Monday, May 17, 2010

Scribble and Scrambles ~ An Ode to Bloodsucking Freeloaders ` The Next in the Series of Really Bad Poems













Tick tock

You SO don't rock
You creep about
And stalk

The innocent
The unsuspecting
Those out to enjoy sunshine
Nature, a nice breeze

What makes you think
I want to share
Some plasma or white cells?

No hesitation to strike a match
Or crush your tiny head
Beneath my grocery cart wheels?

Inspired by a walk and a freeloading nest of nasty bloodsucking ticks.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Super Cinema Saturday A Little Early and a Bonus ~ Documentary Day

A few favorite foodie/green living documentary reviews...



No Impact Man

A couple of years ago I ran across a magazine blurb and photograph of a family in big city America attempting to live a carbon footprintless year. I was fascinated bu
t never bothered to check into the book that had just been released.

But when I saw the documentary I had to watch it. I love reality-TV-type journeys of self-discovery.

Colin Beavan ignited a bit of controversy during his journey and some of it came with his interaction with his wife and her agreement to join him in his experiment. I'd say the process ended up costing her a little more as she was a Starbuck's junkie and addicted to shopping. They ended up spending several months eating from various homemade coolers, feeding their garbage to a box full of worms, living by candlelight and without toilet paper.

The obst
acles faced and the information gathered by this family was fascinating. Of course there was a bent as in all documentaries. But, overall, the entertainment, educational and voyeuristic appeal was high and it was well worth the time investment. There is a bit of language so parents may want to preview it.


Super Size Me


Super Size Me inspired my family's love of quirky documentaries. (Super Size Me is also joined by the classic Best In Show Mockumentary on our list of favorites.) Thou
gh we first saw Super Size Me a few years ago it is in our DVD library and we have watched it several times. And our youngest daughter used Spurlock's findings in a recent term paper.

Though this documentary was just the beginning of our awareness of what you eat can kill you, Super Size Me made a lasting difference in our lives. Now bad choices in food are still guilt-ridden but Spurlock's experiment and the knowledge that came from it helps us to avoid mindless eating. This documentary was fascinating from a medical and psychological standpoint and entertaining, too. The extras are worth watching.


King Corn



My family loved Super Size Me. We've watched it several times and always with
horrified fascination at the downward spiral of Morgan Spurlock during his 30-day fast-food experiment.

A friend recommended King Corn and once she told me the premise I had to see it.

King Corn does with ingredients what Super Size Me did with McDonald's.

Two recent college
grads set out to discover the whats, whys and hows of high fructose corn syrup. They rent an acre of land in the heart of Iowa and grow their own corn crop.

Entertaining, shocking and horrifying details follow and the viewer gets an education that may inspire some serious rethinking of what is allowed on said viewer's table. Well worth the time investment.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Drone

















If I received a buck for every time I acted as a secondary alarm clock for my loved ones I'd not need to take an exciting continuing medical education class on radiographic techniques for patient safety. If you ever need me to take your chest x-ray you may be thrilled that the state requires frequent information droned into my brain. But, continuing education doesn't do much beyond annoy me and make a little bit of money for the colleges who offer the classes.

Since I am in need of funds in order to live my life and pennies aren't falling out of the sky every time I tap a loved one and mention "Your alarm has been going off for 20 minutes, Dearest, you probably need to get up soon." I'm glad I've got my job. However, it feels less glad-inspired on days when medical information is redundant and monotone and......zzzzzzz.


Can you tell what's on my mind today? And what got me up a little earlier than I wanted? And what my day might consist of?

Okay. Then. Happy Thursday. Go and rock your world. You might want to get out of bed first, though. Is that your alarm I hear?

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Used!













It would appear that the dogs LOVE me. But in the cruel, crisp light of dawning realization I discover that alas, it is not me they love, just whatever I might be eating, drinking, preparing and, HOPEFULLY, dropping.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Scribble and Scrambles ~ Think It Through












I got an email from a publicist who has recently changed companies and is promoting a new book. She and I have had conversations in the past and so I clicked on the link to her new firm and read up on it. Turns out she's an award winning blogger in her neck of the woods and so, of course, I checked out her blog.


And I feel sad. Really sad.

Turns out she used to be a Christian until disillusioned by other Christians.

Now she's found Buddhist teachings and feels enlightened and back on a good path.

She said she's finally ready to accept that some people choose Jesus and that's okay in her book. After all, the teachings of Buddha are to let things go, and she thinks she can let go of the hate of the narrow-minded Christian philosophy that has ruined so much of our culture. (my interpretation, not her words.)

Why...why...why do we let other people crush our beliefs? Life is full of rude, arrogant, pushy, destructive, wounded people. People who say they are followers of some sort of belief or teaching don't necessarily "get it" nor do two followers follow identically.

It comes down to this.

Please. Please. Please. Don't let someone else's behavior or many someones' behaviors make a decision for you on something as serious as your spirituality.

Do all roads lead to Nirvana/Heaven/Happiness? Isn't that question important enough to really, truly look into? Your spiritual path is much more important than to let it be determined by default. Or others interpretations.

If Christianity has been "ruined" for you by a person or group of people consider this. Would a rotten fan or groups of fans change your loyalty to your favorite team? Would a book review or movie review keep you from picking up the DVD or book and reading the back cover? Would anti-buffalo sauce zealots keep you from trying the stuff? Or if your best friend had a peanut allergy would you avoid all peanuts all the time in complete and total support?


I don't want anyone to believe in Jesus because I do. Nor does He, actually.
And never would I want to put a media spin on Him, or by my words or actions change who He is to make Him fit someone's life. The Jesus that is presented by narrow-minded bigots or half-invested "feel good Christians" is not necessarily the real Jesus. He makes some outrageous statements and some mind-blowing claims. But you should check them out for yourself not via someone else's interpretation or behaviors.

Friday, May 07, 2010

Serials and Scenarios~ Ooooh, Very Clever Marketing Idea


I received this "honor" today.

I interviewed this particular author after he created an awesome self-parody of his hideously criticized novel. It was a clever and creative "making of lemonade" moment that intrigued me.

Now he's hit upon yet another awesome marketing tool.

Ha. When the internet is good it is very, very good.