The Essence of Cool
Published July 31st, 2009 | 
I’m not really the kind of guy who you’d ever see wearing tuxedos. But when I was a kid, I fantasized about being James Bond ( or Doctor Who — well, someone cool and British, anyway). The point is, somewhere along the line I accepted the fact that I’d never be cool (or British). Somehow, that realization that I’d never be cool and being okay with that, kind of made me cool. That’s the problem. We’re indoctrinated early to equate being popular with being cool. But the essence of cool is not doing what is popular or seeking to be popular. Cool is being who you truly are and not caring what the crowd thinks about it.
Lit Fun #2: Fetch Me My Death Shroud
Published July 29th, 2009 | cam.bric \?k?m-brik\ noun. 1 : a fine thin white linen fabric 2 : a cotton fabric that resembles cambric
— Merriam-Webster
Most people do not use this word today (or, at least, it’s fallen from the common vocabulary), however, if you’ve ever purchased upolstery at say, cabric fabric stores, you may well have cambric lining your couch. Cambric is a word derived from the Dutch word, Kamerijk and named for the French town, Cambrai. The word first came into fashion in 1530 when King Henry VIII commissioned a number of shirts made from this fabric. It was also commonly used for death shrouds — most famously referenced in the folk ballad, “Scarborough Fair” later adapted into a song by Simon & Garfunkel:
Tell her to make me a cambric shirt
(Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme)
Without no seams, nor needlework;
Then she’ll be a true love of mine.
The word, “Cambric” is also referenced in other literary works through the ages. A poem by Emily Dickenson comes to mind:
The Beggar Lad — dies early –
It’s Somewhat in the Cold –
And Somewhat in the Trudging feet –
And haply, in the World –
The Cruel — smiling — bowing World –
That took its Cambric Way –
Nor heard the timid cry for “Bread” –
“Sweet Lady — Charity” –
Among Redeemed Children
If Trudging feet may stand
The Barefoot time forgotten — so –
The Sleet — the bitter Wind –
The Childish Hands that teased for Pence
Lifted adoring — them –
To Him whom never Ragged — Coat
Did supplicate in vain –
as does the title of the novel The Cambric Mask (written in 1899 and later adapted into a silent film version in 1919) by Robert W. Chambers, an author of romances, dark fantasy and historical fiction who, though quite successful in his day, is all but forgotten now.
The word also appeared in a number of war poems that used the word much like “Scarborough Fair” to reference the fabric’s use as a death shroud or death image.
How Much is Your Family’s Safety Worth?
Published July 28th, 2009 | You read it in the newspaper nearly everyday: someone gets shot and killed during a home invasion. There are several options for home security available — for example, you can purchase handgun or a guard dog. Unfortunately, you are statistically more likely to have a family member shot by that handgun than to shoot an intruder. And, as for guard dogs, they cost a lot to keep alive. You have to feed them and take them to the vet. A better solution would be a home security system. HomeSecurityFamily.com is offering a free security system when you sign-up for ADT home security monitoring. Not only is it cheaper than a guard dog and safer than a handgun, but you can save money on your house insurance as well.
