This temporary parting reminds me of farewell messages in high school yearbooks. Remember all those overused phrases that you had to scribble for your classmates? Have a great summer, KIT (keep in touch) and see you next year… What other phrases do you remember writing during your high school days?

Still have all your yearbooks? Did you make a heart around that crush you never had the guts to talk to? Do you still keep in touch with your best friends or high school buddies? What groups or clubs were you a part of? Anyone remember those pages you could buy in the back of the yearbook where you could create your own collage of photos and messages?

Flash forward to the present. What “temporary goodbye” message would you like to leave on the O&E blog? Write one to me, to friends you have “met” on O&E or to the Bee Bee Dees and Honey Bees as a whole.

And of course, you’re always free to e-mail me directly. Hope to BEE back soon!

—–

I’ll leave you with this parting story about a temporary mistake that would’ve been nice if made permanent…

Oklahoma state worker temporarily gets six-figure bonus
Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma officials say a typo resulted in a state employee receiving a bonus of $850,000 — but it was only temporary.

Jo Harris was supposed to receive an $850 longevity bonus for working at the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission for seven years. But a misplaced decimal point turned that into a six-figure windfall.

Officials say they caught the error before the $850,000 left state funds.

Harris’ original paycheck issued in February was canceled and a new one was issued with the correct bonus. Officials told Harris about the mistake and asked her to watch her personal bank account.

Harris said she would let state officials know right away if the extra money entered her account because “I don’t go to jail for anybody.”

Information from: The Oklahoman, www.newsok.com

Pictures (remember those mochi and manju ones?) showing the wonderful colors and textures can leave us almost tasting the flavors and eager to go out and get the real deal.

And it can also have the opposite effect, if it’s an item that makes you question if it’s even edible. Pig stomach? Dead scorpions? Fried silkworm? I think I’ll pass…

But that’s what’s on the menu at the Olympics in Beijing. Three Olympians got a cook’s tour and were able to sample some of the country’s most popular food items…

Olympians given stir-fried journey through China
By ELIZABETH WEISE
USA Today

BEIJING — Stinky tofu didn’t make the cut for Olympic diver Ariel Rittenhouse.

“Though it didn’t taste as bad as I thought it would,” she said.

Fellow diver Christina Loukas liked the “squirty dumplings” and was happy to bypass the fried silkworm on a stick. But rower Bryan Volpenhein, a trained chef, was in heaven.

“This pig stomach is just like cold bacon,” he says, urging his fellow Olympians to have a taste. They oblige, but without the gusto the bronze medalist showed.

The trio spent a morning getting a cook’s tour of Beijing by Jen Lin-Liu, author of “Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China.“ Lin-Liu, a California-born, Beijing-trained chef, took them to Jiumen Xiaochi. The first sight upon entering was a vendor using tongs to pick the dead scorpions out of a plastic bag full of the skittering, writhing arthropods.

‘SCORPIONS TASTE LIKE POPCORN’

Next door, skewers of the now-dead scorpions are arrayed next to cicadas, silkworm pupae and sea horses, all waiting to be deep-fried.

“Scorpions taste like popcorn,” Lin-Liu told them. “Silkworms are nutty. Sea horses are mostly crunchy, but it’s a little hard to eat them because they’re so cute.

“Maybe I’ll try one on the way out,” says Volpenhein, 32.

The athletes each take a wooden tray and make their choices.

Volpenhein grabs a plate of “stinky tofu,” fermented soybean curd that’s fried but smells very much like rotting meat. “I love it,” says Lin-Liu. “It’s like blue cheese; it doesn’t taste the way it smells.”

The divers load up on jiaozi — dumplings — and other typical Beijing street food, taking turns sampling the fare. It’s a far cry from the scrambled eggs, fruit and chicken Loukas, 23, says she’s been eating at the Athlete’s Village.

“This is way better. This is real food,” says Volpenhein.

A clear winner are the “doorknob dumplings,” named for their puckish-shape. Filled with beef, they’re very moist.

Rittenhouse, 18, takes a bite. “Oh God, I’m so sorry,” she says, as the juice squirts all over her dining companions. Despite the warning, by the end of lunch everyone’s made the same mistake.

NO ROOM FOR DESSERT?

The desserts are less of a hit, though they like the name of one brown and white pastry. “It’s called Donkeys Rolling in the Dirt,” Lin-Liu explains.

After lunch the trio heads by rickshaw to Lin-Liu’s Black Sesame Cooking School for a dumpling-making lesson. Master jiaozi maker Guizhen Wang shows them how to roll out soft dough rounds, then stuff them with pumpkin, pork or greens before crisply pleating the tops.

Dozens get ladled into boiling water while Lin-Liu makes up a quick sauce. Then the Olympians tuck them into heaping platters of the steaming jiaozi.

“Are these the ones we made?” Loukas asks.

Lin-Liu shakes her head. Wang wasn’t sure they were sturdy enough to survive boiling.

Still, says Volpenhein, “this is the best food I’ve had yet in Beijing.”

—–

I couldn’t find a video of that actual tour, but here’s one that shows some of those same items up for sale on the streets of China.

YouTube Direktvideo link

—–

So thumbs up or down? How open are you to trying new foods? When traveling, is it a must to sample cuisines of that region? Or do you just long for your rice?

What are some of the ODD foods you have tried? (Some of you may have already mentioned them during the off-topic comments on previous posts, but please share again with our new O&E friends if you don’t mind.) I probably can’t contribute much to this post since I’m one of those picky eaters that rarely tries new dishes. I like to stick with my favorites and will only eat something new if it looks appetizing, tasty and “normal.”

—–

THANKS TO AN O&E LURKER WHO JUST SENT ME THESE PHOTOS! SEE UP CLOSE MORE OF THESE DELICACIES FROM CHINA!

One man in Michigan hasn’t wavered for more than half a century on what his annual purchase must be. And we’re not talking chump change here…

Man drives home 53rd new Cadillac in 53 years
Associated Press

FLINT, Mich. — There are loyal customers, and then there’s Joseph Macko. The 84-year-old Flint man has bought or leased a new Cadillac every year since 1955, the year Disneyland opened in Anaheim, Calif. “You only live one time. Money is to spend,” he told The Flint Journal. “I spend it once I get it.”

Macko, a retired General Motors Corp. worker, used to buy a new car every year, but he’s been leasing the last few years. Last week, he drove home this year’s fresh set of wheels — a black 2009 Cadillac DTS — from the Al Serra Auto Plaza in Grand Blanc.

Joseph Macko takes the wheel after signing a lease for a 2009 Cadillac DTS in Flint, Mich. It’s the 84-year-old retired worker’s 53rd Cadillac in 53 years. (AP Photo/The Flint Journal)

“He looks forward every year to buying a new car,” said Gordon Taylor, who has been Macko’s salesman for 22 years. “He wants that same vehicle.”

Marcella Macko said her husband isn’t the spendthrift he might seem — he saves up all year to pay for a new car.

But, she said, she just doesn’t get excited anymore about the annual ritual.

“He does, but I don’t,” she said.

Information from: The Flint Journal, www.mlive.com/flintjournal

—–

Looking back at your spending habits, is there one item you must buy every year? One super-expensive pair of shoes? The latest toy to add to your collection? A piece of new furniture? Any ODD must-have purchases?

Do you buy it because it’s on sale or a great deal, are following some kind of tradition or can’t break the habit?

The only thing I seem to religiously buy are cosmetics from Macy’s during the free gift sale. Though I believe the item itself is overpriced, the free samples you get with the gift makes it a good deal. Only problem is that the sale happens about three to four times a year and several brands offer this deal. So I have a huge collection of assorted products and cosmetic bags from Lancome, Estee Lauder and Clinique. Anyone want a free lipstick? I have jars full of them since I hardly wear lipstick and one stick takes forever to use!

What stores must you always check out when you go to the mall? Do you have to stop at a certain store every week to see what new items have been stocked? Or how about online shopping? Always checking out stores’ Web sites to see what the latest products are?

Do you see yourself as more of a spender or saver? Do you live by a budget and add up receipts? Are paychecks spent as soon as you get them? Do you go credit-card crazy or often pay by cash to keep a better eye on purchases?

Are you the type that will drive miles away to get that sale price? Spend 20 minutes in line for Costco gas to save pennies a gallon? Do you recycle all your cans to get that nickel back?

You can have an affectionate guy behind closed doors who shows a military-type dominant personality that the public sees. Or you can have a seemingly wishy-washy or easy-going guy when others are around but who calls all the shots when at home.

But have you heard of the term “retrosexual” before? According to UPI, a British author has written a book that posits the opposite of the so-called metrosexual man is a “retrosexual.”

Dave Besley’s new book, “The Retrosexual Manual: How To Be a Real Man,” urges readers to reject such metrosexual concepts as carrying purse-like bags, being flattered by attention from gay men and referring to men’s toiletries as “products,” The Sun reported yesterday.

Besley wrote the retrosexual man instead engages in behaviors including rejecting foreplay in favor of having the woman send a text when she’s ready for intercourse and avoiding public crying at all costs.

The book says retrosexuals are not allowed to know the definitions of words such as manicure, pedicure, facial and exfoliation. They also must only give women compliments in such a way that denotes a lack of understanding — for example, Besley suggests men tell their women, “That’s a nice badge, brooch-type thing you’re wearing.”

—–

What do you think of such a concept? Like the term sounds, it seems as if this author wants men to revert to caveman-type behavior though I don’t see what the point is or what result is meant to be achieved.

Do you know of men who already are “retrosexuals” but maybe not intentionally?

On a twist on his book title, what defines a “real man” to you? Someone who can protect and provide? One who can win battles — mentally and physically? A man who is competent, considerate and in control? That sounds like a pretty good checklist to me. And of course, he has to have a big heart and know where his priorities and loyalties lie.

How do you stay safe on America’s streets while still looking fashionably good? You can’t walk around in Army gear all day because you never know when you might get an invitation to some hoity-toity event.

Well, there may be a solution for those who want to look stylish while still being able to withstand fire from an Uzi machine gun. Just got to head overseas first to buy what the paranoid super-rich are clamoring for. Oh yeah, and it’s gonna cost you. This is according to a story on UPI, which is reporting that bulletproof designer fashion is now available through Britain’s best-known retailer:

Harrods is now carrying a Colombian entrepreneur’s line of luxury “ballistic daywear” for customers fearing personal attack. Included among those wanting the clothes are King Abdullah II of Jordan, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and actor Steven Segal, The Daily Telegraph reported Saturday.

The customized clothing line includes a polo shirt, a blazer, a sports jacket, a biker jacket and a raincoat with prices ranging between $6,500 and $15,400. It is described as being wearable at parties even while tough enough to withstand fire from an Uzi machine gun.

—–

Designer Miguel Caballero even “tests” the clothes’ durability on his employees — by shooting them! (I found a video but unfortunately for some reason it is not loading properly [no pun intended!] into this story…)

So does bulletproof fashion go overboard or is it always better to be safe than sorry? Would you have a need for such an ensemble in your daily life? In an unrelated fashion story, reported on UPI, the largest teachers union in Britain has criticized a manufacturer of school uniforms for marketing a blazer designed to help students hide iPods:

Chris Keates, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers, described Marks & Spencer’s “Blazer for iPod,” which is part of the clothing manufacturer’s 2008 Back to School collection, as “unnecessary and an error of judgment.”

The blazer, which is available in both male and female styles, features an inside pocket for hidden electronic devices and hidden built-in controls compatible with iPods. The jacket also features lapels designed to conceal earphone wires.

“Teachers are already battling against the misuse of such technology in classrooms. Pupils nowadays come to school equipped with mobile phones, MP3 players, and portable games consoles when teachers would like them to just bring a pen,” Keates said. “In its place this technology is useful, entertaining and perfectly legitimate for youngsters but its place is not for personal use in classrooms.”
—–

At least it sounds like those blazers would make it less likely students would lose their iPods…

What kind of gadgets do you wish you could fashionably attach to your outfits? Regarding your cell phone, are you one of those who stick it in your pocket or clip it on your pants? Ladies: Are you one of those who can never retrieve your phone in time because it’s lost somewhere in your purse?

Ever get annoyed by impractical designs? Pretend pockets? Too tiny buttons (to do and undo)? Complicated bows that practically leaves you playing Twister just to tie?

Any ODD fashions (besides those you see on a runway) you’ve seen worn around town? What were your favorite fashions back in the day? Bell-bottoms or Z Cavaricci pants perhaps? Or maybe popped collars for the men and ruffles for the ladies? Anyone remember baby doll dresses and clogs?

If a co-worker told you that to your face, would you be embarrassed? Would you prefer to have gotten back to your desk to see an anonymous message pop up instead?

“You seem to have over-applied your make-up today.” “We can see when you are surfing the Internet to non-work related sites.”

That’s the thought behind NiceCritic.com, which allows you to politely and secretly get your message across. And of course, there are some critics of NiceCritic’s pre-written messages.

Meet NiceCritic: Bearer of the unpleasant truth
By Laura Yao
The Washington Post

A couple of months ago, my friend was walking down the street when a raggedly dressed man coming toward her stopped, circled around and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Yes?” she inquired.

“You got a big butt and an ugly face!” he said. Message delivered, he turned and wandered off.

Unlike Raggedy Man, many of us are reluctant to offer criticism face to face. So for those of us who don’t have the “courage” to personally warn neighbors and co-workers of their flaws, there’s NiceCritic.com.

NiceCritic has a cache of pre-written messages that can be sent to your target with the click of a mouse. And, good news for those who are judgmental but timid — it’s anonymous. Messages are sorted into categories such as “Personal Hygiene” and “Neighborly Suggestion.” There’s also an “Anonymous Praise” category. (The site only addresses problems with quick fixes, though — like stained pants or bad breath — so issues of butt size and attractiveness will still have to be dealt with in person.)

The messages are courteous — in the language a British butler would use, the site’s founder Erik Riesenberg says — to dull the embarrassment that the recipient no doubt feels.

Such as: “Please do not remove your shoes. Your feet tend to give off an aroma.”

And: “Please refrain from slapping people’s buttocks.”

Riesenberg, a 38-year-old from Weehawken, N.J., was inspired when a friend told him, “You could really use a trim of the nose hair.” The encounter left the woman more embarrassed than he was. “I had this idea that there’s got to be a better way to facilitate that kind of communication,” Riesenberg says.

But on the Internet, any dialogue can quickly sour. Despite Riesenberg’s good intentions, what he’s created is, in essence, a stockpile of politely worded insults. As Peter Post — grandson of the great Emily — puts it, “How would you feel if you got one of these in your inbox?”

One academic study has shown that people correctly interpret the intended tone of an e-mail only about 50 percent of the time.

Justin Kruger, a professor of marketing at New York University who co-authored the study in 2006, says NiceCritic is a bit like teasing. “Good intentions are often much less obvious to the other person than the teaser thinks,” Kruger says. “Even well-meaning individuals can be expected to have their well-meaning attempts go awry.”

Teasing can also be passive-aggressive behavior. The polite tone of NiceCritic, Kruger says, “makes us feel better but doesn’t exonerate negative content as much as the people on the other end think it ought to.”

Riesenberg thinks that not allowing readers to compose their own messages will prevent flaming. “There have been other sites like this but that let you write in messages,” Riesenberg says. “It usually turns into something negative; people use vulgarity or profanity.”

Still, there’s one thing that can be said for taking the easy way out, and that thing is: People love it. Launched in early July, NiceCritic has drawn more than 100,000 visitors. Riesenberg estimates that about 80 percent of them actually send messages.

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Would you send any of those messages using NiceCritic? I did a test. This is what the recipient would receive:

How do you handle awkward moments at work: Food between someone’s teeth, something hanging out of someone’s nose, undergarments peeking out and the like?

In terms of hygiene issues, do you rather just always avoid the obvious and hope someone else says something?

Many of the messages on NiceCritic are, as the story says, in a language that a British butler would use. Can you think of a more local way to politely get your point across?

—–

And speaking of anonymity, another Bee Bee Dee was kind enough to send some sweets to the office for me. Strawberry shortcake and a lemon bar from Kakaako Kitchen plus a tray of manju from Nisshodo Mochiya. Wow, all my favorite desserts! Ain’t I just getting lucky? Here are the pictures… I wonder how many calories these all add up to. Oh boy!

Strawberry shortcake with lots of whip cream. I loved the sponge cake part the best!

The best lemon bar I’ve had so far! It’s perfectly tart and topped with powdered sugar.

Ooh, another of my favorites! Manju with azuki beans. So I finally got the manju!

Well, next time think about how many of them underwent plastic surgery. Either that or makeup and style can do wonders. Or the stars can credit camera angles and the right lighting.

But, for folks who have always wanted those Angelina Jolie-type lips, a new option is now available and I’m sure it won’t come cheap…

Love my lips? Can you tell they’re fake?
By Monica Corcoran
Los Angeles Times

Hey, breast augmentation. Meet the lip implant. A new procedure called FulFil Lip from California-based Evera Medical, has just been approved for testing by the FDA. Much like a breast implant, the FulFil Lip is a balloon that can be filled with saline and then inserted into the lip. A micro-valve prevents any fluid from leaking. Now, that could be embarrassing during a first kiss.

Outside the U.S., the company already markets VeraFil, a saline implant that plumps skin around the eye.

Right now, there are myriad ways to inflate your pucker — from injecting collagen from a dead person to grafting fat from your caboose. And Surgisis, an implant derived from the intestines of pigs, is on the horizon too. Oh, how to choose? Not to mention, can we conscript those scientists fiddling with pig guts to take a stab at a cure for the common cold?

As for the new lip implant, you get to pick your size, though the company has not yet released a size chart. Are double D lips next? No doubt, super pouts are here to stay. Since 2000, there has been a 27 percent increase in lip augmentation, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Angelina Jolie’s lips are the most requested. (Associated Press file photo)

Oh, and it is no surprise that a study by the Beverly Hills Institute of Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery revealed that Angelina Jolie’s lips top the most requested list among patients.
—–

What are your thoughts on lip or other implants? Have Americans gone overboard with cosmetic surgery?

What do you predict will be the next body part people will want to enhance? And what material would best be suited to do the job? Pig guts or fat from your butt, which seems to already be in the works?

Do you care what people do to make themselves beautiful as long as the end result is pleasing? Are you prejudiced against folks who have had cosmetic work done?

Want to share any beauty secrets? Or better yet, what are some of your ODD grooming habits?

Speaking of which, I actually got a telemarketer call (even though I am on the do-not-call list) the other night. A guy wanted to know if I was interested in buying a Christmas wreath as part of his organization’s holiday drive!! Just a heads up in case you get the same call… I told him I wasn’t even thinking about Christmas yet when he asked if I knew of anyone else who might want a wreath. Long story short, he said he’d gladly call back when it gets closer to the holidays…

Well, Christmas is more associated with gifts than it is decorations (if you consider what folks tend to get stressed out about). Some people like to get an early start, others shop year round and store their gifts until the appropriate occasion and many even wait till the day before to find their loved ones a gift.

Finding the perfect gift is hard, but it doesn’t take a genius to know not to send certain kind of gifts. Like maybe a pig’s head. Yup, according to a story on UPI, that’s what one man did and now he’s in trouble with the law:

LONDON — A London court has found a man guilty of sending a pig’s head disguised as a birthday present to his ex-girlfriend’s sister-in-law.

The Kingston Crown Court jury found Martin Anderson, 44, guilty of masterminding a hate campaign against Kim Teague that left the woman fearing violence, The Sun reported Monday.

Judge Stephen Bellamy set sentencing for Sept. 5.

“Obviously all options as to sentencing will be kept open,” he told Anderson after the guilty verdict was announced.

Teague had told the court she received a gift-wrapped package that contained the severed head of a pig with the letters “RIP” written on its forehead. She said she also received anonymous phone calls from someone who made pig noises over the line.

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So ruling out gifts that could be considered a “hate campaign,” what were some of the best gag gifts you ever gave or have received?

In terms of those “junk Christmas gifts that your grandmother gave you,” care to share what any of those were? What about some ODD gifts — perhaps a gift that maybe wasn’t meant for you in the first place?

Do you regift, return when possible or just give away to charity if you don’t like the gift? Ever tell a person that you didn’t like it?

Who is the hardest person to shop for in your life?

If you know it’s going to be 87 or 89 degrees tomorrow, you can decide tonight whether to wear the lightweight shirt or perhaps go with the polo. Yippee for you!

But more on this must-know Island weather in a bit. We gotta give our TV weather guys credit. They have that blank blue or green screen they are pointing at while all these fancy and informative graphics pop up on our televisions. Some of them even do live shots to showcase the extreme weather — which is rare in Hawaii, of course.

What is also rare is a snake crawling up your pants during a live shot. According to UPI, that’s what happened to one man. I even found a corresponding video since the story doesn’t do it justice…

DES MOINES, Iowa — A meteorologist broadcasting live from the Iowa State Fair predicted his appearance would wind up on YouTube when a friendly snake slithered up his pants.

Kurtis Gertz, a meteorologist with KCCI-TV in Des Moines, was performing a live broadcast from the fair Thursday alongside a python trainer who allowed the weatherman to wear the snake on his shoulders.

The Burmese python first stuck out its tongue to give Gertz a kiss.

“Hey, that was a hot, wet kiss,” Gertz said. “I got a hunch this is going to make YouTube.”

Gertz said he did not realize until bystanders began gasping and pointing that the snake’s tail had slithered up one of his pant legs and out the other, KCCI-TV reported Monday.

YouTube Direktvideo link

“This is Dawn and she might have a crush on you,” the snake’s trainer, who gave his name as Nick, told Gertz.

“This is how it all comes to an end Steve, this is how it all comes to an end,” Gertz joked. “It’s been a great 20 years in television, God bless.

“OK, let’s go to stupid human tricks. Let’s see you top this one.”
—–
What other ODD things have you seen during live TV shots? Anyone remember some on-air mistakes?

And back to the weather forecast on Hawaii newscasts. Does anyone else think that we spend a bit too much time on weather? Does light and variable winds with isolated showers tell you much? Do we really need a five-day forecast if there’s only a range of two degrees? Obviously if there’s a storm coming or it is raining unusually hard (a big deal in Hawaii!), we want to know details. But if it’s just another sunny day in paradise, is that even news?

I was just alerted to this hilarious video of some comedic dog poking fun at our weather segment. It’s an old video, but definitely appropriate to the topic!

YouTube Direktvideo link

So… how’s the weather on your side of the island?

Today is one of those days (well, truthfully I’m just coming off my weekend so this was prepped in advance) so I found our Dear Annie column that is published in today’s Island Life. ODDLY enough, the only other time I used that column for this post it was on a bathroom situation. Though we all know the conversation has strayed to that topic quite often recently. Hmmm…

Dear Annie: I have a close friend who visits a few times a year. He likes to take the morning newspaper into the bathroom before I have had a chance to read it.

Needless to say, I do not want to handle the paper after he’s finished with it. Is there a polite way of telling my friend not to read it on the toilet?

— Not Appealing Now

Dear Not Appealing: You have several choices: You can tell your friend to please not take the paper out of the kitchen before you’ve read it. You can buy an extra paper on those days when he visits. You can get up early enough to read it first. You can stock the bathroom with interesting magazines. You can tell him point-blank that you don’t like handling the paper after it’s been in the bathroom. Pick one.

—–

First off, I know this is a very common practice. Many homes have a stack of magazines nearby the toilet. BUT, what do you think of Not Appealing Now’s concerns? I’m assuming that most people who read magazines, etc. while on the toilet drop the magazine BEFORE needing to reach for the toilet paper. Is that right?

Do you pick up any reading material while using the toilet at someone else’s house? Does the germ factor cross your mind?

And the more fun question, what ODD magazines have you seen collecting dust (or maybe not) near your friends’ toilets?

Dump your answers on me!

Oh wait, before you do… there are some photos I promised you! Not that food pictures go well with the topic at hand, but I know you all want to see that manju that’s actually really mochi. And I know the O&E crowd can look at yummy pics while discussing throne-reading material. Thanks again, to top Bee Bee Dee Ynaku for the sweets!

From left, me, Ynaku, MLC and BL at The Advertiser. Mmm, mochi for all!

Wow, look at the pretty colors and variety!

Strawberry mochi! How come one is missing? That’s the one Queenie popped in her mouth. Oops…