No News Would Be Good

I concur.

I don't watch the news anymore. Is it my repressed American upbringing? Or is it my sense that American News Agencies aren't painting a complete picture? Seems that if you want the macabre, and grisly you don't need a horror movie. Watch the news.

(See more at INNINGS)

Pimp My Van

Take a peep at what the Crazy Japanese are up to. And who said minivans had to be boring?

Chinese for Breakfast, Chinese for Lunch, Chinese for Dinner

Q: What do you get when the US government decides to let all 1 billion Chinese people apply for their Greencard at the same time?
A: My job.

If you don't hear much from me in the next month and a half, don't be surprised. The incredibly well-informed Chinese community has just been given a break in the proverbial Permanent Residence Cloud Cover. No more are they required to wait 2-5 years before they can ask for their Greencard. As of July 1st, anybody with a job-related application can apply to get their card, asap. This makes for a lot of very happy and very eager people. Also, in order to make this next month as painful as possible, USCIS (formerly INS) has decided to increase all their filing fees several hundred dollars as of the 30th of July. This means that not only is there a (probably temporary) lift on the quota retrogression, but there is a tiny window frame in which people can get their applications out with the current low fees. 26 days to be precise. And I am the only thing standing between every Chinese and Indian person working at my job and the ultimate expression of self-actualization: A Greencard.

Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Cross The Finish Line

Celebrity Composure: 101

What do you do when you've been asked to an interview in Japan for your new Summer Blockbuster and instead of a volley of questions and answers you are seated in a special chair and insanely cute children start performing for you? Apparently, when you are a celebrity you have to know how to handle these unexpected occasions. Here's how Johnny Depp handled it.

Church Sign Fight

Two Church Signs have it out.

Paul Newman Tops Up Kenyon College

I think this story is rather great, actually. Paul Newman is donating $10 million to his Alma Mater, Kenyon College. Always wanted a Paul Newman of my own* because he managed to stick by his woman all these years (and he's fabulously good looking) and here he is giving back to his former school in no-name Ohio. I think that's pretty stellar of him.

Also, I love his mint chocolate cookies, despite their exorbitant cost. As it says on the package:

You might, m'lady tweak my nose.
You could, m'lord step on my toes.
But Heaven help those poor bozos,
who try to filch my Newman-O's!

Indeed.

*It's OK, I f0und something better : )

Guessing Game

Self Improvement: Typing Skills

I am endeavoring to better myself by increasing my skills in typing. See the handy- dandy website where I test my acumen (or lack thereof). The chart you see below is currently occupying a conspicuous place on my desk as I type this so I don't use "incorrect fingering" whilst educating others on the benefits of proper typing. (I'm not going to tell you my averages on the tests, but suffice to say they are fairly low.)

What the World Eats

I am fascinated by this photo essay from time.com on What the World Eats.

In fact, I was riveted by one family in particular; the Batsuuri family. First of all, I didn't see how they could spend so little and get so much, and of more interest to my Western eye was their dress and accomodations.

Mongolia: The Batsuuri family of Ulaanbaatar
Food expenditure for one week: 41,985.85 togrogs or $40.02
Family recipe: Mutton dumplings

And so I began to wonder where this place "Ulaanbaatar" was. So I looked it up. Ulaanbaatar is the capital city of Mongolia. And if you knew that then you might also know that Ulan Batar means "red hero," in honor of Mongolia's national hero Damdin Sükhbaatar. (He liberated Mongolia from Ungern von Sternberg's troops, Chinese rule, and called in the Soviet Red Army. His statue still adorns Ulan Bator's central square.)

Knit Grafitti

Coloring the streets of Stockholm with yarn. Very cool. Wish we had some yarn-tagues here in Cleveland! Although we do have the tree cozy. : )

*sadly, the tree cozy will be coming down sometime this Summer. : (

Cat Cam

What do you get when you strap a timed camera to the collar of your cat? A very entertaining diary of your pet's day! (Click pic for link)

Animals on the Underground

They did it with the stars, why not with the tube?

Can't Believe it's Friday! (Puzzle, List)

I didn't post a stitch last Friday so I'll make it up to you today. Here's what Fortune Magazine had to say about Fridays:

"They're great!"

And I agree.
No PicturePuzzle today, No, Sir! Today a Cryptogram Puzzle (because they're fun!)
And if that's too hard, try this one.

LIST:
1) Who are you going to be in a past life?
2) What are you avoiding today (if you are in fact avoiding something or someone)?
3) I'm thinking of a number between one and four. What is it?

Special Friday Bonus LOLCAT!

As a special treat this Friday, I invite you to caption the enclosed kitties. (It doesn't haz 2 B about cheezbergers, k?)

American Aviation Alphabet

How many do you already know?
(COMPLETE LIST HERE)