The Last Straw

 If you're worried about being straw-less because of plastic straws being phased out don't be. Straws have been around since around 3000 BCE where they were depicted on a seal found in a Sumerian tomb. The seal showed two men using straws to drink beer from a jar. Early beer was unfiltered so the grain and chaff were on the top of the brew so straws were used to get to the beer below. The straws used were mainly made of reeds but gold and bejeweled straws have also been found. Straws were made popular again in the mid 19th century when cocktails were served containing chunks of fruit rye grass straws were used to get to the liquor. Paper straws came into use at the turn of the 20th century to replace straw straws which brings us to straw usage today where we are going back to organically made straws from paper and bamboo to lessen the plastic usage.  

Another Pretty Face

Known for having good heads on their shoulders the Moai (pronounced mo-eye) of Easter Island are more than just the heads we are all used to seeing. All 900 or so actually  have bodies that stand about 13 feet tall including the body so the heads are shorter. With their backs to the sea they were arranged to protect the island's inhabitants. The ones that are most photographed are partly buried so only their heads remain exposed,erosion and landslides have hidden their bodies which also aided in preserving the tattoo like markings on the buried portion that is still a tradition with the people remaining on Rapa Nui. 

Testing

 Most of us know at least one person who we might suspect to be a psychopath or in some cases you may know more that one,now there is a test that can prove or disprove your suspicions. Fill out the following checklist then give a zero for every Does Not Apply answer,1 point for every somewhat applies answer and 3 points for every fully applies answer. Anyone scoring over 30 is likely to be a psychopath. Good luck,and you're welcome! 

Please mark present, unclear, or absent regarding each of the following personality traits or observed behaviors:

 Definitely PresentPossibly PresentDefinitely Absent

1. Glibness / superficial charm

2. Previous diagnosis as psychopath (or similar)

3. Egocentricity / grandiose sense of self-worth

4. Proneness to boredom / low frustration tolerance

5. Pathological lying and deception

6. Conning / lack of sincerity

7. Lack of remorse or guilt

8. Lack of affect and emotional depth

9. Callous / lack of empathy

10. Parasitic lifestyle

11. Short-tempered / poor behavioral controls

12. Promiscuous sexual relations

13. Early behavior problems

14. Lack of realistic, long-term plans

15. Impulsivity

16. Irresponsible behavior as parent

17. Frequent marital relationships

18. Juvenile delinquency

19. Poor probation or parole risk

20. Failure to accept responsibility for own actions

21. Many types of offense

22. Drug or alcohol abuse not direct cause of antisocial behavior

Monkeying Around

 For some unknown reason Japanese Macaque monkeys who are normally peaceful have started attacking children,babies and the elderly. There have been 58 attacks since July 8th. They aren't hungry so attempts at trapping them have been unsuccessful,instead authorities are hunting them with tranquilizer guns then relocating them to less populated places. They are smart and often sneak up from behind and bite and claw their targets. They are recommending avoiding eye contact and making yourself look bigger by spreading out your coat,then slowly backing away. It is unknown where the monkeys came from or why they are attacking. 

Let It All Hang Out

 What is it that makes people think everyone wants to see their butts? First it was the guys with the pants hanging around their knees thinking that made them look tough? but it actually made them look like if they took their hands out of their pockets their pants would be around their ankles then there would be no mistake about how tough they looked,but I digress. Today's post is about a women's style I hope doesn't catch on because it leaves little to the imagination and just to touch on logistics not everyone's ass would be a perfect fit for this particular piece of apparel. If it is a must have for your wardrobe the good news is they only run around $20,though you are paying for mostly missing material so maybe not such a bargain after all. 

Pony Up

 The words "pony up" usually mean to pay what you owe but in this instance it means that a pony is up as mayor of Cockington,Devon UK. Residents of Cockington started an online petition to name Patrick the pony mayor after the unofficial mayor died in 2019. Most of the residents got to know Patrick from his visits to The Drum Inn, a local pub where Patrick enjoys a pint of Guinness after a busy day visiting hospitals,recovery groups,mental health wards,specialized schools and the occasional wake. Patrick hasn't made an acceptance speech because he is a little horse. 

About Nothing

 Not much ado about nothing but the show about nothing,Seinfeld, and a few fun facts relating to the show. Kramer wasn't always Kramer because he was based on Jerry's real neighbor who wouldn't allow his name to be used so Kramer was Kessler until the neighbor agreed to take $1,000 to allow the show to use his name. Elaine styled her hair after Helen Bonham Carter in the film "Room With a View",Elaine also practiced her "dance" steps in front of a mirror the night before filming the episode with her awkward dance moves. The Soup Nazi was about a real soup kitchen where the guy refused to sell soup to the writer of the Soup Nazi episode and was not pleased by the name though later used it to advertise the business,and we all know about Superman appearing in every episode. 

The Mysterious Mr. Y

 The Indian Army Mountaineering Exhibition Team claims they found footprints of the elusive Yeti aka Bigfoot's cousin. The prints measured 35x15 inches and were found at Makalu Base Camp close to Makalu Barun National Park where the Yeti has been spotted once in the past. Scientists explain the footprints away as left by a sub species of brown bear who leave similar prints at certain gaits when the rear foot steps into the print of the front foot. Another scholar explained it away as the human need to understand the "great beyond"which is why people believe in god,angels,the Loch Ness Monster and yes,the Yeti/Bigfoot. Or could it be the need for the mysterious? 

Muppet Marriage

Just when a person thinks they've heard it all with modern wedding practices along comes something else to astonish the masses. Destination wedding seemed designed to trim the guest list so the couple didn't have to wine and dine as many guests yet those who couldn't make the destination would still give gifts,win win for the couple. But how about being invited to a wedding where the happy couple were into puppets and they required everyone to be wearing a puppet at all times with the exception of using the bathroom? Oh and did I mention they aren't talking homemade sock puppets they want quality puppets which cost between $150- $500 and are to be left after the reception in lieu of gifts. Puppets will also be officiating at the ceremony. I guess it would be acceptable to just send a puppet in your place and call it good?

Wrong Just Wrong

 Flavored vodka has been the rage for a long time with more flavors added until one thinks there couldn't be any flavors missing. Enter Velveeta flavored vodka,is it just me or is that enough to gag a person? But wait,there's more! Along with what they are calling a Veltini are the companion items...Velveeta stuffed olives,large Velveeta shells and cheese sauce dripping from the rim of the glass. The Veltini is only available for a limited time (thank god) at BLT Steakhouse select locations during golden hours from 5-8 for $15. 

Right For Spite

 Remember the old saying about burning/ringing ears? Right for spite left for love? Some recent dog research turns that saying on its ear. According to what the Chinese Academy of Sciences found after studying how dogs wag their tails in different situations research showed that when the animal is unsure of a person the tail wags to the left but if they know and like the person they wag their tails to the right. I rarely challenge science but I don't know if I've ever seen a dog that wags on only one side,it seems like they tend to wag back and forth or sometimes in circles then again,I'm not an expert on wagging. 

Redacted

 A trans woman from Germany has lost count of her tattoos which must have been easy to do since she has had her entire body tattooed three times. She started when she was 14 by doing her own tattoo with a sewing needle and ink from a pen and worked her way to being a renowned artist over the years. She says people are a lot more accepting of her tats now and ask for selfies with her where a few decades ago people would cross the street to avoid getting to close. She thinks of her heavily tattooed body as a book with many layers. Having never read a book with black pages and black print I'm in no position to argue. Oh,and for the bonus it gets more painful as more ink is applied.