Things that make you smile

[LizzieMaine]

We no longer have a War Department. What we have instead is the kinder, gentler Department of Defense. So remember that when you're obliterated by a drone strike, we're doing it defensively, and with sincere regret.

The Defense Department was so named in 1949 as a bit of double-plus-good Cold War newspeak, implemented two months after "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was published in the United States. Somebody either had a sense of humor or no sense of irony whatsoever.

 

[BlueTrain]

I was being my usual cynical self. It really wasn't doublespeak but in reality merely a reflection of the fact that the former Department of the Navy became part of the same overhead organization named the Defense Department, which also included the Department of the Army and at some point, the Air Force.

 

[BlueTrain]

Wouldn't make me smile, either.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Funny, to me, are these masses of red and orange gym-shoes and sneakers, all around in Germany, up to 30+.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=red+sneakers&FORM=HDRSC2

 

[Fading Fast]

I met a friend for quick coffee at a Pain Quotidien today and, while sitting at a table, a women came in with her scottie - dogs are not allowed in food establishments in NYC, but once in awhile, no one says anything. He / she was incredibly well behaved and, you could tell, they've done this many times before.

While she ordered and waited, he stood patiently next to her, occasionally looking up to, as I learned, see if she got her coffee because, when she did and before she moved, he started trotting toward the milk/sugar station. Then, he waited again for her to do her thing and, as she finished, he started trotting toward the door, pausing to let her open it for him.

I was smiling / it just felt great. It was such a nice, simple moment of dog and owner in harmony.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

The Defense Department was so named in 1949 as a bit of double-plus-good Cold War newspeak, implemented two months after "Nineteen Eighty-Four" was published in the United States. Somebody either had a sense of humor or no sense of irony whatsoever.

And somewhere in the Pentagon is a Master Sergeant whose only job is to come up with names for weapon systems. Now come to think of it, we've had Titan, Atlas and Nike missiles but no Adonis missile?

 

[Ticklishchap]

... This made me smile today.

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

And somewhere in the Pentagon is a Master Sergeant whose only job is to come up with names for weapon systems. Now come to think of it, we've had Titan, Atlas and Nike missiles but no Adonis missile?

In the '50s we had the "Honest John" missile. I could never figure out why we'd name a missile for a used-car salesman.

 

[Harp]

In the '50s we had the "Honest John" missile.. ..

NATO still fielded Honest John "igloos" all across Europe twenty years later and these were considered-along with the Hawk and Pershing missile nuclear warheads-prime terrorist targets.
I took a nuclear warhead demolitions course at 7th Army Training Ctr, Vilseck, Germany, then stretched out temporary duty leave allowance in Rome and Athens.
Those were the days.

 

[Edward]

Thnigs that make me smile..... my cats. They've made me smile, laugh, even, every day of their fluffy little lives. I'm pretty sure they did it deliberately. Just over four months sicne Marlene died, I'm looking back and smiling a lot more about her, even through the still terrible sense of loss. Greta, her sister, is still around and still hilarious. Anyone who claims a cat doesn't have a sesne of humour is wrong. One of the things Marlene alays used to do that made me laugh was milktread. Oddly, Greta never did it (both from the same litter and I had them both from seven and a half weeks). Marlenec used to hop onto my back if I was lying on my front and tread away with the front two paws, like a little kitty-massage. did it right up until a day or two before she died. Greta makes me laugh with her routine (typical tabby). She gets really annoyed with me if I'm late home from work, and then when she decides it's bedtime (he sleeps on my bed, but she won't go in til I'm there), she gets very annoyed until I go in.... then sometimes she decides to play silly beggars and run around the flat just when I'm about to get into bed. She's a hoot.

Something else that really made me laugh was in the queue of the supermarket the other week. In front of us was a mother with three kids doing the weekly shop. Obviously the two little boys had sneaked a jar of jellybeans into the trolley, and they'd been watching it like hawks to see it go through. She lifted it out and set it aside - not being bought. Them trying to explain why they needed it was hilarious. Mainly because I remember doing much the same thing nearly forty years ago.

Mice on the tube make me smile - the ones that live down on the tracks. And people who wear all sorts of mad stuff here - extreme hipsters, corss dressers, drag queens, those vintage weirdos.... - and get on public transport in London, while nobody cares, bats an eyelid or, often, even notices. I like that a lot.

People who are great social dancers, jive especially, and clearly are in it for just the love of it - not showing off or performing a routine.

Nice, old school motorcycles.

A Technics 1210 and a stack of great records....

Fender Telecasters.

 

[MisterCairo]

Hummingbirds at our feeder.

 

[Bushman]

Hummingbirds at our feeder.

Same here. I have 5 of them in my backyard and they all fight over the 4 spouts on the feeder. They don't like sharing, it seems.

 

[MisterCairo]

We also have a bird feeder with a squirrel-proof mechanism (it weighs down the exterior frame to cover up the dispensing holes) that my daughter received as a birthday gift. It's amazing the number of birds it attracts, and she got a book of North American birds to consult to identify them.

My father's day gift of a "bee house" has not yet been successful. The underneath of my garden shed, however, is now home to a hive...

 

[HudsonHawk]

We only get hummingbirds passing through on migration, in the spring and the fall. But a few years back, I built an owl house for my wife and hung it in a tree in the back yard. For a couple of years, it just hung there...nothing. Then one night, she runs inside excitedly..."there's something in the owl house!!" I go outside, and sure enough a small screech owl is poking his/her head out. Every year now, the house is filled with owls and little baby owlets. My wife acts like a kid who'd just seen Santa Claus every time she sees the owls. My wife does this funny little thing with her hands when she's excited...she makes fists and holds them up to her face shaking them. I enjoy seeing that.

 

[Fading Fast]

Several years ago, I read a article about how squirrels in NYC Central Park learn to cross the street with people in that they studied the squirrels and found that they would wait with people and then cross. The article said that this was an example of squirrels learning and adapting to their environment. Also, the article said that in burying their nuts in the Park, squirrels engage in subterfuge to throw off other squirrels in that they would sometimes look like they were bury nuts, but were only digging camouflage holes.

Ever since then, I look for that behavior when I'm in the park. I have seen the squirrels cross the street with people, which is absolutely wonderful to see - and brings a big smile to my face. While I've watched squirrels burying their nuts, I haven't seen any camouflage holes dug yet, but I still just smile as the little guys work diligently away at digging and storing.

 

[Touchofevil]

Hummingbirds at our feeder.

I have a hummingbird that likes to fly over for a drink out of the hose as I am watering. It follows me about the yard until it is done. Strangely, the cats leave it alone. There must have been a memo.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Diet-joke:

"Diet-day no.1:

-I removed all unhealthy groceries out of home!

Note:
That was very delicious!"

 

[Lean'n'mean]

One thing that has put a smile on my face since yesterday is the drop in temperature.............I can feel my mojo returning & I'm actually gettin' things done.

 

[BobHufford]

Finding rocks with holes through them ("friendship rocks") when down on the creek bank. My OCD requires that I find one each visit or there won't be a smile on my face when I leave. Someday I'll string them together for garland.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

You have a well manicured hand Bob.