Search Results for: k nisha

Ugly Babies

(The antithesis of an ugly baby.) Have you ever met a mother who thought her baby was anything but beautiful? Sure, there’s that saying: “A face only a mother could love.” Which basically translates to: “You are one ugly…” But really, what mother is going to admit to others that she birthed an ugly child? Thinking it is one thing, but actually hearing your voice release the words into the universe yields an entirely different type of shame. And isn’t there enough Mommy guilt in the world? Ugly babies are not an anomaly. Neither is discussing them. Remember the Seinfeld … Continue reading →

Finally a Settlement for James Brown’s Estate?

James Brown was known as the Godfather of Soul, Mr. Dynamite, the King of Funk, Soul Brother #1, and the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, but it seems that settling his estate may end up being the hardest working legal battle in show business. (This image, by dbking, is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License) Brown died on December 25, 2006 of congestive heart failure and complications from pneumonia. Every since then, his estate has been awaiting a settlement. Brown’s will spelled out the dispersion of his music rights, business assets, and real estate. When his attorney Strom … Continue reading →

Celebrity Baby Names

If you are a celebrity (or just feel like one) you might want to know what your peers are naming their kids. Yes, we all know about Apple, but what about pilot Inspektor or simply Jack? Personally, I think one of the great things about parenthood is that you usually get naming rights. It is entirely in your power and responsibility to identify your child for life. It is such a big decision. For us, we agonized over names, even testing some out at the hospital to see if they fit our baby. Did we want a name that no … Continue reading →

Pekingese

For a month that comes in like a lion, I thought it a good idea to take a look at a dog that looks like a lion: the Pekingese! This little Chinese dog is bold, courageous, and independent — and comes with a long history. The breed was considered sacred in ancient China. Those Foo Dogs we looked at earlier this month? You can find Foo Dog representations that might just be Pekes. The imperial family kept the oldest, purest bloodlines; Imperial Dog Books were used as breed standards. Legend says that a lion fell in love with a marmoset … Continue reading →

What Were Those Eagles Thinking?

Yesterday on my way to the grocery store I was listening to the radio. As I pulled into the parking lot the announcer was getting ready to talk about news stories. “In Alaska, nearly two dozen bald eagles are dead after an unfortunate encounter with a truck.” Say what? Instead of shutting off the engine and going inside as planned, I hung around to hear why so many of these once endangered species had died at once. Them Crazy Birds Turns out they were responsible for their own demise. The temptation? A truck full of fish waste outside of a … Continue reading →

Examining My Own Attitudes Toward Race

On Saturday, I wrote about my parents’ attitude toward skin color (loving, but in an “it-doesn’t-matter-so-don’t-talk-about-it” sort of way). Now I have to ask myself, how much of their discomfort talking about race rubbed off on me? I am white, with a white son and two Korean daughters. I guess I’d better get comfortable talking about it quick. I wrote a poem for my first daughter called “My Beautiful Caramel-Colored Daughter”. I absolutely love her smooth, golden-brown skin and sparkling black eyes. I love the way the light rosy blush on my youngest’s cheek looks against her light tan face. … Continue reading →

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

Clark Gable stars as Fletcher Christian, first mate, in this adaptation of the novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, based on the true story. This is not a film you will watch for entertainment purposes; instead, you will watch it because you want to learn more about the history. It’s not a light-hearted tale. The captain of the Bounty, a man named Bligh, (Charles Laughton) is a cruel, sadistic man. He runs his ship so tight, his men can’t breathe. Every slight infraction is disciplined, often to the point of death. In fact, one man scheduled for a … Continue reading →

Betrothal and Wedding Customs at the Time of Christ

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When I read the story of Mary and how she was expecting to bear Jesus, while she was betrothed to Joseph, I am always interested in the customs of the day. Here is an overview of the betrothal and wedding customs at the time Jesus was born. Stage 1- Betrothal Betrothal was what we would consider an “engagement” today. The first stage of the betrothal was finding a suitable spouse for the bride or bridegroom. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, this was most often initiated by the families of the bride and groom. Though a young man could make … Continue reading →

Some Interesting Cat Facts: Did You Know?

Despite the fact that I live with five cats and have for a very long time, I am still amazed to discover new things about them, which I do almost every day that they allow me to live in my house. I’d like to share them with you and if you have any to add, please feel free to let me know and I will make a new list. Did you know that: 1. Tylenol and chocolate are both poisonous to cats? 2. the ancestor of all domestic cats is the African Wild Cat? It exists today but fortunately, doesn’t … Continue reading →