The Daily One Inch Button

Daily One Inch Button - Hiatus

2009-01-28T06:47:00.000-08:00

Until further notice, we are going on a hiatus. We need time to regroup and rethink our button deployment strategy since the current one seems to be working about as well as draining Lake Michigan using shot glasses.

Daily One Inch Button #250 - Jackie Robinson

2009-01-27T05:05:00.000-08:00

Firsts.

He broke through the color barrier and was a phenomenal baseball player.

Jackie Robinson did all that and then some.

His number, 42, has been honored for the last couple of years by the MLB - players wear his number on the anniversary of his major league debut - April 15.
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Daily One Inch Button #248 - Christopher Reeve

2009-01-22T05:13:00.000-08:00

As Superman, he could turn back time. (I know sometimes I'd like to fly around the world a few times and change a few things by just an iota.)

The Crash Test Dummies paid tribute to Superman with a lovely tribute song.

Through it all, Christopher Reeve did not want to be pegged down to just one role - but he ended up being most widely associated with Superman. He did a great job playing the role of a man who, stuck in an apartment, can't help but notice a crime happening across the way in a remake of Rear Window.

He was sadly paralyzed after an accident but made great strides to overcome it and remains in our hearts.
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Daily One Inch Button #247 - I Voted For The President

2009-01-21T05:25:00.000-08:00

It's true.

I did indeed vote for the current president.

I haven't been able to say that in 12 years.

How about you?

I'm quite pleased with the way the election turned out - but I'm sure you could tell that if you look at all of our buttons during the campaign season.
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Daily One Inch Button #246 - Kurt Cobain

2009-01-20T06:30:00.000-08:00

I remember the exact day I found out he had tragically passed away. It shouldn't have ended that way.

Though they were quite famous for the song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" I was always just a little more partial to "Heart Shaped Box"

Out of curiousity, what are your favorite memories of Kurt Cobain? Be they actual in person meetings or memories of listening to him play - I'd love to hear some memories.

I will choose one memory from the comments and send the commenter a free copy of this button. It's on! Make with the comments.
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Daily One Inch Button #245 - A Poem A Day

2009-01-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is the smallest things that can keep a person happy.

I was most pleased the other day when I managed to remember this poem by Edna St. Vincent Mallay:

Safe upon the solid stone the ugly houses stand
Come and see my shining palace built upon the sand

They say that it is good to have a few poems memorized. One of my grade school teachers challeneged me to memorize The Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.

I still haven't managed to get that one down.
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Daily One Inch Button #244 - Rodney Dangerfield

2009-01-15T05:08:00.000-08:00

We loved him even though he always talked about getting no respect. He was brilliant when he went back to school, even after he got Kurt Vonnegut to write a paper about Kurt Vonnegut - and still failed.

You may have never gotten any respect but we certainly still love you - even after the Rappin' Rodney debacle.

When are we ever going to get someone with your enormous talent again?

You are tremendously missed, Rodney.
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Daily One Inch Button #243 - Ask Me What I'm Reading

2009-01-14T05:11:00.000-08:00

Go ahead.

Ask away.

I don't mind if you look over my shoulder, actually.

I don't even mind if you are very curious about my Kindle.

It's pretty neat.
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Daily One Inch Button #242 - Selena

2009-01-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

Born Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, Selena entered our lives and exited far too soon.

She sang beautifully.

She has been mourned ever since her passing in 1995.

Worst of all, she was murdered by the president of her fan club.

Let us celebrate her life with song and one inch buttons.
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Daily One Inch Button #241 - Do Not Disturb

2009-01-12T05:10:00.000-08:00

It's pretty to the point.

If I'm reading a book, I don't want to be bothered unless there is some kind of fire / nuclear holocaust situation that might require me to be relocated to a different building / nuclear bomb shelter.

Then, of course, I can continue the reading.

Would you expect anything less?
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Daily One Inch Button #240 - Cat with Spaghetti

2009-01-08T05:23:00.000-08:00

Haven't you ever seen a cat sitting in a high chair with a plate full of spaghetti in front of him?

I know that I have.

I think cats in high chairs eating spaghetti are adorable.

You could even call him a spaghetti cat.
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Daily One Inch Button #239 - References

2009-01-07T05:12:00.000-08:00

I know people who, for the most part, quote movies they have seen and don't say much else.

I'd like to meet someone who quotes dialogue that hasn't yet been written.

That would be pretty clever.

Do you know anyone like that?
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Daily One Inch Button #238 - Fred Astaire

2009-01-06T04:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen a man dance on the ceiling? Fred Astaire could. Never mind the time when video footage of him was resurrected to sell mops. This man really could dance - and Ginger Rogers would tell you that too.

The American Film Institute called him the fifth greatest male star of all time. Most people will say that he has had some of the greatest impact on musicals in their entire history.

Sadly, he passed away in 1987 - but not before living a wonderful long life.
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Daily One Inch Button #237 - End it with him

2009-01-05T03:01:00.000-08:00

Sometimes that's all you have to do. Just end it with him.
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Daily One Inch Button - Six for $3 48 Hour Deal

2009-01-02T09:25:00.000-08:00

You know how it works.

Six buttons for three dollars.

Make sure you comment on which buttons you want somewhere in your order. :)$2.00

Daily One Inch Button #236 - Chris Farley

2009-01-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

Chris, you entertained us for far too short a time. You even inspired numerous tribute videos. Let us think back.

You were brilliant on Saturday Night Live. You followed your role model a bit too closely, though. Even got a sushi chef at one point.

We loved you in your movies, even the sillier ones.
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Daily One Inch Button #235 - Be proactive

2008-12-31T05:10:00.000-08:00

Be proactive.

Maybe that should be your thing for the year 2009.

I'm going to work on being proactive.

Are you?

It's serious stuff. You can get so much more pleasure out of your life if you go out and do things instead of waiting for them to happen to you.
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Daily One Inch Button #234 - Notorious BIG

2008-12-30T05:07:00.000-08:00

Biggie, Biggie, can't you see?

Sometimes your words do in fact hypnotize me.

I really did love your flashy ways.

That's why we were so broke, yet you were paid.

You left us far too soon.

I have a feeling you would have loved "Gnarls Biggie", too.
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Daily One Inch Button #233 - Happy 2009

2008-12-29T05:05:00.000-08:00

It's a pretty straightforward message.

Have a happy 2009.
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Daily One Inch Button - Six for $3 48 Hour Deal

2008-12-26T05:51:00.000-08:00

You know how it works.

Six buttons for three dollars.

Make sure you comment on which buttons you want somewhere in your order. :)$2.00

Daily One Inch Button #232 - Robert Johnson

2008-12-25T03:37:00.001-08:00

Many consider him to be the grandfather of rock 'n' roll.

He wrote an amazing song called Crossroad, which is in fact a tale of how he got to be such a great musician.

It is said that he met the devil at the crossroads near where he lived, and he traded his soul in exchange for a finely tuned guitar and the ability to play the best blues that anyone had ever heard.

Did that really happen? Listen to the song and judge for yourself.
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Daily One Inch Button #231 - I Heart Dictionaries

2008-12-24T04:57:00.000-08:00

I love them.

I really do. I mean, where else are you going to find so many words?

That probably sounds just a little bit silly. Obviously, words are going to be found in a dictionary.

The Arabic dictionaries that were compiled between the 8th and 14th centuries were the first to actually be in alphabetical order. How did people find words until then?

Samuel Johnson took only nine years to compile a dictionary, a feat for which he was mighty proud.

Show your dictionary love today and get this button. Get a dozen, while you're at it.
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Daily One Inch Button #230 - Furious Sharks

2008-12-23T06:05:00.000-08:00

Look at those sharks. Don't they look angry?

Well, you'd be pretty angry if you were the subject of de-finning. I just made that up. People actually remove shark fins because it is considered a delicacy.

Shark Fin Frontier is a great look at this trend, and what is causing it.

Do the sharks a favor and don't eat shark fin soup. Otherwise, you can look forward to some pretty furious sharks coming after you.
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Daily One Inch Button #229 - Pass the Sufganiyos / Sufganiyot

2008-12-22T02:52:00.000-08:00

Some people call them jelly donuts.

Some people call them jelly doughnuts.

Yet other people, particularly this time of the year, call them sufganiyos. Sufganiyot, if you pronounce it just a bit differently.

They're delicious, regardless of their name.

Sufganiyos by any other name enrich the festival of lights, too.
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Daily One Inch Button - Four for Two

2008-12-19T06:14:00.000-08:00

It's back! The first forty-eight hour deal. Aren't you just tremendously excited? I know that I am. Here's the deal. You tell us what four buttons you want, and it will cost you only $2 instead of $4. Sound good? Great!

Let's get this thing started. Make sure you comment on which buttons you want somewhere in your order. :)$2.00

Daily One Inch Button #228 - Owen Hart

2008-12-18T05:06:00.001-08:00

Owen Hart.

When I was a kid, I used to love watching wrestling. I will admit that I never really enjoyed wrestling in the 1990s as much as I did in the mid 1980s but it still struck a chord with me when Owen Hart tragically died due to a mechanical failure shortly before a wrestling match.

This tribute video has a good sense of reviewing his magnificent career.
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Daily One Inch Button # 227 - Arrrrrrrgyle!

2008-12-17T04:12:00.000-08:00

I think I first thought of making this button when I was on the ride Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland.

I probably first thought of the joke when I was a teenager.

Oh, come on. You love it.

If you really want, I can mix up the colors of the argyle for you. That's just how much I care. just mention what colors you'd like in the comment area when you order.

Yarr?
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Daily One Inch Button #226 - Richard Burns

2008-12-16T02:20:00.000-08:00

Richard Burns died at the tender young age of thirty-four from a brain tumour and left so many fans devastated that many memorial videos were created.

The band Travis dedicated the album The Boy With No Name in his memory.

He actually started driving at the age of eight in the field near his family's home. From the age of thirteen he knew that he wanted to be a race car driver and so he did everything in his power to become one. He was superb, and he will be missed.
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Daily One Inch Button # 225 - Tea for Me

2008-12-15T02:50:00.000-08:00

It's tea for me - and you?

There are thousands upon thousands of variations of tea.

In today's turbulent economic times, tea also makes sense. Ounce for ounce, it's consistently more affordable than coffee - even if you get Republic of Tea brand tea or get it from a local tea shop. Don't let the price per pound scare you because you only need to get a quarter pound at a time and then you use only a teaspoon - where the name of that spoon originated - at a time.

Tea?
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Daily One Inch Button - Sushi Sale

2008-12-12T08:57:00.001-08:00

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Daily One Inch Button # 224 - Phil Hartman

2008-12-11T02:22:00.000-08:00

We never wanted to say goodbye to you, Phil, especially not so soon. You may remember him as Troy McClure, who sold absolutely everything on The Simpsons. I was quite fond of everything he did on SNL including this sketch as a cowboy with Dana Carvey and Woody Harrelson.

He was taken so early and we didn't really get the chance to appreciate him to the fullest extent. Who knows what might have been? He certainly would have made the last eight years a lot funnier.
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Daily One Inch Button #223 - Vampire Bear and Shrimpy Lunchee

2008-12-10T02:22:00.000-08:00

This one time, Vampire Bear and Shrimpy went out to a restaurant, and they got themselves a fine meal. Apparently the papparazi must have been there because recently, this image of them dining together was discovered. I guess they won't mind being on a button like this since they were okay with their being on buttons for the Learn How to Read Hebrew with Vampire Bear button series.

Shrimpy looks awfully adorable as he goes for a drink there. You don't see such good friendship like this every day.
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Daily One Inch Button #222 - Corvette Stingray

2008-12-09T02:49:00.001-08:00

She was, in fact, quite a fast car. Look no further than this video of the 1974 4 speed Stingray for your source of speed inspiration this morning.

In an age of people trying to green (well, a lot more when the price of gas is high - note the absence of people buying SUVs in that heinous period of time when gas was in the high 3s in some parts of the country and nearly 5 in others) the Corvette Stingray is not popular amongst people who are interested in economics.

Still makes for quite a ride.
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Daily One Inch Button #221 - Pushiest Time

2008-12-08T02:21:00.000-08:00

Don't you know it's a season of love? That's why people will shove you out of the way if you are standing in between their chances of getting *insert popular toy here*. In an age when people are hired with a "hulking frame" and yet are trampled to death for want of a good bargain, you really have to wonder about the sense of priorities.

Of course I know the love is there. But why shove a guy just to get a copy of Rock Band?
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Daily One Inch Button - Sushi Sale 48 Hour Deal

2008-12-05T03:10:00.000-08:00

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Daily One Inch Button #220 - Richard Pryor

2008-12-04T01:59:00.000-08:00

Richard Pryor. One of the best comedians this country has ever known, bar none, hands down - and a terrible loss when he passed away at the still relatively young age of sixty-five. (Sixty-five is the new fifty!) He made a great appearance on Sesame Street. He was also hilarious in the third Superman movie.

Of course, he also allegedly gave really good advice to Eddie Murphy about dealing with criticism from Bill Cosby. I don't need to go into detail about that, do I?
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Daily One Inch Button #219 - I Quit! (Smoking)

2008-12-03T02:25:00.000-08:00

A little over four years ago, I quit. I couldn't keep going on the way I was going, smoking anywhere between half a pack of cigarettes and a full pack a day. Not only was it affecting my health, but it was affecting my wallet as well.

I quit.

If you quit, too, this is just the thing to wear.
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Daily One Inch Button #218 - Sarah Palin

2008-12-02T02:31:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, but for a good number of months there was a good strong belief in this country that Sarah Palin would make a good vice president, as well as president should anything have happened to the presumed president.

I think it's funny that a poll taken at one point suggested that people would have rather had Tina Fey as vice president than Sarah Palin. Of course, we all know how polls can go one way or another and don't necessarily show any really useful information.

Sarah Palin in 2012? That would be amusing, if not for the possibility of a larger landslide for the incumbent president.
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Daily One Inch Button - It's On My Blog

2008-12-01T02:46:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I think people don't even know how to properly communicate anymore; I mean, they hardly sit down for a cup of coffee with a friend, and so much is just put into writing personal blogs. Then I think that maybe I'm just projecting a little bit and I'm the only person who is like that.

Then reality sets in and I realize that it's probably somewhere in between those two worlds. There are still conversations over coffee, of course. Just look at any good local coffee shop and see what non-real estate transactions are going on.

It's on my blog. :)
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Daily One Inch Button - Phil Lynott

2008-11-28T13:06:00.000-08:00

He played Jail Break with Thin Lizzy - and a lot of other songs. Thin Lizzy lasted all the way up to the mid eighties, when he started another band called Grand Slam. He even had some measure of success as a solo artist.

To think that he could have gone to such great heights with the band had he not been involved in heavy taking of drugs and alcohol.

Phil was taken to the hospital the night of December 25, 1985 and subsequently passed away on January 4, 1986.
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Tzzzz

2008-11-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

Tzzz! Tzzz! Tzz! The clashing clanging sound rings forth from the cymbals as Vampire Bear plays music with his friends. He is also pleased that the sound reminds him of one of his favorite letters in the course of teaching how to read the Hebrew Aleph Bet, which makes this most profoundly lovely sound. You can't have the word tzadik and tzedakah without this letter, after all. There are many other words that you can't have without the letter but you'll just have to go over to his lesson (when it goes up - maybe you should fire your producer, VB!) and see for yourself!
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Daily One Inch Button - Retail Therapy

2008-11-26T02:25:00.001-08:00

Retail therapy, they call it.

You'd think, given the economy of today, that people just wouldn't be able to afford it, and for some people it is the case. (Now is as good a time as any to remind you that you can have this or any of our other buttons for only a buck!)

The therapy, it is nice.

Plus, you get some pretty stuff afterwards.
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Daily One Inch Button - Exterminate

2008-11-25T02:07:00.000-08:00

They have menaced just about every single Doctor in the Doctor Who series and will probably continue to do so until the end of time.

Who are they? Well, they are the Daleks, of course. Their catch phrase was "Exterminate!" and if you look carefully at the button, it is actually in the shape of a Dalek.

You can wear this button to frighten all of your non-Doctor Who knowledgeable friends, or impress the friends that are fans.
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Daily One Inch Button - Red Hare

2008-11-24T02:17:00.000-08:00

This is quite an impressive horse, let me tell you.

How many horses do you know that are able to run two hundred and fifty miles during the course of one day?

Check out the book Romance of the Three Kingdoms for a proper account of this amazing horse, which belonged to Lü Bu and which eventually went to Guan Yu after Lü Bu was killed.

After Guan Yu was executed, dear Red Hare just plain refused to eat and died of starvation. That's how loyal he was to Guan Yu.

That was one special horse.
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Daily One Inch Button - Inaugural 48 Hour Deal

2008-11-21T05:57:00.000-08:00

For the foreseeable future, we are going to offer special deals that start on Friday and end the following Sunday at about midnight, eastern standard time. As this is the inaugural 48 hour deal (yes, I realize that Friday morning to Sunday at midnight is more than forty eight hours, but 'sixty-three hour deal' doesn't quite have the same sound to it, does it?) the format is fairly loose. Here's the deal. You tell us what four buttons you want, and it will cost you only $2 instead of $4. Sound good? Great! Let's get this thing started. Make sure you comment on which buttons you want somewhere in your order. :)$2.00

Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Farm

2008-11-20T05:51:00.000-08:00

Here at last you can see an overview of the farm where Vampire Bear, Shrimpy, and Goobie Bear live at least a few months during the year.

Looking over the farm, Vampire Bear is inclined to think of the Hebrew letter Feh in its final form - as in, the form of the letter that you only find when the letter is at the end of a word.

If you look carefully, you will see that the farm has a nice face layout to it. How cunning of the architect that designed it for VB!
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Daily One Inch Button - Ramen Noodles

2008-11-19T02:17:00.000-08:00

Today's button is a repeat thanks to my Sony laptop's graphic card spontaneously combusting. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.

This is what I think people should anticipate after a long blustery day; it's a nice bowl of ramen noodles. Doesn't it look just divine? I can't think of a better way to end the day than with that delicious combination of noodles (spelt or otherwise) with a rich broth, a good combination of vegetables (don't forget the spring onions, please!) and just the right amount of meat, soy or real. I might just have to end this post a little early to make myself a bowl for lunch.
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Daily One Inch Button Rerun - Mr. Rogers

2008-11-18T02:22:00.000-08:00

Today's button is a repeat thanks to my Sony laptop's graphic card spontaneously combusting. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.

When I was growing up, every day was a beautiful day in the neighborhood because I got to see Mr. Rogers. He would bring us into his home and show us all kinds of things that we may have never seen before. He was also great because he told us that we all have something special about us and that we shouldn't forget that. It made me so sad when I found out that he passed away, and watching this video made me cry just a bit.

I hope that when I have children some day, episodes of his show will be available on DVD or whatever we'll be using then (super-new-ray) to watch recorded material.
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Daily One Inch Button - Gakutensoku

2008-11-17T02:28:00.000-08:00

He was indeed a handsome robot. In some ways he was probably a strong inspiration for the creation of this Hello Kitty loving robot. Somehow, despite the fact that he was a fairly large robot (created in 1928) he managed to get misplaced in Germany in the early 1930s while on tour. (Has anyone seen him? I'm sure they'd love to get him back...)

A replica was created in 2008 with, well, a few enhancements. They couldn't help but make the enhancements based on the fact that robot technology has gotten considerably better in the last eighty years. I'm imagine the creator of the original would be quite happy with the new version.
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Puddle

2008-11-13T02:59:00.000-08:00

It was a rainy day. As such, our darling little Vampire Bear was just casually walking home from the grocery store - no need to emit that C02, right? He thought he'd take a little short-cut home and look at what he found. It's a giant puddle right in the middle of the dirt road. What is he to do? The good news is that when he saw the puddle, he immediately thought of the Hebrew letter Peh - or Pay depending on how you want to transliterate it.

That's funny, because Vampire Bear has an excellent lesson on the letter Peh in his series, Learn to Read Hebrew with Vampire Bear.
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Daily One Inch Button - Thank a Veteran Today

2008-11-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

Whether or not you support any number of conflicts in which the United States is presently involved, you should take a minute today to properly thank a veteran.

Without the tireless work of the individuals serving the various branches of the United States military, the United States would undoubtedly not exist as it does today.

So take a minute out of your busy day and thank a veteran today.
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Daily One Inch Button - Yes We Can

2008-11-11T02:54:00.000-08:00

Yes, we can.

Yes, we can elect a president that will bring real change to this country.

Whether we have elected him based on the principle of Barack Buyology or based on the ideals upon which our democracy was founded, or a mix of the two, we have elected him.

We know that Barack turned the world blue. The support of the world is with our president-elect.

Yes, we can.
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Daily One Inch Button - Global Warming Bear

2008-11-10T05:14:00.000-08:00

Wow.

Just look at that bear. It looks like a bear that is suffering as a result of global warming - a global warming bear.

Is it a matter of the white house versus the white bear? I think that now that we will have President Obama in office, things will start looking a lot better for our friend the polar bear.

Aren't you glad you voted for him?

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Daily One Inch Button - President Barack Obama

2008-11-07T04:04:00.000-08:00

We did it.

After months and months and months of fighting, button after button after button after button (after button after button) and then some, we are here. Barack Obama is the president elect, and we couldn't be happier.

Wear this button with pride.

I know that I will.

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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Timbeeeeeeeear

2008-11-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

Timbeeeeeear! Vampire Bear cuts down only in an environmentally friendly manner, of course. He does need wood once in awhile for various farming needs, and what better way to get it than from your own sustainable growth selection?

Vampire Bear also loves cutting down the occasional tree because it reminds him of the Hebrew letter Tet, which has a nice solid T sound to it. He has a nice course going on, Learn How To Read Hebrew with Vampire Bear. If you want to learn how to read Hebrew, that is the place I think you should go. He might just set you up with a nice hand carved item out of appreciation!
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Daily One Inch Button - We Did It!

2008-11-05T04:21:00.000-08:00

Pat yourselves on the back.
We did it.

Now it's time to get to work.

Let's get it started in here.

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Daily One Inch Button - Proud to have Voted

2008-11-04T04:23:00.000-08:00

Few words today but they are important. If you are an American Citizen and you are capable of doing so, get out there and vote today. Remember that only a few hundred votes made the difference in the last two elections and they might very well make the difference today. If you care at all about the direction this country is headed, please make sure you get out there and just vote. You have the right as a citizen of this country to vote and so you should absolutely make sure that you take advantage of your right. Don't let today pass you by without voting. Also, you get a free coffee and donut if you go to the right places - so get out there and vote!
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Daily One Inch Button - Acoustic Kitty

2008-11-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

This cat looks like he's a bit more confident and put together than the real original acoustic kitty, who was supposed to help the United States government spy on people suspected of dangerous activity. Does that sound like the atmosphere today? This took place in the early 1960s and resulted in one cat that got run over by a taxi cab.

If you're a music fan you can get into a band named after the acoustic kitty and an entire album named after the acoustic kitty. Here's a song from that album.
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Daily One Inch Button - Tony Clifton

2008-10-31T02:31:00.000-07:00

Who is Tony Clifton? Was it Andy Kaufman? This excellent video from the Muppet show featuring not just Tony Clifton but Andy Kaufman as well says that is not the case. Some say that at some points, Tony was Andy, and at some points (like when he makes appearances now) he is Bob Zmuda. Could it be that Tony Clifton is really Tony Clifton? Who else would sing Volare so obnoxiously, and yet so beautifully?

He really was the counterpart to Andy Kaufman. Loud, obnoxious, smoking cigarettes and eating / doing just about whatever he wanted. Yet somehow, we lost Andy but got stuck with him. Who said that there was fairness in life, right?
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Laughing

2008-10-30T02:30:00.000-07:00

Vampire bear loves a good laugh - especially when he has just taught three letters in the Hebrew aleph bet in one lesson! Oh, darling little Vampire Bear, who would have thought that in the course of teaching a course called "Learn The Hebrew Language with Vampire Bear," a sweet little bear would get the opportunity to have such a good laugh? I had a feeling it might be the case but we're pretty tight, so to speak.

If you've ever wanted to see all of our Vampire Bear buttons, here is the link.
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Daily One Inch Button - Follow Suit

2008-10-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

In the delightful card game of bridge, you have to play the same suit of card that is being played in the hand (unless you lead) which is where the phrase "follow suit" started. The only exception to this is when you don't have a card of that kind, in which case you play any other card. This comes in handy when you have a trump card, the suit of which is determined in the bidding stage of the game. It does you no good, naturally, if the bid is determined to be NT, or no trump.

In case that was all too confusing, a Bridge button might just not be for you. Just saying.
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Daily One Inch Button - Eggplant

2008-10-28T02:48:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid growing up in New Jersey, I had a friend named Eric who one time got a grilled eggplant dish when my family went out to eat at some restaurant. I thought it looked pretty gross at the time and I didn't care for the taste. My, how things change.

A couple of decades later, eggplant is of course my favorite vegetable. I wonder why there's no eggplant sushi. Did you know that most of the world's eggplant comes from New Jersey? It is, indeed, a fact. That is why eggplant most likely is coming to you from New Jersey with love.
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Daily One Inch Button - Carrier Pigeon

2008-10-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

No, they don't always smuggle drugs - though some of them are being used for that nefarious purpose right now. Sometimes they were used for transporting important messages, as seen in this clip of someone playing a Nancy Drew video game. Were they the inspiration for the pet owls that transported letters in the wizarding world of Harry Potter?

Of course they were, silly. Actually, one of my favourite clips from the movies is this one, where Hermione tells Harry that she is not an owl. The owl depicted on the button looks like he's up to no good. Or maybe he's up to nothing but good?
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Daily One Inch Button - Andrew Kaufman

2008-10-24T02:27:00.000-07:00

1984. That was the last year that this amazing man was seen alive. Why did it have to end? Why did I have to be a child when this legendary genius passed away? He sang Mighty Mouse on SNL. (He even inspired elementary school children to try and imitate that feat.) He played a silly role on Taxi and on the side did all kinds of things like have standup specials, at Carnegie Hall no less, where the entire audience was taken out for milk and cookies after the program.

Here's a tribute video to Andy Kaufman. We will tremendously miss you.
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Sour Milk

2008-10-23T02:58:00.001-07:00

Sour milk is nothing like sour kisses. No, for while both are undesirable, only sour milk has a terrible smell. It really helps Vampire Bear in a way because it reminds him of the ches with a patach underneath it - does that sound Greek to you? It shouldn't, because it is actually Hebrew. Did you know that Vampire Bear teaches a weekly course called Learn How To Read Hebrew with Vampire Bear? I hope you knew that. I just love the look on little Goobie Bear's face and how darling little Shrimpy is running away in horror.

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Daily One Inch Button - The Internet Makes Me Feel Ill-Informed

2008-10-22T05:10:00.000-07:00

Please note that all orders placed on Tuesday and Wednesday will be shipped on Thursday due to the Jewish holidays of Simchas Torah and Shemini Atzeres.

This is an absolute truth. Have you ever heard the expression, "The more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually know?" This is particularly more true in the past quarter century as computer technology has advanced and people have made the spread of knowledge so incredibly easy. There are hundreds of thousands of fields of study about which I am completely ignorant, and about which I will be forever ignorant because one cannot possibly learn everything there is to learn in one lifetime.

One can only do ones best and focus on things that really are interesting - but that is, of course, subjective.
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Daily One Inch Button - WOTLK Countdown

2008-10-21T05:02:00.000-07:00

Please note that all orders placed on Tuesday and Wednesday will be shipped on Thursday due to the Jewish holidays of Simchas Torah and Shemini Atzeres.

I don't know about you but lately I have been pretty much playing exactly one game, and that game happens to be a massive multi-player online role playing game that involves all kinds of exciting storylines and intricate plots and, as of late, the rewarding of achievements such as the one that I got for getting my character a haircut. Well, really, a change in hair style, but who is counting? It's only a matter of a few weeks before the next major expansion for this game is coming out and I am carefully counting down the days - I, along with quite a few million eager fans.
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Daily One Inch Button - The Grumpy Disappearing Bees

2008-10-20T02:21:00.001-07:00

It's a mystery that will make honey disappear from our kitchen if we don't do something to fix it. Why are millions of bees dying across North America? Are they just so unhappy with us that they are leaving us in this gruesome manner? From the look of this bee, the answer may just be yes. It's a problem that is affecting small and large beekeeper alike - many have had to go out of business as a result of lack of bee. 60 Minutes even has had a special report: Why Are Honeybees Disappearing? Let us hope that this problem is resolved quickly, with a sweet resolution. Rosh Hashana wouldn't be the same without apples dipped in honey.
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Daily One Inch Button - Buddy Holly

2008-10-17T03:07:00.000-07:00

I honestly knew about Buddy Holly well before the song by Weezer was popular - I guess that dates me just a little bit. However, have you ever seen this video of Buddy Holly live with Peggy Sue?

Buddy Holly is an American icon even though he was most popular while alive for less than two years. He turned to rock and roll after seeing Elvis perform in 1955 and started playing with a band called The Crickets. When The Crickets were inadvertently booked at The Apollo Theater he slowly won over a black audience, a feat unheard of in those days of severe racial segregation.

Shortly after The Crickets split up, Buddy Holly began a tour that involved Ritchie Valens, the very tour which would be his last. Tragically, it was early on February 3, 1959, when the plane he was on crashed, taking his life. Who knows what amazing recordings he could have laid down had he not passed away at such a young age?
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Cookie

2008-10-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

Vampire Bear enjoys a nice cookie now and again - but not often, because they are not good for you, unlike apples. Surely you know about the interview he has with a bag of apples. Anyhow, he not only enjoys the occasional cookie because they taste so nice but they remind him of the letter kof in the Hebrew aleph bet. For the last number of weeks he has been teaching a video series called Learn to Read Hebrew with Vampire Bear. Enjoy the lesson and enjoy the occasional cookie.
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Daily One Inch Button - How about that economy?

2008-10-15T05:21:00.000-07:00

Please note that all orders placed today will not be shipped until tomorrow, October 16.

It's hitting us from every angle.

Homeowners are being forced to give up their houses that they have owned for decades.

People are being downsized and rightsized and wrongsized, left and right.

When are we going to see some change?
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Daily One Inch Button - PBS : Nothing but sheer awesome

2008-10-14T05:16:00.000-07:00

Please note that all orders placed during the Jewish holiday of Succos will be shipped on Thursday, October 16. When I was a kid, growing up, PBS wasn't considered 'cool' because it was all about education. Now that I have passed 31, PBS is nothing but cool for that very same reason. It's funny how perspectives change. It's a bit like how much I now enjoy listening to NPR versus when I was a child and only wanted to watch the most blatantly obvious comedies rather than more subtle stuff.

Maybe this button will help show your friends how you really feel about PBS.
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Daily One Inch Button - Gyudon

2008-10-13T02:29:00.000-07:00

Beef bowl. That's the literal translation, anyhow. This dish actually includes a good serving of rice as well as nicely simmered onion and the occasional shiritaki. Gyudon is so popular that it has restaurants that serve nothing but it, Yoshinoya being one of them. Actually, Yoshinoya is popular enough that there's even one of them on the New 42nd Street, not too far from Times Square. Check out this awesome commercial.

If you're a fan of Tommy Lee Jones you can see him at Yoshinoya in this commercial. Side note: the fear of mad cow disease, which halted the Japanese importation of beef in 2004 and again in early 2006, had a strong affect on gyudon sales; some places substituted pork for the beef and it had to be called butadon instead.
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Daily One Inch Button - Pat Tillman

2008-10-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Where to begin? Pat Tillman was a remarkable football player who, unlike so many sports heroes, decided to turn away the big money out of his loyalty to his team. He eventually decided to enlist in the US Army out of loyalty to his country but he tragically lost his life in what was initially thought to be an ambush but turned out to be a friendly fire attack.

The details of his death are still being investigated. One of the more controversial aspects of his death is that it was attempted to be made to look like hostile fire to take the pressure off those who accidentally caused it.

If you want to know more about Pat Tillman, check out this excellent Pat Tillman tribute video. Here is another excellent tribute video.
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Daily One Inch Button - Rerun - General Tso

2008-10-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

Please Note: We are running a rerun due to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. The text is a bit different from the original because I live in NY now.

When I was a kid I used to eat General Tso's chicken whenever I would go to Chinese restaurants. I switched to tofu for awhile but now that I live in NY I take every opportunity to enjoy some great General Tso when I go out for Chinese food. (In China they just call it "food." Mmm. Who was General Tso? A chicken, apparently.
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Daily One Inch Button - Support Your Local Library

2008-10-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

It's pretty easy. You go in and you borrow books.

You go in and you buy used books from the used book shelves or you donate money directly to the library.

You tell your friends to stop throwing away their money on cheap liquor and start supporting their local library instead.

Okay, maybe that last part might be a bit tricky. I'm sure you will be able to do it.
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Daily One Inch Button - Nothing Like a Book!

2008-10-07T05:01:00.000-07:00

It's true.

What are resources you should be using? How about the public library, or if you want to own a few good books, a nice used bookstore?

You don't have to pay a lot of money for a good book and you can find some beautiful treasures in a used bookstore like the Strand in New York City.

Turn your brain on every once in awhile; read a book!
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Daily One Inch Button - Omurice

2008-10-06T02:25:00.000-07:00

Omelet? Omelette? No, omurice. What's that, you ask? Great question. It's the deliciousness of an omelet with the tremendous power of rice. Yes, it etymologically derives from the words omelet and rice and is, in fact, a Japanese concoction said to have come about at the turn of the twentieth century in the Ginza district.

Would you like to make your own omurice? Well perhaps the awesome film Tampopo can help you, courtesy of this instructional video. If you prefer a little less comedy in your instruction, try オムライスの作り方[how to make an omurice] instead. Either way, you can get your learn on, so to speak.$1.00

Daily One Inch Button - Bobby Darin

2008-10-03T05:35:00.000-07:00

Pop. Jazz. Folk. Rock and Roll. You tell me who conquered those fields of music that wasn't Bobby Darin, and I will be one impressed lover of one inch buttons. There is so much more that Bobby Darin could have done had he not died at such a tender young age.

He could sing about Mack the Knife and nobody could touch his recording other than Louis and Ella, I think. The song remains one of our favorites here at the Daily One Inch Button, by the way. Would have have done as well had he gone by his birth name, Walden Robert Cassotto? Possibly not, but that would have been a tragedy in its own right.
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Zebra

2008-10-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

Though you don't really see too many zebras on a typical farm, our dear little friend Vampire Bear managed to get a few because he just loves the way they look. He also is fond of the fact that he can use the first letter of their name to help teach a letter in the hebrew language - that is, the letter called Zion. I'm sure you know by now that Vampire Bear teaches a weekly course called Learn To Read Hebrew with Vampire Bear. Haven't you started your lessons yet? The zebras look happy to get that food. Incidentally, if you like the button image, you will love the image used in the lesson itself.
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Daily One Inch Button - Me on a Good Day

2008-10-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

During the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, the posting of buttons will continue (thanks, post options!) but orders will not be processed until Wednesday night iy"H.

So you want to send out a certain, somewhat sarcastic message. I think you have found the right button for the job. They say that nobody bats a thousand and on those not so fresh feeling days, you can slap this bad boy on and confuse everyone that looks your way. Either that, or get a nice chortle out of people. That might work even better in your favor.
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Daily One Inch Button - Free High Fives

2008-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

During the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, the posting of buttons will continue (thanks, post options!) but orders will not be processed until Wednesday night iy"H.

You know you want one.

Seriously, how else are people going to know about your free high five policy? You think that you can just stick out your hand and say "high five" and you're going to get action just like that?

Actually, I take that back. I know it's possible because I did an experiment once where I would ask for a high five in the middle of casual conversations. They are always given upon request. Try it for yourself.
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Daily One Inch Button - Japanese Pot Stickers Gyoza

2008-09-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you but these pot stickers look delicious. Do you know how to make pot stickers? It's okay if you don't know, you don't have to be embarassed because I didn't know how to make them before I saw this awesome video on the preparation of them.

Japanese pot stickers have a rich garlic flavor, which means that my mother would love them. (My parents friends used to tease her and ask if she made her cake with garlic as well.) They are thinner than Chinese pot stickers so if you are carb conscious, this is the way to go. Way to go, Gyoza!
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Daily One Inch Button - Pat Morita

2008-09-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

He tutored the Karate Kid and taught him: Wax on, Wax off.

He was brilliant as Sam Pak on MASH.

He was the one that ran Arnold's diner. I think the joke back then was that nobody expected him to be the Arnold. Even though he was only on for a couple of seasons, he was still hilarious and I loved to watch the episodes with him as a kid.

Check out this awesome highlight reel here; it shows some nice old images of our man Mr. Morita.
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Flowers

2008-09-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Vampire Bear enjoys a good work of art as much as the next bear, but this one in particular holds a special place in his heart. Why is that? Well, it could be related to the fact that he is a fan of Van Gogh in general. On the other hand it could be that it reminds him of a certain letter in the Hebrew alphabet that has a nice soft F sound. It could be a combination of the two. That's right, it's this beautiful letter that he is teaching this week over at Learn to Read Hebrew with Vampire Bear.

Sunflowers were a great choice for Van Gogh, weren't they? So full of light and cheer.
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Daily One Inch Button: How About Just Coffee?

2008-09-24T09:14:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just me, I don't know. Sometimes when you go into larger coffee chains and all you want is just a cup of coffee (milk and sugar to be added later, of course) and you get bombarded with a million choices, none of which are just a plain black cup of coffee.

I believe it was Dennis Leary who spoke about liking coffee flavored coffee, none of this vanilla with caramel on the inside of the cup garbage. If I wanted a thousand calories in a cup, I could just puree a steak and drink that; I shouldn't be drinking it in the form of a cup of coffee with more sugar than actual coffee.

Maybe I am getting old.
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Daily One Inch Button - Crossword Games

2008-09-23T10:32:00.000-07:00

You're sitting at a table with three of your closest friends. You have this square board in between you and each of you systematically places these curious wooden tiles down on the board, forming and adding to words. What is going on? Are you performing some sort of ancient ritual to summon a spirit?

No, you're playing one of the best games ever. You know the one to which I refer. It contains exactly one hundred tiles but the possibilities for words just go on and on and on - well, so long as the words you create have seven or so letters, not counting words which are created by adding to already existing words. What's the world record for longest word created in this awesome game? The uncontested word is apparently Sesquioxidizing. Nice word.
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Daily One Inch Button - Curry Rice

2008-09-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

This is not for the faint of heart. This is some pretty powerful stuff right here. Sure, you can argue that there are mild curries available but are they really curries unless they burn a hole in the plate? Is it really salsa unless the tips of your hair ignite after the first mouthful?

Interestingly, curry became popular in Japan in the 1960s. Compared to many other popular foods in Japan, it is extremely easy to make and therefore does not take out a lot of time for cooking. This could be one of the many reasons that it became so popular and why it remains popular.

Then there's the real reason. That's right, because it's delicious.
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Daily One Inch Button - Twitter

2008-09-19T15:18:00.000-07:00

Take a look around you.

How many people are doing everyday mundane things?

Out of all of these people, what percentage do you suppose goes onto their Twitter account at some point to write about something that just happened to them?

As it turns out, I'm a bit of a Twitter addict. Thanks to my phone, I can update my Twitter as often as I want - and somehow that always ends up being just a few too many times per day. What are your experiences with instant short blogging?
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Daily One Inch Button - Vampire Bear Newspaper

2008-09-18T12:26:00.000-07:00

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Daily One Inch Button - Enjoy Today

2008-09-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Why so serious? Very easy. It's just astonishing to me how things can change so quickly, how things in life can be going a certain way one day and then be completely overturned by the next day. This may be looking at things in an overly pessimistic way and to that I counter with this: you can also see the possibility of hope tomorrow. However, you should cherish everything you have today and not take them for granted. Instead of complaining about your job, be thankful that you have a job at all. Instead of complaining that you have to take the bus somewhere, be grateful that there is a bus to take.

You never know what tomorrow will bring and so you should focus on what you have now instead of what you are lacking.
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Daily One Inch Button - I've got your onions

2008-09-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

I'm a little afraid of this button. What does that even mean?
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Daily One Inch Button - Sake!

2008-09-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

Sit down with a friend or two and talk over a cup of sake. It's not quite the same feeling as chugging down a beer while watching American football at the bar, is it? If you are a fan of silly commercials, check out this sake commercial. It is sure to get you into peals of laughter.

This adorable sake button should also put a big smile on your face. If it hasn't done so yet, just try looking at it for a little bit longer.
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Daily One Inch Button - Mr. Rogers

2008-09-12T11:57:00.000-07:00

Daily One Inch Button - Vav Vase

2008-09-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

This week we are learning all about the fantastic letter called the Vav and what better way to remember the vav than to see this darling image of Vampire Bear watering a flower in a vase? True, the image would have also worked well with the actual letter called vase but I think I like how the vase looks like the vav in that it's sort of a long straight linear object.

You have to respect Vampire Bear's approach to teaching how to read the Hebrew language. I know that I do. It's so great how he is helping to teach Goobie Bear and Shrimpy about the Hebrew language. Aren't you excited?
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Daily One Inch Button - Will insert cliché here for food

2008-09-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

Will code for food. Will write for food. Will explain the significance of the contrast between Freudian and Jungian theory in the context of modern day psychoanalysis for food. We've seen them all. Okay, so maybe that last one is less often seen. Nevertheless, sometimes we are willing to do just about anything for food.

It's not always obvious what the giver of food requires of us in order to get the tasty food from them, so this button here takes the pressure off of you and onto them. They can maybe give you a list of choices of things you can do for food (Dance? Juggle? Life Coach?) and all you have to do is choose one. Choose wisely. Remember what Yoda said: Luminous beings are we. What does that have to do with this button? I'm not sure but I bet he would know.
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2008-09-09T11:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm a little biased. I have a shadow priest. Please pardon the extreme nerdiness of this post. :)
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Daily One Inch Button - Ramen Noodles

2008-09-08T05:20:00.001-07:00

Hark, we have returned to a regular non-rerun posting schedule! Tell your friends. No, really, tell them if you haven't done so already. You like your friends, right?

This is what I think people should anticipate after a long blustery day; it's a nice bowl of ramen noodles. Doesn't it look just divine? I can't think of a better way to end the day than with that delicious combination of noodles (spelt or otherwise) with a rich broth, a good combination of vegetables (don't forget the spring onions, please!) and just the right amount of meat, soy or real. I might just have to end this post a little early to make myself a bowl for lunch.
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Daily One Inch Button Rerun - Eastenders Bradley Branning

2008-09-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, reruns will have to continue for awhile until we settle into our new office on the East Coast.

Who could possibly forget the day that dear Bradley came to Walford? From the very beginning he has had some interesting things happen to him right up until he had his reunion with his long absent father. Who would have known that his father would end up being the man his wife would choose to sleep with and fool around with after a pretty nasty row? And did Stacey really have to kiss his father so soon before the wedding? We can only hope things go better for Bradley and Stacey.
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Daily One Inch Button Rerun - Vampire Bear Sawing Wood

2008-09-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, reruns will have to continue for awhile until we settle into our new office on the East Coast.

What is that handsome little bear up to now? He seems to be sawing a large log. Why would little Vampire Bear feel the need to saw a log? Is he living on a farm now, or is the farm just a vacation home? It's all about his awesome project to teach people how to read the Hebrew langauge - at his web site, ask vampire bear. There you can see all of the cool lessons in reading the Hebrew language.
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