On Sept. 30, 1960, "The Flintstones" -- a modern stone-age family -- debuted on ABC. It became the longest-running animated series when it finished on April 1, 1966, a record which stood until being shattered by "The Simpsons." Yabba, dabba, doo!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Happy 50th anniversary, Fred and Wilma
On Sept. 30, 1960, "The Flintstones" -- a modern stone-age family -- debuted on ABC. It became the longest-running animated series when it finished on April 1, 1966, a record which stood until being shattered by "The Simpsons." Yabba, dabba, doo!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wow, what a run!
Two months ago, the Phillies were floundering.
At 92-61, they also have a 6-game advantage for best record in the National League and are just behind the New York Yankees for the best record in baseball.
If the Phils finish with the best record in the NL, they will get an extra day off during the NL Division Series, which means Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt can pitch on regular rest. And thanks to the NL's All-Star Game victory, they'd have home-field advantage in the World Series, should they get there.
Another Red October will soon be upon us. Let's hope it ends with a November parade!
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| Phillies celebrate Wednesday's victory over the Atlanta Braves./AP Photo |
Just two games over .500 at 48-46 on July 21, the two-time National League champions were in third place in the National League East, 7 games behind the Atlanta Braves.
I'll admit, I thought this was going to be a lost season: Too many injuries, too many players having below-average seasons.
Since that day, the Phillies have the best record in baseball at 44-15 and have turned the 7-game deficit into a 6-game lead -- thanks to the recent 3-game sweep of the Braves -- with just 9 games left in the season. At 92-61, they also have a 6-game advantage for best record in the National League and are just behind the New York Yankees for the best record in baseball.
If the Phils finish with the best record in the NL, they will get an extra day off during the NL Division Series, which means Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt can pitch on regular rest. And thanks to the NL's All-Star Game victory, they'd have home-field advantage in the World Series, should they get there.
Another Red October will soon be upon us. Let's hope it ends with a November parade!
We're getting fatter
And the U.S. is leading the way.
At least that's what the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developmet said in its first-ever obesity forecast released Thursday that states that citizens of the world's richest countries are getting heavier.
According to the study, three out of four Amercans will be overweight or obese by 2020, which will then lead to skyrocketing health-care spending and disease rates. I'm trying to reverse that trend, eating a little healthier and exercising regularly. I'm still not where I'd like to be, but I have lost 20 pounds in the past 12 months.
The Paris-based organization, which brings together 33 of the world's leading economies, is better known for forecasting deficit and employment levels than for measuring waistlines. But the economic cost of excess weight -- in health care, and in lives cut short and resources wasted --- is a growing concern for many governments.
In the Associated Press story, Franco Sassi, the OECD senior health economist who authored the report, blamed the usual suspects for the increase.
"Food is much cheaper than in the past, in particular food that is not particularly healthy, and people are changing their lifestyles, they have less time to prepare meals and are eating out more in restaurants," said Sassi, a former London School of Economics lecturer who worked on the report for three years.
At least that's what the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developmet said in its first-ever obesity forecast released Thursday that states that citizens of the world's richest countries are getting heavier.
According to the study, three out of four Amercans will be overweight or obese by 2020, which will then lead to skyrocketing health-care spending and disease rates. I'm trying to reverse that trend, eating a little healthier and exercising regularly. I'm still not where I'd like to be, but I have lost 20 pounds in the past 12 months.
The Paris-based organization, which brings together 33 of the world's leading economies, is better known for forecasting deficit and employment levels than for measuring waistlines. But the economic cost of excess weight -- in health care, and in lives cut short and resources wasted --- is a growing concern for many governments.
In the Associated Press story, Franco Sassi, the OECD senior health economist who authored the report, blamed the usual suspects for the increase.
"Food is much cheaper than in the past, in particular food that is not particularly healthy, and people are changing their lifestyles, they have less time to prepare meals and are eating out more in restaurants," said Sassi, a former London School of Economics lecturer who worked on the report for three years.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Mmmmm, donut. Mmmmm, burger
State fairs have been known for inventing interesting food ideas. Most of them recently have involved deep frying a favorite dessert: Twinkies, Oreos, or candy bars.
But a vendor at the Wisconsin State Fair may have gone over the top: a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger!
That's right, a cheeseburger between two halves of a Krispy Kreme glazed donut. The calorie count: 1,000. And for an additional cost, chocolate covered bacon is added to the burger.
This burger didn't originate at this year's Wisconsin fair, but that's how it is gaining its notoriety. As a fan of Krispy Kreme donuts I'd love to try one, though it definitely goes against the healthier-eating kick I'm currently on.
The Allentown Fair is in two weeks. Maybe it will show up there.
But a vendor at the Wisconsin State Fair may have gone over the top: a Krispy Kreme cheeseburger!
That's right, a cheeseburger between two halves of a Krispy Kreme glazed donut. The calorie count: 1,000. And for an additional cost, chocolate covered bacon is added to the burger.
This burger didn't originate at this year's Wisconsin fair, but that's how it is gaining its notoriety. As a fan of Krispy Kreme donuts I'd love to try one, though it definitely goes against the healthier-eating kick I'm currently on.
The Allentown Fair is in two weeks. Maybe it will show up there.
Philles Phans Phlock to Phlorida
I just returned from a visit to Walt Disney World and August must be a popular time for Phillies fans to visit Central Florida.
Everywhere I turned throughout the four theme parks, I noticed an abundance of people donning a Phillies shirt or hat. In Epcot, I walked passed a man in a Phillies shirt who asked me how I was doing, just based on a Phillies batting practice jersey I had on. Moments later, another guy in a Phillies shirt fist-bumped me. Our paths then crossed again in the Rose and Crown Pub in the United Kingdom in the World Showcase.
Based on observations, the Phils were far-and-away the most popular team for Walt Disney World visitors when I visited. The Yankees were a distant second, followed by the Red Sox.
Everywhere I turned throughout the four theme parks, I noticed an abundance of people donning a Phillies shirt or hat. In Epcot, I walked passed a man in a Phillies shirt who asked me how I was doing, just based on a Phillies batting practice jersey I had on. Moments later, another guy in a Phillies shirt fist-bumped me. Our paths then crossed again in the Rose and Crown Pub in the United Kingdom in the World Showcase.
Based on observations, the Phils were far-and-away the most popular team for Walt Disney World visitors when I visited. The Yankees were a distant second, followed by the Red Sox.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Gus Portokalos was right
Don't know how many are fans of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," but the one thing that I"m reminded of about that movie is how dad Gus Portokalos, played by Reading native Michael Constantine, walked around with a bottle of Windex and squirted it on everything to make it work.
Well, thanks to the hot, humid weather, we've been having some trouble with a 20-year-old French door that leads to our deck. For about a week, the dead bolt lock was stuck and we couldn't use the door to get on the deck. We tried WD-40 and that didn't work.
So the other morning, just for the heck of it, I grabbed a bottle of Windex from the cabinet under the kitchen sink, walked to the back door and squirted a few streams of Windex into the lock. I waited about a minute or two and ... Voila ... THE BACK DOOR OPENED!!!!
I don't know how much of it was because the heat and humidity was a little lower Monday morning or because the Windex actually worked, but....thanks for the tip, Gus!
Well, thanks to the hot, humid weather, we've been having some trouble with a 20-year-old French door that leads to our deck. For about a week, the dead bolt lock was stuck and we couldn't use the door to get on the deck. We tried WD-40 and that didn't work.
So the other morning, just for the heck of it, I grabbed a bottle of Windex from the cabinet under the kitchen sink, walked to the back door and squirted a few streams of Windex into the lock. I waited about a minute or two and ... Voila ... THE BACK DOOR OPENED!!!!
I don't know how much of it was because the heat and humidity was a little lower Monday morning or because the Windex actually worked, but....thanks for the tip, Gus!
5 best summertime songs of all time
This isn't my list, but found it interesting any way. It's the top 5 summertime songs of all time.
Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind" is No. 5 and "California Girls" is No. 1. I'm not too sure about the others. I would have found a way to put "Beach Baby" by First Class on the list and probably Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville."
Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind" is No. 5 and "California Girls" is No. 1. I'm not too sure about the others. I would have found a way to put "Beach Baby" by First Class on the list and probably Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville."
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