Saturday, June 28, 2008

Elle Macpherson’s Got Her Show

Elle Macpherson Pictures

The site has been inundated with Elle Macpherson bikini pictures over the last few days so I thought I’d cleanse your bikini palette, so to speak, with some pictures of the former supermodel with her clothes on. Alright so she’s not exactly wearing a lot of clothing but you get the idea. Besides, my New Year’s resolution is to share more celebrity erect nipples with my favorite readers. And all of you. Ha!

Elle Macpherson Pictures Elle Macpherson Pictures Elle Macpherson Pictures

Elle Macpherson Pictures Elle Macpherson Pictures Elle Macpherson Pictures

Elle Macpherson Pictures Elle Macpherson Pictures Elle Macpherson Pictures

Friday, June 20, 2008

Watch Internet TV Anywhere You Have Your PC

Would you like to watch live TV through the Internet? Would you agree the increasing capabilities of the World Wide Web transmitting more and faster information has made the world smaller? One way you can benefit from this phenomena is by watching live, free Internet TV wherever you have your PC.

Lets say you're an American from Ceder Rapids Iowa living in London, England and you want to tune into to the local news at home live. Just turn on your Internet TV software and tune into your home tv station and watch the news live. Stay up on local events and you will have more to email about with the family. This works the other way too. Your from Asia living in the US. You can stay tuned to your local home channels as well. Of course you will have some 9000 other channel to watch also.

Many television stations now transmit free to air signal on the Internet. A typical computer would not be able to receive them. You will be able to with a piece of software designed to receive and decode satellite tv on a pc. And best of all, it's not pirating so it's legal.

There are quite a few softwares on the Internet that allow you access to use Satellite Internet tv technology. If you want to check out the one I recommend to my friends click on the link in the author box below.

Why do I love Internet tv Satellite Software?
1.

Hugh number and wide variety of Channels available, including movie, sports, radio, music.I get to watch more than 9,000 channels and the worst problem is there isn't enough time in the day for all of them. When I had cable I had about 100 channels and a high monthly bill.

2.

So another reason I like my Internet TV is once I purchased the software, there are no more fees. No monthly bill, no upcharge for "premium channels" and no pay on demand.


Are you looking to watch Live Internet tv? Don't do it yet. Check out the software I recommend to my friends.

How Digital Technology Touches Your Life?

Advances in digital technology have created a positive difference in our lives in more ways than one. The range of devices on offer today are not only powerful but loaded with the best of features and functionality.

Mobile phones: These are not just communication devices but complete entertainment devices with features such as camera, MP3, video player and games. No wonder mobiles have become almost like toys for grown ups.

MP3 Players: What's better than enjoying your favorite music on the go? Mp3 players have come in as a great lifestyle product. It's not uncommon to find people enjoying their players while driving, jogging and even while working. Modern day MP3 players are extremely sleek and compact, and loaded with the best of features.

Notebooks: There was a time when notebooks used to be reserved for the super-rich. But fortunately now notebooks have become highly affordable and pack in power and functionality equivalent to desktops. In fact the trends have changed so much that now even students and young executives are purchasing notebooks and not desktops. The obvious advantage is that your data stays with you at all times and you can continue your work no matter where you are: home, car, park, virtually anywhere.

Gaming machines: Gaming machine options have created a whole new world of fun and entertainment for kids and grown-ups alike. Gaming consoles such as playstation and X-box have more processing power than many PCs available in the market. This power punch enables them to support high end graphics and audio, thus creating a superb gaming experience for the user.

Digital Cable Devices: People around the world are now increasingly opting for digital cable TV options such as DTH and digital set-top boxes. Digital cable TV features include DVD quality audio & video, uninterrupted viewing, and movies-on-demand.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Spielberg Meets Kubrick - A Fascinating, But Uneven Artificial Intelligence

"A.I. Artificial Intelligence" is in many ways a very bold film that tackles some big themes. It's wonderfully done, but at the same time, there's something a little odd about it; A.I. started life as a Stanley Kubrick film and his influences are evident throughout the film. However, he passed the baton to Steven Spielberg to make the film, a quest Spielberg was eager to pursue especially after Kubrick died as a tribute to his friend. So instead of getting a Kubrick film, you get a half-Kubrick-half-Spielberg film which makes for some puzzling viewing because their sensibilities seem diametrically opposed, a fact which is quite evident when watching A.I. You can almost see how far Kubrick would have gone in certain sequences, whereas with the same sequences Spielberg holds back, perhaps not as comfortable to go in those areas. Nevertheless, A.I. is an intriguing film whose themes and visuals will hold your interest throughout; however, if you don't like Spielberg sentimentality, you better not watch this film because although it's not as heaped on as some of his earlier works, he does manage to pour some of it on the material, especially in the last twenty minutes.

A.I. opens at the headquarters of Cybertronics, a leading maker of robots. The company's CEO, Professor Hobby (William Hurt), in a speech to his team, proposes to build a robot child that can love and dream. It is here that the first moral dilemma is posed and one that ultimately encompasses the entire film; if you can make a robot child to love, what is it's owner's responsibility to love it back? I'm not sure that this question is ever answered in the film; in Kubrick's world: probably not, in Spielberg's more fantasy-naive notions: yes. This is ultimately where A.I. becomes a little unstuck because there seems to be two different dialogues going through the film and one really can't be surprised by this because the film is ultimately the vision of two different directors. Spielberg in his attempt to maintain Kubrick's vision of the film has ultimately held the film back simply because he doesn't share the same sensibility as Kubrick. On the other hand, he has to be commended for actually bringing the film to the screen at all because despite this one obvious flaw, A.I. is compelling viewing and still manages to impart some strong ideas.

We are then introduced to David, played to perfection by Haley Joel Osmont. This genius kid actor got all of the robotic nuances down pat; one example is that he never blinks in the film (watch carefully!). He is placed with a couple whose child is terminally ill in a coma and over time he is accepted by them, particularly Monica (Frances O'Connor) whose feeling are torn between David and her son. Trouble starts when their son Martin (Jake Thomas) is miraculously revived. When he comes home, he begins a rivalry with David which ultimately leads to his expulsion from the family. In a heart-wrenching scene which is all Spielberg, Monica takes David out to a forest and dumps him there, leaving him to fend for himself. All of these sequences with the family are pure Spielberg and you can see here why Kubrick wanted him to make the film. It's extremely well done and highlights Spielberg's talents with kids. He has to be given points for the creation of the supertoy Teddy who becomes David's companion; a walking, talking teddy bear. He's very cute but never annoying and complements David very nicely. From this point on, David resolves to find the 'blue fairy', a magical being he heard from the Pinocchio story, in order for her to make a real boy so Monica will love him. From this point on, the Pinocchio analogies come in to full swing.

The film then changes dramatically; we are introduced to Gigolo Joe (Jude Law), a pleasure robot who is trying to make his latest female client feel at ease before getting 'down to the business'. This is where you feel the Kubrick influence, to the point where you can imagine he would have filmed them having sex, but Spielberg holds back, cutting at the very moment this would have happened. The film becomes progressively darker when it moves to the flesh fare sequences of angry humans destroying robots, thus fueling their hatred for all things mechanical. The film is now totally different, and seems very Kubrick like and to Spielberg's credit he does manage to keep most of that darkness on screen.

David and Joe then proceed to Rouge City, a spectacular visual triumph made by the special effects team. The shot where they drive through big fish like structures is absolutely spectacular, as is the rendering of the city itself. Here they talk to Dr Know (voiced by Robin Williams) who informs them to go the ends of the Earth to find the Blue Fairy. The ends of the Earth turn out to be a submerged Manhattan (again, another absolutely spectacular visual). David reunites with Professor Hobby but is dismayed when he finds out that he will be mass-produced for other families, thus not making him unique any more.

David eventually goes to the depths of the ocean in a helicopter and finds what he thinks is the blue fairy, but in doing so, gets trapped there, seemingly forever. If it were Kubrick, he probably would have ended the film there, given its downbeat tone, not to mention it taps in to that human condition of aspiring to things we ultimately cannot realise. However, Spielberg has tacked on an extra twenty minutes which are purely his own. 2,000 years pass and the world is in a new ice age and humans are extinct; aliens studying Earth pull David out from the ice and begin to converse with him about humans. They learn of his desire to gain Monica's love and in a warm moment, they manage to recreate her for one day, and David finally gets her love. He then goes to sleep forever, his quest fulfilled. This ending ultimately gives a very sweet and uplifting ending that Spielberg has to take credit for and is probably opposite to what Kubrick would have done. Whether you like it or not is up to you, but the sentiment is poured on here.

A.I. is an absolute visual feast. Every single shot in this film is beautiful to look at, from the more intimate moments between the characters to the big special effects shots; all of it gels together brilliantly making for one of the most unique visual feasts you're likely to experience. On this point alone the film is worth watching. However, unlike a lot of special effects films, A.I. does impart a level of intelligence rarely found in such films, as we go on David's journey to gain Monica's love and in the process find out a little bit about what makes humans behave the way they do.

The only problem with A.I. as I've already mentioned is that it's representative of two directors' visions. If you like Kubrick, you won't like Spielberg's take on the material. If you like Spielberg, you won't like the Kubrick influences. This culminates in a film that doesn't really sit in either world, but if you're willing to look past that then you will be in for an intriguing experience.

In Memory of Monica Santa Maria

I remember being in Peru in 1991 on what turned out to be a one and a half year stay in South America that saw me visit countries such as Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador but it was during my stay in Lima that I discovered the television program "NubeLuz". I don't recall the exact day but it was on a Saturday morning in the month of September that I turned on the television to what appeared to be a television show for toddlers called "Nube Luz".

As for the show itself it had nothing that I had not seen before in others of the sort; including children playing games, songs written with simple sing-along lyrics and music that one could hum, and of course the never absent colorful backdrop of flowers and all that makes a stage cheerful for those whose numbered years can still be displayed by one digit. Perhaps if one thing was original it was that the show had a language of its own were the hostesses were called "Dalinas" while the boys were called "Nubetores" and the girls were called "Nubecinas". This plus other silly expressions which though meaningless such as "Grantico Palman and Zum" or "Glufico" helped to add to the playful atmosphere.

In all this however there was something new and refreshing and that being the two young ladies who hosted "NubeLuz". One of them being a young woman from Argentina of Russian descent whose name was Almendra Gomelsky and her co-hostess; Monica Santa Maria. Monica Santa Maria was born in Peru to a Peruvian father and a Canadian mother. Monica also like Almendra was in the last year of her teenage life when she was hired by Peru's "Pan Americana Television" to host "NubeLuz".

With regards to Monica and Almendra; they were truly beautiful in every way from the perfect features that made up their faces to their bodies that moved with those songs they danced to but this magnificence which they displayed was one of amusement to children rather then being one of sexuality or an attempt at self idolatry which many a hostess engages in. Their grace it could be stated was one that combined feminine charm along with a lighthearted beauty of innocence that was not coquette but full of that spirit of life that was contagious to all and to me as well. I even made it a point catch the show on TV as often as I could while I was down in South America and on one occasion after having stood on line for three hours managed to get tickets which forced me to get up at five am to get to the studio on time. This being that the show started at eight am and it was advised to be on the spot at least one hour before.

By Monica's and Almendra's beauty I also have in mind that they had the looks of two young ladies whose sensitivity came through in a way that was pleasing to those whom they set out to entertain. This they accomplished not only by being attractive but displaying in their eyes the youth that was in them combined with what one could see was a legitimate love for the children they played with.

However in all this it was not only their beauty but a dedication to what they did as one could see that Monica and Almendra were there for those children who appeared on that show and treated them as such and not as if the children were there for their benefit, only to prop up their own image but they to make the children feel special at least for the three hours that the show lasted. I while watching Monica and Almendra in action even got the impression that the children who they played with saw them as "two big sisters" with whom they truly could be themselves with and not feel the shyness that they were talking to a TV hostess but somebody who was for their joy.

Personality wise Monica and Almendra were very similar in both having tremendous supplies of enthusiasm and energy which in them seemed boundless as they would play and get as worked up as did their children however in a rough way it could be said that Monica was the more "mischievous" of the two while Almendra was the more "affectionate". Perhaps this would be over simplifying it but this was one of the few differences that was apparent to the eye or at least mine. As for myself personally I never got to meet either of them though I did encounter Almendra on two occasions, one of them being while as a photographer covering a fashion show of which she was a featured guest. My stay in Peru held some interesting times for me which I must say ranged from having to put out with daily eight hour water and power shortages to the sound of terrorists bombs going off, one of them almost claiming me as a victim but the show "NubeLuz" was amongst those that I would consider the nicest.

I left South America at the start of 93 and have not been back since however it was with a sense of loss that I received the news that I got from an acquaintance of mine from Argentina ("NubeLuz" was shown in every Latin American country) that Monica Santa Maria in the month of March 94 succeeded in her third attempt at suicide. It was a gun which she used to shot herself in the head much like Kurt Cobain of the Seattle band "Nirvana" who followed suit about a month after. Suicide was her way out of the problems which had plagued her and her boyfriend though who can really say what prompts a person to take their own life. In Monica's case following in the footsteps of even some historical and fictional females like Cleopatra, Madame Butterfly, Portia (wife of Brutus), Floria Tosca (from the opera Tosca) and perhaps even Marilyn Monroe.

Monica Santa Maria had always seemed so carefree on "NubeLuz"; as if glee radiated from her so strongly to her infant fans who saw nothing but kindness and playfulness from her which manifested themselves through the unforgettable expressions she performed with her eyes, hands and gestures. It was "NubeLuz" which she so masterfully co-hosted as to give perhaps the false impression that problems was the last thing in the world she had as hers was beauty, youth, success in her career, the adoration of her infant public and yet in all this something was missing which to her meant more then all that she did have. One never really knows about the happiness of others as all one can do is speculate though perhaps it was this lack in Monica's life that made her feel all the more the elation of playing with all those children and greeting them on her show the way she did with so much affection as if she as hostess of "NubeLuz" was able to give to others what she had not been able to get for herself and that being joy.

Download Free Full Length Movies - Can You Really Get Movies For Free Legally?

Download Free Full Length Movies from a legal website which will not only assure you quality picture but will also keep your PC, mobiles and laptops free from virus. Safety is the buzzword in web world. If you are an avid web user and have downloaded movies free of cost many times from different websites, then you should be careful next time onwards.

Download Free Full Length Movies is a catchy offer. You don't have to spend money buying a DVD or movie tickets in a plush multiplex. But you never know that one fine morning you wake up to find a volumous bill waiting at your doorstep. And mind it, the amount can be much more than the bucks you might have spent for a DVD or a multiplex movie ticket.

Creating awareness among web users is the only way by which we can avoid getting trapped by these illegal sites which attracts visitors with the lucrative Download Free Full Length Movies offer and then piles and then bill on a huge amount of money. However, like every coin has two sides, Download Free Full Length Movies can also be very safe and enjoyable. Web world is filled with an extensive variety of illegal sites offering movie downloads totally for free, which are to be avoided.

Full length movies may take quite sometime to get downloaded. Everything depends on the server, the website is using. Usually if it's a legal site which abides by all kinds of cyber laws and looks after customer satisfaction, downloads would be very fast compared to the illegal download sites.

The members of membership movie download sites can also download music videos, songs, latest hits and movie clips from such sites. The variety of services offered by these sites is sure to win your favor, but remember you can always get into soup if you are unaware of the site status i.e: whether it is legally approved or a duplicate site. But for a real membership download site you can really download free full length movie, why?
Because you only pay one time membership fee for unlimited lifetime downloads, the more you download, the cheaper each movie becomes.

Downloading movies can be an exciting idea of enjoying at home. But the ways of downloading needs to be kept in mind. Illegal download sites have symptoms that are very obvious which might help you in identifying the site status. It may happen that your downloading process is slow, there are spyware and viruses soon after you begin the downloads, and of course they are free. The quality of picture is not up to the mark. Sound quality may not be good. Don't ignore such indications.

You can even get a superb print of the movie from the net. If the website you are using is legally approved, quality is assured.

Before deciding to part with your money, you really have to do some research to make sure the membership sites are real and trusted. But you can cut your research phase and start to download free full length movies at Unlimited movies download.

Colleen Anderson is a career woman who just loves to watch movies in the weekend with her family. Sick and tired of paying for DVDs, She finally found a way to get movies and TV series at almost zero cost. Check out the website she finds, Unlimited Movies Download.

10 Reasons Why You Should Never Pick Your Nose

We all know it's taboo to pick your nose, but does that stop us? In public maybe, but it's a different story when we are out of sight. At least, we THINK we're out of sight!

Here are 10 reasons why it's a bad idea to pick your nose!

1. It's not ripe. Your mother told you not to pick things that aren't ripe. If it is ripe, please go to the Tropical Diseases section.

2. You don't know where your fingers have been. Remember you stroked the cat 10 minutes ago? And she licked your finger? So Cute! But you really don't want to know what a cat does with it's tongue...

3. We are constantly under surveillance by cctv cameras, by low orbit satellite, by police anti-crime cameras, by news helicopters, by traffic webcams, by your kids digital camera. The chances are excellent that your surreptitious act of personal cleansing will probably air on the 9 o'clock news, and on Google Earths new hi--def close--ups!

4. If your girlfriend caught you doing it, it may ruin the friendship. Even though she does it too, she will never admit it, and rather dump you than lose her spotless reputation.

5. The incriminating evidence is not always that easy to get rid of. Especially if you happen to be in a lift and it suddenly stops on a floor when least expected.

6. In the car it's a no no. All you need is to hit a large pothole, and you could take out a few sinuses and maybe perform an impromptu frontal lobotomy.

7. In certain tribal cultures, this act may be seen as an invitation to marriage, or as a sign of aggression, resulting in a fight to the death. You got to be careful who sees you!

8. You may have some wet super glue on your finger. This could put you on a sticky wicket. However, you could always become a prophet. Call yourself Nostrildamus.

9. If you have big fingers, you could stretch the nostrils. On the bright side though, you could get a job with the police dog tracking unit as a bloodhound.

10. Never, never stick your finger in your nose if you have just chopped up those little devil chillies, or worked with curry powder, or just put some itching powder in your buddy's T-Shirt. You may not live to regret it!

So you see, Mom was right

Look For a Reason to Smile

In today's materialistic world, where the pressure of work is simply unbelievable and the cut throat competition at every level always posses a threat to those seeking some spare time to relax, phrases such as 'laughter is the best medicine' or 'one can always do with a good laugh or two' are too often heard. This has given rise to various set of arguments and an array of laughing clubs all over the world. However, it can be said that an individual does not really require all such 'elaborate' set ups to amuse himself. If only he or she just keeps a tab on what is going on around, it's guaranteed that every now and then he or she can pick up a situation or an incident or a sight that will surely bring a smile to his or her face.

One can again always argue that considering the jet speed life one requires to lead in order to succeed in today's scenario, it is almost next to impossible for anyone to keep a tab on anything else other than the market economies or the changes in one's company policies maybe! However, there is no reason for them to feel dejected or worried about missing out on the chances to amuse themselves because the galleries of funny images on the internet ensures that if someone wants to do it, the reason to smile is always just a mere couple of clicks away. These archives of funny images contain hundreds of snaps taken by both professional photographers as well as amateurs like you and me and range from circumstances that had prevailed thousands of miles away on the other side of the globe to certain moments which have been captured at places and situations that can be just a few blocks away from your apartment. The pictures may be of objects which are in odd shape or state or maybe of children in the act of doing something and ending up doing something entirely different or normal people caught in abnormal circumstances or even comments made by somebody in the form of a cartoon. In other words these series of funny images try and bring to our notice what we tend to neglect and overlook in our daily life and prove the point that seeds of humor are all around you and someone seeking a chance to relax by enjoying some good amusements and laughter can always go for these. What's more is the fact that these galleries of funny images are further categorized under a variety of broad heads such as daily humor, humor at office, humor involving pets, humor concerning children, sports situations, etc. among various others. Thus irrespective of the taste an individual has got in terms of humor, be it slapstick or screwball, dry or sarcastic, satirical or situational, these funny images definitely promises to fulfill and even more!

Dance Moves You Shouldn't Get Caught Doing - No Matter What!

Havelock Ellis once said, "Dancing is the loftiest, the most moving, the most beautiful of the arts, because it is no mere translation or abstraction from life; it is life itself."

That said, I'm betting my moolah the following dance moves, collected from various points in a 30 yr old guy's life aren't exactly what you'd call art nor would anyone want to get caught doing it.

The Macarena - The mere fact that 2 old guys were dancing (well not dancing as much as... swaying) in the video should have been an omen but this song became the second longest running #1 and best selling debut single of all time - in fact it holds the distinction of being the #1 greatest hit wonder of all time. Beat that William Hung.

The Chicken Dance - the 2nd worst thing to happen to parties (the first one, the clown/mascot). As a kid I would dread the moment I'd hear accordions blaring over the speakers and my mother forcing me to dance this with the other kids. Torture. But then again, it'd be slightly acceptable for kids to dance to the chicken tune, but adults? I rest my case.

The MC Hammer Dance - there's a reason why MC Hammer isn't as popular now as he was in the 90s. The Hammer Pants? The golden sparkle shirt? Or maybe the Hammer Dance? No matter how annoying the MC Hammer Dance was, it was horribly cute when it was Cameron Diaz dancing it (unless you're a dead ringer for Cameron Diaz, I suggest we leave this un...danced ).

Country Line Dancing - back in the late 70s, life went back to normal for most people when line dancing died a natural death. However, like a phoenix it rose from the ashes of its former self and was brought back to life by no other than Billy Ray Cyrus' Achy Breaky Heart! Doesn't it make you cringe, remembering back then how fun it was to line dance? (or wasn't it!?)

The Robot - Although I say you shouldn't be caught doing this, there are a few talented others who can do the robot with the precision only a real robot can have - and make money while doing it - or 15 minutes of fame! If there's one dance move I can be ambivalent about, this would be it. Just make sure you can pull it off.

History has a habit of repeating itself - in a few years, we might have another Macarena or another chicken dance to torture our kids with. So keep your eyes peeled; you'll never know what dance move might be created to make you the laughingstock of your next reunion or potential blackmail material.

What other dance moves do you secretly know but wouldn't get caught doing? Share yours.

Andy Biggins knows that life isn't a box of chocolates but he loves it as sweetly as if it were! Travelling and Gadgets rule his world, and if you want to know more about his thoughts on just about those 2 topics, swing by his site The Big Life

The Three Bears - Unplugged

When I was a little boy, my dad was busy working three jobs to support his family. He worked as a fireman, on his days off he would repair boats down by the riverside and in the evenings, he would deliver home fuel.

It was hard for me, my brother and sister to understand why he worked all these jobs. Was it because he loved us so much, or because he didn't want to hear our mother complain about how my sister smacked my brother across the back of the head with a shovel? Whichever it was, it was always a treat to have Dad home on one of those infrequent evenings off and come into our rooms to check on us at bedtime.

I can still remember the crack of light from the hallway as Dad would open the door to our room. We would pretend we were asleep, but we could tell it was him from the mixed smell of smoke, heating oil and seaweed.

One of us would always stir and say, "Hi, Dad" as he tried to sneak out unobserved. He would whisper for us to go back to sleep, but the damage had been done and we would sit up in bed and ask him to tell us a bedtime story. By then, our sister had joined us.

Now, Dad was what we call, by today's standards, as a "manly-man." Today, he would probably be a contestant on "American Gladiators", or be the headliner at a monster car rally. So, he wasn't very well versed in the art of bedtime stories, which was fine with us, because he would make up his own. He would ask us which one we would like to hear and we'd say something like, "The Three Bears" and this is the story he would tell:

"Once upon a time," he'd start, "there were three bears. A momma bear, a poppa bear and a baby bear. They lived in a modern, modest three bedroom cave just under the El. Yes, they were the Chicago Bears. One night, Momma Bear was cooking up a pot of fettuccini." (Dad would provide the sound effects with his stories. Like here, he would make a bubbling noise.) "Poppa Bear," Dad continued, "said, 'this stuff is too hot. Let's go down to the projects, while this is cooling, and annoy some tourists.' So, they hopped into their car, a Stutz Bearcat, and headed out." (Sound effect of an old car cranking up and pulling away)

"While they were out, a cute little golden-haired angel, played by Priscilla Lane, appeared at their front door. She knocked." (Knocking noises) "When no one answered, she went in. She walked past the fettuccini and headed to the liquor cabinet, where she made herself a Harvey Wallbanger." (Ice cube clinking in a glass and liquid being poured) "She became extremely tired and headed upstairs to the bedroom. She skipped the preliminaries and fell asleep in Baby Bear's bed."

"Meanwhile, the Bear family came home." (Dad would make the sound of tires screeching and the car crashing.) "Momma Bear was driving. They went into the cave and Poppa Bear noticed immediately that someone had hit his liquor cabinet and he began to cry. Poppa Bear was very sensitive about his booze."

"Baby Bear stood at the top of the stairs and yelled down, 'Hey, Pop, there's a cute looking chic in my bed. Is possession still nine points of the law?'

"With that, Goldilocks woke up and screamed." (Scream - like I had to tell you.) "She had never seen a little bear with a grin like that on his face before. Quickly, she jumped up and dove through the window." (Glass crashing)

"The Three Bears chased her through the woods. Okay, so there are no woods in Chicago, this is where your imaginations are going to have to come in."

"Goldilocks came upon a hunter who had just stopped the big, bad wolf from eating Little Red Riding Hood. Goldilocks yelled, 'You've got to help me! These three bears are after me.' Without another word, the hunter emptied his shotgun into the trio." (Shotgun going off)

"Goldilocks, the hunter and Little Red Riding Hood went into business together and opened up an S&H Green Stamp Redemption Store and lived happily ever after."

Dad would tuck us all in and, on his way out, he would turn around, smile and quietly close the door. A few seconds would pass and we would giggle ourselves to sleep as we could hear Mom, in the background, telling Dad how my brother glued my sister to a tree.

Staying on the Funny Side - Of Kitchen Gadgets

I'm a sucker for those "As Seen On TV" kitchen gadgets.

Show me a woman in a dated hairdo and a pantsuit, waving her hand over a seventy-five-piece plastic monogrammed food packaging and storage system, and my pulse starts to race.
Show me the whole family frolicking (is that still a word?) through the meadow with the dog and the handy dandy monogrammed food packaging carrying case on wheels with the drink holder and solar radio, and I'm diving for my credit card.

Tell me that for just an additional dollar, I can get a complete set of stainless steel knives guaranteed to cut steel and to outlive three generations, and it is no longer a want - no longer a need - it has become an I must have this or I will die - forget braces for Junior, Mamma needs a food storage system.

My husband tried to block the channel after I ordered him thirty-seven button-me-easy kits that promise to replace your button in thirty seconds without the need for needles or thread. He said it would have been a good idea, if most of his shirts had buttons.

It happens again yesterday. Just when I've barely recovered from the ramifications of ordering a lifetime supply of under-the-bed sweater organizers that emit a lilac scent - I see her white teeth and that familiar pantsuit, and I'm under her spell again. This time is different. This gadget is the king daddy of all gadgets - the Air Sucker 2000 - breaking all records in high tech kitchen gadgetry. Put your food in the bag, slide the bag through the sealer and it sucks all the air out of the bag and keeps it fresh for the rest of your life - just as fresh as the day you put it in. We're thinking of using it on Great Uncle Fred. You can seal pork chops, chicken, steak, salad, soup, and even a pint of your dog's blood should he ever need a transfusion. This would have been a handy thing to have when Uncle Skeeter cut off his toe with the weed whacker and we needed something to carry it in.

This is revolutionary. This will save us millions of dollars in wasted food. This, I have to have. I decide to order three - just in case they stop making them. "What are you doing?" my husband asks in an accusing tone as I'm reciting my credit card number to Susie who swears the Air Sucker 2000 changed her life. How does he do that? I have to yell for help four times when I super glue my foot into my new shoe (long story). It takes ten minutes for him to come to my aid when I get my hair caught in the drain (even longer story). We have a dead squirrel on the front porch for three days and he doesn't even notice. Pick up the phone to try and place a tiny little credit card order and it's like I blew a dog whistle.

I tell Susie to please hold, roll my eyes, and explain to my husband, while trying to be patient, that this is one of those necessary purchases. "You do NOT need that," he says, gritting his teeth. He should really learn to handle stress more effectively. "Yes. I do." "Like you needed the battery operated Bug-Be-Gone for the pool?" He can be quite sarcastic when he wants to be. "Hey, you said yourself that was good idea," I point out. "We don't have a pool!" he growls. I hang up the phone before Susie can call 911 to report domestic violence and follow my husband to the kitchen where he's standing with his arms crossed, wearing that look he gets when he's about to win an argument. Uh-oh.

"Open that cabinet," he barks. "Come on. Open it. And tell me what you see." I don't appreciate his tone. "Let's see," I murmur. "There's the green pepper spiraler....the vegetable blender with the pasta attachment...the six-speed juicer with the sleeve to hold the morning paper...oh, here's that cute serving tray with the ceramic pigs in bikinis on pool floats...and the pasta colander that turns into a centerpiece...and I'm not really sure exactly what this thing is..." My voice trails off as I crawl deeper into the cabinet. "What's that behind the silver-plated cake stand that sings happy birthday?" he asks while I drag out a dust-covered contraption and read the words on the side: Air Sucker 2000.

Suddenly it comes rushing back - November, two years ago. I still remember the day it came in the mail. I was so excited. I was convinced that this revolutionary item would change my life. I never could figure out how it worked. It was missing three pieces, wouldn't work on any speed but high, made an awful screeching noise, blew a fuse, and was wider than my counter top. I wrapped one piece of chicken (which is still in my freezer, thank you very much) and decided it wasn't worth the effort.

Okay, okay, so maybe my husband has a point. He's still a little mad. It's probably better that I don't tell him there are three more Air Suckers in the basement.