Ouch

Little did everyone know, I was actually taking up a new hobby. CrackedPot indeed.

Merry Christmas!

Spend Christmas with Mr. Bean:



And here's the rest of the skit:

Surprise Santa

Instead of the usual milk and cookies, this year surprise Santa with tea and truffles, naturally served from a holiday tea set.

Christmas lights extravaganza

Sugar³ and I have a Christmas tradition of driving around town looking at Christmas lights and then returning home to a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate. But the place where we reside now only has a pathetic handful of Christmas displays, with these lurking about. However, through the magic of the internet, we can enjoy excesses like the one below. Snoopy would be proud, but I'd hate to see their electric bill next month.

How to untangle Christmas lights

This method has always worked for me.

The teapots are back!

About a week ago, the folks at Blogger tinkered with something in the way Headers (where my lovely green floral tea set resides) are set up, and it resulted in the truncation of my tea set, which was cut off at the knees. Last night, Sugar³ kindly pulled up the Html for my Header and fixed the problem. So now my teapots are whole again! In celebration, here's the same beautiful tea set in lilac and blue.

Update: Blogger apparently received a lot of complaints about the Header change, so they reverted it back to the original way they were doing things. I don't believe this made any difference, as Sugar³ manually corrected the Header yesterday. At any rate, the teapots are back!

Holiday travel in Europe

Tired of traveling to Grandma's house every year for Christmas? Always wanted to tour Europe for the holidays? Well here's your chance. Take a virtual holiday tour of Europe. Click on the link and then click "Choose a Destination." Enjoy!

http://downloads.raileurope.com/holidayCard/06_christmas_card.html

Bah Humbug

A perennial Christmas favorite, Charles Dickens' serial potboiler, "A Christmas Carol", was first published on December 19, 1843. Not only did it help pay his bills, but it was an instant success, and has spawned countless adaptations throughout the years.

But wouldn't it get sticky?

I stumbled across this website the other day. It sells giant stuffed animals and features a woman standing in line at an ice cream shop. That struck me as a little odd. Is it really advisable to take a giant stuffed monkey with you everywhere? Then again, I suppose it's cheaper than therapy. And when it gets matted and dirty, you can wash it like this. I would imagine it wouldn't freak out quite so dramatically.

Ghosts of venison past

Why are lighted reindeer so popular? By day they appear skeletal, by night, spectral. I keep expecting the ghost of Marley to stand beside them. Yet they infest almost every neighborhood. Some yards even have little piles of green lights for them to graze upon. Then there's Vlad Deer. Vlad Deer are lighted leaping reindeer who look like they've been impaled on a stake by this guy.

Eccentric astronomer

Danish nobleman turned astronomer Tycho Brahe was born on December 14, 1546. His accurate astronomical observations were later used by his assistant Johannes Kepler to derive the Laws of Planetary Motion. But he was anything but another boring scientist. Brahe wrangled with mathematicians, lost his nose in a duel and apparently kept a pet moose and a dwarf. Even his death is controversial. He may have been poisoned by his famous assistant.

Tie one on

Or not. The clip on tie was invented on December 13, 1928. Although eminently practical for law enforcement officers and very young little boys, clip on ties have somehow become regarded as slightly seedy and a little tacky. Of course, with examples like these, I can see why.

Prefer wrestling with a "proper" tie? Here's instructions on how to become fit to be tied.

Tea and cookies

Now that you've made plenty of cookies for those holiday parties, enjoy these gingerbread cookies that won't pack on the pounds. And while you're decorating your gingerbread creation, don't forget to enjoy a pot of gingerbread tea.

Torment your pet...

...by dressing them up as Santa Claus for Christmas. Does this pooch look the least bit happy? No, it looks humiliated!

The long awaited couch

Sugar³ and I ordered this couch back in August. We wanted it in an oak natural finish (shown) with a navy blue cover (use your imagination). After three months, the retailer finally discovered the manufacturer couldn't get their hands on any oak lumber for some reason and asked us if we would accept, for a discount, a couch in birch instead. So we agreed and two weeks later we received a couch...with a red teak finish, and no futon cover. So back it went. In the meantime, the futon cover wholesaler sent a dark burgundy red cover, and continued to send a red cover with each reorder until the retailer switched to another company. Even then we received a royal blue cover, but by that time, we were really tired of sitting on lawn chairs and accepted the royal blue cover. It helped that the retailer upgraded to a nicer cover at no extra cost, and threw in the dark burgundy red one too. Saturday, our new couch finally arrived, in a natural birch finish with a royal blue cover and an extra dark burgundy cover, nearly five months later! Our backs feel better already.

The arms open to hold remotes and small items and the front conceals drawers underneath. Each end also sports a magazine rack.

"A date which will live in infamy..."

Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Overview with pictures and more links here.

FAQ's here.

National Geographic multimedia timeline and map with firsthand accounts and narration here.

Account from USS Arizona survivor, Marine Corporal E.C. Nightingale.

Pictures and sequence of events here.

USS Arizona Memorial here and here.

Longest running holiday special

NBC first aired the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Christmas special on December 6, 1964. Painstakingly filmed in stop motion animation, the program took nearly a year and a half to complete. Like most other Hollywood celebrities, Rudolph and his castmates underwent extensive cosmetic surgery over the years in order to retain their youthful countenances. CBS took over airing Rudolph in 1972.

Here are parts two, three, four and five of Rick Goldschmidt's extensive and definitive histories of everything Rudolph.

Hanukkah hounds

Is this really kosher?

Happy Hanukkah!

Soggy felines

Cats are always so smug and self assured, except when they are wet. CrackedPot stumbled across a website that features Damp Cats. Most of the kittys are amusingly waterlogged,but whoever invented the dishwasher style kitty washer should have their head examined. Poor cat.

Bugs vs. Books

Hmmmm...do you think this was a copy of Metamorphisis?

Cookies Galore!

Fill your cookie jars with just about every cookie imaginable. Just click on the name of the cookie and the recipe is there! But don't tell this guy, he's fresh out of rehab and is now a fresh produce connoisseur.

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

Bygone building

London's Crystal Palace, was an enormous cast iron and glass Victorian monstrosity built for the 1851 Great Exhibition, which showcased Great Britain's industrial, economic and military might. It was moved to a new location in 1854 and eventually destroyed in a fire on November 30, 1936.

Cool computer animation of the interior and exterior here.

Proof positive

The age old question is finally answered. The Pope could not be reached for comment.

Gone to the dogs

Think your boss is doggone awful? How about this guy? He barks at everyone, and never throws his employees a bone.

Tea Time

CrackedPot and a friend spent a lovely afternoon pampering ourselves at a tea room, where we sampled various tea blends from delicate porcelain teacups and nibbled on scrumptious desserts. While prowling the tea room, which was jammed with various types of teapots for sale, CrackedPot found herself.

Someone please think of the children!

The original episodes of Sesame Street from the early 1970's are now available on DVD. They come with warnings that they are not suitable for children. Because, goodness knows, this might traumatize today's child. And look what poor Cookie Monster has been reduced to these days; he's now Organic Produce Monster Blue Fuzzy Puppet. If Jim Henson were still alive he'd likely be horrified.

Avoiding Black Friday

Although tradition has it that Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, this isn't necessarily so. Nevertheless, the thought of all those bargain crazed crowds and the ensuing melee doesn't appeal to CrackedPot who won't be venturing near any stores this day.

Happy Thanksgiving!

If Norman Rockwell had been a redneck.

Turkey wrestling

CrackedPot had a similar experience with a turkey years ago, only the slippery bas bird kept ending up on the floor...along with CrackedPot. Since then, CrackedPot has preferred Cornish Game hens; they're much easier to manage.

More turkey commercials here, here and here.

Would you like fries with your order?

McDonald's sold its 50 billionth burger on November 20, 1984. Presumably it tasted just as bland as the previous 49,999,999,999 burgers.

CrackedPot dined as a child at the original McDonald's, pictured above left, which was located in San Bernardino, California. It has since been torn down. Corporate McDonald's doesn't really explain its existence, and instead claims the first McDonald's was built by Ray Kroc in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955, a full 15 years after Dick and Mac MacDonald began serving up burgers. Ray Kroc built the empire, but it all started with a little hamburger stand in California.

Caffeine crisis

Not being a coffee drinker, CrackedPot, (who prefers tea, and caffeine free herbal teas at that), has never set foot in a Starbucks. Sugar³ is a big coffee drinker, but prefers to brew his own at home. We may be the only two people in the country who have never been to Starbucks. But Starbucks has apparently reached the saturation point. After growing like gangbusters for the past few years, the company reported huge losses for the third quarter.

More Mobius

August Ferdinand Mobius was born on November 17, 1790. He is best known for his co-discovery of the Mobius strip and as a pioneer in Topology, which Sugar³ is studying at present.

If you haven't already, check out yesterday's post featuring a cool video of Mobius Transformations.

Pretty math

Sugar³ often discusses Mobius Transformations but CrackedPot found them hard to visualize. This video not only shows how it works, but makes it beautiful.

Monet boats

Claude Monet, pictured right, was born on November 14, 1840. His Water Lilies (scroll down) are ubiquitous, but CrackedPot's favorite Monet paintings are the ones with boats,especially sailboats.

Far Side Favorite

Pictured is CrackedPot's favorite Far Side cartoon. I gave Sugar³ a boneless chicken ranch t-shirt for his birthday that he wore for years until it literally fell apart. Now it's a boat rag, so at least I get to chuckle when swabbing the decks.

Honoring those who served

See past Veteran's Day posters here. You may need to scroll down a little.

History of Veteran's Day here and here.

The President's 2007 Veteran's Day proclamation here.

Disclaimer: CrackedPot didn't have access to a computer yesterday, but wanted to post this anyway.

Happy 232nd Birthday USMC!

Semper Fi.

Ghost Ship

The Mary Celeste set sail from Staten Island, New York on November 7, 1872. She was later found abandoned near the Straits of Gibralter, and passed into history as a legendary ghost ship. Arthur Conan Doyle wrote a fictionalized account of her abandonment that over the years came to be regarded as fact.

Dreamboat vs. reality

Someday CrackedPot and Sugar³ would like to own one of these. Here's an older 1979 Cabo Rico for sale with some nice pictures.

And here's what we have now. A 1974 Grampian 26.

Candy conundrum

Overheard from a trick-or-treater on Halloween, "If I eat these, does that make me a cannibal?"

A classic beauty

The boat pictured right is a scale model of "Columbia" the 1901 winner of the America's Cup. She also captured the cup in 1899, becoming the first America's Cup winner to defend a title. Columbia was designed and built by Nathaniel Herreshoff, one of America's greatest yacht makers.

The classic lines of Columbia and her sisters are much prettier than these ugly things.

The Father of Frozen Foods

Thanks to inventor Clarence Birdseye we can have DiGiorno instead of delivery.

The photo of Mr. Birdseye in the bio looks like a Norman Rockwell painting.

The "Flying Lumberyard"

Howard Hughes flew his Spruce Goose sixty years ago today. Disney Corporation took quite a drubbing from the local public, press and politicians when they evicted the Goose from its home in Long Beach, CA in the early 1990's. Fortunately the Goose found a new home. The last CrackedPot heard, the huge custom built hangar in Long Beach was being used as a soundstage for filming TV shows and movies. More on Hughes here, and movies of the Goose here.

Weather or not

In 1870, the U.S. Weather Bureau made its first meteorological observations. They were probably wrong.

In Southern California, where there really isn't any weather to speak of most of the time, tv weatherpeople find a multitude of ways to say, "Sunny with a light breeze," and then move on to spend most of their weather segments describing the smog levels and the earthquake reports. Really.

Happy Halloween!

After a ghoulish night of trick-or-treating, relax with a nice cup of tea from a Halloween Teapot.