"They don't make things like they used to." I don't know who said this, but they were right. Like everything from the nineties could use this phrase - television, music, movies, etc. But anyway this is about random commercials and most of them are coming from my childhood...
1. Liberty Mutual: This is actually current and not from the nineties.. anyways I love these commercials. People seeing other people helping people causing them to help people... it's a never-ending circle.
2. POPS Cereal: "I got to have my Pops." They seriously don't play these commercials anymore. A kid always goes out of his way to get this 'pops' cereal and then says "I got have my Pops!" Though I remember one with a little kid sitting on a box of Pops at the table...
3. Blockbuster: A guinnea pig named Ray and a bunny named Carl are in a cage in a pet store window across the street from a Blockbuster. Ray starts talking about his favorite action flicks and starts swinging around a carrot. It hits Carl in the face and Carl looks at Ray and asks "Did you just whack me with a carrot?" Carl waves his hand and several mice jump into the cage in karate stances making karate noises and Ray says "Oh, no! ninja mice!" and they attack him.
4. Pizza Hut: I don't really remember this commercial too much, but it was pizza cutter dressed as a super hero and he talked in a high voice....
5. Kit Kat Bars: Do kids know this song today? I don't think they do. I think if you went into a school and started to sing "Give me a break, give me a break ..." kids would think you were crazy... and the school officials might too. "break me a piece of that kit kat bar!"
6. Pampers Pull-UPs: "I'm a big kid now!" in a sing-songy voice. My brother and I would sing this when we put them on when we were little.
7. 1-800-CALL-ATT: Carrot Top is telling you how to make a collect call... I just remember the commercial... i know it's random
7. Tootsie Pop: That kids always asking everyone "how many licks to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?" I like the one with the owl... He licks it "One.. Two.." and bites it off "Three." He munches on it and says "three".
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Harry Potter part 2
Surprisingly I haven't done another Harry Potter one... I think my second blog was about Harry Potter... Yep it was. I think JK Rowling is a genius. Her plots are so intricate and intertwine with each other. I think it's just amazing. She leaves little foreshadowing clues and hints in each book without it being noticeable unless you go back and read the books. How she created the entire Harry Potter universe is insane as well. She imagined an entire universe and she hadn't even published the first book yet! Or even written it.. But she made up odd names and crazy wizardy objects. She even invented a sport that's actually played at some colleges - Quidditch. She even has detailed history for the wizarding world - like wars and battles between different creatures. It's just so elaborate.... I don't think I could ever do something that amazing. Oh! And she invented a word - an actual word that's been published in webster's dictionary: Muggle. Okay not so amazing any more.... I just looked it up, and i'm a little disappointed now. 1. muggle - a marijuana cigarette; 1920's slang. 2. muggle - a common person, esp. one who is ignorant or has no skills; 1920's slang. 3. muggle - a person without magical powers; 1996; popularized by J. K. Rowling in "Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone".
Oh, and I just remember... I want a Philosopher's stone. I mean a copy of the book- not a actual rock... that would be cool too though. Because I have American Edition's, I feel like they're fake now. Because those weren't her original words; they've been edited for us Americans who don't know that in Europe soccer is called football. (I'm sure there are lots more too... like isn't the bathroom called the loo.)
But back to my original point... I think that it's just amazing that every name for some thing has an actual meaning or purpose. I have many many examples..
1. Aragog - "Arachnid" means spider and "Gog" was the name of a legendary giant. Combined, the name means "giant spider." Also possibly derived from the Greek word "agog," meaning "leader."
2. Binns, Professor - A "bin" is what the British call "a garbage can." Many students consider Professor Binns' information to be rubbish. In Northern England, "Binns" is a slang term for glasses, possibly referring to the professor's academic nature.
3. Fawkes (Dumbledore's phoenix) - Guy Fawkes was an English Catholic who, in 1605, tried to blow up the House of Parliament as an act of rebellion against the new Protestant government. In England, November 5th is now known as "Guy Fawkes Day" (or "Bonfire Night") where Guy Fawkes is burned in effigy. Every year he is resurrected to burn again.
4. Xenophilius (Lovegood) - "Xenophobia" is the term used for fear of strangers or foreigners and "xenophilia" means love or affection for alien things or people. Explains Xenophilius' love for all things strange.
Oh, and I just remember... I want a Philosopher's stone. I mean a copy of the book- not a actual rock... that would be cool too though. Because I have American Edition's, I feel like they're fake now. Because those weren't her original words; they've been edited for us Americans who don't know that in Europe soccer is called football. (I'm sure there are lots more too... like isn't the bathroom called the loo.)
But back to my original point... I think that it's just amazing that every name for some thing has an actual meaning or purpose. I have many many examples..
1. Aragog - "Arachnid" means spider and "Gog" was the name of a legendary giant. Combined, the name means "giant spider." Also possibly derived from the Greek word "agog," meaning "leader."
2. Binns, Professor - A "bin" is what the British call "a garbage can." Many students consider Professor Binns' information to be rubbish. In Northern England, "Binns" is a slang term for glasses, possibly referring to the professor's academic nature.
3. Fawkes (Dumbledore's phoenix) - Guy Fawkes was an English Catholic who, in 1605, tried to blow up the House of Parliament as an act of rebellion against the new Protestant government. In England, November 5th is now known as "Guy Fawkes Day" (or "Bonfire Night") where Guy Fawkes is burned in effigy. Every year he is resurrected to burn again.
4. Xenophilius (Lovegood) - "Xenophobia" is the term used for fear of strangers or foreigners and "xenophilia" means love or affection for alien things or people. Explains Xenophilius' love for all things strange.
Braves Game
I've actually only been to one Braves game... and it was awful. I still regret it. I wasn't even suppose to even go; my brother was supposed to go with my dad... But I remember riding all the way up there in his truck and parking far away from the stadium. It probably wasn't that far, but I was nine so it was considered far if I wasn't able to see the gates. I remember carrying a tote bag full of junk, but I think we had to throw away some of it because we weren't allowed to have it with us.
We sat up high above the visitor's dugout. The Braves were playing the SF Giants, and I didn't know if we were suppose to win or lose. I don't remember most of the game... I remember Barry Bonds hit a home run. I remember we were losing for most of it, and it truly was a boring game. At the 7th inning stretch, my dad asks me if I want to go home because I'm sure I looked miserable.
On the way home he listens to game on the radio. We're not even far away from the stadium when we have back-to-back homeruns! And they hit two more home runs later in the game! I felt so bad because we should have been there... I truly regret leaving because it would have been amazing to watch.
I've been thinking of going to a few games this summer. I think I might buy a four-game packet thing because it'll be cheaper and I think you can get a yankee or red sox game in there with it. I'm not sure, but I know that you can't directly buy a ticket for a yankee/redsox game unless you're at the gates.... Oh man, yesterday's game was great. Braves won against the Reds 10-2. In one inning, this poor fellow had a rough inning in left feild. It was Dickinson on the Reds; and he missed two fly balls twice. Finally he got a flyball and the whole stadium cheered... and I did as well. But I mean he was having a rough day...
We sat up high above the visitor's dugout. The Braves were playing the SF Giants, and I didn't know if we were suppose to win or lose. I don't remember most of the game... I remember Barry Bonds hit a home run. I remember we were losing for most of it, and it truly was a boring game. At the 7th inning stretch, my dad asks me if I want to go home because I'm sure I looked miserable.
On the way home he listens to game on the radio. We're not even far away from the stadium when we have back-to-back homeruns! And they hit two more home runs later in the game! I felt so bad because we should have been there... I truly regret leaving because it would have been amazing to watch.
I've been thinking of going to a few games this summer. I think I might buy a four-game packet thing because it'll be cheaper and I think you can get a yankee or red sox game in there with it. I'm not sure, but I know that you can't directly buy a ticket for a yankee/redsox game unless you're at the gates.... Oh man, yesterday's game was great. Braves won against the Reds 10-2. In one inning, this poor fellow had a rough inning in left feild. It was Dickinson on the Reds; and he missed two fly balls twice. Finally he got a flyball and the whole stadium cheered... and I did as well. But I mean he was having a rough day...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
PAC's
What is a PAC? (Just so you know this was the other topic for my american government test, I figured why not?) No not as in PAC-man. Wait why is he called PAC-man. It must be some acronym or something...
anyways a PAC is a Political Action Committee, which is the "political arm" of an interest group that collects money/funds from people to give to another PAC or candidate. Example: the NRA is an interest group that has some PAC that collects money to give to a candidate that has the same views on guns as them...
The first PAC was created by the AFL-CIO (American Federal Laborers - Congress of Industrial Organizations) and it was called COPE (Committee of Political Education).
The FECA (Federal Elections Campaign Act)of 1971 created the FEC (Federal Elections Committee) which was to oversee federal elections (congressional and presidential) and it also created public financing in presidential elections.
The FECA of 1974 allowed unions and corporations to form PAC's. But there were some exceptions, an indvidual can only give up to $2000 to a PAC and only up to $37,500 per calendar year. A PAC can only give up to $10,000 to a candidate per election cycle. But there are loopholes: multiple memberships, giving money in other people's names, and bundling.
(Pac-Man? i still don't know where it came from... i sort of looked it up but no really... someone let me know if they know)
By the waym i think I did well on my essays on my american government test. For the PAC essay I sort of just wrote down facts, I don't think i really answered the question or even made sense. oh well, too late now.... but the downsian theory rocked. wow i never say rock.... that was weird. its a sign telling me to end blog.
anyways a PAC is a Political Action Committee, which is the "political arm" of an interest group that collects money/funds from people to give to another PAC or candidate. Example: the NRA is an interest group that has some PAC that collects money to give to a candidate that has the same views on guns as them...
The first PAC was created by the AFL-CIO (American Federal Laborers - Congress of Industrial Organizations) and it was called COPE (Committee of Political Education).
The FECA (Federal Elections Campaign Act)of 1971 created the FEC (Federal Elections Committee) which was to oversee federal elections (congressional and presidential) and it also created public financing in presidential elections.
The FECA of 1974 allowed unions and corporations to form PAC's. But there were some exceptions, an indvidual can only give up to $2000 to a PAC and only up to $37,500 per calendar year. A PAC can only give up to $10,000 to a candidate per election cycle. But there are loopholes: multiple memberships, giving money in other people's names, and bundling.
(Pac-Man? i still don't know where it came from... i sort of looked it up but no really... someone let me know if they know)
By the waym i think I did well on my essays on my american government test. For the PAC essay I sort of just wrote down facts, I don't think i really answered the question or even made sense. oh well, too late now.... but the downsian theory rocked. wow i never say rock.... that was weird. its a sign telling me to end blog.
MASH part 3
I think I should do a blog about classic episodes of MASH... like when I think of MASH what moments do I think of? These will most likely classic moments that everyone remembers...
1. "Abyssinia, Henry" This is the episode when Henry Blake is finally sent home, but his plane is shot down into the Sea of Japan. At the end of the episode, Radar stumbles into the OR to tell everyone. I remember the last time I watched it, I just started crying. Not because Henry Blake just died, but because I remembered that his son was born earlier in the season. He hadn't even seen his son, and his son will never meet his father. That idea just made me sob.
2. "Goodbye Radar" Radar finally gets to go home... and he actually makes it there. But I remember the part about his going away party. They're all waiting to surprise him, but wounded soldiers are sent to their MASH. So while everyone is in the Or, Radar sees the party decorations. He walks by the OR door and looks at everyone for the last time. Hawkeye sees him and actually salutes him. It's one of my favorite moments.
3. "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" This is the finally of the series... Who doesn't remember this episode? This is THE most watch television show episode ever. The end with the rocks spelling out goodbye to Hawkeye and to us at the same time was just... good.
4. "The Interview" This was a great episode because a lot of it was improv with just the actors being in character with a reporter. It's shot in black and white and Father Mulcahy's interview is still imprinted into my brain. He talks about how doctors would warm themselves up in the steam that's rising off from the bodies during the cold winters...
5. "Run for the Money" The main storyline is about the race and bets with another MASH unit. Father Mulcahy has to run against some Olympic runner, but during the race he convinces the guy to loose the race so the orphanage could have a new roof. But the other part of the episode that I remember is the stuttering patient. A wounded soldier is bullied and called stupid for stuttering. Winchester stands up for the boy and tells him he is smart. He gives him his nice copy of Moby Dick to the guy who just reads comic book. At the end of the episode, Winchester is sitting and listening to his infamous "recorded letters." It happens to be that his own sister stutters.... I don't know, but I've always loved this episode.
1. "Abyssinia, Henry" This is the episode when Henry Blake is finally sent home, but his plane is shot down into the Sea of Japan. At the end of the episode, Radar stumbles into the OR to tell everyone. I remember the last time I watched it, I just started crying. Not because Henry Blake just died, but because I remembered that his son was born earlier in the season. He hadn't even seen his son, and his son will never meet his father. That idea just made me sob.
2. "Goodbye Radar" Radar finally gets to go home... and he actually makes it there. But I remember the part about his going away party. They're all waiting to surprise him, but wounded soldiers are sent to their MASH. So while everyone is in the Or, Radar sees the party decorations. He walks by the OR door and looks at everyone for the last time. Hawkeye sees him and actually salutes him. It's one of my favorite moments.
3. "Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen" This is the finally of the series... Who doesn't remember this episode? This is THE most watch television show episode ever. The end with the rocks spelling out goodbye to Hawkeye and to us at the same time was just... good.
4. "The Interview" This was a great episode because a lot of it was improv with just the actors being in character with a reporter. It's shot in black and white and Father Mulcahy's interview is still imprinted into my brain. He talks about how doctors would warm themselves up in the steam that's rising off from the bodies during the cold winters...
5. "Run for the Money" The main storyline is about the race and bets with another MASH unit. Father Mulcahy has to run against some Olympic runner, but during the race he convinces the guy to loose the race so the orphanage could have a new roof. But the other part of the episode that I remember is the stuttering patient. A wounded soldier is bullied and called stupid for stuttering. Winchester stands up for the boy and tells him he is smart. He gives him his nice copy of Moby Dick to the guy who just reads comic book. At the end of the episode, Winchester is sitting and listening to his infamous "recorded letters." It happens to be that his own sister stutters.... I don't know, but I've always loved this episode.
Wheat Cent
Have you ever seen a funny penny? One that doesn't have the Lincoln Memorial on the back? From 1909 to 1958, wheat pennies were produced with Lincoln on one side and "one cent" with two stalks of wheat on the other.
My dad likes to collect things, mainly baseball cards and coins. But he always tells us that he if we ever see this funny to give it to him. Now that I have an actually job that I deal with money regularly, I come across lots of wheat pennies. Somehow my brother and I have come to enjoy this too. When we find them, we get excited and look at the year to see if it's !1943!.... I made the mistake of telling my brother that if he ever finds a 1943 wheat penny, we'll be rich.
In 1943, twelve pennies were made out of copper instead of the silver by mistake. Copper was being used for war supplies - tanks and ammunition. But now these pennies are super rare and can be worth a fortune. I think in 2004, one was sold for $200,000. But now my brother will call everyone asking what the year was supposed to be... and its never the right one. But actually my dad's got some of the steel pennies. Actually he's got about 600 pennies..... that is only $6... to you at least. Some pennies are actually worth between 5-12 cents.
Actually the wheat penny was designed by Victor David Brenner - a sculptor. But on the wheat penny, you can see the initials, VDB, hidden on Lincoln's shoulder. Also there's supposed to be a controversy about the wheat on the penny or the initials... I'm not sure. But it's been 100 years since the lincoln penny was minted so there'll be 4 new designs releasing this year.
My dad likes to collect things, mainly baseball cards and coins. But he always tells us that he if we ever see this funny to give it to him. Now that I have an actually job that I deal with money regularly, I come across lots of wheat pennies. Somehow my brother and I have come to enjoy this too. When we find them, we get excited and look at the year to see if it's !1943!.... I made the mistake of telling my brother that if he ever finds a 1943 wheat penny, we'll be rich.
In 1943, twelve pennies were made out of copper instead of the silver by mistake. Copper was being used for war supplies - tanks and ammunition. But now these pennies are super rare and can be worth a fortune. I think in 2004, one was sold for $200,000. But now my brother will call everyone asking what the year was supposed to be... and its never the right one. But actually my dad's got some of the steel pennies. Actually he's got about 600 pennies..... that is only $6... to you at least. Some pennies are actually worth between 5-12 cents.
Actually the wheat penny was designed by Victor David Brenner - a sculptor. But on the wheat penny, you can see the initials, VDB, hidden on Lincoln's shoulder. Also there's supposed to be a controversy about the wheat on the penny or the initials... I'm not sure. But it's been 100 years since the lincoln penny was minted so there'll be 4 new designs releasing this year.
Friday, April 24, 2009
MASH Part 2
Because of my favorable 300 word limit I decided to use another blog on characters. Just to let you know my knowledge will becoming from my brain and not wikipedia... Gosh is this something I should be bragging about? No probably not. These are probably my favorite...
1. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce - (portrayed by Alan Alda) He was born in Crabapple Cove, Maine. His only family is his father who is also a doctor. Hawkeye often writes to him and mentions him. Hawkeye is a captain and the 4077th's chief of surgery. He lives in the Swamp - the name of the tent he lives in and is also where a homemade alcoholic still is. Between shifts, he can be seen drinking and joking around.
2. BJ Hunnicutt - (portrayed by Mike Farrell) He is from California where is family is. He has a wife who he's faithful to and a daughter Erin. He's aslo a captain and Hawkeye's best friend. One of my favorite things about him is his name. A whole episode was about Hawkeye finding out what the B and J stand for. Hawkeye even snuck into files to see that the BJ was still there. At the end it's revealed that he's named after his parents: Bea and Jay Hunnicutt. I thought that was just so clever.
3. Maxwell Klinger - (portrayed by Jamie Farr) He is a Lebanese-American from Toledo, Ohio. In the beginning of the series, he is a private trying to get a Section 8 (discharge for being insane) by dressing as a woman. Later he becomes more serious when he has to be the new company clerk. In the last episode, it's revealed that he is the only character staying behind in Korea with his new wife Soon Lee.
4. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly - (portrayed by Gary Burghoff) Radar is the company clerk and an innocent private from Iowa. Radar is young, naive, and innocent which is used often in story lines to show the effects of war. He gets his nickname for his impeccable hearing. He can hear the choppers (helicopter) coming to bring more wounded soldiers.
There are about ten more, but im tired.
1. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce - (portrayed by Alan Alda) He was born in Crabapple Cove, Maine. His only family is his father who is also a doctor. Hawkeye often writes to him and mentions him. Hawkeye is a captain and the 4077th's chief of surgery. He lives in the Swamp - the name of the tent he lives in and is also where a homemade alcoholic still is. Between shifts, he can be seen drinking and joking around.
2. BJ Hunnicutt - (portrayed by Mike Farrell) He is from California where is family is. He has a wife who he's faithful to and a daughter Erin. He's aslo a captain and Hawkeye's best friend. One of my favorite things about him is his name. A whole episode was about Hawkeye finding out what the B and J stand for. Hawkeye even snuck into files to see that the BJ was still there. At the end it's revealed that he's named after his parents: Bea and Jay Hunnicutt. I thought that was just so clever.
3. Maxwell Klinger - (portrayed by Jamie Farr) He is a Lebanese-American from Toledo, Ohio. In the beginning of the series, he is a private trying to get a Section 8 (discharge for being insane) by dressing as a woman. Later he becomes more serious when he has to be the new company clerk. In the last episode, it's revealed that he is the only character staying behind in Korea with his new wife Soon Lee.
4. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly - (portrayed by Gary Burghoff) Radar is the company clerk and an innocent private from Iowa. Radar is young, naive, and innocent which is used often in story lines to show the effects of war. He gets his nickname for his impeccable hearing. He can hear the choppers (helicopter) coming to bring more wounded soldiers.
There are about ten more, but im tired.
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