those times turning away
walking away, out of gaze
seems the way to go
at times like these
away, surely, distantly
walking with unsteady nerves
without sun, without moon
accompanying decency in bloom
overpowered by silent movement
home between land and sky
touching neither
living with both
just sometimes,
we are truly alone
waiting for now
longing for the end
only the minutest of things
breaks the greatest of spells
-that is when we touch,
the individuality of the whole

In 'praise' of Britain
Many an early wooden bathtub was fitted with a shelf across the middle to hold food and drink. Oval in shape, said tub was designed so two people could face each other over the shelf, and dine. The practice was practical, to get the maximum out of a minimum of hot water. But it fell out of favour when Queen Victoria moved the morality of the western world.

If we take our cue from apes, rosy cheeks are crucial in the dating game, says a new study. Scientists at Stirling University in Great Britain have found that primates prefer mates with red faces. A rosy glow might also act as a similar cue in humans, say the British researchers, sending a message of good health. They speculate that it could explain why women use blusher.

The British eat twice as many baked beans per head as Americans do.

Some 80,000 umbrellas are lost annually on the London Underground.

There are over 30,000 John Smiths in Britain.

In 1945, a flock of starlings landed on the minute hand of Big Ben and put the time back by five minutes.

Britain is the only country in the world which doesn’t have the country’s name in its postage stamps.

Nowhere in Britain is more than 74½ miles from the sea.

In 1990, the Football League banned Scarborough from wearing shirts advertising Black Death vodka on the grounds of bad taste.

Leicester City went through an entire FA Cup tie with Northampton Town in 1997 without committing a single foul. Leicester won 4-0. (Was Robbie Savage playing for Leicester in 1997????)

In 'praise' of men

Man is the only animal who'll eat with an enemy.

In men the hypothalamus (small organ near the brain stem) is larger than in most women. When provoked, the hypothalamus heightens rage, thirst, hunger and desire; possibly explaining boys' more rambunctious behavior.

Studies by Dr. Karl F. Robinson of Northwestern University reportedly prove that men change their minds two or three times more often than do women.

When a man buys flowers, if ever, he tends to pick red. A woman, though, is inclined to go for pink, or blue, or whatever off-hue is at hand.

Men like to barbecue. Men will cook if danger is involved.

Men are very confident people. Guys are so confident that when they watch sports on television, they think that if they concentrate they can help their team.

Men like phones with lots of buttons. It makes them feel important.

Men love to be the first to read the newspaper in the morning. Not being the first is upsetting to their psyches.

Men are sensitive in strange ways. If a man has built a fire and the last log does not burn, he will take it personally.

Men have higher body temperatures than women. If your heating goes out in winter, I recommend sleeping next to a man. Men are like portable heaters that snore.

Most men hate to shop. That's why the men's department is usually on the first floor of a department store, two inches from the door.

When four or more men get together, they talk about sports. (When four or more women get together, they talk about men.)

Getting rid of a man without hurting his masculinity is a problem. "Get out" and "I never want to see you again" might sound like a challenge. If you want to get rid of a man, I suggest saying, "I love you... I want to marry you... I want to have your children." Sometimes they leave skid marks.

Men forget everything; women remember everything..that's why men need instant replays in sports. They've already forgotten what happened.

In 'praise' of women

Women can talk longer with less effort than can men. That has been proved repeatedly. Why? Because the vocal cords of women are shorter than those of men and so release less air through them to carry the sound. It's all a matter of breathing.

The average woman uses up approximately her height in lipstick every five years.

Ladies, do you daub perfume between each of your toes? It's a matter of record that Cleopatra did. When she set out to meet Mark Anthony, history records, she even sprinkled perfume all over the sails of her barge.

It's commonly believed a man picks out a wife who reminds him of his mother while a woman picks out a husband who reminds her of her father. But that's not right. Recent research indicates both the man and the woman are most influenced in their selection of matrimonial mates by their mothers. If a woman regards her mother as stern, she's likely to go for a stern husband. If she thinks of her mother as gentle, she looks for a gentle husband. The father of the bride or groom just doesn't have all that much to do with it, poor fellow.

{It turns out we all have a little something in common with Narcissus—the mythical fellow who fell in love with his own reflection. Scientists at the University of Liverpool recently concluded that our brains favor people with familiar faces. The research team asked over 200 participants to view a number of digitally altered human faces. They found that subjects preferred the features they found the most familiar—whether that means his or her own visage or that of a family member. This may explain that common phenomenon of couples looking like they could be siblings.}

King Ferrand of Portugal was held captive from 1213 to 1226 by the Turks. They demanded ransom, but Portugal's Queen Jeanne refused to pay for her husband's return. She had beaten him in a chess game, and he had therefore hit her on the nose with his fist. It upset her considerably. (Perhaps this is why many women don't play chess, and why we need to deal with pent-up anger before the game begins.)

All the women in the world put together weigh just about 85 per cent as much as all the men.

Women's hemlines go up as the economy gets better. They stay put when nothing happens in commerce. They go down when business drops off. Questions is why. Nobody knows why, evidently, but the record indicates the pattern dates back more than 65 years.

Whether women actually need more sleep than men is not the point. The truth is they take more sleep- ordinarily, an average of 52 minutes more during each 24 hours - according to a recent survey.

Psychological studies show conclusively that, while emergencies tend to upset a woman more, in a real crisis she is likely to remain calmer than the average male.

There's a curious difference in the ways that single girls and bachelors pick their romantic partners. The girl might have a dozen boyfriends, none of whom seems to be like another or anything like the sort of fellow she eventually winds up marrying. But the young bachelor is inclined to select all his ladyfriends, including finally his wife, for their similar qualities.

It's reported that more than 10,000 marriages a year now are directly traceable to romances which begin during coffee breaks.

The matrimonial pollsters contend their studies indicate the man who kisses his wife good-bye when he leaves for work every morning averages a higher income than does the fellow who doesn't do that thing. Husbands who exercise the rituals of affection tend to be more painstaking, more stable, more methodical, thus higher earners, it's believed.

2 out of 5 have married their first love.
Only 4% asked the parents' approval for their bride's hand.
1 in 5 men proposed on his knees
6% propose over the phone. (And what percentage said yes?)

The heart is the most common symbol of romantic love. Ancient cultures believed the human soul lived in the heart. Others thought it to be the source of emotion and intelligence. Some believed the heart embodied a man's truth, strength and nobility. The heart may be associated with love because the ancient Greeks believed it was the target of Eros, known as Cupid to the Romans. Anyone shot in the heart by one of Cupid's arrows would fall hopelessly in love. Because the heart is so closely linked to love, it's red color is thought to be the most romantic.

Marital quarrels hit their peak in July. If you've kept notes on your spouse's temper-or yours-they'll confirm it. July is also tops for riots, criminal violence and hasty legislation. Oppressive heat and consequent loss of temper control are the causes.

source

All your dreams are stained
When you're struck by (your) mirror with (your) bed unmade
Today's the day that all the world will see
Another runny afternoon
(I'm) vomiting to the sound of your favourite tune
Tomorrow never knows what it doesn't throw (up) too soon

Need a little time to throw up
Need a little time to throw up throw up
Need a little time to throw up
Need a little time to rest your mind
You know you should so I guess you might as well

What's the story chicken tandoori
Well
(you) need a little time to throw up
Throw up well
What's the story chicken tandoori
Well
Need a little time to throw up
Throw up

All your dreams are stained
When you're stuck to (your) mirror with (your) bed unmade
Today's the day that all the world will see
Another runny afternoon
(I'm) vomiting to the sound of your favourite tune
Tomorrow never knows what it doesn't throw (up) too soon

Need a little time to throw up
Need a little time to throw up throw up
Need a little time to throw up
Need a little time to rest your mind
You know you should so I guess you might as well

What's the story chicken tandoori
Well
(you) need a little time to throw up
Throw up well
What's the story chicken tandoori
Well
Need a little time to throw up
Throw up

Well

Need a little time to throw up

Well

Whats the story chicken tandoori

Well

Need a little time to throw up

Well

What's the story chicken tandoori

Well

I dedicate this to my 'friend' who brought me a Bangladeshi chicken tandoori, 'xtreme spice' last night, for a laugh...such humour, (twelve 'added' red hot chillies), nearly put me into orbit!

I can say, for once in my life, I survived, (just), the spiciest takeaway in the place...but not by choice...for a time during those dim hours, death seemed the better option...a bit like seasickness where, as fate would have it, all those seafaring conquerors are seated right next to you!

(By the way, I do love all Indian foods, and spice...but only the top-of-the-chart very hot spice is off limits!)

Anyone else care to share a like story?