Once upon a time...a peasant called Amin lost all his crops from his miserable little plot in a drought. He decided to seek his fortune in another village, and off he went on his donkey. On credit, he obtained a dozen hard-boiled eggs from a merchant for his journey.
Seven years later, Amin returned to his village. This time he was riding a fine black horse, followed by a servant on a camel laden with gold and silver coins. Amin had become a rich man and the news of this soon spread through the village. Straight away, the merchant who had given him the dozen eggs on credit knocked at Amin’s door, asking for five hundred silver pieces in payment of the old debt. Amin of course refused to pay such a large sum and the matter was taken before the judge.
On the day of the hearing, the merchant appeared in court at the appointed time, but of Amin there was no sign. The judge waited impatiently for a quarter of an hour, and was on the point of adjourning the hearing, when Amin dashed in, out of breath.
At once, the merchant said, in defense of his demands: “I asked Amin for payment of five hundred silver coins, because twelve chickens might have hatched from the eggs he bought from me on credit, seven years ago. These chickens would have become hens and cockerels; more eggs would have been laid, these too would have hatched, and so on. After seven years, I might have had a great flock of fowls!”
“Of course,” agreed the judge. “Perfectly right.” And turning to Amin with a hostile air, he ordered: “What have you to say for yourself? And, by the way, why are you late?”
Amin did not turn a hair. “I had a plate of boiled beans in the house and I planted them in the garden to have a good crop next year!”
“Fool!” exclaimed the judge. “Since when do boiled beans grow?” To which Amin promptly retorted: “And since when do boiled eggs hatch into chickens?”
He had won his case.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Once Upon A Time...Amin and the Eggs
Fascinating Stories: Can We Save Planet Earth?
Can We Save Planet Earth? was released on June 1, 2006 on the BBC and The Discovery Channel as the second of a two-part series, the other entitled, Are We Changing Planet Earth?
The documentary is presented by acclaimed filmmaker David Attenborough as he discusses the science and implications of climate change and what we can do to stop climate change. [2006, Length: 58:53]
Photo of the Day
This remarkably beautiful photo was sent to me in an email that read, when God paints He uses all His colors. There were a total of nine wonderful photos included—I’ll post each one in the following days (this is photo #8). If anyone knows anything about these photos, please leave a comment as I would love to credit the photographer. Thanks!
Today's Words: recapitulate, reciprocal
recapitulate
reciprocal
recapitulate: \rē'kə-pĭch'ə-lāt'\; to review by a brief summary, as at the end of a speech or discussion; summarize; to repeat in concise form; to make a summary.
reciprocal: \rĭ-sĭp'rə-kəl\; the number by which a given number must be multiplied to get a result of one (the reciprocal of one-half, for example, is two); concerning each of two or more persons or things; especially given or done in return; performed, experienced, or felt by both sides.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Fascinating Stories: Are We Changing Planet Earth?
The global warming documentary Are We Changing Planet Earth? was released on May 24, 2006 on the BBC and The Discovery Channel as the first of a two-part series, the other entitled, Can We Save Planet Earth? will appear in a future post.
The documentary is presented by acclaimed filmmaker David Attenborough as he discusses the science and implications of climate change. [2006, Length: 57:52]
Laugh of the Day
Today’s laugh is from my friend Manish:
One dark night in the small town of Garfield, NJ, a fire started inside the local sausage factory. In a blink the building was engulfed in flames. The alarm went out to all the fire departments for miles around.
When the first volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the sausage company president rushed to the fire chief and said, “All of our secret sausage recipes are in the vault in the center of the plant. They must be saved. I will donate $50,000 to the fire department that brings them out and delivers them to me.”
But the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be called in because the situation became desperate. As the firemen arrived, the president shouted out that the offer to extricate the secret recipes was now $100,000 to the fire department that could save them.
Suddenly from up the road, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the fire engine of the nearby Lodi, NJ volunteer fire department composed mainly of Italian firefighters over the age of 65.
To everyone’s amazement, the little run-down fire engine, operated by these Italian firefighters, passed fire engines parked outside the plant, and drove straight into the middle of the inferno. Outside, the other firemen watched in amazement as the Italian old timers jumped off and began to fight the fire with a performance that was as if they were fighting to save their own lives. Within a short time, the Lodi old timers had extinguished the fire and saved the secret recipes.
The grateful sausage company president joyfully announced that for such a superhuman accomplishment he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to personally thank each of the brave elderly Italian firefighters.
A TV news crew rushed in after capturing the event on film. The ‘on camera’ reporter asked the Italian fire chief, “What are you going to do with all that money?”
“Wella,” said Chief Pasquale De Luccinellavanti, the 70-year-old fire chief, “de fursta tinga we gonnna do isza fixa uppa de brakes on dat f***inna truck!!”
Photo of the Day
This remarkably beautiful photo was sent to me in an email that read, when God paints he uses all His colors. There were a total of nine wonderful photos included—I’ll post each one in the following days (this is photo #7). If anyone knows anything about these photos, please leave a comment as I would love to credit the photographer. Thanks!
Today's Words: quasar, quotidian
quasar
quotidian
quasar: \kwā'zär', -sär', -zər, -sər\; an extremely distant, and thus old, celestial object whose power output is several thousand times that of our entire galaxy; a starlike object that may send out radio waves and other forms of energy; many have large red shifts.
quotidian: \kwō-tĭd'ē-ən\; everyday; commonplace; recurring daily.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Laugh of the Day
If you can read this whole story without laughing then there’s no hope for you. I was crying by the end. Note: Please take time to read this slowly. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better. For those of you who are from Texas, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the San Antonio City Park. Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield, Illinois.
Frank: “Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s table asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (native Texans) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted.”
Here are the scorecard notes from the event:
CHILI # 1: MIKE’S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI...
Judge # 1: A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2: Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank): Holy shit, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that’s the worst one. These Texans are crazy.
CHILI # 2: AUSTIN’S AFTERBURNER CHILI...
Judge # 1: Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2: Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3: Keep this out of the reach of children. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.
CHILI # 3: FRED’S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI...
Judge # 1: Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2: A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3: Call the EPA. I’ve located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I’m getting shit-faced from all of the beer.
CHILI # 4: BUBBA’S BLACK MAGIC...
Judge # 1: Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2: Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3: I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beermaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-LB woman is starting to look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I’m eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?
CHILI # 5: LISA’S LEGAL LIP REMOVER...
Judge # 1: Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2: Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3: My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I’m burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks.
CHILI # 6: VERA’S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY...
Judge # 1: Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2: The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3: My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I shit on myself when I farted and I’m worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can’t feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my ass with a snow cone.
CHILI # 7: SUSAN’S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI...
Judge # 1: A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge # 2: Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3: You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn’t feel a thing. I’ve lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they’ll know what killed me. I’ve decided to stop breathing it’s too painful. Screw it; I’m not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I’ll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.
CHILI # 8: BIG TOM’S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI...
Judge # 1: The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2: This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he’s going to make it. Poor feller, wonder how he’d have reacted to really hot chili?
Judge # 3: No Report
Photo of the Day
This remarkably beautiful photo was sent to me in an email that read, when God paints he uses all His colors. There were a total of nine wonderful photos included—I’ll post each one in the following days (this is photo #6). If anyone knows anything about these photos, please leave a comment as I would love to credit the photographer. Thanks!
Today's Words: polymer, precipitous
polymer
precipitous
polymer: \pŏl'ə-mər\; a naturally occurring or synthetic compound consisting of large molecules made up of a linked series of repeated simple monomers.
precipitous: \prĭ-sĭp'ĭ-təs\; done with very great haste and without due deliberation; extremely or impassably steep.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Cute or Mean & Selfish?
I happened upon this picture...
The first thing I thought was, how cute love conquers all. Then I looked again and said, how selfish...they survived but most of the others will die in the pit! What are your thoughts?
Original site
Smooth Jazz Pianist: Keiko Matsui
Keiko Matsui is my all-time, favorite smooth jazz pianist. Born July 26, 1961 in Tokyo, Japan, she is married to Kazu Matsui, himself a talented musician, and they have two children.
Matsui received the Oasis award for Best Female Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year in 1999 and again in 2000.
From Wikipedia:
Matsui’s music is powerful and introspective, blending both Western and Eastern musical influences. She has a very spiritual view of composing music, feeling out each composition as though it were, in her words, “coming to me from another space, another dimension,” and “catching notesI hope you enjoy her music/videos as much as I do!from the silence and then simply placing them together.” Matsui sees music as “the great gifts from the human souls from the past, for the children of the future.” She believes that music has a power to bring people together and change their lives. “We are connected by music,” Matsui wrote, “as the Ocean connects the continents.”
A lover of nature, Matsui often makes reference to plants, animals, the elements, and other natural features and phenomena in her song titles. She shows an especial fascination with the moon as a number of her compositions refer to the moon in their titles.
Matsui’s music shows signs of evolving over the years. Her American debut album A Drop of Water showed a promise of east meets west with a jazz fusion flavor. However, her recordings for MCA Records in the early 1990s lacked this appeal and, for many, sounded indistinguishable from the rest of what is now known as smooth jazz. Starting with Cherry Blossom, though, her music increased in popularity as she differentiated herself from the rest of contemporary jazz. By the time Sapphire was released in 1995, her music flirted with everything from funk music to Latin and world music.
Whisper From the Mirror from 2000 showed Matsui leaving the smooth jazz style and moving towards new age with a soundscape sound. A number of her fans had a problem adapting to her new style of music (though she continued to play smooth jazz at her concerts). But many welcomed the change. Over time her post-2000 albums show a more worldbeat flavor to them. Her 2005 release Walls of Akendora, however, is a return to her pre-2000, smooth jazz days.
Beyond the Light
Bridge Over the Stars
Bridge Over the Stars (live)
Bronze Casting
Doll
Foot Steps
Forever, Forever <--one of my favs!
Kappa
Light Above the Trees
Meadow
Night Hawks' Dream
Night Waltz
1942, from Russia
Ruins of Sonora
Safari
Tears from the Sun
Water Lily
Whisper from the Mirror
White Owl
Wildflower
Official Web site: www.keikomatsui.com
Photo: Keiko in Seattle after concert at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley, August 2007.
Photo Credit: Takatakatang
Every Moment Is Precious
(Author unknown)
To realize the value of ONE YEAR
Ask a student who has failed his exam.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE DAY
Ask a daily wage laborer who has ten kids to feed.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet or...
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE
Ask the person who missed the train.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND
Ask a person who has survived an accident.
To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND
Ask the person who won a “silver” medal in the Olympics.
Treasure every moment that you have,
because you never know when time may run out...
Fascinating Stories: Threads
Threads is a 1984 television docudrama depicting the effects of a nuclear war on the United Kingdom and its aftermath. Written by Barry Hines and directed by Mick Jackson, Threads was filmed in late 1983 and early 1984.
The premise of Threads was to hypothesize the effects of a nuclear war on the United Kingdom after an exchange between the Soviet Union and the United States escalates to include the UK. [1984, Length: 1:47:45]
T-Shirt of the Day
The t-shirts are ONLY $16.99 for Sm-XL and $19.99 for 2X-4X Large;
You can order by clicking on the image.
Other colors and products with the “Girlfriend was wearing” design can be found here: www.cafepress.com/jabetasresale/1242254
All designs can be found here: www.cafepress.com/jabetasresale
Photo of the Day
This remarkably beautiful photo was sent to me in an email that read, when God paints he uses all His colors. There were a total of nine wonderful photos included—I’ll post each one in the following days (this is photo #5). If anyone knows anything about these photos, please leave a comment as I would love to credit the photographer. Thanks!
Today's Words: plagiarize, plasma
plagiarize
plasma
plagiarize: \plā'jə-rīz'\; to use and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one's own; to appropriate for use as one's own passages or ideas from (another).
plasma: \plāz'mə\; the colorless watery fluid of the blood and lymph that contains no cells, but in which the blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, and thrombocytes) are suspended; an electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles; it is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Fascinating Stories: Nosferatu
Originally released in 1922 as Nosferatu, Eine Symphonie Des Grauens, director F.W. Murnau’s chilling and eerie adaption of Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a silent masterpiece of terror which to this day is the most striking and frightening portrayal of the legend. [1922, Silent; Length: 1:24:19]
