The Strange World We Live In
Though you may not remember the name Carrie Prejan, you would probably recognize the face, unless you have spent the last few months in Siberia. She was the young lady who caused such a stir during the Miss America pageant, when she responded to a question by indicating that she was not in favor of same-sex marriage. There were several additional highly publicized crises that swirled around her in the ensuing months.
The latest crises that has popped up is a lawsuit filed against her by pageant officials. In short, pageant officials want the money back that they paid for her boob job. It turns out that months before the contest, the pageant fronted her (no pun intended) the entire $5,200 dollars for the procedure. Say what? Are you kidding me?
What's next? 'As American as Apple Pie', may fall by the wayside because it is discovered there are no apples in the recipe? Contestants in the Miss America contest are not all former high school homecoming queens now working in the local 7-11, discovered by pageant scouts merely be chance?
So Funny That It Is Probably True!
Somebody sent me this a couple of years ago. I found it buried on a backup disk. In case you haven´t seen it - an absolute classic! Click on image for full-size.
Don't You Panamanians Have A Calendar?
The morning of Monday, October 26, I awoke to discover a huge 40' high wire frame sitting in the park across the street. I asked several people what it was and no one had a clue. But, a couple of hours later trucks arrived at the park and started unloading boxes. About an hour later a crew of workmen showed up. As I watched the goings-on I suddenly realized, 'My God, that looks like an artificial Christmas tree'. Well, it was! Workers spent the rest of the day adding the limbs, and then the decorations, using a tall forklift to reach the upper portions. A monster Christmas tree.
I had a ball the rest of the day kidding the Panamanians. ¡Feliz Navidad! became my greeting of the day. People thought I was nuts (nothing new!). What frustrated them was that none of them had a clue of what was going on with this tree. My question to them, "Navidad en Octubre?" got 'unfunny' real quick. But, the next morning the tables turned.
When the sun came up Tuesday morning the tree was gone. What? No kidding, not a trace. It turns out the whole exercise was staged to make an instructional video of putting up and decorating the tree. ??? I guess there is a big market for 40' trees. And yes, the Panamanians got even. I answered the same question Tuesday many times. "Donde es Navidad en Carolina Norte?"
Lesson learned (but, probably not).
Be Careful What You Wish For
I recently got an email from a guy I got to know when he passed through here last year. Earl recounted an experience he had while visiting Singapore.
Back in 2000, the government, in celebration of, and a tribute to, free speech, built a 'Speakers Corner' in a park in downtown Singapore modeled after the famous one in London. (For those of you who have not been to London, there is someone literally on a soap box in the Speakers Corner of the park 24/7 railing for [or against] anything and everything imaginable).
Earl noted that there were instructions posted on a bulletin board near the Singapore version of the corner, itemizing what one had to do prior to speaking:
1. You had to register at the police station nearby
2. After filling out the required forms, you had to wait for approval
3. If permission was granted, your speech would be recorded and anything you say is admissible in court
4. The subjects of race and/or religion are strictly off limits
5. You cannot insult anyone in a position of power
Out of curiosity, Earl went to the police station to determine when the next person was scheduled to speak. There were no speakers approved to speak. And, no, the police officer could not remember the last time a speaker had been approved and scheduled.
Things You May Not See Around Your House
A red frog. A red frog that is venomous!
A bus with this type of paint job.
A church altar embedded with over a hundred pounds of solid gold.
One of these in your neighbor´s back yard.
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