Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Your Own Personal Gesture

Think about this - you walk into a room and lift up your hand, palm-up, to all in view. You then begin to make small circular motions with your cupped hand and the crowd applauds.

That's what the Pope does. So why should he alone have access to a personal gesture that is identifiable and fun? He shouldn't. I propose that we all create and trademark our own personal gesture. It may or may not involve the hands. Think of it as your personalized Touchdown dance for anytime you choose.

I know of several already. For instance, I can regularly be seen standing, leaning slightly over with my knee cocked out, dangling one arm and letting the other hang still. This is a stance that many recognize. As of today consider it trademarked and called "the Swain".

I know that several people will emulate my great gesture and that's Ok - it's all part of the fun! So what will yours be?

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Large vs.Schloggin

A New Measuring System

The problem with our current weights and measures system is that it is not flexible. When I want a cup of water I want a lot more than 12 ounces. Have you seen the serving sizes on the side of a cereal box? I laugh when I think I am eating 15 servings of chips with my dinner. But if you look at the measuring system being used, that is what it says.

What we need is a more open system for measuring our foods and liquids. If I walk up to a Subway counter and ask for a sub I don’t want a 6” or a Foot Long I want them to size me up and say hmmm, you need at least 9” of sandwich here. My wife may only need a 4” sandwich, why should we be relegated to the portions by some mystifying measuring process?

When I get a beverage I want to get exactly what I need. Not a “small” coke or “large” milk. I want the amount I know I will need to work with my personal eating style. What if we came up with new measuring terms that better explain what we want without limiting our portion in any way? How about “schloggin.”

A Schloggin would represent just how much a given person needs for that meal based upon size and eating type. My schloggin of milk will be larger than my wife’s schloggin of milk. Conversely, my wife’s schloggin of green tea will be much larger than mine. When we start using terms that represent need rather than some one’s rigid rules about what measurement has to be we will all be happier.

So lift high your schloggin of grape juice, and toast to the new era of weights and measures. That way you can enjoy a “substantial” amount of food. Hungry Man TV dinners has it right!