Musings About People, Places & Things Intriguing !

Sometimes even chocolate has powers!

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Wed, 6 Jun 2012 08:31:00 -0700

Sometimes even chocolate has powers!

The "Twitter" Phenomenon ! Are you in? 10 Reasons why you too will LOVE Twitter

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 7 Apr 2009 12:22:00 -0700

According to Wikepedia..

Twitter is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them.

Did you know :

Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can send and receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS (receive only), or through applications such as Tweetie, Twitterrific, Twitterfon, TweetDeck and feedalizr. The service is free to use over the web, but using SMS may incur phone services provider fees.

Did you know :

Twitter, created by Cornell student Jack Dorsey, has received extensive visibility and popularity worldwide. It is often described as the "SMS of Internet", in that the site provides the back-end functionality (via its APIs) to other desktop and web-based applications to send and receive short text messages, often obscuring the actual website itself.

Ok now that you get the picture I want to tell you why you too should join the phenomenon. I love twitter and am a twitterholic @Medini. I had to pause my twittering to write this post.

You too will LOVE twitter if :

You like to make friends
You like to see what someone else is doing
You like to say something you are passionate about
You like to network with like minded people
You like to keep a tab on how your industry twitters
You like to engage in conversations
You like to waste time - time that you could be working ! :)
You like having fun
You like to increase your friends circle beyond your zip code

and Lastly # 10 You are a voyeur !

Happy Twittering ! Say hello to me at @Medini

Pilates - What's all the fuss about? I asked a Fitness Guru and A Good Friend

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:24:00 -0700

Geeta Wagh - A very good friend of mine and fitness guru first introduced me to Pilates. I remember all she talked about was the "core". I patiently listened and asked her a few questions. Intrigued by the simple looking movements I participated in a beginners session with her. It was an amazing experience. After a few introductory mat exercises I felt longer and more flexible. I was hooked. I went home and ordered a home pilates reformer.

I asked her a few questions.....Here they are, for those of you who are curious about Pilates.

What is Pilates? : Pilates[PIH-LAH-TEEZ] is a full body system of specific sequenced exercise, performed on the mat, and on spring driven machines more aptly called the apparatus. Pilates exercises are designed to Strengthen, Stretch and Stabilize.

What are the benefits of Pilates? Benefits are innumerable and varied........it improves core strength, flexibility and stamina. More importantly it realigns the body thus improving posture and gets rid of hidden weaknesses. It is also great for rehabilitation and prevention of injuries.

How many times a week do I need to do Pilates? Ideally,2-3 times a week for about 45mins -1 hr OR as little as 10 mins 3-4 times a week.

Can a person lose weight by doing Pilates? Certainly, in 10 sessions you'll start feeling the difference, in 20 you'll see a difference and in 30 you'll have a totally new body. It's a Pilates promise.

Who can use this method of exercise? Just about anyone from 12yrs and above.

Will I develop big bulky muscles with Pilates? No.Only lean, toned muscles.

Model Fitness: Lorie Baker's Pilates Routine

Geeta Wagh is a Pilates instructor in NJ and comes from a fitness family in India. Her family has been instrumental in "reshaping" the young and the old alike at their state of the art gyms at Talwalkars.com.

Honeybell...a new generation of fruit

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:46:00 -0800

Making a debut in the fruit arena is a new hybrid...the HONEYBELL!

My mother in law decided to send me a case of “honeybells” for our anniversary....Opening the cardboard box was the easy part. There beneath the deep green wax paper lay 24 of the most perfectly bright orange honeybells I had seen. I did not want to disturb their comfortable abode. But I could not resist as any fruit is a weakness of mine, especially any fruit of the citrus or orange-yellow variety.

Convinced that they were oranges I felt for one that was just right and started to peel it, but it resisted like an angry lover. The skin was smooth to touch and had no rough edges. It fit in my hand like a baseball would fit into a weathered glove. It was heavier than a regular orange and had a unique bell shape on the top. It looked plump and ready to eat. It did not have a very citrusy smell but had a quiet reassurance that said “open me up and I wont disappoint”.

Seeing its resistance to peeling, I quickly read the card that it came with and was pleasantly surprised to learn that they were meant to be juiced. The card made promises of it being one of the sweetest and juiciest of citrus fruits. The card also said that the HoneyBells were an extraordinary hybrid of the Dancy tangerine and the Duncan grapefruit. Having never tasted a sweet combination of fruit like that I ran excitedly to my drawer to get my hand juicer and cutting board. Down went the knife right in the middle of the honeybell giving way to an attractive and generous interior. The sections looked deep orange, succulent and ready to be juiced. Placing my juicer above a glass I twisted the half honeybell deliberately. The juice flowed down into the glass as if I was pouring it from a can. This little half honeybell worked until it was limp in my hand and all the delicious juice was in my glass. I could not wait to take a sip but I patiently waited to juice the other half. After a quick and easy squeeze, I looked at my glass in astonishment....so much juice from this one honebell !!!

I could not wait any longer, to delve into the incredible medley of flavors as promised by the card – tangerine and grape fruit One sip and I was in heaven. The cold crisp flavor of the tangerines was layered with a slight lemony flavor of the grapefruit. Unlike a regular orange juice it had a delicate flavor yet was robust and filling. It held its sophistication of being a honeybell. Ok I am glad there are 23 honeybells still in the case!

Unique Thanksgiving Invitaions...

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:08:00 -0800

Make your event a little more bountiful and fulfilling! There are several ways to invite your gang for Thanksgiving !

Ok lets see :

A traditional mail in invite is very formal and for those who get together with people on a formal basis. Real Simple has some already printed cards.
Of course phone calls to your friends and family is fun as you can plan the menu and plan on who is getting what.
Nowadays with Facebook being so the way to keep in touch -plan your Thanksgiving day on Facebook.
Of course, Evites and other online party planning sites are popular too.

But have you heard of this one : from Thanksgivinghistory.net : Another great idea for top quality Thanksgiving invitations is to write them on the side of a turkey and send your prospective guests the whole bird. Tree bark is another media on which to write the perfect Thanksgiving invitation. Most people don't know that you can put a stamp and an address on just about anything and the post office will deliver it. In fact, the more Bohemian you can make the Thanksgiving invitations, the better.

So, Thanksgiving was traditionally a time to give thanks for bountiful harvests. Today, it is a time to gather with family and friends and to give thanks for our many blessings.

5 Great bbooks for Thanksgiving

Here is a Thanksgiving joke !

Why do you eat a turkey rather than keep it as a pet?

Because otherwise it will use fowl language on you.

The Ugg Boot Craze..sheepskin ugg boots from down under!

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:40:00 -0800

The shopping season has just started and whether you are in the hottest part of the planet or in the coldest UGG Boots are everywhere !

The term ugg boots is derived from “ugly boots” ! Aussies love to abbreviate every common term used everyday. They were considered ugly because they were different, bulky and plain...but there is no denying that these Aussie ugg boots are great for comfort and warmth.

Uggs, or Ughs!, as some fashion critics call them, really took off in the spring of 2003, after Sarah Jessica Parker and Kate Hudson were photographed in them and demand soared. Today they are still just as popular and you see everyone from Oprah to Victoria Beckham sporting them.

So if you want fashion and comfort....get a pair for yourself !

8 Ways to REUSE Plastic and Paper Bags

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Thu, 5 Jun 2008 04:29:00 -0700

Living Green is easy when you stretch your mind to use regular everyday items for unusual things. Here are 8 ways you never thought you could use plastic and paper bags.

According to the Sierra Club reusing a bag meant for just one use has a big impact. A sturdy, reusable bag needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags. When 1 ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved.

Paper or Plastic?

The energy and other environmental impacts embodied in a plastic grocery bag is somewhat less than in a paper grocery bag. But paper is easier to recycle, being accepted in most recycling programs. The recycling rate for plastic bags is very low.

So, which is better for the environment? Neither! The fact is that the difference between paper and plastic RECYCLING is small compared with the REUSING bags.

Plastic Grocery bags

1. Cover your car’s side mirrors and windshield wipers plastic grocery bags, if you park outside in winter and you won’t have to scrape ice off in the a.m.

2. To protect small outdoor plants from frost at night, cover them with plastic grocery bags and tie the handles tightly around the pots. Be sure to take the bags off in the morning.

3. Don't buy fancy bags for travelling...When packing a suitcase, use the plastic grocery bags to keep shoes from soiling clothes and dirty things from clean ones.

4.Wrap drinking glasses and other fragile items when you’re moving. A layer of three or four plastic grocery bags around each piece provides enough protection and won’t leave nasty newspaper ink or annoying pieces of Styrofoam all over everything.

Paper Bags

1. Place unripe peaches, plums, or green tomatoes in a bag. The closed bag traps ethylene, the natural gas released by the ripening fruit (while still allowing a little ventilation), which helps it ripen faster.

2. To add an extra layer of weed deterrence to your garden, place plain bags, with no dye, on the soil around plants before adding mulch.

3. Save paper bags from the grocery store and use them to wrap parcel packages. That brown paper costs a lot more when you buy it in a roll.

4. Instead of throwing away your brown paper bags, reuse them. Cut them into squares about the size of paper towels. When you need to drain fried foods, line a plate with one or two of the squares. Top the squares with a paper towel to prevent the food from coming in direct contact with the paper bag. The paper bag squares will absorb an amazing amount of grease, and the toweling will last incredibly long.

Have you gotten taken yet? April Fools Day 2008

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 1 Apr 2008 14:29:00 -0700

2008 April Fools Jokes

Google does it again !
The Dotcom is at it again with "Gmail Custom Time" and (which purports to let users send e-mails into the past and consequently never miss important deadlines again) and "Virgle", a faux collaboration on an "open-source" Mars expedition between Google and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.

No Chair Fare
The Herald Sun, an Australian tabloid, published an advertisement by Virgin Blue advertising the 'No Chair Fare' offering standing room for half the price of the regular fare and free calf massages for flights longer than two hours. Visiting Virgin's website reveals the offers to be an April fools joke. Still hundreds tried to purchase standing tickets by contacting Virgin by phone.

Celebrating the 29th of February - Leap Year 2008

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:34:00 -0800

Were you born in a Leap year? I am sure you don't know. The Leap Year Calculator is a great place to find out whether you were born in a Leap year. It is so much fun. Here is what you can do to remember this special day. Write to an old friend then bring it to the post office and ask them to hand stamp it with the date.

The Leap Day - 29th of February !
The 29th of February, or the Leap Day has been associated with age-old traditions, superstitions and folklore. It occurs every four years in years evenly divisible by four except for centenary years not divisible by 400. A leap day is more likely to occur on Mondays or Wednesdays. Leap Day and the events because of Leap Day, are often mistaken for Sadie Hawkins Day, but that is in November. The only similarity is in the fact that the woman has the opportunity to do the asking. February 29 is NOT Sadie Hawkins Day. It is Leap Year Day, or simply, Leap Day.

Leap into the depths of your brain with a Leap Year Quiz

When did the idea of Leap Year begin?
What’s the Leap Year capital of the world?
When was the last Leap Year?
February 29th is also called Sadie Hawkins Day—True or False?
People born on Leap Day are called _______________?
When do these people celebrate their birthdays each year?
What are the chances of actually being born on Leap Year Day?
People with leap year birthdays are what percent of the population?

Answers:

45 BC
Anthony, Texas
2004
False
Leapers
Either February 28th or March 1st, it’s their choice
The odds are 1 in 1,461 8. Less than one percent

So what ARE you going to do with this EXTRA day ? How do people celebrate the Leap Day?
Here are some Leap year traditions.......

Wedding Proposals
It's an old Irish tradition for women to ask men to marry them on Leap Day. In Scotland, if a man refused a lady's proposal, he had to either give her a kiss, a pair of gloves or a silk dress. As the story goes, the tradition of women romantically pursuing men in leap years began in 5th century Ireland, when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about the fair sex having to wait for men to propose. Patrick finally relented and set February 29 aside as the day set aside allowing women the right to ask for a man's hand in marriage.

Leap Day Cocktail
This one was created at London's Savoy Hotel for a Leap Day party in 1928.

2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/4 ounce
fresh lemon juice
1 lemon twist, for garnish

Stir and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Add the garnish.

Leap Day Smoothie

1 scoop of vanilla ice cream or plain yogurt
1 banana
1 tablespoon of
peanut butter
1 cup of ice

Blend till frothy. Enjoy !

Where's the coldest spot in the universe?

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 08:32:00 -0800

Where's the coldest spot in the universe? By Tom Shachtman
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/12359501.html
Smithsonian magazine, January 2008

This week it felt like Chicago was the COLDEST SPOT in the universe ! But Physicists in Massachusetts come to grips with the lowest possible temperature: absolute zero

Where's the coldest spot in the universe? Not on the moon, where the temperature plunges to a mere minus 378 Fahrenheit. Not even in deepest outer space, which has an estimated background temperature of about minus 455°F. As far as scientists can tell, the lowest temperatures ever attained were recently observed right here on earth.

The record-breaking lows were among the latest feats of ultracold physics, the laboratory study of matter at temperatures so mind-bogglingly frigid that atoms and even light itself behave in highly unusual ways. Electrical resistance in some elements disappears below about minus 440°F, a phenomenon called superconductivity. At even lower temperatures, some liquefied gases become "superfluids" capable of oozing through walls solid enough to hold any other sort of liquid; they even seem to defy gravity as they creep up, over and out of their containers.

.......for more go here

A good read !

Hope ! Dream & Change !

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:52:00 -0800

Someone once said, There is not telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream ! Dream you should.... dream big and dream the impossible! Did you know that dreams are only thoughts you didn't have time to think about during the day. Dreams are what makes life worthwhile. Without dreams we would have no hope. And without hope there would be no reason for waking up in the mornings !

I think of all these things as I hear the candidates give us hope for a better future, a hope that they will bring about change. Arent you intrigued? Intangible words like hope, dream and change can inspire us and make the most sense. These words somehow give us direction and purpose.

Coupled with the tangible things that we do these intangible words can actually make the most difference in our lives.

Just a thought !

$200,000 buys you a Ticket to Ride in SPACE !

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:23:00 -0800

The SpaceShipOne Project, the "First Private Manned Space Program" was unveiled today, 24th January, 2008, by noted design wizard Burt Rutan and his company, Scaled Composites, Inc. British billionaire Sir Richard Branson hailed the "year of the spaceship" as he unveiled the designs of two crafts which could help take the first tourists into space. Work on SpaceShipTwo, and its mothership White Knight Two, is nearing completion and flight tests will begin later this year. Sir Richard said this "historic occasion" could help "to answer key questions about Earth's climate and the mysteries of the universe".

Wow, I did not think that this would happen in my lifetime...what else can man do?

News feed and Video from : Reuters

Reaching new heights of Political Correctedness...Ho Ho Ho to Ha Ha Ha !

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:42:00 -0800

It is more than amusing no I mean it is ridiculous !

Australia has now banned the use of "Ho Ho Ho" - the news of an Aussie recruitment firm Westaff, replacing "ho ho ho" with "ha ha ha" has travelled fast, with people in New Zealand, the UK and the US amazed at the "extreme" political correctness. It all started when Westaff told its Christmas trainees that the "ho, ho, ho" phrase could frighten children and possibly be derogatory to women.

Well, I don't think kids relate the ho ho ho to anything other than Santa getting them presents. It remains to be seen how this Christmas will turn out ! Ha Ha !

Sasha Cagen's To-Do List - From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 10:56:00 -0800

So almost everyone at one time or another in their life time has had a to-do list...right ? Well, Sasha Cagen has collected to-do lists for 7 years from thousands of people. People mailed their To-Do-Lists to her or emailed her the jpegs.

Sasha was so fascinated by the variety and depth of these lists that she started a magazine called - yup - To-Do Lists. Her new book To-Do List: From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us is a compilation of these fascinating lists. From ordinary grocery lists to life goals these lists satisfy the voyeur in each of us. I just ordered the book and can't wait to get it.

It will be a great conversation starter for all those holiday get togethers.

Here is an interview about the book.

42 % of us here in the US make to-do lists. And according to Sasha our to-do lists reveal something about us. Voyeuristic and interactive, To-Do List will show you just how much -- and what -- your lists say about you.

10 Ways to Create Your Own Luck !

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:47:00 -0700

Lisa Haneberg who writes 4 blogs - Management Craft, 2 Weeks 2 a Breakthrough, Chile Pepper High, and Essay a Smile has a great style of writing....she thinks its laconic....but I say its not tooooo wordy :) but just right. Although I do like Ayn Rand who does get very non-laconic in her writing which i do like to indulge once in a while. Lisa is a a small business owner of Haneberg Management, and the author of H.I.M.M.: (High Impact Middle Management): Solutions for Today's Busy Managers, Organization Development Basics, Coaching Basics,Focus Like a Laser Beam and several short e-books.

Here are her 10 ways to create your own luck !

10. Get real. If you are on a computer, surfing the net, and reading blogs, you have a lot to feel lucky about. Your life is great already.
9. Determine who you should know. They say it’s not what you know but who you know. So get to know the right people!
8. Be more observant. Luck is all around you.
7. Take a chance every now and then. S-t-r-e-t-c-h yourself.
6. Do your research. Master a topic so that your brain can get into the nitty gritty of the inner workings where the tiniest of advantages can be discovered and utilized.
5. Say you are lucky and you are (Pygmalion).
4. Be more curious and ask lots of open ended questions that open doorways to new conversations and opportunities.
3. Notice the habits and disciplines of lucky people around you. Learn from what they do.
2. Share your dreams until you are blue in the face due to lack of oxygen.
1. Play more to win more (in life that is, I am not advocating gambling).

Tired of iTunes and the fact that you can only download the songs on an iPod?

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:58:00 -0700

Tired of iTunes and the fact that you can only download the songs on an iPod?

I found that, Amazon now has 2 million songs from more than 180,000 artists represented by over 20,000 major and independent labels, Amazon MP3 complements Amazon.com's existing selection of over 1 million CDs. I thought this was really cool since most of the songs are 10 cents less than on iTunes.

Also, every song and album on Amazon MP3 is available exclusively in the MP3 format without digital rights management (DRM) software. This means that you are free to enjoy your music downloads using any hardware device, organize your music using any music management application, and burn songs to CDs.

The top 100 best-selling songs are 89 cents. Every song on Amazon MP3 is encoded at 256 kilobits per second, which gives you high audio quality at a manageable file size.

This is great for those who dont want to spring for an iPod !

10 Rarest Animals..opps - 11 Rarest Animals in the world !

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 2 Oct 2007 08:46:00 -0700

Pinta Island tortoise
Baiji (Yangtze River Dolphin)
Vancouver Island Marmot
Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat
Javan Rhino
Hispid hare
Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat
Tamaraw (Dwarf Water Buffalo)
Iberian Lynx
Red Wolf
Dwarf Blue Sheep

Here is the link :
http://www.greenexpander.com/2007/10/01/the-10-rarest-animals-in-the-world/

10 Rarest Animals

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 2 Oct 2007 08:46:00 -0700

http://www.greenexpander.com/2007/10/01/the-10-rarest-animals-in-the-world/

Sexy isn't a look...it's a state of mind ! 5 ways to bring "Sexy Back"

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Thu, 6 Sep 2007 08:17:00 -0700

Live by that mantra you can charm anyone ! Seduction is a whole lot more than being primped and perfumed in a killer pair of pumps....its about being charming and confident in yourself !

Here are 5 ways to bring "sexy back" into your life.....Women only !

Be mysterious - A little secretiveness can go a long way to keep them guessing !
Shower your body with love - Take care of those curves and those curves will take care of the rest.
Reach out and touch someone - Boost your confidence by doing something extraordinary in your community. Find out who needs help and help !
Make something of yourself - Don't neglect your career and/or role in life. Don't put yourself in the back seat for too long because of family. Go out there and make a difference.
Highlight your best attributes - both physical and emotional....each woman is different and so be proud of what you are and who you are. Make those work for you.

Self assured women make great mates ! Self confident women can lift anyone's spirits..and in life there are many people who need their spirits to be lifted. I always have believed in - what Bambi's mom said - "if you cant say something nice don't say nothing at all" Charm, poise and good manners make you very "sexy" !

Have you seen the "Upside Down House" to Protest Poland's Communist Era & Today's Troubled Times

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Wed, 5 Sep 2007 09:24:00 -0700

This upside-down house was created by Daniel Czapiewski, a Polish businessman and philanthropist, to describe the former communist era and the present times in which we live. It took 114 days to build this structure. It is said that the construction workers took breaks as they felt dizzy and disoriented with all the weird angles of the house.

This attraction is in the village of Szymbark, and in the Kaszuby area (by the Baltic sea, North of Poland) - A ceiling instead of a floor and furniture above your head - a feeling of dizziness, is the feeling visitors have upon entering the house, after just a few seconds of walking around the structure, which is also tilted sideways to add to the effect.

Czapiewski had the idea to build his house when Poland was still under communist rule. It was then that he realized practically all decisions of the ruling communist party were detached from reality. Today the house is a symbol of every wrong doing against humanity. "This house is a warning about the path we are taking," Czapiewski said.

Here is a video clip of the upside-down house in Poland.

Czapiewski's corperation which specializes in wooden houses, would normally
take 21 days to construct a wooden house. He remembers that his workers had to take an hour's break every three hours while working inside the house because they were feeling disorientated and confused from the strange angles of the walls.

The upside down house is not the first unusual structure made or devised by Czapiewski. He is infamous for making the longest single piece of wood in the world - a Guinness World Record.

Source : Reuters

Did you know how many hot dogs are consumed on July 4th?

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Wed, 4 Jul 2007 09:03:00 -0700

Interesting statistics compiled by Andrea Dickson of Wisebread:

Number of hot dogs to be consumed on July 4th: 150 million - More hot dogs are eaten in July than any other month of the year, which is why it is designated National Hot Dog Month.

Amount of chicken purchased in the week leading up to July 4th: 700 million pounds
Amount of red meat/pork purchased in the week leading up to July 4th: 190 million pounds
Percentage of American households with outdoor grills: 87

Amount of fireworks sold to individuals for personal celebrations in 2006: 252 million pounds
Amount of fireworks sold to cities and municipalities for public celebrations last year: 25 million pounds
Amount of fireworks sold to individuals for personal celebrations in 2000: 102 million pounds
Total dollar amount spent on fireworks in 2007: 900 million dollars
Total dollar amount spent on fireworks in 2000: 350 million dollars
Percentage of fireworks sales that take place in late June and early July: 80
Number of people injured by fireworks in 2006: 9,200
Dollar amount of fireworks imported to the US from China in 2006: 212 million

Dollar amount of American flags imported into the US from China in 2006: 5 million

Phew....wow a lot of number crunching !

How did the hot dog get its name?

The term "hot dog" is credited to sports cartoonist Tad Dorgan. At a 1901 baseball game at the Polo Grounds in New York, vendors began selling hot dachsund sausages in rolls.

Do I spread my condiment on the meat or on the bread?

Always dress the dog and not the bun

HAPPY JULY 4TH !

What movie should I watch this weekend? Try Online Services - via Mail or Download !

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 08:21:00 -0700

DVD Internet Rentals are the way to go for the millions who still deal with aging computers.

You can rent movies from Netflix via the internet. Plus Netflix has lowered its monthly fee for one its most popular prescription plans by $1, to match a reduction made by rival Blockbuster earlier this month. The service mails another DVD after subscribers return one of their other discs in pre-paid envelopes.

One thing I do like about Netflix is the NEW "Watch It Now"in addition to receiving DVDs by mail, you will be able to watch movies online instantly. This new feature is included in your Netflix membership at no additional charge.

Basically, the program transforms your browser window into a complete movie-viewing interface with DVD-like functionality, like

Fast forward and rewind
Browse by chapter
Double-click to make the movie play in full-screen
Add movies to your Netflix Queue
Rate movies
Find similar movies through Netflix

Here you can read / see more about the feature http://www.downloadsquad.com/2007/05/01/netflix-shows-off-new-and-improved-watch-now/ It explains the features very well.

Netflix has also joined us bloggers and now have their blog up to interact with its members. http://netflixblog.blogspot.com/ So there you have it ! Get ready for your weekend without leaving your house !

MIND YOUR THOUGHTS by By Anil Bhatnagar

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Wed, 23 May 2007 09:20:00 -0700

Have you ever thought about the fact that there is never a moment when you are not thinking—that whatever happens in this world begins with a thought? Here are five simple steps to help you manage your thoughts and achieve success and happiness in life

BE AWARE OF YOUR THOUGHTS
Start watching your thoughts, without identifying with them. Watch them as a detached observer.

You may even get carried away by your thoughts. Never mind. It is natural—especially for a beginner. What you need to do, whenever you detect this, is to take yourself out of your thoughts immediately and get back to the process of thought-watching once again as a detached observer.

Do not get perturbed by your thoughts. Don't condemn or justify them. Don't try to control them. Just watch them. After some time, you will come to know what your negative thoughts are about. Now concentrate on all the positive thoughts that you can replace these thoughts with, in order to switch over to a more positive attitude towards them. Our attempt should be to cut down the quantity of unnecessary thoughts and to improve the quality of the necessary ones. Keep yourself busy. Simple food, deep breathing and relaxation exercises also help manage your thoughts easily. Expect less from others.

IDENTIFY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Keep a logbook. Jot down your thoughts. Write down happenings of the day. Were they positive, appropriate and adequate or were they confused, superfluous and negative? Could you notice the interval between the happening and your response? If yes, could your foresee your negative thoughts? If not, what can, you do to notice this interval? Was there any discrepancy between words and thoughts? If yes, was it justified—could you find a better way of harmonizing your words and thoughts? Was the verbal response necessary, appropriate and adequate?

Sometimes we talk to others, or simply to ourselves, or think about something just like that. Ask yourself what provoked you to take the initiative to start a conversation. Was it essential? What was the purpose? Did it serve the purpose? If no, then why not? Did it use any unnecessary and emotionally charged negative words? Were the words used in thinking, inner dialogue or in talking to the other person, precise, appropriate, adequate and positive? Did you feel happy or satisfied after the interaction with the other person or with your inner self? Can you find ways of improving your performance as a thinker or a speaker?

Keep in mind that logbooks are meant to get you started and make you aware of your negative thoughts. It is far more important, however, to be aware of these thoughts when they are just taking birth, rather than leave them for later analysis.

Be conscious of the interval that separates the event from thoughts with which you respond to the event.

NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Imagine a strong sun radiating a powerful light. Use this mental sunshine to kill your negative, undesirable thoughts, emotions and images as and when these are detected. Take this sun as a mighty weapon which is always on the alert and which automatically chases any negative thought and kills it with a flash and then withdraws. Don't forget to imagine that this sun is your faithful friend and is extremely kind to you.

Keep a note of how many times you need to call the sun for its services. There will be a gradual increase, followed by a drastic fall. This is so because initially the number of times you call on your mental sunshine increases gradually as your awareness of your thoughts grows.

The drastic fall is because what we do not use (the negative thoughts, in this case), we tend to lose.

REPLACE WlTH POSITIVE THOUGHTS
A vital step in this process is the immediate replacement of all negative thoughts by the positive ones. The shorter the interval between the disinfecting and the replacing stage, the better it is. Longer intervals between these two events weaken the impact of the positive thoughts. Our success and happiness depend on identifying our goals precisely and chasing them effectively, both of which, in turn, depend on how well we manage our thoughts. The quality of our thoughts decides the quality of the outcomes we land up with. Thoughts have the power to materialize themselves because they are instrumental in channeling energy towards the physical or mental condition they are about.

External situations and the remarks of others can harm us through our thoughts—but only to the extent our thoughts allow them to. So think positive. Talk positive. Read positive quotable quotes of great people. Surround yourself with posters and cards bearing positive messages. Keep them on your table. Hang them on the walls. Paste them near the bathroom mirror and on the doors. Stick them on your watchstrap. Keep them on the refrigerator. Have them on the dashboard of the car. Slip them under the glass of the table in front of you. Slide them in the inner side of the briefcase you carry. Find other suitable places where you are bound to look at them every day.

Remember that these messages will stale with prolonged use. So keep changing their position and contents. Do not let the momentum of these thoughts get weaker.

Use them appropriately in response to specific negative thoughts. The replacing thought must be positive in every sense. Apart from being inspiring and assuring, it should also be suggestive. For example, if you confront a negative thought, "I can never succeed", it will not suffice if you replace it with "Sun! Attack! I can succeed". This kind of replacement may not be effective, for it sounds like wishful thinking and lacks assurance, depth and penetrating certainty. It is better to break your replacing thought down into more definite and specific steps or instructions.

The replacing thought in this case may be: "I can succeed. By earlier failures I have become rich in experience and have come to know specific areas that require special attention. I will jot them down and systematically think of the ways in which I can improve. I shall plan. And then stick to it. There is absolutely no reason why I should not succeed. I will assess, plan, execute, monitor, modify and carryon with the plan, and finally succeed. In fact, I think that success has already been achieved and only time separates my thought of success and its transformation into reality. I am committing myself to all that is required to achieve success. I am a river that knows no obstacles. I shall find my way anyhow—and if there is none I shall make one."

REINFORCE
Thoughts like these can be further reinforced with emotions and images. All this may take longer than one single replacing thought, but these are far more effective since they allow you to divide the desired target into workable units. Focus on a pleasant event that took place in the past. This way your thoughts will turn positive and your emotions and images will reinforce each other, resulting in an overall positive attitude.

Happy Half Birthday To You ! - Find your half birthday !

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 05:59:00 -0700

Shock & Awe ! Deadliest Shooting in US History - 33 dead in massacre in Virginia Tech

ceo@cuisinecuisine.com (Medini) — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 07:40:00 -0700

History was made yesterday when , CHO SEUNG-HUI, 23, a South Korean native took 32 lives as well as his own at Virginia Tech on Monday April 16th 2007. Cho was enrolled as an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major. The rampage consisted of two attacks, more than two hours apart, which took place at around 7:15 a.m. Monday morning when two people were killed at West Ambler Johnston Hall dormitory. Later that morning, the remaining victims were killed in Norris Hall, the engineering studies building.

The massacre Monday, took place almost eight years to the day after the Columbine High bloodbath near Littleton, Colo. On April 20, 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.

Previously, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history was a rampage that took place in 1966 at the University of Texas at Austin, where Charles Whitman climbed the clock tower and opened fire with a rifle from the 28th-floor observation deck. He killed 16 people before he was shot to death by police.

About Virginia Tech :

Founded in 1872, Virginia Tech is nestled in southwestern Virginia, about 160 miles west of Richmond. With more than 25,000 full-time students, it has the state's largest full-time student population. The school is best known for its engineering school and its powerhouse Hokies football team.

I am watching TV and President Bush console the family of Virginia Tech. The convocation that is taking place has been appropriate and will bring a feeling of comfort and unity in the community. I pray for all the victims and their families.