Gay Guys For The Staight Guy needed!

Picture by. A.P.

Your mother always told you to leave the house with clean undies and clean socks. I guess this is why:
During a visit to a Mosque in Turkey, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz took off his shoes as is the custom. Imagine the surprise of everyone present ( including the press) when his big toes peeked out from his grey socks.
Wolfowitz's two day trip to Turkey included a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Reycep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss Turkey's bid to join the European Union. On the same trip, he also visited with homeless men at an Istanbul shelter who are being helped by a program established by the World Bank
Maybe the socks were a way for Wolfowitz to seem more approachable? After all, the World Bank President's salary was listed at $391,440 in their 2006 Financial report.
That should be enough to pay for new sox for himself and maybe even everyone in that homeless shelter. But wait! Is that a stain on his pants? Sure looks like it on the picture. And his shoes could use some polishing. However, this should come as no surprise. This is the same guy who apparently was seen spitting on a comb before passing it through his hair in Michael Moore's movie. And the same guy who was the architect of both the administration's Iraqi fixation and its doctrine of "preventive" war.

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But wait! There is more!

Sometimes, you need an editor, or just someone who can translate from Chinese into English. This herb and vegetable Chopper sure seems like a handy little kitchen tool. But the instruction on the box are a bit hard to follow. I guess I know what they are trying to say, but then again..... Below is the actual text on the Chopper box.

"Mode of Job for Multi-Chopper"
In order that the article has minced could be perfectly cut, Knocked Vigorously in the bud Superior hand Opened.
The most or less great number of knocks determines the fineness of cup. The rotation of knives is made automatically and regularly.
For the cleaning, to pull the inferior bell and to release the recipient Superior. Well to rinse the machine, if possible to the running water. Re-assembly in Senses inverts, All parts metallic are executed in a materials has the test of the rust.

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The Casual War

One of the most disturbing aspects of the war in Iraq and the widening conflict in the Middle East is the fact that one could be fooled into thinking that this country is not engaged in a military operation. Television coverage of Bush's war is so sanitized that network programmers continues to bring America the same brainless reality shows, the same non-stop babble of talk show hosts.
It makes me feel guilty that my life continues undisturbed with talk about where to go for dinner, the next vacation destination or the latest pick for best picture. It is too casual, too removed from the fact that our young people are dying in a distant land. Contrary to many, I want to see the body bags coming home. Not that I have a morbid fascination. No, I just want the realities of war to hit us all right in the stomach, everyday, unsanitized, so that we know what is involved in continuing the war. And what it means to send more soldiers to Iraq.
I am mad at the press. The news media let our president bully it into not showing our dead soldiers coming home. We do not get to see the flag draped coffins being greeted by the heart broken families. How did this happen? Why did the press agree to not report the story of war? Because war coverage needs to tell the story of the casualties, of the blood and the suffering. So shame on all the top reporters in this country who continue to allow the White House to dictate what they can show.
Enough of the edited version of war. I want the truth, even if it is gory and heart wrenching. Because that is what we owe to the young troops who have been sent to Iraq. We need to see, every day, every bodybag, every coffin. Just the truth!

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Video For a Freezing Friday

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Milk Is Good For You!

Forget Match. com. Sometimes, a simpler approach makes more sense.
A couple of single Welsh dairy farmers came up with the idea of placing their photos on milk bottles in the hope of finding true love. Turns out that dairy farmers in Wales don't have too much of an opportunity to meet the opposite sex. So just in time for St Dwynwen's Day, the equivalent to Valentine's day, the unattached farmers from a Welsh milk cooperative called "Calon Wen" have come up with the brilliant idea of promoting themselves in order to hook up.. The campaign is called "Fancy a farmer." The stickers on the milk containers direct interested parties to a singles web site called Pishyn Wales.
More information on the three men and two women dairy farmers of the month can be read there. So if you should be interested, here is the link :http://www.pishynwales.com/gwefan/?L=cms.calonwen
Who knows, maybe Welsh dairy farmers are more interesting than the singles on Match. You never know!

Here is some music to get you into a dairy country frame of mind

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When Lame Ducks Speak

Last night wasn't so bad. Either the Prez is getting better at speaking or after 6 years of listening to this clown, I have been brainwashed. However, since he did not really say anything important or new, I was left neither outraged nor inspired. It was just that kind of a speech. Too vague and too light, sort of like Wonderbread.
But you have to hand it to him, he is hanging in there with Iraq. Does he really think we can salvage the situation in that country? Does he truly believe that more troups will make the difference? I don't know how they want to fix that mess. Torn between the belief that we owe it to the Iraqis to help them put their counrty back together and the wish not to send any more young Americans into harms way, I am thoroughly confused.
So since last night already partly felt like watching a non-event starring a lame-duck president, it was much more interesting to watch the audience. Here are some of my trivial observations:
-a lot of women politicians wore red. ( Soooo yesterday) Loved Pelosi's gentle moss green ensemble. Very classy.
-Speaking about Pelosi, what was she doing with her mouth the whole time? She seemed to be chewing on something or she just had some dental work done. In which case I can relate.
-I think Laura Bush must be on Fukitol, the little happy pill advertised in yesterday's entry. She looks as though she had a frontal lobotomy. Just once I want her to lash out at her husband. In front of the camera!
-Thank God Condi Rice has a new hairdo.
-And last but not least, here are my cabinet picks for 2008
*Obama Barrack: President
*John Edwards: Vice President
*Al Gore: Minister for the Environment.
*Hilary Clinton: Secretary of State
What do you think? What would your dream cabinet look like?

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Tonight's speech Today

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A Funny LIttle PIll

Found on the web and Oh so funny! The perfect drug :Fukitol
Hey, maybe I will pop a few tonight while watching the Prez's speech.

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Men In Leggings

News flash to all guys. The newest fashion trend out of Milan is skin tight leggings. Yup, the type that will accentuate every imperfection. No more hiding those extra pounds. No more hiding that rippling skin. Finally, there is equality in fashion! Guys will be as self conscious as women have been for years when it comes to their figures. I am all for it. The only question is: how do we get the guys to wear them?
Now for something completely different: Are you going to watch the President's speech tonight? I feel as though I have to make myself watch it so that I know to what new lows he will sink.

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Another year?

No it can't be. No, No, No.....I don't feel any older. Or do I? Maybe just a little. There is one little fine line in my face that I did not notice there last week. But so what.
As Anna Magnani said to Richard Avedon when he took her photo:
"Please don't retouch my wrinkles. It took me so long to earn them.


Katia's music pick of the day

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Katia Broadcasts To The World!

Pardon Me For Asking now has its own music podcast. Yup! Brooklyn is a melting pot, so the music we listen to is pretty international. So go ahead. Take a listen to my compilation. You know you want to. Just click on the little hot pink symbol on the right hand side and press play under the picture of the Carroll Street Subway Station. Its pretty cool stuff.....

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Another Grim Number!

The United States has lost over 3,000 young men since the beginning of the war in Iraq. That is a horribly high number. But there is another number which sends shivers down my spine: 500. That is the number of amputees this war has produced so far. According to Time Magazine, every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday military transports fly gravely wounded soldiers to the Andrew Air Force outside of Washington. From there, they are brought to the Walter Reed Army Military Center.
This Tuesday, a 24-year- old corporal was brought there. He has the sad distinction of being that 500th person. He lost both of his legs in a road-side bomb attach.
Consider the fact that the military does not count amputated toes and fingers. It is heart-braking. And still, these soldiers are the lucky ones.
Times Magazine writes:
"Despite the devastating loss, amputation is actually a blessing for many Ward 57 patients. That's because they wouldn't have survived in past wars without today's body armor to protect vital organs and better-equipped medics to quickly stop hemorrhaging and deliver the wounded to hospitals. The extraordinary rates of survival in this war — 9 of every 10 soldiers wounded make it, compared to 7.5 of 10 in Vietnam — explains the larger number of casualties who survive with severe and lasting disabilities, including loss of limbs."
Lucky or not lucky, 3000 dead or 500 amputees, what is wrong with this country? Why are we not taking to the street to stop this madness? What do you think?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1580531,00.html?cnn=yes

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Feeling Sorry For Myself!

Yesterday, I had oral surgery. For the second time in three months. It was actually the same operation all over again to improve the results of the first one. Which did not turn out so well. I won't bore you with further details. Suffice it to say that I am sitting on the couch, watching stupid soap operas and wishing I could sink my teeth into something solid.
Yesterday, before going into the city for the procedure, I stopped at Girardini's Pizza around the corner from my house in order to have one last slice of that good Brooklyn Pizza. Sort of like a last meal...at least for the next few days. I thought that would hold me over, but now I am sitting here thinking: old fashioned slice. My stomach is growling. Soup just does not hit the spot. I already had "Roasted Pepper Tomato" and "Creamed Corn". I think I will make Miso next and a shake for dessert.
Yes, I admit. I am feeling sorry for myself. This is no fun. My mouth is killing me and my cheek is all swollen. I look like a little hamster. But as I am writing this, big snowflakes started falling outside and Dr. Phil is bashing some poor slob on T.V. So things are looking up!

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Filthy Streets!

Look at the photo above and tell me where you think it was taken.


Something has been bothering me since I got home from Mexico on Sunday.
I have traveled to some funky places over the last few years and it always amazes me how much trash is lying about in poorer countries. It was no different in Mexico. During this last trip, we drove through a little village where the garbage was just piled up alongside the road. One of these pile was made up of at least 100 discarted plastic water bottles. I am not trying to judge the inhabitants of the village, it was just an observation. ( and yes, I admit, I was wondering what would be so hard about either a) bagging all the trash and b) fining one central location away from main street to combine everything into one pile)
But yesterday, while bringing my niece into Manhattan so that she could catch a bus home to Washington, I was struck by how much filth was strewn about my own city. Sure New York City has been cleaned of petty crime, but how about the filth along the sidewalks? I was disgusted by all the discarted wrappers and soda cans in the gutters. So who am I to knock the trash in Mexico. New York isn't much cleaner...

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Her Name Was Jenny And Her Breath Was Fishy!

Here I am, back in Brooklyn! It's a gloomy day and for the first time this winter, I felt cold in my warm jacket. Barely 48 hours have passed since I came home, but I could swear that my tan is already fading. The roar of the ocean has been replaced by the roar of city traffic. New York City can erase the effect of a whole week of relaxation within hours.
Mexico was wonderful. I had a great time with my daughter C. She is a great travel companion. We laughed a lot and were both proud of ourselves for not shying away from new adventures.
One of the wildest things we did, you guessed it, was to go swimming with sea lions. I was never so scared in my life. These things are huge! We were the only two crazies who had signed up. So here we were, just C., me and the trainer, in a pool filled with salt water. Into the pool jumped a gigantic sea lion and started swimming circles around us. It was a female named Jenny. I was panic stricken, especially since the circles became smaller and smaller until I could feel the animal brush up against my legs. A group of tourists had gathered around the pool to see the "show". It was clear that the crowd at first mistook us for professional sea lion handlers.
Prompted by her real trainer, Jenny zoomed through the water, jumped into the air, over our linked arms. Then she had to hug first C. then me by wrapping her flippers around us. As a reward she got two or three fish. Then it was time for the sea lion to kiss us on the cheek. I could see a row of large brown teeth in her mouth. I almost fainted from the strong fish odor coming from Jenny's mouth. She stuck out a fleshy pink tongue. If the crowd initially thought that we were professionals, it was at this moment that they realized that C and I were just some deranged tourists, crazy enough to sign up for such an activity. Because I must have had a look of sheer terror on my face. I hope that some of the crowd's applause was ment for us and not just for Jenny. Because I think we put on quite a show for the spectators.
Once the demonstration was over and I was back on terra ferma, I was glad that we had the chance to get so close to such an amazing creature. Because sea lions are incredible. As the crowd dispersed, a young man walked past us, flashed a huge grin and told C. : " Just imagine! You were kissed in Cancun! And your mother approved!"
Yup, it was quite an adventure to share between mother and daughter.

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Mexico!

When I booked our flight to Cancun, I wanted to escape the January cold here in New York City. Silly me. Here in Brooklyn, it is 70 degrees outside today, the sun is shining and people are sitting in sidewalk cafés. This is unreal, and pretty unsettling. The daffodils are pocking their heads out and my camelia is ready to bloom.
Anyway, I am all packed for tomorrow morning's departure. My husband is armed with an instruction manual on our son. It feels weird leaving them behind. But they will be fine. They are probably happy to have a few days of me not nagging them. Isn't that right, boys? ( just testing to see if you two read my blog) More next week.....

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Help!

I hate to admit it, but after 23 years of city living, I consider mice, roaches and squirrels wildlife. So it will be quite a stretch for me to go swimming with seals during my upcoming trip to Cancun. I had agreed to the "dolphin encounter" but when C. researched the internet for things to do during our mother-daughter adventure, she stumbled on information about " Water Fun With Seals". My fate was sealed, so to speak. I am getting nervous. I know that seals are cute. I love watching them swim around and bask in the sun. But I really am missing the gene that makes me want to get into a pool with them. With my luck, I will be next week's newspaper headline. "Tourist dragged under water by trained seal in Cancun! Trainers are at a lose about savage nature of attack. Doctors try to reattach severed leg!" Maybe a bit overdramatic, but hey, I have seen the headlines about similar attacks. Just recently, a trained killer whale dragged his trainer into the depth of the pool and almost killed him, and that was his trainer. The seals in the pool in Cancun won't even know me.
I have been told that I need to go snorkeling during this trip. I am willing to try, but I guarantee you that I will experience the same emotions as Jerry Seinfeld who wrote that while he was underwater with tropical fish, he was so scared that he told himself over and over again : 'There is a fish, there is a rock. Who cares! Don't die, don't die, don't die."
But I promise you, I will try. I will risk being ripped to pieces by seals in a pool and encountering killer sharks while snorkeling. I will be brave, and with any luck, I will be able to report on the experience upon my return. Au revoir!

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Keep your Eyes On The Road At All Times!

Daughter C. has her road test tomorrow morning! As I am writing this, she is out on the streets of Brooklyn with her father one last time to practice. I feel bad for her. New Yorkers are very impatient and erratic on the road. They are not too tolerant of slow drivers.
Learning how to drive in New York City means that you have to parallel park without hesitation. If you don't make it into a ridiculous small space, you automatically fail the road test. Not only do you have to look out for other cars on the road, you have to watch for pedestrians who can dash in front of the vehicle at any moment. Taxis weave in and out of your lane without warning. And then there are the potholes....you have to watch out for those as well.
Is C. ready for her license? You better not ask me. I am her mother. If it were up to me, she would still hold my hand while crossing the street. Well, I am exaggerating slightly, but not by much. The truth is, here in the city, a car is not a necessity. So even if she passes tomorrow, she will probably not do too much driving. The subway takes you everywhere you want to go. And that is just fine by me.

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Be Afraid! Be Very Afraid!

Evangelist Pat Robertson got a message from God during a recent prayer meeting. It seems that in 2007, the United States will be under terrorist attack once more and will experience "mass killings." God wispered to Robertson that possibly millions of people will be affected. The attack will happen in fall "sometimes after September." The only uncertainty about the attack is what kind of tragedy will befall us. " The lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe, it will be something like that."
The good news , I guess, is that Pat and God gave us advance notice. This provides us with plenty of time to get our affairs in order. Too bad for the terrorists though. I guess they lost the element of surprise which normally accompanies a terror attack.
But I am afraid, very afraid. Not of nuclear attacks which may or may not happen, but of religion. And of the fact that CNN and the Associated Press thought it necessary to cover Pat's ramblings. Since when do religious doomsday predictions become newsworthy? (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/01/02/robertson.predictions.ap/index.html)
Religious nutters like Pat Robertson scare me more than the uncertainty of the future. I am reading " The End Of Faith:Religion, Terror, and the Future Of Reason" By Sam Harris at the moment. I highly recommend it. Harris warns that religion is nothing but primitive superstition and condemns it as a threat to human survival. Harris argues that the great modern religions belong on "the scrap heap of mythology," and his zero-tolerance policy applies to religious fundamentalists and moderates alike. It is a timely book, it is a very courageous book.
So before getting all worked up about Pat's "end of this world as we know it" prediction, before running out to stock up on canned goods and gas masks, get Sam Harris's book. And regain some sanity.

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Where in the World is Cancun?

Sorry, but I just need to vent for a second. I am constantly amazed by the stupidity of some people. Case in point:
I just called T-Mobile to make sure that my international cell phone service is still active. I am leaving on Saturday with my 19-year old daughter for a week of rest and relaxation. After typing in my cell phone number to identify myself as a customer, I was connected to a very nice young lady. Cheerfully she wanted to know how she could help me and asked for my cell phone number again. ( I always wonder why I need to type it into the phone pad just to be asked again by the human on the other end.)
I explained that I needed to use my mobile in Cancun and just wanted to confirm that my account still permitted me to call internationally. No, problem," she replied and started to chit chat about how lucky I was and was this a vacation?"
"No, its a business trip" I lied. I just wanted to keep it short.
She seemed to be busy accessing something on the computer on her end. Then she giggled nervously:
"I am sorry, but could you tell me where Cancun is?"
I could not believe it. "You mean in what country?" I asked. "It's in Mexico"
'"Oh, all right" she replied without a trace of embarrassment.
She confirmed that I was all set to go and wished me a good trip. She seemed really sweet. And dumb.
Now I could have understood if I had asked her to check if my phone service covered Doha or Mumbai . Even I would have had to think for one or two minutes in what country they are located. But Cancun? Is Mexico not neighboring the United States? Are young people in this country so ignorant of geography that they don't even know about places just next door? It truly blows my mind.

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2007 The Year Of The Fruit Revolution

At 11:49 Pm last night, the first weight loss commercial was aired on television. Broadcasters could not even wait till midnight. It flashed on the screen just as I was enjoying a piece of Key Lime pie. It was sinfully good and I had no intention of starting my New Year's diet earlier than I had to.
But starting today, I promise, I will be good and eat well. Three out of four members in this family have sworn to eat more fruit and vegetables, less fat and sugar. The fourth and youngest member frankly looks pretty skinny and opted out.
But pardon me for asking! Have you eaten good fruit lately? Is it just me or does fruit not have taste anymore? Sure it looks perfect, but I venture to say that most of the produce has never seen sunlight and therefore did not ripen the way it should. Recently, G and I bought four perfect pears. They were stone hard, so we left them on the counter for a day. When we finally cut into the first one, it was entirely brown on the inside. Bingo for number 2,3 and 4. So we brought them back to Fairway, our gourmet supermarket and complained. We got our money back after half an hour of back and forth with the various managers, but now I have no confidence in their fruit. Because it was not jut the pears. I frankly should have brought back the bananas which went directly from greenish to brown without ever attaining a golden yellow. I should have also brought back the raspberries that had a green fuzz on the bottom layer of the little plastic container and the apples which were totally devoid of taste.
So on this first day of the new year, I am so willing to consume more vitamins and to loose weight. But second on my list of resolutions is to bring back tasteless sub-standart produce to my local store. Maybe the manager will get a hint. Won't you do the same? Maybe we can start a movement: Demanding fruit that tastes as delicious as when we were young. And lets loose those extra 10 pounds in style, I say!

*** Follow the attached link for a BBC article on the U.S. governments backing of cloned food and allowing it to be sold without labeling it as such. Yuck!***
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6215541.stm

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