimes limit the amount of people I can interact with!)
For me, it's like being invited to a really cool party. The best parties have always been the ones where I get to meet a lot of people I may not have known before. I've learned a lot over the years because I spoke with people whose acquaintance I just made. And some of the funniest stuff ever has come from people who just relax and let their hair down a little.
I don't much care for rules. I don't show up at parties and tell people what they should or shouldn't talk about. I don't like to dictate the rules of engagement. We've all been places where maybe someone is talking about something we don't care to listen to. I simply move on to the next group and see what's happening there. I would not deign to tell anyone how to conduct their social behavior. Not my place to do that. It's not my party, I'm just an attendee like everyone else.
Now if I'm conducting some sort of business meeting, sure, this is a time for decorum and protocol. Meeting are formal, after all, and they have a business purpose. Rules should and do apply. And if I'm running the show, I'm dictating the topic, the rules, the agenda.
Twitter for me is fun. And while there's nothing wrong with learning something new at any time, I come there to be social. I speak to people of every possible age-group, nationality, gender, creed and orientation. Why? Because they speak to me. Sure, sometimes we run into the bots and spammers and phishermen. So what? It happens in life too. We've all run into the insurance salesman over cocktails, right? We wait for the right moment, and find an excuse to move on. Live for the moment, so to speak, and enjoy.
So why will follow you on Twitter?
1. You're nice. "Nice" is underrated these days.
2. You are apparently aware that the Earth is populated by other people too.
3. I like random. I have about 100 people I follow who crack me up at least once a day with a random outburst. I do love me some "WTF" moments.
4. I do like to know what you're up to. I like the fact that at some moment, someone in Germany fills me in on what's for dinner. Gives me ideas for dinner of my own! I'm in charge of feeding some finicky kids!
5. You take time to occasionally share something you've learned. Remember, very few of us are born knowing everything about everything.
6. You're not too worried about everyone's rules. Free speech, to me, means that people can say things I might not agree with, or care about, but I'd hate to think of any medium where everything is exactly the same, day in and day out.
7. Pictures. I love pictures of people who like to share a little of their everyday lives. Sometimes I like to think they're even smiling just for me.
8. You understand two-way communication. We all have those friends who haven't figured out that their phone is capable of dialing out as well.
9. I like hearing what kind of day you're having. Maybe I have a trick up my sleeve that might lighten your mood if you need it, or maybe I like sharing a little of the joy in your day.
10. You're social. Yes, sometimes I'd love to know how great an expert you are in the Social Media realm, but sometimes the "social" gets left out. When I want to be "all business", I usually go to work for that. They pay me there. I don't make much money on Twitter. I don't think that's why I joined.
I will follow you because I like you. I will follow you because you're someone I'd be friends with in "real" life too. I will follow you because you do what Twitter lets us do: share some of our days together. I will follow you on Twitter for the same reasons I'd talk to you at a party.
So, let's have some fun,OK?
For me, it's like being invited to a really cool party. The best parties have always been the ones where I get to meet a lot of people I may not have known before. I've learned a lot over the years because I spoke with people whose acquaintance I just made. And some of the funniest stuff ever has come from people who just relax and let their hair down a little.
I don't much care for rules. I don't show up at parties and tell people what they should or shouldn't talk about. I don't like to dictate the rules of engagement. We've all been places where maybe someone is talking about something we don't care to listen to. I simply move on to the next group and see what's happening there. I would not deign to tell anyone how to conduct their social behavior. Not my place to do that. It's not my party, I'm just an attendee like everyone else.
Now if I'm conducting some sort of business meeting, sure, this is a time for decorum and protocol. Meeting are formal, after all, and they have a business purpose. Rules should and do apply. And if I'm running the show, I'm dictating the topic, the rules, the agenda.
Twitter for me is fun. And while there's nothing wrong with learning something new at any time, I come there to be social. I speak to people of every possible age-group, nationality, gender, creed and orientation. Why? Because they speak to me. Sure, sometimes we run into the bots and spammers and phishermen. So what? It happens in life too. We've all run into the insurance salesman over cocktails, right? We wait for the right moment, and find an excuse to move on. Live for the moment, so to speak, and enjoy.
So why will follow you on Twitter?
1. You're nice. "Nice" is underrated these days.
2. You are apparently aware that the Earth is populated by other people too.
3. I like random. I have about 100 people I follow who crack me up at least once a day with a random outburst. I do love me some "WTF" moments.
4. I do like to know what you're up to. I like the fact that at some moment, someone in Germany fills me in on what's for dinner. Gives me ideas for dinner of my own! I'm in charge of feeding some finicky kids!
5. You take time to occasionally share something you've learned. Remember, very few of us are born knowing everything about everything.
6. You're not too worried about everyone's rules. Free speech, to me, means that people can say things I might not agree with, or care about, but I'd hate to think of any medium where everything is exactly the same, day in and day out.
7. Pictures. I love pictures of people who like to share a little of their everyday lives. Sometimes I like to think they're even smiling just for me.
8. You understand two-way communication. We all have those friends who haven't figured out that their phone is capable of dialing out as well.
9. I like hearing what kind of day you're having. Maybe I have a trick up my sleeve that might lighten your mood if you need it, or maybe I like sharing a little of the joy in your day.
10. You're social. Yes, sometimes I'd love to know how great an expert you are in the Social Media realm, but sometimes the "social" gets left out. When I want to be "all business", I usually go to work for that. They pay me there. I don't make much money on Twitter. I don't think that's why I joined.
I will follow you because I like you. I will follow you because you're someone I'd be friends with in "real" life too. I will follow you because you do what Twitter lets us do: share some of our days together. I will follow you on Twitter for the same reasons I'd talk to you at a party.
So, let's have some fun,OK?
Sunday, June 26, 2011
A Day I Am Proud Of ...
I remember one day in early 2007, I was sitting on board a commuter ferry reading my newspaper. The ferry was large, and had airline-type seating. As the cabin filled up, three young ladies approached carrying one of those cardboard cup holders with three large Starbucks' coffees. (I refuse to say "grande" or "vente" or whatever the hell those words are.)
They chose the row directly behind me. The lady with the cups eased in first, to the seat by the window.
I was suddenly baptized with a shower of coffee. All of it. Drenched the newspaper, my shirt, my tie, my pants. Slosh. Oh, and it was kinda hot. She freaked.
I turned around, glaring at her with my best "Bad Face". She freaked more.
I looked her right in the eyes and said, "You could at least give me a muffin to go with it."
I will never forget her sudden look of relief.
As I stood there in all my coffee-covered glory, the three of them scurried to attempt to help me clean up, but nuh-uh, that wasn't going to happen. But I made three friends right then and there, although I didn't get a muffin.
However, every day from that day until I stopped commuting in May of that year, I got a muffin from The Starbucks' Girls.
Not bad.
PS I saw one of the Starbucks Girls today and it reminded me, that's all
They chose the row directly behind me. The lady with the cups eased in first, to the seat by the window.
I was suddenly baptized with a shower of coffee. All of it. Drenched the newspaper, my shirt, my tie, my pants. Slosh. Oh, and it was kinda hot. She freaked.
I turned around, glaring at her with my best "Bad Face". She freaked more.
I looked her right in the eyes and said, "You could at least give me a muffin to go with it."
I will never forget her sudden look of relief.
As I stood there in all my coffee-covered glory, the three of them scurried to attempt to help me clean up, but nuh-uh, that wasn't going to happen. But I made three friends right then and there, although I didn't get a muffin.
However, every day from that day until I stopped commuting in May of that year, I got a muffin from The Starbucks' Girls.
Not bad.
PS I saw one of the Starbucks Girls today and it reminded me, that's all
Friday, June 24, 2011
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