By David Brunnstrom
Mon Jul 11, 5:11 AM ET
KABUL (Reuters) - The body of a U.S. Navy SEAL commando who was the last of a group of four that went missing in Afghanistan last month has been found and it appears he was killed in action, the U.S. military said on Monday.
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The military rejected claims by a Taliban spokesman that the commando had been captured and beheaded, saying indications were he had been killed in a clash with militants in Kunar province on or about June 28, the day the team went missing.
The military said two of the missing commandos were found dead on July 4, having been killed in action, while another was found alive the previous day.
The discovery of the last body brought to an end a bloody two-week search operation that cost the lives of 16 other U.S. troops.
The 16 were aboard a helicopter that crashed while on a mission to find the four-man team.
Afghan officials said 17 civilians were also killed in a strike by a giant U.S. B-52 bomber during the search.
The losses were the heaviest for the United States in a single combat operation in Afghanistan.
This year has become the bloodiest for U.S. forces in the country and the deaths come amid stepped-up militant violence ahead of Sept. 18 parliamentary elections, the next big step in Afghanistan's difficult path to stability.
The body of the missing commando was found in Kunar on Sunday, U.S. military spokesman Colonel Jim Yonts said.
U.S. REJECTS TALIBAN CLAIMS
Yonts told a news briefing the missing commando was found in the vicinity of the helicopter crash site and his wounds were consistent with those from a firefight involving small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
"Our forces on the ground that located this body are very confident that this individual was never in custody and he was never defamed or disgraced by anybody from enemy forces."
Yonts said U.S.-led forces were continuing an air and ground campaign to rid Kunar of militants, an eastern province that borders Pakistan.
He said there was evidence militants were receiving support, including money and equipment, from outside Afghanistan, but he avoided criticism of Pakistan, saying the military was confident it was doing all it could to support the U.S.-led war on terror.
Yonts said militants would not succeed in derailing the elections and the casualties would not deter the United States.
"It is a sad day, but the war on terrorism is a war that we must win and we will win," he said.
U.S. media have said the deaths of eight Navy SEALs aboard the helicopter and those on the ground, were the heaviest ever losses in a combat operation for the 2,400-strong elite force.
Hundreds of people have been killed, many of them guerrillas, since the Taliban and allies stepped up violence in March.
Afghan authorities say they found the decapitated bodies of six policemen on Saturday, a day after they were abducted in a Taliban ambush in Helmand province.
They said four more policemen were killed in the ambush and violence claimed 18 other lives in the troubled south on Sunday.
At least 32 U.S. troops have been killed in action since March but overall U.S. casualties in Afghanistan since U.S. forces overthew the Taliban in late 2001 remain a fraction of those on the other key U.S. front in Iraq since 2003.
7/11/2005
Missing commando found dead in Afghanistan
7/10/2005
Dog in the Spotlight for today..
Bianca , the Albino Wer-Eskimo,
during a full Moon.
The pic was taken while Bonk was yawning, that's why it looks so weird.
The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Fifth Level of Hell!
Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test
Personality Disorder Information
Paranoid
Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a distrust of others and a constant suspicion that people around you have sinister motives. People with this disorder tend to have excessive trust in their own knowledge and abilities and usually avoid close relationships with others. They search for hidden meanings in everything and read hostile intentions into the actions of others. They are quick to challenge the loyalties of friends and loved ones and often appear cold and distant to others. They usually shift blame to others and tend to carry long grudges.
Schizoid
People with schizoid personality disorder avoid relationships and do not show much emotion. They genuinely prefer to be alone and do not secretly wish for popularity. They tend to seek jobs that require little social contact. Their social skills are often weak and they do not show a need for attention or acceptance. They are perceived as humorless and distant and often are termed "loners."
Schizotypal
Many believe that schizotypal personality disorder represents mild schizophrenia. The disorder is characterized by odd forms of thinking and perceiving, and individuals with this disorder often seek isolation from others. They sometimes believe to have extra sensory ability or that unrelated events relate to them in some important way. They generally engage in eccentric behavior and have difficulty concentrating for long periods of time. Their speech is often over elaborate and difficult to follow.
Antisocial
A common misconception is that antisocial personality disorder refers to people who have poor social skills. The opposite is often the case. Instead, antisocial personality disorder is characterized by a lack of conscience. People with this disorder are prone to criminal behavior, believing that their victims are weak and deserving of being taken advantage of. They tend to lie and steal. Often, they are careless with money and take action without thinking about consequences. They are often agressive and are much more concerned with their own needs than the needs of others.
Borderline
Borderline personality disorder is characterized by mood instability and poor self-image. People with this disorder are prone to constant mood swings and bouts of anger. Often, they will take their anger out on themselves, causing themselves injury. Suicidal threats and actions are not uncommon. They think in very black and white terms and often form intense, conflict-ridden relationships. They are quick to anger when their expectations are not met.
Histrionic
People with histrionic personality disorder are constant attention seekers. They need to be the center of attention all the time, often interrupting others in order to dominate the conversation. They use grandiose language to discribe everyday events and seek constant praise. They may dress provacatively or exaggerate illnesses in order to gain attention. They also tend to exaggerate friendships and relationships, believing that everyone loves them. They are often manipulative.
Narcissistic
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by self-centeredness. Like histrionic disorder, people with this disorder seek attention and praise. They exaggerate their achievements, expecting others to recongize them as being superior. They tend to be choosy about picking friends, since they believe that not just anyone is worthy of being their friend. They tend to make good first impressions, yet have difficulty maintaining long-lasting relationships. They are generally uninterested in the feelings of others and may take advantage of them.
Avoidant
Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by extreme social anxiety. People with this disorder often feel inadequate, avoid social situations, and seek out jobs with little contact with others. They are fearful of being rejected and worry about embarassing themselves in front of others. They exaggerate the potential difficulties of new situations to rationalize avoiding them. Often, they will create fantasy worlds to substitute for the real one. Unlike schizoid personality disorder, avoidant people yearn for social relations yet feel they are unable to obtain them. They are frequently depressed and have low self-confidence.
Dependent
Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a need to be taken care of. People with this disorder tend to cling to people and fear losing them. They may become suicidal when a break-up is imminent. They tend to let others make important decisions for them and often jump from relationship to relationship. They often remain in abusive relationships. They are overly sensitive to disapproval. They often feel helpless and depressed.
Obsessive-Compulsive
Obsessive-Compulsive personality disorder is similar to obsessive-compulsive anxiety disorder. People with this disorder are overly focused on orderliness and perfection. Their need to do everything "right" often interferes with their productivity. They tend to get caught up in the details and miss the bigger picture. They set unreasonably high standards for themselves and others, and tend to be very critical of others when they do not live up to these high standards. They avoid working in teams, believing others to be too careless or incompetent. They avoid making decisions because they fear making mistakes and are rarely generous with their time or money. They often have difficulty expressing emotion.
Seems to be quiz day, ok Ala has a few more she just put up...off to do them, will post the results, BRB... How sexy are you quiz???? The Purity Test LMAO...ok...um don't tell ok.
Congratulations, You are 91% sexy , "Wow! Is it hot in here or is it you? You are Sexy with a capital S E X Y! You should drop us an email we always want to hear from people like you;)"
Purity Test Final Score
You are 26% pure
"You have crossed over it the impure arena. You have done some pretty wild things in the past. Don't feel bad, there is still time to clean up your way, unless of course you like being impure;)"
I felt the need to be GOD-like this morning, the results are quite apropriate I think... Mors
so it was quite lucky I found this Quiz over at Ala's.
?? Which Of The Greek Gods Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
You're living the movie 28 days later!
?? Which Horror Movie Are You Living ??
brought to you by Quizilla
! You are most Like A Sapphire !
Dark, mysterious - but unforgettable. You have a
deep
beauty. Delicate, and shy you try to stay away from
the
limelight but often your intelligence puts you in
at the
deep end. You're like a Sapphire, because, your
beauty is priceless.
You're intelligent, full of opinions, and not
big-headed about it all.
Sometimes you need to put yourself out there, as
you can be a bit shy.
Congratulations ... You're the mysterious gem
everybody wants to have and learn more about.
?? Which Precious Gem Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
You're Most Like The Season Winter ...
You're often depicted as the cold, distant season.
But you're incredibly intelligent, mature and
Independant. You have an air of power around
you - and that can sometimes scare people off.
You're complex, and get hurt easily - so you
rarely let people in if you can help it. You
can be somewhat of a loner, but just as easily
you could be the leader of many. You Tend to be
negative, and hard to relate to, but you give
off a relaxed image despite being insecure -
and secretly many people long to be like you,
not knowing how deep the Winter season really
is.
Well done... You're the most inspirational of
seasons :)
?? Which Season Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
Seems I'm already having a good day???
Destruction
?? Which Angel Or Demon Are You ??
brought to you by Quizilla
7/09/2005
Dog spotlight of the day
The Picture of the two dogs, was taken about 7 years ago ,
this is Beeb who has since passed away(apricot girl) and Crystal.
Ok this one is for Tesco
I had to the good fortune to meet Tesco Last night over at Ala's Place her other half. Well it was a weird chat, and I found that Tesco has different tastes as it were, so I found some PORN for him....It is simply shocking and very risque, view at your own risk, you have been warned... the GOODS In Victorian times this was considered pornographic and was always covered up..... Hope yah liked it, I don't know if my poor blog can handle such..Blatant filth... ROFLMAO
Fox News Right now, segment :TV CONFESSIONS
It is all about those bastards , Duncan, BTK, Couley...and their confessions on camera of what they did to their victims, OMG this is horrible , people need to know, but it should be viewed not around young children thats for sure.
one thing that totally creeps me out is that he was in Montana and may have killed the little boy here...chills up my back...pure evil.
No Birdbrain, Parrot Grasps Concept of Zero
Robert Roy Britt
LiveScience Senior Writer
LiveScience.com
Fri Jul 8, 2:06 PM ET
A parrot has grasped the concept of zero, something humans can't do until at least the toddler phase, researchers say.
Alex, a 28-year-old African gray parrot who lives in a lab at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, has a brain the size of a walnut. But when confronted with no items on a tray where usually there are some, he says "none."
Zero is thought to be a rather abstract concept even for people. Children typically don't grasp it until age three or four, Brandeis researchers say. Some ancient cultures lacked a formal term for zilch, even as recently as the Middle Ages.
Feathered phenom
Alex is a fairly skilled counter. In a test, he said "none" when items on his tray were cleared. More trials were done, and the avian Einstein "consistently demonstrated the ability to identify zero quantity by saying the label 'none,'" the study concluded.
Alex's null may be slightly different than your nada.
"Alex has a zero-like concept; it's not identical to ours but he repeatedly showed us that he understands an absence of quantity," said Irene Pepperberg, who led the research
The result, published in the current issue of the Journal of Comparative Psychology, adds to growing evidence that birds and other animals are smarter than we thought.
A 2003 study in the journal Nature, for example, found that common marsh birds called coots can recognize and count their own eggs, even when other eggs are in the nest.
Black-capped chickadees were recently found to warn colleagues of danger by chirping about the size and actual threat of individual predators. The language of prairie dogs includes a word for humans.
Some animal intelligence is hauntingly familiar, like the male monkeys that pay to see female monkey bottoms. And studies show that monkeys, dogs and rats all know how to laugh.
There are obvious limits to animal intelligence, of course. Take the 450 sheep who recently jumped to their deaths for no apparent reason.
Parroting behavior?
One question that dogs animal intelligence research is whether remarkable, humanlike behaviors are innate and truly cerebral or if a creature is just parroting a trainer.
"It is doubtful that Alex's achievement, or those of some other animals such as chimps, can be completely trained," Pepperberg said. "Rather, it seems likely that these skills are based on simpler cognitive abilities they need for survival, such as recognition of more versus less."
Pepperberg said the study could help shed light on human learning disabilities.
She now plans to find out how well Alex can add and subtract.
Top 10 Deadliest Animals
Bigger Brains Make Smarter People
Smart People Choke Under Pressure
Older and Wiser: Expanse of Knowledge Delays Big Ideas
Visit LiveScience.com for more daily news, views and scientific inquiry with an original, provocative point of view. LiveScience reports amazing, real world breakthroughs, made simple and stimulating for people on the go. Check out our collection of Amazing Images, Image Galleries, Interactive Features, Trivia and more. Sign up for our free daily email newsletter today!
Zeta-Jones stalker gets 3 year-prison sentence
Fri Jul 8, 4:23 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A woman with a "girlish crush" on actor Michael Douglas was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday for making death threats against his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Dawnette Knight, 34, pleaded no contest in Los Angeles Superior Court to charges of stalking and making criminal threats against Zeta-Jones through dozens of phone calls and letters.
The letters accused the Oscar-winning star of "Chicago" of being a gold digger who was having an affair with actor George Clooney and made chilling threats comparing her death to those of Manson family victim Sharon Tate and President John F. Kennedy.
Zeta-Jones, 35, was not in court for Friday's sentencing but in a statement read to the courtroom she called Knight "simply evil" and said her actions "will be with me for the rest of my life."
"She had references to some of the most horrific crimes of the century. She was going to 'blow my brains out like J.F.K.' ... She was going to slice me up 'like (Charles) Manson did to Sharon Tate.' She was going to slice me up and feed me to the dogs," her statement said.
The letters were written over an 18-month period starting in 2003 and sent to members of the Douglas family and its friends.
Knight's lawyer described his client earlier in the court proceedings as having a "girlish crush" on Douglas and said she posed no danger to anyone. Knight took a drug overdose while in pretrial custody a year ago but was deemed mentally fit for trial.
Some info for Fellow Bloggers about a certain person.
interesting read Ladies and gentlemen, remind you of anyone??? Axis I disorders are evidenced as substance abuse, mood disorders, sexual dysfunction or schizophrenia (Meloy & Gothard, 1995) The Interstate Anti-Stalking Punishment and Prevention Act of 1996
Axis II disorders are primarily of the following: narcissism, borderline, paranoid, and dependent personality -- with antisocial personality also possible, but not as common (Meloy & Gothard, 1995). The schizoid personality disorder has been related to erotomania (Akhtar, 1987
The Interstate Anti-Stalking Punishment and Prevention Act was enacted by Congress in September of 1996. The law was incorporated as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, H.R. 3610. The new law was designed to improve the anti-stalking provisions passed as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (Crime Bill) and to create a uniform federal law to protect stalking victims when they travel across a state line and/or on federal property, including military bases and Indian reservations. The Act makes it a felony to cross a state line to stalk someone in violation of a restraining order.
According to the National Victim Center, as stated in its national publication the Victim Policy Pipeline:
•Under Section 2261 of the Crime Bill, anyone who crosses state lines with the intent to injure, harass or intimidate that person's spouse or intimate partner, or who, in the course of such travel, intentionally commits a crime of violence and causes bodily injury to the spouse or intimate partner, is in violation of federal law. (National Victim Center. (1996, Spring). Public Policy Pipeline, Vol. Two, No. 1, p. 2. Arlington, VA: Author.)
•Additionally, Section 2262(B) makes it a federal crime for any person to cause his or her spouse or intimate partner to cross a state line by force or coercion, and in the course of or as a result of that, commits an act that injures the spouse or intimate partner in violation of a protective order. (Ibid.)
•Importantly, the new federal anti-stalking law amends these above sections of the Crime Bill in order to expand the measure to include victims stalked by persons other than their spouse or intimate partner. (Ibid.)
•In addition, the anti-stalking law creates a new federal crime of "interstate stalking." According to the National Victim Center, anyone traveling across state lines, or entering or leaving Indian territory with the intent to injure or harass another person, and in the course of such travel, places that person in reasonable fear of death or serious bodily injury to that person or a member of his or her immediate family, would be in violation of federal law. The same criteria apply on all federal property, including military installations. (Ibid.)
7/08/2005
From the past...
This picture loooks like the horse I used to have as a young girl, she was a pure blooded Arabian mare,cream colored and a very gentle and sweet horse, Her name was "Queenie" , she had a long pedigree name , but I can't remember it. My Dad sold her when we moved cross country when I was 11 yrs old, I still miss her , she was a beautiful horse and I still compare all other horses to her. Sorry in a weird mood today I have a Bitch of a head ache, can you say MIGRAINE... oh well this to will pass.
Bible verse
Your adornment must not be external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. I just thought it sounded nice...
1 Peter 3:3-4
Australia says finds new dolphin the Snubfin
By Paul Tait
Tue Jul 5,11:16 AM ET
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian researchers have identified a new species of dolphin which was once thought to have been the same as an extremely rare mammal predominantly found in Asian coastal waters and rivers.
The Australian Snubfin Dolphin has been declared a separate species to the Irrawaddy dolphins of Southeast Asia, one of the rarest sea mammals on the planet, researchers at James Cook University and the Museum of Tropical Queensland said on Tuesday.
Researcher Isabel Beasley said the newly identified Australian Snubfin Dolphins, or Orcaella heinsohni, live in shallow waters off northern Australia and possibly in neighboring Papua New Guinea.
Beasley said it was impossible to estimate the population of these dolphins because not enough was known about them, but thought one group of about 200 of the dolphins lived off Townsville in the far north of Australia's Queensland state.
"It means that Australia now has an endemic species living in its waters and it's a higher conservation priority now," Beasley told Reuters by telephone.
Australian Snubfins are close relations of the highly endangered Irrawaddy, or Orcaella brevirostris.
Conservation group WWF International estimates there are fewer than 1,000 of the small, migratory and poor-sighted Irrawaddy left in the shallow, murky coastal waters of countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Because the new Australian species also lives in shallow waters, Beasley fears they face the same threats as Irrawaddy.
"Unfortunately, because they live in these environments, they are susceptible to many human threats including accidental catch in shark and fishing nets as well as the effects of coastal development," she said.
The Australian scientists said they hoped publication of their findings in the Marine Mammal Science journal would open the way for more research into the little-known new species.
"Even though Australia is a developed country with more resources than Asian countries, more is known about the Mekong River dolphin population in Cambodia than the Australian species," said Peter Arnold of the Museum of Tropical Queensland.
Beasley began to investigate after she noticed variations in size and color between the Asian and Australian dolphins. The Australian Snubfins were found to have three colors on their bodies ranging from dark brown to white compared with uniformly slate gray of the Irrawaddy.
Beasley and Arnold said they identified the new species by examining the skulls and external measurements and observing the dolphins in seven countries.
A genetic study undertaken with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration's Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California confirmed their suspicions.
"There are clear differences between the two populations that had not been previously recognized and these were confirmed by the studies on DNA," Beasley said.
Dinosaur Track Found in Alaskan Park
By DAN JOLING, Associated Press Writer
Wed Jul 6, 8:46 AM ET
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A track from a three-toed dinosaur believed to be about 70 million years old has been discovered in Denali National Park, the first evidence that the animals roamed there, scientists said.
The footprint was found June 27 by a University of Alaska Fairbanks student taking a geology field course.
The fossil is 9 inches long and 6 inches wide, officials said.
The discovery's importance was its location in Interior Alaska, far from the coastline where other tracks have been found, said Anthony Fiorillo, curator of earth sciences at the Dallas Museum of Natural History.
"It's not necessarily the track itself that's significant," he said. "It's where it is that's got us all excited."
From the size of the track, he estimates the meat-eater was 9 to 13 feet long.
"You are looking at a very large, birdlike animal except it has teeth and a tail and instead of wings, it has arms," he said. A rough comparison, he said, would be a scaled-down Tyrannosaurus rex.
Susi Tomsich, an undergraduate at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, spotted the track on the underside of a ledge.
"Something told me to look around and I did and I spotted this one," she said.
She pointed it out to Paul McCarthy, associate professor of geology, who instantly recognized what she had found.
"I gave a little howl," McCarthy said. "It was a big rush."
___
On the Net:
National Park Service Alaska: http://www.nps.gov/akso/Press/press.htm
Denali Borough School District: http://movies.dbsd.org/mslc/
Wake-Up Call
Claim: Resident writes to newspaper to complain about fly-by of jets from local Air Force base headed for a fallen serviceman's memorial service.
Status: True.
Origins: This is one of those items for which any additional commentary would only serve as a distracting embellishment, so we'll just present the details here and let the story tell itself.
On 8 June 2005 the following item appeared in the Albuquerque Tribune:
Air Force Capt. Jeremy Fresques, a Farmington native and Farmington High School graduate, joined a growing list of New Mexicans who have died in the war on terrorism, when the surveillance plane in which he flew crashed last week 80 miles northeast of Baghdad. Three of his U.S. colleagues and an Iraqi airman also were killed. Fresques was awarded the Bronze Medal posthumously Friday.
Fresques was 26. He left behind a wife — also an Air Force captain — and his parents. His sacrifice — and theirs — in the name of our nation's security and the cause of democracy was immense. Col. O.G. Mannon, commander of the 16th Special Operations Wing, rightly called Fresques and his comrades "heroes." We regard Fresques and all men and women with New Mexico connections as family and hold them deeply in our hearts.1
Capt. Fresque was killed in the line of duty on Memorial Day 2005, a month before he was to return home, and news of his death was conveyed that day to Lt. Col. Scott Pleus, commander of the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona, where Capt. Fresques had previously been stationed. Lt. Col. Pleus, along with a chaplain and a medical technician, drove that evening to Yuma, Arizona, to undertake the sad duty of notifying Capt. Fresque's parents of their loss.
About a week later, Lt. Col. Pleus was notified that a memorial service would be held for Capt. Fresque in Sun City, Arizona, on 15 June and that a fly-by from Luke AFB had been requested as part of the service in Capt. Fresque's honor. Lt. Col. Pleus quickly assented:
Of course we would do it. It's a four-ship formation. They fly straight and level over the gravesite and then, directly over the service, the No. 3 plane pulls away while the others fly straight ahead. Symbolically he's headed for heaven. It's the highest form of respect we can pay to a fallen airman.
Everyone involved in such a service considers it an honor. The fliers. The honor guard. The bugler who plays taps. All of us.2
While preparing to head from Glendale to Sun City (a distance of about 6 miles) for the memorial service, four F-16 fighter jets from Luke AFB flew a holding patten over Glendale's Arrowhead Mall, prompting a local resident unaware of their purpose to send a sarcastic letter of complaint to the editor of The Arizona Republic:
A letter to the Editor;
Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show?
Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 a.m., a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune!
Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns' early-bird special?
Any response would be appreciated.
Tom MacRae, Peoria3
The correspondent received a response from Col. Robin Rand, commander of Luke AFB's 56th Fighter Wing, in the pages of that same newspaper the following day:
Luke Air Force Base was asked to respond to a letter writer's question about a "morning air show" he observed recently ("A wake-up call from Luke's jets," Letters, Thursday):
The "wake-up call" witnessed the morning of June 15 was a formation of F-16 jets from Luke Air Force Base lining up for a memorial service in Sun City at the gravesite for Air Force Capt. Jeremy Fresques, an officer assigned to Air Force Special Operations. Fresques gave his life in defense of our country while serving in Iraq.
It is unfortunate that at a time when our nation is at war someone would believe we have less than honorable and professional reasons for such a mission.
The commander of the fighter squadron was given the difficult duty of informing the family of Capt. Fresques on Memorial Day that the officer, a husband, son and Arizonan, had died in Iraq.
On behalf of the men and women at Luke Air Force Base, we continue to keep Jeremy and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
Col. Robin Rand
Luke Air Force Base4
Four days later, the newpaper also published a reponse from Lt. Col. Pleus himself:
Regarding "A wake-up call from Luke's jets":
On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m., a perfectly timed four-ship of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt Jeremy Fresques.
Capt. Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.
At 9 a.m. on June 15, his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.
Based on the letter writer's recount of the flyby, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the president of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured.
A four-ship flyby is a display of respect the Air Force pays to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.
The letter writer asks, "Whom do we thank for the morning air show?"
The 56th Fighter Wing will call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.
Lt. Col. Scott Pleus
Luke Air Force Base5
SEAFOOD SALAD WITH FENNEL AND GREEN BEANS
I have fresh Fennel growing right in the back yard,
too Bad G-man is allergic to seafood.:(
1/2 lb green beans, stem ends trimmed
1 (1 1/4-lb) live lobster
3/4 lb cherry tomatoes (2 cups)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 small fennel bulbs (sometimes called anise; about 1 1/2 lb total), stalks discarded
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb large shrimp in shell (21 to 25 per lb)
1 lb sea scallops, tough muscle from side of each discarded if attached
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup torn fresh basil leaves
Special equipment: a green-bean frencher (optional); an adjustable-blade slicer
Garnish: coarse sea salt
Bring an 8-quart pot three-quarters full of salted water to a boil.
While water is heating, force beans, stem ends first, through frencher (see cooks' note, below). Cook beans in boiling water, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then immediately transfer with a slotted spoon (reserving cooking water) to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking. Drain beans in a colander, then pat dry with paper towels. Set aside.
Return water to a boil, then plunge lobster headfirst into water and cook over high heat, covered, 8 minutes from time it enters water. Transfer lobster with tongs to a shallow baking pan. Reserve water in pot.
While lobster is boiling, coarsely chop tomatoes with onion in a food processor. Transfer to a large bowl and add vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let stand 15 minutes. Cut fennel into paper-thin slices with slicer and stir into tomato mixture along with 1 1/2 tablespoons oil.
Return water in pot to a boil. Add shrimp and simmer until just cooked through, about 3 minutes, then transfer to pan with lobster, reserving cooking water. Add scallops to pot and simmer until just cooked through, about 3 minutes, then transfer to pan with lobster and shrimp. Discard cooking water.
When cool enough to handle, remove meat from lobster tail and claws using kitchen shears, catching juices in pan. Working over pan, remove shells from shrimp. Discard lobster and shrimp shells. Cut shrimp in half lengthwise and devein. Cut lobster meat and scallops into 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer seafood to a bowl and pour juices from pan through a fine-mesh sieve over seafood. Toss seafood with pepper and remaining 1/2 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt, then add to fennel mixture along with basil and green beans, tossing well.
Cooks' note:
If you do not have a frencher, beans can be halved lengthwise with a small knife.
Makes 6 servings.
Gourmet
Low Fat
July 2005
450 Sheep Jump to Their Deaths in Turkey
Turkey ,
where the Men are Hairy,
and the Sheep commit Suicide????
Makes you wonder..?
Second Life
Last Night , I was flipping through one of my many magazines, they keep piling up beside my computer as I barely have time to read them. Got to JANE, which I like, stopped reading Cosmo, just stupid now, was good 20 years ago...Yes really it was ,I was there...I'm old..:sigh...Anyway they had an article on a new Simulation game(ie The Sims) it is called SECOND LIFE, thought I'd check it out they are having a free trial til July 13th so if you like this kind of thing then go check it out, it is ok, the SIMS2 from EA GAmes are much better, I have all the Sims(1) and expansion packs, and SIMS2 and university expansion pack. Nightlife will be coming out in the fall, I still think the best Expansion pack was in Sim Unleashed, in which you could have a pets, It totally rocked, funny to see the sim dogs be just as weird as the real life ones. If Sims2 comes out with Pets it will be awesome.. I hope they do.
7/07/2005
London Terror Bombings Kill 37, Wound 700
By ROBERT BARR, Associated Press Writer
40 minutes ago
LONDON - Terror struck in the heart of London on Thursday as explosions ripped through three subway trains and blasted the roof off a crowded red double-decker bus. At least 37 people were killed and more than 700 wounded in the deadliest attack on the city since the blitz in World War II.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair blamed Islamic extremists and said the bombings were designed to coincide with the opening in Scotland of a G-8 summit of the world's most powerful leaders. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the bombings — which came the day after London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympics — have the "hallmarks of an al-Qaida-related attack."
Trapped passengers in the Underground railway threw themselves on the floor, some sobbing. As subway cars quickly filled with smoke, people used their umbrellas to try to break the windows so that they could get air. Passengers emerged from the Underground covered with blood and soot. On the street, in a light rain, buses ferried the wounded, and medics used a hotel as a hospital.
"I didn't hear anything, just a flash of light, people screaming, no thoughts of what it was. I just had to get out of the train," said subway passenger Chris Randall, 28, who was hospitalized with cuts and burns to the face, the legs and hands.
"It was chaos," said Gary Lewis, 32, evacuated from a subway train at King's Cross station. "The one haunting image was someone whose face was totally black (with soot) and pouring with blood."
Police said there had been no warning and that the blasts at three subway stations went off within 26 minutes, starting at 8:51 a.m. in an Underground train just outside the financial district. Authorities initially blamed a power surge but realized it was a terror attack after the bus bombing near the British Museum at 9:47 a.m. — less than an hour after the first explosion.
It was the attack that Britain had long feared, following the Sept. 11, 2001, strikes in New York and Washington and Britain's subsequent alliance with U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thursday's explosions also recalled the March 11, 2004, terrorist bombs that killed 191 people on four commuter trains in Madrid, Spain.
There was no credible claim of responsibility, and police were investigating whether suicide bombers were involved. Al-Qaida did not issue claims of responsibility after the Sept. 11 attacks.
The attack on London brought out a stoicism that recalled Britain under the blitz of German bombers in World War II, when many Londoners sought refuge in the Underground, site of Thursday's carnage.
As Wednesday's jubilation at winning the Olympics gave way to the terrible shock of Thursday's attacks, Blair rushed back to the capital and made a televised appeal for unity, praising the "stoicism and resilience of the British people."
Both were in evidence across the city, as volunteers helped the walking wounded from blast sites, commuters lent their phones so strangers could call home and thousands faced long lines for homeward-bound buses or even longer walks without complaint.
"As Brits, we'll carry on — it doesn't scare us at all," said tour guide Michael Cahill, 37. "Look, loads of people are walking down the streets. It's Great Britain — not called 'Great' for nothing."
Security was raised in the United States and around the world. The Bush administration upped the terror alert a notch to code orange for the nation's mass transit systems, and bomb-sniffing dogs and armed police patrolled subways and buses in the capital.
Much of Europe also went on alert. Italy's airports raised alert levels to a maximum. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, the Netherlands, France and Spain also announced beefed-up security at shopping centers, airports, railways and subways.
The bombings came as Blair and President Bush met over breakfast in Gleneagles, Scotland, and answered questions from reporters, and before all the leaders were due to begin the summit's general session.
G-8 leaders stood in solidarity with Blair before the prime minister made his hasty departure for London to confer with his Cabinet.
"The war on terror goes on," Bush said. "I was most impressed by the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve."
In London, police said they could confirm at least 37 people had been killed, including two in the bus attack. Three U.S. law enforcement officials told The Associated Press at least 40 were killed. French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy later said the death toll had risen to 50, citing a conversation with his British counterpart, but that could not immediately be confirmed.
A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in London said there were no initial reports of American casualties.
Police said at least 700 were wounded, many of whom emerged bleeding and dazed from the Underground. Among them, at least 45 were in serious or critical condition, including amputations, fractures and burns, hospital officials told The Associated Press.
The first blast caught a subway train between Moorgate and Liverpool Street stations, on the eastern fringe of London's financial district. Seven died, police said. Moorgate is named for one of the gates in the city walls of London, of which few traces remain. Some people caught in the blast emerged from the Aldgate Station, near Jack the Ripper's old haunts in Whitechapel.
The second bombing came five minutes later, on a second train deep underground between the King's Cross and Russell Square stations. Police said 21 died. King's Cross station, in one of the seediest parts of London, is the film setting for Platform 9 3/4 in the Harry Potter films. Russell Square station serves Bloomsbury, the early 20th-century literary hotbed where Virginia Woolf and luminaries lived. The British Museum is a short walk away.
At 9:17 a.m., there was an explosion involving two or perhaps three trains around Edgware Road station. Five people were killed, police said. Edgware Road is the heart of a thriving Arab community, and convenient to Hyde Park, scene of last weekend's Live 8 concert.
The bus explosion took place near Russell Square, an area of many modestly priced hotels popular with tourists and close to the British Museum. Also nearby is the home where Charles Dickens lived from 1837 to 1839.
The explosions shut down a subway and bus system which handles 8.4 million passenger journeys per day, though buses started running again for the evening rush hour.
Stocks sank in Europe and on Wall Street, and the British pound fell to a 19-month low against the U.S. dollar. London's FTSE 100 index fell about 2 percent, or 102.40 points, gaining back half its earlier losses. Germany's DAX fell 1.8 percent and the CAC 40 in Paris was down 1.7 percent.
Theaters in London's West End all canceled Thursday's performances.
Doctors streamed out of the British Medical Association's offices when the bus blew up outside.
"There was someone in bits in the road," said Dr. Laurence Buckman. "The front of BMA house was completely splattered with blood and not much of the bus was left."
The driver was among the survivors, said bus operator Stagecoach.
Bystander Raj Mattoo, 35, said the roof of the bus "flew off and went up about 10 meters (about 30 feet). It then floated back down."
Terrorism experts agreed with Straw that the explosions had the hallmarks of al-Qaida.
"This is clearly an al-Qaida style attack. It was well coordinated, it was timed for a political event and it was a multiple attack on a transportation system at rush hour," said Lawrence Freedman, professor of war studies at King's College in London.
Blair implicated Islamic extremists but cautioned that they speak for only a small percentage of Muslims.
"We know that these people act in the name of Islam, but we also know that the vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims here and abroad are decent and law-abiding people who abhor this act of terrorism every bit as much as we do," Blair said.
London Terror Attacks...
This is a breaking story, and I'm sure there will be many updates through out the day and the days to follow.
To the people of London, and the families of the people affected with injuries or faltalities.
We send our prayers/Vibes/ energy, and we grieve with you at this terrible Blow thast has been delt by those Souless Bastards.
Our Boys(and Girls) need to go do some SERIOUS STOMOPING, hunt them down and eradicate them.
They(Al Queda INC) need to be shown the justice that they so graciously have shown the world.
My answer to this(click here)
Four London Blasts Kill 40, Injure 300 By JANE WARDELL, Associated Press Writer
30 minutes ago
LONDON - Four blasts rocked the London subway and tore open a packed double-decker bus during the morning rush hour Thursday, sending bloodied victims fleeing after what a shaken Prime Minister Tony Blair called "barbaric" terrorist attacks. At least 40 people were killed and more than 350 wounded.
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Two U.S. law enforcement officials said at least 40 people were killed. In London, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Piddick said at least 33 people killed in the subway system alone. He confirmed there were other deaths on the bus but gave no figures. London hospital officials contacted by The Associated Press reported more than 350 wounded.
Blair said the "terrorist attacks" were clearly designed to coincide with the G-8 summit opening in Gleneagles, Scotland. They also came a day after London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympics. A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" claimed responsibility.
The explosions hit three subway stations and a double-decker bus in rapid succession between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. local time. Implementing an emergency plan, authorities immediately shut down the subway and bus lines that log 8.4 million passenger trips every weekday. It brought the city's transportation system to a halt.
"It was chaos," said Gary Lewis, 32, who was evacuated from a subway train at King's Cross station. "The one haunting image was someone whose face was totally black and pouring with blood."
Blair, flanked by fellow G-8 leaders, including President Bush, said: "We shall prevail and they shall not."
Earlier, a shaken Blair said, "Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilized nations throughout the world."
He departed by helicopter back to London, but said the meeting of the world leaders would continue. The G-8 summit's agenda got sidetracked, however, and they decided to delay declarations on climate change and the global economy.
Bush warned Americans to be "extra vigilant" as they head to work after the deadly explosions in London. He said he had conferred with federal homeland security officials back in Washington.
Much of Europe also went on alert. Italy's airports raised alert levels to a maximum. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, the Netherlands, France and Spain also were among those announcing beefed-up security at shopping centers, airports, railways and subways.
The U.N. Security Council was to meet later Thursday to address the London attacks and was expected to pass a resolution condemning the blasts, an official said.
A group calling itself "The Secret Organization of al-Qaida in Europe" posted a claim of responsibility, saying the blasts were in retaliation for Britain's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The statement also threatened attacks in Italy and Denmark. It was published on a Web site popular with Islamic militants, according to Elaph, a secular Arabic-language news Web site, and Der Spiegel magazine in Berlin, which published the text on their Web sites.
The authenticity of the statement could not be immediately confirmed, but terrorism experts said the coordinated explosions had the trademarks of the al-Qaida network.
"This is clearly an al-Qaida style attack. It was well-coordinated, it was timed for a political event and it was a multiple attack on a transportation system at rush hour," said Lawrence Freedman, professor of war studies at King's College in London.
European stocks dropped sharply after the blasts, with exchanges in London, Paris and Germany all down about 2 percent. Insurance and travel-related stocks were hit hard, and the British pound also fell. Gold, traditionally seen as a safe haven, rose.
The explosions also unnerved traders on Wall Street, sending stocks down sharply in morning trading.
The U.S. officials who gave the death toll spoke on condition of anonymity because British officials have yet to make the toll public. U.S. authorities learned of the number from their British counterparts, according to the official.
Officials at seven major hospitals surveyed by The Associated Press reported 358 people had been wounded, including more than 120 who were treated and released.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said the blasts that ripped through his city were "mass murder" carried out by terrorists bent on "indiscriminate ... slaughter."
"This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty or the powerful ... it was aimed at ordinary working-class Londoners," said Livingstone, in Singapore where he supported London's Olympic bid. Giselle Davies, an International Olympic Committee spokeswoman, said the committee still had "full confidence" in London.
Jay Kumar, a business owner near the site of the blast that destroyed a double-decker bus at Russell Square in central London, said he ran out of his shop when he heard a loud explosion. He said the top deck of the bus had collapsed, sending people tumbling to the floor.
Many appeared badly injured, and bloodied people ran from the scene.
"A big blast, a big bomb," he told The Associated Press. "People were running this way panicked. They knew it was a bomb. Debris flying all over, mostly glass."
"I was on the bus in front and heard an incredible bang, I turned round and half the double decker bus was in the air," Belinda Seabrook told Press Association, the British news agency.
Traces of explosives were found at two explosion sites, a senior police official said. Police confirmed fatalities but had not confirmed any numbers by early afternoon.
Pope Benedict XVI deplored the "terrorist attacks," calling them "barbaric acts against humanity," and said he was praying for the victim's families.
Explosions were reported at the Aldgate station near the Liverpool Street railway terminal, Edgware Road and King's Cross in north London, Old Street in the financial district and Russell Square, near the British Museum.
"I saw lots of people coming out covered in blood and soot. Black smoke was coming from the station. I saw several people laid out on sheets," office worker Kibir Chibber, 24, said at the Aldgate subway station.
Simon Corvett, 26, on an eastbound train from Edgware Road station, described "this massive huge bang ... It was absolutely deafening and all the windows shattered."
"You could see the carriage opposite was completely gutted," he said. "There were some people in real trouble."
London's cell phone network was working after the explosions but was overloaded and spotty, limiting communication.
On March 11, 2004, terrorist bombs on four commuter trains in Madrid killed 191 people.
7/06/2005
Happy Birthday to President Bush.
Happy 59th Birthday to you ,President Bush,
you go George , we are right behind you!!! You Totally Rock, and so does the Mrs. :)
Bo Bice Is Married
Sorry ladies, He's off the Market
Bo Bice Says 'I Do'
(Thursday, June 30 05:32 PM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice is inside his own heaven right now.
The 29-year-old singer entered into marital bliss with his girlfriend Caroline Fisher on Wednesday, June 15 in Helena, Ala., reports the AP.
The wedding took place at New Hope Presbyterian Church, with the marriage certificate officially issued Thursday (June 30) in Shelby County, according to People magazine. There's no word whether or not Granny Madge designed a special nuptial outfit for her grandson.
Bice and Fisher, 24, met in the Ragtime Cafe in Hoover where she worked as a waitress. Back then, he was only a guitar store clerk. The couple has been dating for nearly two years.
Bice is also enjoying a wedding gift he didn't register for: his single "Inside Your Heaven" has hit the top spot of the Billboard singles sales chart
Bo Bice Marries His Hometown Girlfriend
July 01, 2005
Bo Bice has made an honest woman out of his girlfriend of two years.
The 29-year-old American Idol runner-up married 24-year-old Caroline Merrin Fisher in an intimate ceremony on June 15 in the couple's hometown of Helena, Alabama, according to Bo's spokesperson.
Bice had been keeping the nuptials a secret but slipped in an interview with MTV News on Monday while joking about the difficulty of achieving longevity in music.
"I'm ready to be the five-minute warrior just like I am in the bedroom," Bice joked. "I gave my wife the best three seconds of her life."
Earlier in the interview, the humble Bice acknowledged his relationship with Fisher. "I'm grateful to have my beautiful woman as my woman back home, and I just wanna say, 'I love you baby, I love you Caroline,' " he said.
During the taping of American Idol, rumors surfaced of a relationship between Bo and eventual winner Carrie Underwood, although Bice said the two were more like siblings.
"She's a beautiful girl," Bice said. "I love her so much, she's like a sister to me. I know that sounds cliché. But if I didn't have a beautiful, wonderful woman at home that I love with every [ounce] of my existence, man, I would not dare wander far from the aspect that Carrie would be someone that I would find appealing and beautiful, because I really do think she's lovely and wonderful. But I'm also just truly grateful to have her as a friend."
Confirmation of Bo's wedding comes on a day when the rocker has another reason to celebrate. His first single, "Inside Your Heaven"/ "Vehicle," debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart on Thursday (June 30).
Bice will perform "Vehicle" with Bon Jovi's Richie Sambora on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Wednesday.
-- Corey Moss (MTV.com)
Bo Outsells Carrie, Can't Top Carey
(Thursday, June 30 02:50 PM)
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) "American Idol" runnerup Bo Bice has the best-selling single in America, but not the No. 1 spot on the overall Billboard charts. And for his second-place status, he once again has someone named Carey to thank.
Although Bice's single, "Inside Your Heaven"/"Vehicle," sits atop the latest Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart, it couldn't break through to the top spot of the benchmark Hot 100 chart, which measures both sales and radio airplay. The Alabamian didn't get much radio time in the past week, clearing the way for Carey's return to the top.
That honor goes to Mariah Carey, whose song "We Belong Together" reclaimed the No. 1 spot this week from "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, who slid to No. 3, one spot behind Bice, with her version of "Inside Your Heaven." That creates something of a chart oddity -- two versions of the same song occupying consecutive slots.
In addition to topping the sales chart, Bice's single is also No. 1 on the music bible's Pop 100 chart. He's the first male solo artist to hold the No. 1 position on the relatively young Pop 100 list.
Bice's chart debut comes in the July 9 issue date of Billboard -- 50 years to the day after Bill Haley and the Comets' "Rock Around the Clock" became the first rock 'n' roll single to hit No. 1.
Bo Alert!
Hubby just came up from downstairs to tell me that
BO BICE is going to be the musical guest on Jay Leno tonight ,
playing with Ritchie Sambora...cool or what!
I will update after the show :)
Yippppeeeeee!!!!!!
Well thank you to all who have taken a look at my weird little bit of Blog.
I've Hit 1000 , and still going.
Thanks again to all who stop by.-Bluewolfess
Poodle BLING
14K Gold
Poodle Ring Large Head with Sapphire Eyes
Almost a full ounce of Gold!
Size: 3/4" x 5/8" Grams: 18.0
Price: $ $895.00
Sweeet! HEY HONEY!!!!!
(hint hint-when you hit the lottery)
Dog Merchant Link of the Day
This place looks great , I think I may get some stuff from them,
the american eskiemo is too Funny, buggly eyes:)
Picture Time
Well we saw the Pacifier,
and Now they are known as RED1 and RED BABY.
Taken in the park July 4th 2005.
Fun stuff
| You Are 90% American |
 Tough and independent, you think big. You love everything about the US, wrong or right. And anyone who criticizes your home better not do it in front of you! |
7/05/2005
Watermelon Ice
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2002
Show: Emeril Live
Episode: Emeril's Farm Stand
5 cups cubed watermelon
1 cup fresh raspberries
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons creme de cassis or raspberry liqueur
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Mint leaves
In a blender, puree the watermelon, raspberries, sugar, creme de cassis, and lemon juice in batches until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into a large metal baking pan, pressing down to extract as much juice as possible.
Freeze, stirring every 30 minutes with a fork to break up the forming ice crystals, until firm but not completely frozen, 2 to 3 hours. To serve, scrape with a fork and spoon into footed coupe glasses.
Preheat a fryer to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly dry the mint leaves with paper towels. Place the mint in the fryer and fry for 15 seconds, just to crisp up. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Garnish with the mint and serve.
Chocolate Hazelnut Brownies with Milk Chocolate Frosting
Recipe courtesy Bobby Flay
Show: Hot Off the Grill with Bobby Flay
Episode: Chocolate Show
Brownies:
1 stick unsalted butter
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 large eggs
3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons Italian hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup skinless hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
Milk chocolate frosting, recipe follows
White chocolate whipped cream, for garnish, recipe follows
Polka dot triangle, for garnish, recipe follows
Assembly:
Hersheys chocolate sauce in squeeze bottles
Toasted hazelnuts, finely chopped
Bittersweet Polka Dot Triangle
Sprig of mint
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment or waxed paper and coat the paper with butter.
Place the butter and the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering water. Stir the mixture until it is completely melted and smooth. Remove the top part of the double boiler from the bottom and allow the mixture to cool.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar. Whisk in the hazelnut liqueur and the cooled chocolate mixture. With a rubber spatula, stir in the flour just until blended. Stir in the hazelnuts. Scrape the batter the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Cool the brownies. Run a paring knife around the edges of the pan and carefully invert the brownies onto a flat surface. Peel off the paper and then reinvert the brownies onto a cooling rack. Cool completely.
Milk Chocolate Frosting:
5 ounces Lindt milk chocolate, finely chopped
1 tablespoon unsweetened alkalized cocoa powder
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon Italian hazelnut liqueur, such as Frangelico
Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Sift the cocoa powder over the chocolate. In a small saucepan bring the cream to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and gently whisk until smooth. Stir in the hazelnut liqueur, and allow the mixture to cool at room temperature until it is spreadable, about 1 hour. Using a metal spatula, spread the frosting over the top of the brownies. Using a long serrated knife, trim approximately 1/4 to 1/2-inch off each side. Cut the brownies into 9 squares. Store in an airtight container.
White Chocolate Whipped Cream:
4 ounces Lindt white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 1/4 cups heavy cream, divided
In the top of a double boiler over hot, not simmering water, melt the chocolate with 1/4-cup heavy cream, stirring frequently. Let cool to room temperature, stirring once or twice.
In an electric mixer, using the whisk attachment beat the remaining 1-cup cream just until soft mounds barely start to form. Stir 2 tablespoons of the cooled white chocolate mixture into the whipped cream to lighten it. Gently fold in the remaining white chocolate mixture, just until combined. Scrape the cream into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tips (Ateco #7). Use to garnish brownies when plating.
Yield: 2 cups white chocolate whipped cream
Polka Dot Triangle:
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, tempered
Spread the tempered bittersweet chocolate over a polka-dot transfer sheet cut into a triangle (3 inches high). Allow to set up and cool. Remove chocolate and transfer from triangle. Use to garnish brownies and white chocolate whipped cream when plating.
Yield: 9 to 12 polka dot triangles
Source for polka dot transfer sheets: NY Cake & Baking Distributor, 56 West 22nd Street, NY, NY 10010, tel. 212-675, CAKE or 1-800-94-CAKE-9.
One for our Feathered Friends : Search on for Hungarian-Speaking Parakeet
JAMAICA, Vt. - A search is on for a Hungarian-speaking parakeet that escaped its owners' summer home last week. Peetuka is a 4-year-old blue parakeet, said owner Carol Mezofi, of Queens, N.Y.
"It was a hot day and we were sitting on the porch. My mom opened the door to go inside and he flew out," she said. "We tried to lure him back in and we stayed up all night but he didn't come back. We cried for a few days I don't think we'll find him now unless we get lucky."
Mezofi and her husband Laszlo said the small blue, white and gray bird, whose name is the Hungarian equivalent of "Steve," wasn't valuable, but was important to the family.
"It's been heartbreaking for us; he was like a member of our family," Laszlo Mezofi said.
Laszlo Mezofi said his 86-year-old mother-in-law, Anna Boehm, would sit and talk to the bird in her native tongue for hours. Boehm loved the bird a great deal, he said.
"She talks to him all day long, we can hear her downstairs teaching him Hungarian words and phrases," he said. "He's really not a bird to her or us. He's a little person and part of our family."
The Mezofis searched the area near their home in Jamaica and put up signs asking people to call if they saw the bird. So far, no one has called.
The family is offering a reward.
___
Gorgeous Dog Of the Day! Lobo von Matterhorn(obvisiously a DOG SUPERMODEL)
Lobo is a stunning pure white German Shepherd. His coat is so white that it is dazzling. He is 2 years old and is a good sized boy. He needs to gain some weight, but looks in beautiful shape. Lobo was rescued from a city shelter on his last day which is hard to believe. Lobo is an active boy and needs someone who is willing to train him. He was in with other dogs at the shelter, so he is good with dogs he knows. He does like to bark at strange dogs. Lobo knows that he is a crowd stopper and likes to prance. He is truly magnificent.
This Rocks!!! Pink Poodle Polka!
You have to scroll down the gallery page abit , but this is worth it...pinkpoodlepolka.mpg
A cutesy little musical number from the first season of Destiny Images' Letter TV.
copyright 2001 Destiny Images/AIT Productions
You have to check this out it is funny, my boys were cracking up asking Coal why he doesn't do this dance, obvisoiusly "Black Poos don't Polka".
Beef Pinwheels with Arugula Salad
BEEF PINWHEELS WITH ARUGULA SALAD
1 (1 1/2-lb) piece flank steak
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 oz very thinly sliced prosciutto
4 oz thinly sliced provolone
3/4 lb arugula, stems discarded
Special equipment: 8 to 10 (6-inch-long) wooden skewers, soaked in water 30 minutes
Accompaniment: lemon wedges
Cover work surface with plastic wrap and put steak on it with a short side of steak nearest you. Holding a sharp knife parallel to work surface and beginning on a long side, using short slicing motions, butterfly steak by cutting it horizontally almost, but not all the way, in half, then open it like a book.
Cover steak with a double thickness of plastic wrap (about 2 feet long) and, using the flat side of a meat pounder (or using a rolling pin), gently pound meat 1/4 inch thick.
Discard top sheets of plastic wrap and turn steak on plastic wrap so grain of meat is running left to right, then rub 1 tablespoon oil onto steak and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Arrange prosciutto in a slightly overlapping layer on steak, then cover with cheese.
Beginning with side nearest you, using plastic wrap as an aid and pressing slightly on filling, roll up steak tightly, then skewer steak, crosswise, at 1-inch intervals. Using a sharp knife, cut between skewers to make 1-inch-thick pinwheels. (End pieces will be about 1 1/2 inches thick. Trim if desired. For more about how to form beef pinwheels, see Time for Steak, Rattle, and Roll.)
Prepare grill for cooking over medium-hot charcoal (moderate heat for gas). If using a charcoal grill, open vents on bottom of grill, then light charcoal. When charcoal turns grayish white (about 15 minutes from lighting), hold your hand 5 inches above grill rack to determine heat for charcoal as follows:
Hot: When you can hold your hand there for 1 to 2 seconds
Medium-hot: 3 to 4 seconds
Low: 5 to 6 seconds
If using a gas grill, preheat burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then, if necessary, reduce to heat specified in recipe.
Grill pinwheels, cut sides down, on a well-oiled rack, turning over once (use a metal spatula to loosen), until beef is well browned outside but still pink inside and cheese is beginning to melt, 6 to 8 minutes total.
Toss arugula with remaining 2 tablespoons oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Serve on a platter, topped with pinwheels.
Cooks' notes:
• Pinwheels can be formed, but not cooked, 1 day ahead and chilled on a platter, loosely covered with plastic.
• If you aren't able to grill, pinwheels can be broiled on well-oiled rack of a broiler pan 4 to 6 inches from heat, turning over once, 6 to 8 minutes total.
Makes 4 main-course servings.
Gourmet
Five Ingredients
CHUPACABRA
A very Good friend of mine is going to Puerto Rico, on Thursday...I felt That a warning was in order, LOL.
El Chupacabra
Tales Of A Goat Sucker
For many years, the Mexican legend of the Chupacabras, a Spanish word for "goat sucker," was thought only to be folklore. Who would actually believe that a large four-foot tall creature, possibly from another world, would hunt livestock just to drink their blood? The myth of the Chupacabras seemed absurd.
However, in December of 1994, on the island of Puerto Rico, the age-old fable of the Chupacabras became a reality. Animals were found dead and mutilated. Villagers discovered cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and ducks, with their corpses drained of blood. Punctures marks ¼" to ½" in diameter were dug into the tissue of the animal's head, piercing their brains. Soon afterward, similar attacks were reported throughout South America and Mexico.
Along with the increasing animal mutilations, sightings of the actual creatures themselves were reported. Many eyewitnesses claimed that they saw what looked like a "Grey" alien, a being from another world, with a short body, bulbous head, and large thick black eyes. Observers, of the monster, described it as standing on hind legs, and having "spines," down its back. Others noted wings on the beast, and reported it flying through the night time sky.
For many months, reports of sightings of the dreaded Chupacabras grew and it's territory expanded deeper into Mexico, and even into the United States.
For example, in the Miami neighborhood of Sweetwater, the creature attacked 69 farm animals.
Across the country, in Arizona, a May 12 headline in the Arizona Daily Star read "Goat sucker fears cause nationwide panic." Three weeks later, a similar headline in the Tucson Weekly reported "Hellmonkeys, Chupacabras Comes to the Sonoran Desert."
In California, a large flying bat-like creature was spotted in Poway, a small town north of San Diego. To this date, the sightings continue to spread further into America, with reports now coming from Washington State.
As a result of the Chupacabra's apparent migration, more and more attention has been given to the animal. So much, in fact, that tee shirts in the beast's image have been produced and fake "Chupa" footprints are being sold. On the internet, web pages have been produced to provide information, and in the media, countless articles and reports continue to be written about it's existence. Chupa madness has expanded to the point that, in late 1996, a festival in Zapata Texas was held in the creature's honor
But the fame of the Chupacabras doesn't stop there. In early 1997, the television show " The X-Files," featured an episode concerning the nocturnal brute. On talk radio, the weekly Art Bell show "Dreamland," has had numerous guests, including UFOlogist Linda Molten Howe, updating the public on the growing situation in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Bell has, on occasion, even played a song dedicated to the Goat sucker.
And so it goes on. The attacks grow, sightings are expanding in numbers and the monster continues to spread it's claw prints throughout North and South America. With all of this excitement, the fever surrounding the creature has yet to reach it's peak and the legend of the Chupacabra grows.
7/04/2005
Funnies
GOOD
A Denver, Co policeman had a perfect
spot to watch for speeders,
but wasn't getting many.
Then, he discovered
the problem - a 12-year-old boy was standing
up the road with a hand
painted sign, which read
"RADAR
TRAP AHEAD". The officer then found a
young accomplice down the
road
with a sign reading "TIPS" and a
bucket full of money.
And we used to just sell lemonade!)
BETTER
A motorist was mailed a picture of his
car speeding through an
automated
radar post in Vail, CO. A $40 speeding
ticket was included. Being
cute,
he sent the police department a picture
of $40. The police
responded
with another mailed shot of handcuffs.
BEST
A young woman was pulled over for
speeding. As the Colorado State
Trooper walked to her car window,
flipping open his ticket book,
she
said, "I bet you are going to sell me a
ticket to the State
Troopers
Ball." He replied, "Colorado State
Troopers Don't Have Balls!"
There was a moment of silence while
she smiled, and he realized
what he'd just said. He then closed his
book, got! back in his patrol
car and left. She was laughing too hard to
start her car.
7/03/2005
7/02/2005
Lyrics for 100 years, by Five for Fighting
I'm 15 for a moment
Caught in between 10 and 20
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
I'm 22 for a moment
She feels better than ever
And we're on fire
Making our way back from Mars
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to lose
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
I'm 33 for a moment
Still the man, but you see I'm a they
A kid on the way
A family on my mind
I'm 45 for a moment
The sea is high
And I'm heading into a crisis
Chasing the years of my life
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy, Time to lose yourself
Within a morning star
15 I'm all right with you
15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
Half time goes by
Suddenly you’re wise
Another blink of an eye
67 is gone
The sun is getting high
We're moving on...
I'm 99 for a moment
Dying for just another moment
And I'm just dreaming
Counting the ways to where you are
15 there's still time for you
22 I feel her too
33 you’re on your way
Every day's a new day...
15 there's still time for you
Time to buy and time to choose
Hey 15, there's never a wish better than this
When you only got 100 years to live
7/01/2005
Happy Canada Day!!
Happy Birthday to my Former Country,
the land is dear to me, and only a select few of the people,But all of the animals are ...
.....MOOSE RULE!!!
Shout out to My HomeGirl Beth...oh yeah!
She of the recent Birthday ...
My HomeDog(girl) Crystal-Lite, she who has just got a new MALE in her Crib,
Yo BUNTZEN!!!and "D" my doggies daddy...
OK I cracked myself up , where the hell did the eubonics come from???
Translation: Happy Birthday Beth, and Happy Canada Day, and to Dave(my Ex) and my dog Crystal (she lives with Him)and to Dave's new dog "Buntzen"...
Have Good one Eh! Ya Hosers....
Beauty Eh!
Oh Canada!
O Canada! our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
odd things to share....
Ok an avatar of me, made with the avatar maker that can be found on the "FUN STUFF" links, and this was my bulk yahoo mail, I thought it was sort of funny had to share it "NUMBER OF THE BULK"
Du Hast - Rammstein
The lyrics to : DU HAST
[x4]
Du
Du hast
Du hast mich
Du hast mich
[x2]
Du hast mich Gefragt
Du hast mich gefragt und ich hab nichts gesagt
[x2]
Willst du bis der Tod euch scheide
Treu ihr sein fur alle Tage
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
[x3]
Du
Du hast
Du hast mich
Du hast mich
[x2]
Du hast mich gefragt
Du hast mich gefragt und ich hab nichts gesagt
Willst Du bis der Tod euch scheide
Treu ihr sein fur alle Tage
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
willst Du bis der Tod euch scheide
Sie lieben auch in schlechten Tagen
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
willst Du bis der Tod euch scheide
Treu ihr sein
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
Ah-h-h-h
Nein
Sam, you're a winner to Me..so ugly he's Cute.
Hairless Pooch Wins Ugly Dog Contest
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The owners of the other contestants in this year's World's Ugliest Dog Contest may have thought their pooches had a chance — until they saw Sam.
The 14-year-old pedigreed Chinese crested recently won the Sonoma-Marin Fair contest for the third consecutive time, and it's no surprise.
The tiny dog has no hair, if you don't count the yellowish-white tuft erupting from his head. His wrinkled brown skin is covered with splotches, a line of warts marches down his snout, his blind eyes are an alien, milky white and a fleshy flap of skin hangs from his withered neck. And then there's the Austin Powers teeth that jut at odd angles from his mouth.
He's so ugly even the judges recoiled when he was placed on the judging table, said his proud owner, Susie Lockheed, of Santa Barbara.
"People are always horrified when I kiss him. He may turn into a prince yet. He's definitely a toad," she said. "I always thought he'd be great on greeting cards or on a commercial for Rogaine."
Sam, who's pushing 15, has something of a cult following after winning the contest — and fans' hearts — for three years running. Last year, huge crowds gathered around Sam and Lockheed at a local parade and Lockheed said she received letters and calls about her pup for weeks.
"So many people have told me they've got his picture on their refrigerator. He certainly has a little cult following," she said. "I did years of professional musical theater and never achieved the fame Sam has."
Sam will appear in this weekend's Fourth of July parade in Santa Barbara, but the recent events may be the cap on a long, ugly career. Lockheed says Sam's now suffering from congestive heart failure, lung and kidney problems and has definitely slowed down in his twilight years.
Still, he enjoys regular gourmet meals of sirloin steak, cheese balls, roasted chicken and flan (so he'll swallow his multiple pills). He also passes occasional weekends at the Gaviota ranch of Lockheed's boyfriend, where the World's Ugliest Dog rides in the back of an ATV with his few remaining hairs wafting in the wind.
___
Information from: Santa Barbara News-Press, http://www.newspress.com
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