Wedding Preparations

Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living in Devon , are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a chemists. Jacob suggests they go in.

Jacob addresses the man behind the counter: "Are you the owner?"

The chemist answers, "Yes."

Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"

Chemist: "Of course we do."

Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"

Chemist: "Definitely."

Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis, and Alzheimer's?"

Chemist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."

Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?"

Chemist: "Absolutely.."

Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion?"

Chemist: "We sure do."

Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"

Chemist: "All speeds and sizes."

Jacob: "In that case, we'd like to use this store for our wedding presents list."

Tag:WeddingList

Current Mood: Amused

The Continuing Bottom Issue

Minutes ago, when I wrote a Blog and posted that lovely but problematical picture of Letizia of Spain and Carla Bruni of France, I knew I need to elaborate more on this subject my own opinion of the bottom issue. At the time, all media, especially those in Europe, talked incessantly about that photo. Had it not been for the Swine Flu reports that concerns the whole world not just Europe, the theme of ladies' bottoms would have no doubt taken the front pages. How frivolous the illustration of the saying 'Making a mountain out of a molehill'.

Until the press purposely (?) drew attention by putting the word 'bottom' on every title carrying the photo, I like to think that most readers, like me, would have seen only a photo of 2 elegant ladies going up the front steps of a building. A new generation of first ladies, one a journalist and the other a singer/model. Not admirable nor reproachable, just the reality. Everyone would have thought how slender and shapely the ladies are and few would have concentrated only on the bottoms.

Nevertheless, such a simple photo is the cause for endless talk and opinions, running tons of ink and wagging even the otherwise lazy tongues. As expected, it went on even years later. With the slightest provocation, it would still rise again above the dust collected with the passage of time.

All papers have published nudes and scenes less circumspect at one time or another, without any problems. The question is, why this particular image is chosen to illustrate an event of politic relevance? The media says it's because it's the best option. I can't help wondering if a photo of Angela Merkel and Sofia, the Queen of Spain, going up the same steps of the same building on the same day would have been considered as the best option?

I am posting this photo again in case you wonder what I am on about ...

Tags:bottomissue

Current Mood: Blah

Getting To The Bottom Of It ...

I was just talking about bad language on TV earlier. I am against that and also in other areas, the press for instance, books, magazines, any text elsewhere, and in conversation. To be fair, there are acceptable exceptions with such terms that are just ambiguous: can be taken as rude or uncouth, but that mostly depends on how one interprets them. For instance, a few years ago many Spanish local papers had an eye catching headline referring to 2 ladies's bottoms, on the title of the article. Not just any ladies either, but the bottoms of the first lady of France, Carla Bruni, and that of Princes Letizia, wife of the Prince of Spain, the future King. Well, the word 'bottom' is certainly not a bad word. Not like the Spanish word it used 'culo' which means just that part of the anatomy, nothing else, whereas 'bottom' simply means the lower part of anything, or even something totally abstract, like: getting to the 'bottom' of the matter. Anyway, it didn't annoy me in this case, because it's not rude or bad calling something by it's name, like penis or vagina are in themselves nothing more than the denomination of those parts of the body. They became rude in print or in social or public conversation simply because people immediately connect them with pictures in their mind linking to other imagined scenarios. Back to the article. It was not exactly an article, more like a detailed caption of a picture of the 2 ladies, shot from the back, telling the where and why of their presence on that staircase going up to a building. By now, I am sure this same or similar picture taken from all angles must have gone around the world already, appearing in every media, squeezing out something else more important but less news worthy or beneficial to the media's distribution. Can't blame them. Would you prefer to see or read more about the recession, the worsening Hispanic-French relation, or some more Mexicans wearing mouth masks? It's a beautiful picture. Both ladies are slender and shapely, immaculately dressed, stylish and matching high heels, silky hair and elegant posture. It doesn't matter how they title it, the photo itself is classy and graceful. See for yourself. . Tags:letizia,Carla,bottom

Current Mood: Blah

The Price Of Swearing

Rather expensive, up to $350,000 ($248,000) on television, so decided the tribunal Supreme Court of America a few years ago, when TV channels emit swear words, rude insults, any vulgarity and coarseness, considering the sanction did not violate liberty of expression.

In 2006, during the rein of George Bush, the FCC (organisation that regulate the sector), decided to establish a code of fines to channels that emitted cruel expressions, vulgar words and coarse slang. Channels like Fox, ABC and CBS, amongst others, took the matter to the tribunals, arguing that it violated liberty of expression.

It's high time other countries take heed of this. It's one the few things on TV that annoys me most. A lot of these bad words are totally unnecessary, apart from irritating any decent audience and giving bad examples to the young people and the not so educated, they add nothing at all to the stories told. Many of the TV programmes produced in England are probably even worse and more prolific in swearing and vulgarity.

Their argument is that they want to reflect the reality as it is. As if we don't get enough and sick to the stomach with such reality already. Part of the responsibility of any public service should add value and the right guidance especially to the young and the vulnerable where possible, and curtailing bad influence is certainly within their power to do so.

Tags:vulgarity,TV,swearing

Current Mood: Awake