Archive for January, 2009

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January 28, 2009

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
Really Good Quotes "A mind, once expanded by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Submit Reader Comment Submit 15 Minutes of Fame Submit Image or Quote Submit to Best of RGQ Submit Tip of the Day Submit Limerick

Greetings, Quotaholics:

People who know me personally think of me as outgoing and gregarious. They find me talkative, almost too talkative, okay a blabbermouth. But, I’m good with true stories and jokes so I can be entertaining.

What they don’t seem to remember is when we were first introduced. I’m basically a shy person. I have to slowly come out of my shell. It isn’t easy for me to meet new people. I’m usually so nervous, I have a horrible time remembering names, which makes the next encounter even more traumatic and stressful.

The older I get, the more I have learned to conquer my fear. I meet people and can smile and make small talk. I admit up front I’m horrible with names and hope they can forgive me later when I don’t remember who they are.

I find out now, I might not be totally to blame for my innate shyness. ABC News has reported on a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study followed 1,100 sets of twins, some identical and some fraternal.

Identical twins share the same DNA makeup, while fraternal twins are no closer in DNA than any other siblings. They looked at the social networks of the sets of twins. They found that identical twins had highly similar social networks when compared against those of the fraternal twins.

They deduced there is some genetic sequence making us either social butterflies or wallflowers. James H. Fowler, from the University of California, San Diego claimed the finding were revolutionary. He said, "There has been a simple model for the metabolic, neural and Internet networks, and the same model is applied to human beings - that all parts of the network are identical and interchangeable."

Based on the study, the premise has now been altered to show that we gravitate to our comfort zone within a social network. Not only does that affect our chance for a date on Saturday night, but it also influences how much weight is given to our opinions. The gregarious crowd-pleaser will be more often quoted than the quiet wallflower, even when the wallflower says something worth quoting.

Our genes determine our underlying state, but it is not just a matter of nature. Nurture also plays a role in how our genes are portrayed vis-à-vis behavior. There is hope that knowing about genetic predisposition will help individuals overcome perceived shortcomings and make social interactions less of a problem.

There is no word on if it will help keep my palms from sweating and possibly let me remember a new person’s name the next time we meet.

Do you believe that we are genetically driven to be shy or outgoing? Have you had difficulties in your own life due to social interactions? Would you like to know how to overcome social inadequacies or does it help if you can blame your DNA?

How much does nature rule our lives? Can we use behavior modification to overcome what lies at the heart of who we are? Would you like to become more the "life of the party" kind of person or is that just the guy who eventually ends a drunken night wearing a lampshade on his head? Conversely, if you are the lampshade donner, would you like to be able to relax at a party and not need to be the center of attention?

Shyly,

 

Isn’t it worth $1 a month to you to keep RGQ going?  Please click the link and direct your contribution to reallygoodquotes@gmail.com.


Today's Quotes


"When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." - Billy Crystal


"Change is such hard work" - Billy Crystal

Today's Chuckle

Teddy
[Thanks to Bonnie in Louisiana]

Teddy came thundering down the stairs, much to his father’s annoyance.

"Teddy," he called, "how many more times have I got to tell you to come downstairs quietly?

Now, go back upstairs and come down like a civilized human being." There was a silence, and Teddy reappeared in the front room.

"That’s better," said his father, "now in future will you always come down stairs like that."

"Good!," said Teddy. "I slid down the railing."
Life Sentences

"A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart." - Jonathan Swift, Irish author and satirist (1667-1745)


"How paramount the future is to the present when one is surrounded by children." - Charles Darwin


"The thing worse than rebellion is the thing that causes rebellion." - Frederick Douglass, American abolitionist, lecturer, author and slave (1817-1895)
Image'n That

Welcome to our ool

Imp-Revised News

E-Mail the Imp



I’m a gadget-aholic I suppose…I’m enthralled by functional all-in-one electronic devices, unique mechanical devices, and light weight aircraft and flying cars. I very much like flying cars which have been predicted as revolutionizing our daily commute to work for 70 years or more.

If you remember “The Jetsons”, George Jetson drove to work in an aerocar. Of course in the cartoon series the aerocar never lands on the ground to drive around on wheels like the aerocar envisioned all these years. But it’s probably better known than any of the actual aerocars that have been built over the years.

Lately my interest in Jetson technology has centered on Rosie, the Jetsons’ robotic maid. Over the past five years Japanese robotics has blossomed, introducing remarkable devices from robotic pets to robotic exoskeletons. It shouldn’t be long before a robot maid joins your Roomba taking care of your home.

Before we see a robot maid that will do your laundry and wash your windows, we’ll see robots as servers for parties. I envision “Rosie” clones buzzing around your living room dispensing drinks to order. A Rosie rolls up to you, you order an Apple Martini and poof – you have a perfectly mixed drink in your hand. There could be a Rosie dispensing vintage wine, or a Rosie serving up cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos, with an occasional cup of tea or hot chocolate.

But what I’m waiting to see is the Bubba version, the Redneck Rosie. It will have to have pneumatic tires. It will have to have articulated steering and four wheel drive to operate in the Bubba party venue, the back yard or the fishing/hunting camp. It will have to have a large storage capacity for either canned or bottled beer to include long necks. The Redneck Rosie will have to have two features the urban, or Yuppie versions won’t have. One will have to be an integrated video recording device and the other a drink retrieval system. Both will be activated by those famous words, “Hey ya’all, hold my beer and watch this.”

The Bad Sied

Most Embarrassing or Scary Moment


Speak Up!
Speak right up!

Patti's Parenthetical Past

On this day in history, January 28, 1986: At 11:38:00.010 the space shuttle Challenger hits T=0 or liftoff. Later review showed a puff of black smoke issued from the right SRB (Solid Rocket Booster) at T+0.678. The last smoke puff was seen at T+2.733. The smoke dissipated by T+3.375. At T+28 the engines throttled back to limit velocity in the dense lower atmosphere. At T+35.379 they throttled back further to 65%. At T+51.860, after passing through Mach 1 speed, the engines throttled back up. All was going as planned. The shuttle passed Max Q, the period of maximum aerodynamic pressure. Just as it passed through, it encountered the greatest wind shear experienced to date.

At T+58.788 a tracking camera spotted a plume on the right SRB. At T+60.238 flame was visible near the plume. At T+64.660 the plume’s shape changed indicating a liquid hydrogen leak. At T+68 both astronauts and ground control were preparing to "throttle up" and all were unaware of any problem. At T+72.284 the right SRB pulled away from the strut. At T+72.525 the shuttle accelerated to the right at an angle and force unprecedented and unsupported by the engineering of the craft. At T+73.124 the aft dome of the liquid hydrogen tank failed. At T+73.162 the shuttle disintegrated.



Sometimes, when we reach for the stars, we fall short. But we must pick ourselves up again and press on despite the pain. – Ronald Reagan



I took this stuff that I got out of your seal and I put it in ice water, and I discovered that when you put some pressure on it for a while and then undo it, it does not stretch back. It stays the same dimension. In other words, for a few seconds at least and more seconds than that, there is no resilience in this particular material when it is at a temperature of 32 degrees. - Richard Feynman



The Committee feels … the fundamental problem was poor technical decision-making over a period of several years by top NASA and contractor personnel, who failed to act decisively to solve the increasingly serious anomalies in the Solid Rocket Booster joints. - U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology

Kids' Weird Words, The Date from Hell, How I Met My Mate
Kirsten's Krazy Kaleidoscope

Email Kirsten

“Cricket civilizes people and creates good gentlemen. I want everyone to play cricket in Zimbabwe; I want ours to be a nation of gentlemen.”
~ Robert Mugabe ~

Zimbabwe has some pretty intense problems. It is in political turmoil that does not appear to be getting any better. It has an elderly leader whose bizarre policies have alienated most of the population. The economy there is in freefall, and people are having to line up for hours in order to pay an arm and a leg for basic necessities like bread and milk. The beautiful Victoria Falls are no longer much of a tourist attraction, simply because most tourists are avoiding Zimbabwe out of fear for their lives. All in all, this is a place that I am currently very grateful not to be in.

And now Zimbabwe has another problem - one that is so serious that all of the stuff about the government and the economy has almost taken a back seat. Zimbabwe is in the throes of a cholera outbreak that is so extensive that the word “epidemic” hardly does it justice. Since August - a scant six months ago - over fifty thousand people have been infected and over 2700 have died. And by all indications, it’s only going to get worse. The Red Cross is warning that the outbreak is going to spread even faster in the coming days, with the total number of infections reaching sixty thousand within the next week or so.

Cholera is a water-borne infection that hits the intestinal tract. The bacteria live in aquatic environments, and are passed to humans through ingestion. It is not a contagious disease in the sense that it can be transmitted from one human to another, but in a region where most of the water is infected, an outbreak can spread with frightening speed. All it takes to fall ill is to drink the water, use it in food preparation, or use it to wash the dishes. And now, with the torrential rains that Zimbabwe has been experiencing, flooding is expected to take the infected water even further than it has already gone. Instead of “diluting” the infection, the added water only provides more space for the bacteria to multiply and prosper.

The incubation period of the illness - the period between exposure to the bacteria and the onset of symptoms - is usually about a day. Once symptoms start occuring, death can occur within eighteen hours or so, unless treatment is received. Since death is usually the result of extreme dehydration, treatment does not have to be sophisticated. The patient simply needs to be orally rehydrated with water and electrolytes. Even home remedies using water, sugar and fruit can be effective.

In Zimbabwe, though, the logistics of treatment are proving to be too overwhelming for aide workers. The sheer number of sick people, coupled with the fact that the cholera treatment centres throughout the country are seriously understaffed, makes it impossible to administer timely treatment to everyone who needs it. Funds for increased aide are not forthcoming, and President Robert Mugabe has been blamed for underestimating the severity of the outbreak - a charge that he unsurprisingly denies.

Prevention of cholera is mostly about cleanliness and sterilization. Anything that comes into contact with cholera patients, including clothing and bedding, should be cleaned and thoroughly sterilized. Water purification is essential. Any water used for cooking, cleaning, or drinking should be either boiled or thoroughly filtered. Vaccines are available in some places, although the jury is still out on their overall effectiveness. I would suggest that even if someone is vaccinated, it would be wise for them to boil any water they use when they’re in a place where cholera is a problem.

My heart goes out to this nation in turmoil. These people have no money, no jobs, no leader to believe in, and increasingly, no hope. It seems that their only chance is for the world to increasingly wake up to their plight and take notice. Under intense international scrutiny, could this country rise out of it depths of despair to shine once more?

Kaleidoscopically yours,
Kirsten
Tim's Tales

I got a phone call at work today. Well, actually, I got a few, but this one wasn’t work related. It was my daughter. I hadn’t heard from my daughter in months. Unfortunately, that is a good thing. It seems that every time she calls, she needs money for some sort of emergency. And I’m not talking about $50 or $100, usually it’s in the several hundred dollar range. Today was no different.

The drama queen called up crying. At first I didn’t even recognize her voice. Eventually I was able to calm her down enough that I could understand her. She was at the veterinarian’s office. She explained that her cat had gotten out of the house and became pregnant. However, the cat was unable to deliver the kittens as they had gotten too big. Delivery would have to be by cesarean section (if that’s what they call it for cats). The bill would come to over $1,100, or the cat would probably die.

I asked her if she remembered that I’m not particularly fond of cats. She said she did, but that this was her “baby” and it slept with her and sniff, sniff, wail (I told you she was a drama queen). Anyway, her plan was to apply for CareCredit, but they turned her down. She wanted me to co-sign for her. She told me she had a refund coming from school (not my college), and would be able to pay it next month.

So I checked out the site, and applied online. It was pretty painless, and in a matter of minutes I had the account number and she had $1,500 in credit. If paid back within 18 months, there would be no interest. If it’s longer than that, the interest rate is under 12% (but it is accrued from the day of the loan, so pay it off before 18 months if you can). And they’ll do this for humans too, so it’s really something to consider if you “need something now” but don’t have the money or insurance to pay for it. If your practitioner of choice doesn’t accept CareCredit, they can apply online as well.

So why am I telling you all of this? Well, there’s two reasons. First, I had never heard of CareCredit, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them.

And second, I wanted you to know that if my daughter doesn’t pay by the end of next month, I’m going to launch her feline over Niagara Falls. I can’t understand spending that kind of money on something that sleeps 16 hours a day.

Tim a’Musing
Having a Ball with Yarns
Tip of the Day

Uses For Old Newspaper

Stuff under doors and in cracks to stop cold wind from coming in. - NorCalKat
Poet-Tree


Good response to that one.  Thanks!

Next opening line…
My spouse says (she’s/he’s) misunderstood…

Hints:  Here’s a great new rhyming/composition tool.  http://www.writerhymes.com/
There’s also a great rhyming dictionary at http://www.rhymezone.com/
Limerick rules.  http://freespace.virgin.net/merrick.sheldon/limerickrules.htm 

Submit Opening Line
Submit Limerick

The weather’s so cold I could die—
under the big clouds in the sky—
but then I would wonder
"Why did I just blunder?"
and eat a whole big custard pie. - Cassandra in New York		 The weather’s so cold I could die
I dressed the layers had I
And though there weren’t many
Remarked my friend, Benny
Back in the Sudan I would fry - Maria in Illinois
The weather’s so cold I could die…
So a coat I decided to buy
With gloves and a hat
That made me look fat
But I’m warm and toasty I sigh. - Pat		 The weather’s so cold I could die…
Outside I’m a miserable guy
But the oven is hot
So I’ll take what I’ve got
I’ll stay in and I’ll bake apple pie - Pat
The weather’s so cold I could die!
The power’s out, too. Wonder why.
But by flashlight and candle
The dark I can handle
As I snuggle up close to my guy! - Nancy L in Ohio		 The weather’s so cold I could die;
I’ll make my rounds and say goodbye.
But that decision isn’t sound
It’s very cold underground
So, I’ll just sit here and heave a deep sigh. - Bonnie
The weather’s so cold I could die
So lots of layers I did apply.
But now I’ve a problem:
I’m wrapped top to bottom
And I can’t move to unzip my fly. - E. Cole Aye		 The weather’s so cold I could die
But I can make the cold go bye-bye.
I’ll go to my cupboard
Where liquid warmth is stored
In a tall bottle of whiskey rye. - E. Cole Aye
There once was a girl from Nantucket
Who had a job no on would covet
While plucking some birds
She said these very words:
You can take this job and pluck it. - E. Cole Aye		 There once was a girl from Nantucket
Who had a job no on would covet
While plucking some birds
She said these very words:
You can take this job and pluck it. - E. Cole Aye

Reader Comments

Re:  Adopt A Highway

Hello all - I don’t comment much but greatly enjoy the comments.
This is in response to the Adopt a Highway and Jacques and everyone’s comments.

I live right next to the highway that the KKK applied for and I drive it almost daily. It is interstate highway 55 that between South St. Louis County and the City of Arnold in Missouri where I live. I am pretty sure that when this was happening a few years ago around 2001 and the state eventually ruled in favor of the KKK but said they could not apply in the city limits of St. Louis. I guess that is why they applied for St. Louis County and Jefferson County (these are the counties that 55 runs through where the KKK applied and are with in miles of St. Louis City).

Yes there were signs put up after the final decision with the name KKK on them; even with most of the counties population’s very open objection. Within one day after the signage went up these signs were immediately cut down. I can’t say that I was unhappy about that. They were put back up again and again immediately they were "vandalized". The highway department could not keep the signs up and eventually (very quickly) gave up trying. Very soon after the KKK favorable decision (hmmm. almost like it had been planned) that part of the highway was renamed to Rosa Parks Memorial Highway for that particular stretch only. It is my understanding that renaming streets and highways usually take some time but this was put through particularly quick, almost instantly. Funny, the Rosa Parks Highway signs have never been vandalized! I smile every time I see those signs.

Personally I am not against bettering the environment or limiting who can participate in helping our environment, but I am greatly offended by knowing that the KKK and all its ideals are allowed to participate in state/city programs and look as if the state approves of them. What message is that sending to my children? Now, I have not taken the time to see exactly what law the state/government breaks by not allowing a private organization that supports discrimination as its mission to join a state run program that would give it good publicity and validate its ideals. Considering the KKK’s main ideas go against our nations laws I would think that allowing the KKK to use state/city programs to further its purpose would not be in accordance to our laws. Who is next to join the program - drug lords and illegal gun sellers? Again I am not a lawyer and don’t know the legal reason behind the decision.

If the KKK truly wanted to help our environment and not promote their agenda, then why can’t they go find a park or other area and help keep it clean, why do they need the sign other than to promote themselves? Missouri offers several clean stream teams that accept volunteers to help clean up the area rivers and banks. Why don’t they just show up there? My guess is they want their name in the news and on the lips of the people. They want the state/city to approve them and this was one way they saw they could force it.

But rest assured the people of Missouri are not fooled easily - we know why the KKK wanted to adopt a highway and we know the state was forced to let it happen. We don’t and won’t approve of the KKK until they show us they deserve our approval. After all we are the Show Me state. Some times you can’t win for losing, but I use this whole event as a teaching tool for my children to explain our values and doing the right thing no mater what others are doing or getting away with. - Love and Peace, Dana



Well, I reckon my hat’s off to you RGQ I see that you sure did print my comment and other good ones from other free thinkers as well. ROCK! ON! RGQ! Good job! - Tazz



Re:  Limerick Line

Glad to see that that one got printed too. I knew there was a reason I liked this ezine. Y’all got it going on. You are not afraid to print people’s opinions and stuff. I hope the person that was thinking of unsubscribing from RGQ because of Limericks will not do so. I like to read other’s thoughts. Some times, no all the time, it gives the rest of us something to think about.

You know? Not every one can be right but some one has to have something to say to begin with or nothing ever happens in the world. Never be afraid to stand for what you believe in, and never go away just cause you don’t agree with every thing you see printed in a piece of reading material. RGQ is for every one who has something to say and can say it correctly, meaning by going by RGQ’s rules and such. Keep up the good work every body! Also, let’s hear from even more readers. What say y’all? - Tazz



Well Tazz, I was waiting for some other reader to point out all the non-sequiturs in Mike’s reply to my message, but I got you instead!

Firstly, I don’t have a problem with Obama and I don’t know what made you think I had. What I meant (and I thought it was clear) was that the day after an Afro-American was elected President, a day to celebrate progress, when people all over the world liked the USA for the first time in years, it was a sad shock to find the old language of bigotry alive and well in RGQ.

Secondly, yes of course you have freedom of speech, though you in the USA don’t have the monopoly of it and didn’t invent it. As Socrates said, a long time before your country existed, ‘You have freedom of speech but I have the freedom not to have to listen to you.’ I also have the freedom to say I find your speech offensive. If you use words that are insulting and hurtful to minorities, words like ‘queer’ or ‘nigger’(if you think one is acceptable, then why not the other?), in your limericks or anywhere else, I have the right to walk away from you. I don’t think that means I ‘have a problem’ or ‘can’t stand the heat’. It just means I don’t like you very much.

Isn’t being able to speak out against oppression of all kinds what freedom of speech is about? -Julian.
[So I suppose what you are saying is that the British newspaper that ran that limerick in their article shouldn’t have done so. Not the first time, in 1907 nor the second time 100 years later.

Or are you saying it was OK for them to print the limerick but not me because, as the whole world knows, only Americans are bigots.

The problem that arises with thinking the limerick should be buried forever, to me, is that once you say that the word queer is so offensive that we must remove it, not only from current speech, but in historic references, you cross the line into censorship. If we dislike that word what about other words, one of which you point out in your reply? Do we quit using them in everyday speech? Yes. Do we remove anything that might remind us of a past when words were used to hurt? I don’t think so.

The limerick section is not intended to be politically correct. We allow a little more leeway in the speech used in that section. Of course I’m very sorry if anyone was offended. That certainly wasn’t my intention, and I’ll be more cautious in the future. It’s just that it’s a lot more difficult to fit “Someone of a different sexual persuasion, not that there’s anything wrong with that” into a limerick!]



Reader Submission

Here’s something you don’t see every day. Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino - three of the greatest ivory ticklers of their day - playing pianos on the same stage at the same time. Brace yourself and make sure your sound is on because this show will rock you out of your seat.

This is a once in a lifetime appearance and one you will not forget! Ron Woods of the Rolling Stones, Carl Perkins (Blue Suede Shoes) and others playing ‘Back-Up’. A ‘Cameo Appearance’ by Rod Stewart and all directed by Paul Schaeffer - Noella
[All I can say is WOW!!]
Submit Reader Comment Submit 15 Minutes of Fame Submit Image or Quote Submit to Best of RGQ Submit Tip of the Day Submit Limerick

Disclaimer- All quotes printed in this publication are believed to be accurately attributed, but no guarantees are made that some incorrectly attributed, or even outright false quotes won’t get in here from time to time.  I assure readers that I will do my best to weed out incorrect quotes, and will print a retraction as soon as I become aware of any errors.

Click here to see the archives of past issues, or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reallygoodquotes/messages. If you run across something really outstanding when perusing the archives, I’d appreciate it if you’d mail me at TheBestOfRGQ@yahoo.com and point it out to me.  I’m in the process of compiling an e-book called, not surprisingly, The Best of RGQ, and I’d like to hear from you which pieces impacted you the most.

Questions? Comments? Want to contribute a joke or a quote or an image? Feel free to e-mail at reallygoodquotes@gmail.com. We’d love to hear from you! We’ll even publish your comments, if they make any sense!

If you’d like to receive RGQ by email, please send a blank e-mail to reallygoodquotes-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

We can’t imagine why you’d want to, but if you choose to unsubscribe, please send a blank e-mail to reallygoodquotes-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. Should you choose to unsubscribe, please e-mail us and tell us why. We listen to what people say, even if they’re leaving us.

 

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