Fright nighty night

This was the scariest costume I ever wore at Halloween. Also the cheapest. Not one to spend a great deal of money on a costume, I just rolled out of bed, put on some Pond's cold cream, and started partying. You can see I was still a bit sleepy. The only problem with the costume was the cold cream. After an hour or so, it starting melting and turned into a transparent gob of oil dripping into my eyes and mouth and onto the pink fuzzy slippers you can't see.

We wondered when it would happen

A few years ago, after years of investigative journalism on 20/20, ABC's John Stossel finally saw the light and became a libertarian. More significant is that he began reporting on libertarian issues on a more Democratic leaning network. My household TV viewers wondered just how long ABC would tolerate his "Give Me a Break" series.

John Stossel has now left ABC and gone to Fox Business and Fox News. He is probably the most well-known libertarian journalist in the media and perhaps the move will provide more new viewers who will hop aboard the libertarian train to freedom.

Of course, his views will not feel at home there either, because right-wing conservatives are just as guilty about wanting government in their lives as the more left-wing liberals of the other networks. Still, it is good to see that there is at least one Voice of Reason in the media.

Don't slip your tongue in MY mouth

Cargill Meat Solutions is recalling 5500 pounds of beef tongue, because the tonsils may not have been completely removed. This comes after a Nebraska meat packer recalled 33,000 pounds last week for the same reason.

I am not sure which is scarier - the remote possibility of mad cow disease or that there is that much demand for beef tongue.

Hard Candy - movie review

It was solely because I think Ellen Page is such a great young actress (Juno in 2007), that I picked up the movie Hard Candy at the local DVD rental place a few days ago. I hadn't remembered reading anything about this film when it debuted in 2006. (Don't read the spoiler reviews on line or it will ruin the film's effects.) Apparently it fared better in Europe than the US.

This was a film my husband and I were still talking about days later. It was very raw and disturbing and yet so well-acted and with enough twists, turns, and dark humor to keep one riveted to the storyline.

The entire premise is about the deceit of seduction. A 14 year old girl (Ellen Page) meets a 32 year old man (Patrick Wilson) in an Internet chat site and agree to meet. Two sweetly innocent-looking characters are looking for something perhaps more than friendship. The rest of the film deals with the seduction and resulting consequences. Most of the scariest moments are done through imagination and off camera sounds but there is some visual violence.

The two actors basically carry the entire film with only very minor appearances of three other characters. Throughout the movie, layers of each character are slowly unveiled and by the end there are two different characters than those you thought you knew at the beginning of the film.

Based upon the previews that were included in the DVD, it led me to believe that the marketing people were trying to sell this film to a teenage horror/thriller audience. That is a mistake. This is an adult film about an adult topic with adult consequences. It is gripping, nauseating, and complicated. It will have you talking.

Why one needs to be specific when explaining things to a child

Ken Burns has produced a new series about national parks.

We were discussing the series this weekend and sharing stories of family vacations at various national parks. One friend remembered her mother telling her, before a childhood vacation started, that they were going to Mt. Rushmore where they would get to see the heads of four famous presidents.

This is what she actually saw:

But this is what she imagined she was going to see:

Sunday Stealing Meme

Sunday Stealing: The Starrlight Meme

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth? something hard that I sucked on - some ice.

2. Where was your profile picture taken? daughter's wedding 3 years ago

3. Can you play Guitar Hero? I limit my guitar playing to Air Guitar.

4. Name someone who made you laugh today. Me. What was it about? I looked in the mirror.

5. How late did you stay up last night and why? 10:30, but I was watching infomercials and a Mr. Ed rerun before dawn.

6. If you could move somewhere else where would you and why? a newly constructed home because I'm tired of renovating, remodeling, and repairing.

7. Ever been kissed under fireworks? yes and more

8. Which of your friends lives closest to you? This is a small town. We're all close.

9. Do you believe ex's can be friends? Absolutely. I'm living proof. With benefits? Only if you haven't remarried.

10. Do you like Dr. Pepper? I prefer Dr. Oz because he has a TV show

11. When was the last time you cried really hard? Really hard as opposed to just sniveling? when the older daughter moved to the left coast

12. Who took your profile picture? some drunk at the wedding reception with a disposable camera

13. Who was the last person you took a picture of? younger daughter. She needed a head shot for an award. People who shovel shit as part of their work don't have time for professional resume pics.

14. Was yesterday better than today? yes Why? Because today I don't have to stand in any long line at the grocery store with a bunch of stupid people who can't figure out how to scan items at the self-checkout lane.

15. Can you live a day without TV? yes, if there's nothing good on.

16. Are you upset about anything now? only the stupid politicians

17. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it? Yes, if they last

18. Are you a bad influence? No, except when I'm stirring up trouble.

19. Night out or night in? Depends upon what I want to do

20. What items could you not go without during the day? My clothes.

21. Who was the last person you visited in the hospital? dying brother

22. What does the last text message in your inbox say? Hi

23. How do you feel about your life right now? It's great, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer.

24. Do you hate anyone? one person, and he knows who he is

25. If we were to look in your Facebook inbox, what would we find? an empty, desolate place

26. Say you were given a drug test right now, would you pass? Yes. I am pure - no illegal or even prescription drugs.

27. Has anyone ever called you perfect before? Me. See #26.

28. What song is stuck in your head? Mr. Ed theme song

29. Someone knocks on your window at 2 a.m., whom do you want it to be? Since my room is about 20 feet above ground, it would have to be either King Kong or the Jolly Green Giant, so I'll go with the green guy.

30. Do you (or did you) want to have grandkids before you’re 50? No, I'm way too young at heart to be a grandparent. Besides it's too late for 50 and 60 is just around the corner.

31. Tell us your Saturday night. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

32. Do you think too much or too little? I think therefore I am.

33. Do you smile a lot? Way too much. So much so that some men have taken it the wrong way.

And the winners are...

The 19th annual Ignoble Awards ceremony was held today. Some of the winners are:

Peace Prize: A Swiss contingent who, through experiments, determined whether it is better to be smashed over the head with a full bottle of beer or with an empty bottle.

Medicine Prize: A California man investigating a possible cause of arthritis of the fingers, by cracking the knuckles of one hand, but never the other hand, every day for more than 60 years.

Public Health Prize: A Chicagoan who invented a bra that can be converted to two face masks n case of emergency.

Economic Prize: Executives of several Icelandic banks "for demonstrating that tiny banks can be rapidly transformed into huge banks, and vice versa — and for demonstrating that similar things can be done to an entire national economy."

Why is it not surprising this occured in Kentucky?

Kentucky has a reputation for spawning jokes about child brides and incestuous relationships, but this is no joke.

A convicted pedophile has been ordained by a church.

At least this church has openly admitted to the dirty deed, as opposed to some religions that hide their pastoral crimes.

But some Kentuckians have wisdom:

A Kentuckian saw a priest walking down the street. Noticing his collar, he stopped him and said, "Excuse me, but why are you wearing your shirt backwards?" The priest laughed, "Because, my son, I am a Father!" The Kentuckian scratched his head. "But I am a father too, and I don't wear my shirt backwards!" Again the priest laughed. "But I am a Father of thousands!" To which the Kentuckian replied, "Well then you should wear your shorts backwards!"