I'll Give You a Topic...

...food weirdness. (Inspired by a FB thread.)

I will not eat leftovers that are more than 24 hours old. And in general, will avoid leftovers like the plague unless it's something really, really good. Like pizza.

I have to have all meat well done. And by that, I mean "nearly burnt". If I am a guest at someone's house, I can choke down a (very) slightly pink steak if I don't think about it too much. I would rather eat a black hamburger than a pink one.

If I find a colored vein in my chicken, I completely lose my appetite. For about a week. There was a vein in my BK chicken sandwich once, and I didn't have another one for two years. And I love the BK chicken sandwiches. But the offending sandwich was immediately spit out and thrown away. Meal over.

So what are your food quirks?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Thin mints are far and away the best Girl Scout cookie.

Discuss.

I'll Give You a Topic...

Is it too much to ask to get, say, a 2-hour window for delivery/installation/service whatever times? Rather than a 4-hour window or larger? I understand delays and problems causing delays and whatnot, but it seems like a 2-hour window would be sufficient to work within.

(Oh, and btw, 6 year blogiversary this month, yadda yadda bleh.)

Round, Round, Get Around

Pete forwarded this article to me. Basically, it says (Oxford) history majors are the school tramps.

My knee-jerk reaction was to, of course, disagree. But then I considered the history majors who are not me...the ones I knew/know well enough to be familiar with their sex lives. And I’m going to have to say, they weren’t all that big on fidelity. You would think it’d be those hippies in anthropology getting all free-love on it, but the history majors I knew were more promiscuous.

Why would this be true? Perhaps historians have a better realization that those before them spent an inordinate amount of time focusing on carnal pleasures—especially if those before them were trying to deny other people the right to do so. Maybe historians are more likely to subscribe to the theory that life is short, so they want to enjoy it while they can. Or maybe historians are just more likely to meet strangers and get those strangers to talk about themselves, thus appearing more attractive to said strangers.

Any thoughts? Are the history majors simply revisionists? Do we need to re-poll the theater majors?

Correspondence and Authors

I was offline for a week (not that anyone could tell any difference from when I am online for a week) and had 1000+ emails in my spam folder. I am caught up on emails now, so if you did not get a response, you will need to resend your mail, plzkthxbai.

Also, I am wondering who we consider "Great American Authors"...I'll start with an easy one. Mark Twain. Name some others. Go.

The REALLY Important Issues

Play-Doh or Silly Putty?

Also: wire or plastic Slinky?

Discuss.

Tourism--Biltmore

Has anyone been to Biltmore House in Asheville, NC? Is it worth the price of admission?

UPDATE for the benefit of anyone getting here through a search engine...yes, it is totally worth the price of admission. Better to go when the flowers are in bloom and such, but a very nice way to spend the day, according to my parents. Good tour, good shopping, etc.

Not Feeling It

It's cold. It's snowy. I don't feel like doing much beyond huddling under some blankets. Or stewing in a hottub. (Does anyone else always hear Eddie Murphy as James Brown singing "Hottub!" in their head whenever they think the word "hottub" to themselves? Anyone? No? Just me? Okay then.)

So what I'm saying is, entertain yourselves. I'll give you a topic.

Doughnuts. Filled? Glazed? Frosted? Powdered? Name your poison. I like the chocolate-frosted cream-filled kind. I also like the Krispy Kreme blueberry thingies.

Holly Jolly

This is my "Merry Christmas" post...so Merry Christmas.

If you could get one thing in your stocking this year, what would it be? And concepts like "peace on earth"--while nice--are not going to fit in your stocking.

Still Thankful

I'm a bit late--Turkey Day was more hectic than I expected--but I hope y'all had a nice Thanksgiving.

What kind of pie did *you* have? I went with the traditional pumpkin after the meal, and splurged on the apple a la mode about an hour ago.

I need to go to bed now, so I can get up at the crack of insanity and do my mom's shopping in the morning. Luckily, I don't have any stores on the list opening before 5 a.m. Why must I do my mom's shopping? Because she is a medical professional and works nights and doesn't get off work until 7...and everything will be SOLD OUT by then!!! Gah!

*Price Check

Gas is down to $1.97 here. Can you beat that?

I'll Give You a Topic: Fiscal Vices

I went to Barnes and Noble recently to peruse the selections, and noticed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was $34.99.

Or $37.09 with tax.

It's not in paperback yet.

So my question is: are y'all insane? You, the ones who paid that for that? *cough*SarahK*cough* I know crackheads will pay any price for their fix, but yikes.

If you're not one of the HP crackheads, what do you spend money on that would be hard to justify to an East African? Manolos lining your closet? Hummer in your driveway? Boat requiring monthly motor repairs docked at the marina? Name your poison.

As for me, I probably won't spend $34.99 on a single book unless it is a textbook and I have no choice, but I often find myself in the 2nd hand bookstore buying a pile of books for about that. I also have a bad habit of being unable to stop myself from buying DVDs I want rightnow. But the book hording is bordering on out of control.

Despite the booklove, I will wait until Deathly Hallows comes out in paperback...I find hardback books annoying to hold in my hands anyway. I like to bend the crap out of my books.

I'll Give You a Topic: November 4

There is nothing particularly inspiring to me about either presidential candidate this year, and I am probably going to vote for the one I distrust the least.

As far as I can tell, they both have character flaws that would normally scare me away. But McCain seems to at least be candid about his: he admits his adultery broke up his first marriage. Obama, on the other hand, does not seem to be overly acquainted with the truth.

I have emailed both campaigns with questions about specific concerns, and never received a reply from the Obama campaign. I did, however, get spammed with fundraising requests. I can be reasonable: I'll send you a fiver for each question you answer, how about that? But the condition, which will be a dealbreaker, I'm sure, is that the answer has to answer the question. It can't be a bunch of political gobbledygook that never directly addresses the issue.

Anyway, my choice in November will be based on who I think will do the least amount of damage, and as things stand right now that choice is McCain. What will be the deciding factor for you?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Am I justified in being completely livid that thousands of people becoming homeless and losing everything has become old news in the face of one single guy who is not the President dying of a heart attack?

Or am I a jerk?

I'll Give You a Topic...

I'll be spending the day with my mama, so you can all discuss the following:

Taco Bell. Best fast food place in existence? Or nasty and horrifying?

Alternate topic...Egg McMuffins. The perfect food, or gag-inducing egg pucks?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Are girls and boys raised to look at work differently? Are girls encouraged to look for "fulfilling" work regardless of monetary considerations? Are boys encouraged to consider having to support a family financially?

Discuss.

Testing Your Devotion I'll Give You a Topic

It's been many moons since I've given you a topic. So here's one:

Corndogs. Tasty food-on-a-stick, or unholy abomination?

Discuss.

I Love You Guys

Happy Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful that my family and friends are healthy, and that I am able to spend the day with my niece and nephew, watching the Peanuts on TV.

What are you thankful for?

Question For Ya

In the six Star Wars movies, did a Storm Trooper ever hit anyone with a blaster that was not a droid?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Can someone (like say an older white Christian male) who uses the phrase "Jew him down" still be considered a generally decent person? Or should we assume he knows darn well that what he's saying is anti-Semitic?

Discuss.

Quick Poll

I'm curious. Who here believes in evolution? Which ones of you prefer Creationism, or intelligent design?

I'll be particularly interested in the good Reverend's comments on the matter.

Shock Value

So one of the fun things about the University of Iowa is having the Emma Goldman center (look it up if you don't know what it is) across the street from the IMU (student union). This means when we get the protestors, they're right where everybody gets to see them.

Today is the first protestor I've seen since returning to campus, and he had a lovely over-sized banner with a picture of an aborted fetus. As he was holding up his visual aids, he was also preaching to the students as they passed him by (ignoring him, I might add).

I looked closely at the picture, and made eye contact with the man, and went on my way. I have to ask, though: are college-age kids really going to be shocked by that picture today? Aren't they supposed to be desensitized to that sort of thing?

Discuss.

I'll Give You a Topic...

Why don't you love me anymore?

I'll Give You a Topic...

What is(are) your favorite scent(s) and why?

I'll Give You a Topic...

If being a fat couch potato was considered sexy by whichever sex you're trying to impress, would you stay in shape for health reasons, or let yourself go?

Discuss.

I'll Give You a Topic...

Ever stare at your computer for an hour, trying to think of something to post?

Also, are Irish and Scottish accents as hot when they belong to attractive females as when they belong to attractive males?

Discuss these questions or anything else your heart desires in the comments.

I'll Give You a Topic...

Do you have a nemesis?

Discuss.

*Ask Jen: Talk About Your Nipples Edition

Reader Cara writes, "Are male nipples as sensitive as female nipples?"

Well, in my limited informal research on the subject, I would have to say nipple sensitivity is entirely dependent upon whom said nipples are attached to. In other words, it varies. Some women do not have very sensitive nipples at all, and some men have very sensitive nipples.

So let's ask the readers: how sensitive would you say your nipples are? Are they an erogenous zone, or would you really prefer to have them left alone in favor of other areas?

Do you have a question for me? You can e-mail it. If I know the answer, I'll answer it. If I don't, I might make something up.

I'll Give You a Topic...

...bridal registry etiquette.

It's my understanding that bridal registries are for things you need in your new home together, rather than, say, South Park t-shirts and Star Wars action figures and dozens of DVDs (which I'm assuming the groom-to-be picked while the bride was picking things like cookware and sewing machines).

Now, I'm not saying every couple doesn't need Monty Python's Holy Grail in their new home...or that they don't need Wookies to play with...I'm just saying it seems a little off to ask people to buy them for your wedding.

Yes, no?

Real Life (and Death) Happens...

...Resulting in my abruptly needing to leave town for a few days.

But that doesn't mean Bill Week needs to end. Feel free to share any Bill stories in the comments or trackback with any Bill posts you have at your own place.

And if you need a fix of Bill or a little inspiration, try:
Bill C. Interview
Bill C. Part II

Take care, all.

*I'll Give You a Topic...

The Ten Commandments.

Should we edit that pesky Sabbath one?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Do you keep your home clean because:

a.) You like it that way.
b.) You feel the need to conform to Health Dept standards.
c.) You want to be courteous to those you live with.
d.) Clean? Ha ha ha ha ha!

*I'll Give You a Topic...

High heels. The work of Satan or a gift from God? Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Some of my earliest memories are of my elders sitting around the table, playing cards. Cribbage and poker were the mainstays. Poker is the first "grown-up" card game I ever learned.

Nowadays when it's cold or rainy outside and there are four or more adults around, I usually suggest Phase Ten.

What's your game?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

You have to live without one of the following channels for the rest of your life:

VH1
Discovery
Nickelodeon
Comedy Central
ABC

Which do you choose?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Watching the Pompeii special last night on Discovery, there was talk of a Black Cloud of Death. I thought to myself, "Self, you can put 'of death' at the end of anything and make it sound scary. Or hilariously funny."

Take the following innocuous items:
cowboy boots
yellow daisy
vacuum cleaner

Now:
Cowboy Boots of Death
Yellow Daisy of Death
Vacuum Cleaner of Death

Your turn.

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Farting: a natural bodily function that is barely worth mentioning, or hysterically funny?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Which of your parents do you most resemble personality-wise? Does it horrify you or make you proud?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Are you an adult? If yes, what makes you think so? If not, what's keeping you from adulthood?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

(Follow-up to yesterday's question.) Would another person be able to convince you God appeared before them?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

If God appeared before you, would you believe? Or would you check yourself into the nearest mental health/detox facility as soon as He left?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Guilty pleasures of the music variety. Do you tell everyone who will listen how much you hate Britney Spears, but secretly sing "Oops, I Did It Again" in the privacy of your car?

Me, neither.

I'll Give You a Topic...

Guilty pleasures of the television variety. Do you have any shows you love but hate to admit it?

I'll Give You a Topic...

This one really only applies to bloggers who use their real names...to what extent do you censor yourself on your blog so that your grandmother/boss/high school boyfriend doesn't read something unflattering or risque?

And--theoretically--would you be interested in a collaborative blog where you could anonymously post whatever random nonsense pops into your head?

I'll Give You a Topic...

If you could spend next weekend with any one living person in the world, who would it be?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Is the swastika more offensive than the Confederate flag? Why or why not?

I'll Give You a Topic...

If your spouse had a drunken fling with a stranger who they would never see again, would you want to know?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Would you rather live to be 100 with the body of a 25-year-old, or the mind of a 25-year-old?

I'll Give You a Topic...

If you went to a beach and it turned out to be a nude beach, would you stick around? Would you go nude?

I'll Give You a Topic...

You're at a dinner party hosted by the CEO of your company, and you see a nasty bug in your food. What do you do?

Middle Names

I have met my fair share of Jennifer Anns, Jennifer Lynns, and Jennifer Maries. I've also known my fair share of Jennifer Larsons. But even though I have an extremely common name, I was lucky enough to get a semi-unusual middle name.

It's not an unusual name, per se, but it's not one you normally see as the middle name.

Nicole.

There's no story behind it. No relative I'm named after. My parents just thought it was pretty. My brother also has a semi-unusual middle name, but my sister got stuck with one of the boring ones I mentioned in the first sentence. My mom has one of those, too. My dad has his father's first name as his middle name. My niece got the same boring middle name as my sister, but my nephew got the (rather bulky) name of his great-grandfather.

Richard Gere's middle name is "Tiffany"...go figure that one out. Maybe it's his mother's maiden name.

Defining Adulthood

Most of us agree that an 18th birthday does not magically transform someone from child to adult. So what, exactly, does being an adult--or "grown-up"--mean?

This is what I came up with as a definition...

Someone both capable of and willing to be self-sufficient (providing for their own basic needs and, if applicable, willing and able to take care of their dependents).

With this definition, a 25-year-old living with his parents and not wanting to work would not qualify as an adult. A 25-year-old who keeps changing jobs to avoid having child support taken out of his check would not qualify as an adult, either. A 25-year-old living with his parents while attending school would qualify, assuming he's getting an education to better himself rather than to avoid the "real world".

What do you think?

I'll Give You a Topic...

I'm planning on a busy day today, so I'll leave y'all something to discuss:

(click to enlarge if you wish)

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Is it possible--or advisable--to completely trust a lover who has blatantly lied to you in the past?

How many times can you forgive someone for betraying your trust?

Even if they make real, tangible changes in their life because they think they've lost you, can someone really change? Or will they revert once they get you back?

The List

Harvey shares the five fantasy women he'd get to know...intimately...if given the chance. I'm not married, but I want to play, too, so here's my list:

1. Ray Liotta
2. Mike Piazza (sans any weird dye jobs)
3. Troy Aikman
4. Bret Hart
5. Richie Sambora

I'll Give You a Topic...

Who was the worst neighbor on Halloween?

A. The dentist who handed out toothbrushes.
B. The young, childless couple who handed out raisins.
C. The old lady who handed out pennies.
D. The creepy guy who tried to scare all the kids.
E. Other. (Please explain.)

I'll Give You a Topic...

When enjoying Halloween candy, do you prefer:

A. Normal candy corn of the yellow, orange, and white variety.
B. Heathen candy corn of the chocolate variety.
C. Those little pumpkins that often come with candy corn.
D. Snickers, damnit! Gimme some fun size candy bars!
E. Other. (Please explain.)

I'll Give You a Topic...

Some people love to imagine a President Schwarzenegger...and those people even support an amendment which would allow foreign-born persons to become president.

But...do you really want to open up the possibility of anyone running for president? A Palestinian, perhaps? What if there came a day when the apologists were in the majority?

Lip Service

(Inspired by Daniel.)

Kissing.

What makes a good kiss?

What makes a bad kiss?

What distinguishes a good kiss from a great kiss?

Discuss.

Writing Random Things Instead of Working

Bill Clinton says Hillary made him sleep on the couch.

Think that's true? I mean, there are other bedrooms in the White House.

Also, if a First Lady was going to dump her husband, she couldn't very well kick him out of the house, could she? She'd have to move out. She'd have to take her Secret Service Agents and leave.

Yeah, I really don't have a point.

I'll Give You a Topic...

Every summer when I was a kid, we'd drive up to our family's cabin in Wisconsin for vacation. We'd spend one or two weeks up there on the lake, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Now that we (cousins) are older, some of us don't make it to the cabin very often while others are up there all the time--bringing their own kids now.

This weekend I'll be going up there as I do almost every year, and although I don't have kids of my own, I'll be taking my niece and nephew.

What kind of family traditions or experiences do you remember from your childhood that you want your children to experience?

I'll Give You a Topic...

I'm a strong swimmer and I love to swim, but I have an inordinate amount of discomfort around pool drains. In large pools I try to avoid swimming above them if at all possible.

What are your phobias?

Off-Topic Question

Okay, the WWII stuff is fun (for me), but it's killing my comments. So here's something NOT to do with the war...

Smoking cigarettes around children is not illegal. So...if we legalize marijuana, would it be okay for adults to toke up with the kids around?

Just askin'.

*Let's Talk Bras

The biggest scam in the history of the world is the bra.

Slideshow here...pay attention to the prices, if you will.

The most expensive bras generally offer the least support for those of us larger than, say, an A cup. So on the plus side, I will never ever be tempted to buy a $215 bra.

Even so, what could possibly cause a bra to cost that much? Material? Doubtful.

Here is my theory: the lingerie industry is preying on the insecurities of small-breasted women. The fancy bras are just fancy packaging.

So the question is: do you guys care about the packaging?

I'll Give You a Topic...

I really like these questions. More so when people answer them. So please leave a comment.

If you could put one secret microphone anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I'll Give You a Topic...

You have a voodoo doll. Who is it for and what do you do to it?

I'll Give You a Topic...

If you could ask a single question of anyone alive or dead, who would it be and what would you ask?

The Skin I'm In

Let's talk birthmarks.

I have two: one is a mole on my left calf that used to be fairly prominent but has now faded so much you can barely see it. The second is a light brown rectangular patch on my left shoulder. It's approximately 1" x 1/2". If my shoulder tans, the patch gets darker, too, making it always visible.

Yes, I'm babbling about nonsense. Got a problem with that?

*I'll Give You a Topic...

If you could "program" your dreams to be about anything, what would they be? And how would this ability affect your sleep habits?

Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic...

This one was inspired by my four-year-old niece. Last night I took her with me to the store and after checking out, I had 3 cents change. I gave it to my niece, who of course lost every penny before we even got to the car.

The question: How much money could you burn or throw away (never to be found by anyone) without feeling guilty?

Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic

Is it too late to replace Kerry and why?

Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic

If you had a theme song that would play as you walk down the street or enter a room, what would it be?

Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic

Which is sexier:

A. Hustler
B. Playboy
C. SI's Swimsuit Edition
D. Victoria's Secret Catalog

Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic

If your spouse/significant other killed somone, would you turn him/her in?

Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic

TV moms.

Who was the best and why?

Who was the worst and why?

Discuss.

I'll Give You a Topic...

If you were executed, what would be your last words?

Discuss.

I'll Give You a Topic

If you had a third eye, where would you put it?

Discuss.

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Inspired by Eat an Animal for PETA Day (as well as two near-misses last night), I want to know how many defenseless woodland-type creatures you've decimated with your gas-guzzling steel transport unit (i.e. car).

I have a mere two raccoons and a squirrel on my "confirmed kill" list.

How about you?

*Blahg

Do some words trigger entire poems, songs, quotes, etc for you?

Such as: ANACONDA

Hearing that single word, do you then launch into an entire song?

So yo girlfriend drives a Honda,
Playin' workout tapes by Fonda,
But Fonda ain't got a motor in the back o' her Honda.
My anaconda don't want want none,
Unless you got buns, hun.
You can do side bends or sit-ups,
But please don' lose that butt.

And while singing, do you dance around too?

Yeah, umm, me neither.

*I'll Give You a Topic...

Tattoos and piercings.

Cool or freaky or the mistakes of youth?

Discuss.

I'll Give You a Topic...

S&M.

Is it assault if it's between two consenting adults?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Free time.

What do you do with yours?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Venison sausage and bear meat pizza.

I come from Wisconsin and need to be vigilant that I am not being served Bambi or BooBoo snacks in place of "normal" food.

What kind of foods won't you eat?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Shoes.

How many pairs do you own that you never wear and why?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Beer.

How many beers must one ingest before it tastes good?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Male nudity in films.

I've made a point to rent all the Ewan MacGregor naked movies. Multiple times.

Do you really care one way or another about seeing male frontal nudity in a movie?

I'll Give You a Topic...

Hillary Clinton.

Why do so many conservatives hate her so passionately?

Discuss.

I'll Give You a Topic...

Jelly Bellies.

I think the best flavor is Juicy Pear. A close second is Plum.

What do you think?