Japanese skin care products coming ashore

According to an article in today's WSJ, Japanese women value their skin much more than we do. "Japanese women have long prized ageless, porcelain-white skin . . . [they] are the most sophisticated consumer in the world." It's called bihaku--"beautiful white." I didn't know that Japan's Shiseido Co. had purchased Bare Escentuals for $1.7 billion earlier this year. Japanese women spend 60% of their cosmetic budget on skin care--American women only 30%.
Japanese Makeup Companies Have Trouble Cracking the U.S. Market - WSJ.com
Hmmm. Like those annual soft drink consumption figures in the gallons, someone is obviously buying my share. I wash my face with soap and water once a day; moisturize; apply a small amount of Merle Norman foundation and a brush of coral tone blush. Whatever's still there at 9 p.m., goes to bed with me. My theory is that the less scrubbing, tugging and pulling on delicate facial muscles, the better. But even if my bathroom counter and shelves aren't loaded with expensive products, I do have my favorites--some cheap, some moderate. But ladies, nothing hides the wrinkles like a layer of fat.

The absolutely best thing for your skin is not creams, but avoidance--the sun (or tanning booths) and cigarettes. That way you'll pretty much avoid wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer until old age takes over. If you are 21, you think you'll enjoy that tight, perky look forever, but the next time you look you'll be 41, and then 61. That's when the "shoulda coulda woulda" complaints will be pretty empty. An ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of face cream. And regrets.

How to straighten curly hair

Years ago I got "curly perms." I could wash, moisturize, scrunch and air dry (about 5 minutes), or wash, moisturize and blow dry (about 20-30 minutes) with a strong, round brush. The blow dry took a lot of wrist and hand effort, but resulted in a smooth hair-do with lots of body and a thick look. If I did nothing, I had a very bad hair day--total fuzz ball.

So I was a bit surprised to read today's under the fold, front page article by Corey Dade in the Wall Street Journal about the styling salons of blacks from Dominican Republic undercutting and out performing African American traditional methods. Yes, I know African women have extremely fine hair, much more so than white or Asian women, but straightening with a hair dryer and a strong hand and wrist using a roller brush sounds a lot more simple than applying chemical goop and spending hours at the salon. This video has no instruction, but you can see how it's done.

Area studies that promote racism, separatism, and disrespect--look out

Arizona legislature is not only trying to clean up the border problem, the drug cartel problem and the diseases that cross over (TB, hepatitis, Chagas, etc.) but it's going after the hate mongers (school administrators and school teachers) who cross dress as agents of diversity and multiculturalism.

"THE LEGISLATURE FINDS AND DECLARES THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL PUPILS SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO TREAT AND VALUE EACH OTHER AS INDIVIDUALS AND NOT BE TAUGHT TO RESENT OR HATE OTHER RACES OR CLASSES OF PEOPLE."

House Bill 2281

The law prohibits any school or charter school from including in its program of instruction any courses or classes that:

•Promote resentment toward a race or class of people;
•Are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group; or
•Advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals

What is Glee's agenda?

Bruce and John are a gay couple (Republicans) who enjoy watching Glee, but lately Bruce has become disturbed by the anti-America agenda (including slamming small towns like Lima, Ohio) of the show.

"This week, I noticed something else about Glee I hadn’t before. The McKinley high school students are not complex and interesting as characters at all. In fact, there is a surprising amount of stereotyping given that the writers are all supposedly liberal and open-minded. There is the overweight black girl with a large voice who is picked on by the dumb blonde cheerleaders. The only “good girl” is a great singer, socially inept, and appears to be the only Jewish girl in Ohio – convenient for the cheap Jewish jokes that have popped up from time to time. The most ridiculous stereotype is, ironically, Kurt the gay Glee club member. Despite what Murphy said at the GLAAD awards, Kurt puts his full gay victimhood on display. Kurt demonstrates his complete lack of self-esteem and stereotypically effeminate ways in the episode called “Home” aired on April 27. Watching that episode made me cringe and wonder how liberal gays are not livid about this over-the-top caricature of a gay teen. Here’s a thought – why not make the gay guy a football player? Kurt makes Richard Simmons look like John Wayne. Oh yeah, did I mention the gym teacher is a manly woman? Sue Sylvester, the meanie of the show, is played by Jane Lynch who has become a poster child for the Gay Left’s push for marriage. Come on, how stupid do the producers of Glee think we are that we can’t see through this crap? For the sake of humanity and to shine the light on the Glee agenda, I’m going to force myself to continue watching each week. So for now, there is a temporary household truce on Tuesday nights.

‘Glee’ Is Leftist Propaganda Aimed Squarely At Your Kids

Mr. President, this is not material for a joke, although your border plan is one

Couldn't believe the USA Today headline

"Voters' anxiety clouds his [Obama's] historic successes"

What historic successes? I asked. I didn't even read the article but here's the list I thought of in 2 minutes.

1. Healthcare--lies, distortions, and 70% of the nation didn't want it, and now CBO is slowly, slowly feeding us the real costs.

2. Unemployment--ARRA has been a complete failure--it dribbled the first year, and is now about 1/2 doled out although not spent, and the rest will be used to buy votes for 2012. He said we need to throw more tax money at the problem without even thinking it through or reading the bill so that unemployment wouldn't go above 8%.

3. Racial unrest has been inflamed by his intemperate words--worse than I can remember since the Rodney King days.

4. Terrorist risk has increased by his ignoring jihadists and trying to redefine terror, and by going after Tea Party people and the only news source that will stand up to him.

5. Sycophant, bowing and scraping to foreign powers.

6. Failure to protect the border--in this he continues a long line of failures, including President Bush.

7. Failure to act immediately in the recent Gulf oil spill. Compared to his 11 days, the response to Hurricane Katrina was lightning fast.

8. Failure to act quickly with troop requests for Afghanistan, the place he said during the campaign was the "real war."

9. Pushing a steady flow of socialist and marxist appointees and czars through for appointments. As each socialist agenda is revealed, Obama announces plans to tackle jobs, but only the government is hiring. He believes in BIG POWERFUL government and more regulations to restore the economy.

10. Making a mockery of the "peace prize," especially since he's selling out his own country every day.

Jim Bracken appointed Dean of University Libraries at Kent State University

Assistant Director of OSU Libraries Jim Bracken will become dean of Kent State University’s University Libraries effective August 1, 2010, announced Kent State Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Robert G. Frank. Bracken replaces Mark Weber, who is retiring.

OSU Libraries Communications Department » Jim Bracken appointed Dean of University Libraries at Kent State University

International Man of Mystery: Who Is Maurice Strong?

Glenn Beck's topic today. Maurice Strong. This piece is from 1997.

International Man of Mystery: Who Is Maurice Strong?

Maurice Strong, The Earth Charter and the Ark of the Gaia Covenant

40 years ago he was whipping up fear that required "controlling human activity." He built his power base and wealth by trafficking in fear.



"Strong explained: "Licences to have babies incidentally is something that I got in trouble for some years ago for suggesting even in Canada that this might be necessary at some point, at least some restriction on the right to have a child."

But, if the world didn't follow his instructions - if governments didn't heed the warnings of the doomsayers - then "this is one of the possible courses that society would have to seriously consider." Strong himself has five children."
Maurice Strong

Artemisia - One-of-a-Kind Artwear and Accessories

If I were into wearable art, here's where I'd look. Lovely. Lovely.

Artemisia opened its doors in March 2002. It only happened because of a broken leg: When Annette broke her leg skiing in March 2001, it made her sit still for quite a while - long enough to start fantasizing about transforming her interest in fabrics and design into a career.

Artemisia - One-of-a-Kind Artwear and Accessories

I clicked on a Facebook ad. I understand they are doing very well.

Interview seen at another website

Hobbies: I didn’t have any until I retired in 2000. I was very concerned about that so I wrote a story and a plan about possible hobbies. Now I write all the time--12 blogs, poetry, essays, and I sometimes paint and draw. I’m a better artist than many people, even better than some who make a living at it, but not good enough to satisfy me, and no burning desire so I do less and less. These are interests I had before I started kindergarten. My mother used to bring home discontinued wallpaper rolls for me to write and draw.

In college I drove a: Whatever my parents owned, and Dad changed cars frequently--every year or two. That Ford red ranchero was great fun for a teen-ager.

My worst subject in school: Algebra II in 11th grade. Panicked and dropped it and took Psychology which I really liked. I did get a C once--in tennis. The teacher was pregnant and I couldn’t even keep up with her.

College, undergrad degree: University of Illinois, Russian and Spanish with a whole lot of history. Also attended Manchester College, and two small schools, one in Maine and one in Indiana the names of which I’ve forgotten. Oh yes, and I took some classes at Ohio State and Ohio Dominican over the years.

College, graduate degree: University of Illinois, Library Science. Great school. Opened a lot of doors.

Best advice I ever got: It probably came from my mother. She never ran out--I guess the apple didn‘t fall far from the tree--but I can’t place my finger on just one thing. Probably to marry my current and only husband. She was never that thrilled with the other candidates I brought home and I think she took one look and thought I had a winner. I know we feel that way about our son-in-law.

Favorite coffee: Whatever I don’t make as long as it’s brewed in a coffee shop, not kept on a burner, and not in someone else’s kitchen. For years I drank black coffee only, but must have started adding cream sometime in the 70s. No sugar. Yuck. I started "going out" for coffee when I was in high school and never looked back. I write a blog about people I meet in coffee shops.

It’s Close at Akron Art Museum

I have two friends who have prosopagnosia, or face blindness. Actually, there may be more but I'm just not aware of it. They have difficulty recognizing people's faces. I don't know if there are gradations of this condition. Chuck Close, a famous portrait artist with multiple disabilities, has this condition. Last fall, we went to an exhibition at the Akron Art Museum made up of pieces privately owned in Ohio. Be sure to watch the video--it's fascinating.

Western Reserve Public Media It’s Close at Akron Art Museum

Why God made Moms

Childhood friend Jon Martin sent me this. And I remember his Mom. She raised two nice sons.

WHY GOD MADE MOMS
Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot
2.. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet; maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

NOW YOU KNOW WHERE AND HOW MOMS ARRIVED HERE !

Awards given by Center for Plain Language

This organization gives awards for clear language and language that makes you wonder, as in "I wonder what that means." I was surprised how short the "wonder" list was. I see many sites, particularly explaining government programs that make no sense, often because of double negatives. I was going to say absolutely no sense, but "absolutely" is a redundant word. Check the links: good information.

Awards | Center for Plain Language

And not a fast food restaurant in sight

The scene "Sunday on the banks of the River Marne (1938) may be idyllic, but they are all overweight. How can that be with all that healthy French food and no evil processed food? Apparently Americans didn't invent this problem.

Funny Illinois names

I was born in Winnebago County, Illinois. According to the National Geographic Blog,

"Winnebago: The name of Wisconsin’s lake means "person of dirty water" in Algonquin. The word was used to describe Siouan Indians who lived near the lower Fox River, where dead fish accumulated every summer behind a natural dam. And that's bad, but Chicago means, "At the skunk place." Ohio means nice river.

Happy Mothers Day

Caesar, and the Things of God

Jesus doesn't leave Caesar alone. He's Lord over all. Not sure how this flap about "National" Day of Prayer will end. I'm sure we can be national without involving the government. We just might be much better at it in fact just praying for government officials rather than letting them set the rules.

Time line for National Day of Prayer

Newsweek, Caesar, and the Things of God | First Things

Although I believe there has been abuse of "the establishment clause" to impede religious expression, I see nothing here that's going to prevent Christians from having a national day of prayer. There are many "national day of . . ." that do not take "national" to mean the government. And I see no reason why these prayer meetings need to be inside government buildings.

Newsweek lost $28 million in 2009 and is for sale. If it's knowledge of the world is anything like its reporting on religion, we may know the problem. So Joe Meacham, who wrote the article on Jesus and Caesar, may want to do a little praying himself.

The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climate Scientists by Roy Spencer, Ph. D.

My public library hasn't ordered this--yet. Not that I would expect them to--librarians are 223:1 liberal to conservative and book banning begins in the back room. I suppose I could request it, although I'll probably be told there's no money.

The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climate Scientists « Roy Spencer, Ph. D.

In today's OSU Research, there's a story about McCarthy type behavior by global warming deniers. Except, McCarthy was a member of a U.S. Congressional committee that hauled people before Congress to belittle and humiliate them, to gin up dislike and hatred. That sounds like what our current Congress is doing, but certainly not to scientists. The state of Virginia is asking questions about how professors are spending tax dollars. Has Michael Mann really been cleared of suspicion? If so, by whom? His peers? Would the same guys accept bank CEOs called before a panel of bankers? The state is doing its job. Even if he were right about CO2 is he right to deny others access to professional, peer-review publishing? That's not McCarthyism, that's called oversight. And it's about time.

On Research… » It’s about time . . .

Our garage

I'm not bragging. It's a fact. We live in one of the prettiest condo complexes in all of metropolitan Columbus, with beautiful vistas no matter where we look. And we work hard keeping it that way with a very involved community board, landscape committee and maintenance company. Unless of course, you're driving through our NORC (naturally occurring retirement community) and notice the Bruce's garage. Something, and we aren't sure what, causes the bottom panel on the garage door to rot and peel. We've been here 8 years and have replaced it once already and now it's worse than when we replaced it the first time. Then within the last 2 weeks, a bird has pecked a huge hole and a small hole in the decorative door (not sure what it's called, but it doesn't go anywhere) above the garage door. I assumed in that space there are baby birds.

Tim A. Schuler

We were saddened to learn of the death of our friend Tim Schuler. For many years he lived in the Greensview area of Upper Arlington and owned a flower shop, being well known around here. The visitation is Monday at UALC Mill Run Church in Hilliard, 2-4 and 6-8, and the funeral is Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Mill Run Church. We became acquainted with Tim and his first wife Doris through our son, when our boys who are the same age met at VBS back around 1974. Mark was the only little boy I knew then who had more energy than mine. And what a charmer! They remained friends all through their school years. Tim is survived by his wife Pat and his 3 sons, David, Mark and Chris and their families.

From today's Dispatch: "SCHULER Tim A. Schuler, age 69, of Columbus, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at Mt. Carmel East Hospital. Complete obituary to appear in Saturday and Sunday's Columbus Dispatch. Arrangements by SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Road."