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How to Navigate Washington, D.C. Without Going Nuts {Gadling}
Jul 17th 2011 2:38AM I have lived in DC for 17 years. Metro is great, but what most tourists don't realize is that a "city block" here is longer than city blocks elsewhere and if you aren't used to walking, then you will be tired and sore. It takes longer to get around. Metro is easy to use, but can still leave you far from where you want to go - and the local bus system remains a mystery to everyone but the locals. Capitol Bikeshare is good for the Mall spots, but what the reporter should have shared is info about the Circulator buses which have now been around for about 4 years. They take you north to Dupont Circle and the zoo, west to Georgetown and east to the Convention center. They will particularly save you in the heat and will get you closer than metro. They also can be easier for people with mobility problems: http://www.dccirculator.com/ DC taxis also now have meters, so no more "mystery fares" and they are still cheaper than many cities. Downtown to my house ( a 20 minute trip) is usually around $12. For those who remember when DC was the U.S. murder capital, those days are gone and almost every neighborhood near a Metro stop is getting gentrified.
Fitness Guru Jack LaLanne Dies at 96 {PopEater}
Jan 24th 2011 9:05AM I used to be one of those kids who would get her mother and we exercised together. I loved what he did for us: Jack was an inspiration. I have his Fitness at 40 book and was looking through it. It could have been written now thanks to the research and information he included. Jack was ahead of his time. I got pneumonia last winter - it can be a real killer.
RIP Jack and thanks for teaching us how to live healthy longer.
When Adult Children Fight, a Mother's Heart Breaks {ParentDish}
Nov 8th 2010 5:10AM This is me and my brother. When he was 26, he told me he did not agree with my politics. OK, but then he did a number of things to push me away and ruined many halidays, even thought I tried to stay away from certain discussions. I also have tried just spending time together doing things together, but he refuses - even to go to a museum or show when we have been togther at the holidays. I went through a period when he would speak to me on the phone if the rest of the family was gathered together, but I realized at some point that he had only called me directly twice in 7 yeas. I am now 50 and he is 48.
I am sorry to say, that your sons may never be close again. It happened to us - we were very. very close. There is no repairing years of hostility when one person won't allow it to happen.
Irked 'Dancing' Cast Close to Turning on Jennifer Grey {PopEater}
Oct 20th 2010 6:05AM Derek is the best choreographer of the dancers and he knows how to choreograph to a person's strengths. Cheryl also has that talent. The two of them can make many people look good. But I agree that it seems that those with more dance skills get paired with him. If he wins again, I am going to stop watching. I wish they would pull names out of a hat - it is just unfair to the other dancers and contestants. As much as I like watching dancing, this really seems to be too contrived when it's either Derek or Cheryl winning time and again because they had good partners to work with from the start.
Famous Movie Locations: Disco from 'Saturday Night Fever' (Brooklyn, NY) {Moviefone Blog}
May 15th 2010 4:56PM If you were a young person then in NYC 16-22, working class background, this movie was your life. You felt stymied about making it. But there were plenty of people from all walks of life who were spending their wekends in clubs just like this. The New York Magazine author might have fabricated ths story, but he wasn't off the mark as far as many of us were concerned.
Is This 'Single Ladies' Video Too Hot for Tots? {ParentDish}
May 14th 2010 5:49AM The kids have talented teachers and dance talent, but I wonder why this number and these outfits. Why do people want to sexualize our young girls? I really question the teacher's judgement. But it's been going on for a while in our society. .
Twenty-five years ago, we used to have an annual talent shows for our Girl Scout troops. One year, we had a group dance to Madonna's "Like a Virgin" which all the kids were listening to. There were several other "sexy" songs also. It made us as adults very uncomfortable, but we let it go. The following year, several other Madonna songs were also selected by the girls for that year's show. We also thought those were not appropriate for girls 7-12, but let it go. After that year, we decided no more talent shows and turned our time to other things.
Not a single parent said anything to us - they thought the routines were cute. As I am sure the parents of these girls also believe.
Plane Answers: The Frontline episode regional airlines don't want you to see {Gadling}
Feb 10th 2010 10:56AM Ron: some of what you say is true, but I went through a period of frequent flying around a US for a job I had. You just have to talk to the crews on regionals to hear from them how crazy their work situation really is. Surely you can agree that scheduling can improved so people can rest, people can be put on salary not wages which will allow more training time and planes can stay put on the ground when they aren't ready to fly. I have had more than a few trips take off in bad weather in a turboprop and in fact I have asked to get off planes twice since I didn't think it was safe to fly in the weather conditions. My brother, also a frequent flyer, once heard a sound during the boarding that was not normal and got the AA pilot to come back and listen. After some checking, the flight was cancelled. I would rather be delayed than dead.
The FAA is not capable of doing more for safety due to budget and counterpressure as reported in Frontline. If they grounded Colgan, don't you think those safety standards would be met/fixed real fast? The FAA is too conflicted to be an effective regulator and not all regionals are the same. I did not find this Frontline leftist at all - in fact the interviewer asked the questions and let people answer without cutting them off. If one is a savvy consumer and an experienced passenger, you can draw your own inferences from the answers given.
Boy Scouts Start Recruitment Drive In Latino Communities {ParentDish}
Feb 5th 2010 6:38PM It is precisely this kind of discrimination - against gay parents who want scouting values for their sons, or former Boy Scouts who discover they are gay when they become adults, or even good people who respect the Boy Scouts but deplore their intolerance that had us enroll our son in Camp Fire. Camp Fire is no longer just for girls and has been co-ed since 1975. They are celebrating their centennial this year - the same as the Boy Scouts - founded in 1910 - as the counterpart of the Boy Scouts. Glad they split ways on this issue as Camp Fire was also the first non-sectarian organization for girls in the U.S. that did not discriminate based on race. I hope those who are no longer welcomed in Boy Scouts, but still want the same values look at Camp Fire. We have been very pleased.
BTW, the Girl Scouts have allowed men to be leaders for decades. There just aren't as many as women, but here are plenty of fathers enrolled in the Girl Scouts. (From a member of both GS and Camp Fire)
How Old Is Richard Simmons?... (and other Important Questions Answered) {PopEater}
Jan 9th 2010 6:32AM I actually just bought another Richard Simmons tape because I can do his routines. I injured my good knee and need knee replacement in the other one. Now that I am in less pain, I have to go back to basics. His tapes are great for exercise beginners who are not going to be keeping up with Jillian Michaels. I had a few of his tapes years ago, so I knew that if I got his tape that I would be moving without straining. I do wish though that he would dump the tank tops and wear regular T-shirts! But he really cares about helping people be healthier and is a great motivator and entertainer!
What's the Best Digital Camera for Around $100? {Switched}
Dec 26th 2009 10:32PM I miss Kadachrome! Slides I took in Sri Lanka in the late 70s still have the most striking color as do negatives I took with Fujifilm in the 1980s. Wish I could find someone to do decent film developing. Every local chain store has printed garbage for me in the last year if it was from film. I think you are right and I need to buy my own archival printer. Only those with their own dark room can now process film. SIGH!
