Fat Vox

My heart is breaking,You look at me,And I look at you.Should I tell you how I feel? It started as just a crush, But then we came together. I tried to stop my heart, But it still wanted to fall. Every time I see you, You tell me about her. She is my best friend,…

One of the clinic’s technicians came in this morning and asked me about a mouse she had found in her garden. The poor thing was not moving very rapidly and therefore was very easy to catch. After capturing the mouse she noticed that there was a “worm” underneath the skin, which was nearly as big…

Have you thought about going to college but are unsure how you’ll perform in class? You shouldn’t be. College is a learning place, where student and instructor share ideas and opinions. As a college professor, I tell students, “I’m a learner first, teacher second.” This generally sets the tone for the entire class, exhibiting to…

COMMENTARY Marquess Wilson, the seventh round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, will be worth the risk because of how he will fit into the program. He is a young, tall, athletic wide receiver who has the physical tools to succeed in the NFL. The pick is seen as a risky one because of his…

I admit it–I’ve posed for that selfie seven times before it was posted as my perfectly nonchalant profile pic on Facebook and Instagram. For a while though, the my most shameful social media behavior was wandering into the lives of the men I’ve dated. And by “wandering into the lives of” I really mean stalking….

Agarito, Berberis trifoliate, which is also known as Algarita, Mahonia trifoliate, is an evergreen, bushy, perennial shrub that is xeriscapic, salt tolerant, deer resistant and attracts butterflies and birds. This means, simply put, that this native of Texas shrub stays green year round, doesn’t require a lot of water, deer don’t like to eat it…

Pet costumes are a great way to get into the Halloween spirit, but you don’t want your fur baby to look like every other pet at the party. Find unique costumes for pets, and make yours stand out. Picture Perfect Outfits You’ll find a range of instantly-recognizable character costumes at Petsmart. Their selection allows you…

In the 48 hour period between April 3rd and 4th, 1974, the Midwestern United States experienced one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in history. Known as a “super outbreak,” 148 confirmed tornadoes touched down from Michigan to Alabama and Illinois to West Virginia, with 30 of them in the F4-F5 categories and resulting in…

I was born and raised in the heart of Sacramento. When someone comes to visit me from out of town I take them to my favorite restaurants, museums in either downtown or old-town sections of Sacramento. In my opinion the best time to visit Sacramento is usually during the summer because most of the city…

Is there a danger of a zombie apocalypse ever happening? In a word: yes. Don’t laugh. Some of the scientific world’s most respected minds agree with that statement. Several internet websites have already dissected the subject over the last couple of years. The immense popularity of the AMC TV series “The Walking Dead” and the…

To start with, I’ve worked in fast food for over a year now, so this article and the information within is all things I’ve learned through experience. I’ve worked at the same restaurant my entire career life and so some of my advice may be biased based upon the store I work in. The first…

Desiree Hartsock’s season as the Bachelorette started last night. For me, it’s too soon to predict the strongest contenders-although for a minute, I thought Chris Harrison might be the one who proposes at the end of the season. Just kidding-but he does seem to like Des a lot. One Bachelor Sent Home Des is lovely…

Witch hazel also known as spotted alder and winter-bloom is a plant. Most people don’t grow this greenery in the backyard, but pick up the liquid form in a bottle. The medicinal properties offered by witch hazel help the body and provide a natural alternative for common ailments. Witch hazel uses and benefits: Acne buster….

Not all aliens from outer space are here to conquer us. Then again, some are. Some want to use us as a food source, and others want us off the planet. We humans aren’t exactly comfortable with that, so we stand up and fight back. Here are ten alien movies featuring an assortment of “visitors…

Most live poker games can get very expensive during the learning process. With buy-ins ranging from $100 to even more, it can get very expensive to learn the game. My best advice to anyone trying to beat live poker would be to begin playing online in real money games. In my experience if you can…

I went to an amazing gig the other night at Bar Medusa in downtown Wellington, a small but popular venue for local bands of all persuasions, especially rock. Billed as MERFIINROE, the event lined up three huge local rock bands: Merrin, FIIN, and Monroe, all totally different in style, collaborating under the 3rd Rock Collective…

Rating: GLength: 30 minutesRelease Date: January 1, 1986Directed by: Sam Jaimes, Bill MelendezGenre: Animation/Short/Comedy Stars: 3.5 out of 5 The original “Peanuts” specials starring Charlie Brown and the gang are animation classics, bringing Charles Schultz’s characters to life in a way that few adaptations can match. All of them are essentially packaged nostalgia and have…

It is important your children are made aware of the incurable health risks and obesity dangers hidden within the ingredients of their favorite fast-foods, or those served up innocently at your dinner table, and what can be done about it. Health & Related Issues This lesson should include helping your kids make better choices, based…

In a growing internet advertising market, there are too many businesses that are paying for services that will not bring in any new customers. You might say to yourself, why would anyone pay out their hard earned money for something that would not bring in revenue or that has a 0 ROI? The simple answer:…

J. J. Abrams’ second voyage into the Star Trek universe is a bigger, brighter, but not necessarily better affair, but fans of the 2009 movie will be happy to hear that there is just as much fun to be had second time around. Despite the ominous title, “Star Trek Into Darkness” is a funny, bombastic…

Pear dump cake might not sound good, but it is absolutely delicious. It requires just three simple ingredients, and it is incredibly easy to prepare. It is especially tasty, and the recipe is unique since most cakes of this type call for crushed canned pineapple or peaches. Try this very simple recipe for pear dump…

COMMENTARY The Houston Texans finished the 2012 regular season tied with the second-best record in the AFC. However, the team’s performance in the playoffs left much to be desired, with an up-and-down victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round, and an embarrassing loss to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round….

Overview – If you are a huge fan of random chance and luck, Domino is the Marvel: Avengers Alliance hero for you. Every one of her abilities and powers, with the exception of her basic starting attack, involves random chance in one way or another. If the random number generator is on your side, she…

Recently, Robin Roberts of “Good Morning America” came out by simply posting a comment on her Facebook page for the holidays, saying: “I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health. I am grateful for my sister, Sally-Ann, for being my donor and giving me the gift of life. I…

I, like many of you, will be consuming thousands of calories this Thanksgiving, but why does that mean we have to veg out in front of the TV and ignore our family all day? So I put together a list of fun and healthy activities that everyone in the family can get in on. The…

Those that love plants but do not seem to have enough room in the kitchen can still successfully grow many different types of foliage. It is possible to make room for everything from air plants to vines. Every kitchen has wasted space, and houseplants can take up the otherwise unused room. Consider these creative, stylish…

If you’re like me and my friends, you’ve probably spent plenty of time at the grocery store or convenience store checkout shaking your head in disgust at the gum and mint options. Virtually all of them are laced with aspartame, sucralose and other totally unhealthy, unnatural ingredients, and finding a natural gum that doesn’t contain…

The White House has responded to a petition calling for the legalization of phone unlocking, CBS News is reporting. Internet advisor for the President R. David Edelman, posted a response titled, “It’s time to legalize cell phone unlocking.” The Associated Press (via ABC News) also commenting on the story says, the White House is acknowledging…

The Environmental Protection Agency has completed and released the results of their water infrastructure study for The United States. Quoting the EPA: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released results of a survey showing that $384 billion in improvements are needed for the nation’s drinking water infrastructure through 2030 for systems to continue providing safe…

Depending where you live, spring can be a fickle month, especially during transition months where days range from warm and breezy to cool and dismal. The secret to transitioning seasons requires layers, waterproof elements for most days, and lots of color. The first step is to really get familiar with your wardrobe. A not-so-secret way…

A bassinet is ideal for a newborn baby or an infant that has not yet begun to roll over. It is a great way to keep the child close without moving a standard-size crib from room to room. It is also a decorative furnishing that can be repurposed and reused in creative new ways once…

It is no secret that, even in the 21st century, most women still make less than most men. That initial disparity propagates all the way down the job chain, differing not only on where workers come from — the East Coast, the Central Plains or the Deep South — but also the skill level. For…

It’s a good final memory of George McGovern, and I am grateful for it now, a year after his death.I was covering a Public Utilities Commission candidates’ debate at the 2012 South Dakota State Fair – that’s me, Mr. Big News – and McGovern was in the front row of the small crowd. We were…

As a teenager, I was always that girl. The one with the boyfriend who was paying more attention to his car, or his friends, or in many many cases someone else. After multiple breakups, I think I’ve finally nailed how to beat that horrible sinking feeling mixed with a slight nausea and urge to pass…

I grew up in white, middle-class America. The elementary school I attended was all white and in an upper middle-class neighborhood. The property taxes my parents paid supported my elementary school. In 1966, school integration was a hot topic in our country. At the time, I knew very little about integration and what it meant….

I was struck by something I noticed while reading through some of the thousands of responses to the recent blog post by writer, Matt Walsh, entitled, “You’re a stay-at-home mom? What do you DO all day?” Besides the typical mommy war comments, there were so many thankful posts from stay-at-home moms, singing the praises of…

After having some successful garage sales and helping other family members have their own profitable yard sales, there are some items that consistently sell and sell at good prices. Hopefully incorporating some (if not all) of these items will help your garage sale become more lucrative:1) Video Games and DVDS-Without a doubt, these are always…

Meetings tend to have a bad reputation as tedious wastes of time that distract you from your real work. Honestly, I have to admit, I agree in large part with this popular assessment, and would do anything I could think of to get out of having to attend a dry, daily meeting. As boring and…

I would consider myself to be a “serial monogamist.” I haven’t had many relationships, but the ones I’ve had have been serious from the get go, and have lasted years. Thinking about the patterns of the times when I was most unhappy or should have seen signs of a bad relationship, a few themes seem…

Despite their seemingly sneering, snarly attitudes, today’s teens are as confused, lost, and in need of help and love as we all were at that age. A teen help club can assist the next generation in overcoming the pitfalls and problems associated with these tumultuous years. Teen help clubs often reach teens who feel alone….

Introduction Did you know that there’s a lot of garbage that you cannot throw into the trashcan, the recyclable can, or the green can? This material is considered toxic to the environment; it is considered to be hazardous waste. Hazardous Waste Defined Hazardous waste includes these items: batteries, aerosol spray cans, computer trash (e-waste), light…

I have lived in some very small spaces and figured ways to make the most of those spaces as far as comfort, function, and storage go. You can do that, too, if you think creatively, and are willing to sometimes sacrifice form for function. If you have high ceilings in your studio space, a loft…

List 1: The Home Listings Before The Filing Date The initial foreclosure list is what I will call pre-foreclosure before the filing date since the houses within this list happen to be posted before the initial foreclosure filing is performed. There is no paperwork recorded by the bank at this point. The homeowners of the…

A.J. Foyt Racing driver Takuma Sato finally has things coming together in the IZOD IndyCar Series: he has a ride with one of the all-time motorsports greats, he picked up his first win at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and he’s leading the points standings. He goes into the 97th running of the…

Lima beans are probably not at the top of your list of vegetables to add to your diet. I am quite positive some people who read this consider this particular member of the bean family to be the bee’s knees, but most likely they barely rate the top five or even top ten of your…

Quote: “I do not eat oysters. I want my food dead Quote: – not sick, not wounded – dead. By: Woody Allen An American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, author, playwright, and musician. ATTENTION ALL ARDENT dieters! Hear this and hear this well. You are about to discover a very real and legitimate healthy weight loss…

Many African women have made the decision to transition their hair back to its natural state. This is a decision that is often brought on by disappoint in hair health, admiration of natural hair styles, or a need for change. No matter why a woman decides transitioning from relaxed to natural hair is for her,…

Insidious was the kind of horror movie audiences can’t get enough of. An atmospherically oppressive nightmare of a movie with lurkers in every scene waiting for you to notice them and spill your popcorn all over yourself like buttered confetti. Even now, it’s probably sitting in your Netflix Instant Queue (I mean ‘My List’…because apparently…

Twerking isn’t Miley Cyrus’s only shtick — the former “Hannah Montana” star also loves to get topless. According to Us Weekly, the “Miley: The Movement” MTV documentary that aired on October 2 featured a crazy moment between Miley and Britney Spears. The pop stars were discussing Miley’s upcoming MTV Video Music Awards performance when a…

Out of the many historical figures that could be considered a hero, the person that I would chose as my hero would be Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was one of the founding fathers of the United States, and espoused a political philosophy that I agree with. Who was Thomas Jefferson, and what did he do to…

Pacific halibut caught in Alaska are some of the largest flatfish available in the region and have a sweet flavor that’s been appealing for generations. Because of their considerable size, you can eat them in various ways, including as larger steaks or as fillets. But have you ever tried halibut cheeks? While that might have…

COMMENTARY | Roger Ebert was as much Chicago as Lower Wacker Drive or that Thai restaurant around the corner you always order from, or that bastion of independent bookstores, Unabridged Books. He was real Chicago, the Chicago Chicagoans keep close and share, sometimes a little grudgingly, with the rest of the country. He was no…

From July 2008 to July 2009, I wanted to take a little break from working full-time. So, I went part-time with my current company and started my own calligraphy business. I focused on wedding calligraphy, poems and other lettering projects. Just by word of mouth and general Internet marketing, I became the calligrapher of choice…

The 2014 season at the Indianapolis Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre begins with the madcap hysterical comedy Lend Me a Tenor. Penned by Ken Ludwig, this farce is in its 25th year of production. Set in a Cleveland hotel suite in 1936, this hilarious romp chronicles the misadventures of the Cleveland Opera Company as it…

The Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield is home to Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, which recently made news headlines nationwide with the opening of its new million-dollar organic greenhouse and garden, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the United States. Boasting five types of kale, 23 kinds of heirloom tomatoes,…

I am a bit of a skeptic with cross-training shoes. Or anything carrying the idea of allowing someone to comfortably and successfully do things in a shoe without there being some kind of mortal flaw in the design. I say that, because in recent time through the last decade, the classic do-it-all shoe was marginalized,…

COMMENTARY| The Dallas Cowboys have had three consecutive 8-8 season. If Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones ever wants to see the playoffs again, he needs to take a page out of the San Francisco 49ers’ playbook and build his team through the draft. The NFL is a copycat league and Jones loves to copy other teams….

Quaker Rice Cakes Apple Cinnamon are rice cakes that have the taste of apple cinnamon. Each of the rice cakes is about 7-inches across and around 1-inch thick. They come in a plastic bag similar to the bags that loaf bread comes in. The rice cakes come in sealed smaller bags inside of the larger…

New home technology is making automation an easier process that is less costly. The number of options used to control a house continues to increase with smartphones becoming a central key to the process. Although choosing a home automation system and hiring a contractor is still a popular choice, this is not the only possibility….

So, what made me want to become an SEO Consultant? It wasn’t exactly a childhood dream, but as I was learning about marketing in college, especially online marketing, I found that SEO touched almost every part of marketing. It involved everything from web design, graphic design, social media, to writing content. Thus, you get to…

If their popularity is any indication, people love Reality shows. And spin offs. So, I half-jokingly suggested we should have our own Reality show: Gettin’ Fixed Again, which I posted on our online community bulletin board in response last Fall to the decision to repair our newly built townhomes. We already have quite a cast…

Yet another Blizzcon has come and gone, and with it plenty of exciting new announcements and information on both current and upcoming Blizzard games. Out of all the announcements made, arguably the biggest was Blizzard’s announcement of World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor, the latest expansion for the venerable MMO, World of Warcraft. A lot…

Synopsis: These are not new stories. Indeed, John Silence – Physician Extraordinary (which contained most of the stories in this book) was published in 1908. They are, however, very good stories. And important ones: John Silence was one of Blackwood’s earliest successes and gave him both the financial ability and encouragement to continue his writing…

My coffee with Ran Stapleton hadn’t gone as intended. Instead of small talk leading into my ground rules for his stay at my San Francisco condominium, I’d gotten swept into the eye of Ran’s magnetic storm. As in the college days, the short walk from the cafe on Kearney to San Francisco’s Union Square had…

I have been an avid reader my whole life. For many years, I resisted the technology now available in terms of books, computer screen reading, Kindle formats, and audio text. Maybe I am just getting old and, like many older folk, I’m just stuck in my ways. I received a Kindle for my birthday a…

I had read that low levels of vitamin D were linked to depression. But, I reasoned, I choke down multi-vitamin pills daily, and have for most of my adult life. I gulp skim milk enhanced with vitamin D. I walk my dog, which gets me outside daily. So when I began to question why I…

Ever since Chinese President Xi Jinping championed the Chinese Dream concept at start of his tenure last year, the catchphrase has generated a substantial buzz and become a favored topic among China watchers. Stephen Roach is one of those veteran observers. Having followed China’s economic scene for more than 30 years, the former Chairman of…

If you want to lay a golden egg in publishing, write about Jesus in a way that is provoking and controversial. While Muslims and the secular media will maim manuscripts on Mohammad, Jesus receives a free pass, and why not? For over twenty centuries, Jesus has been attacked or mistaken. In the fourth century, there…

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recent Op-Ed in the New York Times is patronizing and hypocritical. On the surface it appears Mr. Putin supports his opinion with seemingly relevant points. His tone is reminiscent of an elder statesman dispensing wisdom to the masses. The reality is his actions and resent Russian policies erode his position. Though…

One of the biggest challenges I have as a Financial Advisor is convincing people that they should not keep all their savings and investments in cash. “I don’t want to risk losing any of my money,” is the typical argument. The real risk, I counter, is losing purchasing power. The risk is called inflation, defined…

The grand-kids and I just removed some old nasty carpet in our fixer upper. Underneath were hardwood floors in relatively good condition. That part was certainly nice. I had some idea of the more unpleasant wonders I’d be dealing with once the carpet was removed. Other things were a surprise. Here are some of the…

Signs 1 through 8:1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life. 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems. 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure. 4. Confusion with time or place. 5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. 7. Misplacing things…

Halloween is coming soon. As you prepare to dole out goodies on Halloween night, is it your moral obligation to meet the special needs of children with food allergies? No, it is not. However, recent statistics report that one in every 13 children (under the age of 18) has a food allergy. That number represents…

In my family, if meat is not on the table, it’s a snack not a meal. But feeding a hungry crew meat at every meal is expensive and while their appetites and meat costs increased, my grocery budget did not, so I had to get creative in the kitchen. These meal stretching ideas will help…

Tucked away in my safe American suburban neighborhood, it would be easy to look at the conflict in Syria, shrug my shoulders, and say ‘let the barbarians kill each other.” That seems to be the view taken by many of my Republican and Democrat confreres, in any case. I don’t think that way, though, and…

If you’re spending more than 3 weeks in Thailand, you’ll want to have a phone to stay in contact with your travel companions and any new friends you meet. Used phones in Bangkok are as cheap as $15. Cell phones are easy to buy, set up and accomplish. It’s as easy as 1-2-3. First you…

Sometimes I get caught up in thinking that the holiday season has to be perfect. It throws me off every time I come across how-to articles that attempt to let you in on a “secret.” The “secret” being something like how to be the perfect holiday hostess, decorate the perfect tree or cook the perfect…

1. Did you choose the writing profession or did it choose you? I chose it. From my first fascination with books, about age eight, I could see myself as a writer. Living on an isolated ranch in Mount Shasta, California, a mile from our nearest neighbor, I discovered that books were the magic carpet that…

The Simple Diet by Dr. Anderson, published in December 2011, has become a favorite book in my collection because it served as a tool to help me change an unhealthy lifestyle and lose over twenty-five pounds. I have been on crash diets since I was in the sixth grade, all were unhealthy food-restriction diets that…

People in the arts often are questioned about their sources of inspiration. Speculation usually considers innate talent and personal influences. Gottfried Harrison Federlein undoubtedly drew upon native intelligence, parental achievements, and superior training in forging a four-decade career on nineteenth- and twentieth-century New York’s competitive musical scene. He also may have benefited from the influence…

When it comes to children’s books there are plenty of offerings from which to choose. In an attempt to feature a few standouts, here’s a peek at some recent releases that capture the spirit of play, adventure and fun for kids and parents alike. From bears, dogs and ladybugs to construction equipment and farm tractors,…

Pregnancy is a blessing. It is amazing how ones body accommodates the growing life inside the womb. Pregnancy is viewed, to some, as a beautiful time in a women’s life. Pregnant women do have that “glow” after all! However, pregnancy can really take a toll on ones body and some of the changes from pregnancy…

When my late brother Joselito told me he was a member of Mensa after he graduated from high school I was not surprised. I knew that he was exceptional when he learned to read the English alphabet at the age of 3 without being taught.He learned how by looking at images and texts on periodicals…

Being single is by choice or circumstance. The older you get, the more in tune you become with what you want, need and seek in a partner. Such knowledge lays the foundation for you and your dating platform. A few of my friends go on one to five dates a year while others are able…

OpenTable is one of the top providers of online restaurant reservations in America. It recently released a list of the Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in the United States. This was based on over 5 million participants who submitted reviews to OpenTable from over 15,000 restaurants in every state and Washington DC. Each restaurant that qualified…

Twelve more acts took the stage at Radio City Music Hall, in an effort to convince America to put them through to the semifinals of Season 8 of “America’s Got Talent.”The show opened with a dance performance by Innovative Force, a group of young teens combining acrobatics and dance moves, so slick it was hard…

I live on the Space Coast of Florida where we have an amazing habitat, the Indian River Lagoon. In these biodiverse estuary waters are the homes of many fish, birds, creatures of all kinds, and the beloved dolphins and manatees. The bottlenose dolphins and manatees are being killed in the lagoon, especially around Merritt Island,…

Versus the Player In 1972 China’s population was 860 million and in 2000 that figure has grown 1.2 billion. The “one child” policy is not working for which Mao regime in the 1950 has feared. Although China’s modern officials have still emphasizing it on health grounds the growing a mother’s child has doubted, pulling back…

I’m sure most of you reading this story have seen a naked man before. Some of you probably are naked men. However, short of going to a nude beach, it’s not often you see one out in public. Paul Winer, the infamous owner of Reader’s Oasis Books in Quartzsite, Arizona, prefers to be naked. That’s…

My daughter is currently captivated with games. Memory, bingo and “Connect Four” are her favorites. The other day she lost two times in a row to me. She started talking about how I was the winner and she was the loser. To say the least, she was frustrated and not happy about losing. However, after…