December 18, 2007

Tuesday Teaser for December 18, 2007

Can you identify the item depicted above? Just take your best guess and post it in the comments below. If your guess wins, you’ll get a nifty prize. Here’s how it works:

1. Write a comment giving your guess as to what the item is.
2. First person to identify the item wins.
3. The author of this blog will be the sole judge as to what constitutes a correct answer.

What will you win?

1. The author of this blog will write a LINKY LOVE POST (review) about the winner’s blog (commercial sites ineligible.) The LLP will contain the url for your blog plus at least two deep links and will be posted here on Skeet’s Stuff, a PR4 PR2 PR0 (bah google!) blog. Skeet writes good reviews.
2. The winner’s name will be entered into a drawing for a $10.00 gift card from Starbucks or Amazon.
3. Drawing for the gift card will be held on or about January 1, 2008, and will include all weekly winners for the month. There are four Tuesdays in December, thus the maximum number of people who will be eligble is four.

Other stuff -EDITED - PLEASE READ!

1. All comments to this blog are time and date stamped. The winner will be the first person (according to time and date stamp) to provide the correct answer. Guess as many times as you please, but please place each guess in a separate comment.
2. No hints will be given.
3. Answers must specifically identify the item. For instance, if the item depicted were to be a button on a remote control, the answer “something electronic” would not suffice.
4. Decisions of the judge are final. Don’t argue with me. I won’t answer.
5. I will attempt to post every few hours as to whether or not a winner has been declared, but I am not continuously at the keyboard so please be patient.
6. Entries must be posted before 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, December20, 2007, Hawaii time (GMT -10, approximately forty-eight hours from now.)
7. This is intended to be an ongoing feature at Skeet’s Stuff. If you or I lose interest it will cease to exist, but all qualified winners will get their prizes.
8. Skeet’s Stuff is a do-follow blog, so you get some link value just for commenting.
9. You do not have to have a blog to enter. Your review can be donated to a charitable or non-profit site if you don’t have a blog or just want to share the love. Sites to be reviewed are subject to my approval. I’m not harsh, but I’m also not interested in donating space to a radical political non-profit site or a blog that is dedicated to porn. Commercial sites are ineligible and comments with commercial links will be deleted. If you would like to advertise on my site I’ll be happy to discuss your needs and my fees.
10. Let the fun begin!

Technorati Tags: contests, photos, photo contest, blog contest

December 17, 2007

Bloggers Unite in Acts of Kindness

I believe that everything we do can have an effect on people around us and even across the globe. The ripple effect itself is neutral and can carry large cumberson acts of ugliness as easily as small kindnesses. As an extreme example of the former, does anyone doubt that the events of September 11, 2001, hatched in one man’s black heart, had an impact on millions of people around the globe, creating suspicion, uneasiness and even hatred in many? Conversely, one woman’s wish that the children around her could all have shoes led to the creation of The Slippah Fund, which has provided slippers and Christmas cheer to hundreds of children around the island of Oahu.

Every day we have numerous opportunities to start a ripple, for good or ill. As bloggers we impact our readers, who can influence their readers, on and on, ad infinitum. Bloggers Unite is an acknowledgement of the power we can weild for change and has issued a challenge to all bloggers everywhere:

Bloggers Unite challenges bloggers everywhere, on December 17th, to do something good offline — an act of kindness — and then post about it on their blogs, using words, pictures, and/or videos to tell the story.

“Maybe 20,000 bloggers, vloggers, photographers will make a difference.”

I’m stuck in my office right now and won’t be out and about until this afternoon, but I didn’t want to pass by the opportunity to spread the word to other bloggers so they might be motivated to join in. I’ve chosen, therefore, to post this morning about another blogger who is making a difference.

I run a contest on my blog every Tuesday. Linking it here would be self-serving, so let’s skip that part. A while back I suggested to my readers that they could use their prize, a linky love post, to publicize a charitable or non-profit site instead of their own blog. Chuck Foxtrot liked that idea and asked me to review a charity of my choice when he won the weekly contest. I posted about Chemo Angels, an organization that provides tangible support to people with cancer who are undergoing the rigors of chemotherapy. Last week Chuck stepped up to the plate again.

Two weeks ago a terrible storm blew through Hawaii. It was a difficult and uncomfortable time for me and my neighbors as we lost power and were stranded for several days because access to our coast was blocked by downed utility poles. I blogged it once the power was back on, of course, and mentioned that I had lost a few hundred dollars or so of food because of the lack of refrigeration. I don’t have a lot of money and certainly could have done without the expense of restocking, but imagine, if you will, the more serious repercussions for my neighbors who live on the beach. Emergency shelters were opened, but many of our homeless are distrustful of such places and chose to ride out the storm on their own. Their flimsy tents and tarps could not withstand the gale-force winds. They lost their shelters and whatever food, clothing and other possessions they had. Local charitable groups sprang into action to try to help. It was those efforts I thought of when I got an email from Chuck. Each month I draw the name of one of my weekly contest winners and award that blogger a small gift card. Chuck won the drawing for November and this was his reaction:

“I like $10 as much as the next guy, but please use the $10 to restore your refrigerator to its normally stocked condition or send it along to a local charity to help with the storm. I know $10 isn’t much, but it’s my contribution to the Hawaiian storm recovery effort.”

Mahalo Chuck! Your ten dollars is feeding a homeless family today, or perhaps helped purchase a new tent to provide them shelter and privacy. A small act of kindness on your behalf has sent out ripples that have reached across an ocean to someone in need. I salute you my indiosyncratic friend. You’re one of the good guys. Mahalo nui loa!

While I’m out and about today I’ll be looking for an opportunity to perform my own act of kindness. Won’t you do the same, and come back and tell me all about it? Just this once, toot your own horn and tell me about the good thing you’ve done!

Technorati Tags: acts of kindness, bloggers, Bloggers Unite, charities

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Technorati Tags: web hosting, website design, website services

Girls do it with class

Poor Hokulele was looking a bit worse for wear, what with all of the recent rain. Mud and water spots had her shining silver armour looking like dull pewter. I’ve had “car wash” on my to-do list for the better part of a week, but never quite got to it. I was anxious to get home after the bookbrunch yesterday since that daunting to-do list was waiting, but I knew a good opportunity when I saw it. I pulled up to the back corner of the lot at my favorite service station/convenience store and Hokulele was swarmed by eager young girls almost before I had my seatbelt off.

I was surprised to learn that there had been no volleyball for Waianae Coast girls until now. Women’s volleyball is huge in Hawaii, with a loyal fanbase supporting the sport at the University of Hawaii. Many young girls work hard in school with their eyes on a coveted prize: the opportunity to one day play with the Rainbow Wahine. Yet, until now, they’ve had no team, no coaches, no club to support them as they chase the dream. West Coast Athletic Club Junior Girls Volleyball is stepping in to fill that void. Boys sports get so much attention and always seem to be the first to get funding, too. I’m glad to see the Waianae Coast supporting this effort for the girls. I know they’re going to do well. Judging by the cheerful enthusiasm they brought to my dirty car and their excitement about the coming season, these gals will work hard at mastering their sport. I wish them well!

Technorati Tags: car wash, fundraisers, girls sports, girls volleyball, Hawaii, sports, Waianae Coast, West Coast Athletic Club

December 16, 2007

Johnny Depp at his best

I first fell in love with Johnny Depp when he played the title role in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. His portrayal of the angst-ridden, too young father-figure to three siblings was masterful. The role must have been very challenging as Gilbert interacted with tenderness and sensitivity to his morbidly obese mother and mentally and emotionally challenged brother, then with anger and indignation at his overbearing mistress and obtuse neighbors. Yet Johnny Depp brought Gilbert deftly to life and made him very real, very human. I’m not sure how others reacted, but I kept wanting to hug him and tell him that his life was going to turn out okay. I guess he brought out the mother in me. I had to divest myself of those feeling, though, when I fell in a different kind of love with Depp’s Don Juan DeMarco. His over-the-top portrayal of the self-proclaimed world’s greatest lover made me a Depp fan for life. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. Answer me honestly ladies: when he boldly declared that no woman had ever left him unsatisfied, didn’t you want to test the premise, right that very minute? I may give the impression of stodgy old-maidishness, but I melt every time I listen to his opening monolog in which he seductively describes the tenderness and attention that a woman desires. Yes, oh yes! Surely I’m not the only one who could, without conscience, strangle the object of his affections for the opportunity slip into her place. I’ll admit I’m vulnerable to bringing loathsome situation ethics into play where Johnny Depp is concerned.

It’s only natural, then, that I had to visit the official Sweeney Todd movie site to see what my heart throb has in store fo us next. The combination of Tim Burton directing Johnny Depp is simply irresistable! I’m not looking forward to my favorite romantic lead depicting a murderous fiend - surely that will wreak havoc on my fantasy life. But it’s a musical, so the prospect of Johnny singing and dancing through my dreams, even with murderous intent, holds promise. I think I could learn to love him as a villain, just this this once.

Sweeny Todd will be in theaters everwhere on December 21st, just in time for Christmas. If you don’t know why Johnny Depp makes my heart race and my head spin, check out the official website, then visit Sweeney Todd on MySpace for another peek at Hollywood’s hottest hunk. A little dark drama is just what’s needed to bring balance to an oversweetened holiday season, don’t you think? I’ll see you at the theater on opening day!

Technorati Tags: entertainment, Johnny Depp, movies, Sweeny Todd

Self Portrait Sunday for December 16, 2007

My Sundays tend to follow one of two patterns: I loaf away most of the day without ever getting out my pajamas or I get incredibly busy with housework, yard chores and errands. Today has been a combination of the two so far. I’ve done dishes, gotten the kitchen in reasonable order and started some laundry going, but I’m still my jammies at ten a.m. What’s different this time is that I had the foresight to think about my crazy Sundays yesterday while I was wearing a reasonably fashionable outfit and didn’t have sweat rolling down my face. I took my portrait as soon as I got home from our Table of Contents brunch so I wouldn’t have it nagging at me today. My favorite silk jacket topped the new, Christmas-red shirt I bought for the occasion. You can’t see the red and gold earrings, but they’re hiding under my mop (which is seriously overdue for a trim and a root job.) I couldn’t find the gold bangle necklace I like to wear with those earrings so I settled for my “everytday” silver butterfly instead. I know Stacy and Clinton say it’s fine to mix gold and silver, but I’m “old school” and was consciously aware of what felt like a fashion no-no to me.

Plans for the remainder of the day: a quick trip to the local market (the milk is sour, the bread is stale and the boy wants SantaMom to send macadamia nuts for his stocking,) a wrapping and packaging marathon so I can mail his box tomorrow and whatever household chores I feel motivated to do. Oh, and at some point I’ll be visiting Digi-Cass to see how my self portrait pals are doing today. You can post your own self portrait and put a link in the comments to Cass’s post if you’d like to join the fun. I hope you will!

Technorati Tags: meme, photos, self portraits

Posted by skeet @ 10:23 am • Photos, Meme • 8 comments  

December 15, 2007

Friends, food, books, aloha!

~Dustyflint, JulieBarreto, Purple58, Hyphen8 and Skeeterbess celebrate the holidays~

The Table of Contents had our holiday gathering today. For the uninformed, Table of Contents is a group of local BookCrossers who have been meeting for several years. A couple of our regular members were unable to attend and were sorely missed, but we soldiered on without them and managed to have a good time. It was a special treat to have Julie Barreto with us today. She’s a BookCrosser from the Big Island and had business on Oahu just in time for us all to meet. She and I have exchanged messages at the BookCrossing forums and via pm over the last few years, but this was our first face-to-face meeting. She charmed us all and I’m hoping she’ll make it a regular habit to schedule the rest of her life around our gatherings.

I made pecan pralines last night for the first time in about twenty years and tucked some into gift bags with some bookmarks and other goodies for my friends. Hyphen8 frequently shares the products of her considerable talent with us. She’s an artist with paper and today she gifted each of us with a dragon who flaps his wings when his tail is pulled and an envelope that opens up into a gift box. I’ve added those to my little collection of H8’s previous gifts, including a pinwheel and a collection of spinning tops. Purple58 had little notebooks made for us with TOC on the cover. I wish I could be as creative as my friends - and organized enough to get things like that done ahead of time instead of staying up until two in the morning when inspiration and a recipe come together.

I’m proud to say that I behaved myself, clutter-wise, this time. I brought home less books than I took. Some that I brought were taken home by TOC members and others were distributed to cafe patrons and waitstaff. Setting books free, whether by placing them in someone’s hands or releasing them in the wild, is what brought us all together and is still the glue that binds the Table of Contents.

Technorati Tags: BookCrossing, book clubs, books, friends, holiday gatherings

December 14, 2007

Four Foods on Friday

Val over at Fun, Crafts and Recipes sent me a reminder about her Four Foods on Friday meme this week (because I signed up for the handy-dandy reminder service she provides.) I still forgot! I think I’ll blame it on the distractions of the holiday season piled on top of all of the ordinary, non-seasonal distractions in my life. Surely it’s not because I’m getting old and brain-fogged, right? I finally remembered, but she’ll find my answers unsatisfying, I think. None of the four areas of question have much relevance in my life, so my answers are … um … boring. Maybe I should suggest that she let me select the questions next time. It is all about me, right?

#1. Tuna fish. Water or oil? What do you add when making yours?

Water. I like the taste much better, and since I can’t digest fats it’s much easier on my system. If I’m making it for myself I only add a boiled egg, a little mayo and salt and pepper. When I make it for others I also add sweet relish and chopped, raw onions.

#2. Stuffing. What else have you done with a box of stuffing besides stuff meat (turkey, pork, chicken, etc)?

Um - nothing. But my mom used to make stuffed peppers, squash or tomatoes using stuffing mix.

#3. Orange juice. Pulp, some pulp, no pulp, fresh squeezed. How do you like yours?

I’m allergic to citrus. Back in the day when I used to be able to drink it I always preferred pulpless.

#4. Fast food restaurants. Do you have a favorite one and why?

Here we go again. I don’t “do” fast food on any regular basis. Most of their items are fat-laden (see my tuna answer) and I can’t digest them. I stop at Jack in The Box sometimes if I run out of iced tea before I run out of workday. They’re the only chain that I can count on for real, brewed iced tea instead of instant, post-mix (out of a dispenser) or bottled stuff that’s full of citrus.

There’s still time for you to answer Val’s questions if you hurry! She’ll give you some linky-love in her post when you let her know you’ve played. Doing the meme could also help you win a cookbook in Val’s first-ever blog contest, if you happen to be the type who needs a bribe to get you going.

Technorati Tags: food, food meme, meme

December 13, 2007

Share Some Good Stuff

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed with the bad news that we forget that there are good things going on around us all the time. We can’t change the headlines, but we can seek out that which is good, that which is uplifting, that which shines with a positive radiance - the good stuff. Here’s some recent feel-great stories:

Two young people in Norwell, Massachusetts came up with a charitable program that benefits the givers as well as the recievers. Chatbug Karen shared their story.

The Kiwanis Club in Marlboro, New Jersey is looking out for kids who might not be able to look out for themselves Val is praising them and the other organizations that assisted the project.

In the aftermath of our recent storm, I found that adversity can bring out the best in people.

Isn’t there some good news in your own community that you’d like to share? Write a post about it and send me the link. I’ll hook you up with a link above. Let’s ignore the ugly headlines, dig down deep and Share Some Good Stuff!

Technorati Tags: good news, current events, local stories, meme

Good stuff around Hawaii

The storm that disrupted out lives last week was every bit as fierce as many hurricanes I’ve experienced. Here on the Waianae Coast it caused a lot of inconvenience, expense, stress … and a lot of goodwill. Neighbors helped neighbors get fallen trees off of their homes, folks shared defrosted food rather than toss it out and many of us had others coming to our doors just to make sure we were okay. The three bags of ice brought to me by a thoughtful neighbor were more valuable than gold. The storm struck on a Tuesday night and many (including my sub-division) did not get power back until Friday (there were even a few folks who had to wait longer than that.) By Saturday, though, life was getting back to normal, even for our neighbors who live on the beaches. I’m really proud of the way our community pulled together in the face of adversity.

In other news around the island, is there anyone who doesn’t know that Hawaii is going to the Sugar Bowl and a large contingent of loyal fans will be going with them? Out very own Colt Brennan came in third among Heisman Trophy finalists, proving it isn’t just local loyalties that make UH the team to watch!

We’ve long needed an affordable way to visit inter-island. The Hawaii Superferry has stirred a lot of controvery and the launch of service was delayed several times, but today may finally be the day that regular service becomes a reality. I can’t give it my 100% support - their initial foray should never have happened without proper studies of the impact on our sensitive marine environment, and the lack of cultural sensitivity was appalling. I hope today marks the beginning of a workable plan that will bring folks together in support of this valuable service.

Finally, foodie that I am, I can’t sign off without telling you that a future episode of No Reservation on The Travel Channel will feature Chef Anthony Bourdain eating local grinds. Everyone knows we live in paradise. Now you can all know about the aloha that goes into the foods we eat!

Have you looked behind the headlines lately to find the good stuff hidden on the back pages? Find a local good news story, write a post about it on your blog and send me the link. I’ll be doing a round-up of your Good Stuff late today!

Technorati Tags: good news, current events, local stories, meme