Chicago Students Can't Reap What They Sow

I received an article this morning from a cousin of mine in Chicago who found this article (http://food.change.org/blog/view/chicago_kids_reap_what_they_sow_but_cant_eat_it?me=nl) completely disturbing. With all the talk of restructuring school lunch programs, students in Chicago who raise everything from pumpkins to Tilapia, tomatoes to chikens, aren't able to eat the food they grow. The food is, instead, sold or given away. Some of these students in the Chicago Public School system don't come from the wealthiest families and could benefit from their efforts. If you want to help these kids get a little piece of thier pie, sign the petition attached to the article. :)

A Magical Movie Weekend

Hey Blog Fans! I love my Netflix account. I really do. I'd marry it if we were in Japan. I rented "Lucky # Slevin," "Slither" and "The Invention of Lying" over the weekend. The first two I've seen, the last was a first-time-view.

First up, "Lucky # Slevin," a movie that didn't do well in theaters at all for some crazy

reason. I

mean, seriously, the cast alone should have been a motivation. Bruce Willis, Sir Ben Kingsly, Morgan Freeman, Lucy Lu, and Josh Hartnett.

Yeah.

That's some star power.

Not only does the movie have THAT going for it, but it also has a pretty great plot with some awesome dialogue. If you like a gangster mystery with some sharp wit (and Lucy Lu being the cutest button in the WORLD), check it out.

"Slither" - well, you know me and my love of crazy horror movies, but this one is a little

different, folks. "Slither" is a very self-aware "bad" horror movie. The writing is great, the delivery is perfect (tip my hat to Nathan Fillion), and it's as funny as it is scary. If you aren't easily grossed out by creepy crawlies, make a point of renting it.

Last, but certainly not least, "The Invention of Lying" with Ricky Gervais. How did it take me so long to see this movie? I remember seeing the trailer for it and thinking that not only was it up my alley - Ricky Gervais is in it, and he never fails me. As Emma Stone said in Zombieland, "he's got a direct line to my funny bone." We all know that honesty is the best policy, but "The Invention of Lying" brings up a really good point about being TOO honest; tact should always be part of that policy. Two minutes in to this movie I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes... this isn't for the easily offended, though. Watch it with an open mind.

There you have it, my weekend in a nut shell. Nothing like a movie marathon to kick off the fall. :)

For those who thought the Snuggie was stupid...

Where Has All the Summer Gone...

It is not where it belongs.

Wow. Summer has certainly flown by. I know there are plenty of hot days left ahead of us, but I can't help reflecting back on the summers of my youth. They seemed to never end!

Being an adult is stupid. :P

Bwah!!!

Some Friday LOLs...

Make 'Em Laugh

Rick and I were talking this morning about "Singing in the Rain" and the AMAZING choreography in "Make 'Em Laugh." I wasn't able to embed the video due to liscensing and stuff, BUT, here's the link to something wonderful! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW02c5UNGl0

World Cup

George Vlosich III: Etch A Sketch Artist

Cleveland's 'Etch A Sketch King' uses unusual canvas for works of art


By Diane DiPiero, Associated Content

Once upon a time, before portable DVD players and the Nintendo DS, a 10-year-old boy was handed an Etch A Sketch to keep himself busy on a five-and-a-half-hour road trip from Cleveland to Washington, D.C.

Not satisfied with sketching geometric shapes or stick figures, he made a picture of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Long after that trip, George Vlosich III is still producing highly intricate images on the Etch A Sketch. His detailed creations keep coming with each turn of the silver knobs. The red plastic box has become a vibrant frame for the artist's breathtaking creations. Young Vlosich stumbled upon a unique means of artistic expression that would one day land him on "Oprah" and have him sketching everyone from LeBron James to President Obama.

Early years

After realizing his Etch A Sketch talents, Vlosich entered monthly contests sponsored by the Ohio manufacturer of the toy.He usually won.

Slightly suspicious, Ohio Art sent a representative to Vlosich's Cleveland home to see if he was really the artist making all of these creations. When the company saw that he was legit, Ohio Art started to send Vlosich an Etch A Sketch toy every month so he could work on new creations.

The company also put some of his most detailed and impressive etches on a country-wide museum tour.

The son of an artist, Vlosich recalls watching Saturday-morning cartoons with his father and recreating on the Etch A Sketch the figures he saw on TV. From there, he moved on to sports figures. He fondly remembers making a sketch of Lawrence Taylor, former football player for the New York Giants and now a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"The Giants were at (the) Browns training camp, and I got to meet Lawrence Taylor and show him the sketch," Vlosich says. He also sketched baseball players such as Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles, and got to meet them as well.

Child at heart

Many children outgrow a toy as their interests change, but Vlosich never abandoned the Etch A Sketch.

Instead, he perfected his drawings, spending "hundreds of thousands of hours," in his estimation, turning knobs to just the right degree to create shadow effects that heightened the lifelike qualities of his work.

These days, Vlosich is a painter, a graphic designer and an art director for Wyse Advertising, a Cleveland-based agency. He and his brother, Greg, an artist in his own right, have created a line of graphic apparel celebrating their hometown. The "Cleve Land That I Love" T-shirt has been a big seller, according to Vlosich.

"We're very pro-Cleveland, and we want to support the community, says Vlosich, 31, who is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art.

The king

The Etch A Sketch is still a big part of his life.

Dubbed the "Etch A Sketch King" for his detailed creations, Vlosich appeared on "Oprah" last February, showing the queen of daytime TV his own royal abilities. Currently, his work can be seen at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Etch A Sketch through August 1.

As fun as using the Etch A Sketch is for Vlosich, he doesn't take on every project tossed his way. That's because over the years he has developed an involved system that he follows every time he picks up the toy.

First, Vlosich shakes a new Etch A Sketch to make sure it will produce the crisp lines he needs. If an Etch A Sketch doesn't pass the shake test, he doesn't use it.

Rather than just start with turning the knobs to begin a new creation, Vlosich initially draws an image in his sketchbook. Only when he is comfortable that the image will reproduce well on the Etch A Sketch does Vlosich get to work.

He spends about 70-80 hours on one sketch. That's because any time he doesn't quite get a line right or doesn't think an image looks like the original, he starts over. After doing the line work first, Vlosich moves on to shading, which he says is the easiest but also the most time-consuming part of a project. A single line might be traced over 20 to 30 times to give it the right thickness.

When he's finally finished, Vlosich makes his sketch permanent by removing the aluminum powder and stylus from inside the Etch A Sketch. Once those are out, the sketch on the screen cannot be erased. Vlosich says he has shipped completed Etch A Sketches across the country and the images have always remained intact.

So many places

In January of 2009, Vlosich returned to Washington, D.C., this time to see his Etch A Sketch image of Barack Obama stand beside more traditional portraits of the newly sworn-in president.

"The Etch A Sketch has taken me so many places I never thought I'd be," says Vlosich, who is working on a piece celebrating several cities around the country. He hopes to do some charity pieces in the near future, including one that would thank the U.S. military for its service.

The Etch A Sketch may be considered a toy, but when it gets in the hands of Vlosich, it becomes anything but child's play.

Tho$e Who Can't Sing, Talk

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Two Months is Too Long...

It's been two months to the day, blog fans, since I've written a post. A lot of things have gone on in my life that has kept me in a writer's funk, of sorts. I moved in to a new apartment. I was finishing a play. I could make excuses for my absence, but something much bigger seized my hands from typing.

Truth is a dear friend of mine from Chicago passed away quite unexpectedly. What he meant to my world (and the worlds of my friends) words cannot express. He was the best friend to so many, the life of the party, the razor wit that kept all laughing. He had the voice of an angel. Truly, he has left a hole in my heart.

In times like this, you begin to put things in to perspective; your friendships, your obligations, your responsibilities to yourself and to others. You realize where your time is spent and how it's spent - with whom it's spent - and you begin to prioritize.

What is important? Who is important? All of those questions swirl around you in a fog.

So.

With death comes life. A new life. Something changed within the soul and psyche. Learning. Growing. Other such terms too cliche to list, but they are true and whole-heartedly felt. What have I learned?

• Say what you need to say when you need to say it.
• Remind everyone close to you how much they mean to you.
• Stop spending time with people out of obligation; either make quality time, or cut unneeded friendships.
• Take care of yourself - not just for yourself, but for those who love you.
• Give big, squishy hugs.

...because tomorrow you could get a call you never saw coming.

I leave you with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

To laugh often and much;

to win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children;

to earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends;

to appreciate beauty;

to find the best in others;

to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.

This is to have succeeded.

I will miss you, my dear friend...

St. Baldrick's Day!!!

Beaver Dam High School math teacher, Carrie Ketchem, is raising money for pediatric cancer research... and if she reaches her goal, she will shave her head on March 17th at the Beaver Dam High School in honor of St. Baldrick's Day! You can help!

Call Carrie at 920.885.7520.2157, or email ketchemc@bdusd.org!

For more information visit http://www.stbaldricks.org/.

Cheers, Carrie! We'll be thinking of you at 10:30am on March 17th, when it all comes off!

Get Ready to be Awe Struck...

Artist Abu Nawaf, pictured below, is amazing. Plain and simple.

Eddie Izzard!!!!!!!!!!

The amazing Eddie Izzard will be on Craig Ferguson tonight.

Plan for me being VERY tired tomorrow morning, as I will be staying up for this.

He. Is. Incredible.

Kissing... who knew?

Kissing. It seems so strange that something so easy can be difficult... and awkward... for some people.

We've all been there... the anticipation that comes with walking your date to the door at the close of the evening. Uncomfortable chit-chat ensues - let's play mad-libs:

"I had a really nice time with you, (Proper Noun)."

"Yeah, (Proper Noun). You sure are the bee's knees!"

Giggle. "Thanks for dinner. I love (ethnicity) food."

"Plenty of left-overs!"

***Uncomfortable laughter followed by even more uncomfortable silence***

"Ok, well, I better get going. I have a long day of (hobby with "ing") ahead of me."

"I understand... Yeah... well... goodnight."

And then it happens. Does he lean in? Does she shy away? Oh! What will happen? The anticipation is killing me!

They embrace.

Their lips lock, tenderly.

And then he proceeds to EAT HER FACE OFF!!!!!

A little advice for the guys out there; if your date has to wipe the saliva from her chin when the kiss is over, you did it wrong.

This morning's show covered the topic of kissing, as Rick had found a survey from Match.com that polled it's subscribers about whether or not you should kiss on the first date. The survey found that 85% agree there shouldn't be any kissing on the first date.

I am in the minority on this one. I think the first kiss is extremely important. For me, it can make or break the date, and determine whether or not there will be another. There is even scientific (SCIENCE!!!) data to back that up!

According to an article from CNN.com (by Jocelyn Voo - gotta give props!), a study was published in the scientific journal "Evolutionary Psychology," that found 59% of men and 66% of women said they've been in the position of being attracted to someone until they kissed the person. "'At the moment of the kiss, there's a complicated exchange of information... that may tap into underlying evolved mechanisms," cluing us in on whether we're genetically compatible, explains Gordon Gallup, co-author of the study and professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany. "A kiss can be a deal-breaker in terms of whether a relationship will flower or flounder, so to speak.'"

In the article, Gallup continues (with my comments in parentheses):

• For men, kissing is more often used as a means to an end - namely, to gain sexual access. (Don't act suprised by this...) Men also are more likely to literally kiss and make up, using kissing to attempt reconciliation. (Huh, really? Never noticed!)
• Women, on the other hand, use kissing as a mate-assessment technique. They subconsciously evaluate mating potential from the chemicals in their partner's saliva and breath. (I had no idea it was that involved... I thought it was more a preference on technique.)
• Women also use kissing as a bonding gesture, as well as to monitor the status of a relationship. If her partner's kissing frequency or technique changes, that perhaps is a sign of waning interest.
• Men show a greater preference for tongue contact and open-mouth kisses.
• Men are more willing than women to have sex with someone without kissing, as well as to have sex with someone the are not attracted to or consider to be a bad kisser. (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahaha.... hahahahahahahahahahaha! I'm going to file this away in the "obvious" file.)
• Women place more importance on kissing throughout the relationship, whereas men place less importance on it as the relationship progresses.

"Ah HAH!" I say, with a finger raised towards the heavens. There is a reason why I think, "Holy crap, I hope this guy doesn't call me EVER again." I THINK that, I don't SAY that. I'm far more cordial.

From dead fish kisses to attempts at vacuuming the soul out through the mouth, bad kisses will lead to disappointment. Never fear, though, Bad Kissers! There is help.

William Cane (pen name) wrote a book called, "The Art of Kissing," with detailed descriptions of how to improve your technique... AND... there are plenty of how-to books and DVDs on the market. So there is no excuse! To quote School House Rocky, "Knowledge is Power!"

Final summation:

Kissing is a way of searching for or establishing a deeper compatibility. Yes the date went well, and yes you have so much in common, but the kiss will seal the deal and let you know whether a relationship will work out... and wouldn't you like to find that out sooner than later? Regardless of society's ideas of purity and morals (you shouldn't kiss on the first date... and you better not reveal your ankles in public), if the feeling moves you to kiss on the first date, great! You'll find out whether there might be a second date without having to pay for dinner again.

Help for Haiti

Some people (***cough***PatRobertsonRushLimbaugh***choke***) should just keep their mouths shut. It's time for compassion, not superstition. Time for aid, not political agenda. My thoughts are with all in Haiti.

Charities are popping up everywhere to help with the relief effort, though there are a lot of scams under the guies of aid. Be very careful when donating so that you know your donation will be used as intended.

That having been stated, Wyclef Jean has a very easy way of sending financial support. If you text the word "YELE" to the number 501501, $5 will automatically be donated to relief efforts in Haiti, and the charge will appear on your next phone bill.

A rose by any other name...

When I go back home and meet new people, no one has any idea that I'm on a morning radio show. Eventually conversation will flow to "So what do you do?" followed by the question, "So what name do you use on the air?"

Mine. I use my name.

It may not catch your ear like "Johnny Road-Rash" (yes, it's hyphenated since his mom remarried) but it works. Because it's mine.

This morning, our meteorologist revealed that his middle name is Foster. True story. Instead of going by "Foster Smith," which is far more memorable (and cool!... I mean "Foster" wears a smoking jacket, drinks fine scotch and winks a lot), he chose to go with Jeff Smith. Kudos. This new found information sparked a conversation about on-air DJ names. Rick used to work with a part-timer who went by "Axel Hammond" - yes, Guns N Roses meets Metallica. I joked about being called "Clarissa Dynamite" from now on.

Now, everyone has heard how to find your "porn" name. I believe it's the name of your first pet and the first street you lived on... ie; "Goldie Elm" or "Heidi Spring." Mine isn't that cool. "Smokey Rural Route 12"... doesn't seem to have a ring.

So I'm going to start a new game: How to find the name of your on-air persona. The first name is the name a character you remember on tv from your childhood, and a synonym for danger, destruction, or sexy.

Introducing, for the first time on radio, my new radio persona... "Punky Bane."