Search Results for: popular culture odd bin

A Really Odd Couple: Dog and Capybara

I’m afraid you’re going to get a number of these stories here on the pets blog, every time I find one. At least I did sit on this story for a while, waiting until more time had passed until the last time I talked about an unlikely animal friendship. Human interest news website tonic.com has the tale of the recently developed friendship between a domesticated dog and a capybara. For those who don’t know, the capybara is the world’s largest rodent. It’s native to South America, particularly the wetter/more tropical eastern half. Charlie the capybara bonded with Pacho, a shepherd … Continue reading →

Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”

For some reason, many of us associated Christmas with snow and it may be just because of this song. Written by Irving Berlin in 1940, this song became THE Christmas song and still remains one of the most popular songs ever. Legend has it that Berlin was known to stay up all night writing songs and after writing this one, he told his musical secretary “Grab your pen and take down this song. I just wrote the best song I’ve ever written – hell, I just wrote the best song that anybody’s ever written.” Berlin was a Russian-Jewish immigrant who … Continue reading →

Unseen Odds — Shirley Bahlmann

To usher in the “spirit” of the Halloween season, I’m reviewing one of my favorite books by author Shirley Bahlmann. Most widely known as a writer of pioneer stories, Shirley has collected eerie tales of strange happenings and combined them into this compelling and otherworldly book of short stories. Read about the rocking chair that kept its rhythmic motion even though no one sat in it. Or how about the young couple desperately trying to find a doctor to deliver their first baby in a snowstorm, and the kind man who came and took care of them. When the husband … Continue reading →

Octomom

Nadia Suleman may be one of the most famous single moms around right now. Giving birth to eight children at one time, to bring her grand total to fourteen was something most of us saw as outrageous, especially since she had no way to support them. Rarely do I sympathize with her, although I do worry about her children. Recently her hairdresser took some pictures at her home and gave them to a media outlet to show that the children were being neglected. First, if you are really concerned you would have called child welfare services instead of going to … Continue reading →

Rare Pets: Hedgehogs

I’m aware that most of my posts on the Pets blog relate to cats or dogs. They’re the most common pets in America, and also the two pets I own, so the majority of my articles focus on them. I thought I’d change things up a bit, however, with a new recurring column on rare pets. Today I take a look at the hedgehog. Hedgehogs have fascinated me from an early age, ever since my childhood introduction to Sonic the Hedgehog, a video game and cartoon character. Real hedgehogs, however, don’t look anything like Sonic, with his spiky blue ‘do … Continue reading →

Underappreciated Disney Films: Lilo & Stitch

Lilo: “We’re a broken family, aren’t we?” Nani: “No. Maybe a little. Maybe a lot. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.” Lilo: “We’re sisters, it’s our job. I like you better as a sister than as a mom. And you like me better as a sister than a rabbit, right?” Whenever I bring up 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” most people in the room immediately exclaim “I love that movie!” But despite that it doesn’t seem to get the same sort of attention as other beloved Disney films. Due to its relatively recent release, it’s not a movie most people grew … Continue reading →

Models Go Green

I’ve talked about some of my favorite green celebrities, but now, even models, not always known for their healthy, eco-friendly lifestyles, are going green. Supermodel Cindy Crawford is now writing a green blog for Vanity Fair. While it may seem more natural for her to be on the cover than writing for the magazine, Cindy had a green awakening after becoming a mom. She has started recycling plastics, unplugging appliances when not in use, drinking tap water, and using recycled napkins and paper towels to inspire her children to be good, conscientious citizens. Canadian model/former host of MTV’s “House of … Continue reading →

Something Worth Watching

What do you get when you combine a boy with mustard-colored skin and purple hair with the swine flu? The answer: Must-see TV… at least if you have young kids at home. If you’re worried about the H1N1 virus or seasonal flu, don’t have all the facts on vaccinations AND you parent needle-phobic children, then you might consider tuning into PBS’ “Sid the Science Kid” on Monday, October 26, 2009. That’s when a new episode of the popular kiddie series will air. The special show follows 4-year-old Sid as he goes to the doctor to get a flu shot. Those … Continue reading →

Focus on the Oscars: More Memorable Oscar Moments

Tomorrow night is the big night and I can feel the excitement building…at least within myself. The Academy Awards is like my Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Championship, and World Cup all rolled into one. Coverage at my house starts at noon and never ends less than 12 hours later. (This image, by Alan Light, is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.) Because I am excited, my next few blogs will be about the Academy Awards. There have been events at the Oscars that will be remembered forever. Here are a few: Trey Parker and Matt Stones’ “Dress” If … Continue reading →

Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines Sued

The lead singer for the Dixie Chicks, Natalie Maines, is being sued by Terry Hobbs. Now, the name Terry Hobbs might not be familiar to you, but if I were to say the stepfather of Steven Branch, one of the victims of the West Memphis Three murders, you might remember his name. The West Memphis Three was a horrific murder case that happened just across the Mississippi River in 1993 when I lived in Memphis, Tennessee. Three eight year old boys (Steven Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore) were found dead in a Robin Hood Hills drainage canal. I won’t … Continue reading →