Monday

The Costume Ball


[Click-Image: For (somewhat) of the Look of the Dress]

Well, I missed that costume ball. (Still sick.) The dress was returned early morning. It was Lovely, with hoops and beautiful trains...
I missed the party of the year :(
Did anyone go anywhere special?
....Back to sleep...M.B.

Have a Happy Halloween

What always seems to come to mind every Halloween, are the old stories of the Great Escapes of a most miraculous Houdini.



[Click-Image: to view Tribute|H. Houdini; King Coll.]

This pure legend... as he was chained and submerged deep below the sea, invoked consternation in the crowds, but always managed to break free from captivity. Were those, and other unimaginable feats of escape, a magician's trade secret?

...or was he a twentieth Century Shaman.



[Click-Image: King's|Houdini clips]

For those less familiar with the "Worlds's Greatest Escape Artist" extraordinaire, it was on Halloween 1926 (in a sad and unrelated accident) that Houdini missed his final escape from Death. It would be in the many years to follow (and by virtue of a mutual pact) that Halloween séances would be conducted, in an attempt to reach him from beyond.

-Click on Image-or link- to the site: "Did you know Houdini" and view Bob King's Tribute, to the finest magician of all time.
View raw footage, sound files; converted to multimedia from archives presented to King, courtesy of Houdini's family.

Personal note: When viewing the family tribute link for "Marie",
what came to mind was the structure within generations of a family, and that we all walk this Earth for a short time. Marie was instrument in keeping his legacy alive, for the remainder of nearly 3/4 of a century.


"Even to this day, we remain clueless to the Mysteries of his Magic."..M.B.


~ Carnival of the Vanities at: Free Money Finance First bookmark the FMF tour link, then go on over and view some really excellent posts!

~ Rick Moran's, Carnival of the clueless #19!
~ joscafe,

Saturday

Dark Sky Movie Reviews

Presents.....THE LIBERTINE:

"The Most Controversial film of the year!"
(Set for public Theatre release in -06)


-Click-Image- To view ifilm Clip: Play|Watch Now!


Private Showing: Nov. 23, 2005 (One week run; NY, LA release: Dec. 25)
Director: Laurence Dunmore
Studio: The Weinstein Co.
Screenwriter: Stephen Jeffreys
Starring: Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton, John Malkovich, Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, Johnny Vegas, Kelly Reilly, Jack Davenport, Richard Coyle, Francesca Annis, Claire Higgins


Directing Debut: Laurence Dunmore directs this film so extraordinarily well, it may very well win him his next Oscar. "The Libertine", having earned 8 British Independent Film Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Depp, is arguably, Johnny Depp's greatest, most brilliant performance to date...

Plot Summary:
Set in a 17 Century London, Depp plays a scandalously decadent John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester, whose passionate romance produces the writings of a most scurrilous play which lampoon Charles II...
His words are his weapons, though lead to the Earl's banishment and eventual downfall.

Watch for this film...

~~~~~~~~
Enjoy these fine sites:
~ Don Suber ~ macstansbury ~ Joscafe ~ adamsweb

Friday

Associates Dip at the UN

What happens when a World Organization fails to thwart off their temptations, and thousands of companies dip into money designated to feed the starving? A Security Council so desperate to keep their scheduled kick-backs secure, that they would do anything to secure Saddam's permanence as Dictator of Iraq.
Sounds like the beginning of a Michael Creighton Novel, but read on...

This Morning: 10/28/2005 10:20:00 AM -0400:

In two weeks, the 18 month inquiry by the panel of the Reform of the United Nations, that has concluded its investigation, and will close its doors. This distinguished panel, headed by Paul Volcker, met with delegates at this briefing, and presented copies of the 623-page report to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Read Analysis: U.N. oil-food report & what next

...Volker Statement:

"What's at stake here is whether the United Nations will be able to act effectively, whether it will have the funds, the professional competence, and the administrative leadership to respond."


-Click-Image- to enter Eye on the UN.

According to Paul Volcker's independent Inquiry:

"The U.N. Security Council "failed officially to recognize the problem and authorize an effective response.

...And continued to say:

"The value of oil smuggled outside of the program is estimated by the committee to be nearly $11 billion as opposed to an estimated $1.8 billion of illicit revenues from (former Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein's manipulation of transactions occurring under the program," said a statement accompanying the report.

...Additionally...

"At the same time, Iraqi leaders gave preferential treatment to France, Russia and China because these countries were permanent members of the Security Council and perceived to be more favorable to lifting sanctions," it said.


"Now as a result of that manipulation and with the complicity, believe it or not, of thousands of companies ... almost $2 billion was siphoned off illicitly," said Volcker, former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman.

... Reactions of Annan:

After attending Volcker's briefing to delegates in a basement conference room, Annan said, "We are going to learn from the lessons, take measures to strengthen the Organization. And we already have proposals for reforms that will ensure that, in future, we are better equipped to handle this sort of program."

...The bottom line statement from Annan:

...he already has expressed regret the United Nations got involved in such a program, even though it did help keep 25 million people from starvation, and has said he hopes it never gets involved in a similar program again.

~~~~~ M.B.

~ Jo's cafe; TGIF specials
~ Adam's Web
~ macstansbury.
~ Indepundit.
~ The political teen.

The Butterscotch Bee

"Trying on Halloween costumes, can be so exhausting!



"I can never decide which one, so please let me know."



"Thank ya."...Love, Butterscotch....."Z-Z-z-z-z-z"....

Visit the Cats, Dogs, Spiders and ?= roaches, every Friday...
At the Modulator’sFriday Ark # 58
~~~~~
And don't miss, Laurence Simon’s
"Carnival of the Cat's #84 on Sunday
at the beautiful site of: a poet's notebook...
AT Watermark!

Technorati:

Thursday

Hide-and-go-seek #2


[PHOTO: AP |Otis, at Muzzi's; San Gregorio, Ca.]

"Finding a place to hide at the Pumpkin patch, is not an easy thing to do"...(Unless you're 'specially dressed' for the occasion)
-------------------------Click-on-Image----------------------------

~~~~~
Visit the Cats, Dogs, Spiders and ?= roaches, every Friday...
At the Modulator’sFriday Ark # 58

Wednesday

For Headache and Fever

No, this isn't the Carnival of the Recipes...lol..

I came across this image by photographer Brian-Ronthal.
I was fascinated when I found out that this snake wine is from Vietnam...and searched to find anything I could about it. (Story below)

"No way would I drink this, though."....M.B. (^_^)

-Click Image-
To go to Cat ba Island in Halong Bay, Northern Vietnam...

[Photo|Photographer: Brian-Ronthal]

As a child of 9 years old, I once traveled with my parents to China on visit to Mother's friends from the States. Beautiful as this trip was, I can still remember this peaceful, and spacious home. While there, we met an old Vietnamese woman who worked in their home. (Now I learn that this Vietnamese woman was only 30+ yrs old!)

Years went by after the visit, and we were told that this woman gave herself a cure for a serious uterine cancer, by bathing in a scalding tea made of tree bark tonics. To me, it seemed frightening!...but from what we now understand, she is still alive and well today.

SNAKE WINE:

Excerpt from LA times Article: by Patricia Woeber:

"...Then I came upon rows of bottled snakes. Whiskey-pickled snakes glared malevolently through the yellowish fluid, $3 apiece. Some looked like cobras. Some looked astonished. Some looked hypnotic. I asked the saleswoman why people drink this stuff. "For headache, for fever, for make good love," she said." ...(`O`)...lol..

Tuesday

Remembering

-Click Image

It was this unbelievable sandbox in which every grain of sand was under your control. ~Vinton Cerf

He ploughs the waves, sows the sand, and hopes to gather the wind in a net, who places his hopes in the heart of a woman. ~Jacopo Sannazaro

The moose are gone, and their bones lie under the sand in the soft coal which was the forest by the estuary, thousands of years ago. ~Henry Williamson

Put three grains of sand inside a vast cathedral, and the cathedral will be more closely packed with sand than space is with stars. ~James Jeans~
..... Endless quotes.

Monday

Accomplishments in Iraq

"The focus laid out in the World Media, should not be to highlight extremist's activities, but to equally provide encouragement to the tremendous personal and political stride that the Iraqi people continue to make, as they widen their support of Democracy and merge into Modern Society."...M.B.

~Dichotomy re: terrorist activities and prevailing freedoms, can be found in an article written by John Hawkins Read this RWN article: here.

~~~~
Oct 21st report: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Gulf Region Division, reports that, completed early October, a new 4.9 million electrical substation now provides benefit to approximately 20,000 Iraqis, and jobs for 80 to 140 Iraqis each week since the construction began.

The project was funded with Iraq Relief and Reconstruction funds, and is one of four Project and Contacting Office Sectors which manage projects throughout Iraq.

Progress report of upcoming projects:

“The Project and Contracting Office Electrical Sector : is responsible for 434 projects valued at approximately $3.2 billion. This figure includes about $140 million of non-construction funds allocated for equipment and training.

To date, the Electricity Sector has completed approximately 82 projects totaling an estimated $660 million. Currently, an estimated $1,300 million is being used on projects that are now in progress. This leaves $1,250 million for remaining projects."

~The majority of the 352 remaining Electricity Sector projects are scheduled for completion by December 2006.

Sunday

Dark Sky Movie Reviews


[Capote | Hoffman; Photo: Sony Classics-05]

(((Click-Image))) To view trailer!

~(Slow to load? Choose different connection with Sony .

~Full reviews at: Movies.go.com!

Entertainment Weekly: "A- ...rapt, absorbing, and thrillingly perceptive."

The Hollywood Reporter: "An exceptional movie that digs deeply into an artist at the height of his creativity."

New York Post: "3½ stars/4 Viciously good."


Posted to:
~Don Suber
~Publiusrendezvous
~Californiaconservative
~outsidethebeltway

Saturday

Carnival of Healing #13


((CLICK IMAGE)) to go to The Carnival of Healing #13:
"An Apple A Day Keeps The Doctor Away."

See the exhibits! ....My exhibit is there, as well... M.B. (^_^)

(Hosted by: The Lovely and healthy blog of Spiralvisions.)

Stuffed Chicken Truffle


[Stuffed Chicken Truffle; mb©-05]

CARNIVAL OF THE RECIPES #62
~Hosted by David...at: fishtownchatter!

~~Stuffed Chicken Truffle~~~
"Serve a lovely little patio dinner, for two...
And what desert did we have?...Click image to see, exactly...M.B. (^_^)


(Serves 2)
2 chicken breasts from chicken weighing 5 lbs (approx. 2.5 kg apiece)
1.5 oz (approx. 30 g) truffles
7/8 cup (approx. 1/8 L) chicken stock
7/8 lb (1/4 kg) leeks
1/8 cup and 1/8 teaspoon) approx. 5 cl) heavy cream
1-1/8 of a cup (approx 30 g) butter
Salt and pepper

How To:
Place a chicken breast on a cutting board and holding the knife parallel to the board, cut the breast *almost* in

half-don't cut all the way through. Cut flaps all across the breast this way so that they will be "hinged" on one side and open like a book. Season the inside of each slice with salt and pepper, and then fill each one with thick slices of truffles.
Place the chicken stock in the bottom of a steamer, bring to a boil and then steam the breasts for 10 minutes. Tightly cover the top of the steamer so no steam escapes.
Clean the leeks and cut the white part and a little of the green, into pieces about 3/8 inch long and about half as wide.

Separate the leaves and wash carefully. Cook the leeks in a pan with about 1/8 tablespoons of butter until soft, but don't allow to brown. Add 1-1/2 tablespoons of the cream and cook gently until it has virtually disappeared. Add Salt and pepper
(to the taste.)
Once the breasts are cooked, remove them from the steamer and keep warm. Pour half the stock into a saucepan, add the remaining cream, and boil until the sauce is thick and creamy. Over high heat, whisk in the butter little by little.
Place the leeks in the center of each plate, spoon some of the sauce around them, put a breast on top of the leeks, and serve immediately.

Tip #1. Can be carefully served on oven hot plates.
Tip #2. After dinner, serve a desert of champagne and thin wafers and indv. pastries.

Friday

At a Moment's Notice


Sound alseep in front of a good book...

But able to hear a can open, at a moment's notice...

Visit the Cats, Dogs, Spiders and ? every Friday...
At the Modulator’sFriday Ark # 57
And Sunday, Laurence Simon’s, "Carnival of The Cats #83!"
Hosted by: Mog! ...See the rest at: mindofmog now!

Thursday

Protecting Freedoms


[Nora Farrahi MB-05 | Central Baghdad-AFP ]

"Soldier guards high a-top the polls, as the minaret of a mosque looms in the distance." ....M.B.


((Click Image))...View Images and reflections, after the Vote.

~Read more voting statements, and Speak out!

Wednesday

Gondola Serenade


[PHOTO: ©-05 Brett Somers|Venice!]

"While visiting Venice Italy, a Gondola Serenade is something you will remember forever.” (^_^) M.B.

((Click Image)) ....For a Lovely Little History...

Tuesday

Knowledge of Ancients

Hippocrates
[460 BC- 357 BC ; Hippocrates]

We were healthy and happy children on Holiday in the country...
I (just a small child) can never forget playing along the hillside with my best friend when suddenly, she began to shake, somewhat like a convulse. Little to my knowledge at the time, she had had her first seizure. This was something, sadly, I could never forget.

I also will never understand just how I knew what to do, or how it was that I, at sixty pounds, carried her down from the hill. Thank goodness she was alright, but I could not help but fear that her life would change forever. I was told that some things will happen, that just cannot be explained…

That was twenty years ago, but in the immediate years to follow, there were concerns about her participation in sports, lengthy travel, and basically, many activities were guarded. She and I read texts, and every article we came across, including the Ancients, who (it was thought) had also experienced this, in their societies.

The story is at a happy ending, as even in the last several years, societies, foundations, and researchers have brought forth new treatments. There is not the fear and circumstance today, that we grew up with, then. I wanted to share this with you, as I have just come across an article...

The article speaks about an Australian neurologist, Terence O'Brien who traced back to ancient diagnosis (twenty-five centuries ago) when Hippocrates suggested a relationship between epilepsy and depression, only to find this important medical connection.

"Melancholics ordinarily become epileptics, and epileptics melancholics,"
-Hippocrates; fifth century BC.

From today's article | October 17, 2005:
~~~~
Professor O'Brien said brain scans of 26 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy had found those with depression had an abnormality in a part of the brain known as the orbitofrontal cortex. "That's an important part of the brain that's involved in the circuitry controlling stress hormones," he said.
~~~~
His research has just received an international brain research award to enable further studies, and those forthcoming... Article here.

The Knowledge of Hippocrates: The first physician known who actually considered medicine to be a science, and to be separate from religion. He wrote the Hippocratic oath.. (An oath that every new doctor-to-be still says to this day.)


~The Carnival of the Vanities Birthday Edition, is hosted by:
"The World According to Nic is up at: schweitn!

Monday

Hide And Go Seek # 1


[PHOTO: Mike Lewis| Kathryn Mims, 2 Dothan, AL]

Playing Hide-and-go-seek with a good friend.

" 1...2...3... okay, ready or not, here I come!"...

-Click-Image-

Sunday

Ski Colorado Rockies!


[Champagne powder at Steamboat-05]

~The many mountain sports of Steamboat residents.

Nestled high up in the Rocky Mountains at seven thousand feet, is my favorite Winter Wonderland Resort, Steamboat Springs. This year-round Resort is known throughout the globe, simply as: "Ski Town USA®!"

The most recent celebration that I had had the pleasure of visiting, was Steamboat's 100-year Anniversary. Unlike any other annual ski festival, this was an extraordinary collection of races, jubilant feasts, music, and Cheers! Those attending were locals, many visiting ski enthusiasts, and ski champions of then and now.

FACT 1: No other town in North America has produced more winter Olympians than Steamboat Springs... (a record 54 and counting.)

FACT 2: In this ultimate micro-climate, Meteorologists measured the "Steamboat's Champagne Powder" (a phrase they patented) and found it to have 70 per cent less moisture content than average snow!

~Rent a ski cabin: Many choices! (Book early)
~Ski Tickets: Official site. (30 min. flight from Denver)
~Ski forecast & Cams: here. (Check before you go!)Don Suber
_______________
~Posted with:
~Owner's Manual hosts....The Best of me #118!

Iraqi Voting Statements

"Here’s what a few had to say on the 15th and 16th of October"…~M.B.
"Our constitution has been approved, down with the Baathists!" (chant a joyful crowd.)

OFFICIAL STATEMENTS:
When asked about the probability of results:

Iraqi Pres. Jalal Talabani: "I think the majority will vote yes."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: "Most people assume on the ground that it probably has passed."

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer: "It's a triumph for ordinary people over militants."

Japan Foreign Ministry: "We pay tribute to the interim government and people of Iraq who participated in the national referendum despite security issues and other difficult conditions."

COMMENTARY by: Amir Taheri , at the Eleana Benador site.
Other interesting articles by Taheri.

ADDITIONAL VOICES: From Iraq, on the referendum: here.

Can't Fool Butterscotch


[Butterscotch playing with ribbons]

Uh-oh... He figured it out! Someone is pulling the strings above...

(Interesting reflection captured in mirror.)

Go now, and view the rest of the Cats, at Lawrence Simon's
Carnival of the Cats #82!
This weeks Carnival is hosted at: Where The Dolphins Play...
Sunday, at: Dolphinsdock!

Saturday

Raspberry Dream Puffs


[Raspberry Dream Puffs; mb©-05]
CARNIVAL OF THE RECIPES #61
~Hosted by Ala...at: blonde sagacity!

~~~Raspberry Dream Puffs~~~

"Dream Puff served a-top a raspberry sauce, with a 'strawberry treasure' inside!" ~M.B. (^_^)
(Many substitutes can be used in this recipe. Used here: strawberry/raspberry.)

(Serves 4)
2/3 cup (80 g) flour
Pinch of salt - 1 egg
8 teaspoons beer
4 egg whites
2 dozen big strawberries
6- 1/2 tablespoons (10 cl) Grand Marnier
2 qts (2 L) oil, for deep frying (personal preference)
1/4 cup (70 g) granulated sugar

For the sauce:
1 lb (400 g) raspberries
1 cup (25 cl) water
2- 1/2 cups (500g) granulated sugar
Dash of Grand Marnier

How to:
Make a batter by combining the flour with the salt, the egg, and the beer. Let the batter rest for at least 2 hours, and then fold in 4 egg whites beaten until stiff.

Stem the strawberries and marinate them in the Grand Marnier for 20 minutes.
Make a raspberry sauce. Blend the raspberries in a blender. Put the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the raspberry purée and boil for 2 minutes, then pour the sauce into a bowl to cool over ice. Stir to cool as quickly as possible. Add a dash of Grand Marnier to the sauce.
Heat the oil in a deep frier until it reaches 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) on a candy thermometer. Drain the strawberries; dip each in batter, then deep-fry until golden!

Tip 1: Serve Dream Puffs on individual dessert plates as soon as they are cooked...
Tip 2: Pour some of the sauce on each plate and sprinkle each puff with powdered sugar (as shown.).....Yumm!...(^_^)

Friday

Friday's Catblogging

Butterscotch Is Thirsty!!

How much can a cat drink!!

Better save some for later...

Visit the Cats, Dogs, Spiders and ? every Friday...
At the Modulator’sFriday Ark # 56
And Sunday, Laurence Simon’s"Carnival of The Cats!"

~Go visit more cats at: "weekend cat blogging"

Thursday

Crisis in Southeast Asia


[Former Thai farming|AP-04]

(In happier days, a Thai farmer guides ducks in field, on outskirts of Bangkok.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm afraid I don't know what to believe, or if indeed these outbreaks of bird flu are a direct result of terror...
As Scientists work desperately to contain the H5N1 bird flu virus, I welcome your input." ...M.B.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Tehran Times | PHNOM PENH (AFP) - The U.S. health secretary remarks upon outbreak of bird flu in Southeast Asia. latest article.

~Read the excellent writings of Rick Moran who has also written on the subject of bird-flu.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So many views, if you have additional information not mentioned here: I welcome trackback, or comments. Will link this back to you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Thanks to concerned comments, from very excellent bloggers from Europe, naturendanger, Nuno, and Paredes De Coura who (with cause) fear a potential catastrophe in the making…

~Mr. Satire makes 2 important points, being possiblity of Avian flu danger being overrated, and reminds us that there were 3 flu pandemics in the world in the last century, so, it’s reasonable to suspect that we will have at least 1 this century.

~To conclude this topic: I include links to images from a recent trip to Mongolia taken by my friend, and accomplished photographer,Yvon
..and another link to his Pilgrimage of Cambodia.
Also, visit his Périgrination of Tibet...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, as we all keep positive, decide what we believe, yet fear. We will all hope for the best......(^_^) ~M.B.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday

The Origins Of Make-up


[Private Photo|Chas A.©-98]
Why do women wear make-up?

Did a google search for Make-up:
Results: 1 - 10 of about 26,300,000 for makeup

Next search, origins...until I stopped at the ancient writings of Orvid, that is.

"Art embellishes everything"...Orvid's decision was that expression of Culture was better than Nature as, "Culture sweetens the bitterness of wild fruit"...
~~~~~
To me, there is no question, as to whether or not make-up started as a result of skin-care... Perhaps in the travels of Homo erectus, wandering far away from sources of water, with a dire need to protect the skin? Perhaps there was found the ease of application by plants with oils? This undoubtedly lead to the discovery that certain plants worked better to protect from the sun? So in a sense, these natural embellishments became Artistic, for there was true beauty found within, and the needs to retain.

I can see so clearly, Egypt, with its unbearably hot climate, experiments of green sulfur found along the banks of the Red Sea... applied to protect the eyes...These Medicinal purposes brought forth the use of copper oxide, iron, manganese dioxide, silvers, reds, rusts and gold...

Roots in Primal Earth, to make one whole, to adorn... M.B...(^_^)

~~~~~~~~~~

Wizbang's....Bonfire of the Vanities #120
Hosted by: Free Money Finance

Tuesday

Earlier This Morning

10-11-05:

~Taken into custody early this morning (Tuesday) by a judge investigating corruption linked to the Iraqi ”oil-for-food” program, Former French UN ambassador held over Iraq oil-for-food..
read more...

~Earlier this moring (Tuesday) in Monrovia, Liberians have voted with hope that it will end the most brutal civil wars of a life-time.
Full story...

~A little bit more about Arnold's appointment with Mc Clain to help support the four initiatives on the special election ballot here.

~~Partial evacuation on the East Campus, Georgia Tech last night, as bomb squads rolled in full story.

Storyblogging Carnival

The 29th Edition of The Storyblogging Carnival is up at:
Tales by Sheya.

Enjoy creative literary works, by a list of very favorite bloggers...
And don't forget to link your own story, every other Monday
Using: Ferdy's Carnival of the Cats submit form!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next: The October 24th; Storyblogging Carnival #30, at:
Back of the Envelope...Hosted by donaldscrankshaw

Monday

Supersonic Jet Tested


[To replace the Concorde|courtesy; JAXA]

Here's the skinny on the plane (just recently tested) that will replace the Concord Full Article...

TEST/SPECS: The 11.5m scale model of the 104m airliner separated from the rocket at around 18,000m and glided at Mach 2 (2450km/h) for about 15 min..
ACCOMIDATIONS: 300 passengers at twice the speed of sound..

ARTICLE: From Test Site.

©-Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Claiming the New World


(Click-Enlarge)
[Cristobal Colon; stakes claim of New World; image:public domain]

As we celebrate Columbus Day in America, October 12, we see that for over five hundred years, history has down-played facts for the sake of pre-Modern Heroism. We are still left with unanswered questions such as, "How can one "discover" a land which is already inhabited?"

~This land, referred to as: Guanahani; by Natives...

Documented: Columbus hadn't reached Spain until March 15, when the story of his journey was in its third printing.


(Click-Enlarge)
[Christophe Colombe a la Cour d'Isabelle II | Image:public domain]

His return from travels were so published, and honored, and partly due to the legitimization it offered in the colonization of the Spanish and European in the Americas, that the many instances of Pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact to this new land, all were over-looked...

Lavish celebrations and full honor from Queen Isabelle II, as he displayed several kidnapped natives, presented what gold he'd found to the court, the 'unknown' tobacco plant, pineapple fruit, and not to forget...the turkey.

Also questionable (due to preserved documents, log journals, and accounts) was his ethnicity, as compared to our historical records in America.

A probable correction would be Genoese, although the Crown of Aragón to the Kingdoms of Galicia or Portugal, or in the Greek island of Chios, are likely by Historians to hold his true origin.

~And if this story gets a little “Hot under the collar” for you…
enjoy another version by:
Dr. Phat Tony ...(^_^)

The neuralgourmet hosts
TheCarnival of Bad History #4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Listed with Cafe Oregano.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Now on! archaeoastronomy is hosting,
The Carnivalesque IX:...
"The past is back to haunt you! ....Don't miss it!" ~M.B. (^_^)

Sunday

A Touch of Autumn


[Issey Miyake]

[Sirop]

[Cadente]

[Lagerfeld]
~Photos: Geo. Ferrivio~o5

Dinner by the Seashore


"And what dinner did I prepare?...((Click Image))...to see, exactly."...M.B. (^_^)

Carnival of the Cat's# 81



"Luckily Butterscotch knows, that the bigger the book the harder it is to turn the pages"....(^_^)

There's more Cats to see at: Lawrence Simon's
~~~~~ Carnival of the Cats #81!~~~~~
This weeks Carnival (hosted by Gina, at ginasrantings!On Sunday!

Saturday

Acceleration of Poverty


[Indonesians face deepening poverty]

Indonesian fuel prices: formerly 30 cents to each US dollar.

Starting Oct 1st In Jakarta, a new 80% raise in fuel price was imposed by the Indonesian Government, who can no longer maintain a fixed a fuel price for its people. An otherwise independent people must now prepare, in the midst of a World Oil Crisis, as their country hopes to rescue its economy. Shown here, an emergency cushion is provided (for the next three months) to the poorest of the poor, in order to continue as a work force.


"In these days of aggregated fuel hikes, and turmoil of uncertainty, I am reminded of the goals of Terrorism and statements of the radial Islamic against the West."

~~~~~~~~

Terrorists target within the sociologically solvent nations. In aftermath of attacks, the hardest hit are the poor. Many of these poor are of Islamic faiths that loose what little Democracy and Freedoms that they have, only to live life under a socially oppressed influence. In fact, the oppressed and oppressors left in the wakes of these devastations, shape to form a conflict within the Terrorists standard terms of infidels and Western culture.

To me, it is clear:

"Terrorism oppresses the Poor, and accelerates poverty."

~M.B.


The Wizbang,
Bonfire of the Vanities# 119 is here! At:
Laurence’s: TBIFOC ….. Pray for cloud cover…

Melon Sherbet Pudding


[Melon Sherbet Pudding; mb©-05]

CARNIVAL OF THE RECIPES #60!
Hosted by: Dave, at The Glittering Eye!
~~Melon Sherbet Pudding~~~

"A delicious and colorful little touch for fall." ~M.B. (^_^)

(Serves 4)
1 (or 2) cantaloupes weighing about 2-1/2 lbs
(1.200 kg) total
juice of 1/2 lemon or 1/2 orange
7/8 cup (20 cl) muscate or other sweet, strong wine
1-1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
7/8 cup (20 cl) water
sugar

To Decorate:
1 small cantaloupe, cut into melon balls
sugar, caramelized
mint leaves

How To:
Place a 2-quart metal mixing bowl (or large saucepan) in the freezer to chill.
Mix the sugar with 7/8 cup water and boil to dissolve. Once the sugar syrup has cooled, stir in the lemon or orange juice.
Peel and seed the melons. Purée the pulp in a blender and strain. Add the purée
to the sugar syrup. Pour the mixture into the chilled mixing bowl and replace in the freezer. Beat the mixture with an electric mixer once an hour for three hours.
A half-hour before serving, remove the bowl from the freezer and place in the refrigerator.
Place the 4 desert plates in the freezer to chill. Just before serving, whisk the sherbet and pour in the wine little by little. The finished sherbet should be about the consistency of whipped cream.
Spoon it into the cold plates and garnish with melon balls dipped into caramel and topped with fresh mint leaves.

Tip 1: May be served as desert, or with entrée as a small chilled individual serving (to change palette between courses.)
Tip 2: To benefit, follow all of the sherbet mixing and chilling directions.

Friday

Morning Quiz...

Morning Quiz:

She's Australian, she's in Love....
and swam 11,000km to get her male...

Who was she?

Find out here...

~Credit: news.com.au.

Thursday

Giant Panda Blogging


The Panda's await health exam results, of their new son...
[Smithsonian's National Zoo; check-up]

The 10-week-old male giant panda cub at the Smithsonian's National Zoo sits in a container after he received his sixth health exam at the Washington Zoo. Photo|Reut
~Captions?...
~~~~
~"Please support Smithsonian's National Zoo....(^_^) ~M.B.

~~~~
~Polar Bear eyelashes! At the incredible Polar Bear Cam."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Friday Ark!
Visit the Cats, Dogs, Spiders and ? every Friday...
~At the Modulator's...Friday Ark # 55!

Wednesday

Watermelon Eating Hippo


[Jazi, the watermelon eating hippo; S.Diego-Zoo]

"With all the violence, and travel scare out there in the World, you might just be safer, in with the animals, at the Zoo...(^_^) If you can't get away to visit.. Take a trip here. Or visit the Polar Bear Cam."

AFP-News| Jazi, an African river hippo, munches away on a ice block mixed with watermelon at the San Diego Zoo's Ituri Forest. The tasty treat was given to Jazi as the zoo celebrated her first birthday. Jazi, who weighed 32kg at birth, now weighs 413.6kg, averaging a weight gain of about 45kg a month."

~~~~~~~~
The Friday Ark!
Visit the Cats, Dogs, Spiders and ? every Friday...
~over at the Modulator's...Friday Ark # 55!

An October Launch Set


China's Shenzhou VI (2nd manned mission) being prepped for a 5 day, two man voyage in Oct. Concise "launch window" is determined by a host of factors.

After the re-entry module returns to Earth, orbital module continues working in space as independent satellite carrying out continuing scientific experiments.

China's experts in research and Med. Tech; are of the finest! Read.

Monday

Imagine All The People


(Click-through & hit the orange button)

From my friend Marco, in Spain:
Bush singing to the John Lennon song... "Imagine."

"Real voice of Bush taken from some of its speeches, brilliant!" ~Marco.


~Linked: Basil's blog!
~Linked: Cafe Oregano!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Freedom!


(Click-Image to Visit site/view Film)

"Celebration for the 60 years of freedom in Italy."


1' video col, computer animation 2D
Subject, screenplay and 2D animation: Bruno Bozzetto
Music and sound effects : Roberto Frattini
Produced by: Comune di Bergamo.

Sunday

Hollywood Film Conserve

Interesting Conservative article on the continuing parallels of Commander in Chief, .... by my favorite Conservative Film forum Libertas.

Which reminds me....Liberty Film Festival Tickets are now on sale! A good way to support the conservative film movement, and enjoy exceptional film entertainment, at the same time! Read more...

~An interesting perspective on the Media TV-hype here.
Hat: instapundit

Carnival of the Cats# 80


[Butterscotch: Taken June 28th-05]

I'm doing a little re-post here, of a shot I took of Butterscotch in a pixie-cut. (^_^)

See the rest of the Cats at: Lawrence Simon's
Carnival of the Cats #80! This weeks Carnival (hosted by: The beautiful Music and Cats) On Sunday!


~ALSO: Lawrence hosts, The Carnival of the Vanities #158!...(By far the best collection of entries, thus far!)

Saturday

Artistic Food Art!


(A click on image will take you)

If you've not been already, go to see my friend at: penglobe!
A unique experience of Food and Art awaits you...

Have a Beautiful Day!

~M.B. (^_^)

~~~~~~~~~~~

Market Currents


Morning Stock Talk

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ECB | Euro foreign exchange reference rates

ECB - European Central Bank


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