Contagious Weight Loss

It's about time, the funk soul brother.

We've started a new meme, and call it "Contagious Weight Loss". It's about losing weight leveraging the higher powers of visualization, and supporting others using this process. It's a private club, and Mystery Dinner Guest, C.R. and M.F. are all embarking on it together as the premier members.

You see, the piles in the closet were getting bigger, the pants from last spring that the dryer went to town on were multiplying. We needed to make a change. A change that's going to last. That's where Contagious Weight Loss walks in the door.

We've set out weight goals. This action is of primary importance. If you don't know what you're goal is, your mind has a very hard time seeing it. Um, Duh. How can you win the race when you don't know where the finish line is?

We set an event into place for when we achieve our goals, we can already see it. We're already achieving it in the future.

I've got an outfit planned for the event, white tank top, grey sweat pants, and a towel I'm gonna wear around my neck. Perfect for running up the steps from Rocky in Philly, PA. We're gonna be there!

Game On!

A Plea From Claude...

So, normally I wouldn't do this, but Claude has begged that he please have a bit of reprieve from the constant comparisons to the Hollywood over-and-already-done-with crowd. He's really a bit down in the dumps at this point, and is still having a difficult recovery from his Jackson P. attack. The latest Britney comment might have been the one that put him over the edge.

Please, give Claude some space at this delicate time. He's also a little bit shaken by the confusing events of last evenings television broadcast, where he swears he saw Tucker Carlson sporting a full length tie. A WHAT? That's right. Claude's whole world turned upside down just like that.

Peace Out.

Thanks Distilled! Wikipedia-Less Google for the Masses

It's been brought to MDG's attention there's a new way to search using Google! It seems our wishes have been granted, finally, a way to get Google search results without having to wade through buckets full of Wikipedia links. The talented and fun group of folks over at Distilled, in the UK, have developed a neat little plug-in for Firefox, which allows you to search Google sans Wikipedia.

Wikipedia seems to have risen in its incredible wiki-strength in Google, to a level of super sys admin, or David Beckham and Posh, or some kind of crazy bitch slapping hurricane all out of control like. We are just looking for a way to tame the beast, opt out of wiki results, turn off the wiki-ality.

For you fans in the UK, they're close to releasing a Google UK version... as well as considering a similar plug-in for removing eBay results. Sweet!

We are thrilled, and so, so thankful. Thanks Distilled, you guys rock the house!!!

Yours Truly,
MDG, Claude, and the Citizens in Search of a Wikiless Google

Rebuttal from Claude (ooohhhhhh and He is Pissed!)

Oh my stars, my ears ache! The abuse I had to endure yesterday, after coming home from the market and having to relay my conversation where blasphemous statements were heard, like "Claude's finished, he's done, he's like Cher!" and "Nobody knows him, he should hang it up". I mean, it was all I could do to keep tabs of the former celeb list he was getting compared to, names like Barry Manillo, and Chachi. Oh wait a minute, didn't I see a reality TV show starring Scott Baoi just last night? Ummm, so, right then and carry on. And it's just a matter of time before we hear about Cher making a million on eBay, selling her locks or leather ass chaps.

So we did have round two conversation, where I tried my best to rebut for Claude. He was beside himself, drowning in sorrows that were only just setting in. And, then snap! The worst of the celeb comparisons yet, "He's like Britney".

Good god dang! I aint got no rebuttal on that one. Claude's down for the count now, KO.

If you want to send Claude a kind note, the Comments are now open. Peace out, MDG

Ardeo - Mediterranean Bistro

With the recent Fourth of July already past us, the summer is cruising by at an alarmingly fast speed. With all the bustle of the summer, in came a new restaurant to Brewster, Ardeo. Ardeo has locations on the Cape now in Brewster, South Yarmouth, Yarmouth, and Hyannis.

Ardeo is a Mediterranean style bistro, set in the building where Square One Bistro was last summer. The interior looks almost exactly the same as Square One's, though the art on the wall may have changed. The outside has a nice patio with umbrellas set up on it, and is right along the bike path... looks like a nice stop for lunch if you're doing a long ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, and passing through Brewster. The front of the building has a smaller, square shaped dining area and bar built in against the far wall. There are about 6-8 chairs at the bar for dining and drinking. The back of the restaurant has a larger, more rectangular shaped yellow dining area with larger tables and seating for groups as well as couples and singles.

The menu is eclectic, and there's a variety of appetizers, wood stone pizzas, salads, burgers and more. We tried the Middle East Mezza appetizer to share for the table. The Mezza is a great medley of stuffed grapes, hummus, tabouli, baba ghannouj, cucumber yogurt served with sliced pita bread. The flavors are really authentic middle eastern, and it was all very fresh and refreshing.

We also tried and liked the wood stone pizzas, they were delicious and served up on the table, resting on top of giant tomatoe cans plastered in Ardeo stickers as disguise & PR. Again, everything tasted muy fresh.

It's nice to have a different choice for a restaurant in Brewster, the pickings can be slim and there is always room and open arms for more restaurants to come this way...

At the end of the day, here are the important questions Claude would ask:

1. Can you get all kinds of hammered in the place?
   Well, I guess so but wouldn't recommend it.
   
2. Howza bout dropping the f-bombs like mad?
   Probably not going to fly so well, but a few could likely pass.
   
3. Am I gonna walk out of there still hungry or roll out?
   Somewhere in the middle to the roll out side of the spectrum.
   

Welcome Home Alan Johnston

We are beyond thrilled, grateful and relieved to hear the news that Alan Johnston has been released in the Gaza Strip! The BBC Journalist was kidnapped and held in captivity for four months, and released on July 4th, 2007। We are so happy for Alan and his family for his safe return. Welcome home.

To read more on Alan Johnston, please see the BBC web site page devoted to him.