Sleep, sleep, sleep…that wonderful feeling when our head hits the pillow and we drift off to the land of nod. When we actually stop to think about it, sleep is an insane concept. One third of our entire lives are spent in this altered state with our eyes closed. We are completely oblivious to the outside world and yet sleep is not empty. Instead it is full of that inner universe our dreams and subconscious create. Whatever sleep and dreams are, they form a huge part of our lives. In simple terms, sleep can be seen as a magical mix of unusual dreams and recharging our bodily batteries for another day. However, to make things even more captivating, here are seven crazy facts about life under the covers…

What the Duck?

Ducks are no ordinary sleepers. In fact, these curious critters are masters at sleeping with one eye open. Except for a minor alteration… they actually sleep with ‘one brain open’. To ensure their survival, ducks can keep one half of their brain awake while the other half is asleep.  Just imagine if we could do this, power naps at the office would be a walk in the park!

Ladies Night

Now, this evidence isn’t concrete, but there are a fair number of studies that suggest women need up to an hour’s extra shut-eye compared to men. You women may even be more susceptible to depression if you don’t nab this extra hour, so keep your head down and your chin up!

Young at Heart

Older people can deal with sleep deprivation better than younger people, with 18-24 year olds much more likely to suffer from impaired performance due to lack of sleep than their older, wiser counterparts. However, it could be due to all that sleeping the oldies do when they’re pretending to watch TV.

Wired on Wireless

The world’s leading experts in sleep research believe that one of the greatest distractions from our sleepy havens is the internet and its relentless 24/7 distraction capabilities.

Kept in the Dark

Practically everything we know about sleep has come from research conducted over the last quarter of a century. Just imagine what we’ll know in 25 years from now!

Final Snore

Around 1 in 10 serial snorers actually have sleep apnea, which is a condition that can cause sufferers to stop breathing up to 300 times in just one night’s sleep. This disorder greatly increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

From Stressed to Dressed

If you’re one of those people who seems to wake up on time without an alarm clock, then chances are you’re making use of your ‘in-built alarm clock’, which is really just a healthy injection of the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin into you’re your bloodstream. Apparently, this chemical injection reflects the unconscious anticipation of the stress caused by waking up!

Stuart Withers is an internet author and online marketing whiz kid, who’s also a bit of a self-proclaimed ‘sleep junkie’. If he’s not typing, painting, or helping a business with their online marketing, then expect to find him neatly tucked away under a duvet somewhere. He recommends Landmark Linen, just because they sell mattress enhancers, which,  quite frankly, are awesome!

Writing this post might date me a bit, but when I was in high school, one of my favorite places to go was European Connection. A lot of you probably have never heard of it. That’s because, much to my dismay, it’s gone out of business. They made crepes that are to die for. The way they flavored their crepes was amazing. They had a distinctly sweet flavor without being too overwhelming. The texture was just a touch crisp on the outside while moist on the inside. The way they made their crepes seemed to bring out the flavor of whatever you had inside your crepe, be it sweet or savory. Even as I write this, my mouth is salivating at the memory!

I went there a few times a week. Anyone I introduced to the restaurant would instantly become addicted. Yeah – they really were that good. But they slowly went out of business. The first one to close down was the location closest to me (I know, right?). Then the ones that were further away closed down a few years later. I’m really not sure why. I can testify that the location nearest me had a steady flow of customers.

There were other crepe restaurants and delis that opened up, but I just couldn’t be satisfied by them. Sometimes, the crepes would be too soggy or they were too bland. I was getting depressed and losing hope that I would ever get a satisfying crepe fix. However, last weekend was my birthday, and my husband took me to a crepe place that we hadn’t tried yet. I was cautiously optimistic as I looked over the menu. The smells emanating from the back proved appetizing, so I went a head and ordered a savory crepe as well as a dessert crepe.

The verdict? Delicious! The crepes had a fabulous flavor to them. And while they didn’t quite capture that crispy texture that I love so much, they were very well cooked. I had what the menu called “The City Hunter”. It was kind of like a BLT, but with a blend of cream cheese, BBQ sauce and ranch dressing (I know, I know – the calories! Needless to say, I gained a little weight over the weekend.). It may sound like a bit much, but the flavors combined so perfectly to give it a spicy richness that was incredible.

And the dessert crepe? Oh yeah, baby! They have regular dessert crepes with Nutella, strawberries, or lemon custard, but I went for one of the gourmet crepes. It was the Chocolate Tiramisu crepe. Their Tiramisu was divine, combined with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. (There may have been other stuff in there, but I couldn’t identify them.) I left their little establishment quite full and unbelievably pleased. No doubt we’ll be eating there again soon.

It’s called Savory and Sweet, and it’s owned by a couple who moved here from Canada. They also served something called Asian Ice, but we didn’t indulge so I can’t say how great those were. But Asian Ice looks a lot like regular ice cream except it’s made in a very unique way. They also have a pasta menu and a tea menu for those who like to stick to something a little more conservative.

So, happy birthday to me! I finally found a European Connection substitute. 🙂 Anyone who’s looking for a great place to eat out, you’ve got to try Savory and Sweet.

(Pics from Savory and Sweet’s site.)

You may be wondering why I’m having this guest post today. Well, I have Danish ancestry and therefore love to visit their history and see who else fares from that country. I grew up going to annual Scandinavian festivals and became quite proud of my heritage. So, enjoy!

As one of the smaller European countries, Denmark does not have a particularly high profile on the international size due to its small size. However, this Scandinavian nation is raising its profile slowly but surely, due in no small part to its long history of contribution to the arts, fashion and film industries. In fact, the list of famous Danes is longer than you may think.

Actors and Musicians

For a small nation with a population of only 5.5 million, Denmark’s contribution to the film industry is enormous. Viggo Mortensen, who starred as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings movies has a Danish father and identifies himself as Danish, and other famous Danish names from the movie world include Brigitte Nielsen, who has carved a niche for herself in reality television. In pop music, Danish groups have had huge success on the international stage, with acts such as Aqua, the Cartoons and Whigfield having those irritating Europop hits that remind people of their summer holidays.

Sport

All Scandinavian nations have great success in the world of sport, and the Danes are no exception. Danish football clubs regularly compete at the highest levels in European football competitions, and the national squad has had success at an international level too. Famous Danish footballers include Nicklas Bendtner who plays for Arsenal and Peter Schmeichel, the former Manchester United goalkeeper. Caroline Wozniacki, the former world number one in women’s tennis, is also Danish. Although not strictly speaking a sport, ballroom dancing is popular in Denmark and Camilla Dallerup who stars in Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1 is from Denmark too.

Design and Invention

There is a long history and tradition of design and invention in all of the Scandinavian nations and it is fair to say that Denmark is definitely punching above its weight. Names such as Poul Henningsen, Rigmor Andersen and Arne Vodder are certainly not household names, but their work in the field of furniture design has strongly influenced the way we live today. Over the past few years the Scandinavian “look” of pale wood, simple lines and light, airy interiors has been very popular as it is easily adapted to most homes in the UK. Rice homewares is a Danish based firm who has embraced this trend and is producing a range of quirky, individual items for the home. There are many other firms like Rice homewares, all of whom are selling their products to both a local and worldwide audience.

Other Famous Danes

Although now based in the USA, supermodel Helena Christensen was born and raised in Copenhagen, as did Ove Arup, the engineer who founded the multinational company which bears his name. Ole Kirk Christiansen may not be a household name, but there are not many children who have never played with the product he invented, Lego. Skype, the software which is used by millions to talk to each other over the internet was invented by Dane Janus Friis and several much-loved fairy tales were written by Hans Christian Andersen.

Citations:

• Bengt Nyman

On the Olive Loves Alfie website you can find quirky interior design products such as the Danish Rice Homewares range.

From the ancient Greeks of 400 B.C.E. to modern society in 2012, comedy has become an integral part of our culture and has greatly evolved from its simplistic origins.

Ancient Comedy: The Beginning

All of the comedy we know today began as satirical plays of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks would hold festivals to allow the great playwrights of their time like Euripides and Aristophanes to display their well-written tragic plays to the Greek people. Watching tragic plays consistently would be very depressing and sad for the audience, so the festival would conclude with a lighter, more humorous act. This act was called a satyr play.

These satyr plays would feature a half-man, half-goat creature called a Satyr. He was usually very drunk, clumsy, and unintelligent. The character would poke fun at Greek society or political leaders of the time. Greek playwrights pushed the limits of that time’s common entertainment. They would shock audiences with rude and demeaning humor, and that’s how these ancient comedies became popular. They would cause such great controversy that it would attract many viewers to attend one of these comic plays.

Shakespeare Takes Over

During the fifteenth and sixteenth century, Shakespeare took over the comedy scene. Unlike modern comedy, Shakespearean comedy didn’t really contain low humor. His comedy plays usually ended with a happy ending. He used a more light-hearted style than his darker tragic plays. He focused on clever puns and conflicting plots to keep the audience entertained. Unlike modern low comedy, his comedy required wit and intelligence to interpret.

Problem plays were the most common type of play used by Shakespeare. He liked intertwining plots to confuse the characters and use irony as a key element. Dramatic irony would keep the audience entertained and keep the actors themselves confused.

Slapstick Comedy

The biggest icons of the early 1900s were Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. They made silent black and white films that would be forced to make the audience laugh without using words. Slapstick comedy involved exaggerated physical actions like the most popular pie in the face gag.

Slapstick comedy appealed to the masses because of its simplicity and low humor. It is one of the most simplistic forms of entertainment and remains a key component to comedy today. Vaudeville entertainment featuring Chaplin and Keaton became a hit, and it was a very cheap form of entertainment that allowed struggling Americans to view the films during the times of the Great Depression.

By the 1930s and 40s, talking pictures became the next big thing in the movie industry. This led to a decrease in silent slapstick comedies because the masses were so impressed by the talking pictures. These talking pictures required more creativity in plot development and script writing because physical comedy just wouldn’t cut it anymore.

Modern Day Comedy

Pop culture has become a key subject of modern comedy. Comedians poke fun at celebrities, political icons, and athletes. Movies commonly refer to current events or pop culture icons to appeal to the masses. Also, television has evolved with the times and sitcoms can be found on nearly every channel on television.

Stand-up comedy has also become a popular form of entertainment in America. The brave comedian single-handedly takes the stage and makes jokes about common subjects and current events. The audience appreciates the wit and humor displayed by the stand-up comedian.

As complex as modern comedy may seem, it can all be traced back to its historic origins.

Written by Randy Edwards, social media analyst and prankster from ComedyKnockout

The book I’m reviewing today is kind of special. Want to know why? Because it’s not out yet. But I was privileged because my publisher let me and some fellow authors get a sneak peak.

Big in Japan, by Jennifer Griffith is about a man from Texas who visits Japan. Buck is over six and a half feet tall, overweight, with blond hair and blue eyes. Can you guess what happens when he’s over there? He becomes a sumo wrestler.

I don’t want to give much more than that away, if I can. I think you’ll agree with me that the premise alone is very interesting. As I read this novel, I was highly entertained. The narration is light and witty, and it has an easy flow, making this book a fast read.

But don’t go in expecting only funny entertainment. I wouldn’t call it a “popcorn novel” (I know – that term applies to movies much better, but it’s the term I’ve become accustomed to using). It also carries an intensity. Big in Japan shows the darker side of sumo through Buck’s eyes. We see how the hierarchy of sumo wrestlers works and how it is abused. I couldn’t believe some of the things that the amateur wrestlers had to go through. Most of them are beaten daily, their accommodations make a cow’s barn look luxurious, and they’re supposed to feel honored for being able to participate in this sacred sport.

Of course, what would a book be without a villain? There’s a few different obstacles thrown in Buck’s direction. I thought the most interesting was the Japanese Sumo Association. It was like the equivalent of a government conspiracy. Very nice touch, there, Griffith!

I have never seen a lot of sumo wrestling, so when I picked up this book, I was quickly educated. Griffith was able to highlight the basics of sumo while still entertaining the reader and not making it feel like they are being loaded with too much information. The way in which she wrote the wrestling matches made it feel like I was there watching. I could see everything happening – sometimes in slow motion. It was fabulous!

Griffith also portrayed the culture very well. I could envision what it would be like to visit Tokyo. The people felt real and alive. Even the food sounded interesting. It even made me want to try some of the food. I’m really curious about how Calpis (a drink – you’ll totally laugh at that reference when you read the book) would taste! All of it was there in the background to paint a real picture.

Big In Japan will be released this Saturday, July 28. So if you’re looking for a new book to read, look no further. I promise you will be highly entertained by this depiction of sumo, mystery, self-discovery, and romance. On Goodreads, I’ll be giving this four out of five stars. (For those of you who know what my rating standards are, that’s a big recommend.)

Bonus: I’ve made arrangements for Jennifer Griffith to do a guest blog in August. More details to come!