Pieces of Me

What Celebrity Matches My Music Taste???

2005-08-11T11:59:00.000-07:00

Your Musical Tastes Match: Jennifer Garner

http://images.blogthings.com/whatcelebritymatchesyourtasteinmusicquiz/jennifer-garner.jpg"> %20color="#000000">See her whole playlist here (iTunes required)

Celebrity Matches Your Taste in Music?

What type of designer handbag am I?

2005-08-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

Take the quiz: "What'>http://www.zenhex.com/quiz.php?id=13251">"What type of designer handbag are you?(pictures)"

Brighton
You're Brighton. You are always in style and very ... bright. You tend to look on the good side of things. Stay that way!

Dog Blog Friday

2005-06-10T00:41:00.000-07:00

Tonka Under the Desk
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Little Red Riding Tonka

2005-06-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

Little Red Riding Tonka
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Don't You Forget About 'Breakfast Club' Stars

2005-06-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

The stars of cult 1980s movie The Breakfast Club are set to reunite at the upcoming 2005 MTV Movie Awards this weekend. Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson and Anthony Michael Hall have agreed to reunite for the awards show at the Shrine Auditorium. Emilio Estevez wasn't confirmed for the Movie Awards get together as we went to press. Meanwhile, pop punks Yellowcard will perform Simple Minds' hit single "Don't You Forget About Me," which was the theme from the 1985 John Hughes movie.

Movie Meme

2005-06-01T14:41:00.000-07:00

AliThinks posted TIMES Top 100 movies on her blog and colored the ones that she's seen in blue. I swiped the list from her and bolded mine!

Aguirre: the Wrath of God (1972)
The Apu Trilogy (1955, 1956, 1959)
The Awful Truth (1937)
Baby Face (1933)
Bande à part (1964)
Barry Lyndon (1975)
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980)
Blade Runner (1982)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Brazil (1985)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Camille (1936)
Casablanca (1942)
Charade (1963)
Children of Paradise (1945)
Chinatown (1974)
Chungking Express (1994)
Citizen Kane (1941)
City Lights (1931)
City of God (2002)
Closely Watched Trains (1966)
The Crime of Monsieur Lange (1936)
The Crowd (1928)
Day for Night (1973)
The Decalogue (1989)
Detour (1945)
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
Dodsworth (1936)
Double Indemnity (1944)
Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
Drunken Master II (1994)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
8 1/2 (1963)
The 400 Blows (1959)
Farewell My Concubine (1993)
Finding Nemo (2003)
The Fly (1986)
The Godfather, Parts I and II (1972, 1974)
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
Goodfellas (1990)
A Hard Day's Night (1964)
His Girl Friday (1940)
Ikiru (1952)
In A Lonely Place (1950)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
It's A Gift (1934)
It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
Kandahar (2001)
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
King Kong (1933)
The Lady Eve (1941)
The Last Command (1928)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Léolo (1992)
The Man With a Camera (1929)
The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Metropolis (1927)
Miller's Crossing (1990)
Mon oncle d'Amérique (1980)
Mouchette (1967)
Nayakan (1987)
Ninotchka (1939)
Notorious (1946)
Olympia, Parts 1 and 2 (1938)
On the Waterfront (1954)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Out of the Past (1947)
Persona (1966)
Pinocchio (1940)
Psycho (1960)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
Pyaasa (1957)
Raging Bull (1980)
Schindler's List (1993)
The Searchers (1956)
Sherlock, Jr. (1924)
The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
The Singing Detective (1986)
Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Star Wars (1977)
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
Sunrise (1927)
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
Swing Time (1936)
Talk to Her (2002)
Taxi Driver (1976)
Tokyo Story (1953)
A Touch of Zen (1971)
Ugetsu (1953)
Ulysses' Gaze (1995)
Umberto D (1952)
Unforgiven (1992)
White Heat (1949)
Wings of Desire (1987)
Yojimbo (1961)

Which Rock Chick Am I?

2005-06-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Which Rock Chick Are You? Swiped from AliThinks

Little Red Riding Tonka

2005-05-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

Little Red Riding Tonka
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Any Garth Brooks fans out there?

2005-05-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

I am a huge Garth Brooks fan and was thrilled to read this. Of course I would be even happier still to see him make a comeback.

'zines in the Future

2005-05-24T19:25:00.000-07:00

This is wicked kewl! Make sure you click on to view the covers from the future. Found it on Modulator's blog.

The Amazing Meganame Generator

2005-05-24T15:11:00.000-07:00

Stolen from Busy Mom

Debra Lyn Friedland's Aliases

Your movie star name: Pretzels Morris

Your fashion designer name is Debra Paris

Your socialite name is Schmoo New York

Your fly girl / guy name is D Fri

Your detective name is Dog Nova

Your barfly name is Combos Malibu And Pineapple

Your soap opera name is Lyn Nova Drive

Your rock star name is Chocolate Cheetah

Your star wars name is Debton Frijoe

Your punk rock band name is The Happy Fly Swatter

The Amazing Meganame Generator

Movie Toovie Meme

2005-05-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

Swiped from Busy Mom:

1) Total number of films I own on DVD/video: DVDs: Rough guesstimate: 50. At one point my anal self had a spreadsheet with all the movies I owned.

2) The last film I bought: Buying a bootlegt of "Robots" this weekend

3) The last film I watched:Alfie(the remake). I've got the original Alfie on my Tivo right now to watch sometime this week too.

4) Five films that I watch a lot or that mean a lot to me (in no particular order): Moulin Rouge, The Breakfast Club, Singles, Grease, Breakfast At Tiffany's

5) Tag 5 people and have them put this in their journal: The Principal's Office, newwavegurly, Yada Yada Bing Bang, This Gurl Tiffany and ?????

DrawAPig

2005-05-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

DrawAPig
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

As seen on Busy Mom's blog:

You drew the pig:
Toward the middle, you are a realist.

Facing left, you believe in tradition, are friendly, and remember dates

With few details, you are emotional and naive, they care little for details and are a risk-taker.

With 4 legs showing, they are secure, stubborn, and stick to their ideals.

The size of the ears indicates how good a listener you are.
The bigger the better. You drew medium sized ears, you are a good listener

The length of the tail indicates the quality of your sex life.
And again more is better! You drew medium sized tail

DRAW YOUR OWN PIG HERE

Dogs Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

2005-05-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Dogs Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

God I LOVE Maxine!!!

2005-05-19T09:39:00.000-07:00

Maxine
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Please....

2005-05-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

Please tell me they didn't do this!!!

DEBS

2005-05-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

Just got notification that MY STOCK is paying a special $6 dividend. And when I say MY STOCK, I don't mean just stock that I own, I mean the stock that has MY name: DEBS. And yes, I did buy it just because it's my name. Sorta a spin-off of Friends when Monica loses her job and decides to invest her last $200 in a stock that shares her initials.

Anyway, click here to see the article and click here to see the website.

My South Park Character, Part Deux

2005-05-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

MySouthParkCharacter2
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

VERY addicting!

My South Park Character

2005-05-17T22:20:00.000-07:00

MySouthparkCharacter
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

This is sooooo wickedly kewl!!! Found this on Hey You's blog, who got it from MissZoot! Go make your own South Park Character here.

Tonka helps with the laundry!

2005-05-13T06:25:00.000-07:00

Tonka helps with the laundry
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Good Boy Tonk!!

Conehead Tonka

2005-05-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

Conehead Tonka
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Poor Tonka, home after being neutered.

'Tagging' helps unclutter data

2005-05-03T22:55:00.000-07:00

A great article on Tagging is here.

Tonka @ The Doggie Park

2005-04-29T10:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/38328595@N00/11466608/
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

I Won!!

2005-04-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

Check me out here!

Like my new bag?

2005-04-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

Pom Bag
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Think Tonka would mind if I carried him around like this??

(Swiped from The D-List)

Why is this gorilla different from all other gorillas?

2005-04-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Why is this gorilla different from all other gorillas?
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Swiped from Nervous Breakdown

How much am I worth??

2005-04-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

I am worth $1,508,030.00 on HumanForSale.com

AMC Plays 'Charades' with Chad Lowe, Hilary Swank

2005-04-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

From Reuters:

AMC Plays 'Charades' with Chad Lowe, Hilary Swank
By Kimberly Speight

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The AMC cable network said Monday that it has given the go-ahead for production of a new star-studded game show, "Celebrity Charades," the brainchild of Hollywood couple Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe.

Celebrities slated to participate on the show so far include Bebe Neuwirth, Hank Azaria, Ana Gasteyer, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rosie Perez, Peter Bogdanovich and fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi.

In each episode, two teams of 10 celebrities will compete against each other in a game of movie-themed charades, with each star playing to raise money for his or her chosen charity.

Each installment also features the celebrities having dinner and mingling between rounds to allow viewers to get to know them on a more personal level. Six half-hour episodes are set to air on five consecutive nights beginning June 20.

Lowe is executive producing the series with Swank (through their Accomplice Films venture) and with actor-friend Bob Balaban. He and Lowe will take turns hosting the show.

"Hilary and Bob and I have played (charades) on our own with friends, and we always end up having a bonding experience and learning something about the people who play," Lowe said. "We were talking about it at dinner one night and thought it would make for so much of the comedy and conflict that Hollywood writers are dying to capture."

"Charades" is shooting in New York, but Swank, a recent Oscar winner for her boxing role in "Million Dollar Baby," has been working on other projects and has been unable to make any taping so far, Lowe said. He added, however, that she has been very active in recruiting her celebrity friends.

Empire Records - great flick!

2005-04-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

Which Empire Records Character Are You? Find out @ She's Crafty

Dog Blog Friday

2005-04-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

DSCN2515
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Pssst....hey Tonka....

I'm an Aunt again! (sorta)

2005-04-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

My wonderful friend Mike and his wife Linda have had a beautiful baby girl named Ciara Rachel. She was born today @ 6:18 pm and weighed in at 7lbs and 12oz and is 21 inches long. Can't wait to see pictures of the new lil bubbala. In the meantime a picture of her big brother Joshua will have to do.

Bridesmaid Dress for Lucy's Wedding

2005-04-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

LucyDress
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

My dear friend Lucy is getting married on 10/30/05 and she asked me to be a bridesmaid. We went shopping this week and this is the dress that I am going to be wearing. It matches her dress in that she has a celedon colored ribbon around her waist and the bead work is tinted the same color as well. Both dresses are really beautfiul. It was so nice to go try on dresses right of the rack and have them fit!

Seatbeltbags

2005-04-01T09:38:00.000-08:00

Seatbeltbags
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Swiped from Lesgirly:

Husband and wife Dana and Melanie Harvey were installing seatbelts into their 1950 Buick in Santa Ana, Calif., when they got the idea of making handbags out of the sturdy safety straps. Available in 12 high-speed colors including Ferrari Red, Delorean Silver, Lexus Gold, and Rally Green, the Seatbeltbags are made to last with magnetic snaps, flight silk lining, and chrome-plated feet to "keep your bottom clean." Available in tote, messenger, briefcase, clutch, and backpack bag designs. www.seatbeltbags.com/

Wicked kewl, eh?

Dog Blog Friday

2005-04-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

DSCN2499_2
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Tonka at the dog park

My brother...

2005-03-31T14:26:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know me, you know that I have a love/hate relationship with my big brother Mike. Well today, I got some very exciting news from him. While the news was exciting for him, it was also very sad for me and the rest of his South Florida friends and family. See Mike's company has transferred him to Shreveport, Louisianna. He is thrilled not only because of the wonderful opportunitites it presents, but also because his bestest friend, his wife and their 3 kids all moved there about 4 months ago (they too were transferred) and Mike has been missing them much. Every time I think of my brother not being here at family occassion's and dinner's I well up with tears. Especially cause since my surgery in November, I feel that we have grown closer. We have even started going out to dinner's and movies together. I am also sad because Shreveport is so expensive to fly to and it's not really close enough to drive to. Plus, my brother doesn't get a lot of vacation time from his company so him visitng us won't occur that often. He even indicated that he doesn't know if he can even come down for Thanksgiving or Christmas!!! Anyway, the bottom line is while I am happy for him, I will miss him greatly and life will not be the same without him. And Tonka will miss him too!!

The Surreal Life - Cast # 5

2005-03-31T11:11:00.000-08:00

And here they are:

Caprice (British model)
Janice Dickinson
Bronson Pinchot
Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth
Carey Hart (motocross champion)
Jose Canseco
Sandi Denton (Pepa of Salt N Pepa)

Mushroom-Stuffed Chicken Breasts in Balsamic Pan Sauce

2005-03-31T10:09:00.000-08:00

1 ounce dried mushrooms (the variety of your choice)
4 large garlic cloves
1 pound portabello or white mushrooms, cleaned, stems trimmed, then coarsely chopped
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
2 Tbs. olive oil
6 ounces mild goat cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
8 split skin-on chicken breasts (10-12 ounces eahc), rib bones and excess fat trimmed away with poultry scissors, rinsed and patted dry
1 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tb water

Bring 1 cup water to a boil. Add dried mushrooms, cover and let stand about 20 minutes. Squeeze dry; strain liquid ( a coffee filter is handy for this) and reserve.

In a food processor, mince garlice and rehydrated mushrooms. Add fresh mushrooms and thyme; continue to process until all is minced.

Heat oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushroom mixture; saute until nearly all moisture has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn off heat, stif in cheese, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Mix honey and vinegar in a small bowl.

Adjust oven rach to lowest position and heat oven to 425 degrees.

Set breasts, skin side down, on a large, heavy, lipped cookie sheet. Brush with half of the honey-vinegar; generously salt and pepper. Turn breasts over. Push fingers under skin to make a pocket; stuff with mushroom mixture. Again brush with honey-vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Being careful not to crowd, arrange breasts on cookie sheet so thickest ends point outward. (Can now be covered and refrigerated overnight; return to room temperature before roasting.)

Roast until golden brown, adding water if necessary to keep pan drippins from burning, until a meat thermometer registers 160 defrees in the thickest portion of the largest piece, 30 to 45 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter.

Scrape pan juices into a medium saucepan. Add reserved mushroom-soaking liquid and enough water to equal 1 1/2 cups of liquid. Bring to a simmer. Add cornstarch mixture; continue to simmer until it thickens a bit. Arrange a breast on each of 8 plates; drizzle with sauce and serve.

Serves: 8
Per serving: 578 calories, 58 protein, 15g carbohydrates, 169mg cholesterol, 31g fat (10g saturated), 1g fiber, 240mg sodium

Isn't She Pretty In Pink?

2005-03-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

You are Andie Walsh (from Pretty In Pink)!
Misunderstood and full of angst, you are
intelligent, talented and will probably go on
to do great things...once you're out of the
hell of high school.

Which John Hughes Character Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

How Many....

2005-03-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

How Many........ Swiped from Bitchalicious
1. ...computer-related gadgets do you own? 2
2. ...pictures on your living room walls? 2
3. ...magnets on your refrigerator? 25
4. ...reference books in your bookshelves? 25
6. ...lamps in your house? 3 (not including ceiling fixtures or fan lights)
7. ...times a week do you shop for groceries? 2
8. ...magazines do you subscribe to? 3
9. ...tv programs do you watch on a regular basis? too many to count
10. ...items on your bathroom counter that don't really need to be there? too many to count

Letterman's Top 10 Drawbacks to Working in a Cubicle10

2005-03-29T07:05:00.000-08:00

Letterman's Top 10 Drawbacks to Working in a Cubicle

10. Being told to "think outside the box" when you're in a freakin' box all day long.

9. Not being able to check e-mail attachments without turning around to see who's behind you.

8. Cubicle walls do not offer much protection from any kind of gun fire.

7. That nagging feeling that if you press the right button, you'll get a piece of cheese.

6. Lack of roof rafters for the noose.

5. The walls are too close together for the hammock to work right.

4. 23 power cords - 1 outlet.

3. Prison cells are not only bigger, they also have beds.

2. The carpet has been there since 1976 and shows more signs of life than your coworkers.

And the Number 1 drawback to working in a cubicle is...

1. You can't walk out and slam the door when you quit.

Getting to know you...

2005-03-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

Swiped from Bitchalicious

What's your favorite kind of cookie? Mint Milano's

Who is America's most overrated actor? Collin Farrell (I'll have to agree with Bitchalicious here)

Name a guilty pleasure. Desperate Housewives

"Scrubs" or "Everybody Loves Raymond"? SCRUBS

Name two things you can't live without? Tivo and my cell phone

Your pet's first name and your mother's maiden name = your porn star name. TONKA Rosenblatt

What song's are you listening to right now? Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson

Name your celebrity crush? Chris O'Donnell

Favorite punchline of a joke.

"Beacuse he was dead"

Chunk Spelunker

2005-03-28T13:35:00.000-08:00

chunk_spelunk_feature
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

I officially became this today. And OMG....have you tried this yet??? I can't, so you are going to have to and tell me how insanely good it is!

I think that Tonka needs one of these...

2005-03-28T12:43:00.000-08:00

ChewyVuitton
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Found this on the Humane Society of Broward County's website:

Just what every posh pup wants a "Chewy Vuiton" bag. This plush toy is 5" x 5 1/2" and does have a squeaker.

2005-03-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

Word of the Day

Information provided by Petersons.com

reciprocate

DEFINITION:
(verb) to make a return for something
EXAMPLE:
If you'll baby-sit for my kids tonight, I'll reciprocate by taking care of yours tomorrow.
SYNONYMS:
recompensate, swap, vacillate

Movie Nite

2005-03-27T22:32:00.000-08:00

Saw this tonite. It was hysterical! The Rock plays GAY soooooo good!!!

Quote of the week

2005-03-27T10:25:00.000-08:00

Since filming started, my wife has had cancer, my two kids became junkies, I went back to booze and smoking pot and then I died twice in a bike accident. Life's not all about money.
--Ozzy Osbourne in Us (who else could it be?) on why reality TV bites and he's not having another taste. On the other hand, it probably beats the hell out of biting the heads off bats every night

Movies on my Tivo to be watched

2005-03-27T10:19:00.000-08:00

Super Size Me
Bowling For Columbine
Runaway Jury
Against The Ropes
Being John Malkovich
Fight Club
Agent Cody Banks

What was No.1 on the day you were born?

2005-03-26T20:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/member/birthdayno1.php

Bulletin Board of The Week

2005-03-26T14:21:00.000-08:00

Dennys
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

This is what I'm sayin!!

On-line Address Book

2005-03-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

Man, I've been waiting forever for a service like this!

Thirteen

2005-03-26T00:16:00.000-08:00

Watched the movie THIRTEEN tonite. Really intense movie with amazing performaces by both Holly Hunter and Rachel Evan Wood.

Absolut Apeach

2005-03-26T00:04:00.000-08:00

Absolut Apeach
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

This sounds cool!

"ABSOLUT VODKA welcomes a new family member with the launch of ABSOLUTÂ® APEACHâ¢. The new, peach flavored premium vodka is available to consumers in the US by May 2005.

ABSOLUT APEACH has a smooth and mellow taste with a sophisticated and fruity character of peach. As with all members of the ABSOLUT VODKA family, it is made from all natural ingredients."

You'll get the complete ABSOLUT APEACH experience - including a good look at a groundbreaking new ad - in a special issue of ABSOLUT ACCESS, coming soon.

For now, let's say ABSOLUT APEACH is like biting into a lush, ripe peach on a summer day. The flavor overwhelms you, the juices drip down your chin. It's fresh and sweet, but it's also - well, we'll show you in a few weeks.

Cadbury's®Creme Egg

2005-03-25T15:56:00.000-08:00

Because of comments on HER blog, I had to post this:

Top Secret Recipes version of Cadbury's®Creme Egg by Todd Wilbur

Each spring Cadbury candy machines whip out 66,000 of these cool candies every hour. And now, because of the success of these chocolates with the orange, yolk-colored center, other candy companies have come out with their own milk chocolate eggs. Some are filled with Snickers or Milky Way centers, while others contain peanut butter, coconut, caramel, or the same type of fondant center as the original - right down to the colors. Still, nothing compares to these original eggs that are sold only once a year, for the Easter holiday. And now you can enjoy your own version at home anytime you like. And this recipe won't require that you make anything close to 66,000 of 'em.

1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups powdered sugar
4 drops yellow food coloring
2 drops red food coloring
1 12-ounce bag milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening

1. Combine the corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl. Beat well with an electric mixer until smooth.

2. Add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing by hand after each addition. Mix well until creamy.

3. Remove about 1/3 of the mixture and place it into a small bowl. Add the yellow and red food coloring and stir well to combine.

4. Cover both mixtures and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.

5. When mixtures are firm, roll a small, marble-size ball from the orange filling, and wrap a portion of the white filling around it that is roughly twice the size. Form this filling into the shape of an egg and place it onto a cookie sheet that has been brushed with a light coating of shortening. Repeat for the remaining filling ingredients, then refrigerate these centers for 3 to 4 hours or until firm.

6. Combine the milk chocolate chips with the shortening in a glass or ceramic bowl. Microwave chocolate on high speed for 1 minute, then stir and microwave again for 1 more minute, and stir.

7. Use a fork to dip each center into the chocolate, tap the fork on the side of the bowl, then place each candy onto wax paper. Chill.

8. After 1 to 2 hours of chilling, dip each candy once more and chill for several hours, or until completely firm. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com)Makes 2 dozen candy eggs.

Happy Easter

2005-03-25T14:31:00.000-08:00

Easter
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

The photo says it all!

Chocolate Cake/Chocolate Icing

2005-03-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

I am Chocolate Cake/Chocolate Icing...big suprise there, right? Fits me to a T!!! (Except for the Cold Exterior part.)

If all of the desserts listed below were sitting in front of you, which would you choose? (Sorry, you can only pick one!)

Angel Food Cake; Brownies; Lemon Meringue Pie; Vanilla Cake/Chocolate Icing; Strawberry Short Cake; Chocolate Cake/Chocolate Icing; Ice Cream; or Carrot Cake.

NO You can't change your mind once you scroll down! So think carefully
what your choice will be!

OK - Now that you've made your choice, this is what research says about you!

Angel food - Sweet, loving, cuddly. You love all warm and fuzzy items.. A little nutty at times. Sometimes you need an ice cream cone at the end of the day. Others perceive you as being childlike and immature at times.

Brownies - You are adventurous, love new ideas, are a champion of underdogs and a slayer of dragons. When tempers flare up, you whip out your saber. You are always the oddball with a unique sense of humor and direction. You tend to be very loyal.

Lemon Meringue - Smooth, sexy, & articulate with your hands, you are an excellent after - dinner speaker and a good teacher.. But don't try to walk and chew gum at the same time. A bit of a diva at times, but you have
many friends.

Vanilla Cake/Chocolate Icing - Fun-loving, sassy, humorous. Not very grounded in life; very indecisive and lack motivation. Everyone enjoys being around you, but you are a practical joker. Others should be cautious in making you mad. However, you are a friend for life.

Strawberry Short Cake - Romantic, warm, loving. You care about other people and can be counted on in a pinch. You tend to melt. You can be overly emotional and annoying at times.

Chocolate Cake/Chocolate Icing - Sexy, always ready to give and receive. Very creative, adventurous, ambitious, and passionate. You have a cold exterior but are warm on the inside. Not afraid to take chances. Will not settle for anything average in life. Love to laugh.

Ice Cream - You like sports, whether it be baseball, football, basketball or soccer. If you could, you would like to participate, but you enjoy watching sports. You don't like to give up the remote control. You tend to be self-centered and high maintenance.

Carrot Cake - You are a very fun loving person, who likes to laugh. You are fun to be with. People like to hang out with you. You are a very warm hearted person and a little quirky at times. You have many loyal friends.

Dog Blog Friday

2005-03-25T09:43:00.000-08:00

Tonka3 030605
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

This picture makes me laugh. That's Tonka with his favorite toy: a pretty PINK plush squeeky bone!

TiVo's ripple effect: Water-cooler chill

2005-03-24T22:16:00.000-08:00

TiVo's ripple effect: Water-cooler chill
By Ann Oldenburg, USA TODAY

When Los Angeles architect Anthony Poon, 41, hears people in his office start to talk about the latest episode of The O.C. or American Idol, he tells them to pipe down. He likes to record the shows and watch them in a batch later on, and he doesn't want anything spoiled.
Outgoing FCC chairman Michael Powell calls his DVR "God's machine."
Jennifer Bosk, 53, of New Haven, Ind., does the same thing in her office. "It's no longer like the days of Dallas when staff meetings started with 'Who do you think shot J.R.?' It's a lot of, 'Wait, don't tell me, I haven't watched yet!' " says the director of alumni relations at Indiana University-Purdue University, a branch campus of the two schools.
TV buzz isn't what it used to be. Morning-after gabfests around the water cooler dishing about last night's Lost are dying out — or at least spreading out — as more viewers are converted to the DVR age. The DVR, or digital video recorder, is the most popular home electronic device available right now. (TiVo is the most recognizable brand.)
It's changing the way we're watching — and talking about — TV. Even more than video-cassette recorders, DVRs let viewers watch on their own terms.
DVR owners rave that the boxes have changed their lives. Bruce Willis recently extolled the virtues of TiVo to Jon Stewart, explaining that his enables him to catch Stewart's The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Even outgoing Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell, a devoted user, called his "God's machine."
Anyone who doesn't have a DVR might suggest that a VCR is just as good. But DVR users say their machines are much easier to use and give viewers more control. Namely:
• Favorite shows can be watched at viewers' convenience.
• There is no need to buy (or run out of) tapes or discs; the recorder stores programs on a hard drive.
• Shows can be paused or rewound, even "live" shows.
• Recording is simple and versatile. A couple of clicks on an on-screen grid do the trick; you can view one show while recording another.
The price tag isn't basic cable: $100 and up to purchase a box, plus a $10-$13 monthly fee for a service such as TiVo, or, if part of a local cable system, just a monthly fee for the service.
The growth of DVR use is expected to continue to skyrocket. Last month, San Jose, Calif.-based TiVo Inc., the company that introduced the first DVR in 1999, announced that its subscription base had exceeded 3 million.
The Yankee Group, a Boston-based communications research firm, predicts that the number of DVR homes will rise from 7 million at the end of 2004 to 33.5 million by the end of 2008. That's still a fraction of the 100 million households that own VCRs.
But in a study of households with DVRs, users volunteered the word "loved" in describing their machines and said they had shown them to seven friends on average, according to Forrester Research.
"I don't watch TV in real time anymore," says Bethe Ferguson, 26, of Cincinnati.
Forrester's research shows that in DVR households, prime-time dramas, comedies and reality shows lose half of their real-time audiences. And of the 18-44 age group prized by advertisers, more than 60% do not watch in real time.
The impact is rocking a worried ad world as viewers skip commercials. And a watchful TV industry is pondering what the effects will be on programming and ratings.
But there's also a ripple effect changing how we live — and gossip.
"When the ladies in my former office used to talk about Desperate Housewives Monday mornings, I would have to run away just so it wasn't spoiled," says Ferguson, a magazine editor. "Then they would slowly transition into business matters, and I would miss it all because I didn't want the plot of a TV show ruined." She says she "lost out on key business talks because of it."
Arguments not over content, but over talking about content, are becoming commonplace.
"While my friends and I used to call each other when the episode of The Bachelor or The Apprentice or The Amazing Race was over, we now have to wait and make sure everyone has had a chance to watch before we call," says investor Beth Finch, 51, of Lafayette, La.
Teacher Charles Cooper, 28, of Augusta, Ga., says he and his friends have simply changed the viewing times. "I have 'TiV-engelized' all my friends. They have TiVos, and we have a schedule of when we watch the shows, although it may be several days later" than scheduled broadcasts.
TV's opening night
Though viewers create their own schedules for favorite shows, hot episodes are still big draws.
"I think the thrill of seeing something first is what brings people to the movies on opening night or to the record store on the day their favorite group's new CD is released," says Charles Welch, 32, an Atlanta TV producer.
Says Rick Hurst, 41, of Mobile, Ala., "I have been a TiVo user for five years, and I find that the shows I record are those that I can wait to watch at a later date. However, shows like Desperate Housewives, Lost, The Amazing Race and Survivor must be watched as they air for the simple fact that I don't want to be left out of the loop."
But the DVR universe also can help fuel a hit, says Kwan Lee, assistant professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California. "Once a show gets popular, TiVo-ing can have a snowballing effect. More people will buzz about it, and the audience will grow.
"At the same time," he says, recording shows "will segment the audience, and it will be harder for a normal show to take off without big promotional activities."
Jonathan Carlson, CEO of Buzzmetrics, a research firm that assesses consumer word of mouth, says that's what's happening. "With increased selection comes less power of the top-rated shows."
He says that what he is seeing are "huge and vibrant and robust communities of interest that crop up around television in general and around certain programs in particular. In that environment (and with the Internet), you don't have to have the interaction in real time. You can post in a blog, message board. The conversation can take place over the course of days or months. In the end, it makes for a much stronger community."
Mark Doyle, who works in documentary development for ABC, says DVRs are enhancing buzz. "I participate in way more conversation than I used to because I'm watching more — on my schedule."
The new water cooler
Sheldon Wiebe, 53, doesn't have a water cooler because he's at home in Calgary, Canada, on disability. But he has joined several Internet mailing lists that track his favorite TV shows.
"From them, I can tell you there's a lot of morning-after chat. As long as posts are clearly marked in regard to spoilers, nobody objects, and the discussions can run for days. It seems that the Internet may have become the new water cooler.' "
And at the cyber cooler, it doesn't matter when anyone watches the episode, as long as it's before the next one airs, says office manager Jan Buckner, 40, of Livingston, Mont. "It is not uncommon to find a lively 2 a.m. discussion days later about what the heck the latest episode of Lost really meant."
That theory is supported on fan Web sites. On realitytvworld.com, so many people want to talk that there are two or three separate forums for some shows. Take Survivor, for example. There's the Survivor Spoilers Forum, the Survivor Bashers Forum and the Survivor Fanatic Forum. And there's a Spoiler Free Zone, in which that night's episode isn't discussed until after 11 p.m. ET, so folks on the West Coast can read without fear of someone ruining the show.
Kim Barker, 43, a corporate administrator from Baton Rouge, thinks it's all "scary" and potentially isolating. "We're becoming a culture that increasingly finds reasons not to socialize. If The West Wing wasn't a 'thing' at our roof garden (water cooler), I wouldn't have found out several things about co-workers who are now friends, nor would I have gotten support after a family crisis."
But Cathy Dee, 49, of Fort Wayne, Ind., stresses that the DVR technology is still an unknown futuristic acronym for many.
"Water-cooler TV is a long way from dying here in the hinterlands," says Dee, a Web site administrator. "Few people TiVo as yet, and folks videotape only if they are near death and in the hospital. So the day after a good Survivor or American Idol, it's 'Did you watch?' and 'Did you see?' and 'Who did you like?' and 'Could you believe?' "

Better than hitting your head against the wall...

2005-03-24T17:52:00.001-08:00

Swiped from ZootsMom's blog:

http://www.shockhaber.com/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.htm

Better than hitting your head against the wall...

2005-03-24T17:52:00.000-08:00

Swiped from ZootsMom's blog:

http://www.shockhaber.com/zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.htm

Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders

2005-03-24T15:57:00.000-08:00

Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders

1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders, 20 pieces
20 (6-inch) bamboo party skewers
2 lemons, juiced and zested
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
Coarse black pepper
Coarse salt

Heat the grill over medium high heat. Skewer chicken.

In a shallow dish, combine lemon zest and juice with extra-virginolive oil. Reserve 1/4 of the marinade.

Coat chicken tenders in marinade and season generously on both sideswith coarse black pepper. Season chicken tenders lightly with salt.

Cook tenders in 2 or 3 batches, a single layer, in a very hot grill.

Chicken tenders will cook 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to aserving platter and brush with the reserved marinade.

Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy

2005-03-24T10:30:00.000-08:00

Several years ago a book was released called "Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy". This of course was a mis-heard lyric of "Excuse Me While I Kiss The Sky". The entire book was made up of mis-heard lyrics. I think they even had a sequel book called "He's Got The Whole World In His Pants", which of course is a mis-heard lyric of "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands". Apparently, there is a third installment called "When A Man Loves A Walnut", instead of "When A Man Loves A Woman". And now there is also a Christmas version called "Deck The Halls With Buddy Holly and Other Misheard Christmas Lyrics" instead of "Deck The Halls With Boughs of Holly".

I was reminded of these books by Amanda who is going to be making this a regular feature on her blog. The twist is that she is going to be adding lyrics that she personally has mis-heard. In that vain, here is one my all time personal mis-heard lyrisc:

"We Gonna Jam At The Lighthouse" for "Big Old Jet Airliner" by The Steve Miller Band.

Additionally, I found this awesome website that has tons and tons of mis-heard lyrics that people actually submitted. You can search by Song or select the "Random Lyric" button. Here are a few of my favorite random lyrics:

"Feel This Snot I've Got", instead of "Feliz Navidad"

"Fee Fi Fo I Swear To You" instead of "These Five Words I swear To You" from "I'll Be There For You by Bon Jovi

"There's a daddy to my left; there's a burning tush to my right" instead of "There's a dead end to my left; there's a burning bush to my right" from "Standing Still" by Jewel.

"Mamma don't take my clothes and throw them away" instead of "Mamma don't take my kodachrome away" from "Kodachrome" by Paul Simon.

"I guess you like gravy" instead of "I Miss You Like Crazy" from the song of the same name by Natalie Cole.

"We built this city on the wrong damn road!" instead of "We built this city on rock n' roll" from the song of the same name by Starship.

And finally.....

"Tight for the very last time" instead of "Touched for the very first time" from "Like a Virgin" by Madonna.

Overheard in New York

2005-03-23T13:59:00.000-08:00

Swiped from Matt's blog.

Some pretty funny stuff here!

Why Britney Spears hates HDTV

2005-03-23T12:05:00.000-08:00

Swiped this link from TvGeekSpeeks blog:

A guide to the high-def experience.

HDTV: Beauty Is Skin-Deep

There is no escaping the naked lens of High-Definition TV. The picture is so clear that aging signs and skin imperfections are clearly visible. Below is our "Top 10" list of which celebrities look better -- and worse -- in high-def.

Here is OnHD.TV's top 10 celebrities who look even better in High-Definition TV.

1. Anna Kournikova
The occasional tennis player looks even more beautiful in high-def. Her skin is glistening and luscious. It's easy to see why her matches sell out despite her limited talents. It's not love-15; it's love Anna.
2. Catherine Zeta-Jones
The star of Chicago and Traffic is absolutely gorgeous and it shows in high-def. Pity the aging Michael Douglas when he has to stand beside her in the high-def broadcast of an awards show. (See "Worse") The actress is so beautiful in high-def that even the hyphen between Zeta and Jones looks good.
3. Charlize Therzon
Whoever did her makeup for Monster should have received an Oscar. This woman is gorgeous and it's hard to believe that she was made to look so horrific in the film. At the recent Oscar awards, Theron was glowing under the HDTV lights.
4. Sting
Isn't it bad enough that this guy has all that musical talent? In his fifties, Sting still looks great in high-def.
5. Scarlett Johansson
The Lost in Translation star has the skin of a porcelain doll and looks incredible when seen in high-def. It's easy to see why Bill Murray would get lost in her gaze.
6. Halle Berry
Wow! She looks great on "regular" TV, but her beautiful skin and lips make her irresistible in high-def. This Catwoman wouldn't have to work hard to bring home the kittens..

7. George Clooney
His animal magnetism is legendary in Hollywood and it comes through in HDTV. The Oceans 11 star must be living right.
8. Angelina Jolie
Breathtaking. Like Berry, her skin and lips are just juicy. The only negative: The actress has a small mole on her forehead. In high-def, it looks like Mt. Everest..
9. Liv Tyler
How can she look so great when her father is headed for Keith Richards territory? Beautiful skin.
10. Penelope Cruz
How did Tom Cruise break up with her? Talk about Mission Impossible.

Honorable Mention
Ashley Judd
Maria Sherapova
Jennifer Garner
Beyonce Knowles
Antonio Banderas
Rebecca Romjin-Stamos
Mariah Carey
Meg Ryan
Gwyneth Paltrow
Mandy Moore
Alex Rodriguez
John Travolta
Susan Sarandon
Janet Jackson
Nicole Kidman
Natalie Portman
Lee Lee Sobieski
Lucy Liu
Heidi Klum
Jay Leno
Rob Lowe
Jessica Alba
Salma Hayek
David James Elliott (JAG)
Naomi Watts
Brandy
Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan)
Leah Remini (King of Queens)
Click OnHD.TV to see more HDTV show reviews!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here is OnHD.TV's top 10 celebrities who look worse in
High-Definition TV.

1. Cameron Diaz
The actress has had a terrible acne problem since high
school; her cheeks and forehead are littered with
unfortunate pockmarks. Ms. Diaz seems like a different
person in HDTV; she looks more like a Charlie than an
Angel.
2. Michael Douglas
The actor was once considered a Hollywood sex
symbol. But now, in HDTV, he looks more like Kirk
Douglas than Michael Douglas. Being married to
Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn't help, either. He appears
even older when he's standing next to her. The Wall
Street star looks like eight miles of bad road.

3. Britney Spears
The pop tart is still in her early 20s, but she looks about
10 years older in high-def. Her face is puffy and she's
starting to show wrinkle marks around her lips,
reportedly from a two pack-a-day cigarette habit.
4. Brad Pitt
Like Ms. Diaz, Pitt had a terrible skin problem in his
younger years. The impact is clear in high-def. He's
still a good-looking guy, but he doesn't look like one
of People Magazine's "Most Beautiful."
5. Jewel
The singer looks great in still photos and music videos,
but she looks terrible in high-def. And someone should
help her with make-up; it looks like it was done
by Ringling Bros.

6. Renee Zellweger
Ms. Zellweger is a cutie, but her cheeks look like
she's had a Rosacea problem; very visible in high-def.
7. William Devane
The veteran actor plays Secretary of State James Heller
in Fox's 24, but he looks like hell in high-def. Devane,
who once played John F. Kennedy in a docudrama
about the Cuban Missile Crisis, should duck and
cover the next time they ask him to star in a
HDTV program.

8. Bill Maher
The comedian/political commentator is scary in high-def.
And I mean, scary. His skin is pasty and white, making
him look like an Albino. Make that an Albino who
doesn't get much sleep. It's a good thing that HBO
doesn't air his weekly talkfest in HDTV.
9. Jamie Lee-Curtis
Oh, my God. With her short-cropped graying hair
and crow's feet, she looks like a guy in high-def.
What happened to her? Christopher Guest, be my
guest. Buy your wife some Botox! And, a wig!
10. Joan Rivers
Someone should pull the rug over this red carpet
host! In HDTV, you can almost count the stitch marks
from her various facial surgeries. Do you remember
that song, "Old Man River"? Well, how about,
"Old Woman Rivers"?

Dishonorable Mention
Jennifer Aniston
Chrstina Applegate
Hugh Jackman
The Olsen Twins
John Kerry
Julia Roberts
Robert De Niro
Ted Danson
Uma Thurman
Elizabeth Hurley
Lisa Marie Presley
Kate Hudson
Demi Moore
Prince
Sean Penn
Diane Lane
Gwen Stefani
Norah Jones
Richard Gere
Steven Tyler
Lara Flynn-Boyle
Steve Martin
Sandra Bullock
Ray Liotta
Laurence Fishburne
The Rolling Stones (All)
Natasha Henstridge
Bob Costas
Kim Basinger
Mike Tyson
Reba McEntire
Sarah Michelle-Geller
Drea de Matteo
Chris Isaak
Juliette Lewis
Torie Spelling
Shannon Doherty

What type of smile are you?

2005-03-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

What smilie are you? Take the test!

10 Dog peeves about humans

2005-03-23T11:28:00.000-08:00

1. Blaming your farts on me...not funny...not funny at all !!!

2. Yelling at me for barking.. I'M A DOG, YOU IDIOT!

3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check stuff out.Exactly whose walk is this anyway?

4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my nose... stop it!

5. Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now you know why we chew your stuff up when you're not home.

6. The sleight of hand, fake fetch throw. You fooled a dog! Whoooo Hoooooooo what a proud moment for the top of the food chain.

7. Taking me to the vet for "the big snip", then acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back!

8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your guests. Sorry, but I haven't quite mastered that handshake thing yet.

9. Dog sweaters. Hello ???, Haven't you noticed the fur?

10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself. Look, we both know the truth ... you're just jealous.

Now lay off me on some of these things. We both know who's boss here (you don't see me picking up your poop do you ) ???

Google's AdSense a bonanza for some Web sites

2005-03-22T12:15:00.000-08:00

Read this in USA Today a few weeks ago:

Google's AdSense a bonanza for some Web sites

By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — Canadian software developer and part-time humorist Eric Giguère made fun of the avalanche of Internet arthritis drug offers on his Web site last year. For his efforts, he received a $350 check from Internet search giant Google.
Giguère has one of those ubiquitous "Ads by Google" links on his site, offering ads the search giant considers of interest to readers. You might think that people rarely click on them, but they do — and often.
"For my own, personal humor writing, I got paid," Giguère says. "It certainly opened my eyes to the possibilities that were out there."

Google has a simple proposition for anyone who owns a Web site: Let it put up links to its ads, and Google's AdSense program will give you a piece of the action when someone clicks on them.
It's found money for many bloggers, small e-tailers and huge businesses — from small personal sites such as Giguère's, to those of big-time corporations such as Amazon.com, the New York Times and About.com.
Giguère was so inspired, he wrote a book, Make Easy Money with Google, coming in May from Peachpit Press. Hundreds of online forums and Web sites are devoted to AdSense tips and tricks. The downside of the AdSense economy, critics charge, is that the avalanche of ads has created a new form of spam and is destroying the integrity of sites.
"This is a program that rewards people not for creating the best content, but for how to create sites to attract more advertising," says Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Watch online newsletter. "AdSense has nothing to do with search. It effectively turns the Internet into a billboard for Google's ads."
Google, whose executives often say their mission is to organize the world's information, naturally begs to differ. "If I do a search for the New York Times and see an ad offering a subscription discount, that's useful to me," says Susan Wojcicki, Google's director of product management.
Web site publishers don't disagree.
"Say I write an article about a Braun shaver," says Chris Pirillo, who runs the Lockergnome.com gadget Web site. "I publish it, and within minutes, I have targeted ads about shavers on my site. Someone who reads the content may feel compelled to pick one up. That helps me and the reader."
Tales of AdSense riches range from a few hundred dollars a month to $50,000 or more a year, though high-dollar paydays are rare. They require a Web site with tons of traffic and the ability to put in 18-hour days working the system.
Pirillo, who has a following from his former role as a host on the now-defunct TechTV cable channel, says he's clearing more than $10,000 a month.
Before AdSense, which began in March 2003, bloggers and other small Web publishers had fewer options to make money. They could put banner ads on their sites for a host of non-related products, or commission programs from Amazon and eBay. "It was a lot more work, and you didn't get much of a return," Pirillo says.
With AdSense, "You write content, publish it, and the money starts to pour in," he says.
When he published the now-defunct Silicon Alley Reporter magazine, Jason Calacanis says, he used to suffer from insomnia, worrying about his monthly $200,000 to $400,000 printing bill.
He now runs a company called Weblogs, which publishes 75 Web sites on such topics as cars, gadgets, digital music and video games. He sleeps much better, he says, because "with AdSense, you know you're always making money. Your life gets a lot easier."
In his first four months of Web publishing, AdSense brought in $45,000. Some of his blogs produce $3,000 a month. His best do "four figures," Calacanis says, though he's reluctant to fill in the exact numbers. "And that's with zero marketing," he says.
How it works
Google and Yahoo dominate the booming online search advertising business, which is expected to grow to $5.6 billion in 2008, from $2.7 billion in 2004. Profit from search advertising enabled Google to more than double its revenue in 2004, to $3.1 billion.
The concept — text ads that appear next to search results — works on a "pay-per-click" model. Advertisers pay only if someone clicks on an ad. To use the programs, advertisers buy "keywords" for anywhere from 5 cents to $100 a word. Those are the terms people type into query boxes when they're searching, such as "Atlanta wedding photographer" or "Omaha Italian restaurants."
AdSense works as a part of that keyword model; it's an offshoot of what Google calls its AdWords program, which competes against Yahoo's Overture unit.
AdSense is a bonus program for advertisers who use Google AdWords. Through AdSense, Google clients get to tout their wares beyond Google's home page — potentially reaching more than 200,000 participating Web sites.
Small Web site operators have flocked to AdSense as a way to attract advertising. To participate, they sign up at Google, which reviews the site. Once a small piece of computer code language is implanted on an accepted site, Google does the rest — matching ad links from its warehouse of clients to appropriate sites.
There's an art to optimizing a site to attract more links — and generate more revenue.
Gay Gilmore, who runs Seattle-based recipezaar.com, says the trick is to attract ads next to recipes beyond the main page. "The ads need to be targeted," she says, "so that when someone is reading about chicken soup, an ad for one of the ingredients is of keen interest."
Web site publishers need to be creative, says Dave Lavinsky of TopPayingKeywords.com, an AdSense advice site. A house painter advertising his services on a homemade site is leaving money on the table if he mentions only house painting, he says. "'Housepainting' is a 20-cent word. 'Home improvement' is worth $2, so you should create content for that."
But Sullivan says keyword tricks hurt the editorial integrity of sites. Another problem, he says, is the proliferation of computer-generated directories with links to hotels, restaurants and entertainment and no real editorial content, fueled by the availability of "Ads by Google" checks.
Wojcicki says Google tries to review all sites in its program, and removes offenders such as the directory sites. Critics say the site reviews can sometimes result in an FCC-like "family friendly" filter. Bloggers complain about being rejected for discussions of sexuality and use of four-letter words.
"I begged, argued and appealed to reason for months," says author Susie Bright, whose site discusses sexuality issues. "I pointed out that all my postings were things you could easily read in ... any number of mainstream magazines that cover sex and politics from a fairly sophisticated point of view. And I pointed out that my readers like to buy trousers, go on vacations, purchase ink and basically buy all the same things that everyone else does."
Wojcicki wouldn't address the specifics of Bright's concerns, but says AdSense isn't for everyone. "We're very careful about who we let into our network. We reject sites with content some people may feel uncomfortable about."
With pay-per-click ads, Google and Yahoo are locked in a bitter battle for advertiser dollars. But Yahoo doesn't compete with AdSense for small publishers — yet. Yahoo says it will introduce an offering later this year.
For now, Google's most notable AdSense competitor is privately held Kanoodle, which accepted Bright's site. It works with small publishers and big ones (including USATODAY.com and MSNBC) and differs from AdSense in that advertisers can choose topic areas of the sites where they want their ads to appear.
"The search advertising market is red hot right now, and publishers and advertisers want more," says Kanoodle CEO Lance Podell. "We offer them more places to show their ads, and they love that."
How long will search sizzle?
Google's initial public stock offering last summer was a Wall Street sensation. The stock opened at $85 a share and now sells for around $180, down from its 52-week high of $216. Some analysts fret that the red-hot paid search market could start to cool down.
Forrester Research, revising downward earlier projections, expects 30% growth in search advertising revenue this year, after a 45% jump in 2004.
"Click fraud" is another nettlesome issue for Google and Yahoo.
Advertisers pay for ads only when they're clicked, but it doesn't always work that way.
Some competitors click ads just to run up the other guy's bills. Web publishers with AdSense get their friends to click ads so they can get more money. Some savvy webmasters have set up automated clicking models called "Hitbots" or "Clickbots," which click away all day, and cost the advertiser.
Such efforts "threaten our business model," Google CFO George Reyes said at a recent industry conference. "Something has to be done about this, really, really quickly."
University of California professor John Battelle, who is writing a book on search, says the success of AdSense has built a "growing, extremely sophisticated offshore industry."
"There are more of these sites than you can imagine," he says. "The robots click on the ads and then none of the clicks turn into leads for the advertisers. That's not how it's supposed to work."
Google and Yahoo say they are working on the problem, but Battelle doesn't think that's enough.
Yahoo, Microsoft and America Online have banded together on several occasions to fight e-mail spam, and Battelle says Google and Yahoo should show the same kind of joint leadership. "Because if they don't, it will end up biting them in the butt."

Ryan and Crystal Top On-Screen Lovers Poll

2005-03-21T11:03:00.000-08:00

When Harry Met Sally stars Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal have been voted the greatest on-screen couple of all time in a new poll. The sizzling chemistry between the pair in the 1989 romantic comedy beat out competition from second-placed Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, for their romance in the Oscar-winning 1942 classic Casablanca. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere came third for their team-up in hit 1990 movie Pretty Woman, in the poll commissioned by British chain store Woolworths.

Care to join me for a drink?

2005-03-18T16:26:00.000-08:00

swiped from newwavegurly's blog:

Rum
Congratulations! You're 90 proof, with specific scores in beer (20) , wine (83), and liquor (52).
Bring on the mixers! Take something strong, add something without any alcohol and you got yourself a Cuba Libre, a Presbyterian, a Greyhound or a Whiskey Sour. You like your drinks strong, but with the flavors of your favorite colas or juices. You're willing to try something new, just so long as it doesn't give you a headache.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

Dog Blog Friday

2005-03-18T08:47:00.000-08:00

tonka
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

How much is that doggy in the window, part deux?!

What Age Will You Die?

2005-03-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

You Will Die at Age 79

79

You're pretty average when it comes to how you live...
And how you'll die as well.

What Age Will You Die?

Why did the chicken cross the road?

2005-03-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

Chicken
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Pretty funny stuff here!

2005-03-12T08:07:00.000-08:00

Top 10 Romantic Movie Moments
In time for Valentine's Day, we count down the love scenes that made us swoon
By Kim MorganSpecial to MSN EntertainmentHow many of you dread Valentine's Day? For those not happily coupled up, it's just a painful reminder that either you don't have a significant other or, even worse, you have a lousy one who lets you down. Who needs that kind of disappointment?
But it's not really the silly cards and ubiquitous boxes of cheap chocolates that we yearn for on V-Day. It's the fantasy that something wildly romantic could happen to us like it does -- where else? -- in the movies.
Silver-screen affairs may be a dangerous standard to apply to real-life romance -- but we watch these films and want these feelings for ourselves, no matter how unattainable or poignant they could be. So in honor of Valentine's Day -- and especially for those who are alone or disgusted by the "Hallmark holiday" pressure -- we present clips of our top 10 romantic movie moments. And remember, we're talking about moments, not romantic movies themselves (as you'll see by our first choice) ...
10. Goodfellas (1990)
Yeah, we know your reaction: "Goodfellas"? Didn't you say romantic movies? How on Earth did that land on this list? Easy... Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco's courtship is quite simply one of the sexiest in all of cinema. Director Martin Scorsese got how hot it is when a man realizes a good-looking woman cares enough to be angry with him, chiefly in the beginning of an attraction. So when Liotta's Henry Hill skips a date with Bracco's Karen, she hauls her car right up to him and chews him out in front of his friends: "You got some nerve standing me up!" Liotta's narration of remembering how, at that moment, Karen looked like Elizabeth Taylor only underscores the fires burning between these two. And the glances they share are so viscerally exciting you get goose bumps. It also doesn't hurt that Liotta never looked so good in all his life (you understand why Karen's nuts for this guy) and of course, the first date he eventually takes her on (remember the long tracking shot through the back of the night club right up to the front table?) is amazing. Seriously, for one second, you'll forget about the mobster hanging on a meat hook, or the wig salesman stabbed and stuffed in the trunk. No... really... you will.

Watch the clip [Explicit]

9. Out of Sight (1998)
How much fun can you have in the trunk of a car? According to Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight," a whole lot! Of course, it helps if you're stuck with either George Clooney or Jennifer Lopez, who play a prison escapee and a federal marshal. A quintessential study of how opposites attract (even couples on opposite ends of the law), "Out of Sight" works like a modern screwball comedy, with its crackling wit and sexy cool. And we love that Soderbergh created something of a classic movie moment with this cozy scene, as Clooney's bank robber discusses movies with the hijacked Marshal Lopez, who's not supposed to be enjoying herself this much. The camera movement, music and chemistry between the stars are so overflowing, you almost forget they are, in fact, in a trunk. And though this is blissfully romantic, we advise you not to try this at home.

Watch the clip

8. "Harold And Maude" (1971)
In "There's Something About Mary," Cameron Diaz's Mary called "Harold and Maude" the "greatest love story of our time." She may have been going too far ... but maybe not by too much. There's something to be said about oddball love stories, especially ones viewers have to be coaxed into understanding. The acting, brilliant direction (by Hal Ashby) and soulful songs (by Cat Stevens) here help produce the chemistry between 79-year-old Maude (Ruth Gordon), a life-force of whimsical energy and wisdom, and 20-year-old Harold (Bud Cort), a death-obsessed depressive. After meeting Maude at a funeral, Harold -- who enjoys shocking his mother with incredibly graphic but impressively fake suicide attempts -- experiences an awakening of not just amour, but of life itself. In this lovely scene, Harold has given Maude a coin charm punched with the words "Harold Loves Maude," something most people would cherish forever. But characteristic of Maude (and foretelling her later decision), she throws it in the water so they always know where it is. Harold's reaction is so surprised and sweet that you can't imagine Maude doing anything else with that charm. It makes you want to dunk every present you get into the bottom of a reservoir. How deep is your love?

Watch the clip

7. "A Place in the Sun" (1951)
There's nothing quite like young, tragic love. And George Stevens' "A Place in the Sun" understands this perfectly. By adapting Theodore Dreiser's masterful novel "An American Tragedy" with two of the most heart-stoppingly beautiful people in cinema (Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor), Stevens immediately puts the viewer in the lovers' corner, no matter what they do. But it isn't just their looks that make you swoon; it's the chemistry and fragile performances, especially by Clift as the lonely, lovelorn man trying to make something of his life. In this dance scene, Stevens utilizes close-ups that obviously reveal the actors' beauty, but also how much they could say with their faces. Clift may be blurting out that he loves Taylor, but his pleading, poignant eyes reveal so many layers of desire, you know something is haunting him even if you don't fully understand the circumstances (he has just witnessed his pregnant girlfriend drown and, frantically in love with Taylor, he's chosen to do nothing about it). It's a dance macabre, but one of the most spine-tinglingly romantic of all time.

Watch the clip

6. "Say Anything..." (1989)
Did Cameron Crowe know just how many boom boxes would be lifted in front of unsuspecting girls' windows when he made this little movie in 1989? Probably not... but he surely understood that countless men and women would relate to and fall in love with Lloyd Dobler, John Cusack's most iconic role. "Say Anything" stands out for simple yet oddly complex reasons -- chiefly that Lloyd is both a regular guy and an extraordinary one because he dares to be genuinely nice. Wow. There's a novel idea. Ask out the class brain and beauty (Ione Skye) and treat her well. And, if she dumps you because her psychotic father is overprotective? Well, lift that boom box high and blast the song that played while you were making love for the first time.

Watch the clip

5. "The Philadelphia Story" (1940)
Oh, how glamorous Katharine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart make getting loaded... or rather, how would they put it? Sauced? Tight? Well, they are drunk anyway in a scene that's dreamy and tipsy and swoony. George Cukor's classic, sophisticated screwball comedy -- which also starred that dapper leading man, Cary Grant -- has the blue-blood Kate mesmerizing the working-class reporter Stewart, even if she's set to marry another man (who, of course, is not right for her). Hepburn's Tracy is continually called something of an ice goddess, but the tables are turned during this moonlight dip wherein Stewart utters lines that are music to her ears: "There's magnificence in you ... a magnificence that comes out of your eyes, in your voice, in the way you stand there, in the way you walk. You're lit from within, Tracy. You've got fires banked down in you, hearth-fires and holocausts ... you're made out of flesh and blood. That's the blank, unholy surprise of it. You're the golden girl, Tracy. Full of life and warmth and delight. What goes on? You've got tears in your eyes." Yes, we would too.

Watch the clip

4. "Punch-Drunk Love" (2003)
How we love the verge-of-a-nervous-breakdown, off-kilter, romantic comedy, "Punch-Drunk Love." No matter how you feel about Adam Sandler, he'll leave a lasting impression on you as Barry Egan, the Californian businessman and put-upon brother who falls for the ever-patient Emily Watson. So alien yet incredibly human is he in the movie, that he and director Paul Thomas Anderson frequently put the viewer into a state of Barry-phobia. It's perfectly illustrated in this scene in which Barry flies (for the first time) all the way to Hawaii just to see his beloved. His arrival is beautifully, though oddly scored to Shelley Duvall's "He Needs Me" from Robert Altman's "Popeye." Sandler, who had displayed talent before this, has never been so fantastically abstract, utilizing his scared-yet-angry-but-violent-little-boy persona with a darkness and sweetness that is simply sublime.

Watch the clip

3. "Out of the Past" (1947)
We could list more than one Robert Mitchum movie that gets our pulses pumping. That bedroom-eyed, barrel-chested stud (and a splendid actor, even if he said he was sleepwalking most of the time) is such a perfect combination of swagger, drollness and romance that we have a hard time disliking him even when he plays a psycho (as in "Cape Fear"). We're allowed to like him in Jacques Tourneur's seminal, moody noir "Out of the Past" -- a film that pits Mitchum against the overwhelming charms of Jane Greer. She will prove to be a baddie, and in this famous scene, she's all but warning him to run away from her. But oh so lyrically, Mitchum murmurs, "Baby, I don't care." We're just speechless. And we really wish more people would utter that sentiment.

Watch the clip

2. "The Apartment" (1960)
If you've never seen "The Apartment," we suggest you don't watch this clip. If you have, read on. Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning dark comedy laid the groundwork for the running-to-your-beloved scene so often copied in later films. Jack Lemmon, a too-nice office worker trying to climb the corporate ladder, is being used by his sleazy bosses for his apartment (they cheat on their wives in his cozy bachelor pad). He falls for one of the "other women" (Shirley MacLaine). Only she's not a floozy -- she's a flawed but ultimately warm human being. And she deserves to be treated with much more respect than Fred MacMurray is giving her. When she realizes that (duh!) the nice guy is better for her, she pulls the iconic movie moment of rushing to Lemmon with smiles and tears in her eyes. You saw it in "When Harry Met Sally" and you saw it in "Jerry Maguire." You even saw it, in a more hysterical form, in "The Graduate." But it's never been as powerful as in "The Apartment" -- especially when MacLaine's response to Lemmon's affirmation of amour is "Shut up and deal."

Watch the clip

1. "Casablanca" (1942)
It almost seemed too obvious a choice -- but then, come on, it's "Casablanca," one of the greatest love stories ever told. But why is it so enduring? Well, not just because of Ingrid Bergman's sad-faced, pouty-lipped, dewy-eyed gorgeousness. Or Humphrey Bogart's soulful, heartbroken "of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world" performance. Not even for "As Times Goes By" -- a song that's so inexorably linked to "Casablanca" that it's impossible not to think about trenchcoats, fedoras and fez when you hear it. It's the story itself, of an exiled, cynical American (Bogart's Rick) who runs a club in World War II Casablanca, where he just happens to bump into his old flame (Bergman's Ilsa). What makes the story unique is the romantic conflict: Ilsa's husband is Resistance leader Victor Lazslo (Paul Henreid), a noble guy both Rick and the audience cannot possibly dislike, which sets up an ending that's as romantic as it is melancholy. Yep, Rick sends her packing with his "hill of beans" speech that still gets us, no matter how many times we watch it.

Watch the clip

The Top 100 Gadgets of All Time

2005-03-11T21:29:00.000-08:00

The Top 100 Gadgets of All Time

Dog Blog Friday

2005-03-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

Tonka Window 030605
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

How much IS that Doggy in the window??? Tonka's newest favorite place.

NicoleDeHuff

2005-03-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

NicoleDeHuff
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

'Meet the Parents' Actress Dies After Two Misdiagnoses

The actress who was famously smashed in the face by a volleyball in the Meet The Parents comedy died last month after two medics misdiagnosed her pneumonia. Nicole DeHuff, who played Teri Polo's sister in the hilarious 2000 movie, checked into three Los Angeles hospitals, but only when her problems became inoperable did doctors realize what was wrong with her. The actress' mother Patsie says, "By the time she reached the third hospital, it was too late. She was unconscious." The grieving mother reveals her daughter was rushed to hospital on February 12 but was sent home by medics and told to take painkiller Tylenol. Patsie DeHuff recalls, "The next day my daughter was worse." Again, the actress went to hospital, but this time medics prescribed antibiotics for bronchitis. Two days later, paramedics rushed to her home after she collapsed, gasping for breath. The tragic actress died on February 16.

I'm Spongebob SquarePants

2005-03-09T11:34:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of my step-mom Sue:

I'm Spongebob SquarePants

DON'T CHEAT! This is fun--try it!Everyone has a personality of a cartoon character. Have you ever askedyourself what cartoon character do you most resemble? A group ofinvestigators got together and analyzed the personalities of well-knownand modern cartoon characters. The information that was gathered was madeinto this test. Answer all the questions with what describes you best, addup all your points (which are next to the answer that you choose) at the end and look for your results. Do not cheat by looking at the end of the e-mail before you are done.

Then forward this to all your friends and change the subject of thismessage to what character is you.

(1) Which one of the following describes the perfect date?
(a) Candlelight dinner (4 pts.)
(b) Fun/Theme park (2 pts.)
(c) Painting in the park (5 pts.)
(d) Rock concert (1 pt.)
(e) Going to the movies (3 pts.)

(2) What is your favorite type of music?
(a) Rock 'n Roll (2 pts.)
(b) Alternative (1 pt.)
(c) Soft Rock (4 pts.)
(d) Country (5 pts.)
(e) Pop (3 pts.)

(3) What type of movies do you prefer?
(a) Comedy (2 pts.)
(b) Horror (1 pt.)
(c) Musical (3 pts.)
(d) Romance (4 pts.)
(e) Documentary (5 pts.)

(4) Which one of these occupations would you choose if you onlycould choose one of these?
(a) Waiter (4 pts.)
(b) Professional Sports Player (5 pts.)
(c) Teacher (3 pts.)
(d) Police (2 pts.)
(e) Cashier (1 pt.)

(5) What do you do with your spare time?
(a) Exercise (5 pts.)
(b) Read (4 pts.)
(c) Watch television (2 pts.)
(d) Listen to music (1 pt.)
(e) Sleep (3 pts.)

(6) Which one of the following colors do you like best?
(a) Yellow (1 pt.)
(b) White (5 pts.)
(c) Sky Blue (3 pts.)
(d) Dark Blue (2 pts.)(
e) Red (4 pts.)

(7) What do you prefer to eat right now?
(a) Snow (3 pts.)
(b) Pizza (2 pts.)
(c) Sushi (1 pt.)
(d) Pasta (4 pts.)
(e) Salad (5 pts.)

(8) What is your favorite holiday?
(a) Halloween (1 pt.)
(b) Christmas (3 pts.)
(c) New Year (2 pts.)
(d) Valentine's Day (4 pts.)
(e) Thanksgiving (5 pts.)

(9) If you could go to one of these places, which one would it be?
(a) Paris (4 pts.)
(b) Spain (5 pts.)
(c) Las Vegas (1 pt.)
(d) Hawaii (4 pts.)
(e) Hollywood (3 pts.)

(10) With which of the following would you prefer to spend time with?
(a) Someone smart (5 pts.)
(b) Someone attractive (2 pts.)
(c) Someone who likes to party (1 pt.)
(d) Someone who always has fun (3 pts.)
(e) Someone very sentimental (4 pts.)

Now add up your points and find out the answer you have been waitingfor!

(10-16 points) You are Garfield: You are very comfortable, easygoing,and you definitely know how to have fun, but sometimes you take it to anextreme.You always know what you are doing and you are always in control ofyour life. Others may not see things as you do, but that doesn't mean thatyou always have to do what is right. Try to remember yourhappy spirit may hurt you or others.

(18-26 points) You are Snoopy: You are fun; you are very cool andpopular. You always know what's in and you never are out of style. You are goodat knowing how to satisfy everyone else. You have probably disappeared fora few days more than once, but you always come home with the familyvalues that you learned. Being married and having children are important toyou, but only after you have had your share of fun times.

(22-28 points) You are Arnold: You have lots of friends and you are alsopopular, always willing to give advice and help out a person in need.You are very optimistic and you always see the bright side ofthings. Some good advice: Try not to be too much of a dreamer. If not,you will have many conflicts with life.

(29-34 points) You are Sponge Bob Square Pants: You are the classic person that everyone loves. You are the best friend that anyone couldever have and never want to lose. You never cause harm to anyone and theywould never not understand your feelings. Life is a journey, it's funny andcalm for the most part. Stay away from traitors and jealous people, thenyou will be stress free.

(35-42 points) You are Charlie Brown: You are tender, you fall in love>quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. You area family person. You call your mom every Sunday. You have many friendsand may occasionally forget a few birthdays. Don't let your passion confuse youwith reality.

(43-50 points) You are Dexter: You are smart and definitely a thinker.Every situation is fronted with a plan. You have a brilliant mind. Youdemonstrate very strong family principles. You maintain a stable routine but neverignore a bad situation when it comes.

Shamrock Shake Anyone?

2005-03-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

Got this e-mail from my brother today:

As you all know, St. Patrick's Day is almost upon us. While this is an important day for me (my birthday, as you all should know by now) this email is not about me (believe it or not).

It is to draw attention to a seasonal phenomenon that few are aware of. I am speaking of course, of the Shamrock Shake at McDonalds.

What is the Shamrock shake you may ask? Well it's simply the best thing ever at McDonalds. It's available for usually less than a month for the week or two up to and after March 17th. Think of this, a Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookie in a shake. Any questions?

I have spent a good portion of the past 10 years trying to institute this as a "regular" flavor, in much the same way Arby's has jamocha and Checker's has banana, but to no avail. Letter writing campaigns, sit-ins, petitions, and nothing. I have come to peace with this.

However, I felt that I would be remiss if I did NOT let you all on a little secret with a great BIG taste.

If you do not like chocolate and mint, then I apologize, this email is not for you.

Coincidentally, I has just came upon the recipe from the Top Secret Restaurant Recipes website:

McDonald's(r) Shamrock Shake(r) - March 17, 2003

You'll find it very easy to recreate the flavors of McDonald's annual St. Patrick's Day shake using only four ingredients. The two that make this holiday shake unique are the mint extract and green food coloring. Make sure your extract says "mint" and not "peppermint." And if you don't want shakes that are green like the real ones, you can certainly leave out the food coloring. Happy St. Patty's Day, kitchen cloners!

2 cups vanilla ice cream
1 1/4 cups low fat milk
1/4 teaspoon mint extract (not peppermint)
8 drops green food coloring

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Stop blender to stir with a spoon if necessary to help blend ice cream.
2. Pour into two 12-ounce cups and serve each with a straw.

Serves 2.

Diva Cup???

2005-03-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

Came across this on Beth's Blog:

http://www.divacup.com/

Dear Dog and/or Cat

2005-03-06T22:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Dog and/or Cat,

When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions
with each other so there are still two of you in the way.

The dishes with the paw prints are yours and contain your food. The
other dishes are mine and contain my food. (Please note, placing a paw
print in the middle of my plate & food does not stake a claim for it becoming
your food & dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the
slightest.)

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating
me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I
fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king size bed. I am very sorry
about this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to
ensure your comfort. Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping.

They can actually curl up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep

perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible.

(I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging

out the other end to maximize space used is nothing but sarcasm.)

My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by
some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is
not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob, or get your paw
under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the
same door I entered. (In addition, I have been using the bathroom for
years, canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.)

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dogs or cats'
butt. I cannot stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for
you.

To pacify you I have posted the following message on our front door:

Rules for Non-pet owners who visit and like to complain about our pets:

1. They live here; you don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the
furniture.
3. I like my pet better than I like most people.
4. To you it's an animal. To me, he and/or she is an adopted son and/or
daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours, and is speech
challenged.

Dogs and cats are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money
all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive
your car, don't hang out with drug using friends, don't drink or smoke,
don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't
need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can
sell the results.

Top Ten Signs You're On A Bad Diet

2005-03-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

From David Letterman's Top Ten List on January 4, 2005:

Top Ten Signs You're On A Bad Diet
10. You're not allowed to eat during months with an "R" in them.
9. You're told to replace food with crack.
8. Company sent you a fun house mirror to make you look thinner.
7. It's a Dr. Phil diet and after 2 weeks you look exactly like Dr. Phil.
6. You're sweating cottage cheese.
5. If you follow it faithfully, they promise you'll lose 2 pounds in the next 12 years.
4. You're only allowed to eat Ukranian foods rich in dioxin.
3. Sure you'll lose weight, but you're also a foot shorter.
2. It's the Atkins Diet--the Chet Atkins diet.
1. Youre ass has gone from Jennifer Lopez to Kirstie Alley.

18% Idiott...

2005-03-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

I am 18% Idiot.

I am not annoying at all. In fact most people come to me for advice. Of course they annoy the hell out of me. But what can I do? I am smarter than most people.

Take the
Idiot Test
@ FualiDotCom

Swiped from AliThinks.

Sweet Sixteen

2005-03-05T11:31:00.000-08:00

You Are 16 Years Old

16

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

Pizza and a Game

2005-03-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

From USA Today:

Sony builds pizza-order function into 'Everquest II'

Peter Svensson, Associated Press

NEW YORK — Demonstrating a deep understanding of what matters to its computer-gaming audience, Sony has built the ability to order pizza into its latest online multiplayer game.
Type the command "/pizza" while playing Everquest II, a fantasy game with 330,000 active players, and get the Pizza Hut Web site, where you can place orders for delivery.
Chris Kramer, spokesman for Sony Online Entertainment, said he believes this is the first time a game accepts orders for real-world items.

Sony plans to integrate the pizza function more tightly into the game, so players can charge pizza to their monthly game subscription bill.

"The goal for the future is to eventually let people do more things like this," Kramer said. "They could type /harry potter and get the new Harry Potter book delivered or /star wars and get the new Star Wars DVD."

Many games incorporate ads and product placements, but such opportunities are limited with fantasy games like Everquest.

Though the new pizza feature might satisfy appetites, caution is required as the game doesn't pause while you're ordering.

"You wouldn't want to order pizza in the thick of combat, but anywhere that's safe is a good place," said Kramer.

My boobies names are....

2005-03-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

Your Boobies' Names Are: Betty and Veronica

Get your own Boobie Names

Create Your Own Snowflake

2005-03-04T11:06:00.000-08:00

This is soooo cool! Don't forget to seach for mine and post a comment!

Create Your Own Snowflake

Dog Blog Friday

2005-03-04T10:41:00.000-08:00

TonkaBone 013005
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Shark "Photo of the Year" Is E-Mail Hoax

2005-03-04T07:33:00.000-08:00

Shark
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

From National Geographic's website:

Shark "Photo of the Year" Is E-Mail Hoax

Stentor Danielson
National Geographic News

August 15, 2002
Latest news stories about sharks from National Geographic News: Go>>
Read an interview with Charles Maxwell, whose shark photo was used in this hoax, and view a gallery of many more of his underwater images: Go>>

A photograph that has been circulating on the internet showing a shark leaping out of the water to attack a helicopter, is a fake. The composite image, which claims to be National Geographic's "Photo of the Year," was spliced together from a U.S. Air Force photo taken near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and a photo of a shark from South Africa.

The photo of a breaching great white shark was taken by South African photographer Charles Maxwell [see the link to his Web site at the bottom of this page]. The Air Force photo of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter was taken by Lance Cheung. They were spliced together by an unknown person, and reportedly began making the rounds on e-mail in August 2001.

"I'd like to make contact with the person who did thisânot to get him or her into trouble, but because it's a lot of fun and it is a good job," Maxwell said. "However, I must make clear that I would not like to see this happen to one of my photographs again. It is wrong to take images from a Web site without permission." Maxwell said he has sold quite a few photographs as a result of the attention the hoax has drawn to his work.

The e-mail containing the hoax photo says:

AND YOU THINK YOUR [sic] HAVING A BAD DAY AT WORK !!

Although this looks like a picture taken from a Hollywood movie, it is in fact a real photo, taken near the South African coast during a military exercise by the British Navy.

It has been nominated by National Geographic as "THE photo of the year".

Other versions of the e-mail credit it to Geo, a German periodical similar to National Geographic magazine.

Nationalgeographic.com has received hundreds of visits each day due to this photo since the latest round of the e-mail began. These visitors can be identified by their searches for such strings as "photo of the year" and "shark helicopter." E-mail inboxes have also been deluged with inquires about the photo.

Sharks jump out of the waterâa behavior known as "breaching"âwhen they hunt seals. The shark uses an explosive surprise attack to snatch the seal before it can swim away, resulting in the shark throwing itself into the air.

Maxwell took his photo at False Bay, South Africa. Though False Bay is perhaps the best place to see sharks feeding on seals, he said, it is difficult to get to. "Anyone wanting to hire a boat to see this amazing spectacle must work through the only registered white shark operators in False Bay, Chris Fallows and Rob Lawrence of African Shark Encounters."

Maxwell said that he "cheated a bit" to get the photo. Though he has seen as many as ten breaches in a single morning, it is difficult to predict where a shark will be seen. So he towed a seal decoy made of carpet behind his boat, in order to attract a breaching shark.

Maxwell has worked with National Geographic several times. He was a production facilitator for the April 2000 white sharks story in National Geographic magazine and the television documentary made that same year. Most recently, he assisted David Doubilet and Kennedy Warne on the South Africa story in the August 2002 issue of National Geographic magazine.

Recipe of the Day

2005-03-03T11:53:00.000-08:00

Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breasts

POINTS® value 5 Servings 4Preparation Time 15 minCooking Time 20 minLevel of Difficulty Moderate main meals

You can stuff chicken breasts with whatever's fresh in your pantry or fridge: herbs, veggies, flavorful cheeses, capers and spices.

Ingredients
2 Tbsp sun-dried tomatoes, without oil, minced 2 oz soft-type goat cheese 1 tsp thyme, fresh, chopped 1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast(s), four 4-oz pieces 1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste 1/8 tsp black pepper, or to taste 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour 1 cup wine, dry, white 1 Tbsp cornstarch 1 cup fat-free chicken broth 1 Tbsp canned tomato paste 1 Tbsp parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, stir together sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and thyme.
2. Using a sharp paring knife, cut a horizontal slit through the thickest part of each chicken breast, creating a pocket. Be careful not to cut all the way through.
3. Stuff each chicken breast with 1/4 of the cheese mixture. Season with salt and pepper and dust with flour.
4. Spray a large nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray and warm over high heat. Add chicken and brown well. Remove and set aside.
5. Add white wine to pan and boil until almost all evaporated.
6. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons chicken broth until smooth. Whisk cornstarch mixture, remaining chicken broth and tomato paste into white wine.
7. Return chicken breasts to pan. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over low heat until chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes. Baste occasionally with sauce.

Fortune?

2005-03-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

fortune
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Famous Family Ties

2005-03-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

Is there such a thing as celebrity DNA? Some of Hollywood's heaviest hitters got a little help from famous uncles, aunts, cousins and parents. See if you can figure out which celebrities are related to which celebrities!

Take the QUIZ!

The States

2005-03-01T08:42:00.000-08:00

Copy everything between the lines and paste it wherever.

bold the states you've been to, underline the states you've lived in and italicize the state you're in now...

Alabama / Alaska / Arizona / Arkansas / California / Colorado / Connecticut / Delaware / Florida / Georgia / Hawaii / Idaho / Illinois / Indiana / Iowa / Kansas / Kentucky / Louisiana / Maine / Maryland / Massachusetts / Michigan / Minnesota / Mississippi / Missouri / Montana / Nebraska / Nevada / New Hampshire / New Jersey / New Mexico / New York / North Carolina / North Dakota / Ohio / Oklahoma / Oregon / Pennsylvania / Rhode Island / South Carolina / South Dakota / Tennessee / Texas / Utah / Vermont / Virginia / Washington / West Virginia / Wisconsin / Wyoming / Washington D.C /

Go HERE to have a form generate the HTML for you.

Swiped from Ali, who swiped from Allan who swiped it from his brother, who swiped it from Bet.

Quick excerpt

2005-02-28T23:32:00.000-08:00

Because newwavegurly said to:

Instructions:
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.v

"I smiled. I had totally misjudged Kelly, but I had learned my lesson. Maybe we could still hang out after I moved."

Excerpt from "Bundle of Joy" by Ariella Papa. My book of the month as decreed by chicklitbooks.com.

Wanna hear something really strange? Number 2 in the instructions state to open the book to page 123. Well, guess what page I am currently on and have my bookmark on?? 123!!!! SPOOKY!!!

'80s Music Trivia

2005-02-28T17:35:00.000-08:00

'80s Music Trivia
By Joyce Philbeck and Ali Rand

No matter where you were in the '80s -- working as a waitress in a cocktail bar or just small town girl livin' in a lonely world -- the music and videos are as popular now as they were when leg warmers and big hair were in style. Find out how much you remember about the '80s without renting 16 Candles or The Breakfast Club.

Take the QUIZ.
______________________________________________________________________

Music Trivia Quiz: Level 2

Now that you've aced our Music Trivia Quiz: Level 1, it's time for you to prove your worth with Level 2. See if your music trivia knowledge is top-notch. Good luck!

Academy Award Losers

2005-02-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

In honor of the Oscars last nite, I found this quiz:

Academy Award Losers
By Suzy Byrne

Jack Nicholson has three. Meryl Streep has two. Even Ben Affleck has one ‑- albeit not for his acting. We're talking about Oscars, folks ‑- those shiny little golden men awarded to the best of the best in the movie-making industry. But whether the best of the best have truly been recognized is up for discussion. Believe it or not, some top stars, like Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich and Cary Grant, have never won. Who else? Well, take our trivia challenge and find out...

Take the QUIZ.

Interesting Optical Illusion

2005-02-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

optical-illusion-wheels-circles-rotating
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

Interesting optical illusion
Zack Lynch posted this fabulous optical illusion. [Converted from Word to HTML/PNG in the interest of portable standards]

If you take a look at the following picture , let me tell you ... it is not animated. Your eyes are making it move. To test this, stare at one spot for a couple seconds and everything will stop moving. Or look at the black center of each circle and it will stop moving. But move your eyes to the next black center and the previous will move after you take your eyes away from it.... Weird

Dog Blog Friday

2005-02-25T12:54:00.000-08:00

DevilTonka
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. AMEN!

Retro Crush

2005-02-23T22:51:00.000-08:00

For all you pop-culture junkies, courtesy of my brother:

RETRO CRUSH: The 100 Greatest TV Theme Songs

The Emperor's New Clothes

2005-02-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

After 11.3 wks - 53 lbs Front 021705
Originally uploaded by Deblyn71.

For those of you out in Blog-land that are keeping up with my weight loss, thought you'd like to see a recent picture taken in new clothes that are 4..yes, count them....FOUR sizes smaller than just 3 short months ago. And if you want to follow the picture trail, then click here.

TTFN!!

Am I...HOT or NOT???

2005-02-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

Please rate me!!! HOT OR NOT

The Fat Dutch Kid

2005-02-18T13:41:00.000-08:00

Check out "The Fat Dutch Kid"...you'll laugh until your cry! Make sure you have the sound on. Thanks Ms. G for letting me steal it.