Chicky Lounge Newspaper - August20

Issue #7 for Myra Roldan

7/16/2008 - 8/21/2008

feedjournal.com

Lil and Fran - Angel Gear for Women (Chicky Lounge) Submitted at 8/14/2008 4:48:00 PM

Gail Arthur, who's email name shows, " Mrs. Roger Arthur" (you don't see that much nowadays) and who calls herself "The Queen", is the owner and founder of http://lilandfran.com. Her top selling products are Angel's Purse and Angel's Accessory Organizer, each with a unique design and purpose. Gail and I had been trying to connect for an interview, but she is one busy Chicky! Heck, I thought I was busy she's got me beat. So we decided we would do an email interview. This is the first time that I engage in this type of interview, so it'll be fun to see how it turns out. I sent Gail a few questions that "inquiring minds want to know". She wrote me back a few days later with her answers as follows: Myra: Tell me a bit about why you decided to start lilandfran.co. What was your motivation? Gail: I decided to put my dream into action. Friends and family encouraged me to produce my 'gifts', that I had given for many years, in a way that they could purchase and also the rest of the world could enjoy. I have been a Realtor for years and during this last winter real estate was lagging; that afforded me the time to pursue this dream. I was able to to get my corporation started, apply for my patent which is pending, and get all the minutia in place Myra: How did you come up with the name? What does it mean? Gail: My Mother (Lillie) and her only sibling, her sister Frances, were my wonderful mentors and best female friends. My husband and I gave my Mother full care during the last eight years of her life. Later we provided the same care for her sister. Each of them told me that they were going to be my 'guardian angel'. So, in the naming process, I tried several ways to incorporate 'angels' and nothing felt right. Since we had earlier decided to use 'angel' in the name of the products, I thought of the two most wonderful women that had influenced and loved me unconditionally. It was a natural

progression to honor them by using their 'nicknames' and have them remembered forever. Myra: I think that is an great story and a great way to give meaning to your business and what you do. Myra: Do you do your own product development? Do you make everything yourself? If so how do you come up with new products? What's your inspiration? Gail: I have total control of product development. The products that we have currently and the ones that we have on the board for future, are a result of necessity, for safety, comfort, convenience. I have traveled for years and wanted a way to carry my money without fear of someone stealing my pocketbook;thus the 'Angel's Purse'. When you watch an old Western movie, the ladies are seen reaching into their bra to retrieve their cash Myra: LOL, my grandmother was infamous for pulling out "boob cash". Gail: I just tried to make it a little easier to carry and less likely of falling out of the bra. The Angel's Accessory Organizer came about from two directions: I had a friend that was robbed of everything in her home except the pins that were on her jackets hanging in her closet. (Thieves don't look through clothing in closets) And in traveling, I found it always easier to have everything organized with each outfit. The Pillowcases are something that I made for gifts for many years and in fact am giving a pair at a bridal lingerie shower this week. I made these for my Mother when she was ill. They give soft color around the face, feel great, never need ironing, last forever, etc. They don't wrinkle and don't transfer wrinkles to the face, like other pillowcases. They are made of luxurious lingerie fabric. My Inspiration: To be a role model for others to aspire to Myra: What preconceptions did you have (if any) about starting and running a business? and has it been what you thought it would be? What has been challenging? Gail: No preconceptions....I have owned other businesses and know it takes lots of work. It's

Challenging....it's everything. It's hard to find many items made in the US entirely and that is my goal,to keep all of my products made in the US, and to give a portion of the proceeds to the cure of women's cancers. I have had so many mfg (manufacturing) people encourage me to produce abroad and I have a strong determination to keep the people in the US employed. Myra: Do you have employees? If so, how many? If not, do you have some unpaid help? Gail: My employees are all contract employees and have signed non compete agreements. No one is full time,yet, except me. I have approx. 10 ladies that assist me in cutting/sewing. Unpaid help? Yes, my super husband; my great neighbor, wonderful friends. Myra: What characteristics do you thinks a woman should have to be a successful (mom-)entrepreneur? Gail: True grit and sweet determination. To have a goal, know the time frame, be willing to work hard, be willing to hear 'no', be determined to get beyond the 'no' and find a way to make it a YES. Myra: Do you think you are successful? If so, how do you gauge your own success? Gail: Most definitely! I'm not where I want to be this time next year. But successful, yes. Everyone,absolutely everyone, that has ever slept on one of my pillowcases comes back for more to give as gifts for all occasions, to have on their guest beds,etc. Men love the softness. My husband has a beard and still sleeps on one of these

Hubble Images Solve Galactic Thread Mystery (Wired Science) Submitted at 8/20/2008 1:27:20 PM

At the center of the Perseus galaxy cluster is NGC 1275, a galaxy surrounded by mysteriously glowing gas filaments. How do the vast, apparently delicate structures keep their shape? Why don't they form stars? Why don't galactic tides tear them apart? Nobody knew -- until now.

The structure is provided, say University of Cambridge astronomers, by magnetic fields in the filaments' threads. The researchers reached their conclusion by studying images returned by the Hubble satellite. Their findings appeared today in Nature. Magnetic support of the optical emission line filaments in NGC 1275[Nature] Image: Nature

See Also: • Hubble Snaps New Star Birth Photos During 100000th Orbit • 'When Galaxies Collide'- 59 New Hubble Images Released • Hubble Detects First Organic Molecule Around Exoplanet • Scientists Find Rare, UltraMagnetic Star WiSci 2.0: Brandon Keim's Twitter and Del.icio.us feeds; Wired Science on Facebook.

beautiful pillowcases every night. My granddaughter loves her special pillowcases that Grandma makes for her. Everyone that buys the Angel's Purse and Angel's Accessory Organizer is also a repeat customer. Word of mouth advertisement and satisfied clients really tell me that our business is needed and is a success. A choir group ordered the Angel's Purse and Angel's Accessory Organizer for their extensive travels. They said the need to have jewelry with each outfit was important for quick changes and they needed the Angel's Purse for safety. Travel Companies have bought my Angel's Purse and Angel's Accessory Organizer for resale to their clients and they have sold very well. My goal for this next year is to have our products in upscale boutiques and gift shops throughout the US and beyond. I especially want to get these items in Cancer Gift Shops, the patients need to feel pampered and special. My long term goal is to have an established, well run business for my daughter and granddaughter to step into should they ever have the desire and to keep the name LIL & FRAN Fine Accessories in every one's home. Gail seems to be a Spunky Chicky, a Chicky after my own heart, but I'm feeling a bit dethroned right now, Gail and I are going to have a long discussion over this Queen business, as I'm Queen of the Universe. I'd let her keep her title, if she agrees to be only Queen of the World. What'da ya say Gail? In the meantime, if you are looking for a unique gift either for a holiday, birthday, anniversary or a for-noreason gift (by the way guys, a for-no -reason gift is the best kind of gift to give us Chickys), you can visit Mrs. R o g e r A r t h u r a t http://lilandfran.com.************* *************************** by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large Chicky Lounge http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com

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What Makes for a Good Blog? (43 Folders) Submitted at 8/19/2008 5:14:17 AM

My friends at Six Apart recently asked me to make a list of blogs that I enjoy. I think they’re planning to use it for their new Blogs.com project. Unfortunately, I’m late getting it to them (typical), but if it’s still useful, I’ll post it here in a day or four. As I think about the blogs I’ve returned to over the years — and the increasingly few new ones that really grab my attention — I want to start with, ironically enough, a list. Here’s what I think helps make for a good blog. • Good blogs have a voice. Who wrote this? What is their name? What can I figure out about who they are that they have never overtly told me? What’s their personality like and what do they have to contribute — even when it’s “just” curation. What tics and foibles fascinate make me about this blog and the person who makes it? Most importantly: what obsesses this person? • Good blogs reflect focused obsessions. People start real blogs because they think about something a lot. Maybe even five things. But, their brain so overflows with curiosity about a family of topics that they can’t stop reading and writing about it. They make and consume smart forebrain porn. So: where do this

person’s obsessions take them? • Good blogs are the product of “ Attention times Interest.” A blog shows me where someone’s attention tends to go. Then, on some level, they encourage me to follow the evolution of their interest through a day or a year. There’s a story here. Ethical “via” links make it easy for me to follow their specific trail of attention, then join them for a walk made out of words. • Good blog posts are made of paragraphs. Blog posts are written, not defecated. They show some level of craft, thinking, and continuity beyond the word count mandated by the Owner of Your Plantation. If a blog has fixed limits on post minimums and maximums? It’s not a blog: it’s a website that hires writers. Which is fine. But, it’s not really a blog. • Good “non-post” blogs have style and curation. Some of the best blogs use unusual formats, employ only photos and video, or utilize the list format to artistic effect. I regret there are not more blogs that see format as the container for creativity — rather than an excuse to write less or link without context more. • Good blogs are weird. Blogs make fart noises and occasionally vex readers with the degree to which the blogger’s obsession will inevitably diverge from the reader’s. If this isn’t

happening every few weeks, the blogger is either bored, half-assing, or taking new medication. • Good blogs make you want to start your own blog. At some point, everyone wants to kill the Buddha and make their own obsessions the focus. This is good. It means you care. • Good blogs try. I’ve come to believe that creative life in the firstworld comes down to those who try just a little bit harder. Then, there’s the other 98%. They’re still eating the free continental breakfast over at FriendFeed. A good blog is written by a blogger who thinks longer, works harder, and obsesses more. Ultimately, a good blogger tries. That’s why “good” is getting rare. • Good blogs know when to break their own rules. Duh. I made a list, didn’t I? Yes. I did. Big fan. And, yeah, you should disagree with potentially all of this. It’s because I have an opinion, and so do you. It’s why you probably have a blog. See? The system works. Coming soon: the blogs I read, enjoy, envy, and admire. ” What Makes for a Good Blog?” was written by Merlin Mann for 43Folders.com and was originally posted on August 19, 2008. Except as noted, it's ©2008 Merlin Mann and licensed for reuse under CC BY-NCND 3.0. " Why a footer?"

Dirty Filthy Bags - Zook Hooks to the Rescue (Chicky Lounge) Submitted at 8/20/2008 8:46:00 AM

I was wiping down my little D&B handbag the other day while getting ready to change bags and I started thinking of all the disgusting places my bag had been. Let's see...its been on the floor, my desk, my shelf, my kitchen counter, hanging from door knobs, the coffee table, my car floor, stuffed between the driver side door and seat, in my 8 year old's hands. The thought of all the nasties that must be on my purse started to turn my stomach. It reminded me of a study I had read about a few years ago. In May 2006, a health team hit a local mall in sampled the bottoms of 50 women's handbags; they swabbed the bottoms and took the samples to a lab for processing. The study turned out that women tend to put their purses in nasty places resulting in 1 out of 4 handbags testing positive for E. COLI - that's just gross. Some other serious bacteria included: Hepatitis and mononucleosis (you know the kissing disease). My stomach is turning just writing about this stuff. I'm not a germaphobe by any means just get easily grossed out and start to think of all the millions of microscopic bacteria that share our bodies with us - let's forget I just mentioned this. GROSS! There are ways you can keep your purse from being a disease bearing dirt bag of filth. The microbiologist who conducted the test, suggest you

wipe down your purse or any slinging bag (diaper bags, brief cases, backpacks) at least once a day with a disinfectant wipe and be very conscious of where you sit your bag. Don't put your bag where you will eat or were food is prepared and PLEASE keep your bag away from the toilet - especially public toilets. I'm suggesting you invest a neat little invention called "the purse hook/hanger". I recently received a very stylish purse hanger from Zook Hooks( http://www.zookhooks.com). This is the best invention since the purse. Now you don't have to set your purse on the nasty floor. My grandmother always warned on setting your purse on the floor, it will make your money leave you faster. Zook Hooks are easy to use. You simply place the disc part on the table or counter or desk or other flat surface with the hook part pointing under the flat surface. The disc has like a slip resistant pad under it to keep in in place. You can then hang your purse, diaper bag, umbrella, two year old kid, briefcase on the hook. (Just kidding about your two year old,

but it might work). Each Hook ordered from Zook Hooks arrives in a cool velour pouch so you look very classy removing your high end hook from its pouch. But you won't pay high end prices and they make awesome gifts. Hooks start at just $6.99 (very inexpensive) and make a great gift for the anyone who carries a bag of any sort. They also have very cool hooks in different styles and some which can be personalized with a photo. You can place a photo of your baby, kid, pet, or better yet, use it as an affirmation to keep you focused and put a picture of your goal on it. You can find these nifty trinkets anywhere, but Zook Hooks are stylish, economical and offer super fast shipping. You won't be disappointed. So with the holidays coming up, why not pickup one or a few Zook Hooks and offer the to your co-workers as Secret Santa Gifts or use them as stocking stuffers. Better yet, why not hang your stockings using Zook Hooks and have a great conversation starter during your holiday gathering in your home.************************* *************** by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large Chicky L o u n g e http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com

REJECTED! (Chicky Lounge) Submitted at 8/9/2008 6:44:00 AM

There is a national blood shortage, so the Red Cross if rallying to various locations running blood drives. The turn out I hope is sufficient to fill their needs. They tag line for blood drive is simple: The need is constant, The gratification is instant. Give blood Yesterday, I figured I'd do my good deed for the day and donate blood. I ate some breakfast to make sure I didn't pass out and I made my way to the blood drive. There they made me read some information which basically says, if you've been out of the country in the last three years forget it; we don't want your blood. I passed the first part. They gave me a number and directed me to a history line. Within a couple of minutes my number was called and I was asked for a picture ID and my information was confirmed. Then the part I hate the most, the finger stick. The cna swabbed my finger and stuck me with a small needle that hurt like hell. She put the little container she used to gather my blood into a little machine which gave a reading -- 11.9. The woman looks at me an says, "hmm, let me get the nurse and have her do a confirmation test". So I'm thinking, "what's that suppose to mean? Am I sick? Am I alright? or I just has some rare special blood and they are going to give me some type of special award!" The nurse comes and roughly says, "let me see your other hand". Oh No, another freakin' finger stick! She puts my sample the in holy machine and the reading still says, 11.9. The woman looks at me say, " We have high standards and you don't meet them" and on the screen over my name she click "DEFERRED". She hands me a sheet of paper and gets up and leaves. I got up and walked the walk of shame past the filled cots of donors who shot me glances. In my min, I could hear then taunting me "ha ha, you don't meet standards". I normally walk around head held up high, I walked the walk of shame with my head tilted down. I felt really bad and REJECTED! I mooped all day feeling bad over the fact that I wouldn't be able to donate blood. Not that I was really looking f o r w a r d t o it.**************************** ************ by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large Chicky L o u n g e http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com

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Our newest innovation Baked Minerals By Myra (Diva Gazette) Submitted at 7/16/2008 8:08:00 AM

(Chicky Lounge) Submitted at 8/20/2008 9:58:00 AM

Looks like it's time to ditch your traditional home phone line. Last November (2007) a new product was introduced, called magicJack and it's giving Vonage, Skype and cable company phone lines a run for their money - LITERALLY! I know you are wondering, what does this majicJack thing do? magicJack is a small device the size of a cigarette lighter that connects to your laptop or computer's USB port and allows you to make local and long distance calls. It's easy to install and will save YOU a bundle of cash every year. With prices of gas and utility services soaring everyone is cutting back and looking for some relief. magicJack provides just that pocket relief. I personally ordered 2 and took advantage of their awesome offer. Dan Borislow is the inventor of magicJack and on his website there are videos and information regarding this awesome invention. magicJack costs $39.99 and will give you 1 full year of service included. There are NO MONTHLY CHARGES! I thought this was a gimmick at first, but it turns out it's the real deal. When you order magicJack you are given the

opportunity to order your majicJack as a trial offer, meaning you pay nothing upfront when paying with a Credit Card - you'll be charged on the 31st day. (NOTE: They will put a hold on your credit card for the amount of the device plus shipping). If you are paying with a debit card you will be charged immediately. During checkout your are given the opportunity to purchase more than another magicJack on the special offer and you are also offered 5 years of service for just $59.95 paid upfront. Which means you would have phone service for 5 years without paying a penny more. For you non-tech people, heed my word of caution - YOU will need to have an Internet Connection in order for magicJack to work. No Internet? No worky. magicJack works using a broadband Internet connection - this is Internet service you like Internet offered by the cable company or DSL offered by the phone company. Again, if you do not have an Internet Connection, you will not be able to use magicJack. magicJack will provide you with a phone number, sometime this year you will be given the ability to port your old number. You simply plug magicJack into your laptop or computer that has an Internet connection. The first time you

connect magicJack to your laptop or computer it will load software that will help it run. Then simply connect a traditional phone ( you can use a cordless phone too) to magicJack and start calling. magicJack also offers you the ability to make calls directly from your laptop or computer without a phone, using your keyboard, headset and your computer's microphone and speakers. The sound quality is better than a cell phone and you won't suffer from "dropped-call-syndrome". You also get some great features, the same you would expect from your regular home phone. Like voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and 911 calls (Vonage can't do that). You can buy magicJack for under $40 and if you don't buy into the 5 year program you can just pay $19.95 a year for service after the first year. That's just $0.05 a day crazy! To Purchase your magicJack simply v i s i t http://www.magicJack.com******** ****************************** ** by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large Chicky Lounge http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com

Baked Mineral Foundation. Get ready for the future of mineral makeup. Our baked mineral foundation will knock your socks off. Same great formula, baked at 1400 degrees to create a very visually beautiful product with very unique properties. Your baked mineral foundation will stay true to color after every use. Will blend with your skin perfectly, leaving your with a flawless finish. Provides light to Medium coverage. (MSRP: $45 - get it for only $29.50) http://www.beautifuldiva.com Beautiful Diva Mineral Cosmetics "Unearth the Secret to Beautiful Skin" http://www.beautifuldiva.com

Ah! Motherhood - Capturing the Essence Hey Chickies, do you remember that (Chicky Lounge) time in your life, when you were AH! page 4

Update on Annia Hatch, Olymic Medalist 2004 (Chicky Lounge) Submitted at 8/14/2008 12:35:00 PM

I haven't written a post in about 2 days. I was suffering from writer's block, it's not like I didn't have anything to say, because I always have something to say. I could find the right words to express my thoughts. But I'm past that now, So, let me fill you to the latest. My friend Annia Hatch, two time Olymic Silver Medalist, called me today. She had been leaving me messages which I had shamefully forgotten to return. She caught me this time, good thing. Turns out, Annia is in Miami as an Olympic Commentator for

Telemundo(the Spanish Station). This is a great opportunity for her. I don't believe Annia received the sponsorship she deserved when she returned as with an Olympic Silver Medal in 2004. I mean at the time, she was OLD for a gymnast (she was 25) and she pulled it off effortlessly. Luckily a deal with Telemundo was offered that would bring her back as a commentator. Annia has managed to expand herself a bit. She attended Gibbs College where she obtained a degree in Fashion Design. She started her own clothing line. Very cute styles, unfortunately made for small women such as herself, who is all of 5-foot-

nothing and who weighs no more than 90 lbs wet. I feel like a fat-ass giant at 5-foot-3-AND-a-QUARTER next to Annia. She also launched her

own mineral makeup line designed for gymnasts. Her concentration has been on developing a line for gymnast who are of darker complexions, such as herself. She does cater to all gymnast. I'm very happy for Annia and wish her the best of luck. I need to answer m y p h o n e m o r e often.************************* *************** by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large Chicky L o u n g e http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com

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AH! continued from page 3 young, full of life and had dreams larger than life? You were going to rule the world! When I was little I was going to be a high fluent engineer/scientist that invented a life changing "something or other" that would make me a millionaire. I remember sitting with my two best friends, Paola and Betty, in Puerto Rico on a hot summer day sketching out the building that would be home to our empire. The building would be in triangle shape each point representing each of us, constructed in glass which would cause the sun to gleam off the building attracting people from every end of the world. Paola was going to be a noble prize winning Doctor, Betty was going to be a high-end designer and I was going to be the ever so popular and famous engineer/scientist. Ah! The good old days. Something happened along the way - we grew up! Paola did end up becoming an doctor, not sure if Betty every reached her dream and as for me....well let's say I've had many jobs in my lifetime but eventually became a systems engineer - not famous but close enough. But, I took a job that put everything else I ever did to shame. I became a MOM. I don't care

what anybody says, it's a FULLTIME job and moms don't get paid their worth or even praise for their sacrifice. I mean I have to cook, clean, do laundry, do groceries, be a chauffeur, make boo-boos all better, pick buggers out of little noses, hold my breath and hope not to gag as I clean little booties, watch Spongebob episodes over and over again, organize play dates, become a housenurse when my kids are sick, become a referee when the fights start....I mean the list is endless. And I'm expected to work and bring in an income as well! What the heck! I know there are many of you out there that feel and share my pain! I know there is because there are two sassy chickies who have managed to capture the essence of motherhood and slap it on a t-shirt! LTD Chix created a line of whimsical t-shirts just for moms. LTD in this case does not mean "Limited" because we all know that as moms we ARE NOT "Limited". LTD stands for "Living the Dream"- I guess you can take this anyway you want - sarcastically or not. I absolutely love their designs. They are whimsical, funny, and they capture the moment. Only a mom can

truly appreciate these t-shirts. "Living the Dream" tshirts by LTD Chix make a great gift for mom. They offer a variety of colors and I love the layered look each tshirt totes. The screen printing on this tshirt will also last as it does not appear to be vinyl but heat-pressed which will definitely not peel off. Guess they figured you'd just throw it in the wash with a hundred other pieces of clothing smart chickies, if you ask me. You can buy a "Living the Dream" t -shirt at http://www.ltdchix.com Tshirt start a just $24, but the messages last a lifetime. Every mom will appreciate the message each tshirt bares. If you are a guy offering this as a gift, skip the gift box - just roll this baby up, tie it with pretty ribbon and attach a diamond ring to the ribbon and gift away!- Hey! I'm just trying to get you in good with the q u e e n o f y o u r household.********************* ******************* by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large C h i c k y L o u n g e http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com

Culture Shapes How People See Faces (Wired Science) Submitted at 8/20/2008 2:31:24 PM

Culture shapes perception so fundamentally that it may determine the way we look at faces. East Asians focus their gazes on the center of faces; Westerners looked to first the eyes, and then to the mouth. The findings were produced by University of Glasgow psychologists who tracked the eye motions of observers as they looked at portraits. The study was small and hasn't been replicated, but the differences were stark. Other researchers have found similar differences in the perception of scenes, but never something so basic as individual faces. The phenomena could reflect a cultural mediation of individual neurobiology. "Western society is very individualist. Asian societies are much more collectivistic," said study co-author Roberto Caldara. From that perspective, the Western approach to facial recognition is piece -by-piece and intimate. The East

Asian approach is both more formal and holistic: peripheral information is gathered, but without direct confrontation. But is this tendency a product of a particular approach to life -- or vice versa? "It's the chicken and the egg problem," said Caldara. "We're testing children to see whether these effects arise early in time." The tendencies do appear plastic, he said. "We tested some Chinese who had been in Glasgow for three or four years, and you see a clear difference between them and those who just arrived," he said. "That really demonstrates that it's not genetic. It's experience." Caldara suspects that the East Asian approach may be more efficient, but both groups in the study proved equally adept at learning and recognizing faces. "It's fascinating, and this is just the beginning," he said. Caldara's next studies will involve British-born Chinese and children,

but he said that the current research is already instructive. "Culture is underestimated. The majority of papers published in psychology are based on Caucasian populations. In the future, before generalizing findings, we should be careful. Human beings are not all the same," he said. The paper was published yesterday in Public Library of Science ONE. Culture Shapes How We Look at Faces[PLoS ONE] See Also: • Japanese More Sensitive Than Westerners to the Big Picture • Babies See Pure Color, but Adults Peer Through Prism of Language • Numbers Come Before Language, Says Study • Researchers Synthesize Evolution of Language • Non-Biological Evolution Real, Not Study Flaw WiSci 2.0: Brandon Keim's Twitter and Del.icio.us feeds; Wired Science on Facebook.

Did Flo Sell Out? (Chicky Lounge) Submitted at 8/11/2008 11:00:00 AM

For all my fellow Diner Dash addicts - I think Flo might have sold out! Have you seen the progressive.com commercials? I think Flo may have gone Corporate AGAIN - What the Heck! Here Chicky has it all worked out. She was sick of her crappy Corporate job and decided to take a risk and open up her own diner which then turn her into a mogul of sorts. Now, she's selling insurance for Progressive? or is

Progressive.com just trying to capitalize on FLO's Diner Dash success? Inquiring minds want to know. For those of you who still live in a box - Diner Dash was computer game

developed by Gamelab and published by PlayFirst. It was one of the topselling downloadable games of 2004. You can play a short version on MSN games just to catch a flavor. Since its birth, Diner Dash has been ported to cell phones and versions have been created for Playstation Protable, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS. It's personally one of my favorite games to play. There are, 4 versions of the game, each one a bit more challenging than the last DID page 5

ARRESTED: TINKERBELL (Chicky Lounge) Submitted at 8/15/2008 6:54:00 AM

Tinkerbell Arrested during Protest I found some sick humor in this in this report. Disneyland in California seems to be having labor troubles which insued a protest by workers dressed up as Disney Characters, picketing with signs that read, "Mickey should be ashamed." I think Walt Disney is rolling over in his grave. Now the article it's self is not funny, but I was amused to see Tink in plastic handcuffs (see picture). According to CNN, "The dispute involves about 2,300 maids, bell hops, cooks and dishwashers at three Disney-owned hotels: the Paradise Pier, the Grand Californian and the Disneyland Hotel. The workers' contract expired in February and their union says Disney's latest proposal makes health care unaffordable for hundreds of employees and creates an unfair twotier wage system. The union also says Disney wants to create a new category of part-time employees who would receive greatly reduced benefits." Things are getting hard everywhere. Employees were protesting wages of $11.11, $14.50 and up, claiming they would not be able to afford health insurance for themselves and their families. This is a serious matter everywhere. In Connecticut, people similar positions are earning minimum wage or a just a little bit over and our cost of living is very high - don't even get me started on gas prices too. News like this does spark a bit of fear in my heart. Are we turning into a third world country? The US seems to worry so much about International Affairs that is seems the problems brewing here on our own turf seem unimportant. It seem politicians have their priorities twisted and their heads up their "bumms". What is our government doing to improve things here in the US? How can they expect to solve everyone else's problems when they can't even solve their own? I mean look, even the "happiest place on earth", isn't so happy anowadays. http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/15/ disney.protesters.ap/index.html***** ****************************** ***** by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large Chicky L o u n g e http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com

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DID continued from page 4 Diner Dash is an interactive game of strategy. The main character is FLO, a stockbroker who gets so sick of Corporate life (aren't we all) and just ups and quits one day (You go FLO - she's my hero, that type of move take balls). Flo is an entrepreneur after my own heart. Flo opens up her first dinky diner during each level she must earn money to fix up her diner. Flo seats her customers, takes their food orders, servers the food and then cleans up once the customers are done. As the game progresses, she begins to fix up and build more restaurants, each with it's own theme. Each game play is time limited and Flo has to deal with some pretty impatient customers. Unhappy customers will leave. Happy custoemrs leave tips. Flo wants all her customers to be happy because she has to meet an earnings goal each game play. My friend Carla introduced me to Diner Dash (That

Damn Carla - she knows I have better things to do - Thanks alot!). The game is freakin' addicting. So back to progressive.com - did they steal FLO for their commercials to gain the interest of Diner Dash aficionados? This could be considered a form of subliminal marketing we Diner Dash kids would unconsciously be lured by Flo to purchase Progressive Insurance because we've seen how big of a success she's been? I wonder if she insures her restaurants through progressive? Hope she gets a discount. ****************************** ********** by Myra Roldan, Blogger/Editor At Large Chicky L o u n g e http://chickylounge.blogspot.com Founder /Owner, Beautiful Diva http://www.beautifuldiva.com