Holy shit this just blew my mind!
I kinda wanna go to space now - just so someone can send me a wrench.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Smart Dolphins
Yay! I’ve been inspired to do another blog entry. This one came to me last night when I was trying to sleep. Now “trying” might not be the operative word here - I was playing Hangman on my iPod and that’s how my story starts.
The Hangman App I have uses recent news article headings as the clue you’re trying to solve. Once you solve the puzzle, or leave your stick-figure to die as I usually do, you can “dig” which will take you to the full article to read.
So one of the puzzles, that I did not solve, at 4 in the morning was “Fish-catching trick may be spreading among dolphins”. I’m always amazed by all the smart things dolphins can do so I decided to give this article a read.
I recommend you do the same but in case this blog entry is already exceeding your “reading quota” everything will kind of get summarized below (the word summarize is bringing back horrors from high school English – apparently I wasn’t good at summarizing):
So, there are dolphins in Australia (well off the coast of Australia if you want to be technical) that have found a unique way to catch fish. They are picking up conch shells with their beaks and shaking them causing the fish inside to fall into their mouths. This intrigues researchers for several reasons.
First, it’s known already that dolphins can learn new tricks from one generation to other. A mother dolphin will teach her daughter new ways to catch fish (for example by “sponging” or briefly beaching itself). But this new phenomenon with the conch shells is spreading too quickly suggesting that the dolphins are not only passing it down to their young but also across to their ‘friends’. Some dolphins that were seen shaking the conch shells recently are known to “hang out” with dolphins that were seen doing it years ago (How the scientist knows this is beyond me!). It’s a pretty big deal if indeed the dolphins are teaching each other – very human-like.
Here are some examples of relatively new methods of catching fish dolphins have adapted. This video shows dolphins beaching themselves in order to catch fish. I found it just searching on YouTube.
I first saw the video below on TV as part of the BBC Life documentary series. The voice was Oprah Winfrey but I think I like this British dude better
Researchers are interested in these dolphins because it’s possible that they have developed the ability to use foresight and plan ahead with tools. It is not known whether the dolphins are just coincidentally finding conch shells with fish hiding in them or if they are deliberately arranging the conch shells to make them attractive for the fish. As a next step, scientists would like to place some conch shells facing down in the water and see if the dolphins come to fix them for the fish to use. If they do indeed fix the conch shells then it implies that the dolphins are capable of forward planning and that they are using the conch shell as a tool.
If this isn’t really making sense to you (as it didn’t to me initially) I found this random computer animated clip. It was posted just a couple days ago I guess it goes along with the news story.
To find an animal is using an object as a tool is a pretty big deal. Not many animals are capable of that thought process. Off the top of my head I can only think of some types of monkeys who use rocks to break shells of hard fruits to get at, and the crow, who was the star of a very intriguing experiment I saw a while back on The Nature of Things. On the episode, A Murder of Crows, an experiment done where a crow was required to use several steps and tools to attain a piece of food. If you have the time I think it's worth it to watch the full 45 minutes to see how smart crows really are. Otherwise just watch from the 10-minute mark (for about 6 minutes)
So yeah, based on all this I hope you can see how insanely smart dolphins are (well that was the intent but I went on a bit of a tangent with the crow). Maybe another time I'll talk about how smart the octopus is. But not today, I'll let you figure that one out for yourself.
D.M.
The Hangman App I have uses recent news article headings as the clue you’re trying to solve. Once you solve the puzzle, or leave your stick-figure to die as I usually do, you can “dig” which will take you to the full article to read.
So one of the puzzles, that I did not solve, at 4 in the morning was “Fish-catching trick may be spreading among dolphins”. I’m always amazed by all the smart things dolphins can do so I decided to give this article a read.
I recommend you do the same but in case this blog entry is already exceeding your “reading quota” everything will kind of get summarized below (the word summarize is bringing back horrors from high school English – apparently I wasn’t good at summarizing):
So, there are dolphins in Australia (well off the coast of Australia if you want to be technical) that have found a unique way to catch fish. They are picking up conch shells with their beaks and shaking them causing the fish inside to fall into their mouths. This intrigues researchers for several reasons.
First, it’s known already that dolphins can learn new tricks from one generation to other. A mother dolphin will teach her daughter new ways to catch fish (for example by “sponging” or briefly beaching itself). But this new phenomenon with the conch shells is spreading too quickly suggesting that the dolphins are not only passing it down to their young but also across to their ‘friends’. Some dolphins that were seen shaking the conch shells recently are known to “hang out” with dolphins that were seen doing it years ago (How the scientist knows this is beyond me!). It’s a pretty big deal if indeed the dolphins are teaching each other – very human-like.
Here are some examples of relatively new methods of catching fish dolphins have adapted. This video shows dolphins beaching themselves in order to catch fish. I found it just searching on YouTube.
I first saw the video below on TV as part of the BBC Life documentary series. The voice was Oprah Winfrey but I think I like this British dude better
Researchers are interested in these dolphins because it’s possible that they have developed the ability to use foresight and plan ahead with tools. It is not known whether the dolphins are just coincidentally finding conch shells with fish hiding in them or if they are deliberately arranging the conch shells to make them attractive for the fish. As a next step, scientists would like to place some conch shells facing down in the water and see if the dolphins come to fix them for the fish to use. If they do indeed fix the conch shells then it implies that the dolphins are capable of forward planning and that they are using the conch shell as a tool.
If this isn’t really making sense to you (as it didn’t to me initially) I found this random computer animated clip. It was posted just a couple days ago I guess it goes along with the news story.
So yeah, based on all this I hope you can see how insanely smart dolphins are (well that was the intent but I went on a bit of a tangent with the crow). Maybe another time I'll talk about how smart the octopus is. But not today, I'll let you figure that one out for yourself.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Small Talk
So this really isn't on the topic of curiousity but it's what I'm thinking about so I'm writing about it anyways.
I absolutely hate, despise, detest, loathe, scorn (thank you thesaurus) small talk. You're running errands, or at a party, and someone who's name you happen to know appears. I'm talking about the people that you've got absolutely nothing against. They're great people, but the facts are that you never make a point to meet up with this person, nor will you after this chance encounter.
Case in point, today I was at the gym, doing my thing on the elliptical, when my brother's friend, let's call him Z., shows up.
"Hey Z! How are you?"
"Hey, I'm good I'm good, you?"
"Great"
"Wow, I didn't know you went to this gym"
"Yeah I didn't know you come here either"
... continue with the "What have you been up to? Give the truncated version of your past year."
... finish with the "Say hi to the family" line.
Now Z's a cool guy and all. If my brother wasn't (weren't?) so against me being around him and his friends as a kid I probably would be friends with him too. But as it stands I'm not. Obviously I wouldn't know that we go to the same gym. Why do we have to act so shocked to make that discovery?
"No way! Seriously, like we've been going to the same gym all the time, and never crossed paths! How crazy is that?"
It's not like anything would've changed if I knew he came to this gym. We're not close enough that I'd suggest we become gym buddies or something. But it's all part of the "small talk" that we're forced to do in these types of social situations.
I saw him last year for my brother's wedding (he was a groomsmen) but I haven't seen him since then. We don't hang out, get together, or whatever and I haven't a clue what he's been up to for the last year. And without sounding rude, it doesn't really matter to me what he's been up to. I need to stress that I have nothing against the guy, I really don't, but he's not a part of my life. Regardless, I have to find out not only what he's been doing (in case there's a quiz on it next week) but also divulge what I've been up to. Because I know his existence I now have to make "small talk".
I'm merely using this as an example. Instances like this happen to be all the time. I'm at a party (okay gathering, let's not act like I'm cooler than I really am) and there's people that I don't see that often, but yet they know my name so I've got to talk to them now. I have listen to their life story - which sorry, I will not remember this come tomorrow - and then I have to answer a bunch of prying questions about my life.
I'm not against people, I'm just against meaningless chatter. If I'm going to have a conversation, I want it to be about something important. I don't want to do the "Hi"s, "How are you?", "I'm OK" (even when you're not, because really, you don't want to have that conversation) and all the other motions we're expected to go through.
Why is the most important thing to talk about what you've been doing for the past period of time? Unless you work where I work or do something that directly impacts my life, I don't care what you do. I know here someone's going to think I'm being rude but I'm just saying what you're too polite to say. If you see someone only once a year, is it really all that important to know what has happened in their life since your last encounter? No.
I just hate all the things people say only because you're supposed to say it. There is nothing original about asking how someone is, doing the "Long time no see" gesture (you know what I'm talking about, the gesture with arms that always accompanies that gesture). "Say Hi" to so-and-so for me? No! You call them up and say hi yourself. Does anyone actually pass along these messages?
"Hey so you would not believe who I ran into the other day."
"Who?"
"So-and-so from such-a-place"
"Really? He say anything?"
"Yeah actually I've got a message for you."
"Really? What?"
"He says Hi"
I wish I could put a robot in for my place for the first 5 minutes of any conversation where it's just going to be a bunch of empty small talk. I really don't think you need an actual human being to go through all the motions. Like I said above, I don't plan on remembering anything you tell me, so why do I need to be there and sit through it? I should clarify that I actually am incapable of remembering most things. I have a really really poor memory and I need to see things written out for it to stand a chance of sinking into my brain. I'm a visual learner (something I've discovered recently). If you're just saying words at me, it won't stick.
Your boyfriend's name? No idea.
What program you're in? You're in school? I had no idea.
That story you told me last time you saw me? What? We met before??
So maybe that it why I'm so against small talk. Perhaps if I had a memory better than that of a goldfish's, I would enjoy all the little facts I can gather from small talk. But as it stands, I won't remember a darn thing so it's just a waste of time on my end.
This is probably why I'm so awkward in social situations (or at least one of the many reasons why). I don't like to talk unless there is a purpose to me talking. I don't like to say things that people already know I'm going to say (otherwise why am I wasting time and energy saying them). I am absolutely horrible at that "networking" thing because it's all about the small talk. It's about seeming more interested in a complete stranger then one really should be.
I am trying, really to be more open to this "small talk" thing and talking to people just because you should. It's just weird for me. I hate the unoriginality of small talk. Clichés especially I hate but I could write a whole other rant about that (Seriously - why say something that has already been said like a million times before by a ridiculous number of people?).
So in conclusion:
1. Small talk is robotic. We say things because we are forced to (by proper etiquette I suppose)
2. I wish people would just say what they want to say, and not what they have to say. Why is there such a set checklist for casual conversation?
3. I am bias in my opinion because for me small talk feels especially pointless - given my poor memory.
4. This might make me seem anti-social, but I'm working on it.
D.M.
I absolutely hate, despise, detest, loathe, scorn (thank you thesaurus) small talk. You're running errands, or at a party, and someone who's name you happen to know appears. I'm talking about the people that you've got absolutely nothing against. They're great people, but the facts are that you never make a point to meet up with this person, nor will you after this chance encounter.
Case in point, today I was at the gym, doing my thing on the elliptical, when my brother's friend, let's call him Z., shows up.
"Hey Z! How are you?"
"Hey, I'm good I'm good, you?"
"Great"
"Wow, I didn't know you went to this gym"
"Yeah I didn't know you come here either"
... continue with the "What have you been up to? Give the truncated version of your past year."
... finish with the "Say hi to the family" line.
Now Z's a cool guy and all. If my brother wasn't (weren't?) so against me being around him and his friends as a kid I probably would be friends with him too. But as it stands I'm not. Obviously I wouldn't know that we go to the same gym. Why do we have to act so shocked to make that discovery?
"No way! Seriously, like we've been going to the same gym all the time, and never crossed paths! How crazy is that?"
It's not like anything would've changed if I knew he came to this gym. We're not close enough that I'd suggest we become gym buddies or something. But it's all part of the "small talk" that we're forced to do in these types of social situations.
I saw him last year for my brother's wedding (he was a groomsmen) but I haven't seen him since then. We don't hang out, get together, or whatever and I haven't a clue what he's been up to for the last year. And without sounding rude, it doesn't really matter to me what he's been up to. I need to stress that I have nothing against the guy, I really don't, but he's not a part of my life. Regardless, I have to find out not only what he's been doing (in case there's a quiz on it next week) but also divulge what I've been up to. Because I know his existence I now have to make "small talk".
I'm merely using this as an example. Instances like this happen to be all the time. I'm at a party (okay gathering, let's not act like I'm cooler than I really am) and there's people that I don't see that often, but yet they know my name so I've got to talk to them now. I have listen to their life story - which sorry, I will not remember this come tomorrow - and then I have to answer a bunch of prying questions about my life.
I'm not against people, I'm just against meaningless chatter. If I'm going to have a conversation, I want it to be about something important. I don't want to do the "Hi"s, "How are you?", "I'm OK" (even when you're not, because really, you don't want to have that conversation) and all the other motions we're expected to go through.
Why is the most important thing to talk about what you've been doing for the past period of time? Unless you work where I work or do something that directly impacts my life, I don't care what you do. I know here someone's going to think I'm being rude but I'm just saying what you're too polite to say. If you see someone only once a year, is it really all that important to know what has happened in their life since your last encounter? No.
I just hate all the things people say only because you're supposed to say it. There is nothing original about asking how someone is, doing the "Long time no see" gesture (you know what I'm talking about, the gesture with arms that always accompanies that gesture). "Say Hi" to so-and-so for me? No! You call them up and say hi yourself. Does anyone actually pass along these messages?
"Hey so you would not believe who I ran into the other day."
"Who?"
"So-and-so from such-a-place"
"Really? He say anything?"
"Yeah actually I've got a message for you."
"Really? What?"
"He says Hi"
I wish I could put a robot in for my place for the first 5 minutes of any conversation where it's just going to be a bunch of empty small talk. I really don't think you need an actual human being to go through all the motions. Like I said above, I don't plan on remembering anything you tell me, so why do I need to be there and sit through it? I should clarify that I actually am incapable of remembering most things. I have a really really poor memory and I need to see things written out for it to stand a chance of sinking into my brain. I'm a visual learner (something I've discovered recently). If you're just saying words at me, it won't stick.
Your boyfriend's name? No idea.
What program you're in? You're in school? I had no idea.
That story you told me last time you saw me? What? We met before??
So maybe that it why I'm so against small talk. Perhaps if I had a memory better than that of a goldfish's, I would enjoy all the little facts I can gather from small talk. But as it stands, I won't remember a darn thing so it's just a waste of time on my end.
This is probably why I'm so awkward in social situations (or at least one of the many reasons why). I don't like to talk unless there is a purpose to me talking. I don't like to say things that people already know I'm going to say (otherwise why am I wasting time and energy saying them). I am absolutely horrible at that "networking" thing because it's all about the small talk. It's about seeming more interested in a complete stranger then one really should be.
I am trying, really to be more open to this "small talk" thing and talking to people just because you should. It's just weird for me. I hate the unoriginality of small talk. Clichés especially I hate but I could write a whole other rant about that (Seriously - why say something that has already been said like a million times before by a ridiculous number of people?).
So in conclusion:
1. Small talk is robotic. We say things because we are forced to (by proper etiquette I suppose)
2. I wish people would just say what they want to say, and not what they have to say. Why is there such a set checklist for casual conversation?
3. I am bias in my opinion because for me small talk feels especially pointless - given my poor memory.
4. This might make me seem anti-social, but I'm working on it.
D.M.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Cannibalism in the Womb!
Hello Readers,
When I started this blog I totally said that it was going to be a place to "share my reservoir of knowledge and random comments". Well total fail on that because I've been having many random observations and not sharing them. Perhaps it's because I'm lazy, or maybe I'm just waiting for very epic things to come along but I have certainly not been sharing my reservoir of knowledge.
If I want to form this blog into something sustainable, then I need to start writing about the less epic, and likely less lengthy, random events in my life.
The title hopefully grabbed your attention. I know you're dying to know what I'm talking about. A couple days ago I was reading National Geographic, the November issue, when I came across the following picture and caption:
I just knew I had to do some research into this, because well:
p.s. I'd like to thank Shannon for the National Geographic subscription. True I'm still on November but I'm loving it. I'm actually being super geeky by highlighting in it (with a ruler because I don't want wobbly lines in my Nat. Geo.)
When I started this blog I totally said that it was going to be a place to "share my reservoir of knowledge and random comments". Well total fail on that because I've been having many random observations and not sharing them. Perhaps it's because I'm lazy, or maybe I'm just waiting for very epic things to come along but I have certainly not been sharing my reservoir of knowledge.
If I want to form this blog into something sustainable, then I need to start writing about the less epic, and likely less lengthy, random events in my life.
The title hopefully grabbed your attention. I know you're dying to know what I'm talking about. A couple days ago I was reading National Geographic, the November issue, when I came across the following picture and caption:
 |
| A sand tiger shark off the Bonin Islands will soon give birth. During the nine-month pregnancy, the largest two pups will have eaten their siblings for sustenance, a kind of cannibalism unique to this species. Source: National Geographic Archives - see 10th picture in the slide, second page |
- It says during pregnancy, so they eat each other while still inside the mother?? and ...
- (OK, This took me a while to realize so don't feel embarrassed if it didn't click for you immediately) Hello, sharks are fish! What the hell is a shark doing pregnant? Fish lay eggs!
- Sand tiger sharks are also called grey nurse sharks. (reason unknown)
- The species practices vivipary, which means that the embryo develops inside the mother, eventually leading to a live birth, i.e. eggs kind of hatch inside the mother and the young grow up there for a while.
- Female sand tiger sharks have two uteri.
- The shark babies (called pups) develop and will eat yolk sac, and each other, until only one is left, in each uterus.
- The eggs do hatch inside the mother for most sharks (apparently) but only with the sand tiger sharks do pups go all "cannibal" before they're even "born"
p.s. I'd like to thank Shannon for the National Geographic subscription. True I'm still on November but I'm loving it. I'm actually being super geeky by highlighting in it (with a ruler because I don't want wobbly lines in my Nat. Geo.)
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Step Into Christmas
I LOVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC! Christmas music probably my favourite music genre, well after Disney soundtracks that is. And yes I do consider both of these to be "genres", at least according to my iTunes sorting they are. I have 118 songs on my iTunes under the genre "Holiday Season". There is just something about those sleigh bells jingling in the background or the excessive use of "Tis" that makes me happy.
Now most people think that radio stations switch over to Christmas music way too early - I think they don't start playing it early enough. I am obsessed with Christmas music, in case you didn't get that already and I like to start Christmas right after my birthday. It's a good thing I have those 118 songs to tide me over until the radio stations get with the program. It's actually pretty embarrassing considering how early I start Christmas that I waited til today to write about it. I guess I was just so busy jamming to my Christmas songs.
For those who perhaps are only embracing the Christmas spirit now I've included below some of my favourite songs. I actually just wanted to put sound clips but I could not figure out a way to do that so I'm just linking to the YouTube videos.
Step into Christmas - Elton John
Deck the Rooftops - Glee Cast
It's Christmas Time - Jules Larson
Winter Song - Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
OK, back to something a little more upbeat:
We Need A Little Christmas - Glee Cast
And despite the fact that I don't want to stop, I'll end with my all-time favourite Christmas song:
Baby It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin + random??
For those who were just getting into my Christmas music selection here are some other great songs to check out:
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee (Can't have Christmas without this one)
Happy XMas (War is Over) - John, Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey
Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
And OK, I cannot believe I found a YouTube video for this! I just have to include ....
Ay, Ay, Ay It's Christmas - Ricky Martin
And it's live too! If this doesn't make you smile then you are one heart-less soul-less grinch. :)
- Merry Christmas Everyone!!
Now most people think that radio stations switch over to Christmas music way too early - I think they don't start playing it early enough. I am obsessed with Christmas music, in case you didn't get that already and I like to start Christmas right after my birthday. It's a good thing I have those 118 songs to tide me over until the radio stations get with the program. It's actually pretty embarrassing considering how early I start Christmas that I waited til today to write about it. I guess I was just so busy jamming to my Christmas songs.
For those who perhaps are only embracing the Christmas spirit now I've included below some of my favourite songs. I actually just wanted to put sound clips but I could not figure out a way to do that so I'm just linking to the YouTube videos.
Step into Christmas - Elton John
OK so though this song is probably very very old, I only discovered it last year and O-M-G ... I'm in love. It's got the feel of Crocodile Rock but with jingles and Christmas lyrics. It's so much fun and I will admit to dancing (likely the Carlton) when I'm home alone and the chorus comes on. There is a video with Elton John singing but the video and audio are both poor quality. And hey! Nothing's wrong with combining Christmas & Disney.
Deck the Rooftops - Glee Cast
Here's another really fun upbeat song. I ♥ Glee and if you're looking for some must-have Christmas CDs add this one to your list. Every song is a winner.
It's Christmas Time - Jules Larson
This song was actually featured on the Grey's Anatomy Christmas episode (well quasi-Christmas, I believe I saw a Christmas tree at some point). The song was actually available to download for free the day after the episode so Yay for free songs! I haven't a clue who Jules Larson is but perhaps now I will look into her other works (well after Christmas that is).
Winter Song - Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
Two artists that I love oh so much collaborating on such a beautiful song. "Is love alive" ... ahh it just warms my soul. This song is actually from The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs CD which was on my wish list but pretty hard to find so I'm not keeping my hopes up [edit: which I got for Christmas]. This song as the same kind of feel as Sarah McLachlan's Song For A Winter's Night, which is perhaps why I like it so much.
OK, back to something a little more upbeat:
We Need A Little Christmas - Glee Cast
That's right, I went back to Glee. That's how much I love this album. I actually wanted to find a video of the song being sung in the episode but sadly could not find any. The premise, for those interested, is that the Glee Club is going caroling in the classrooms to raise money for homeless children. Most students however don't like Christmas songs (shock of the year, I know!!) and the teacher actually throws her shoe at them. Yeah, there high school isn't very supportive eh? Regardless though, it's a really awesome song.
And despite the fact that I don't want to stop, I'll end with my all-time favourite Christmas song:
Baby It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin + random??
I love this song so much but I have issues with how many different versions there are and the lack of proper information on YouTube. Dean Martin preformed this song with like 3 other female singers and some of those have gone on to record this song with other mail singers so trying to track down the female lead in this version is downright impossible. Regardless of who sings this song with Dean Martin, I really do love it.
For those who were just getting into my Christmas music selection here are some other great songs to check out:
Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee (Can't have Christmas without this one)
Happy XMas (War is Over) - John, Yoko & The Plastic Ono Band With The Harlem Community Choir
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey
Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
And OK, I cannot believe I found a YouTube video for this! I just have to include ....
Ay, Ay, Ay It's Christmas - Ricky Martin
And it's live too! If this doesn't make you smile then you are one heart-less soul-less grinch. :)
- Merry Christmas Everyone!!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Richtree Café
Clearly I'm not blogging enough. I guess I just feel like every blog has got to be something epic. However, striving for epic randomness can be difficult (sometimes impossible) so here's a simple something to tide over what few readers I have. I'm actually taking a page from Leianne's blog and I'm gonna write about food - or at least try to.
Now, I'm not a food person and I should make that known upfront. Sure I eat food (well I kinda need to to survive) and I have my favourites but I am no food connoisseur (thank heavens for spellcheck!). I do have one love though, and that, my friends, is pizza. I'm too exhausted today, but someone remind me to talk about my love of pizza. Now that could be a blog and a half but for today, I just want to share my experience at Richtree.
So, today I went with my mama to Square One and we stopped at Richtree to eat. From all the shopping, I was so tired and definitely needed a break (and this was at 12 noon). I didn't know this before but they have a pizza station where they make pizza for you, fresh -- like on the spot! Picture an omelette or crepe station, but 10x better. The chef (pizza-maker) runs the dough though this flatting machine (similar to what Buddy would use on Cake Boss for fondant), throws in some flour, then tops it with whatever you want before throwing the pizza in a pizza oven. True, a pepperoni pizza is so standard, but this one was made just for me!
My mama got a steak sandwich with vegetables. I'm sure if this was Leianne's blog there would be like 20 adjectives describing the texture, taste, and possibly aroma, of the steak. But seeing how, like I said, I'm not a food connoisseur, I will simply say that it looked alright. I personally hate steak but my mom did say that it was very delicious, and she commented on the bun and how it was perfect meat to bread ratio. She finished her meal off with a latté. I'm clearly not as classy.
p.s. Blame the poor quality on my cell phone. Neither of us brought our cameras.
Now, I'm not a food person and I should make that known upfront. Sure I eat food (well I kinda need to to survive) and I have my favourites but I am no food connoisseur (thank heavens for spellcheck!). I do have one love though, and that, my friends, is pizza. I'm too exhausted today, but someone remind me to talk about my love of pizza. Now that could be a blog and a half but for today, I just want to share my experience at Richtree.
So, today I went with my mama to Square One and we stopped at Richtree to eat. From all the shopping, I was so tired and definitely needed a break (and this was at 12 noon). I didn't know this before but they have a pizza station where they make pizza for you, fresh -- like on the spot! Picture an omelette or crepe station, but 10x better. The chef (pizza-maker) runs the dough though this flatting machine (similar to what Buddy would use on Cake Boss for fondant), throws in some flour, then tops it with whatever you want before throwing the pizza in a pizza oven. True, a pepperoni pizza is so standard, but this one was made just for me!
My mama got a steak sandwich with vegetables. I'm sure if this was Leianne's blog there would be like 20 adjectives describing the texture, taste, and possibly aroma, of the steak. But seeing how, like I said, I'm not a food connoisseur, I will simply say that it looked alright. I personally hate steak but my mom did say that it was very delicious, and she commented on the bun and how it was perfect meat to bread ratio. She finished her meal off with a latté. I'm clearly not as classy.
p.s. Blame the poor quality on my cell phone. Neither of us brought our cameras.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
This is Jeopardy!
I get so excited (and I just can't hide it) when I hear the Jeopardy! intro music start. For those who don't know me already, I watch Jeopardy! 5 days a week, talk about it with my boyfriend on the phone almost every night, and lately (I must admit) I've even been reading the Jeopardy! forums. Given the blog name, I suppose it's fitting that I watch Jeopardy!. I'm just a curious soul and Jeopardy! has all the answers (or questions I suppose ...).
I'm hopeful that most people watch Jeopardy! already but if you don't you definitely should start. It's not all about the trivia or competition. Jeopardy! is pure entertainment! Alex Trebek is absolutely amazing. I'll watch some episodes and honestly only be listening for him. He has the perfect reading skills. He never missed a beat on reading the clues and can do like every accent imaginable - that is except for the Pillsbury doughboy. Listen around the 2:05 mark:
On a bit of tangent, this book is absolutely amazing. It's basically an autobiography of Jacobs as he goes on the "humble quest to become the smartest person in the world" by reading the Britannica Encyclopedia. Every chapter is a different letter of the alphabet (I'm currently in L) and under the entry for frigate birds he says this:
A.J. Jacobs is talking about Trebek because he's actually given an opportunity to interview him for Esquire (his day job when he's not reading the Britannica Encyclopedia). Jacobs discovers that Trebek isn't the mustache-twirling villain that he was thought to be, especially since he doesn't even have a mustache anymore. He gardens, and wears baseball caps (crazy, I know!) and doesn't remember most of the clues he reads. When asked of the quarter million clues, what was his favourite fact was he responded:
Not exactly the epic response I, or Jacobs, were expecting but interesting all the same. At the end of their interview Jacobs asked Trebek for his philosophy of knowledge. He responds: "I'm curious about everything - even things that don't interest me." Powerful words eh? I think that exactly how I feel. It's not that I'm particularly interested in Wholphins but I want to know about them all the same.
I really went on a much larger tangent with the book than I wanted to but oh well. For those left wondering, the connection to frigate birds is that after his talk with Alex Trebek, A.J. Jacobs went home to read about things that don't interest him, including friendly societies and frigate birds.
Everybody remembers the glory days of Ken Jennings but how many of you actually watched the show when he was on? One of my favourite moments ever (to this date) is the following response Jennings gave:
When Jennings gave his response, I agreed with him whole-heartedly. I actually think I gave that response before he did. His answer makes definitely more sense than a rake. A rake? Seriously? OK I looked it up and it apparently is a man who is habituated to immoral conduct but who would know that? For only $200 as well!
I'm hopeful that most people watch Jeopardy! already but if you don't you definitely should start. It's not all about the trivia or competition. Jeopardy! is pure entertainment! Alex Trebek is absolutely amazing. I'll watch some episodes and honestly only be listening for him. He has the perfect reading skills. He never missed a beat on reading the clues and can do like every accent imaginable - that is except for the Pillsbury doughboy. Listen around the 2:05 mark:
 |
| Alex Trebek with #3 all-time winner Larissa Kelly |
But aside from that, he does pretty good accents, whether it be of nationalities, celebrities, or presidents. Sometimes I know the answer (uh, question) just based on the type of accent he's using. Secondly, what is very amusing about Trebek is his condescending ways. I'm sure he means well but sometimes he is such a jerk when he says "Sorry, that incorrect". I thought I was the only person who thought this of Alex Trebek but A.J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All feels the same way.
On a bit of tangent, this book is absolutely amazing. It's basically an autobiography of Jacobs as he goes on the "humble quest to become the smartest person in the world" by reading the Britannica Encyclopedia. Every chapter is a different letter of the alphabet (I'm currently in L) and under the entry for frigate birds he says this:
"Truth is, I have conflicted feelings about Trebek. One the one hand, I love Jeopardy! and respect the way he runs the show with stern colonel-like authority - not a moment wasted on buffoonery. On the other hand, I want to pop Trebek in his smug Canadian mouth. I mean, this is the man who pretends to know every potent potable and every presidential pet, who oozes faux sympathy for mistaken contestants with his famously condescending "sorry," who pronounces "burrito"as if he went to kindergarten with Fidel Castro and "Volkswagen" as if he grew up on the banks of the Rhine."
A.J. Jacobs is talking about Trebek because he's actually given an opportunity to interview him for Esquire (his day job when he's not reading the Britannica Encyclopedia). Jacobs discovers that Trebek isn't the mustache-twirling villain that he was thought to be, especially since he doesn't even have a mustache anymore. He gardens, and wears baseball caps (crazy, I know!) and doesn't remember most of the clues he reads. When asked of the quarter million clues, what was his favourite fact was he responded:"You know how in nautical law, a country has jurisdiction over the first three miles from its coast? Well, that came about because a cannon's range was three nautical miles"
Not exactly the epic response I, or Jacobs, were expecting but interesting all the same. At the end of their interview Jacobs asked Trebek for his philosophy of knowledge. He responds: "I'm curious about everything - even things that don't interest me." Powerful words eh? I think that exactly how I feel. It's not that I'm particularly interested in Wholphins but I want to know about them all the same.
I really went on a much larger tangent with the book than I wanted to but oh well. For those left wondering, the connection to frigate birds is that after his talk with Alex Trebek, A.J. Jacobs went home to read about things that don't interest him, including friendly societies and frigate birds.
Everybody remembers the glory days of Ken Jennings but how many of you actually watched the show when he was on? One of my favourite moments ever (to this date) is the following response Jennings gave:
When Jennings gave his response, I agreed with him whole-heartedly. I actually think I gave that response before he did. His answer makes definitely more sense than a rake. A rake? Seriously? OK I looked it up and it apparently is a man who is habituated to immoral conduct but who would know that? For only $200 as well!
I'll end this blog with a very perplexing Final Jeopardy! clue. The category is PRIMETIME TV:
Now it season 23, its producer says it's the only show with "no script, no actors, no host & no re-enactments"
I certainly did not get this and neither did anyone else I asked. Do you know the question? You have 30 seconds. Good luck ;)
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