Sunday, September 14, 2008 HenryCruz.com is moving... POST A COMMENT 'Right across the street...click refresh on your browswer to take out the extra letters at the end -- http://www.HenryCruz.com -- or click to the name on the top of the home page for the newer version...see ya in a bit. 'Hold on a sec, not that box -- (that special one goes with me). 'A little crazy for the next day or so, while I move stuff over to a new system -- (and work out the kinks). But, to keep my chops...I'm planning to write all through it...but, it could get a little messy. 'Not much gonna change, just house cleaning, a paint job, some new fancy bells-and-whistles that might not work; 'in mental-cyber-speak, it's almost like moving right next door, without actually doing the physical labor. Labels: HenryCruz.com posted by Henry Cruz at 5:40 PM Saturday, September 13, 2008 Telling the same story...twice POST A COMMENT 'Secretly fantasize 'bout going back in time and having a 'do-over...'I might finally get a few things right. 'For Better or for Worse scribe -- Lynn Johnston (60), decided instead of retiring she'd start-over -- “If I could do it all over again,” Johnston writes in one recent Sundays installment: “would I do some things differently?” She would, and she will. As she says here in this clip (above), the strip will now be about 50 percent new stuff mixed in with the old stuff -- or what she calls new-runs. Sweet, half the work for the same paycheck --(another secret fantasy of mine). 'Wonder if this keep-working has-to-do with her marriage recently ending... Could be...'she needs the extra cash to nurture the cougar buried inside us all -- “I never thought I’d be single at this time of my life,” she said in that interview. “And with that in mind, I still want to work, I still want to keep my hand in it.” 'Just make sure you wash that hand before coming to dinner... Source: Winston-Salem Journal Labels: Comic strips online, For Better or for Worse, Lynn Johnston posted by Henry Cruz at 7:30 PM Friday, September 12, 2008 Could smoking trees balance the budget? POST A COMMENT 'News today of the U.S. accusing the Venezuelan government of aiding drug traffickers -- ('giving Colombian gang-leaders guns & helping move the drugs)... 'kinda points to the pink-elephant in the room -- 'might be time to legalize some drugs? -- Wouldn't that disarm the criminal traffickers lock on such dirty-biznesses? 'Not sure if a blanket legalization of all street drugs is the answer -- ('but really now, isn't Weed a harmless herb??)... 'and there's no denying that our war-on-illegal-drugs is full of corrupt-sloppy-politically motivated agendas... 'from the futile efforts by the Drug Enforcement Agency, 'locking up stupid people for their victimless crimes...to reinforcing the gangs and mafia outfits that live-and-die off of street drugs; 'I'd much prefer a government gang running shit, over the violent gangs populating our streets. All while the real white collar criminals, those legal-drug companies, swim in billions off of medicating us with another useless pill we really don't need. I'm generalizing here, and over simplifying the answers, I know. There's no denying the fact that legalizing some street drugs would give the U.S. a $50 billion boost to the economy; 'not to mention relaxing the burden on our maxed-out-prison-system since -- 'about 2 million people in the U.S. are arrested for drug offenses each year...' Popular Science points out how folks -- 'have long appreciated smoking trees for its seemingly magical effects on mind and body. The fact that it is illegal (at least in the United States), has never stopped people from partaking in a little herbal refreshment.' Experts agree -- 'marijuana alleviates the pain of those afflicted with glaucoma...'But even since the 1950s, scientists have recognized, and pushed for, the antibacterial properties of Cannabis sativa.' 'A team of scientists...tested the five most common cannabinoids and found each one to be effective against several common multiresistant bacterial strains....the team also suggested that cannabinoids may be even more useful in fighting off bacterial diseases.' I'm no economic expert, but doesn't it does sounds like a win win for a slumping economy to tax defenseless crimes -- (the very same way we tax cigarettes and alcohol). I'm here to say: smoke 'em if you got 'em... Via MSN Labels: An Inconvenient Truth, brain-power, Business-101, drug bust, drugs, economy, medicated nation posted by Henry Cruz at 1:34 PM Thursday, September 11, 2008 Next two "IN" Books... POST A COMMENT 'Feeling a bit like the "IN" club? -- 'next two books on my desk have the IN-word in the title, coincidence? or destiny? -- ('hmmmum, technically In Odd We trust is a graphic novel); anyhoo, first up is In the Woods... And I'm looking forward to revisiting with the master of suspense, Dean Koontz, who lends his name to a comic book adaption of his popular Odd Thomas series... If ya feelin a bit Oprah-book-club-ish, 'pick 'em up and read along with me --(or leave me a comment on what you're reading, 'cause I'm always up for another good book after I'm done). As usual I'll post a short review of each when I'm done reading 'em. Labels: Books, Comic Books, Dean Koontz, In Odd We Trust, In the Woods, Tana French, what I'm reading posted by Henry Cruz at 6:17 PM Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Broadway flexes those A-list private parts POST A COMMENT Those chasing an A-list make-over usually means a stop over to Broadways dark-stage -- for some, showing off their punnani for the jollies of the theater elite. 'Broadway, it seems, has eclipsed Playboy as the place to make Hollywood pay attention,' says the NY Times. 'There was a time when female movie stars who felt they were being ignored by the industry took off their clothes for Hugh Hefner’s magazine. Now they brush up their Shakespeare — or Schnitzler or Miller — and hit Gotham.' Case in point, Nicole Kidman (way before anybody was checking for her), she was -- 'a movie actress who was most famous for being the wife of Tom Cruise took her first step onto a Broadway stage and was instantly transformed into her own dazzling woman....there’s no question that Nicole Kidman’s professional life was kicked into a new, loftier orbit after she starred in 'The Blue Room,' No difference than any current Hollywood A-Lister working for peanuts on smaller films; looking to for some INDIE-cred by taking a walk on the wild side. And no mistake in the timing for Radcliffe (Equus) -- since that Potter series is nearing its end...word on the streets seems to be -- 'If you feel you’re losing ’em, pal, just shuck the clothes.' Source: NY Times Labels: A-list, Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter, hollywood, indie film, NYC, Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 8:07 PM Tuesday, September 09, 2008 The Four-letter word for Teens: Save! POST A COMMENT 'got a teen girl in my immediate family with a paying job -- at 19 she got cocky and tried living on her own, and totally screwed it up. She didn't pay her bills on time, and cried to momma how she was hungry and couldn't keep food in the fridge -- ('wha...she's making a couple of grand a month, I says): 'no planning. Spent all her cash on the day of her payday -- (what we call payday-rich). Let me back up, this is a bright kid. One subject they didn't teach in school -- (or in the home) however, is basic money management. I don't claim to be in league with the likes of Suze Orman...'but, I don't ever remember going hungry. So, I clicked my fake heels 'bout this book on money (aimed at teen girls). 'When it comes to money,' says the first paragraph. -- 'The most powerful four-letter word you can learn isn't an obscene one. It's save." START-'EM-EARLY: 'Kids need to get involved with money and they need to handle it,' says one expert. 'Parents need to involve their kids in financial decisions as soon as they are old enough to grasp it." Learning about money management now gives them a foundation so later on they avoid a lot of bad mistakes early -- and don't come running back home crying how hungry they are... Source: Washington Post Labels: Business-101, capitalism, economy, Finance, teens posted by Henry Cruz at 10:28 PM Obama: In the lions den POST A COMMENT Usually think that Fox News is far away from -- 'Fair and balanced,' however, here's a smart clip (a rarity for them)... 'Making the rounds on the blogisphere, coming from a conservative on foreign policy -- (entitled: I’m Tired of Agreeing With Obama)... the author of that blog adds -- 'I expect sharp words and fireworks with Bill O’Reilly and Barack Obama on the same set. What I don’t expect is to find myself agreeing with Obama over O’Reilly...' I wrote previously about my own political views (click here) but, as a citizen I enjoy hearing debates on real issues that effect us; and this was a good one. Source: United Liberty.org Labels: Barack Obama, Bill O'Reilly, Elections, Foreign Policy posted by Henry Cruz at 2:57 AM Monday, September 08, 2008 Two things happy people do POST A COMMENT In this article from Oprah Magazine - 'Five things happy people do,' they spoke with experts to find common traits in happy people...I picked two of the five listed (and added my own take on it). (1) Happy People -- avoid "if only" fantasies. If only I get a better job…find a man…lose the weight…life will be perfect. Happy people don't buy into this kind of thinking...'instead, keep their lives full of novelty, even if it's just trying a new activity (diving, yoga) or putting a new spin on an old favorite (kundalini instead of vinyasa).' To me, this has much to do with the added stress caused by trying to keep-up-with-the-Jones, or worrying about what other people have. Envy can be a real bummer. I also agree that keeping yourself busy with variations on regular everyday things keeps the brain from getting too much comfort. (2) Happy People 'put best friends first. It's no surprise that social engagement is one of the most important contributors to happiness. What's news is that the nature of the relationship counts...One of the most essential pleasures of close friendship is simple companionship, "just hanging out..." -- going to the movies together and eating popcorn in the dark.' I get this: simple companionship with people I like goes a long way. I know a cut-throat dude that is so driven by making money, that he chooses his friends only by how they can forward his career (The no-losers allowed club). While I'm lucky enough to fit into that club, I ended up distancing myself from him because I don't subscribe to that theory that you discard friends as you move up the social ladder. Having more money doesn't make you a better friend. Overall, I happen to one of those that believe happiness is over-rated. I embrace my sadness and sorrow as part of life's lessons. If we sat around ignoring the the bad things that surround us don't we then lose that hunger to work towards change? Source: Oprah Magazine Labels: Oprah, The Happiness Project posted by Henry Cruz at 11:57 AM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .