By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mark_B_Mackie]Mark B Mackie
When asked what's on in Norwich, not many people would think of celeb spotting around a Hollywood film set.
That's exactly what Local's can expect next year when one of the greatest comedy creations of the modern age Alan Partridge, is set is to make a storming return with a feature length film set in Norwich!
The much loved, fictional radio DJ was thought to of had his last AHA! when the second series of "I'm Alan Partridge" ended over 7 years ago.
To the delight of Partridge fans he made a triumphant return earlier this year with a series of short internet episodes. Mid Morning Matters (sponsored by fosters) put the iconic DJ in a new hot seat, broadcasting from North Norfolk Digital, alongside sidekick DJ Simon played by comedian Tim Key.
When asked about the film while promoting The Trip, Coogan told press "We're writing it right now, going to shoot it next year...We don't know who will direct it, but Pete Baynham (Borat) and Armando Ianucci (In the loop) are writing it with me. We've already started it."
Websites reported the film sounded "a done deal" when it emerged an un-named US studio was prepared to bankroll "Patridge, the movie".
When asked about a possible plot Coogan claimed "It's always been my plan to make Alan go global. "It's what he lives for really, not just doing the show on Radio Norwich."Although later Tweeting "The Partridge news is that we've now agreed a story for the film. It's NOT Alan goes to America... We don't see Alan, for example getting Simon Cowell's spot on American Idol and going over there. That's too good for Alan,' he said. "Alan's future is always brighter in his head than it is in the real world."
Coogan admitted that the idea had been on the back burner but couldn't resist returning to his best loved creation. "We left it behind for a while, but we came back to it because we got a few ideas," Coogan told The Playlist.
Partridge first appeared on Coogan's early radio show and landed on TV with his first appearance coming on The Day Today. Then came Knowing Me, Knowing You which was the characters first solo series, its premise, a faux chat show. It was "I'm Alan Partridge" where Alan really found his feet and was forever placed as a national treasure.
Read more: Steve Coogan confirms Alan Partridge movie shoots next year | http://www.totalfilm.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Norwichs-Favorite-Comedy-DJ-Brings-Hollywood-to-Local-Doors&id=6576168] Norwich's Favorite Comedy DJ Brings Hollywood to Local Doors
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
The Rigger and the Greenhorn
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Les_McMillan]Les McMillan
My name is Les McMillan, and I would now be considered an 'old-time' logger. Many years ago, I was a greenhorn, a real babe- in- the- woods. It was at a logging camp at Kelsey Bay, Vancouver Island. I was not a complete greenhorn, for I had worked as a whistlepunk for a few months (see my 'Whistlepunk' story for more on that). The boss sent me to join the 'Bull-gang', a rag-tag assortment of greenhorns whose job was doing all the mindless jobs that regular loggers wouldn't stoop to doing. We were to coil up lines, move machines, rig spar trees, raise spar trees, string lines out to the back end, you name it.
The boss of the Bullgang was the 'rigger', and his name was Bill Cousins. He was an old-time logger and one of the smartest, wood-wise loggers I have ever run into. He was the one who would climb a 4 or 5 foot diameter tree, chop off limbs as he climbed, and then saw off the top at about 135 feet, swaying wildly from side to side as the top kicked away. He would then attach 'guylines', blocks, (you'd call them pulleys), and thread lines through the blocks. All this equipment was called the 'rigging', so he was called the 'rigger'.
The first day on the job, he asked my name. I said, "Les McMillan," and he said, "I'll call you 'Mac." I was 20 years old and looked about 16, an obvious greenhorn. None of the other 6 or 7 guys on the crew had any previous woods experience, so we were all greenhorns to Bill. We were rigging a spar tree, and after an hour or so, Bill called me over and said, "Hey, Mac, we need a hindu really bad, so would you drive my pickup in to camp, see the blacksmith, and tell him I need a hindu."
I wasn't a complete greehorn, and knew that the Hindu he asked for was not an East Indian gentleman. It was a small circle of 1/2 inch steel cable with a hook spliced in to it and was used to join two lines together. I had heard that this joke was tried on greenhorns sometimes, so I thought I would go along with it and have some fun with Bill.
I drove to camp, found the blacksmith and told him the story. He replied, "That old so-and-so, we'll get him good this time." We marched over to the cookhouse and asked the cook if we could borrow the second cook for an hour or so. After hearing the reason, he heartily agreed.
The second cook was a young Chinese fellow. We drove back to the work site, and as we got nearer I had the young lad scrunch down below the dashboard. As I drove up close to Bill, he hollered out, "Well, Mac, did you get that hindu for me? "I replied, with a straight face, "Gee, Bill, I couldn't find a Hindu anywhere in camp, so I brought you a Chinaman instead. Is that alright?" With that the young lad jumped out of the pickup with a huge grin on his face.
Bill exploded! His face turned red, his eyes glared at me, he threw his hardhat to the ground and shouted, "You rotten little so-and-so, you knew all along that I was playing a joke on you! I ought to kick your rear end for that!" I could see that old Bill had a temper, so I started backing away, saying, "Well, Bill, I guess the joke's on you now!"
By this time, the Chinaman and the crew were all laughing at this turn of events. Bill looked around and then he started to giggle, and then laughed and laughed and laughed. Wiping tears from his eyes, he said "You're right, Mac, I had it coming! I like you. You've got spunk and brains and a sense of humour. You are going to be my right-hand man from now on. I'm promoting you to 'Chaser' right now."
He then turned to all the crew, and told them, "Any time I am not here, Mac is in charge, and you damn well better listen to him or answer to me!" He also let me drive the crew bus, which gave me extra money also!
The lesson learned here is - don't be surprised if your 'trick' backfires on you. In this case it worked to my advantage!
Prestige, power, and extra pay, all because of a thing called a 'hindu'.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Rigger-and-the-Greenhorn&id=3408471] The Rigger and the Greenhorn
My name is Les McMillan, and I would now be considered an 'old-time' logger. Many years ago, I was a greenhorn, a real babe- in- the- woods. It was at a logging camp at Kelsey Bay, Vancouver Island. I was not a complete greenhorn, for I had worked as a whistlepunk for a few months (see my 'Whistlepunk' story for more on that). The boss sent me to join the 'Bull-gang', a rag-tag assortment of greenhorns whose job was doing all the mindless jobs that regular loggers wouldn't stoop to doing. We were to coil up lines, move machines, rig spar trees, raise spar trees, string lines out to the back end, you name it.
The boss of the Bullgang was the 'rigger', and his name was Bill Cousins. He was an old-time logger and one of the smartest, wood-wise loggers I have ever run into. He was the one who would climb a 4 or 5 foot diameter tree, chop off limbs as he climbed, and then saw off the top at about 135 feet, swaying wildly from side to side as the top kicked away. He would then attach 'guylines', blocks, (you'd call them pulleys), and thread lines through the blocks. All this equipment was called the 'rigging', so he was called the 'rigger'.
The first day on the job, he asked my name. I said, "Les McMillan," and he said, "I'll call you 'Mac." I was 20 years old and looked about 16, an obvious greenhorn. None of the other 6 or 7 guys on the crew had any previous woods experience, so we were all greenhorns to Bill. We were rigging a spar tree, and after an hour or so, Bill called me over and said, "Hey, Mac, we need a hindu really bad, so would you drive my pickup in to camp, see the blacksmith, and tell him I need a hindu."
I wasn't a complete greehorn, and knew that the Hindu he asked for was not an East Indian gentleman. It was a small circle of 1/2 inch steel cable with a hook spliced in to it and was used to join two lines together. I had heard that this joke was tried on greenhorns sometimes, so I thought I would go along with it and have some fun with Bill.
I drove to camp, found the blacksmith and told him the story. He replied, "That old so-and-so, we'll get him good this time." We marched over to the cookhouse and asked the cook if we could borrow the second cook for an hour or so. After hearing the reason, he heartily agreed.
The second cook was a young Chinese fellow. We drove back to the work site, and as we got nearer I had the young lad scrunch down below the dashboard. As I drove up close to Bill, he hollered out, "Well, Mac, did you get that hindu for me? "I replied, with a straight face, "Gee, Bill, I couldn't find a Hindu anywhere in camp, so I brought you a Chinaman instead. Is that alright?" With that the young lad jumped out of the pickup with a huge grin on his face.
Bill exploded! His face turned red, his eyes glared at me, he threw his hardhat to the ground and shouted, "You rotten little so-and-so, you knew all along that I was playing a joke on you! I ought to kick your rear end for that!" I could see that old Bill had a temper, so I started backing away, saying, "Well, Bill, I guess the joke's on you now!"
By this time, the Chinaman and the crew were all laughing at this turn of events. Bill looked around and then he started to giggle, and then laughed and laughed and laughed. Wiping tears from his eyes, he said "You're right, Mac, I had it coming! I like you. You've got spunk and brains and a sense of humour. You are going to be my right-hand man from now on. I'm promoting you to 'Chaser' right now."
He then turned to all the crew, and told them, "Any time I am not here, Mac is in charge, and you damn well better listen to him or answer to me!" He also let me drive the crew bus, which gave me extra money also!
The lesson learned here is - don't be surprised if your 'trick' backfires on you. In this case it worked to my advantage!
Prestige, power, and extra pay, all because of a thing called a 'hindu'.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Rigger-and-the-Greenhorn&id=3408471] The Rigger and the Greenhorn
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The Happy Bus
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dale_Phillip]Dale Phillip
When I was a young professional in Chicago, I worked in a small advertising agency. One day a secretary (who was usually grumpy in the morning) came to work smiling and humming. I looked quizically at her and she laughed, "I caught the Happy Bus this morning." I inquired as to what that was. "You don't know the Happy Bus?" she exclaimed, her eyes flying wide open. "Oh my gosh, it's legendary." She then explained, "One of the bus drivers who drives the 151 bus during morning rush hour calls his bus the Happy Bus, and he gets everybody in a good mood on their way to work...he is so cute and funny...today we had a group sing!" She went on to explain all the different narratives and tactics he used during his 5 AM to noon shift up and down Michigan Avenue, dealing with crabby, hungover and just plain unhappy commuters; and because there were dozens of number 151 buses, it was just good fortune if you happened to get on the Happy Bus on your way to work.
Several years later, I was running very late for work one morning (I then worked up at the Hancock Building at the "top" of Michigan Avenue). It was starting to drizzle, and I still had five more blocks to walk, so when I saw a 151 bus heading my way, I flagged it down and hopped on board. Because it was almost empty, I sat in the front across from the driver, who was humming quietly. Pretty soon he heard me humming along with him, and he turned and exclaimed, "Let's sing a duet!" I laughed and agreed, so we sang a duet (complete with harmony) the last few blocks to the Hancock.
As he dropped me off, I thanked him for the music and started to step down, when I turned around and said, "Wait a minute...is this the Happy Bus?" He leaned his head back, gave a huge laugh and said, "One and Only, Young Lady...you come back when we're full and you'll have a real good time...I'm kind of plum tuckered out after six hours of driving my shift."
As I scurried through the drizzling rain and glided quickly through the revolving doors at the Hancock, I heard him honk the bus for me and he took off up the Mag Mile. I punched my floor in the elevator, smiling to myself, just knowing I was going to have a good day...and I of course was humming.
Author Dale Phillip enjoys living in a friendly universe. You can visit her at her website [http://www.OurFriendlyUniverse.com]http://www.OurFriendlyUniverse.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Happy-Bus&id=6563441] The Happy Bus
When I was a young professional in Chicago, I worked in a small advertising agency. One day a secretary (who was usually grumpy in the morning) came to work smiling and humming. I looked quizically at her and she laughed, "I caught the Happy Bus this morning." I inquired as to what that was. "You don't know the Happy Bus?" she exclaimed, her eyes flying wide open. "Oh my gosh, it's legendary." She then explained, "One of the bus drivers who drives the 151 bus during morning rush hour calls his bus the Happy Bus, and he gets everybody in a good mood on their way to work...he is so cute and funny...today we had a group sing!" She went on to explain all the different narratives and tactics he used during his 5 AM to noon shift up and down Michigan Avenue, dealing with crabby, hungover and just plain unhappy commuters; and because there were dozens of number 151 buses, it was just good fortune if you happened to get on the Happy Bus on your way to work.
Several years later, I was running very late for work one morning (I then worked up at the Hancock Building at the "top" of Michigan Avenue). It was starting to drizzle, and I still had five more blocks to walk, so when I saw a 151 bus heading my way, I flagged it down and hopped on board. Because it was almost empty, I sat in the front across from the driver, who was humming quietly. Pretty soon he heard me humming along with him, and he turned and exclaimed, "Let's sing a duet!" I laughed and agreed, so we sang a duet (complete with harmony) the last few blocks to the Hancock.
As he dropped me off, I thanked him for the music and started to step down, when I turned around and said, "Wait a minute...is this the Happy Bus?" He leaned his head back, gave a huge laugh and said, "One and Only, Young Lady...you come back when we're full and you'll have a real good time...I'm kind of plum tuckered out after six hours of driving my shift."
As I scurried through the drizzling rain and glided quickly through the revolving doors at the Hancock, I heard him honk the bus for me and he took off up the Mag Mile. I punched my floor in the elevator, smiling to myself, just knowing I was going to have a good day...and I of course was humming.
Author Dale Phillip enjoys living in a friendly universe. You can visit her at her website [http://www.OurFriendlyUniverse.com]http://www.OurFriendlyUniverse.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Happy-Bus&id=6563441] The Happy Bus
Monday, October 24, 2011
Are YOU Doing the Laughing or IS The Laughing Doing YOU?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=B._Todish]B. Todish
Humor is taken so seriously today! Have you noticed that it is getting to be difficult to even be ALLOWED to laugh today? People will judge you when you laugh, they are the "laughter police"! They will check to see if you laughed in a politically correct way, and if you laughed at a politically correct joke! The "laughter police" have been "deputized" by donuts!
Just try to make a motion now, in public, just try raising an eyebrow, let alone laugh, and you may be subjected to the Botox fine: you will subliminally receive a message to go directly, (do not pass go, and do not collect $200.00) to (Botox) jail, so that instead of being able to raise that eyebrow that may POTENTIALLY HURT someone's feelings, you will be unable to do so! If you so much as DARE to cough, or clear your throat in an elevator, or bus, or even in a car with others, or in a taxicab, you will be subjected to the punishment of a scornful scowl and be treated like the "terrorist" you are!
If you DARE to say ANYTHING AT ALL, even if you mention something unexpected, or unpredicted about the weather, then you are causing the listener of "your" weather report to become UNHINGED and you will be made sorry, because THAT IS A PROVOCATION! For how dare you make someone have to deal with anything but what is masterfully PREDICTED on the news! The media knows all! The media show us how to act, how to dress for the weather.
The media shows and models for us how to only speak about what is predictable! The media knows how IMPORTANT it is that we must all GET what we expect from the news, instead of any shocks! Why, if the news told us anything we don't know already, it might cause us to actually react, thus making us UNCOMFORTABLE, and any shock might make us have to FEEL something! This would never do, because we MUST all remain in our NUMB-NUMB comfort zones, or else we may even show some EXPRESSION and then we will have to get our Botox injections sooner, and that will throw off our scheduling, and the kids' play dates, and soccer practices, and this just cannot happen, because meal plans will have to be switched and all!
Speaking of meals, that reminds me, I used to be a vegetarian. Now when I enjoy a pastrami sandwich from one of the Jewish Delis, (after all IS it pastrami if is from anywhere other than a real Jewish deli?) I cry! I cry because I feel so bad ENJOYING the meat, but I cry also because I know that the meat is getting even with me for demanding meat be supplied. I know, instinctively, intuitively, that while I am eating the meat, the meat may be "eating" me back. Pay back time!
B. Todish can be reached at [mailto:btodish@verizon.net]btodish@verizon.net http://www.facebook.com/barbara.todish
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-YOU-Doing-the-Laughing-or-IS-The-Laughing-Doing-YOU?&id=6587035] Are YOU Doing the Laughing or IS The Laughing Doing YOU?
Humor is taken so seriously today! Have you noticed that it is getting to be difficult to even be ALLOWED to laugh today? People will judge you when you laugh, they are the "laughter police"! They will check to see if you laughed in a politically correct way, and if you laughed at a politically correct joke! The "laughter police" have been "deputized" by donuts!
Just try to make a motion now, in public, just try raising an eyebrow, let alone laugh, and you may be subjected to the Botox fine: you will subliminally receive a message to go directly, (do not pass go, and do not collect $200.00) to (Botox) jail, so that instead of being able to raise that eyebrow that may POTENTIALLY HURT someone's feelings, you will be unable to do so! If you so much as DARE to cough, or clear your throat in an elevator, or bus, or even in a car with others, or in a taxicab, you will be subjected to the punishment of a scornful scowl and be treated like the "terrorist" you are!
If you DARE to say ANYTHING AT ALL, even if you mention something unexpected, or unpredicted about the weather, then you are causing the listener of "your" weather report to become UNHINGED and you will be made sorry, because THAT IS A PROVOCATION! For how dare you make someone have to deal with anything but what is masterfully PREDICTED on the news! The media knows all! The media show us how to act, how to dress for the weather.
The media shows and models for us how to only speak about what is predictable! The media knows how IMPORTANT it is that we must all GET what we expect from the news, instead of any shocks! Why, if the news told us anything we don't know already, it might cause us to actually react, thus making us UNCOMFORTABLE, and any shock might make us have to FEEL something! This would never do, because we MUST all remain in our NUMB-NUMB comfort zones, or else we may even show some EXPRESSION and then we will have to get our Botox injections sooner, and that will throw off our scheduling, and the kids' play dates, and soccer practices, and this just cannot happen, because meal plans will have to be switched and all!
Speaking of meals, that reminds me, I used to be a vegetarian. Now when I enjoy a pastrami sandwich from one of the Jewish Delis, (after all IS it pastrami if is from anywhere other than a real Jewish deli?) I cry! I cry because I feel so bad ENJOYING the meat, but I cry also because I know that the meat is getting even with me for demanding meat be supplied. I know, instinctively, intuitively, that while I am eating the meat, the meat may be "eating" me back. Pay back time!
B. Todish can be reached at [mailto:btodish@verizon.net]btodish@verizon.net http://www.facebook.com/barbara.todish
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Are-YOU-Doing-the-Laughing-or-IS-The-Laughing-Doing-YOU?&id=6587035] Are YOU Doing the Laughing or IS The Laughing Doing YOU?
Saturday, October 22, 2011
How to Get the Most Out of Housework and Make It Fun
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Milly_Sapphire]Milly Sapphire
There will surely be a fairly high percentage of people who will endure a feeling of discomfort, displeasure or even pain at the mere whisper of the word "housework". It would be fair to say that most of us consider housework something we would rather put off, get someone else to do or just not even think about it. Having said this I am sure all will agree, it is simply something that has to be done at some time or another. And that's why this article could prove not just an interesting read but hopefully an insightful or even inspiring one as here we look at ways to make what is widely classed as a chore into something that can actually be something that is enjoyable. Maybe we can even turn it into an action or "To Do" we could look forward to? Ok, let's not push it!!
The first trick that comes to mind is playing music. We all have our favourite artists and preferred genres so whether it's rock and roll style or techno house music that gets your feet moving, put it on, turn it up and get into the grove. This can of course be played over the house system if there is one at hand, a PC or laptop or even an mp3 player. If you happen to be outside in the garden for instance there is of course the good old walk man with headphones but of course only when it's safe to do so!
The second brain wave is to grab yourself a hands free phone device. Again as with any of the ideas here, be sure its safe to do so whilst you are in action. Having the hands free with you while you are getting on with the housework can be a little gem of an idea because it's a way of getting those important phone calls done that you did not get around to doing. You could even have a chin wag with your best friend. Hey, they may even be doing the same thing their end too? It's probably a good idea to make sure you have sufficient phone credit cover with this trick though huh!
The third and final idea is an altogether cheeky one but can bring a smile to anyone's face. Hiring the help of naked butlers! Now let's get one thing straight, just because they may be called a naked butler does no way mean they are completely naked! It is widely known that these hunks wear an apron and the not to mention a bow tie of course! Now this can certainly be a super enjoyable way of getting all those ghastly chores done by someone else while you are free to put your feet up, grab your favourite chocolate bar or cup of whatever you love and enjoy the view.
Hopefully there may be at least one thing here that can turn something that may be viewed as a painful chore into a pleasurable experience. Maybe you will have some ideas of your own to share?
Milly Sapphire, Proud mum and wife. Disco queen, chocolate lover and shopping queen. [http://www.meninuniform.co.uk/naked-butlers/]Naked butlers [http://www.meninuniform.co.uk/naked-butlers/]Naked butler
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Get-the-Most-Out-of-Housework-and-Make-It-Fun&id=6571361] How to Get the Most Out of Housework and Make It Fun
There will surely be a fairly high percentage of people who will endure a feeling of discomfort, displeasure or even pain at the mere whisper of the word "housework". It would be fair to say that most of us consider housework something we would rather put off, get someone else to do or just not even think about it. Having said this I am sure all will agree, it is simply something that has to be done at some time or another. And that's why this article could prove not just an interesting read but hopefully an insightful or even inspiring one as here we look at ways to make what is widely classed as a chore into something that can actually be something that is enjoyable. Maybe we can even turn it into an action or "To Do" we could look forward to? Ok, let's not push it!!
The first trick that comes to mind is playing music. We all have our favourite artists and preferred genres so whether it's rock and roll style or techno house music that gets your feet moving, put it on, turn it up and get into the grove. This can of course be played over the house system if there is one at hand, a PC or laptop or even an mp3 player. If you happen to be outside in the garden for instance there is of course the good old walk man with headphones but of course only when it's safe to do so!
The second brain wave is to grab yourself a hands free phone device. Again as with any of the ideas here, be sure its safe to do so whilst you are in action. Having the hands free with you while you are getting on with the housework can be a little gem of an idea because it's a way of getting those important phone calls done that you did not get around to doing. You could even have a chin wag with your best friend. Hey, they may even be doing the same thing their end too? It's probably a good idea to make sure you have sufficient phone credit cover with this trick though huh!
The third and final idea is an altogether cheeky one but can bring a smile to anyone's face. Hiring the help of naked butlers! Now let's get one thing straight, just because they may be called a naked butler does no way mean they are completely naked! It is widely known that these hunks wear an apron and the not to mention a bow tie of course! Now this can certainly be a super enjoyable way of getting all those ghastly chores done by someone else while you are free to put your feet up, grab your favourite chocolate bar or cup of whatever you love and enjoy the view.
Hopefully there may be at least one thing here that can turn something that may be viewed as a painful chore into a pleasurable experience. Maybe you will have some ideas of your own to share?
Milly Sapphire, Proud mum and wife. Disco queen, chocolate lover and shopping queen. [http://www.meninuniform.co.uk/naked-butlers/]Naked butlers [http://www.meninuniform.co.uk/naked-butlers/]Naked butler
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Get-the-Most-Out-of-Housework-and-Make-It-Fun&id=6571361] How to Get the Most Out of Housework and Make It Fun
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Kiss Me - I'm Italian!
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rosalie_Baffilini]Rosalie Baffilini
"Kiss Me, I'm Italian" - that's what it said on the matching t-shirts that were colored red, green, and white (Italian flag colors) that my Ma made my twin brother Tony and I wear to school one day! This wasn't in kindergarten either, it was in fifth grade! Tony saved the day when he beat up a couple of geeks and stole their shirts for us to wear! I'll never forget... That was just one little gem from my adolescence, being from the family I am from. Let me explain: growing up Baffilini is not as infamous as growing up Gotti or Soprano, but is has a certain quality all its own. It seems to me, that I was born into a family where really none of us are what you would call "normal". When I was growing up, one place we absolutely loved to go was Coney Island. My favorite ride was the bumper cars and you know, one day I realized how much they reminded me of my family: each one going their own way and trying to bump into the others to agitate them! I will show you what I am talking about; let me start at the beginning, well sort of...
I was born in Brooklyn in 1973 with a twin brother, Tony who I mentioned earlier. Most of my memories are from the eighties. Back then I wanted to be Madonna. I used to dress like her, sing and record myself and even had my Cabbage Patch Doll dressed just like her! My parents lived in a tiny apartment above a 24 hr. Laundromat in Bensonhurst. Pops worked as a barber and Ma as a part-time hairstylist. When Tony and I were five, Ma had another baby, our little brother Bruno. I think Bruno was allergic to nearly everything from the day he was born. It seems there wasn't anything that didn't make him either sneeze, get a rash, or puke! He peed the bed a lot too and had asthma. Tony and I treated him so meanly back then, we ditched him all the time, but he found a way to exact his revenge on us-sticking boogers to all our stuff! Nasty!
Pops was an orphan, but Ma's family lived over in Middle Village, Queens. My grandparents Nonno and Nonna we called them, ran an Italian bakery. They were immigrants who had arrived in New York shortly after they were married from Genoa, Italy. Ma had two younger siblings: Rosa and Anthony. You may have picked up that that is where she got my and Tony's name from, or in other words she named us after them, we Italians love to honor family by naming children after relatives. Nonno was a sweet, jolly man who loved everyone and everyone loved him, Ma was his favorite. Nonna on the other hand was a spry little woman who was suspicious of everyone; she loved Bruno though because he was a "true Bonzerelli" she said. Bonzerelli was their last name. Nonna hated Pops and Pops hated Nonna, and it had been that way since the day they met. Rosa was only about 5 years older than Tony and I were and always full of attitude. She was jealous of everyone, especially her younger brother Anthony who Nonna simply worshiped.
Anthony was the only son and the youngest child so he got away with murder. He was only about 2 years older than Tony and I. He was good-looking I guess, he always reminded me of Ralph Macchio in the Karate Kid and was slender, whereas Ma and Rosa have always been on the heavy side, well actually Tony, Bruno, Pops and Myself also fit into that description-I guess that's the downside of Italian food-all those carbs! Anthony drove us nuts though, because ever since we were little he would do something naughty and set it up so Tony and I would get blamed for it. Nonna bought his act hook, line and sinker too! She was always sort of jaded towards Tony and I and would always say "Anthony is a good boy, he's going to be a priest some day!" A devout Catholic, Nonna already had her son's future planned. Little did she know though, that Anthony had a whole secret life. Let's just say Uncle Anthony had more than one family that he had ties to...if you get what I mean.
In 1984, a sad thing happened: Nonno died from a heart attack. Nonna decided she could not run the bakery by herself so it was put up for sale. The money from its sale was divided between Ma, Rosa and Anthony. This left us with a bit of a windfall so Ma talked Pops into buying a house. We moved into what turned out to be a former drug dealer's house and it was conveniently located right around the corner from where Nonna lived in Queens. This drove Pops around the bend because it meant she would be stopping by on a daily basis to insult him which she always managed to do; her favorite line was "You ruined my daughter's life!" I think Pops wished she was in the ground instead of Nonno!
It seems like the more time went on, the more weird stuff happened in our family. We were not exactly the Ingalls, let's put it that way! Everything was bizarre in my life at that time: my school, my teachers, our neighbors, and our whole family dynamic in general. Some of the highlights include Rosa marrying a Rastafarian, Anthony becoming a teenaged father and having mob ties(like I hinted at earlier) and the reappearance of Pops' long lost father, who married guess who?-the widowed Nonna! Oh yeah, and Ma ended up having another baby, my little sister Barettta who was born on exactly the same day as my cousin Angie, who is Anthony's daughter. I feel like I was raised in the circus! This is why I have decided to start to chronicle my formative years, because when I think back, it is really funny. I have begun to write a blog about "growing up Baffilini" as a humorous tribute to my family and the eighties in general, you can check it out at rel=nofollow [http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com/]http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com. Hope to see you there, ciao!
Rosalie Baffilini is an Italian-American freelance writer who also works in advertising. She is a native New Yorker with a very interesting family life. She has begun to chronicle the adventures of her wacky family in her blog, "Ahh...That's My Familly...The Baffilinis", where she tells her story of growing up in Queens during the 80s. Check out her hilarious blog at [http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com]http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Kiss-Me---Im-Italian!&id=6597918] Kiss Me - I'm Italian!
"Kiss Me, I'm Italian" - that's what it said on the matching t-shirts that were colored red, green, and white (Italian flag colors) that my Ma made my twin brother Tony and I wear to school one day! This wasn't in kindergarten either, it was in fifth grade! Tony saved the day when he beat up a couple of geeks and stole their shirts for us to wear! I'll never forget... That was just one little gem from my adolescence, being from the family I am from. Let me explain: growing up Baffilini is not as infamous as growing up Gotti or Soprano, but is has a certain quality all its own. It seems to me, that I was born into a family where really none of us are what you would call "normal". When I was growing up, one place we absolutely loved to go was Coney Island. My favorite ride was the bumper cars and you know, one day I realized how much they reminded me of my family: each one going their own way and trying to bump into the others to agitate them! I will show you what I am talking about; let me start at the beginning, well sort of...
I was born in Brooklyn in 1973 with a twin brother, Tony who I mentioned earlier. Most of my memories are from the eighties. Back then I wanted to be Madonna. I used to dress like her, sing and record myself and even had my Cabbage Patch Doll dressed just like her! My parents lived in a tiny apartment above a 24 hr. Laundromat in Bensonhurst. Pops worked as a barber and Ma as a part-time hairstylist. When Tony and I were five, Ma had another baby, our little brother Bruno. I think Bruno was allergic to nearly everything from the day he was born. It seems there wasn't anything that didn't make him either sneeze, get a rash, or puke! He peed the bed a lot too and had asthma. Tony and I treated him so meanly back then, we ditched him all the time, but he found a way to exact his revenge on us-sticking boogers to all our stuff! Nasty!
Pops was an orphan, but Ma's family lived over in Middle Village, Queens. My grandparents Nonno and Nonna we called them, ran an Italian bakery. They were immigrants who had arrived in New York shortly after they were married from Genoa, Italy. Ma had two younger siblings: Rosa and Anthony. You may have picked up that that is where she got my and Tony's name from, or in other words she named us after them, we Italians love to honor family by naming children after relatives. Nonno was a sweet, jolly man who loved everyone and everyone loved him, Ma was his favorite. Nonna on the other hand was a spry little woman who was suspicious of everyone; she loved Bruno though because he was a "true Bonzerelli" she said. Bonzerelli was their last name. Nonna hated Pops and Pops hated Nonna, and it had been that way since the day they met. Rosa was only about 5 years older than Tony and I were and always full of attitude. She was jealous of everyone, especially her younger brother Anthony who Nonna simply worshiped.
Anthony was the only son and the youngest child so he got away with murder. He was only about 2 years older than Tony and I. He was good-looking I guess, he always reminded me of Ralph Macchio in the Karate Kid and was slender, whereas Ma and Rosa have always been on the heavy side, well actually Tony, Bruno, Pops and Myself also fit into that description-I guess that's the downside of Italian food-all those carbs! Anthony drove us nuts though, because ever since we were little he would do something naughty and set it up so Tony and I would get blamed for it. Nonna bought his act hook, line and sinker too! She was always sort of jaded towards Tony and I and would always say "Anthony is a good boy, he's going to be a priest some day!" A devout Catholic, Nonna already had her son's future planned. Little did she know though, that Anthony had a whole secret life. Let's just say Uncle Anthony had more than one family that he had ties to...if you get what I mean.
In 1984, a sad thing happened: Nonno died from a heart attack. Nonna decided she could not run the bakery by herself so it was put up for sale. The money from its sale was divided between Ma, Rosa and Anthony. This left us with a bit of a windfall so Ma talked Pops into buying a house. We moved into what turned out to be a former drug dealer's house and it was conveniently located right around the corner from where Nonna lived in Queens. This drove Pops around the bend because it meant she would be stopping by on a daily basis to insult him which she always managed to do; her favorite line was "You ruined my daughter's life!" I think Pops wished she was in the ground instead of Nonno!
It seems like the more time went on, the more weird stuff happened in our family. We were not exactly the Ingalls, let's put it that way! Everything was bizarre in my life at that time: my school, my teachers, our neighbors, and our whole family dynamic in general. Some of the highlights include Rosa marrying a Rastafarian, Anthony becoming a teenaged father and having mob ties(like I hinted at earlier) and the reappearance of Pops' long lost father, who married guess who?-the widowed Nonna! Oh yeah, and Ma ended up having another baby, my little sister Barettta who was born on exactly the same day as my cousin Angie, who is Anthony's daughter. I feel like I was raised in the circus! This is why I have decided to start to chronicle my formative years, because when I think back, it is really funny. I have begun to write a blog about "growing up Baffilini" as a humorous tribute to my family and the eighties in general, you can check it out at rel=nofollow [http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com/]http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com. Hope to see you there, ciao!
Rosalie Baffilini is an Italian-American freelance writer who also works in advertising. She is a native New Yorker with a very interesting family life. She has begun to chronicle the adventures of her wacky family in her blog, "Ahh...That's My Familly...The Baffilinis", where she tells her story of growing up in Queens during the 80s. Check out her hilarious blog at [http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com]http://baffilinifamily.blogspot.com.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Kiss-Me---Im-Italian!&id=6597918] Kiss Me - I'm Italian!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
21 December 2012: The Day the Earth Dies
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ayden_Ballentine]Ayden Ballentine
The world - as we know it - is going to be destroyed on 21 December 2012.
Take note that I am not saying maybe or it is said or anything like that, I am saying it straight and very clear: The world WILL be destroyed on 21 December 2012.
Doesn't that prove that I am a profit...er, I mean prophet, straight from the portal of er...straight from...wherever prophets come from?
Haha...no, it doesn't. I am NOT a prophet. I am a conspiracy theorist and I call myself Conspiracy Man.
I became Conspiracy Man when the Big Booming Voice suddenly appeared in my head one day and...ere...ok, that is a completely different story. This article is not about that, but about what is going to happen on 21 December 2012.
Let me give you the real facts and not the usual speculation you read on all these other websites.
I, Conspiracy Man (loud echo), is the only one who knows the truth.
People think that only one thing is going to happen on 21 December 2012 that will destroy the world as we know it. That is simply not true. There is basically no single event that can destroy our world. No, sisters and brothers, you have to get up very early in the morning to destroy the whole world. Out earth is one tough cookie.
But...
On 1 December 2012 such a lot of disasters are going to struck earth all at the same time, that we have no chance of survival. No, chance at all. When all those disasters strike at the same time, namely 10:00 on 21 December 2012, the earth will crack like an egg.
OK, some of us will survive, because some of us - namely me, Conspiracy Man (loud echo),- is building a titanium underground hiding place, where I am going to sit out the cataclysm while drinking Coke and playing Need For Speed on my Xbox 360. (And by the way, watching and laughing at people who are laughing and scoffing at articles like this, through my video-wall, built into my titanium underground hiding place.)
Others will survive, because they will be safe in giant arks - being built in the Himalayas by the Chinese even as you read this - when disaster struck. For you who now want to rush to get their names on the list, hold on; you are going to need to pay one billion euros up front before your name will be listed. (By the way, this was not stolen from the plot of the movie 2012. 2012 was made to portray the real building of the giant arks in the Himalayas, so that any conspiracy theorist who writes about it, will be called a fool, because people will say it comes from the plot of a movie. Can you see how clever the Illuminati is?)
After these disasters about 8 percent of the world's population will be left alive. We will have to rebuild the world from less than scratch.
Not a pretty picture...not a pretty picture at all...
I have done a lot of studying and collecting of information about the 2012 cataclysm:
I laid my sticky fingers on highly classified, secret photos that the powers ruling this world don't want you to see.
Why is 2012 going to happen?
Who predicted 2012 the first time and how did they know it to be true?
What exactly is going to happen on 21 December 2012? It is more than one disaster, but what exactly are those disasters?
Is there anything you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones on that faithful day?
How is the current recession connected to 21 December 2012?
How is the current crisis in the Middle East and in other Arabic speaking nations connected to 21 December 2012?
Why is Muamar Gadhafi a key figure in the 21 December 2012 cataclysm? Just think about it for a second, he has always been living in a tent, no matter where he went. I have found out why.
Watch this space as the clock keeps on ticking...
Ayden Ballentine
Visit my website at http://2012thetruth.scienceontheweb.net/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?21-December-2012:-The-Day-the-Earth-Dies&id=6613615] 21 December 2012: The Day the Earth Dies
The world - as we know it - is going to be destroyed on 21 December 2012.
Take note that I am not saying maybe or it is said or anything like that, I am saying it straight and very clear: The world WILL be destroyed on 21 December 2012.
Doesn't that prove that I am a profit...er, I mean prophet, straight from the portal of er...straight from...wherever prophets come from?
Haha...no, it doesn't. I am NOT a prophet. I am a conspiracy theorist and I call myself Conspiracy Man.
I became Conspiracy Man when the Big Booming Voice suddenly appeared in my head one day and...ere...ok, that is a completely different story. This article is not about that, but about what is going to happen on 21 December 2012.
Let me give you the real facts and not the usual speculation you read on all these other websites.
I, Conspiracy Man (loud echo), is the only one who knows the truth.
People think that only one thing is going to happen on 21 December 2012 that will destroy the world as we know it. That is simply not true. There is basically no single event that can destroy our world. No, sisters and brothers, you have to get up very early in the morning to destroy the whole world. Out earth is one tough cookie.
But...
On 1 December 2012 such a lot of disasters are going to struck earth all at the same time, that we have no chance of survival. No, chance at all. When all those disasters strike at the same time, namely 10:00 on 21 December 2012, the earth will crack like an egg.
OK, some of us will survive, because some of us - namely me, Conspiracy Man (loud echo),- is building a titanium underground hiding place, where I am going to sit out the cataclysm while drinking Coke and playing Need For Speed on my Xbox 360. (And by the way, watching and laughing at people who are laughing and scoffing at articles like this, through my video-wall, built into my titanium underground hiding place.)
Others will survive, because they will be safe in giant arks - being built in the Himalayas by the Chinese even as you read this - when disaster struck. For you who now want to rush to get their names on the list, hold on; you are going to need to pay one billion euros up front before your name will be listed. (By the way, this was not stolen from the plot of the movie 2012. 2012 was made to portray the real building of the giant arks in the Himalayas, so that any conspiracy theorist who writes about it, will be called a fool, because people will say it comes from the plot of a movie. Can you see how clever the Illuminati is?)
After these disasters about 8 percent of the world's population will be left alive. We will have to rebuild the world from less than scratch.
Not a pretty picture...not a pretty picture at all...
I have done a lot of studying and collecting of information about the 2012 cataclysm:
I laid my sticky fingers on highly classified, secret photos that the powers ruling this world don't want you to see.
Why is 2012 going to happen?
Who predicted 2012 the first time and how did they know it to be true?
What exactly is going to happen on 21 December 2012? It is more than one disaster, but what exactly are those disasters?
Is there anything you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones on that faithful day?
How is the current recession connected to 21 December 2012?
How is the current crisis in the Middle East and in other Arabic speaking nations connected to 21 December 2012?
Why is Muamar Gadhafi a key figure in the 21 December 2012 cataclysm? Just think about it for a second, he has always been living in a tent, no matter where he went. I have found out why.
Watch this space as the clock keeps on ticking...
Ayden Ballentine
Visit my website at http://2012thetruth.scienceontheweb.net/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?21-December-2012:-The-Day-the-Earth-Dies&id=6613615] 21 December 2012: The Day the Earth Dies
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