‘Various & Sundry’ Archives
Dogs
Everyone knows that a dog is a man's best friend. It's just one of those things. Cats and birds and fish are nice, but dogs are plainly and simply awesome. Seeing-eye and hearing-ear dogs help those who have visual and audio impairments. Therapy dogs help those who suffer from anxiety, and other conditions. Out pet dogs improve our [...]
Small houses
There was a great article in The Oregonian this Sunday about Rich Daniels, a builder of small homes. Seems he (and several others) have found a growing market for houses as small as 400 square feet. With a price tag in the $40K range, these homes are becoming quite popular with people looking to cut back living expenses to a minimum. What an [...]
Hanging glacier
That's right. A glacier that hangs on the side of a mountain and moves by avalanche. This one is in the Mt. Cook National Park in New Zealand. I'm not sure there's really more to say other than: awesome.
Christmas socks
Nothing quite gets me in the spirit of the holidays like a colorful pair of Christmas socks. Christmas socks are whimsical, fun and more than a little corny. And they're also awesome. Every year Santa puts Christmas socks in our stockings and we promptly put them on Christmas morning--while still in our pjs and drinking mimosas. I start [...]
Olive fingers
One of my favorite parts of the holidays is eating with my family. We have traditions. There are recipes handed down for generations. There are stories told every time we're together. And there are olive fingers. Some of us are olive finger people. Some of us are not. But me...I'm an olive finger kind of girl.
Humanity, in photos
If a picture is worth a thousand words, this collection of images is priceless. Humanity: A Celebration of Friendship, Family, Love & Laughter showcases the work of 150 new photographers. Yes! magazine has put a small collection of them online for us to enjoy. These images come from all over the world, and remind us that we're really [...]
Coin-operated rides
My entire life, I have loved coin-operated rides. Animals, cars, spaceships. I love them all. But more than anything, the old-fashioned horses get my imagination flowing. Giddy-up!
Love
Everyone knows love is awesome. Everyone also knows love releases endorphins that make us feel really good. Now we know that intense, new love is as strong a pain killer as cocaine, according to a recent Stanford University School of Medicine study. From the e! Science News article: "It turns out that the areas of the brain activated by [...]
Restaurant booths
When you were a kid, they made you feel like a grown-up. As a grown-up they make you feel like a kid. In downtown Los Angeles they make you feel like an alien. Booth, please!
Solar and electric powered airplanes
We have electric cars, so why not electric airplanes? Solar Impulse, a Swiss company, has a zero-emissions airplane that's powered by solar energy and electricity. They hope to fly internationally by sometime next year. That's pretty darn awesome. Read more on Ode Exchange.
