Good News: New Jobs Now Tout TVs Made In America

Photograph by Chris Rank/Bloomberg

From Denny:  With 31 million new jobs required to get this economy back on track it's good news to finally see an electronics manufacturer come back to America.  It's easily been at least a couple of decades since American TV manufacturers closed shop and either moved overseas for cheaper labor or, worse, went out of business.

Someone new is willing to take the gamble and hire American workers once again.  These larger TVs are assembled by American workers in hard hit Detroit, Michigan.  They just started up production in March and are competitive with China.

Video: Obama's Aides Cautious Over Economy

From Denny: Meet The Press was interesting this Sunday. This video gives a snippet of what was discussed. In the end, only about 10% of the stimulus money has been spent because it takes so long to get going on a big project. Considering the inherited mess from the Republicans who don't believe in government, a slowing down of the rushing freight train metaphor for our chaotic economy is a good sign. We still need to keep up the pressure on the brakes. So far the Republicans have yet to offer much in the way of substance in place of crankiness. Somehow, their credibility on good decisions does not carry any weight in this country. "Ya think?" :)

National Economic Council Director Larry Summers talks with David Gregory of NBC's Meet The Press about the state of the beleagured U.S. economy.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Libations Friday! 17 July 2009

Featured today: Cold spiked coffee recipe, funny video about getting a coffee in a recession and a poem about winning against the current recession.

Spiked Coffee

From: Giada De Laurentis

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups coffee liqueur (recommended: Kahlua)

• 1 cup dark creme de cacoa

• 1 1/2 cups vodka

• 1 cup espresso, cooled

• 1 orange wedge

• Orange sugar crystals

• 12 ice cubes

Directions:

Mix the coffee liqueur, creme de cacoa, vodka, and espresso in a small pitcher. Cover the pitcher with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer until the mixture is very cold, about 3 hours.

Meanwhile, rub the rims of 8 Martini glasses with the orange wedge. Dip the rims in the sugar crystals to coat lightly. Place the glasses in the freezer.
Add the ice cubes to the vodka mixture and briskly stir the mixture until the ice begins to melt. Strain the mixture into the prepared glasses, and serve.

From Denny: When searching for coffee recipes up popped this funny video about trying to get a coffee in a recession, enjoy!

COFFEE BIAAATCH!



On to the poetry section: As I was considering what to write in the form of an essay for Bloggers Unite Human Rights 2009, out popped a poem. When I sit down to write a poem, you guessed it, out pops an essay. "Do ya think?" my brain could get it straight?! :) Well, who cares how it arrives as long as it shows up...

I'd just got an email from a lovely friend who lives in Michigan and her husband is now out of work and they've also lost their home. To her credit she is writing to battle the stress. She is also one fine fantasy writer! As I looked at my reply to her one sentence stuck out and I knew it was destined to later become one of my quotes. It also inspired this poem.

Image by Esther_G via Flickr

Quote: "Keep smiling. Humor pushes your attitude up and your heart wide open to sight the new opportunities coming your way." - Denny Lyon, 16 July 2009

Poetry of Life

The economy in chaos
Job markets spiraling down
Home foreclosures rising
News is bleak

Why turn on the TV?

Marriages are rocky
Children are scared
Bosses are grumpy
Life is tense

Why turn on the TV?

Banks grab stingy
CEOs finger greedy
Markets careen wild
It is what it is

Why turn on the TV?

Focus on outward order
Work at the job there is
Make a home anywhere
Chart a new attitude

Turn the channel!

Keep smiling when it’s tough
Open your heart wide to sight
Opportunities coming your way
Laugh ‘til your sides hurt

Be mentally tough: Love long!


Denny Lyon
Copyright 16 July 2009
All Rights Reserved

Coffee Photo by once and future @ flickr

Video: Transforming Inner City Blight

From Denny: I really like these kind of stories where people go into inner cities and turn city blight back into thriving communities by building new AND affordable homes. Listen to their story of those who did well for themselves and then came back to give back to the community! From NBC News' Making a Difference segment.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Breaking News, community, housing, Msnbc.com, NBC News, poverty, Programs, Society and Culture, Television, Urban, World News

Video: King of Pop Reigns Again

From Denny: This is a good news video about Michael Jackson's new material yet to be released and a discussion of the music business and why many songs never get released. Of course, there are the usual commentaries about how artists' estates make more money after their deaths.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

This Week: Roundup of Sunday Funnies - Sanford's GOP Outreach and More!

From Denny: With so much seriousness in the world these days, we all can use a good laugh. Besides, who can stay up late to watch these guys when we have to start our work week? :)

Here's a roundup of the late-night comics, enjoy. Also, was laughing over at YouTube yesterday and included this little video gem.

Late Show

David Letterman: This Ahmadinejad guy, during all those protests keeping a very low profile in Iran. His staff said he was hiking.

David Letterman: President Obama, this guy takes everything seriously. He's very upset about what's going on in Iran. As a matter of fact, today he announced that he is going to stop smoking camels.

The Tonight Show

Conan O'Brien: People were shocked because Republicans traditionally don't do well with Hispanic women.

Conan O'Brien: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford admitted to having a mistress from Argentina. That's right. Then there was an awkward moment as he waited for someone to give him a high five.

Late Night

Jimmy Fallon: On July 14 everybody, President Obama will throw out the first pitch at the all-star game in St. Louis. That's pretty cool. Yeah, but Joe Biden will be on hand to commit the first error.

Jimmy Fallon: When our governor in California goes to South America to unwind, he does the right thing. He brings an entire film crew with him to videotape. (Video shown of young Arnold with scantily clad Carnival dancers). By the way, that's the man who runs our whole giant state.

Top 10 Funniest Adds of Super Bowl 2008

Video: CIA Torture Memos Incorrect

From Denny: Now you know why Pelosi is fighting mad about the latest rotten tomatoes thrown at her by the Republicans. Great explanation to those who are not in the know about the inside workings of the intelligence or political worlds. Good going, Keith!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video: Senator Says Gitmo Prisoners Have It Good! WTF?!

From Denny: Leave it to Keith to divine the intent of the political figures as they say the darnedest things! The latest is from a returning Senator after his visit to Gitmo. Who elects these guys?

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video: America to Develop High Speed Rail at Last!

From Denny: One of my pet peeves about America - how we have allowed our transportation, most notably high speed rail, fall far behind where it could be. Talk about reduce car emissions if we had far more efficient public transportation like the Europeans!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video: Forgiveness Smarter Than Revenge For Your Health

From Denny: Fascinating video about how forgiveness is far more beneficial to your health than revenge. First news article I've seen that really examines this fully. Also, intriguing explanation about where forgiveness and revenge come from in the brain and are two sides to the same coin.

No one ever claimed that forgiveness is easy to adopt, learn and practice. However, the devastating effects it can have on your health it's worth your while to begin learning this new life skill.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Video: Finding Homes for the Homeless

From Denny: Catching up on what news I've been missing while on jury duty... This is a smart solution and a heart-warming video!

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Video: Heineken's Funny Walk-In Fridge Closet Ad

From Denny: This is definitely one of my most favorite ads! If you have yet to view it, well, get ready to start laughing so hard you fall off your chair! there is nothing funnier than to watch grown men screaming in delight. It doesn't matter how many times I see this ad. It makes me laugh every time! Truth in advertising...

Heineken: Walk-In Fridge
by hourigan

Video: Hannity Volunteers to be Waterboarded

From Denny: Keith Obermann of MSNBC News commenting "another conservative talking big and living small" when Sean Hannity was challenged to whether he would accept to be waterboarded since he did not consider it to be torture.

Hannity claimed he would do it for charity. Obermann threw it out there he would give Hannity $1,000 per second that Hannity lasted under the torture and also demanded he be waterboarded for 183 times to fully understand the experience Hannity thinks is not torture. Watch the video to find out if Hannity was man enough to do what he claimed was no big deal.

Why is this serious video and serious subject funny? You have got to watch the video all the way through to the end to hear the incredible explanation of what goes on in the minds of these cowardly conservatives. It boggles your mind that anyone could be that stupid! Rarely do I accuse someone of being stupid but this kind of thinking really does take the prize...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Cheeky Quote Day! 29 April 2009

Photo by I'm Fantastic @ flickr

From Denny: The Wednesdays just keep rolling on! Take a little time out from your work week, deep breath, chuckle a little or laugh a lot, so you can get through the rest of the week - until Libations Friday! - why, of course! :)

The Simpsons (via last.fm)

Humor Blog: Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd

Make sure you also pay a visit to my humor blog that is taking off unexpectedly well (shameless plug): Ouch Outrageous Obnoxious And Odd. Lots of cartoons, jokes, photos, videos (like the Simpsons and Saturday Nite Live's BitchPleez blogger).

Image by MyFreeStock via Flickr

Cheeky Quotes from the UK

On to the Cheeky Quotes and who better than the British themselves who coined the phrase in the first place!

From our friends “across the Pond” comes an engaging fun site called The Institution of Silly & Meaningless Sayings. I enjoyed them so much I placed a link to their site on The Social Poets any time you wish to visit. You are also invited to submit fodder for them as they willingly read their email from fans! While many sayings in their database are tied closely to British-only culture there are a number that translate easily for the American mindset.

Humor Creates Easy Learning, Enables Better Writing

This is also a fun way they devised to better learn how to use – or not use - your own language when writing. Many a TV or movie character has been based off these kinds of language mistakes/offenses and become quite popular with the public. We have even had a precious (oops! meant previous) American President who demonstrated some peculiar word choices. :)

The following goodies are from their database:

Malapropism - an act or habit of misusing words ridiculously, especially by the confusion of words that are similar in sound. ("Ism" is short for a lot of words like Malapropism.)

ism #886: I think familiarity is beginning to breed content. (contempt)

ism #891: He was from the Noise Debating Society!

ism #899: He was like a bullet in a china shop. (bull)

ism #902: You just take me for credit! (granted)

ism #905: She crashed her car on the bridge; she's a very erotic driver. (erratic)

ism #912: I'm sorry he's not here; he's in the other orifice. (office)

ism #917: It's slander, it's definition of character. (defamation)

ism #921: It's alright for you men, it's us girls who put up with all this pre-mental suspension. (PMS: premenstrual)

ism #928: I'm going on another shore excretion. (excursion)

ism #930: He sat at the bar and drank himself into Bolivia. (oblivion - but hey! Bolivia works too, kinda)

***

Image via Wikipedia

Another of their categories: Dodgy Foreign - incorrect use of foreign phrases in every day language in order to give the impression of being very cosmopolitan.

ism #733: The French don't even have a word for entrepreneur.

source: George Bush (from Kristins Amadeus and others)

ism #758: Accidents aren't my faux pas.

source: Car dealer, as part of safety talk

***

Image by SarahWynne via Flickr

A few of their cheeky tips for writers which will give your brain a chance to pause and appreciate:

Prepositions are not the words to end sentences with.

And don't start a sentence with a conjunction.

Avoid clichés like the plague. (They're old hat!)

Be more or less specific in your discussion.

Don't use no double negatives.

Any certainly don't never use no triple negatives.

Eliminate ampersands & abbreviations, etc.

One-word sentences? Never!

Understatement is absolutely the best way to put forward earth shattering ideas.

Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

Who needs rhetorical questions?

***



Word cloud of Obama speech photo by shashiBellamkonda @ flickr

Of course, my all time favorites are newspaper headlines that often leave me tilting my head and saying, "What The Flock?" Here are the Brit versions. Looks like their news folks are equally lame.

March planned for next August

Include your children when baking cakes

Prostitutes to hold open day

Bulge in trousers was ecstasy

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers!

Is There a Ring of Debris around Uranus?

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over

Miners Refuse to Work after Death

War Dims Hope for Peace

If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last A While

Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges

Crack Found on Governor's Daughter

Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge

New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half

Hospital is Sued by Seven Foot Doctors

Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead

***



Photo of volcano Mount Saint Helens, Washington state, 1980 eruption.

Just for fun, why not leave your own funny versions of the headlines in the comment section? Have some fun, exercise your brain, make like a volcano, blow off and delete some work week stress!

From This Week: Roundup of Sunday Funnies

Funnies: Of Socialists, Seders and Budget Cuts
(Looks like it was the Republicans fussing a lot this week...)

The Colbert Report

Colbert: I'm no fan of President Obama. He is a socialist. If I wanted to share my wealth with my friends… I'd have friends.


Saturday Night Live

Seth Meyers: President Obama on Thursday night hosted what may be the first Passover Seder in the White House. And, in a sign of the president's popularity, Elijah showed up.


The Colbert Report

Clips From Cable News:

Lou Dobbs, CNN: Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced sweeping cuts to Pentagon spending.

Sean Hannity, FOX News: Drastic cuts in the military budget.

Tamron Hall, MSNBC: Deep budget cuts.

Brian Williams, NBC: A deep slice into major U.S. weapons programs.

Colbert: [Graphic] That's right, Gates is chopping our defense budget to $513 all the way down to $534 billion.


The Tonight Show

Jay Leno: And China has proposed replacing the U.S. dollar with a global currency... the Wal-Mart gift certificate.


The Daily Show

Jon Stewart: Iowa says banning gay marriage is unconstitutional. Iowa – when this was last year's Iowa gay pride parade! [Shows lone man riding down the street on a tractor and people waving from a farm]

Video: Teaching Kids Who Stutter to Achieve Through the Arts

From Denny: Here's a wonderful segment from NBC's Making A Difference teaching kids with stuttering how to achieve their full potential through the arts. Take a look!

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Video: Susan Boyle Sensation Grows

From Denny: The Early Show on CBS interviews two of the judges about the Susan Boyle sensation. A really good and lengthy in-depth interview as opposed to the usual shallow boring highlights. Take a look! It will give you a grin this Saturday morning!


Watch CBS Videos Online

Video: Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009

This lady is astounding! What is more fun is to watch the faces of the cynical types change when she begins to sing: priceless!

From CNN who finally had a better version that was not disabled for embedding:



From dailymotion.com is the longer 7 minute version that was disabled for embedding on YouTube for who knows what reason. What I like about this longer version is that it shows the audience's and judges' reactions before AND after she begins her song. It also continues on to the after performance interview with Susan. Watching the heckling judges and audience eat crow was probably why this video went viral on the internet. No one likes to be judged harshly or wrongly.

Susan Boyle - 47-letnia śpiewaczka z brytyjskiej wersji "Mam
by luloczek

Video: Baby born with foot in brain

From NBC News Videos, comes this miracle baby's story of such a rare birth condition it has never been recorded in medical history. Happy ending! He is doing well now after his surgery. Great story from The Today Show.

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Video: Back on Your Feet Running Club Helps Get Homeless Back into Society

Back on Your Feet Running Club helps homeless back into society – From NBC News Making a Difference segment.

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