So muggy, I can hardly think...

Aaahh or Ouch?

Ugh, this morning when I read the Wall Street Journal, there was a picture of a policeman firing a water cannon at a protester and all I could think was: "Man, I wish I were that protester, at least he must be cool." How wrong is that?

Adventures in Windows 7, take 2

You have to turn off all your much-touted security features just to be able to install critical security updates. Good one, Microsoft!

Rise of the Decorative Toilet Plunger!

Do you know how hard it is to find a good plunger? I go cheap the the darn thing either falls apart or it's impossible to depress (is the the right word?). So after much consideration, I figured that one amazingly reviewed plunger costing 5-10 times as much as 5-10 cheapies which fell apart ought to be an acceptable compromise, right?

So I fire up Amazon.com, type in toilet plunger, sort by new (who wants a USED plunger?), and sort by 4 stars. Down to 379 listings. I look at anything with more than 2 reviews (got to watch out for those shills),without an obvious force cup in their pictures (my toilet and pipes are large and old, delicate too. I'd replace them but I can barely afford the cheapie plungers here!). Scroll past all the listings for toilet brushes, toilet paper holders, toilet themed candy (eww! Kidsmania Sour Flush Candy Plunger with Sour Powder Dip, 1.38-Ounce Plungers (Pack of 12)), book about the digestive system (how'd that get in there? Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal by Mary Roach), many other books (nearly about half the results and most of them not remotely related to repair) and other non-toilet plunger-related stuff. Damn you, Amazon search!

Of the small percentage of results that fit, what do the reviews say? "This toilet plunger holder is so pretty I bought one for each of my bathrooms!" "This toilet plunger is really a pretty blue though you can't see it in the picture because if the holder!" "This plunger and brush set looked so good and took up so little space!" "The holder really helps keeps the yucky germs contained!"

What
the
F---!

I'm looking for a plunger that works, not one that's just pretty to look at! I blame all those home decorating shows. The rise of the decorative toilet plunger indeed.

Could someone pretty, pretty, pretty pleeease direct me to a sturdy non-force cup 6" cup size plunger that works and keeps working for years? It doesn't even have to be pretty.

Crystal light + Soda = Hella head of foam!

Crystal light: a bunch of fake ingredients but low calorie and "healthier", lots of fake color

So I doubt you're supposed to add Crystal Light to something as unhealthy as soda. Well, it wasn't my intention. I didn't bother rinsing a cup after some Crystal Light Fruit Punch, then proceeded to pour in soda. It fizzed into a huge head of foam that lasted quite a while. It was one of those ten calorie sodas with the fake sugar that tastes horrible, so there.

Soda: a bunch of fake ingredients plus SUGAR! So not healthy! Unless, of course, it's low calorie with more fake ingredients, but "healthier."

Crystal light + Soda = Unhealthy together.

Red Velvet cake - What's the point?

Gratuitous use of food coloring. Not particularly tasty, or is it just the Duncan Hines cake mix version? Seriously, it tastes like it needs a 2 inch layer of frosting just to qualify as a proper dessert. What's the point? Why not just make a rich chocolate cake sans red dye?

What do you think?

The society pages, who do they think they are?

Ever look in a magazine or newspaper and they have this section full of pictures from parties? Anonymous people from boring looking parties where apparently all the people do is drink and smile at cameras, hoping to show up in those pages.

Except they're not anonymous, are they? They can't be; their names show up in the captions. They're not celebs, or even reality TV "stars", politicians, athletes, models, or sought after artists (be they musicians, painters, authors, or photographers). They're just... rich, maybe. Or related to somebody. Somebody else in those pictures, possibly.

Pages and pages of these people who show up at these endless string of parties. And, yay, if they can manage to wrangle an actual celebrity to show up!

Yawn. I mean literally. I didn't get enough sleep last night. Then again maybe it's just these endless pages of self-important people at pretentious parties. No offense.

Croutons are international cuisine!

New York brand Texas Toast croutons started with the Penn family in Ohio. Made from French bread with Italian goodness! Awesome stuff, and I especially loved the Caesar variety. Also, good: Cheddar Bacon, Cheese & Garlic, and New York Texas Toast Tortilla Strips Chipotle Cheddar. Ah, my salads and soups have been much improved since I found this stuff.