CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS AUGUST 14

Wim Wenders born on August 14, 1945

Antonio Fargas born on August 14, 1946

Susan Saint James born on August 14, 1946

Danielle Steel born on August 14, 1947

Carl Lumbly born on August 14, 1952

Ross Brewer born on August 14, 1953

Jackée Harry born on August 14, 1956

Rusty Wallace born on August 14, 1956

Alejandro Tommasi born on August 14, 1957

Magic Johnson born on August 14, 1959

Sarah Brightman born on August 14, 1960

Ger Koopmans born on August 14, 1962

Emmanuelle Beart born on August 14, 1965

Halle Berry born on August 14, 1966

Honami Suzuki born on August 14, 1966

Adrian Lester born on August 14, 1968

Catherine Bell born on August 14, 1968

Jennifer Flavin born on August 14, 1968

Benito Carbone born on August 14, 1971

Mark Loretta born on August 14, 1971

Raoul Bova born on August 14, 1971

Austin Okocha born on August 14, 1973

Jared Borgetti born on August 14, 1973

Jay Jay Okocha born on August 14, 1973

Preston Lacy born on August 14, 1973

Romane Bohringer born on August 14, 1973

Wayne Chrebet born on August 14, 1973

Ana Matronic born on August 14, 1974

Christopher Gorham born on August 14, 1974

Al Shearer born on August 14, 1977

Candace Carey born on August 14, 1978

Kate Ritchie born on August 14, 1978

Sandra McCoy born on August 14, 1979

Séverine Bremond born on August 14, 1979

Heather Blair born on August 14, 1980

Roy Williams born on August 14, 1980

Mila Kunis born on August 14, 1983

Nicolette van Dam born on August 14, 1984

Robin Söderling born on August 14, 1984

Cassi Thomson born on August 14, 1993

WANNA LAUGH?!?! - DR. SEUSS FOR ADULTS...

I do not like this Uncle Sam, I do not like his health care scam. I do not like these dirty crooks or how they lie and cook the books. I do not like when Congress steals, I do not like their secret deals. I do not like ex-speaker Nan, I do not like this 'YES WE CAN'. I do not like this spending spree, I'm smart, I know that nothing's free. I do not like their smug replies, when I complain about their lies. I do not like this kind of hope. I do not like it. Nope, nope, nope!

EATERY IS OPEN - BELLINI COCKTAILS

Ingredients & Instructions:

Quick version 1 parts Peach Schnapps
3 parts Champagne (or Sparkling wine)

Combine in champagne flutes, serve.

Original Version 2/3 cup white peach puree 
1 teaspoon raspberry puree
1 bottle chilled Italian sparkling wine such as Prosecco

Instructions

2/3 cup white peach puree

1 teaspoon raspberry puree
1 bottle chilled Italian sparkling wine such as Prosecco 

Place 1 1/2 tablespoons puree In the bottom of each flute and add 2 - 3 drops of the raspberry puree. Add sparkling wine and serve.

Raspberry puree: Puree fresh or frozen (thawed) berries.

Peach puree: Peel fresh peaches, cut up in pieces and blend.

Serving glass: Tall champagne flutes

WITH GREAT POWER.....

Whatever life holds in store for me, I will never forget these words: "With great power comes great responsibility."

Peter Parker was talking about his newly found super powers as Spiderman when he said these words, but when I hear them I think of the power we all now have through our postings on social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

I’ve read too many posts that twist facts or even state falsehoods as if they were facts. Unfortunately , many people believe whatever they see in print and are purposely misled by such tactics. It’s certainly common practice in political posts, as noted in a You Tube video called “.Alternate Reality”

The system has gone mad, everyday newspapers and TV carry more and more stories of brazen politicians and executives who have no fear and act as though they are above the law. Even when their own words [at times on tape] confirm their scheming, they continue to treat the public like we're stupid.

It seems the government also wants in on the social media propaganda bandwagon. According to radio celebrity Alex Jones, the Defense Department unveiled its Social Media in Strategic Communication (SMISC) program. It’s an attempt to get better at both detecting and conducting propaganda campaigns on social media.This is more than just checking the trending topics on Twitter. The Defense Department wants to deeply grok social media dynamics. So SMISC will be aimed at discovering and tracking the “formation, development and spread of ideas and concepts (memes)” on social media. http://www.prisonplanet.com/pentagon-wants-a-social-media-propaganda-machine.html

  DRL takes our responsibility seriously, using social media to educate, inform, inspire and enlighten as well as give our readers the opportunity to voice their own opinions, whether they agree with ours or not. We also use this forum to encourage positive action, as in The Generosity Game Meme http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/06/generosity-game-meme.html ) or Meet Pongo and Join DRL’s Team to Help Him and The Center For Great Apes (http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/06/meet-pongo-and-join-drls-team-to-help.html)

Barbara’s Soul Food attempts to lighten the soul and encourage our readers to “keep the promises you make to yourself”                                                                ( http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/07/soul-food_24.html) 
and Patty’s Sticky Sweet (http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/07/sticky-sweet_24.html)  just makes you feel good! Tony has shared his stories with us to help us understand issues that we might not have considered, such as For Me It’s My Little Girl (http://delayedreactionlounge.blogspot.com/2011/03/tony-walker-almost-everyone-has.html). Dawn gives us a wake up call as to what’s happening to our daughters’ childhoods with In Vogue 

I’m proud to be a writer for Delayed Reaction Lounge. It’s a place where every effort is made to present truthful, enlightening information as well as entertaining, funny, even spooky reading as well! I hope you enjoy reading as much as we all enjoy writing for you.

Let us know how you feel. What are your favorite features? Is there something you would like to read about that we haven’t covered yet? If there’s something you really like, let us know and we’ll keep it coming. If there’s something you think needs to be said, tell us and we’ll try to say it for you! The Lounge is for everyone and everyone is welcome! Thanks for stopping in!

ENJOY THE WEEKEND!

Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless.  

~Bill Watterson

Weekends are a bit like rainbows; they look good from a distance but disappear when you get up close to them.  

~John Shirley

There is little chance that meteorologists can solve the mysteries of weather until they gain an understanding of the mutual attraction of rain and weekends. 

~ Unknown

Middle age is when you are sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it is not for you.

 ~ Unknown

Living up to ideals is like doing everyday work with your Sunday clothes on. 

~ Unknown

MUSIC HISTORY AUGUST 13

1879 - Composer John Ireland was born.

1924 - "The Prisoner's Song" by Vernon Dalhart became the first country music record to sell one million copies.

1930 - Guy Lombardo and his orchestra recorded "Go Home and Tell Your Mother".

1938 - Robert Johnson played a show at a roadhouse outside Greenwood, MS. It speculated that Johnson was poisoned by the bar owner. Johnson died several days later.

1952 - The original version of "Hound Dog" was recorded by Willie Mae (Big Mama) Thornton.

1965 - The Jefferson Airplane made its stage debut at the Matrix Club in San Francisco, CA.

1965 - The Beatles album "Help!" was released in the United States.

1966 - The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love" was released.

1967 - The Daughters of the American Revolution refused to allow Joan Baez to perform at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. because of her opposition to the Vietnam War.

1971 - King Curtis, at the age of 37, was stabbed to death outside his New York home.

1980 - Todd Rundgren's home in Woodstock, New York was invaded by four masked men. Rundgren, his girlfriend and three houseguests were bound and gagged while the masked men strip the house of valuables.

1990 - Curtis Mayfield was paralyzed after a light rack fell on him before a concert in Brooklyn, NY.

1995 - Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) has surgery for a hernia.

1999 - The movie "Detroit Rock City" opened.

WANNA LAUGH?!?!

A male driver is pulled over by a cop and the following conversation takes place:
Man: What's the problem officer?
Cop: You were going at least 75 in a 55 zone.
Man: No sir, I was going 65.
Wife: Oh Harry. You were going 80.
(Man gives his wife a dirty look.)
Cop: I'm also going to give you a ticket for your broken tail light.
Man: Broken tail light? I didn't know about a broken tail light!
Wife: Oh Harry, you've known about that tail light for weeks.
(Man gives his wife a dirty look.)
Cop: I'm also going to give you a citation for not wearing your seat belt.
Man: Oh, I just took it off when you were walking up to the car.
Wife: Oh Harry, you never wear your seat belt.
Man: Shut your mouth, woman!
Cop: Ma'am, does your husband always talk to you this way?
Wife: No, only when he's drunk.

REMORAS....and other feeder fish, like you

Dawn Boyle

My daughter is obsessed with sharks. She watched "Shark Week" religiously. She wants to be an Oceanographer, and study marine life. I watched a lot of Shark Week along side of her to make sure there was nothing to graphic being viewed. One thing that I noticed was a bunch of little fish that hang out around the shark. Sometimes they are underneath and it made me wonder, what is up with those fish? How are they not eaten? Why do they hang out under the shark...are they stupid? Have they not witnessed a feeding frenzy and seen what happens to those schools? It made me want to find out what the story is with those fish?

They are called Remoras. They have a modified dorsal fin that acts kinda like a sucker that attaches them to whatever they are swimming with.

As for why they don't get eaten, they are in a symbiotic relationship with the sharks. In many cases, a dualistic one (meaning both parties benefit).

The Remora gets a free ride and free food (they eat scraps of food and small bacteria) while the shark gets a free cleanup job/anti-bacterial job.

After reading up on Remora's, it got me thinking....in life there are some Remora's in my life. I have a bunch of people, some friends...some family that get a free ride. They come along and hang out around me, "eating the scraps I don't get to". They feed off of my kindness, but make no mistake, I know who, I am keen on what they are doing..only know I have a name for them!

Do you have Remora's? Is it a mutual benefit? How much do you appreciate or tolerate the free clean up job? Are Remora's a necessity in life?

KATHERINE: AN UNUSUAL 15 YEAR OLD!

My best friend just bought a house as a “vacation” home here in Florida. Since she hates to fly and knew she’d need a lot of help moving in, she brought her 15 year old niece Katherine, with her for support. I’ve known Katherine since she was a baby, but haven’t seen her in a few years so I was totally unprepared for what I found when I saw her again.

Helping set up headboard and frame

What can you say about your typical 15 year old? They’re often argumentative, insecure, moody, boy crazy, somewhat self-centered, disrespectful and lazy. This was what I was expecting, but I was so wrong! This girl worked so hard from early morning to very late at night without complaint. She scrubbed, painted, moved furniture, ran errands, and all in a house without a TV or computer!

Another pleasant surprise was the constant smile on her face and upbeat disposition she exhibited. She loves to laugh and listen to her aunt’s funny stories about when she and her sister, Isabel, were young. She was excited about everything, taking pictures and texting friends about it.

Toting boxes,When is it break time?

The more time I spent with her, the more I realized how smart, funny and interesting she is. We had a great conversation about the books she’s read and ones that I thought she would enjoy. She told me all about her friends and the fun things they do. I have to say, I really enjoyed spending time with her.

Katherine has restored my faith in 15 year olds!  I look forward to seeing her grow into the confident, intelligent, optimistic woman that I know she will become!

Katherine and her Aunt Jeanne

SHAKEN THE SYSTEM

Tony Walker

In 1992 I joined the Communication Workers of America, AKA CWA. They are the union for Verizon workers here in NY and most of the Country.
I knew nothing about unions or corporate america at that time.
From then til now I have seen all sorts of corporate greed, deceit, lies, and despicable behavior by the managers I worked for. It forced me to get me involved in the union & fight for our rights. I am proud to say that I was a Chief Steward for Local 1104 for 10 years. I loved every minute of it.
In 2008 I was forced out of my job due to my disability and that's when I decided to start my new life doing what I was meant to do-comedy. However I am still an active member of 1004 and try to stay involved. I made some great friends while working there and I will always support them.
Because of my union: I had medical benefits that got me through cancer and got my family through all the testing we needed to do on my daughter when she was young as we discovered she's autistic. I still had a job even though the cancer kept me from doing my job for a few years.
I get a pension. I was paid a decent salary plus overtime. I was trained properly and was given all the safety equipment I'm supposed to have so I can return to my family every night. Working on poles like I did can be very dangerous if you don't know what you are doing.
Did you know that no one was paid overtime after 40 hours until unions made it happen? So even if you're not a union member, what happens with a union can effect you. It's all about workers rights!!!
Here's a question.... after being a union guy for almost 20 years I forget how the public perceives unions. Do you think they are corrupt? If so why? How much do you actually know about them?
Do you think unions are needed now more than ever as the middle class suffers more & more every day?
I'd like to wish all my Brothers and Sisters at CWAN all the best as they fight for what they deserve. This strike could be a long one. Be strong!
If you're in NY or on the eastern seaboard most likely you know someone who is fighting for their job right now. Please support them! They won't forget who supports them & who doesn't. Believe me!!