"Eat rice, cheer up and be strong . . . "
"A bowl of rice is equivalent to love and affection in Korea . . . "
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204136404577211072079207422.html

I love you in many languages http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/iloveyou.htm

Patricia Highsmith (1921–1995) born Mary Patricia Plangman, was an American novelist and short-story writer most widely known for her psychological thrillers, which led to more than two dozen film adaptations. In 1942, Highsmith graduated from Barnard College, where she had studied English composition, playwriting and the short story. Living in New York City and Mexico between 1942 and 1948, she wrote for comic book publishers. Answering an ad for "reporter/rewrite", she arrived at the office of comic book publisher Ned Pines and landed a job working in a bullpen with four artists and three other writers. Initially scripting two comic book stories a day for $55-a-week paychecks, she soon realized she could make more money by writing freelance for comics, a situation which enabled her to find time to work on her own short stories and also live for a period in Mexico. The comic book scriptwriter job was the only long-term job she ever held. Highsmith's first novel was Strangers on a Train, which emerged in 1950, and which contained the violence that became her trademark. At Truman Capote's suggestion, she rewrote the novel at the Yaddo writer's colony in Saratoga Springs, New York. The book proved modestly successful when it was published in 1950. However, Hitchcock's 1951 film adaptation of the novel propelled Highsmith's career and reputation. Highsmith's second novel, The Price of Salt, was published under the pseudonym Claire Morgan. As her other novels were issued, moviemakers adapted them for screenplays: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955), Ripley's Game (1974) and Edith's Diary (1977) all became films. See bibliography and awards at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patricia_Highsmith

How to Boil Eggs
Place eggs in single layer in saucepan.
Cover with at least one inch of cold water over tops of shells.
Cover pot with lid and bring to a boil over medium heat.
As soon as the water comes to a full boil, remove from heat and let stand.
Large soft-cooked eggs: let stand in hot water 1 to 4 minutes, depending on your tastes.
Large hard-cooked eggs: let stand in hot water 15 to 17 minutes.
When cooked to desired level, drain off hot water.
Immediately cover with cold water and add a few ice cubes.
Soft-cooked eggs: let stand in cold water until cool enough to handle. Serve.
Hard-cooked eggs: let stand in cold water until completely cooled. Use as needed.
http://homecooking.about.com/cs/atozfoodindex/ht/How_Cook_Eggs_S.htm

The word agenda is a plural form, but only a most die-hard literalist would insist on using agendum when talking about a single list of items to discuss. The word has lost all hints of its once plural life and now goes proudly solo. If you have many lists of things to do or discuss, you have agendas. There are many everyday words in English that we use as singular, oblivious of their etymology: opera (plural of opus), stamina (plural of stamen: fiber), magazine (plural of Arabic makhzan: storehouse, used figuratively as "storehouse of information" for books, and later to periodicals). Other words that are formed as a plural but are now used as a singular: truce, graffiti, insignia, viscera and paraphernalia.
A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg

Feedback to glass artist Labino story. I just wanted to point out that Nick Labino's given name was Dominick - with a K at the end. Thank you, proofreader.

Mark Byron was sentenced to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, but the magistrate gave him an out—pay back child support and post an apology for the post on Facebook to avoid the jail term and fine. The magistrate's apology option took an odd turn in the details of how it would be carried out. Byron was told he had to keep the apology on his Facebook page for 30 days. To make sure that happened, he was forbidden to close down his Facebook account and had to make his wife or someone of her choosing a "friend" so they could check that the terms of the deal were being upheld. A new hearing on the case is set for March 19.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2400701,00.asp

84th Academy Awards: nominees and winners
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/84th_Academy_Awards

Fishermen participating in the annual Lake Winnebago ice fishing contest over the weekend found themselves instead scouting for their modes of transportation after 36 parked vehicles went through the ice, authorities said Feb. 26. "We had some cars that got wet," a dispatcher with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Department said. "We had cars parked on the ice like it was a parking lot. Usually they do park out on the ice. That's not unusual. It's just that they parked too close together. It was too much for the ice conditions this year." Tournament organizers for the Battle on Bago reportedly warned people about parking on the ice Saturday, but some had trouble finding spots elsewhere and parked on the lake anyway. Of about 50 cars parked on the ice, four were submerged more than half way, 18 were partially submerged, and 14 sunk to the top of their wheels, according to the sheriff's department. "They all started early in the morning. Throughout the day with the sun and everything else, vehicles started to sink," the dispatcher explained. The ice was about a foot thick.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/no-contest-lake-winnebago-swallows-sturgeon-fishermens-vehicles-dg4be6q-140485133.html