Potassium

Since deciding to exercise more I have been experiencing some minor leg cramps; charley horses usually at night. Now we all know that a healthy potassium level often prevents those nasty knots in the calf. So I thought I should make a quick surf to find some high potassium edibles.

The banana is the most obvious. Ripeness being the primary component of a good banana.

Papaya is another good source, I often combine them with other yummy fruits in a mid-morning Jamba Juice breakfast.

Don't you really enjoy finding out something you like is also good for you. Once again ripeness is a key with the avocado.

Next on the potassium hit parade, my favorite legume -- lentils, in all hues.

Spinach - just don't cook it, give it to me tender and raw.

But for me, it's really hard to get past the banana for a perfectly delectable source of K. Besides there are so many great banana pictures.

That's a laser engraved banana.

This is actually an eraser but nice colors!

In case you missed my words of wisdom the first few times - it really is all about the ripeness. 

Yes that is a statue, a life-size piece of art, 

well life-size for the woman not the banana.

IKEA Adventures

I had my first IKEA experience last week. Normally that would not be worth a blog post but when does anything normal make it to the blog? This is after all an adventure in observing the nearly normal, usually half-a-bubble-off happenings. Now I are not a shopper, like many males I do not have the shopping gene. Recently, however, I have observed that there are shoppers and there are closet shoppers. There are people, my friends among them, who do not have shopper in their DNA but they do have consumer hard-wired somewhere. I think its the nature/nurture thing or maybe just advertising propaganda.

Not me. I really find commercial outings distasteful, plus I have really been divesting for the past decade. But I needed a bed, with my bad back and the newly remodeled apartment, I just had to bite the Discover card and buy a bed. After some online research and a bewildering array of sales that seem to go on 24/7 and 365, I decided to try the land of unfinished Scandinavian excess. So I went to the local IKEA in Emeryville with the intention of buying a bed and only a bed. 

I put on my best anthropologist demeanor, prepared to observe the purchasing rituals of the americanus consumerosis, but I should have been better prepared. Like all wide-eyed field researchers I went into the wild unprepared with even the simplest of equipment. First of all, who would have thought that I needed a map . . .

I had no warning. My colleagues who are not shoppers have, as I, never been to the land of IKEA. Those who have had an IKEA experience thought nothing of allowing a virgin ikeadite to venture out alone. I think they were probably getting back at me for the time I told them it was OK to get the ground beetle ceviche in Honduras. Also probably why no one told me to "try the meatballs" while I was waiting in one of the many lines I encountered at IKEA.

Now less you think I was swallowed by the whale of housewares, I will tell you that I left the land of blue and yellow with only a purchase receipt for a bed, a mattress and a delivery invoice for the following day. Had that been it, as they say, you would not be reading this blog post. But no. After locating the bedroom corner of the IKEA wilderness and ferreting out the order form and golf pencil ritual; not to mention the local knowledge that the "bed" display room is different than the "mattress" room. Confident that I had followed the unwritten rules and traditions, I made my selection and communicated with a less than eager staffer in something I call Ikean English value added dialect. There was some walkie-talkie communication with someone in the warehouse which contained idiomatic expressions I could not decipher and hence the later to be revealed cultural clash.

No I ordered slacks and a table cloth.

The next day my mattress was delivered but not my slated platform base, instead I got two king box spring units, not my order. I called the IKEA hotline, got a real person with no accent, she understood the problem, quickly got me a return order reference number but we jointly decided I had better go back to the store and get the correct item code on the slated platform base. So I returned for part two of my IKEA adventure, found my way to the bed section, not the mattress room and discovered the secret hidden slated bed base code (Sultan Laxeby 001.259.72). I then proceeded to the customer service desk as instructed, only to find there is no customer service desk. Three blue&yellow consultations later, having visited the Information Kiosk, the Information Desk and finally the Return Room, I found a helpful person, who had to leave the Return Room to consult with the delivery manager who advised her to advise me that since I already had a apparently precious return order reference number . . . they would call me to arrange for a pick-up and delivery of my desired product.

This is where my IKEA adventure stands today, no call yet, mattress on the floor, slated platform bed base lingering in some cold, sterile warehouse awaiting the third act appropriately titled: Some Assembly Required.

UPDATE (3/29): Five days now and another long phone conversation initiated by me, I now await the alleged return call to schedule the exchange and new delivery.

UPDATE (3/30): Call came this morning. Delivery tomorrow, wonder if this time we got it right.

UPDATE (3/31): Nope, still haven't got all the parts I thought I had ordered.

UPDATE (4/1): Made a third trip to IKEA, vowed never to return and now need to get a friend to visit and help me put all the pieces together.

500th Post

If I continue at my current blog rate, I will produce another hundred posts about every six months. So the 600th, 700th and 800th posts are really not that big of a deal. For that matter neither is today's offering, which just happens to be number five hundred. I decided to make this is a working celebration. A couple of weeks back I thought I would be interesting to notice what SEO tags (search engine optimization) I had used over the years. That, of course, led me to completely revamp my SEO labeling system. I have removed any stray tags that got used only once or twice and have consolidated several of the others.


So here today on the moment of my 500th blog post, I offer my current list of SEO tags, which do say a lot about what I have and haven't been writing about for these last 4+ years.


Right there at the top, of course, is poker with 75 tags and probably a few more if I had been really diligent and thorough in the early years. These days there are only one or two poker posts each year but in '07 I started this blog as a supplement to my poker media gigs. It makes sense then that poker shrink comes in second with 51 tags. I wrote a lot of articles on commercial poker websites using the Poker Shrink pseudonym.


Next comes the nexus of tags that indicate what I have been blogging about the last several years: politics [41], commentary [44], life [39], psychology [26], books [40] and writing [35]. I would imagine these will crawl ever higher on the list.


Back in '09 there were a lot of posts from my fourteen months on the road - my undomiciled period: travels [34] ranked high. I also like to acknowledge holidays [27] of all sorts, including birthdays, halloween, anniversaries and solstices of all kinds.


Earlier, while writing the poker book - Checking Raising the Devil [12] with Mike Matusow [30] and my co-author Amy Calistri [16], I also wrote quite a bit about Las Vegas [31] and the World Series of Poker [24].


Recently a range of life ponderings [27] have asserted themselves as I look out of the window at my Berkeley view [21]; I never get far from various forms of philosophy [17] both near and not so. And I often regale you with my life-long fondness for cats [18]. More recently, with prompting from a friend who also blogs, I have begun to tell more of my stories [27] - two academics walk into a fetish bar . . .


Wonder what will the next 500 bring?

Banarsi Saree 4 Girls

Benarasi screes the mark of traditionalist has been ruling the fashion industry for ages. This form of attire has always attracted women irrespective of religion or social barrier. Indian Benarasi sarees not only finds place in Bengali wedding, they are always demanded by women all over the world. It is a precious possession for any woman.

Have you ever wondered why an Indian woman, no matter how badly beaten by Western fashion and style, cannot do without a collection of ethnic clothing in her wardrobe? May be this world is following a path of becoming a global village and we can hardly make out someone’s nationality barely by his or her attire, however, we have witnessed the soaring demand for Indian sarees around the world. Benarasi sarees leads the types.It is a well recognized fact that a woman looks best in a sari – her ethnic clothing. That is the bull’s eye the Indian fashion maestros like Manish Malhotra, Satya Paul have hit. No wonder Indian designer sarees earning them fame as well as mullah from the international fashion market. Benarasi sarees are always their first choice.

Indian Saree market divides itself broadly into two; traditional and designer. Designer sarees, being a recent concept, obviously gets its inspiration from the incredible and infinite variety of color, designs, embroideries and fabrics of traditional screes. One of those traditional screes is Indian Banarasi Saree ; which is a typical Bridal wear in Eastern India. The weaver, as if weaves 6 yards of magic, tells a unique story in each interweave…creation never stops, always to surprise the onlooker! Who knows, may be this is why trousseau of a Hindu bride remains incomplete without a Benarasi Saree – her unique bridal wear. It strikes every mind if the main purpose of Indian Benarasi Saree s is to give that unmatched beauty, grace and grandeur to the bride. A weaver may take any time between 15 to 180 days, owing to the complexity and uniqueness of designs.

Mehndi Body Art Fashion

Mendie design form of body decoration has become popular all over the globe Mendie body art for several reasons including the fact that anyone can learn how to create their very own unique Mendie design and this Mendie body art apply them at home. While these Mendie body art design or Mendie body art tattoo are not permanent, Mendie body art typically last for a period of three to four weeks at which time an individual can choose to re-apply the same Mendie design or create another Mendie design.

Mendie body art fashion or Mendie body art tattoo can also be applied by a professional who specializes in the art of Mendie tattooing or Mendie body artist; however, many Mendie design individuals have learned how to apply their own Mendie tattoos or Mendie body art design with their very own creative Mendie design.

Traditional Mendie design include geometrical shapes, floral Mendie design patterns, and intricate Mendie design created out of fine lines and are typically tattooed on the hands or feet, however, any type of Mendie design can be created and applied anywhere on the body
.             

Herbal Care For Hair 4 Girls

Herbal Care For Hair ; Men aren’t the only ones that have to experience hair loss, many women do also. Losing hair can cause a lot of anxiety and frustration, and in some cases, even embarrassment. It can be caused by a number of reasons, and although some can be avoided, others cannot be. Sadly, hair loss isn’t just a physical problem; it can be an emotional problem as well, and it can even ruin lives.

Needless to say there are many products out there, ranging from herbal supplements to shampoos and serums, that supposedly keep hair from falling out. Some products allegedly even cause hair to grow back! Rogaine , for instance, is a well known hair loss product for men, and it needs to be applied two times a day for many months. Some men, however, want something that will work more quickly.

Products such as Rogaine and Propecia (which is for women) contain many chemicals that some consider dangerous. There are also side effects associated with these chemicals. Because of this, many people are seeking alternative hair loss products, such as regrowth shampoos and vitamins . There are also a large number of herbal supplements on the market that contain plant extracts .

M&M Monday - The End

Today marks the 11th and final installment of M&M Monday. My sugary artistry has run its course and quite frankly I have had enough candy treats to last the year. I have considered the potential for ice cream sculpture but decided instead to turn back to gazing out my window.

I make this decision only after experiencing one rather bizarre delusion the other morning when I sat down to my computer.

You just know that is going to melt in your hand.

I do want to provide you with a factoid of useful information you can take away from my chocolate revelries. How about this: The estimated amount of glucose used by an adult human brain each day, expressed in M&Ms: 250.

--

Art is web unsourced material

Special Wear Salwar Kameez for Girls

Special Wear Salwar Kameez  for Girls
The evolution of the Special Wear salwar kameez has a long and colorful history which originated with the influence of Islamic reign on India. The intermingling of cultures created the trend of wearing loose pajamas and kurtas for men as well as women, the only difference being that women also added an odhni or dupatta to their outfit.

The salwar is a type of lower garment. It is pant like and usually loose fitting. Recently the salwar kameez has taken a cue from Indo - western fashiona dn ahs come up with innovations in designs.In some cases, the trousers are tight and fitted, these are known as churidars . And, there is another kind of salwar too, known as the patiala, whicchuridars h has a billowing cut at the hips and is tight at the ankles.The churidars in a salwar kameez set is a long top or kurta worn over the salwar . It may be long, reaching up to the knees or may end at mid thigh length.The length of the kurta varies according to the choice of the wearer, even though patiala salwars are conventionally known to have short kurtas.

The Indo-western influence can be seen in kameezes also. Modern kurtas have a variety of designs such as Chinese collars, jeweled necklines, halter style necklines and even strappy styles. The sleeves of a kameez range from short to full depending on individual choice. The design of some of these kameezes are such that sometimes one does not even need to carry a dupatta at all.

Special Wear Salwar Kameez for Girls

Special Wear Salwar Kameez  for Girls
The evolution of the Special Wear salwar kameez has a long and colorful history which originated with the influence of Islamic reign on India. The intermingling of cultures created the trend of wearing loose pajamas and kurtas for men as well as women, the only difference being that women also added an odhni or dupatta to their outfit.

The salwar is a type of lower garment. It is pant like and usually loose fitting. Recently the salwar kameez has taken a cue from Indo - western fashiona dn ahs come up with innovations in designs.In some cases, the trousers are tight and fitted, these are known as churidars . And, there is another kind of salwar too, known as the patiala, whicchuridars h has a billowing cut at the hips and is tight at the ankles.The churidars in a salwar kameez set is a long top or kurta worn over the salwar . It may be long, reaching up to the knees or may end at mid thigh length.The length of the kurta varies according to the choice of the wearer, even though patiala salwars are conventionally known to have short kurtas.

The Indo-western influence can be seen in kameezes also. Modern kurtas have a variety of designs such as Chinese collars, jeweled necklines, halter style necklines and even strappy styles. The sleeves of a kameez range from short to full depending on individual choice. The design of some of these kameezes are such that sometimes one does not even need to carry a dupatta at all.

Cute Night Dress

Cute Night Dress 
Are tricky! They’re really cute but are only reserved for toned figures with a relatively small bust. A large bust simply would not look very good in a strapless top, partly because you need to wear a strapless bra with this style, and it offers less support.

A V-neck is universally flattering and is appropriate for almost any occasion. A cute T-shirt with a modest V-neck is perfect for day, and a deep V-neck looks great at night, especially if the top is made of high quality fabrics with some sparkle added. Basically, you can’t go wrong with a V-neck. 

The only caveat: don’t go too deep!Again, since this is a sleeveless style top, it would look best on women with toned arms. However, a halter top has the distinct advantage of drawing attention to your shoulders and emphasizing them, which is very flattering for most women – except for those who already have broad shoulders tops.

Cute Night Dress

Cute Night Dress 
Are tricky! They’re really cute but are only reserved for toned figures with a relatively small bust. A large bust simply would not look very good in a strapless top, partly because you need to wear a strapless bra with this style, and it offers less support.

A V-neck is universally flattering and is appropriate for almost any occasion. A cute T-shirt with a modest V-neck is perfect for day, and a deep V-neck looks great at night, especially if the top is made of high quality fabrics with some sparkle added. Basically, you can’t go wrong with a V-neck. 

The only caveat: don’t go too deep!Again, since this is a sleeveless style top, it would look best on women with toned arms. However, a halter top has the distinct advantage of drawing attention to your shoulders and emphasizing them, which is very flattering for most women – except for those who already have broad shoulders tops.

Recycled Political Observations

Someone said to me the other day: "Doesn't it frighten you that a major political party in the United States has been taken over my extremists."


I'm not proud of my answer, I think it was really low-hanging fruit but I couldn't resist. I, of course answered: "Which party?"


As expected he didn't think it was a particularly funny line and gave me an exasperated sigh coupled with a downturned slow shake of his head.


"No really, which party." OK, I was just rubbing it in at this point. Later and away from my much too seriously middle of the road lefty friend, I remembered that I had blogged about this back somewhere in the past. Today I recycle that post, in the hope that no one ever again attempts to draw me into a serious discussion about the merits of the two party system in this country.

                                                     

Paranoia strikes deep

Into your life it will creep

It starts when you're always afraid

-Buffalo Springfield

For What It's Worth is the song by Messrs. Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Jim Messina and perhaps Dewey Martin and/or Bruce Palmer depending on the version you listen to and who was caught up in the last drug bust.

Just a small digression, when Buffalo Springfield broke up after about two years of revolving bass players and the aforementioned drug busts---Stephen Still hooked up with Graham Nash of the Hollies and David Crosby from the Byrds and formed a little band, they took in Neil Young and played some music. Jim Messina and Richie Furay joined forces and formed Poco. Jim Messina eventually teamed up with Kenny Loggins.

Meanwhile back at the topic of this here post: Paranoia Strikes Deep. That was the tagline for a Nov. 9 (2009) opinion piece in the NYTimes. The paranoia being discussed is that the Republican Party has or will be taken over by an extremist right wing. Whether this has or hasn't happened yet depends on just how left or right you already are and in particular (here comes the point) how paranoid you are about such a possibility. The article can be summarized with it's last two lines:

"The point is that the takeover of the Republican Party by the irrational right is no laughing matter. Something unprecedented is happening here--and it's very bad for America."

In case you missed it, the lyrics from Buffalo Springfield are:

"Something's happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear. There's a man with a gun over there, telling me I got to beware."

The cultural distortion is that you can't tell if the guy with the gun is an extreme conservative, a paranoid libertarian or a fearful liberal who has decided to defend his turf. That it ain't exactly clear is why paranoia strikes deep but it starts when you're always afraid.

Fancy Night Dress in UK

Fancy Night Dress in UK
This page contains all information about Fancy Night Dress and all about Fancy Night Dress ,Night Dresses 2011 ,Night Dresses trend ,Night Dresses fashion 2011 ,latest Night Dresses fashion.
Fancy Night Dress can be a lot of fun especially because you get to wear things that might not normally be appropriate in every day life. With these night dresses trend you get to be daring and exciting. They are everything that we wish we were in real life.

 

With so many choices out there it is difficult to know which type of latest night dress fashion to choose when going to a bedroom. Not only do we have to decide on a color and design but we also have to pick a night dress that makes us feel ready to take on the world.
One of the best fancy night dresses are halter tops. We have the freedom to sleep all night long without worrying about losing the night dress and we look fabulous at the same time. Halter tops are a great way to look sexy without losing too much material.

Mini night dresses fashion are another option for those looking to be slightly more daring. They accentuate your legs and make even shorter girls look taller. Lose the straps on the night dress and you have something that every guy will be drooling over.