What hurricane?

It’s a beautiful day in Washington, DC.

A trip to the zoo

I promised my 9-year old cousin the next time she comes down for a visit, I’ll take her to the zoo. From the sound of the whoops and hollers, she was ecstatic.

I admit, I get more than a little excited when I see the big cats – the Bengal tigers, the black panthers, the lions. And the monkey house is always a hoot.

But what is it with kids and “the zoo”? They swoon when they hear the word.

When was the last time you paid your local zoo a visit? I haven’t been to the zoo in a while – maybe a couple years, even though it’s only one metro stop away from my neighborhood. This past summer, animal deaths at the zoo was the common headline.

What are your favorite animals? I love the white Bengal tiger.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

As I lay me down to sleep

The position you favor when you sleep offers clues about your true personality type. Doctors in London identified the six most common sleep positions and analyzed what they mean.

The most common positions as reported by the BBC are:

1. The Fetus: Those who curl up in the foetus position are described as tough on the outside but sensitive at heart. They may be shy when they first meet somebody, but soon relax.

This is the most common sleeping position, adopted by 41% of the 1,000 people who took part in the survey. More than twice as many women as men tend to adopt this position.

2. Log (15%): Lying on your side with both arms down by your side. These sleepers are easy going, social people who like being part of the in-crowd, and who are trusting of strangers. However, they may be gullible.

3. The yearner (13%): People who sleep on their side with both arms out in front are said to have an open nature, but can be suspicious, cynical. They are slow to make up their minds, but once they have taken a decision, they are unlikely ever to change it.

4. Soldier (8%): Lying on your back with both arms pinned to your sides. People who sleep in this position are generally quiet and reserved. They don’t like a fuss, but set themselves and others high standards.

5. Freefall (7%): Lying on your front with your hands around the pillow, and your head turned to one side. Often gregarious and brash people, but can be nervy and thin-skinned underneath, and don’t like criticism, or extreme situations.

6. Starfish (5%): Lying on your back with both arms up around the pillow. These sleepers make good friends because they are always ready to listen to others, and offer help when needed. They generally don’t like to be the centre of attention.

There’s also ……

The Duvet position – Professor Chris Idzikowski also found that one arm or leg sticking out of the duvet is Britain’s most common position, followed by both feet poking out the end.

I’m a Duvet Starfish. What are you? And how accurate are these results?

Big baby

I started to feel icky on Saturday night. Woke up around 3:30 a.m. with that stuffy-head, scratchy throat feeling. Which progressed to achy on Sunday and not much better by Monday.

I am the biggest baby when I get sick. Probably because such an occurrence is more rare than a blue moon.

I used to lie on the couch, watching my favorite television programs, an afghan tucked around me, while my mom served me hot homemade soup, lukewarm ginger ale and saltines. (yes, I am a big baby!)

Years later, my roommates took over – heating up cans of Campbell’s chicken soup and forcing me to drink tea (and suspect homemade remedies containing equal parts brandy, Nyquil and honey).

I have a lot to do – so I’m here, at work, instead of in bed, where I should be.

How often do you get sick? And are you a grown-up about it? Or a big baby like me?

My favorite topic

John Ashcroft gets more criticism for his preference for sound bites over Q & A with print journalists.

Todd Gitlin, a professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University, has this to say:

“Ashcroft is practicing sheer demagoguery. He knows that, with niftily chosen sound bites, he can dominate local television, which harbors few practitioners of anything that can be called journalism. Since most local TV journalists are little more than stenographers, he can safely stay “on message,” rally his partisans, and keep annoying critics at bay. This is the politics of no-politics, the politics of l’etat-c’est-moi.”

David Fellerath of the Durham Independent provides an account of his experience with the A.G.

Ken Cooper, the national editor for the Boston Globe, sat on a panel discussion celebrating the 125th anniversary of Student Life, the campus paper at Washington University, St. Louis.

“You have an administration that philosophically believes in secrecy in government,” said Cooper. “It’s essential to their view of government.”

Someone please shake me when Ashcroft’s Patriot Act campaign tour is finally over.

Clone wars

To clone or not to clone, that is the question. Soon it won’t be a question of when, but should, scientists or fertility doctors clone human beings?

Dr. Panayiotis Zavos is just one of many in the race to successfully clone a human.

Will the controversy fade away, like the initial opposition to in vitro fertilization? Or is there more – ethically, socially, morally – at stake with the question of cloning? What do you think?

Guys can’t help it?

This article is brought to you courtesy of James, over at Why I Hate DC. Tom Knott of the Washington Times tries to explain how Kobe couldn’t help but cheat. And although infidelity is a part of every male’s true nature, Bryant is still a nice guy.

If I hadn’t read this, I would not have believed it was published.

“Tell you what. Imagine you are a young man with a zillion dollars in your pocket, a famous face and all these hot, young things cooing in your direction.

What do you do? Do you take a cold shower or do you toy with the flirtatious attention?

Right. An average guy and an interested babe leads to a cold shower.”

What do you guys think about that?

What’s in a name

I’m feeling uninspired, so I clicked on today’s Friday Five questions.

1. Is the name you have now the same name that’s on your birth certificate? If not, what’s changed?

It’s the same name.

2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be?

I love my name the way it is.

3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?)

I give naming credit to my wonderful mom. You can read the story here.

4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why?

Tiffany. Read the post above.

5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com accurate? How or how isn’t it?

Hmmmm… I dare say not quite accurate. The first half is all wrong, the second part gets warmer but still doesn’t nail my personality.

“You have a great love of nature and the out-of-doors.” I have a great appreciation for nature, but given the choice of camping or checking into a 5 star resort, point me to the concierge.

If these points were true I’d be out of a job – “Difficulty in expression results in your being too positive, blunt, and candid in speech and although you are easily offended by others, you do not show it.”

The Second Half:

“You crave affection and understanding, but rarely find it as others do not understand you and accuse you of being cool and aloof. The average person would never realize the true depth of your nature. A very individual, independent person, you live within your own thoughts.”

Well, that was interesting.