Saturday

Raspberry Soufflé


[raspberry Soufflé; mb-©-05]

Caterwauling is hosting, THE CARNIVAL OF RECIPES #72!.
As many will be attending New Year’s Eve Balls, the theme is:
Holiday balls (as in "round food") ...(Round Soufflé it is!)...(^_^)

~~~Soufflé aux Baies (Raspberry Soufflé)~~~
"Learning to master the art of making a soufflé, is a gift you should give yourself, for the New Year. With this mastery, you will make cheese, spinach, and numerous types of soufflé....

(This soufflé: "Wonderful with champagne") ~M.B.

(Serves 4)
6- 1/2 tablespoons (10 cl) milk
3- 1/2 (45 g) granulated sugar
3 tablespoons (30 g) flour
4 egg yolks - 3 egg whites
1/2 pint (100 g) raspberries and baby strawberries
1 teaspoon butter - confectioner's sugar
4 whole candied raspberries (optional: added decoration)


How-to:
Follow carefully, if it is your first soufflé:

Boil the milk. Beat the egg yolks and 3 tablespoons of sugar until the mixture becomes lemon-colored, then whisk in the flour and the hot milk little by little. Pour into a saucepan and cook over a moderate heat 2 minutes or until thick, then pour this pastry cream into a bowl and reserve.
Puree the mixed berries (raspberries and baby strawberries) and strain the juice.
Beat the egg whites until quite stiff stir in the mixed-berry juice, and then carefully fold this into the bowl, of pastry cream.
Butter a soufflé mold; sprinkle the inside of the mold with the remaining sugar to coat the sides then fill with the mixed-berry cream up to the edge of the mold. Bake in a 476 degree F (250 degree C) oven for 15 to 16 minutes.
Remove from the oven, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar (as I've done here)
You may choose to serve with stewed raspberry and baby strawberries, flavored with a little Grand Marnier and red currant jelly! (Candied raspberries for Deco; is nice touch)...... Viola!


Tip: 1. Bring these to their equivalent: stiffen egg whites, carefully fold into pastry cream.
Tip: 2. Remember it's "layers" and watch your temperatures. (^_^)

Friday

Butterscotch Rings In 06

[Butterscotch: "OK, where's 2006?"]

ME: "Butterscotch, I told you it's not until late tomorrow."

[Butterscotch: "I have to wear this hat for 2 days??!"]

The Cats! The Dogs! (M-mmm) Beautiful Birds (etc.)! ---Butterscotch!
It's the The Modulator's Happy New Year Friday Ark #67
~~Don't miss, Laurence Simon's... "Carnival of the Cat's #92...
Hosted by elmsintheyard, on New Year's Day!

(Incidentally: N.Y. Live cams - Click on the photos! )

Pronouncements

The Bin Laden Book - (in the News).....

"How can anyone who, "Hits and Hides", ever speak of our Great Nation as driving force to a reciprocity of violence."

"Who made him worthy of examining the effect of our Patriot Act, or our decision to use Military force...(when and wherever we choose.)"

"This monster with his offer of explanations and exhortations, his affiliates and continual schemes of violence, have neither worth nor value through the usage of any medium."


~Some discuss Laden's articulations, comprehencabilities, and examine the psyche of these bands of cowards... As is viewed: here.

Excerpt:
"Two elements of bin Laden's wordy imprecations gathered in this fine volume make this clear. First, he repeatedly expresses his regret at the dissolution of the Ottoman empire and the emergence of an Arab world dominated by the west."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~Some believe that these militant bands of cowards with their senseless schemes of violence, have relatability to that of... (even those opposite my political beliefs.) As is viewed: here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt; O'Neill : From his cynical adoption of the Palestinian issue, to his explanations for why he OK'd 9-11, to his opposition to the American venture in Iraq, virtually everything bin Laden says is a rip-off of arguments and claims made in the mainstream media over here."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~They may very well have thought, "Divided we fall...
...but clearly they forgot, United we stand."
Tags:
~~~~~~
~ Festival: Conservative Cat
~The excellent site of: The Business of America is Business...hosts:
Wizbang's......Bonfire of the Vanities #132...
Go see it!

Media Spoof

Everyone should view this film, if you've not already...

The power of the media, where one picture can be worth...
a thousand weapons...


[ Click-Image:Requires Window's Media Player]

Meet Pallywood: A war set where mocked footage using real gunfire is carefully supervised by set directors, in an attempt to shape World sympathy for the Palestinian cause...

In this Film: View actors, film sets, their affiliates, and just how these films are then marketed out to media distribution and passed off as current news stories.

TODAY: Kevin , at Louisiana Libertarian, posts another incident of violence in the Gaza...I have concern with the origin of 'militant agenda' in this progression of peace, given that Israel has fulfilled it's first requirement towards peace..(i.e. Surrender of the Gaza.)

~ Rick Moran hosts: Carnival of the Clueless #27! | Carnival Cat
Tags: ,

Wednesday

Josephine (1796)

[Marie-Josephe-Rose-Josephine; J. David-1804]
-satire-
Throughout the 17th century, both the world of slavery and Rights of Women were a topic of the day.
The Coronation of Napoleon (1804) was a world-historic event...However, in-between- several wars... the country was bankrupt. First, the grand firm in France, then its branches in Spain and Italy; twice. Religious slavery held that world in the fetters of political servitude.

A little something that history does not tell you:


It was Josephine's emphatic and impetuous Love of jewelry, which very well may have changed the course of history. (Josephine, the wife of Napoleon- 1796).

SCENE: DATE: 1804 - Josephine greets Napoleon, though her disdain for wearing the same old gaudy jewels, coupled with daily confiscations and burnings of her manuscripts, the tragic execution of friend of her family (author Olympe de Gouges) in 1793, and the reduction of her castle servants...was much-too much, to contain...

She did what any logical woman (under such circumstance) would do...
"Cry"...

Napoleon: "Now, now, my dear sweet Josephine...Forever what troubles thee?..
"The Coronation is the best (and inevitably, last) good day of my Life."

Josephine: "You must convert all my jewels a-new, enable more independence for women, hire a political accountant, reduce your vile wars, support the rights of Haiti, and give my maids pay."

The proof that Josephine changed the course of History:


In 1805: Thomas Malthus, a financial political accountant was consigned (luckily for Josephine, he was about more than the production and distribution of material wealth, and favored unlimited jewelry renewal.) The maids went on the payroll, and Napoleon left Haiti.

(It did get a little ugly in the end, but hey...)

~~~~~~~~~~

the skwib has returned!
and hosts: The Carnival of Satire!
~~~~~~~~~~
Gary Cruse at The Owner's Manual hosts:
Best of Me Symphony #120!

Benevolence


The last of the guests have left...
Time to take the decorations down.

With the many differences in all parts of the globe...
how I wish it were easy for everyone to just "choose peace."

By helping us to be 'free to live a peaceful life'...
we owe a great deal of gratitude to our soldiers.


"We must stop thinking that Peace is the opposite of War...
Peace is not the absence of war; it is a virtue; a state of mind;
a disposition for benevolence; confidence; and justice."
~Spinoza



[Artist-veteran: Paul Strucke]

"To build courage when courage seems to fail,
To regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith,
To create hope when hope becomes forlorn." ~Gen. MacArthur mp3


How I wish that the grips of war did not prohibit us from prioritizing the gifts of nourishment, sharing elements of productivity, and fully contributing our focus towards safer societies..
[Watermarked photo; Press | 12-2-05]

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort,
but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
~~~~~

Under new management at: Harshly Mellow...
It's the...The Carnival of the Vanities #172!

Monday

Painting Mystery

No doubt History unfolds the many loops and synchronizations found throughout time. From the great floods and famine, Artists so meticulously painted an archival representation of the scriptures, earth changes, and flying objects, present throughout the ages...
Apparent here in:
(1) Floating Angles (2) legends...
...and even perhaps, visits to our planet (3) & (4).

[1508: The adoration of Kings-Mabuse]
(1)-(1508) At the command of Philip of Burgundy, Mabuse again, executed this replica of floating angles in his masterpiece, "Descent from the cross"...

Current location of painting: National Gallery, London
Time-line: 15th century
~View close-up of Angels, here.

5: St. Eulalia-Waterhouse]
(2)- (1883) -Waterhouse

According to ledgend, the snow believed to have been sent by God as a shroud to cover the saint; and the dove flying upward near the mourners, indicative of Eulalia's soul flying up to Heaven, was said to have flown out of her mouth.
~Detail of "St. Eulalia"... here.

Current location of painting: The Tate Gallery
Time-line: 18th century

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

[1449-1494 | by Domenico Ghirlandaio]

(3)- (1471) "The Madonna with Saint Giovannino"...Not only can you see this disk in hover, but detail provides a close look at a man and his dog clearly looking at the disk.
Current location of painting: Loeser collection in the Palazzo Vecchio
Time-line: 14th century

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

[1430-1495 | by Carlo Crivelli]

(4)- (1473) "The Annunciation with Saint Emidius"...Barvisibleable in this image (From above in-between buildings) is a thin yellow beam radiating from disk shaped object, right down upon the Virgin Mary.

Current location of painting: The National Gallery, London.
Time-line: Mid to later 14th century

Tags:, ,
~Conservative Cat Festival
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~The great blog of: hip & zen, is hosting
The Carnival of the Vanities #173!

Sunday

Congolese Vote Update

The Congo is in the final stages at which the implementation of a referendum (designed to strengthen and re-define aspects of their constitution) will be voted in by the Congolese. (poll)
UPDATE: Supporters of Constitution in Strong Position At Polls.

The key importance of this event sees the Congo now receiving effective community pressure and strict intervention from neighboring countries who demand that Congolese disconnect from a decades old, war loop.

The path to find a better way to favor Peace and Democracy throughout many war-torn societies, has been a struggle. Perhaps this method to end decades-old conflicts, will be the solution of the future, re: lingering conflicts.

Sadly, corruptive forces become the signature of a war-torn country, and most lack the order of influence needed to disengage and resign from continuing conflict...

The ravages of war impact the well-being of neighboring countries and limit resources needed to maintain quality of living for all....

Most importantly they negatively impact proper education, available to only a fortunate few. Lack of education keeps the suffering in place.
Intervention in the name of Peace and Democracy, will become the new community responsibility.

Congo Voting Facts:
~280 international observers on hand to watch the voting.
~1500 UN peacekeepers.
~US Lauds Voter Turnout: Congo Vote

~The Carnival of Liberty XXVI...Hosted by gunner of:
Target Center mass...Don't miss it..

The Chandelier Tree


Most of these ornaments can be found here... or click-image.. (From chandelier shop)... (^__^) Also used tiny yellow lights for contrast, and background lighting (behind tree)
Wish I'd have posted some design ideas... Ah-well..

About ready to go out and see the lights. (Seven of us)
The displays are getting more and more magnificent every year. Last year: a set of sparkling trains along the circular drive, and an entire mansion made into a gingerbread castle.

If the photos turn out, I'll post one. (Night photography is iffy.)
Wizbang's, Carnival XLIII, and Merry Christmas basil, article, "Christmas trees, a seasonal affair" at: joscafe.

Tags: ,

Saturday

Wiretaps Still in News..


I can't believe how long they've kept this story going..
I've come back, and the news is frozen on this... (pardon the expression.)

On the brighter side.. It's Christmas eve..
The weather here is sunny and warm...but if this is your Christmas (pictured above)
You will definitely need:

Good Old Fashioned Christmas Eggnog:

6 separated eggs
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 quarts thick cream
1 1/4 tumblers whiskey, brandy or rum (optional)
Dashes of cinnamon or nutmeg

Beat egg yolks and sugar together until they are senseless (or lemon-colored). Set aside while you beat the egg-whites stiff followed by some harshly thrashed cream. Dump all this into the yokes along with your choice of liquor. Then chill.

~Recipe found here: 4 or 5 ways to make eggnog..
~Recipe for: Vegan egg nog...

Christmas Music: For a change of pace...
~Christmas 1, 2, Jazz Christmas...
~Conservative Cat's ping Festival, Wizbang's, Carnival XLIII

Thursday

The Sugar Plum Fairy

Click-Image: To view sleeping Ice Fairy~
Nutcracker: Tchaikovsky - 1892
Feline Fairy: Butterscotch - 2005
~~~~~
Attention: Maestro!
~ AUDIO: Nutcracker March!!
Enjoy this lively accompaniment!
~~~~~~~~~~
"Greeted by lavish celebrations and a beautiful fairy
...dressed in pink spun sugar, wearing a
dazzling iced-sugar crown"...
~~~~
"It's the Butterscotch Sugar Plum Fairy!"

~Scene 2-Act Three~
Ballet of the Sugar Plum Fairy:

The King and Queen of Snow would soon arrive
to greet and guide them through the forest...
Soon they would travel to the Land of Sweets...
The land of marshmallow clouds, & sweet pools of
honey, where the reflections of the sunset sparkle
in sugar droplets, upon rock-candy walkways. Soon,
everywhere they looked there were dancing fairies, all
about the sugar snow... They saw spun sugar ice trees,
and a palace made with gingerbread, nut, chocolate,
marzipan, ice cream and Butterscotch!
~~~~~~~~~~
~2005 Featured Nutcrackers: The Christmas Ballet!
~Finest theatre for: Russian ballet ...
The Nutcracker by: E.T.A. Hoffmann;

Composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Original designs: by Bacharov, K. Ivanov
and Ivan Vsevolozhsky.
~~~~~~~~
Tags: ,
Listed with: basil
Carnivals:
The Modulator's atFriday Ark # 66! every Friday...
It's Laurence Simon's... "Carnival of the Cat's #92...
Hosted by one of my favorite sites:
The exquisite site of: Watermark, on Christmas Day!
~~~~~~~~~~
~The Owner's Manual:
Best of Me Symphony #125!

Tuesday

Celebration of the Heart

[wrapping, cooking and decorating]
Busy time for me! ... Lot's of company coming in...
I am blessed to be of a family who are all creative!
For the last several years, in tradition of the gift of the Christ, Hannukah, and kindness..
we have honored one another by giving gifts at which we have made.

It feels good to create from your heart, in celebration. To me, this feels right. May the spirit of kindness flow to you all...
(To a few friends who think alike: Ferdy, Burce , basil, and Jo)..

Come back soon... as I'm about to make some gingerbread cookies.. ((^__^))
Conservative Cat's ping Festival.

Free Poll for Congolese

While the current US administration is busy defending its terror-prevention strategies, history is being made is several war-torn countries. Millions of those formerly denied a free poll, now follow the successes of the Iraqi Referendum...
[Congo voter: reads draft constitution|Click-photo: Audio]
Congolese Begin Voting in First Free Poll in 40 Years
18 December 2005| Kinshasa
Country after country, mile after mile, in many of the world's worst war-torn nations, we now see lines of free-poll voters. Eager to cast their ballots and hold a greater say, as they create a chain of hope.

The latest to begin voting on Referendum electoral processes, not afforded for over 40 years: The Democratic Republic of Congo. They now have hope as they seek to implement a much needed post-war constitution reform.

Listed with: basil and Carnival Cat's Ping festival.

In the capital, Kinshasa, after a 5 year war took the lives of 4 million people; they arrive to vote from the jungles of the north, the war-torn hills in the east and the diamond and copper fields of the south.

From current world experience, they see that voting will pull their country together, as they move beyond the ravages of war.
~Live AUDIO here...
A successful turnout, at which nearly 25 million people have registered.
Tags: ,

Monday

Radio Frequency ID Track

On two occasions last year, Airline companies lost my luggage... Sometimes our return flights have been commercial, and those were a nightmare!

Airlines can invoke a ceiling of only $2,500 per passenger on the amount of money they will pay you, regardless of the value of whatever you have packed in the bags. With a total of 5500.00 (jacket, shoes, change of clothes, etc.) not to mention the price of luggage, only a portion will be reimbursed.

While searching Google, this is what I found:
~Radio frequency tags (RFID)...
~Looked like a great option here: Globalbagtag...

Until I went here:

1. Instead, in the future, we could be tracked because we'll be wearing, eating and carrying objects that are carefully designed to do so. news story.

2. Why should we worry? ...Medical implants.

3. Unlike ubiquitous UPC bar-code technology, RFID technology does not require contact or line of sight for communication. RFID data can be read through the human body, clothing and non-metallic materials.~ RFID website

4. "The unfolding second generation EPC specification, DoD suppliers work together to support the American soldier and DHL begins item level garment tracking."library

(^_^) Here's RFID's Homeland Security update:

..."tags will not include visitors' biographic or biometric information. Rather, they will contain only a serial code that links to a visitors’ information securely stored in databases used by US VISIT. It will also be tamper-proof and difficult to counterfeit. There are many other layers of defense to prevent information being used incorrectly including:

No personal information will be included on the tag
Information on the tag cannot be changed
The tag will only be activated once officially issued
Personal information is only processed over secure communication paths
These factors will render ineffective so-called "skimming," the use of unauthorized reading devices to capture information from such tags. A serial code would be meaningless to any third party trying to collect that information.

Also, it will be impossible to "track" the whereabouts of someone holding such a passive tag without a corresponding reading device. Concerns about such tracking using passive RFID are perhaps confused with Global Positioning Satellite devices, which rely on a completely different technology from that used by RFID and will not be used by US VISIT."

~~~~~
~I'm not one for fear tactics, and do not feel paranoid.. It may be possible that many confuse RFID with Global Positioning Satellite devices. The question does remain, however, as we build and refine the many various databases, embedded bank notes, passports, etc.. "Do we give any one group full control? Can we be removed at will?

~Consumer Privacy held in a mini-computer device:
~RFID for : asset tracking
~Spy tracking your every move
~Track flights with Google Earth

~Don't miss the excellent posts at Rick Moran's Twenty sixth
Carnival of the Clueless!

A Positive Note

[Photographer: Emilio Morenatti-05; SF]
Bread for less dough: An Afghan war widow carries fresh loaves at a bakery set up by the World Food Programme in Kabul. There are about 90 WFP bakeries in Afghanistan offering bread to poor families at a price three times less than the going rate.

A very insightful and beautifully written piece, by The Commentator from Montreal, as reflects his personal perspective of a forward moving Iraq.
~This post will really leave you with a sense of pride. It is a must read..

Sunday

Anonymous

I just had an anonymous guest leave an interesting comment in my last post. (They'd have been anonymous in this post, anyway.) I respect privacy of those wishing to leave a comment.
re: Domestic Surveillance..

(From Anonymous)
This makes perfect sense! But since 9/11 more americans have been hurt/killed by common criminals than by terrorists. Maybe we should be monitoring them and locking them up before they can hurt us. And what about drunk drivers? They injure/kill a lot of americans too. Maybe we can put the police outside bars and lock up people who come out of bars with higher than .08 - they have killed more of us than terrorists have. This will be cool - it will be just like in the former USSR - a cop on every corner making sure we are all safe!
Anonymous

To Anonymous:
To me there's nothing common about a criminal. I strive to have these people away from my everyday life, but unfortunately (as you say) there are too many of them for most areas to afford the monitor.
But while we maintain the topic of privacy and gov. control...there is something that isn't being addressed, that does pose a worse problem...
"Guess who"...
HINT: They often provide erroneous attack against the character and integrity of the President, discount and sacrifice the progress of others for sake of their own interests, place harm in the path of the soldier, insult host countries, over-sell grief and misfortune, incite anger, 'profit from' and 'invent' privileged information to sway the American people.

In the manner at which they promote, they are responsible for a majority of the public held belief...(in and out of our Country.) We don't want to silence them, but we ought think how they manage to maintain a higher office than any known leader, as they claim to represent the voice of your, and my interests.

ANSWER:
The Western Media (a.k.a. MSM)

~Set all bias aside, read how American Media destroyed Bush's trip to China last month.

T. Tags:
~Read Memeorandum: The Revolution will be Blogged.
~Sunday Brunch at Basil's.
~Ping Festival at: Conservative Cat's .

Domestic Surveillance

Cick-onIMAGE View video of the WW2 spying]

Are the same individuals who are concerned with Domestic Surveillance-spying, the same who complain about not enough governmental intervention at our borders? Perhaps the most common failure is the lack of reality that the sleepers are already here...

Today we have the technology to monitor the possibility of five sets of (20) suicide bombers who have left a trail, months before an localized attack. What kind of individual would want information available that might otherwise tip the thwart of an attack? It's increasing media data, to hassle over this...but I can really only think of one type of person.

Given the merge of intelligence (FBI/CIA) and development of strategies for terror prevention, climate of post 9-11, current threat level, all require the necessity to implement advances within this technology, as has never been more important. Nothing unique here to any democratic country.

View the film: Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs: and see for yourselves... Bless these patriots, but would you want our country paralyzed to the old methods of protection, today? With the enemy of today, who has not a relatability beyond death and destruction, many elements of the patriot act are
essential.
~Listed with: Carnival Cat's Ping Festival
~Listed at: Basil's
~Wizbang's Saturday Carnival; XXXXII.
~More thoughts, details, and great links over at Beth's: MyVRWC
~Linked with: "Privacy"..Wizbang.

Saturday

Too Revealing You Say?


Senate blocks vote to extend USA PATRIOT ACT- required to intercept and obstruct terrorism!

When the Patriot act was re-authorized last July, I thought that this would help curb the possibility of Terrorists attacks... Quite simply, it has. I guess the only way we will know if we were on the right course, is if we allow the Provisions to expire? Ha! View copy of our October 26, 2001 Patriot Act here.

~Article from July 22nd, Re-authorization 2005: House Re-authorizes
-USA PATRIOT ACT
required to intercept and obstruct terrorism!

"It is not a Republican vote; it is not a Democrat vote," said one of the rogue Republicans, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California. Instead, he cast it as an attempt to adhere to the limited government envisioned by the Founding Fathers."
~Listed with: Carnival Cat's Ping Festival, instapundit ~ Patriots at joscafe
Our country is vulnerable. If we need to know intelligence, those who wish to harm our country will have it too. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
~Listen to an excellent podcast: Don Surber: Podcast: Hooray For Spying.
~Excellent article which reflects the House-Senate Holiday time-constraint
(i.e. ending Legislative year.) found at: brightandearly.

The Techno Cat-sitter


[Butterscotch with cat robot 05- Enlarge ]

Cat's are notorious for climbing a-top paint and canvas while one is working...
Especially when they're not the center of attention.

Luckily this morning, when opening the Amoier for more painting supplies,
I came across an unfamiliar box... Ah-ha! Little Butterscotch's techno-friend.

ROBOT CAT: Gift from a friend some time ago, the robot kneads, purrs, and has the most lovely little meows... (As long as the batteries last)

~Visit them all at Modulator's atFriday Ark # 65! every Friday...
~(*'_'*) shame on you, Basil! ...lol
~Also...eatstuff.net hosts WCB # 26at their new beautiful home.
~Don't miss, Laurence Simon's... "Carnival of the Cat's #91 on Sunday
Hosted by the beautiful site of Music and the Cats... Enjoy this great Carnival!

Ta da! Finished! Maybe?

[M. Barbay; a crop of finished Polo piece-05]
I think I may have come across a new painting style (by being too busy) hehehe. Normally I would finish a piece like this, by adding expression to the crowd, richness of colors in the foreground, etc.. Above: A polo match at which a particular polo player (at the club) is riding up alongside another horse.
Cropped to show approx. 1/9th section that fit in my scanner..(Also too busy to photograph.)

Two down, four Christmas painting commissions to go! ((^_^))

~Oh, the "Barbay" is applied, till I watermark (to keep image from unauthorized usage) Hehehe...not a part of the scene.

~Listed with: Carnival Cat's Ping Festival.
~Listed at: Basil's luncheon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Red guy in a Blue State hosts
the The Bonfire of the Vanities CXXIX... Now up!

Thursday

Diamonds and Perfume

[Click-Photos & Links: to view flash jewelry sites!]

It's Holiday time, and the best gift is Jewelry...
I can tell you... each time a woman fastens a particular jewelry piece, for that split second, she will always think of the one from which it was gifted
.

Diamonds: Either private, established jeweler or among the most Cherished Classics, choose the piece based upon your lady's style, wardrobe, and personality.
Modernists: Smooth sophisticated design.
Earthy: Simple, richly crafted pieces.
Classicist: Traditional pieces.
If long fingers, choose more dynamic pieces; Small hands, more delicate fittings...

For engagement: I recommend that she in-directly choose the settings. While window peeping, just watch her eyes...
As Harry Winston put it, "The only part of you that knows perfect is the exquisitely painful way your heart beats in its presence."

Holiday diamonds that sprarkle in a setting alongside other gems, are prefect for a friendship... She may even love pearls.

Perfume
When a man buys a woman perfume, it says that he understands that subtle nature of the mystery of fragrance. Scent is a memory which dances in unique celebration...
Be sure to know the distinct differences between: Perfume and Eau de Cologne...

LAST:
The wrapping is just as important as the gift. (((^__^)))
~Listed with Articles of Interest at: basils, Listed with the Ping festival at: Conservative Cat's

I hope that helped the Holiday season along! ;-)

~Linked with:
Just found the Antica Farmacista Home Ambiance at one of Beth's links!, (joustthefact's post is: More Evidence That Men Are Shallow) haha! :D ...(Which of course, they are not!) ~Wizbang,
~Carnival of the Vanities, hosted by Ravenwood's Universe...
Catch The Carnival of the Vanities #170 Great selection of posts!
_______________________

~It's the Owner's Manual hosting: Best of Me Symphony #116!

Wednesday

Conduit of Former Iraq

["Both Sides of the Iraqi Street";Click on photo]
In a region of global kick-backs, money recycle schemes, disposals by murder, etc; only a regime change will seek to gain a prominent solution over this dynamic. A regime maintained by corrupt rule, and regrettably shared by a Global elite.
If you are undecided about the method at which these corrupt leaders were gathered by US; Click on the photo; or read: Both Sides of the Iraqi Street

Two consistent functions of the former Saddam rule were:
1. Disposal and Removal: of those no longer needed: Saddam's security.
2. Conduit for Corruption: Scams by Saddam's Al-Khawam family

More will be revealed to the public, in the trial.

Proof: Saddam's thwarted oil-for-food program scam paid bonuses
(through the same Amman bank account) of up to $US25,000 to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers.

With the government in the hands of the Iraqi people, they will structure their laws, and will work out how to deal with the Baathists themselves, similarly (as it is said) with how Italians dealt with the Fascists.

We honor the tremendous sacrifice our soldiers have made, in order to enable independence for this country.

~Listed with Articles of Interest at: basils
~Injured or wounded veteran? Visit Hello Iraq for a reminder.
~Listed with the Ping festival at: Conservative Cat's Ping Festival.

New Day - New Way

[Click on my photo; Wait for the Dr.]
Sorry, I had found it difficult to post. I thank all of you for stopping by.
Truth is, I haven't felt like my postings have reflected my moto below.
(Quote by Sir Cecil B.)
I'm working on this... (mainly burn-out) ... And so on, and so forth ...
Like I always say, "New Day - New Way."
Found something from my old 1998 computer ...(hehehe).... (^__^)
Again (if you haven't already) click on my photo above, for the Dr. ... (hehehe)

UPDATE: Hahaha!! I should have gone over to my friend, Beth's, to take a look at McStansbury's post! Hahaha.. (Now, there's a bad day!)

Tuesday

Volatile Anbar Province


[Dismantling the volatile Anbar province, in order to vote!]
Catch the audio; by clicking photograph

Quote by Ali al-Lami, Iraqi Electoral Commission:
"Violence has no place in any democratic elections. This is a time for national reconciliation though the political process."

The protection for voters, continues...
Other registered Iraqi voters: 20,000 in Australia, and a group of 1.5 million voters in 15 countries, who will cast ballots outside Iraq; This include the U. S. and Canada.
~Read a great post by Don Surber: War Is Less Deadly In Iraq..
~Listed at the Ping festival: at Conservative Cat's
~Listed with Articles of Interest at: basils.

Wednesday

Time for Renovation


[Reut; Façade-Damage; US-Supreme Court]

"Your Photo Captions"

Thanks for the great caption comments from the following :)
Dr. Phat Tony, mdmhvonpa, mattelmichele7,
and John Sparks, CUG, unknown, cube, Uncle Pavian,
Also thank you to: Graham, dragonlady474, Tom O'Leary, additionally...
thank you for your caption comments. :) DPT, Peakah, reverend gisher, and Jeff, Sevy, POP (wherever you are..and also: jimmyb.

CAPTION: Last week, an allegorical figure representing "Order," fell about an hour before the court opened (no injuries)
(See: Façade from the dentil molding above the US Supreme Court building.)

~~~~~
~Breakfast at: basils.

Historical Referendum


[AFP: Kenyan Masai tribes; Historical Constitutional referendum]

Let neither one man nor woman be held back from participating and having a say, in their own society...

Being counted, is just as important as being counted on.


~Up to 11.6 million voters queued to cast ballots on the draft that has split President Mwai Kibaki's government during Kenya's: Historical Constitutional Referendum.
~Supper with basil.
~Conservative Cat festival.
~~~~~
~Wizbang's Bonfire of the Vanities:
Very funny Carnival, hosted by: Matt...at Overtaken by Events.
Don't miss the: Bonfire of the Vanities #130!

Tuesday

The Glass Artesian


(Click on the picture) VIDEO: The making of a Chandelier.

When I first saw the Artist, Chihuly's work... it was a 40 foot Chandelier flowing down from a 100 foot ceiling, at which its entire length, showcased inside a three sided window.
Viewable indoors and out... at night this was spectacular! Now I want one for my dining room (Smaller of course! ;) ....The Lovely yellow would be nice.

(Click picture below); VIDEO: Technique of making floats, in Japan.

INTERESTING VIDEOS:
~Working in Italy: Venetians glass
~Artist, Chihuly in Japan: niijima floats
~100,000 lbs of ice and neon: ~Wall of Ice ...
Then it's luncheon at basil's, and Festival at Conservative Cat

Monday

Mega-structure on Fault


(Click-on-image); & expand an incredibly gigantic image of Taipei 101!

It is fortunate that frequent earthquakes in Taiwan seldom cause casualties or damage, however...sadly in 1999 a magnitude 7.5 quake in central Taiwan did claim over 2,300. Interesting to note that the Taipei 101, is equipped with a huge 733 tonne ball, suspended near the top of the building, intended to protect it by moving to counter the force of earthquakes or strong winds.

The irony of this story is, that the ground pressure beneath the 700,000 tonne 508 metre Taipei 101 building (as is seated on fault line) may actually be leading to increased seismic activity!

You heard it right...The tremors, "could be a direct result of the loading of the mega-structure," said an abstract Lin's article, published on the American Geophysical Union's website! Read more...

NOTE: Once again, click the picture above and enlarge the image for a gigantic look at the magnificence of this structure (with all of its probable flaws.)

~The Carnival of the Clueless #24 is up at the splendid site of Rick Moran... Go to Rightwing Nuthouse now..

Sunday

A Little Ray of Sunlight


[Butterscotch; July's coat | Click-Image:411 on cat naps]




And don't miss, Laurence Simon’s
"Carnival of the Cat's #86 on Sunday...
Hosted by Michelle at: "When Cats Attack"...
This Carnival is Adorable... Try to get over there!

Saturday

Pyroclastic Avalanche

MORE REAL ESTATE..

[arial view: Volcano on Montagu Isle]

When they say "Sandwich Islands" they mean it... A Volcano on November 23rd; has literally grown in acreage (50 acres and growing) within this eruption. For those of you who do not know: This Volcano is 1,500 miles east-southeast of the Falkland Islands, and is covered with a sheet of ice; thus making an interesting study for researchers. Continue reading...

FACT: The 11 South Sandwich Islands form an arc on a volcanic fault line. They are important to researchers because of their remoteness from any continental landmass, making the lavas pristine, or unaffected by continental contamination

...And last night... a new eruption. (Hawaii)

LESS REAL ESTATE..

[ East Lae`apuki after delta collapse-Dec 2-3]

Eruption update 7:AM... (44-acre collapse)

~East and west prongs of what was once called the eastern string of breakouts continue their activity this morning.
~Lava comes into view out of the PKK tube at about the 1300-foot elevation.
~Western prong reaches down to about 1100 feet, and the eastern, longer, prong down to about 1000 feet.
~Each prong is a few tens of meters or more wide, but movement is sluggish.
~Outlying patch of lava is visible down an extension of the west prong, at about the 600-700-foot elevation.

Photos: Mother's Day Tube Before The Hawaiian Eruption:

MILD ACTIVITY

[Photo: T. Orr; Taken August 5, 2005]
BUILDING

[Photo: Taken 18-20 November 2005]
~ Fantastic Images
~Update
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In Other Areas:
A TWIST:

[Sierra Negra, a volcano on the Galapagos Island of Isabel]

Erupting for the first time in 26 years has caused up to 200 tourists a day to descend upon the island! Although the eruption itself did not currently pose a threat, there were worries that the influx of visitors could harm the fragile and unique ecosystem on Isabel. Officials have now restricted the area...

Carnival XXXX: Wizbang, eruptions in politics after hours, matinence: the political teen, Similarly linked with: Joscafe, luncheon at basils, conservative cat tt: , ,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carnival of the Vanities is up....
~Entrance sent to host's mailbox: 1/5/05..back-up sent via ferdy: 1/6 at 3:14 pst; (sorry) Those entering carnivals, go with: Carnival submit form.

Friday

Pretty as a Peacock..


[Prada runway: Christmas list?-05]

Click onto image to see an incredible peacock!!!

(Who actually grew these feathers back...by the way)...(^__^)

Tags:,

~Christmas is coming...
Santa linked with: after hours, get the list jo, also Santa links political teen, and peacocks luncheon at basil's, just ask Ferdy, at Carnival Cat.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Suzi Chen hosts an excellent, Bonfire of Vanities #127!
Go see it... NOW!

105 Pounds and Growing

My friend's dog sure has grown!!!


[7 weeks old; 20 lbs]

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

"I'll never forget when he was 3 months old (45 lbs)...
... and they temporarily lost him at a lumberyard."...



[ 3 months old: 45 lbs]

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

"Ha! Guess that won't be happening again!"... ;-)


[7 months old; 105 lbs] --& growing!


It's Modulator’sFriday Ark # 63!
Visit all of the Cats, Dogs, etc, every Friday...and
Mickey's Musings hostsCarnival of Dogs! (Now on!)

Market Currents


Morning Stock Talk

Twitter / investment


Think Liberty... Support Small Businesses

Forbes Market News


European Politics

ECB | Euro foreign exchange reference rates

ECB - European Central Bank


Quick Video News

Breitbart

TheBlaze

NewsBusters

The DC Video

CNS News

CNS Headlines

I Hate The Media