tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2387267104384855532024-03-14T02:47:59.804-07:00Hal... In PhillyH.C. Aaron's blog about a wide array of subjects, derived from his experiences growing up in Philadelphia, PA, a summer on a kibbutz in Israel followed by a misspent summer tripping in Boston, Mass. BUT - mostly based on the years he spent bartending to the stars, performing and hosting open mics & showcases in L.A. and his ultimate return to Philly where he is currently trapped.Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-14489329209616219872015-09-27T20:04:00.003-07:002016-02-07T12:36:31.615-08:00Hey, Where Did Those Donald Trump Memes Go?<a href="http://www.wealthyaffiliate.com?a_aid=b5172b72"><img src="https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/banners/show/wa_successful_business_468x60.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you had been visiting this blog recently, you would have seen two Donald Trump memes that I created; both of them a bit over-the-top and fairly provocative. Well, guess what? they're gone. I have decided to use my blog for positive posts from now on. There are so many angry political pundits out there already, the world doesn't need another mean-spirited, opinionated rabble rouser for the left, the right or the middle. I have decided that from now on, I'm using social media to be, well… SOCIAL. And I'm going to be just plain sociable, at least for the most part. I am getting ready to launch a new website soon, and I don't want politics to seep into my business. So with that, I leave you with this little peak into the future - Stay tuned for an announcement about my new site for dog and music lovers. You're gonna like this a LOT!</span>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-74597167467908569772015-02-12T14:41:00.003-08:002015-02-12T14:45:54.941-08:00Jon Stewart is Leaving and In a Related Story...Sometimes, only Photoshop will satisfy my muse. After reading a lot of posts regarding the Brian Williams debacle, I see I'm clearly not the only one who sees this as a win-win opportunity for Jon Stewart, Brian Williams and Comedy Central. This is what 'm tawkin' about:<br />
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<br />Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-83496634811346134722015-01-11T17:35:00.002-08:002016-02-26T19:16:47.847-08:00SHPADOINKLE<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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The Word…</div>
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Okay, so as Ricky Ricardo would say… I got some 'splayneen to do. About a week and a half ago, I just typed a single word as my Facebook status update. I was curious as to how many would read it or know what it meant or even notice it. It didn't seem to draw that mush attention, but one of my friends (Judi Morrell) asked me if it was a real word or did I make it up? That word was:</div>
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Shpadoinkle</div>
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So, now I have to relate how I came to posting this mysterious word in my status bar.</div>
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As I may have mentioned, while I lay here in my chemo-induced stupor (well not ALL the time, but a lot), I have been binge watching <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buffy-Vampire-Slayer-Complete-Series/dp/B0046XG48O/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=lilhanksguidefor&linkCode=w00&linkId=ZH6TITATJ7JU36TH&creativeASIN=B0046XG48O" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffy the Vampire Slayer</a></b>. How I got into this series is another story for another time. Anyhoo…</div>
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One night, while drifting in and out of consciousness during the Season 5 finale; Buffy is about to jump to her death high above the ground from a rickety platform built by demons. Her friends arrive just in time to look up as one of them, a character named Xander exclaims, "SHPADOINKLE!"</div>
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My immediate thought was, "Wait, what?! What did he say? It sounded like 'Shpadoinkle'" </div>
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So naturally, I hit the "back" button and replayed the scene. Sure enough, once again, Xander said, "Shpadoinkle". And I gave a little chuckle at the absurdity of the sound of this word. And naturally, I was suddenly awake because I just knew there had to be a story behind it.</div>
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So at 1 am, I paused the season 5 finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Google the word "Shpadoinkle". I didn't even know how to spell it. I only knew how it sounded so I searched for SHPADOINKLE and got it on the first try!</div>
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Turns out it is from a 1993 film called "Cannibal, The Musical" Trey Parker, the creator of South Park before he joined forces with Matt Stone and became famous. The urban dictionary defines Shpadoinkle thusly:</div>
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<span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;">A term generated in a Matt Stone movie known as Cannibal! The Musical. This word can be a noun, a verb or and adjective and can be substituted for nearly any other word: </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;">"It really is a shpadoinkle day out today." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;">"I think he forgot to wash his hands after he played around with his shpadoinkle." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;">" SHPADOINKLE! i think i broke my leg"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">From the official Canabal the Musical website, here's what the movie is all about:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;">Cannibal! The Musical</span><span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;"> is the true story of the only person convicted of cannibalism in America - Alferd Packer (according to Colorado lore -</span><span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;"> sole survivor of an ill-fated trip to the Colorado Territory, he tells his side of the harrowing tale to news reporter Polly Pry as he awaits his execution. And his story goes like this: While searching for gold and love in the Colorado Territory, he and his companions lost their way and resorted to unthinkable horrors, including toe-tapping songs!</span></div>
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And finally here are the lyrics the song for the show - </div>
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SHPADOINKLE by Trey Parker</div>
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"The sky is blue and all the leaves are green. <br />
The sun's as warm as a baked potato. <br />
I think I know precisely what I mean, <br />
When I say it's a shpadoinkle day.</div>
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And as I ride with my girl, <br />
She's my best friend in the whole world! <br />
We'll move along, set our goals high <br />
With eyes full of hope as we aim for the...</div>
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Sky is blue and all the leaves are green. <br />
My heart's as full as a baked potato. <br />
I think I know precisely what I mean, <br />
When I say it's a shpadoinkle day! <br />
When I say it's a happy-go-moinkaly lucky shpadoinklely...dayyyyyy."</div>
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And there I was at 1 o'clock in the morning, laughing out loud at this new word while watching this goofy video!<br />
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Shpadoinkle (from Canibal, The Musical)</div>
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Then I went back to the TV and watched the end of "The Gift", the Season 5 finale of Buffy. And went to sleep, planning on sharing my new word with my Facebook friends the next morning.</div>
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Shpadoinkle night.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The day after the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France, I am still angry and confused by this insane, malicious act. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over a cartoon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back when I was a freshman in high school, I was talking to a junior about my biology teacher, Mr. Ignatin. This kid says, "Oh, you have "Popeye" Ignatin? He's pretty cool" I asked about the nickname and he explained that all the kids thought Mr. Ignatin looked like Popeye the Sailor because of the cleft in his big chin and, well, his eyes kinda looked like that, too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, that was all it took to get me started. I used to have notebooks full of cartoons that I had created full of caricatures of my teachers and friends in all kinds of cartoony situations (something many of you are learning right now for the first time). So I bought a new little notebook for my Adventures of Popeye Ignatin cartoons. By day, he was a mild biology teacher. By night, a crime fighting superhero who could make a criminal's mind explode by spouting things at them such as, "The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell!" SPLOOSH!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One day, I left that book behind in his classroom after the bell rang. When I realized it was missing, I ran back to the classroom but the book was gone. So was Mr. Ignatin. I sweated out the rest of the school year knowing he had seen and read it - waiting for the day I got in trouble for it. He never said a word about it. And somehow, I ended up with a B in biology.</span></div>
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Apparently, he either liked my cartoons or just didn't consider them when passing out grades. <br />
Nevertheless , I decided that year never to become a cartoonist for fear I might leave a sketchbook behind some day and hurt someone's feelings with my caricatures or sarcastic sense of humor. However, I never dreamed it could ever be a fatal career. I guess that's why this incident in France has me so shaken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am Charlie. One of many.</span></div>
Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-45890507723222809542014-10-21T13:13:00.003-07:002014-10-21T13:17:23.535-07:00Crazy Good First Day Of Chemo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the dog days of summer, 2014 behind us, and Halloween almost upon us… All the leaves are green and the skies are gray,etc…. lately… I got to thinking this past weekend that there aren't too many days left this year before a day at the dog park with Cooper and Keegan would be out of the question. And this past weekend just so happened to be a beautiful Saturday and Sunday back-to-back, so I spent about a hour or two at the dog park both days. Monday, I was going to be starting my post surgery chemotherapy, so I wanted to really enjoy the weather on a park bench watching the dogs play. Everybody wins!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was on Sunday, however that I struck up a conversation with the gentleman sitting on the bench next to me. He was rather quiet, and I couldn't even tell which dog was his. I was sitting there pensively contemplating going to the hospital the next day and wondering if over the next few weeks I was going to experience any nausea along with the inevitable fatigue and if it would prevent me from trying to find some part time holiday work or even afford me enough energy to work from home, being that I feel so desperately compelled to go back to work again, if even for a few hours a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Suddenly, I found myself saying out loud, "Wow, this is my last day of freedom for a while!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The guy next to me on the bench replied, "Why? Are you going to jail?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I explained that I had just had rectal cancer surgery and I was going for the chemo" He said, "I know all about it, I'm a doctor" He added, "I'm due for a colonoscopy myself. It's been about ten years"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Yeah, you're due" I countered.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, through our conversation, it turns out he was there with his wife who was playing with their dog. The two had just returned from an anniversary celebration in Jamaica. I told him I was a musician and played a lot of Reggae music among other things in my repertoire. It also turns out he delivers babies at St. Mary Medical Center where I go for the chemo and had my surgery, and he knows my oncologist. I asked him his name and he said, "Aaron" I told him, "That's my MIDDLE name, Hal Aaron Cohen!" Then his wife came over and we talked all conversed a little longer before I said goodbye and headed home. They wished me luck and I said "thank you".</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Next day (Monday), I go to the Saint Clare building at St. Mary's for my appointment to sit for two hours while the wonderful staff there administered the chemo-cocktail. Not two minutes after I sat down, one of the office managers walked up to me carrying a huge gift basket wrapped in cellophane from David's Florist and my first thought was, this is for someone else. She said, no, the card says it's for Hal Aaron Cohen. I'm like - WHO EVEN KNOWS I'M HERE? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well, it turns out that Dr. Aaron knew exactly where I'd be at 1:30 PM that Monday, because I just told him the day before. When I saw the name "Doctor Aaron" on the card, my jaw dropped. I really was speechless. I still can't quite get over it. And upon examining the contents of the basket, it became quite clear that he and his wife left the park and did a little shopping. Because this wasn't one of this "off-the-shelf-as-is" baskets. Everything in it was hand picked. There was Arizona Green Tea and Honey, bottles of flavored Smart Water, Energy bars, candy, All kinds of miscellaneous goodies, dog treats for Cooper and Keegan and what appeared to be a big box of candy in the middle. It was heavy. Like a big mass of solid dark chocolate. As I began to unwrap it, however, it turned out to be a book. Which was perfect, because I was wondering what to read for two hours during the treatment, and I forgot to stop at the library. The book was "Waging Heavy Peace" by Neil Young; and autobiographical tome about his family, his early days with Crazy Horse, Buffalo Springfield and CSN&Y to his present projects including electric cars and his PureTone music platform that plays back music with a quality much more pristine than the current MP3s. At any rate, this stuff is interesting to me :-) What a thoughtful gift! I am blown away!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83XTesBcONETkkPRWy4DOWR7FssgE6nv6JopFk6soX3yZjer54n5J3HPxuVCQEZVUB7GZfzLrWauja72rDAdseKD8Hr6Pr2YqHzKhjXtNQh6gNpyiYm4K8SYlYSG14Nk13-UBDiW2FGA/s1600/ReadingInBed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83XTesBcONETkkPRWy4DOWR7FssgE6nv6JopFk6soX3yZjer54n5J3HPxuVCQEZVUB7GZfzLrWauja72rDAdseKD8Hr6Pr2YqHzKhjXtNQh6gNpyiYm4K8SYlYSG14Nk13-UBDiW2FGA/s1600/ReadingInBed.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Cooper and Keegan were driving my sister crazy. Especially Keegan, who had been barking non-stop since I left the house. Cindy (my sister) is laid up at the moment with a torn tendon in her foot, so she can't get out of bed. Poor Rob (my brother-in-law) wouldn't be home from work till after I got home, so it was up to me to walk her dog Lola, along with my two fur balls as soon as I got home. When I got home, I was carrying two jackets (because it was cold when I left) and the basket of goodies, when my phone started ringing. I figured it was Cindy calling to see where I was, but I just let it ring since I was already walking up the driveway. Turns out it wasn't her calling anyway. Oh, and I also had a pretty full ileostomy bag (I know - gross). WELLLL --- I finally got the dogs walked, bag emptied, shoes off and in bed before Rob got home. He made a killer frittata omelette for dinner and that was the perfect topper to a Crazy/Good first day of chemo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now, how do I thank Dr. and Mrs. Aaron?</span></div>
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Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-14023909989420162162014-08-02T06:14:00.002-07:002014-08-02T08:02:38.483-07:00The “Scotchguard® - er of Linen Napkins<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgVQrv58UN_EkNCT2UChBOYEYgrW3aJLHfypA9Ltldng8wiFeK8Fnv5YfB2lrU7fooD4-f4TuryffqzpmHmVmBhAFc8LcMRp4YR8FGGP3Pys5AvlmCde1ivBEX_uF1zTnqmE1xg7YhNU/s1600/linen_napkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgVQrv58UN_EkNCT2UChBOYEYgrW3aJLHfypA9Ltldng8wiFeK8Fnv5YfB2lrU7fooD4-f4TuryffqzpmHmVmBhAFc8LcMRp4YR8FGGP3Pys5AvlmCde1ivBEX_uF1zTnqmE1xg7YhNU/s1600/linen_napkins.jpg" height="82" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I recently came across a folder with some of my essays I was saving for this blog. Inside was this rant. As I read it, i thought - Wow, talk about sweating the small stuff! Nevertheless, I felt that somewhere out there is someone who shares the same feeling, and, well, whoever you are - I just don't want you to feel alone...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, here's is a guy who must always work under the table. Because if anyone ever found out about him. they would string him up by his balls. He is the “Scotchguard® - er of linen napkins for the restaurant industry. You know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about those linen napkins they give you at the nice resataurants. - you know - those napkins they roll the she silverware in. You unroll the napkin, set the silverware back on the table and place the linen napkin on your lap.<br />Halfway through the meal, you get some Worcestershire sauce on your chin and the only thing you have with which to wipe it off is the linen napkin on you lap. Or maybe you got baby back ribs. Again, no paper napkins. No wet naps like the fast food places give you. Just that linen napkin that your silverware came rolled up in. So you take it off your lap and wipe the sauce off your chin. Only it doesn’t absorb the sauce. What it does do is - It smears the fucking sauce all over your fucking face or runs right off onto your clothing! Which it’s supposed to be protecting in the first place. So what’s the point of having a g-d damn napkin if it does the opposite of what you intended to use it for? Fuck me!</span></span>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-31215421334619565552014-07-08T11:09:00.001-07:002014-07-08T16:51:13.373-07:00Absolutely Radiant? - Well No, Not Really<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, I'm finally in the home stretch. This first phase consists of 28 treatments of combined chemo and radiation therapy sessions. After that, I will meet with my surgeon, Dr. Schaffzin to schedule the operation where he will remove the tumor. In the meantime the tumor will continue to shrink. After it's been shrunk to a manageable size, it will be removed - along with part of my rectum on either side of the cancerous section. Then part of my colon will be attached to replace the missing anal real estate.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L - R Kristine, Melanie and Carrie</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Friday will be my last day of chemo and Monday, July 14th is my final radiation visit. I told you about the chemo in my last blog, so now, I think it's time I give a nod to the Radiation Department. Thanks to the great staff in Radiology at St. Mary's Medical Center, my treatments were nowhere near as uncomfortable and humiliating as they could have been. In fact, I actually look forward to exposing my full moon to the attractive radiologists on duty. Every one of them is good natured, has a great sense of humor and they're all extremely competent in their field. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the first day, they had me lie down on this surface that<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie with my Ray-Girlz</td></tr>
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reminds me of a massage table. You put your face into a space with blue vinyl trim and there's also a vinyl trimmed crater where you're belly is supposed to fit. However, since I had lost so much weight, my gut doesn't touch the bottom of it, so their's really no support. This causes some discomfort, because now my spine is arched in an unnatural position. Eventually, I got used to it, and fortunately, I never experienced any severe side effects from the radiation, so lying in that position turned out to be the worst of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last week someone brought in a therapy dog. Theoretically, these dogs are supposed to cheer people up and have a healing effect on the patients. Unfortunately, this one was just plain fugly. And the owner looked just like him, except he <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlie - I think.</td></tr>
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wore a beat up cowboy hat and worn-out clothes. Actually, the dog was very gentle, but I think he was a little bored from being petted and fawned over all morning by so many people.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think his name was Charlie. Or maybe that was the owner's name. I forget… hmmm, maybe there are side effects. Nah, I think it's just my age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh yeah, and there's always a basket full of snacks, and it's usually filled with junk food containing plenty of salt and sugar; stuff like Lorna Dunes, Fig Newtons and sandwich cookies. There's also a mini fridge stocked with bottled water and soda. Lots of cola and Mountain Dew So while they're treating you for cancer, they can set you up bring you back a little later to treat you for diabetes. Hey, a hospital has to stay in business somehow, right? </span><br />
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<br />Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-31197547096222649762014-06-21T09:59:00.000-07:002014-06-21T11:26:53.434-07:00Saying F U to Cancer<div style="font-family: sans-serif, Arial, Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 20px;">
<i><span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white; font-size: large;">Going through cancer treatment is a multi-faceted journey and depending on which course one subscribes to, can consist of conventional medicine, alternative medicine, spiritualism, holisitic, Eastern, Native American or a combination of all known remedies. My approach is to start out using conventional medicine to get a jump on the tumor because at the moment, I need to take the time to research other resources. I am in the process of labsorbing a lot of wisdom right now from friends, books and documentaries I will share with you as much as I can as I go through this odyssey.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white; font-size: large;">First up: The Chemo (or Saying FU to Cancer)</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rather than go to the hospital as an outpatient for daily chemo, which would require me to sit in a chair for hours each day while the medicine slowly drips through a tube into my bloodstream, I am fortunate enough to be able to have the drug Flourouracil (5-FU) administered through a pump (Geez, did I really use the words "chemo" and "fortunate" in the same sentence?). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZyiQ4Q7NTNDRY4patS0APMTLGPX9Kp3wR1rE8-TQ274SuSzS3ynu8TLv-rzk0i9PaFADpeNnlbFIO1eUeEb4d4OTLGPOKKH6Y8uI4Go12pTm8EuPLQPS7uEKmF85RxGdhmqmp7Q3p20/s1600/ChemoPump_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZyiQ4Q7NTNDRY4patS0APMTLGPX9Kp3wR1rE8-TQ274SuSzS3ynu8TLv-rzk0i9PaFADpeNnlbFIO1eUeEb4d4OTLGPOKKH6Y8uI4Go12pTm8EuPLQPS7uEKmF85RxGdhmqmp7Q3p20/s1600/ChemoPump_02.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></span></a><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Typically, I would go in on a Monday, where they would attach a transparent line to a port in my chest and then have it disconnected on Friday, so I could be unencumbered for the weekend. The pump looks like an eight track player and is in a case with a strap that goes around my neck which I must then carry around Monday through Friday wherever go. It's important to remember it's on, because accidentally pulling on the line can be rather painful. Also if the line gets pinched, an alarm goes off to let me know the medicine stopped flowing and I need to uncrimp it ASAP. So far, I haven't experienced any major problems, however, there have been a few times where I took it off and got a slightly painful tug when I attempted to walk away without it - ouch!</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, they say a picture is worth a thousand words so here's a little video I made right before my trip back to St. Mary Medical Center to have the hose </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">unattached for the weekend. I also demonstrate how to make the best if the situation by converting the contraption into a combination chemo dispenser and mp3 player. I call it "The iPump".</span><br />
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<br />Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-67075932574364309742014-05-19T11:31:00.002-07:002014-05-19T11:31:51.731-07:00Hal's Pain In The Butt Fund<div style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">
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I've been putting off posting this because I am not sure I have my mind wrapped around this yet, myself. So I'm just going to come right out with it, because there's no real way to sugar-coat it, anyway. The diagnosis was <b>Rectal Cancer... Stage 3.</b> My initial thought going in was that it was some form of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). I had been scouring the web for info on Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease and other related ills and ailments, but somehow, Cancer never crossed my mind. But after a CT Scan, colonoscopy and post rectal ultrasound, the results are conclusive.</div>
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Now, I have a fight ahead of me which entails radiation therapy, chemotherapy and eventual surgery. From what I've been told, fatigue and nausea will be coming along for the ride. Oh, yes, it's going to be a long, hot, summer of fun! But fear not… Hal Aaron Cohen is ready for battle!!</div>
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The only thing I was NOT ready for was the expense. I was told I may lose some of my ability to play the guitar once the treatment starts and it's likely I won't feel much like entertaining in the first place. Much of my income is derived from gigs during the Spring and Summer months and I have been forced to turn down a lot of opportunities - both musical and non-musical sources of income. </div>
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This isn't the kind of thing I could ever see my self doing in a million years, but I have no savings, no assets and no options except to ask for a little help from my friends. It kills me to even do this but I didn't really know where else to turn. So, I have set up a page where you can donate to help me pay expenses for medical and everyday living. I set a goal of $8000. I'm hoping to raise at least enough to get me through the next few months until I can get back to work full time again. Thank you in advance for any help. Positive thoughts and prayers are equally welcome.</div>
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Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-10564789393549978482014-01-07T14:45:00.005-08:002014-04-18T11:28:58.208-07:00There Oughta Be A Leash Law (Pet Peeve #4 )<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
Let me be clear. I'm not talking about a law designed to punish people for not having their dog on the leash. I already spent a night in jail for that one (Maybe I'll tell you that story in a future post - it's hilarious). No, this is a rant aimed at the manufacturers of certain leashes that are just plain stupid. Okay, so let's get right to it…</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-PToEq5Y5C6FD8jipB2GWUA85WxWygUq-eCMlPE9Bbf_ZnUHdV4j7_0OHjcxr-LrZRq_XPl4AIhnlYkLbS4bRCOw_v14yIJedL7UQWMaFWMmaWO1Q-unglknM1irm_mwq36mygh4erU/s1600/20140107_161942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-PToEq5Y5C6FD8jipB2GWUA85WxWygUq-eCMlPE9Bbf_ZnUHdV4j7_0OHjcxr-LrZRq_XPl4AIhnlYkLbS4bRCOw_v14yIJedL7UQWMaFWMmaWO1Q-unglknM1irm_mwq36mygh4erU/s1600/20140107_161942.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Retractable Leashes.</i></b> You know those spring-loaded retractable leashes with about 16 feet of lead? They make them for different size dogs and they're capable of supporting different weight groups. No matter what size dog you have, they make a leash that can restrain him or her - no problem. If you have a German Shephard, you might get one for pets up to 150 pounds. If you have a Chihuahua, you'd choose one for pets up to 20 pounds. Now besides being extremely dangerous, the manufacturers of these leashes are so dumb, they assume that if you own a small dog, you have a tiny hand, and if you own a large dog, you have larger hands. So let me illustrate this so you can see how idiotic this assumption is.</div>
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In the first picture, you can see the leash I use for my larger dog. It's very easy to grip with my entire hand and I can press the button down very quickly in an emergency, such as stopping him when he's about to dart into the street or go after a squirrel. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTrcwPxhVGJJdsMkY9efjiXyS_KyZOeD8pTx_CtV367ZdMTmx7LGs1qe5VdFvnWoUdPzBYhDRM1SEgFQvuH-pCDQpYwbWSQDx65EBD-bkggT-OmnIoZ3R3gfZXRH4T647OcQXFvP_uS8/s1600/big_grip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTrcwPxhVGJJdsMkY9efjiXyS_KyZOeD8pTx_CtV367ZdMTmx7LGs1qe5VdFvnWoUdPzBYhDRM1SEgFQvuH-pCDQpYwbWSQDx65EBD-bkggT-OmnIoZ3R3gfZXRH4T647OcQXFvP_uS8/s1600/big_grip.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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But now let's look at the version they make for the smaller dog. Now, remember, I haven't shrunk; I'm just walking a smaller dog. But for some reason, these morons scaled down the entire leash. As you can see… I can only get two fingers through the grip. And the button for the stop mechanism is so small, it doesn't readily respond every time i attempt to push it. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80c6l3ihWvo5dEcls7aDfjE9SWBc-3ZKtofabXlcQuOR_R3c2Sr1uhJy9y_uACytn0TrSO0UdmZOpjl4AzcJkUosc9Fi1iB_nkgt4wBePURvZ-wf5-ueZAo-ttlU7vWMI2XZMU6R-_p8/s1600/tiny_grip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi80c6l3ihWvo5dEcls7aDfjE9SWBc-3ZKtofabXlcQuOR_R3c2Sr1uhJy9y_uACytn0TrSO0UdmZOpjl4AzcJkUosc9Fi1iB_nkgt4wBePURvZ-wf5-ueZAo-ttlU7vWMI2XZMU6R-_p8/s1600/tiny_grip.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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But the true hazard lies in the thickness of the lead itself. As you can see, the larger leash has a lead that's about 1/2" thick, while the smaller one is the thickness of piano wire. This is the same thickness used to make a garrote , a weapon used by the mob to decapitate someone. </div>
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And lest you think this is a joke, let me defer to a couple of other blogs where you will be enlightened about the physical dangers posed by these retractable leashes. </div>
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<b>The Dogington Post</b></div>
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<a href="http://dogingtonpost.com/the-dangers-of-retractable-leashes/">http://dogingtonpost.com/the-dangers-of-retractable-leashes/</a></div>
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<b>Sarah Wilson </b> dog expert</div>
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<a href="http://sarahwilsondogexpert.com/retractable-dog-leash-dangers/">http://sarahwilsondogexpert.com/retractable-dog-leash-dangers/</a></div>
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It is my sincere hope, that uneven if you are experienced and fully cognizant of the pitfalls that come with using retractable leashes, that you opt to replace yours ASAP with a standard leash no longer than 8' in length. If this helped to save just one dog's life or one human finger, my mission has been accomplished.<br />
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<a href="http://healthfood4yourpet.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Life's Abundance Logo" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbWiyYTO7s7cO0HLywwjQJIZu6k2IiIgjCrOUkMUWAPmK9EB5OiCyzSCVmdBMQHVy7ByVpYqWTomXLwp9Au2gsNvYz-42MeWCgOEaYoyJmuYutEazlXdr9z7fIfFBpwU2wp4FuLMQKSs/s1600/LALogo.jpg" height="71" title="Life's Abundance Logo" width="200" /></a></div>
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Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-82695173003916590722013-08-22T18:06:00.002-07:002013-09-05T08:34:05.414-07:00Neshaminy Mall - Revisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5cAiG8xfFCLFrS9aSbn9t0UqOp_-ba1uUyVb__V2PBTkQi9IU76cRy-CyBBTIg9m4P7Zs-rYurIMK8e657l9EdFu2l6g9FTFaQnkKfeLh77VpN5fnFvcZkTCcntBzFCT8UFTsILjIRU/s1600/Neshaminy_Mall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5cAiG8xfFCLFrS9aSbn9t0UqOp_-ba1uUyVb__V2PBTkQi9IU76cRy-CyBBTIg9m4P7Zs-rYurIMK8e657l9EdFu2l6g9FTFaQnkKfeLh77VpN5fnFvcZkTCcntBzFCT8UFTsILjIRU/s400/Neshaminy_Mall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/371/136/321/restore-the-window-dispalys-at-the-neshaminy-mall-macys/" target="_blank">SIGN THE PETITION</a><br />
One of my first jobs as a teenager was as a salesman at Kinney Shoes in Neshaminy Mall. Kinney's is long gone, like my hair, but Neshaminy Mall, one of the first malls in the country, is still there after several incarnations.<br />
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I too, have been through several incarnations over the years and after all this time, from Israel, to Boston, back to Philly to New Mexico to California, to Florida and back to Philly again, I have come full circle.<br />
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Recently, I took a part time job as a rep for <b>Kitchen Saver®<a href="http://kitchensaver.com/index.php" target="_blank">Kitchen Saver</a></b> in Neshaminy Mall, the mall where I first started almost 40 years ago. And here's where it gets interesting...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp14TVRVxPw9RvAa-BMmwxQ24yryb_mbt88Aa-JaKk2IrEOi40b3-glRNKeMN9AyJs6EEHLn1jqlEyMmB90O0slxSm8J20K4eiDF40HusGjCDSZaZ1wNiIgDIqs0bcPO-llkHJOJWrL6w/s1600/NeshaminyWindow_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp14TVRVxPw9RvAa-BMmwxQ24yryb_mbt88Aa-JaKk2IrEOi40b3-glRNKeMN9AyJs6EEHLn1jqlEyMmB90O0slxSm8J20K4eiDF40HusGjCDSZaZ1wNiIgDIqs0bcPO-llkHJOJWrL6w/s320/NeshaminyWindow_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
It's my job to stop you when you pass by and ask if you're interested in remodeling your kitchen cabinets and then set an appointment for a free estimate for a cabinet facelift. It's actually a very reputable company and I enjoy the work most of the time. It's not difficult and, despite having to deal with a fair amount of rejection, I get to meet a lot of nice people during the course of a shift.<br />
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One day during a break, I noticed seven beautifully crafted dioramas built into the wall outside of Macy's indoor mall entrance, each covered by a glass pane, and each depicting a scene from our country's illustrious history. The first window box shows an early settler shaking hands with an Indian from the Neshaminy tribe and a faded plaque on a pedastal in front of the window explains what is transpiring in the scene. The next one holds figurines of Ben Franklin at the age of 70 and his grandson, Temple, on their return from France; all of the characters impeccably dressed in colonial costumes in colorfully painted backgrounds. <br />
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As I was admiring the dioramas, a mom and her two young children approached to look at the dioramas. At some point, she turned to me and asked, "Do they still work?"<br />
"What do you mean?" I countered, not having a clue what she was referring to. The woman explained to me that years ago, there was a button in front of each window that you could press which caused the window to light up, the characters would move and a narrator would explain what was happening in each scene. She then pointed out that the old speakers were still there, and, sure enough, there are still speakers there; remnants from a time when the mall was young and enchanted.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61JEj_lvkP4OEjrWmvPt0cnt-OYPcNCfAtIcfmsuBYtlhPSL6T4AIX7EtBl7Z-ivG1_tCoBkKaZMOytW45a-cV4uKT8aafDDReeGVM_Av7VnMOBB1H3eNbcRwIQEv-WUByOAKA1r-l3g/s1600/NeshaminyWindow_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SIgning of Declaration of Independence, Neshaminy Mall" border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61JEj_lvkP4OEjrWmvPt0cnt-OYPcNCfAtIcfmsuBYtlhPSL6T4AIX7EtBl7Z-ivG1_tCoBkKaZMOytW45a-cV4uKT8aafDDReeGVM_Av7VnMOBB1H3eNbcRwIQEv-WUByOAKA1r-l3g/s400/NeshaminyWindow_006.jpg" title="SIgning of Declaration of Independence" width="400" /></a></div>
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She went on to explain that the dioramas were commissioned and donated by the Strawbridge family, and that what is currently Macy's Department Store was originally a Strawbridge and Clothier when the mall opened in 1967. Apparently, old man Strawbridge was were very into the history of the Bucks County and Philadelphia and somewhat of a philanthropist. The stores were noted for their great customer service and friendly employees. This got me thinking.</div>
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Wouldn't it be cool if the current management of Neshaminy Mall, and/or Macy's and/or other tenants of the mall or members of the community got those window boxes working again. It makes perfect sense - Recently, the Neshaminy Mall fountain and wishing well was completely refurbished.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DEUBFMgEn-qOnhN4vVkqayHj2P1fhyrrpu4dqeQcZ4NEYtnp40RqMWrCiogpQRqA2pRVTL0gYmElesyTueTIj1MHNdkm8dIrrGXSqko3kJk6IJJbx5eIEsDK4TElM5lD2_4Q_7gVa7s/s1600/NeshaminyFountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DEUBFMgEn-qOnhN4vVkqayHj2P1fhyrrpu4dqeQcZ4NEYtnp40RqMWrCiogpQRqA2pRVTL0gYmElesyTueTIj1MHNdkm8dIrrGXSqko3kJk6IJJbx5eIEsDK4TElM5lD2_4Q_7gVa7s/s320/NeshaminyFountain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It would be ever so fitting to get those dioramas working again and rededicate the mall once the work is complete. It could be a media event which I'm certain would infuse the area with a whole new energy and bring families back into Neshaminy and renew interest in the community at large! We Pennsylvanians are very aware of our contribution to the history of this country and our place among the thirteen original colonies. We're proud of our Quaker heritage and of William Penn, Ben Franklin, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, etc. What better way to share our pride than bringing the communities of Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County together to commemorate the renewal of those talking action windows.<br />
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<i>I have been given the green light by Neshaminy Mall's management to look into the cost of this project. But there may be one other snag. Macy's, the current owner of those windows, may not be interested in restoring the them. So, I have created an online petition to present to Macy's and Neshaminy Mall's management to demonstrate how much community interest there is in the restoration of the display. Please click here to </i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/371/136/321/restore-the-window-dispalys-at-the-neshaminy-mall-macys/" target="_blank">sign the petition</a></span></b><i>. </i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ko2HL2Fuf4Etci-UMQEcBUBTLAD8aVjLMRYrzlMC4dCeoxGzVERUaRVDjdJuC4e-mdezVAxWHQvbzu11kpltsXgt6gE7FGWnTGCFTj3cxn8Y-Lvq_qczsNJL4le1IigMpxEZAS3dEQE/s1600/NeshaminyKeystone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ko2HL2Fuf4Etci-UMQEcBUBTLAD8aVjLMRYrzlMC4dCeoxGzVERUaRVDjdJuC4e-mdezVAxWHQvbzu11kpltsXgt6gE7FGWnTGCFTj3cxn8Y-Lvq_qczsNJL4le1IigMpxEZAS3dEQE/s320/NeshaminyKeystone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-65994874494604669662013-04-15T15:35:00.004-07:002013-04-15T15:37:10.526-07:00Boston. Monday, April 15th, 2013<span style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">What's on my mind? Hmmm. Today, that's easy. A lot of my fellow human beings; Bostonians, just striving to be better, whose lives were suddenly ended or sent spiraling out of control by forces of a few subhumans with no regard for life. And most of the victims will go on to deal with this devastation anonymously, because, lets face it - everyone is more interested in the people who did it than t</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">he people who will forever be affected by this heinous event. My hope is that they find the culprit, deal with them swiftly and bring them to justice. Then, not give them any more press. Because that's exactly what they want. The best way to honor the victims is to go on with your life with no fear. No Fear.</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">-----------------</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: #0b5394; color: white; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Reprinted from my Facebook Status</span>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-55832586709806136882012-10-03T21:17:00.003-07:002012-10-03T21:35:00.827-07:00The First Obama-Romney Prez Debate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSrCjHv2X_siB4uYIJsKOpXhTUaUjz8hfZXKQG9ELaqymBhtvk99NBiiGvh9ULLTxsZvmJhQYZ929xIzegoRSjsUDesMGVvDqlOEY63Ja_1C5xtIizr1BuqWEJpIIa6hn5p8kC-TUg9U/s1600/Two_Cents.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSrCjHv2X_siB4uYIJsKOpXhTUaUjz8hfZXKQG9ELaqymBhtvk99NBiiGvh9ULLTxsZvmJhQYZ929xIzegoRSjsUDesMGVvDqlOEY63Ja_1C5xtIizr1BuqWEJpIIa6hn5p8kC-TUg9U/s1600/Two_Cents.jpeg" /></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">MY TWO CENTS</span></span></span></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">After the debate tonight, I received this email - "If you happened to catch the debate tonight, I'm curious to what you thought and who you thought came across stronger and more confident in the debate.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Don't be partisan on the answer." </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">And I Replied:</span></span></span></span></span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">As you know, I am a registered Democrat and fully intend to vote for Barack Obama. However, I think that Mitt Romney did a great job tonight, and had I not known some of the facts behind the rhetoric, would probably even be inclined to consider voting for him after tonight's debate.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">However, my main concern is the bigger picture. Mitt is a member of a party that has spawned far-right religious zealots, the bigoted Tea Party; and it is this threat of those people occupying seats in the House and Senate that concerns me the most. The president is only one man, and despite the intentions of either one of them, the system of checks and balances that are in place, will (or at least SHOULD) prevent any president from becoming dictator. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Also, Romney supports the Super PACs which allow billions of dollars in campaign donations from anyone without disclosing the source, which means anti-semitic, racist neo-cons like the Koch brothers can practically buy the election for whichever candidate they choose. On the other hand, I like what Romney says about keeping the nation's defense strong, and I do believe Mitt is a supporter of Israel. I'm sure a lot of this will be discussed when they debate foreign policy, which I think will expose Mitt's weaker side.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">What I like about Obama - although he wasn't as aggressive or as assertive as I would have liked to have seen him (who knows, maybe he smoked a doobie with Michelle to celebrate their anniversary before the debate), he's still the guy who made major, positive changes to health care, helped rescue our auto industry and was Comander-In Chief of the operation that found and killed Osama Bin Laden. Though I wouldn't declare Obama the clear winner of this round, I think he held his own well enough.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">So, talking purely about the debate - I would have to give it to Romney. But there are still two more debates, so l say let's see how they play out.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Was this honest and non-partisan enough for you? I like to think I'm pretty fair-minded about the election.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Hal</span></span></span></div>
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Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-57505963814836768372012-08-16T11:53:00.001-07:002012-08-16T11:56:39.617-07:00Adopt A Voter, My Solution to The Voter ID Law<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtIggnvtSlNZsRUdOcTgVmOHVHvv-DBai2RpsO-PKK36WIghFcWJ21vJK80MzP7Ev9sxwwe_4YuQvxF6K9S5JlG0fJZu1nHBJy3-FSNS-TGHNdEPzFDXaIltQhHrnUA4XFH8aePTuVIY/s1600/Voting-booths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtIggnvtSlNZsRUdOcTgVmOHVHvv-DBai2RpsO-PKK36WIghFcWJ21vJK80MzP7Ev9sxwwe_4YuQvxF6K9S5JlG0fJZu1nHBJy3-FSNS-TGHNdEPzFDXaIltQhHrnUA4XFH8aePTuVIY/s1600/Voting-booths.jpg" /></a></div>
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By now, many are familiar with the remark by Pennsylvania State Rep. Michael Turzai's comment in which he blatantly admitted that the new voter ID law was drafted as a ploy which would "allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania... "</div>
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So, what's the big deal about having to produce a picture ID at the polls this year? Doesn't everybody have one? Why is this even an issue?</div>
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Well, it IS a big deal. and no, not everybody does have a picture ID. And the reason this is an issue is because the people who are most likely to be disenfranchised by this law are the elderly and low income voters.Here's the Catch 22: <i>You need a birth certificate to get a government-issued photo ID, but you need a photo ID to get a birth certificate</i>.</div>
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Now, I know that many, like me are incensed by these tactics by powerful people trying to tip the scales by manipulating the system. However, rather than wait till the last minute to see if the law is reversed, or signing useless online petitions (just who sees those petitions anyhow - are they even taken seriously?), I propose another alternative, ADOPT A VOTER.</div>
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I f you have elderly relatives, friends or aquaintences who are low income, or perhaps not born in this country but qualified to vote, see what you can do to help them get the documentation they need. Sometimes, it just takes someone in your corner to advocate for you and get you motivated to accomplish things. There's strength in numbers, So, If you can be that someone for a friend or relative who needs assistance getting a photo ID,then do it. We got Obama into office through grassroots campaigning, and we need to continue to be active in creative ways to keep him there for another term. </div>
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Don't assume that just because you think Mitt's a twit or Ryan is a wolf in sheep's clothing that Barrack Obama can't lose. Because not everyone share's your point of view or consider's them a threat. If you really want to get Obama re-elected, <b>Adopt a Voter</b>, - and make sure your own driver's license is current!</div>
Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-19110720677642822462012-07-29T22:14:00.003-07:002012-07-31T21:42:21.939-07:00Pistachio Nuts<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is actually </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hint #4</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> but I decided to stop numbering them, so I'll just refer to this post by the subject matter... Pistachio Nuts.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSeu7jm_WBuCEjvFF3kt4o3flYyX6N_gv-8KmEGrOJjZW5ioRDB07VKbFKPI223YwpB-q4tLOgUesYgDW9iSSq0CHWQtw09nSJVW3gfoA00WHKo6fG21CJ6hGxrUyS2grFOc-DmrQTyU/s1600/Pistachio_Nut_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSeu7jm_WBuCEjvFF3kt4o3flYyX6N_gv-8KmEGrOJjZW5ioRDB07VKbFKPI223YwpB-q4tLOgUesYgDW9iSSq0CHWQtw09nSJVW3gfoA00WHKo6fG21CJ6hGxrUyS2grFOc-DmrQTyU/s320/Pistachio_Nut_02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I recently discovered a little trick while enjoying one of my favorite snacks - the aforementioned pistachio nuts. As anyone who has eaten pistachios can attest, every once in a while you come across a few that you can't pry open without breaking your fingernail. I even have a friend who has recently begun buying the kind without the shell (which IMHO is missing out on one of life's simple pleasures). I simply cannot forgo the whole routine of breaking those bad boys open by myself, and popping them in my mouth, one at a time. And I firmly believe that most pistachio lovers are like me in that regard.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But what about the ones that are simply too hard to open with your bare hands. Well, in the rare instance that it's sealed shut all the way around, yeah, you might have to to toss it. However, in most cases, you can use another pistachio shell to pry open the hard to open ones. Next time you're eating pistachio nuts, and you come across one of those hard-to-pry-open shells, do this:</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Hold the hard to open pistachio in your palm, or set it aside.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Pick up the next one and save the shell after you crack it open.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Use one of the half-shells (they're even shaped like fingernails) to pry open the difficult nut.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. Eat the fruit of that nut.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. Feel good about yourself for not having to throw away a perfectly good pistachio!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In case you're in the mood for some right now, you can get a good price Kirkland California Pistachios on Amazon.com...</span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lilhanksguidefor&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000RZNY5G&IS1=1&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=FFFFFF&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-49708241792092029522012-06-29T09:41:00.001-07:002012-06-29T09:42:23.304-07:00Hal's Hint #3 - This One's For My Musician FriendsI just left this post as a comment on an article on CD Baby's DIY section regarding tips to keep cool during summertime gigs....<br />
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In addition to the obvious suggestions such as shade, and water - I had this to add...<br />
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Performing burns a lot of energy. Add excess heat to that and you have a potential health risk (possibly even fatal). One way to combat heat stroke or other risks due to high temperature is to invest in a cooling bandana or neck wrap. They are very inexpensive and I use them during heatwaves on all outdoor gigs. I bring a chilled cooler full of bottled water to every summer gig. (You'd be surprised how many hosts have nothing to offer but beer) and I throw a couple cool bandanas in there, too. You just wrap them around your neck and they keep your neck and head cool for several hours at a time. They'll help keep you safe and comfortable.</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=lilhanksguidefor&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0055LGRVK&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>
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NOTE: I was turned onto cooling bandanas in 2006 when I was playing regularly at the Bahama Breeze out on the deck. There was no air conditoning and sometimes it got brutally hot out there while performing for hours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG2AylJuTQeQd5i1Fs6EoanA7ut1FjRuJ1ITo-m_OYa6fc6eAwJ_1wnzV9XorgIq5qZyPW9AE8aFPyTr5N9jWy6LxuCoa7yiw0mKhQsTG2gGFjr64rfINimcQ6zz8bEn63zlYWpAKFgo/s1600/CoolingBandana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-43191730904081023812012-06-28T13:42:00.002-07:002012-06-28T13:43:46.775-07:00Hint #2: The Pleasure Memory Release Valve<br />
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Recently, I decided to start eating healthier. One of the great side benefits of this is, that I started to lose weight. This essay came out of the experience:</div>
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I have this theory, and I'd like to share it with you. It has to do with the brain's relationship with losing weight…. Okay, so - I'm sure you've heard the term "muscle memory". A good example of this is when you haven't riden a bicycle in a long time, yet you can still climb on that bike years after your last ride and pedal away as if you never stopped. Your muscle memory takes over allowing you to use skills you acquired a long time ago.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFj1qm9UidEYRGyN8YNwRwlIZrNaWsh5wZgzanc_5L39ZOcOBW9M2226y9OvNVhPSj_FpR9VlBNBeun0fPJ5Ocr-pADnKc90DVa3bhzXSwKtulmoPo2uNOVgCW30-SE-lkKYkRAz7LVY8/s1600/boiler_split.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFj1qm9UidEYRGyN8YNwRwlIZrNaWsh5wZgzanc_5L39ZOcOBW9M2226y9OvNVhPSj_FpR9VlBNBeun0fPJ5Ocr-pADnKc90DVa3bhzXSwKtulmoPo2uNOVgCW30-SE-lkKYkRAz7LVY8/s320/boiler_split.jpg" width="184" /></a></div>
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I believe there is an area of the brain where your "pleasure memory" is stored. Pleasure memory takes over the moment you see a bowl of ice cream, smell cinnamon buns baking in the food court at the mall or drive past the golden arches. Now, I also believe that you can train your pleasure memory to think of certain foods as pleasurable that are more beneficial than the food you are trying to cut out of your plan. However; in the beginning, it seems quite daunting and this is where a lot of us simply give up. This is because we are so determined to adhere to that plan so strictly, we feel like we're almost torturing ourselves to do it. Finally, one day, you just start eating recklessly because it's just too hard to go through the pain of starting all over again. That's why I am suggesting the "Pleasure Memory Release Valve". So, what does this mean? Am I saying you should go ahead and cheat on your meal plan?</div>
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Well, yes and no. What I'm saying is, we're all human. And if you hold yourself up to superhuman standards, you're going to end up being sorely disappointed in yourself. Or beat yourself up to the point where you feel like a failure once again. And then you'll eat to make yourself feel better and the whole vicious cycle starts over. What I AM suggesting is this: When you're first setting out to change your lifestyle, you might very well cave in. You're basically trying to teach your taste buds to try things you've never had before, or eat things you never liked in the first place. During this process of teaching your pleasure memory to find pleasure in new tastes and forget to like what's bad for you, you might occasionally slip. When this happens, think of this as your release valve. Use it sparingly, but don't tell yourself "It's over, I can't do this anymore" and then go back to killing yourself with junk food, fast food and chemically enhanced frozen dinners. Just tell yourself, "I turned on the release valve. It was a temporary measure to keep the boiler from exploding." Then go right back to your meal plan right away.</div>
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Eventually, you won't need that release valve. Remember, too that there are many tasty foods in the meal plan that you may very well have forgotten that you like. For example, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed an orange, grapefruit, watermelon and other fruits. Some foods you can learn to like, and you can find things to substitute for the foods you'll never acquire a taste for or to which you're allergic.</div>
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If any of you in the nutrition field wish to contribute, please feel free to add a comment. </div>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-14963202633020158312012-06-24T11:56:00.001-07:002012-06-29T10:15:46.675-07:00Hal's Guide to Life Hint # 1<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Times; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNqywQ6T1jGxm0knLJNlPwvN7nW0GHDxrQX4xZLBzMV3GTZ4O5VL5cV8EnOKxTxQ5aqJ_oBTrfJ5CkfnqD1Vn4GnizesnUb-K7r6eln7lll8bOL5etMzuLMP5MeD4x4JdqNz0Iu8ypZE/s320/SwifferDuster.jpg" title="Yje handle makes a great back scratcher!" width="320" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;">I started this blog a while back, and I haven't really done much with it. So I decided that from now on, I am going to keep it updated a bit more regularly. From time to time, I come up with ideas that are ingenious for their simplicity. Here is my first of Hal In Philly's guide to Life:</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As most people can tell you, one of the best items on the market for dusting around the house is a <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0035G072M/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lilhanksguidefor&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0035G072M%22%3ESwiffer%20Disposable%20Cleaning%20Dusters%20Refills,%20Unscented,%2016-Count%20(Packaging%20May%20Vary)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=lilhanksguidefor&l=as2&o=1&a=B0035G072M%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: yellow;">Swifter Duster</span></a></b>. I'm sure most of you have used one, and if you have, you know that each box of dusters comes with a plastic handle. What you may not know is that you should always keep an extra handle around, because they make the BEST back scratchers. They're long enough to reach those hard to scratch areas and there are no sharp edges so they won't break the skin. Over time, you can have a few of them in different rooms of your house or apartment; you never know when you're going to get that itch. Next time you run out of Swiffers, save the handle for your backscratching needs. </span></div>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-14607486086808560852011-06-06T20:29:00.000-07:002019-10-29T08:19:13.263-07:00A Tale of Two Ovations<div style="font: 14.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>A Tale of Two Ovations</b></span></b></div>
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<b><i>My Ovation Balladeer</i></b></div>
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At last, I am tellinging my Ovation guitar story. This isn’t exctly why, when, where and how I intended to present it, but at least it’s for a noble cause.</div>
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My original intent was to send this tale as a personal letter to Kaman, the manufacturer of Ovation guitars in an attempt to get a sponsorship and/or a free guitar, case or Ovation swag... something, anything, to demonstrate their appreciation for such devout customer loyalty.</div>
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Over the years, I can probably be credited for as many sales of Ovation guitars as the guys who work in music stores selling them directly to would-be guitarists eager to burn a hole in their pocket on a new guitar. I’ve even changed more than a few minds of purists who had a negative pre-conceived notion about Ovations because they aren’t made of 100% natural woods. I know of several people who went out and purchased Ovations upon hearing mine or after I allowed them to play it. During the ten plus years I was hosting open mics and showcases in and around L.A., California, my Ovation Balladeer was the house guitar; the one anyone who didn’t have one or forget to bring theirs was offered in proxy.</div>
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Due to my procrastinative nature, I never got around to writing that letter to Kaman. What happened was this:</div>
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It was the beginning of a heatwave and the end of a long night of performing my regular Sunday night stint at the Chimneysweep in Sherman Oaks. I think it was 1990 or ‘91. I had recently purchased an Ovation Balladeer and went to sleep while it remained in the rear of my hatchback. As night people are often want to do, I slept until noon the next day. After I awoke, I made some fresh coffee and sat down with a cup to watch the news at noon. About twenty minutes in, during the weather report, Fritz, the weatherman mentioned that it was 110 degrees F outside... and then it hit me --- my equipment was still out in the car, in the driveway, under NO SHADE!! I leapt off the couch and ran to the car. As soon as I opened the back door, that intense, dry heat hit me in the face like a blow dryer! My heart sank, because I knew my guitar wouldn’t survive this. If it was this hot outside the car, how hot must it be <i>inside? </i>I immediately popped the hatch where the sun had been beaming it’s rays like a laser through the glass of the hatchback as if through a magnifying glass.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">At the sight of it, my heart sank even further. The surface of my brand new Ovation case was full of blisters and bubbles like the crust of a baking pizza pie. I couldn’t even touch it. I had to run back inside to find a towel or a pot holder so I could get it out of that hot car ASAP. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind not to set it near the air conditioner, but what the hell? Would that even matter? I decided not to open the case until I was sure it and its contents were room temperature. Believe me when I tell you, I was afraid to look inside at what I was sure would be a warped mess of cracked wood and popped strings</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #080808;">.</span></span></div>
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But see, here’s the thing. And it’s the thing I’m sure helped sell a lot of Ovations to people I related this story to over the years... the guitar was absolutely fine. Not a crack. Not a blemish. Not a single thing wrong with it. That case took the all the bullets. For every bubble and blemish and crack in the case, there was nothing to show for the ordeal on the guitar it served to protect. The case was a portrait and the guitar was Dorian Gray. </div>
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It’s now 2011 (over 20 years later) and I recently took pictures of the case and guitar, both which I still gig with to this day. Why am I compelled to tell you this now? Because I just wanted to demonstrate how much abuse an Ovation case can take... Because to damage an Ovation guitar inside an Ovation case, there has to be an extaordinary amount of neglect and/or intent to damage involved to get an Ovation to end up like the one in this next story...</div>
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<b>Lisa Nemzo’s Ovation Adamis</b></div>
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Lisa Nemzo is a well known singer/songwriter and recording artist who resides in Los Angeles. I became a friend and fan from the first time I saw her perform at the now defunct Blue Lagune Saloon in Marina Del Rey (wow, I miss that place) during the late '80s when I was tending bar there. In the years since, I had seen her perform a few dozen time and even shared the bill with her once or twice at local venues such as Ghengis Cohen and local coffee houses. Her Ovation is one of two that influenced me to purchase one (the other belonged to my friend D.J., a friend and former bandmate I grew up with in Philly)</div>
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Ahh, but the sounds Lisa was able to get her guitars to emit, those amazing harmonics, that timber, unique only to a top-of-the line Ovation when it’s plugged in. WOW!! Wow, Wow, Wow! That sound has stayed with me through the years. You never forget your first Lisa Nemzo concert....</div>
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So it was with great sorrow that I read her post on Facebook recently about the demise of her prize Ovation Adamis at the hands of American Airline employes and the calousness in which her case is being handled (<i>absolutely</i> no pun intended). If I ever have to bring a guitar on a plane, ANY plane, it will be with great trepidatrion, thanks in no small part to American Airlines. </div>
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Unfortunately, Lisa’s guitar didn’t survive the beating it took on the tarmac at the AA terminal where it was crushed by who-knows-what kind of truck. But I believe the tale of Lisa Nemzo’s Ovation should have a happy ending.<br />
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Again... let me point out that the reason I preceded this story with my own, was to make it crystal clear that Ovation cases have an extremely high threshold for abuse. They can withstand anything short of being run over by the vehicle that crushed Lisa's guitar inside it's rugged case.</div>
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They offered to give her a new guitar. One of <b><i>much</i> lesser</b> value than the one they destroyed.<br />
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She had to cancel several gigs and lost opportunities to meet and greet her fans (many who are sorely dissapointed)</div>
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She lost an opportunity to make new fans and sell a lot of CDs.</div>
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It makes me ill to think anout the degree to which American Airlines has attempted to minimalize this debacle of human decency.</div>
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Several musician friends have suggested Lisa write a song about the incident in the same vein as Dave Carroll’s “United Breaks Guitars”. Years ago, folk singer Tom Paxton wrote a song about a similar incident. My fear is that the novelty of airlines trashing guitar songs will wear off and will only serve to give publicity to the bastards. And I’m also pretty sure that as I write this, Lisa has written the bridge by now.</div>
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I thought about writing on American Airlines Facebook wall as Lisa requested. But in order to do that, you have to hit their “LIKE” button first. That’s a catch-22, because I’m not about to LIKE them just so I can post about how much I DON’T LIKE them. Beside’s they can easily delete any posts they deem negative from the public. So what would be the point?</div>
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Okay, I’m getting down off my soapbox for now. I may not have the answer, but hopefully, when you read this, you’ll start asking some questions yourself. Get the word out. If you have any connections in the news media, see if you can get this story some legs. Do whatever you can to keep this story alive and in the public eye. Fly SouthWest whenever possible. Be good to each other.</div>
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<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-19596615561725628242011-04-05T13:04:00.000-07:002011-04-05T13:15:47.496-07:00The Right to Make A Right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw30bi2rPS3YIVRP4RTn9hl9mHkOmrOZuFLE-5X3SDp5Vfsq9BQZQX1WztZzjpO5dzzcTo-3Ns9RQ8jpdCjkBnuUf6GpIQy9TfHClRmsGKHv9ZolpchD88wu4SOv4BK1Z6K1wv0Zi5u7o/s1600/noRightOnRed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw30bi2rPS3YIVRP4RTn9hl9mHkOmrOZuFLE-5X3SDp5Vfsq9BQZQX1WztZzjpO5dzzcTo-3Ns9RQ8jpdCjkBnuUf6GpIQy9TfHClRmsGKHv9ZolpchD88wu4SOv4BK1Z6K1wv0Zi5u7o/s200/noRightOnRed.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>No, I haven't become an ultra-conservative. I'm talking about making a right-hand turn while <b><i>DRIVING <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">in Philadelphia</span></span></i></b>. Having lived in L.A. for so long really puts a magnifying glass on the problem and I've come to the conclusion that if there's one major difference between Philly and the rest of the civilized world, it's this issue. Now the way I understand it is...<br />
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During the late 70's or early 80's, Mayor Frank Rizzo was famously opposed to allowing right hand turns while the light was red at any intersction. However, after a major campaign by the public and his own city council, he was reluctantly persuaded to abolish the "No Right Turn on Red" law. Finally, after years of having to wait until the light turns green to make a right hand turn at an intersection, Rizzo at long last agreed to allow drivers, after first looking both ways, checking the rearview and both side mirrors, using extreme caution and<i> unless a posted sign said otherwise</i>, to make a legal right hand turn at their discretion! Oh joy. Oh, happy day.<br />
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Unfortunately what came next was unprecedented, unnecessary, and IMHO, mind-numbingly stupid (I thought so then, and I think so now)... He ordered a "NO TURN ON RED LIGHT" sign put up on practically EVERY street corner of the city. Since there weren't enough of these signs in existence, it gave the prison inmates something to do for a while, and that's about the best I can say about this idiotic decision. Seriously, I have no idea what the cost to make and install these signs cost the city of Philadelphia, but he may as well have just flushed that cash down a toilet. And not only was it a waste of time and money, but to this day, the signs remain a major inconvenience and waste of time for Philly's motorists.<br />
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Some of these signs, to be sure, are located at intersections where they make sense. Near schools, major arteries, shopping centers, expressway entrances, etc. But the vast majority are at intersections where traffic is slow, have high visibility and in many instances, aren't even full intersections (e.g. T-crossing, driveway entrance, very minor intersections). It's an insult to our intelligence to be forced to sit and wait for a light to turn green before making a right when it's perfectly safe and no one's on the road for miles.<br />
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I say, the time has come for a revolt on this issue. Let's get a NEW campaign started to uproot about three-quarters of the signs now holding up Philadelphia drivers and productivity.<br />
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Honk if you agree.Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-238726710438485553.post-32180075813110607462011-03-30T00:08:00.000-07:002011-03-30T10:00:40.109-07:00It's Late, I'm Tired and I Just Started This Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDdVBjzapJ-D6A-9Fj5agQu64xp12bqdorUaY7naEO1q7vYTw4MOe0QM76xQ1jKn7zQP-V6EjNDIPHOWpvI-tD9FkgbrrRj3IscxVl6wP0kAEa2LTQrjgOun-naknXzy1LVGGqyLTGpg/s1600/zbrtndr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDdVBjzapJ-D6A-9Fj5agQu64xp12bqdorUaY7naEO1q7vYTw4MOe0QM76xQ1jKn7zQP-V6EjNDIPHOWpvI-tD9FkgbrrRj3IscxVl6wP0kAEa2LTQrjgOun-naknXzy1LVGGqyLTGpg/s200/zbrtndr.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>I've always wanted to write a book about some of the things I witnessed as a bartender in Los Angeles, some of the conversations I've been privy to, restaurants I've discovered, gems of wisdom derived from my experiences on the way to losing most of my hair, etc.<br />
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So. Anyway, as I was saying... My first choice was to write a book, entitled "Tales From The Bar Side", but I didn't want to go through all the hassle of finding a publisher, a literary agent, publicist, and whatever being an author entails (I'll talk more about this in a blog about procrastination). I just like to write and I have a whole shitload of stuff in my cranium waiting to be spewed out. I have no idea in what order these things will emerge from the storage units inside my head. My only hope is that I have something relevant to say to someone, somewhere, and that my sense of humor shines through as well.<br />
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Every so often, I'll get on my soapbox about something. I don't whine often*, but when I do, I'm painfully aware that I'm doing it, but, like everyone else, I need to vent from time to time, so I apologize in advance for those particular blogs when they end up here among my little vignettes. I'll try to inject some humor into those occasional tirades as well - although I'm sure it will come out as my trademark sarcasm.<br />
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Lastly, let me just say this - I am NOT a Tweeter. I'm far too verbose to confine myself to short phrases several times a day to express myself or keep friends and fans posted as to where I'm eating a donut. Nope... I'm afraid I need to BLOG. Stay tuned.<br />
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*Some people think I do... screw 'em! <i><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqGANTHX3hk">This is whining...</a></i>Halinphillyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11317460079561638824noreply@blogger.com0