Clothing optional

From a recent news report: “WELLINGTON, New Zealand – New Zealand's national airline has adopted a cheeky way to encourage passengers to watch its in-flight safety video: The cabin crew's uniforms are nothing but body paint. The "Bare Essentials of Safety," screening in the cabins of planes flying Air New Zealand's main domestic routes, has gone viral online. It had 1.2 million YouTube views by Friday, four days after it was launched. In the video, three cabin staff and a pilot, all in full body paint applied to look like their uniforms, talk viewers through the aircraft's safety procedures.” Perhaps the difference between clothing and body paint is simply psychological? I wouldn’t know – my eyesight is not the best. By the way, the woman at left is dressed in body paint. Can you tell?

Location and possession

A reserved parking space in Manhattan costs about $700 per month. The same space in Memphis will set you back $20 per month. That's a pretty big difference. Likewise, an art piece found by a maid in an abandoned apartment is thrown in the trash because it is judged to be practically worthless. The same piece is found by someone who works at a museum and is saved and taken to the museum curator. It is now judged to be worth $2,000,000. A tattoo on the arm of a man hardly draws any attention. Put it on the lower back of a woman and you will notice a huge difference in the response. A house on the poor side of town has a value of $100,000. That same house in a pricy neighborhood is worth $145,000. A country in the hands of lazy, uneducated people has little value. In the hands of educated, hard-working people, it is priceless. An idea in the hands of a timid person will get nowhere. The same idea in the mind of a born salesman might be worth millions. What does all this mean? I don't know. You figure it out.

Lilli Ewing 3

Working out is hard to do - especially if you don't make a habit of it. Bobby Fischer (the late chess player) used to prepare himself for grueling chess matches by working out in the pool - swimming dozens of laps - and drinking lots of orange juice. One cannot be in good mental shape unless one is in great physical shape. A sound mind in a sound body, remember? If you find yourself in an obesity rut, do what Lilli Ewing does - work out and make it part of your routine. Would you like it if someone gave you a ten pound sack of potatoes and forced you to lug it around for no reason? If you are over your sensible weight, that's exactly what you're doing - burdening your body and your precious heart. Acai berries might help, too. I shouldn't be talking - I'm four pounds overweight. In case you are wondering - that's Lilli Ewing on the left - she lives in Seattle - champion bodybuilder.

Bargains

This is the first blog of 2009 so why not start with a topic that will no doubt be very popular this year? LIQUIDATIONS. Businesses are going out of business fast. When the time comes, they turn to specialists who get rid of inventory quickly. If you need to buy something right about now, you might be able to get good deals through these liquidations. You can either visit the stores yourself or you can try the internet. Some places to visit online: Redtagdotcom, Topperliquidatorsdotcom, liquidationdotcom, and (if you’re rich) Yachtauctionsdotcom. The art piece at left is not for sale, but if it were, I might offer $5,000 for it. Good luck.

Body piercing and tattoos

Tattoos are not my thing. Why would anybody want to put permanent paint on their body? I'm sure there must be a good reason - I just can't see one. Body paint as temporary adornment? Perhaps. I'm undecided about piercings or body jewelry. I think I would be scared to do one - too dangerous. What if it catches somewhere and tears your skin off? I don't even wear a watch. Maybe if someone gave me a Rolex, I might wear it to show off.