I Don't Know

This article features a chart that shows the most popular food in each state.

Some of these seemed a little far fetch.

What do you think?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/14/most-popular-cuisine-state_n_6457252.html

Well . . . ?

We see the world from our own lenses.

Our experiences, our very lives, color the way we view the world.

It is through this filter that we can review the much celebrated Golden Globes Awards Presentation from this author's perspective.

Check it out.

It's telling.

http://www.salon.com/2015/01/14/hollywoods_political_deafness_what_cosby_selma_hebdo_reveal_about_white_liberal_consciousness/?source=newsletter

When Being the Best Isn't Good Enough

Full disclosure:

These article are long, but worth the read.

The first one is about what SAT scores actually measure.

The second one is about a valedictorian whose SAT score proved to be the gate keeper that kept him out of his desired schools.

Grab some coffee, cocoa, or maybe some tea, sit back and soak in what all of this means and who benefits from it.

http://www.salon.com/2015/01/11/ivy_leagues_meritocracy_lie_how_harvard_and_yale_cook_the_books_for_the_1_percent/

http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2015/01/when-being-a-valedictorian-isnt-enough/384451/

Smart Dog

Here's a really cute story of a Seattle dog who rides the bus alone to the dog park.

Gotta love her sense of independence.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/13/seattle-dog-rides-bus-public-transit-park-black-lab_n_6463364.html

Changing the World, One Word at a Time! | The Queen Latifah Show

Out of the mouths of babes . . .

The Other Palo Alto

This article does a great job of shedding light on East Palo Alto, the dark side of Silicon Valley.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/10/east-of-palo-altos-eden/?src=longreads&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Vox%20Newsletter%20All&utm_campaign=vox%20sentences%20-%201%2F12%2F2015

Worth Repeating

You've probably seen this video clip of Common accepting the Golden Globe for Best Song at the ceremony on Sunday night, but his quick, but oh so powerful speech, is worth repeating.

An App For "Ooooops"

This young lady has created an app that will allow you to retrieve a text message that was sent in error, or in the heat of the moment.

Check out her story below.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/01/wish_you_could_get_that_text_back_there_s_an_app_for_that.html

Recovering

Months ago I had a nasty fall in the bathtub that resulted in a wicked bruise that is still evident.

Several weeks ago, I aggravated my already bruised knee, that left me in tolerable pain.

Last week the pain ratcheted up to the top of the pain scale, forcing me to see an orthopedic surgeon three hours away.

I'm following his instructions to a T, and the pain has subsided greatly, thank God.

Anyway, that's why I've been silent.

More soon.

Inshall'Allah

If Only This Ingenuity Was Used For Good

Here's an article about the most prolific counterfeiter in US history.  The story begin in 2009.

Fascinating!

http://www.gq.com/long-form/the-great-paper-caper

Special Interest

It was with a renewed sense of excitement that I watched the premiere of the new season of Downton Abbey.  I visited Highclere Castle this past July on my way to the US.  Seeing the characters fill the spaces where I walked is a real treat.

Sweet dreams to you.

Good afternoon to me.

A Daring Experiement

Was conducted by Oprah 23 years ago.

Check it out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/02/jane-elliott-race-experiment-oprah-show_n_6396980.html

Remembering Stuart

In a house full of men, growing up and with my boys, I couldn't help but appreciate sports.  Stuart Scott, the ESPN anchor who passed away yesterday, was a breath of fresh air to the broadcast booth.

The article below summarizes quite well, the role he exemplified for so many.

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/01/stuart_scott_spoke_the_language_of_my_generation.html?wpisrc=newsletter_jcr%3Acontent%26

Milestone!

I just published my 1000th post!

For those of you who read this blog in whole or part, every day or once in a while . . . thank you!

For those of you who click on it to see what crazy thing "she's talkin' about" today . . . thank you!

For those of you who click on it and regularly roll your eyes . . . thank you!

For those of you related by blood who may feel obligated to check it out . . . thank you, too!

This continues to be a wonderful journey in discovery of new places, which has been awesome, but more importantly, it's been a great journey into a deeper discovery of myself.

As always, thanks for hitching' a ride with me.

Best.

Can You Imagine?

If this had been me or my boys?

I'm betting the ending to this story would have been quite different.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/05/opinion/charles-blow-privilege-of-arrest-without-incident.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=c-column-top-span-region&region=c-column-top-span-region&WT.nav=c-column-top-span-region&_r=0

Agree?

From The Vox Newsletter

• "The internet makes dumb people dumber and smart people smarter."
  [Mother Jones / Kevin Drum]

Texting Codes for Parents

This is from an article in USA Today, linked below.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2015/01/02/texting-acronyms-parents/21098099/?csp=tech

Your kid has something to hide

CD9: Short for "Code 9," which means parents are around.

KPC: Keeping Parents Clueless

MOS: Mom Over Shoulder

P911: Parent Alert

PAL: Parents Are Listening

PAW: Parents Are Watching

PIR: Parent In Room

POS: Parent Over Shoulder

Your kid's personal information or safety is at risk

ASL: Age/Sex/Location

F2F: Face to Face. Asking for a meeting or video chat

LMIRL: Let's Meet In Real Life

NAZ: Name/Address/ZIP

MOOS: Member of the Opposite Sex

MOSS: Member of the Same Sex

MORF or RUMORF: Male or Female, or Are Your Male or Female?

RU/18: Are You Over 18?

WUF: Where You From?

WYCM: Will You Call Me?

WYRN: What's Your Real Name?

Your kid shouldn't be involved in this

143, 459 or ILU: I love you

1174: Invited to a wild party

420: Marijuana

GNOC: Get Naked On Cam

GYPO: Get Your Pants Off

AMEZRU: I Am Easy, Are You?

IWSN: I Want Sex Now

KFY or K4Y: Kiss For You

KOTL: Kiss On The Lips

NIFOC: Nude In Front Of The Computer

RUH: Are You Horny?

TDTM: Talk Dirty To Me

Not every acronym is bad

BRB: Be Right Back

CWYL: Chat With You Later

CYT: See You Tomorrow

IMHO: In My Humble Opinion

IMNSHO: In My Not So Humble Opinion

L8R: Later

LMK: Let Me Know

NM: Never Mind

ROTFL: Rolling On The Floor Laughing

SOHF: Sense Of Humor Failure

More Fun Learning

These apps were featured on News360.

Check out . . .

"Toontastic" - create and share your own cartoons on iPads. (www.toontastic.com)

"Learn with Homer" - teaches pre-schoolers and pre-readers how to read. (www.learnwithhomer.com)

"Dragon Box Math" - teaches algebra as a game in a fun, non-threatening, easy to understand way.  (www.dragonboxapp.com)

Video Games

Confession -

I'm not a fan, but this website caught me eye.

It teaches kids how to create their own video games, they can then share with others.

And . . .

They don't have to know how to code to accomplish this.

So . . .

If you know someone who's into gaming, consider passing this on.

Also . . .

Check out the video.  It's quick but quite informative.

https://gamestarmechanic.com

Ed Sheeran - Thinking Out Loud [Official Video]

Somehow, setting this song to dance makes it come alive.

I like this kid, but seriously, I just want to comb his hair.