"Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen."
2/28/2006
LAVENDER HONEY TEA BREAD Recipe at Epicurious.com
"Use a Bundt pan or any other decorative ten-cup fluted pan.
click photo to enlarge
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons lavender honey*
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender blossoms*
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 8-ounce container sour cream (1 cup)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Bring milk to simmer in small saucepan; add honey and 1 tablespoon lavender blossoms. Stir until honey dissolves. Remove from heat; cover and let steep 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350�F. Butter and flour decorative 10-cup fluted pan or Bundt pan. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl.
Strain milk mixture into another medium bowl; discard solids in strainer. Whisk sour cream into milk mixtureto blend. Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with milk mixture in 3 additions each, beating just until smooth. Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top with rubber spatula.
Bake bread until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool bread in pan on rack 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely.
Combine powdered sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon lavender blossoms in strainer set over small bowl. Press sugar mixture through strainer, discarding large bits. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.) Sift strained powdered sugar mixture over bread.
"
click photo to enlarge
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons lavender honey*
1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender blossoms*
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 8-ounce container sour cream (1 cup)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
3 large eggs
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Bring milk to simmer in small saucepan; add honey and 1 tablespoon lavender blossoms. Stir until honey dissolves. Remove from heat; cover and let steep 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350�F. Butter and flour decorative 10-cup fluted pan or Bundt pan. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in medium bowl.
Strain milk mixture into another medium bowl; discard solids in strainer. Whisk sour cream into milk mixtureto blend. Using electric mixer, beat 1 cup sugar and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Add flour mixture alternately with milk mixture in 3 additions each, beating just until smooth. Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top with rubber spatula.
Bake bread until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool bread in pan on rack 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely.
Combine powdered sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon lavender blossoms in strainer set over small bowl. Press sugar mixture through strainer, discarding large bits. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.) Sift strained powdered sugar mixture over bread.
"
2/27/2006
Nebraska Beef Council :: Contests
Museum of Medical Oddities Likely Moving - Yahoo! News
"WASHINGTON - On one shelf rests a giant hair ball that filled the stomach of a 12-year-old girl who compulsively chewed her hair. Floating in a nearby glass container is a young man's leg that ballooned in size because of elephantiasis.
This isn't a carnival freak show. The specimens are among thousands of medical oddities � many ghoulish � collected by the National Museum of Health and Medicine, which is dedicated to tracing the history and practice of medicine over the centuries.
But the museum, located on the 113-acre campus of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, likely will have to find a new home. Last summer, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted to close the hospital and move many of its medical services to suburban Bethesda, Md., by 2011.
The commission does not indicate what will happen to the museum, other than to say it will not be 'disestablished.' Museum officials are also uncertain, though it's expected to move with the hospital to Bethesda.
It would be the museum's 10th move since its founding in 1862 as the Army Medical Museum. The surgeon general originally wanted medical officers to collect specimens from dead and wounded soldiers on Civil War battlefields so that their diseases and injuries could be studied.
One of the museum's most popular objects from that era belongs to Union Gen. Daniel E. Sickles. His right leg was mangled by a Confederate cannonball in Gettysburg, Pa., in 1863, and had to be sawed off just above the knee.
The general decided to send the amputated leg to the museum in a miniature coffin. It came with a card that read: 'With the compliments of Major General D.E.S.'
Sickles recovered from the wound, and became fond of visiting his leg on the anniversary of the amputation. Today, the shattered bones are mounted by metal prongs to a polished wooden base.
A few steps away, the bullet that killed President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre also is displayed, as are bone fragments and hair from the president's skull and the bloodstained shirt of a doctor who assisted in the autopsy.
Up to 60,000 people visit the museum each year, and many others participate in outreach programs and log on to its Web site, spokesman Steven Solomon said. Before moving to Walter Reed in 1971 — about five miles from downtown — the museum was on the National Mall where it drew 765,000 people in its final year.
The casual tourists are now gone, but scholars, military service members, doctors, Civil War buffs and school groups are among those who still seek out the museum. "This is definitely a destination attraction," Solomon said.
Officials wouldn't comment on how another move might affect the museum's visibility. It receives funding from the Defense Department and through private grants and donations.
Altogether, the museum has nearly 2,000 specimens from the Civil War era. And museum curators still occasionally hear from families who believe their relatives' remains are part of the collection.
"In the nine years I've been here, families have never been wrong," said Lenore Barbian, the museum's assistant curator for anatomical collections. "They're thrilled that they have a family member that's part of a museum."
The collection doesn't end in the mid-19th century. The exhibit "Battlefield Surgery 101: From the Civil War to Vietnam" details the evolution of military surgery with artifacts and photographs from the nation's major wars.
And there are exhibits that show — sometimes in gruesome detail — how the body functions in sickness and health. Besides gawking at the giant hair ball and swollen leg, visitors can see deformed fetuses, including a pair of conjoined twins floating in a small jar. There's also a skeleton, sitting in a rocking chair, of a man who had such severe arthritis that all his bones fused together.
"I was like, ehttp://www!" said Kisses Martinez, a pathology student who visited the museum. "It opens up your eyes to a lot of things."
Only 1 percent of the museum's approximately 25 million artifacts are on display at any one time, Solomon said. In the past, many specimens were laid out for all to see — often with little explanation. Now, however, the museum strives to provide context with story-driven exhibits.
Among the many treasures stashed behind the scenes is the skeleton of Able, the first monkey to fly in space. In a blue cabinet across the room, the spinal cord of Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, rests alongside a jar that contains President Dwight Eisenhower's gallstones.
The collection also includes a piece of President Garfield's vertebrae, which was pierced by an assassin's bullet in 1881 (though historians say doctors ultimately caused Garfield's death three months later, when they used unsterilized tools to probe his wound).
In the very next locker are two drawers filled with bones that belong to the crazed lawyer that shot him, Charles Julius Guiteau. There's even a jar that contains Guiteau's brain.
___
On the Net:
National Museum of Health and Medicine: http://www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum
This isn't a carnival freak show. The specimens are among thousands of medical oddities � many ghoulish � collected by the National Museum of Health and Medicine, which is dedicated to tracing the history and practice of medicine over the centuries.
But the museum, located on the 113-acre campus of Walter Reed Army Medical Center, likely will have to find a new home. Last summer, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted to close the hospital and move many of its medical services to suburban Bethesda, Md., by 2011.
The commission does not indicate what will happen to the museum, other than to say it will not be 'disestablished.' Museum officials are also uncertain, though it's expected to move with the hospital to Bethesda.
It would be the museum's 10th move since its founding in 1862 as the Army Medical Museum. The surgeon general originally wanted medical officers to collect specimens from dead and wounded soldiers on Civil War battlefields so that their diseases and injuries could be studied.
One of the museum's most popular objects from that era belongs to Union Gen. Daniel E. Sickles. His right leg was mangled by a Confederate cannonball in Gettysburg, Pa., in 1863, and had to be sawed off just above the knee.
The general decided to send the amputated leg to the museum in a miniature coffin. It came with a card that read: 'With the compliments of Major General D.E.S.'
Sickles recovered from the wound, and became fond of visiting his leg on the anniversary of the amputation. Today, the shattered bones are mounted by metal prongs to a polished wooden base.
A few steps away, the bullet that killed President Lincoln at Ford's Theatre also is displayed, as are bone fragments and hair from the president's skull and the bloodstained shirt of a doctor who assisted in the autopsy.
Up to 60,000 people visit the museum each year, and many others participate in outreach programs and log on to its Web site, spokesman Steven Solomon said. Before moving to Walter Reed in 1971 — about five miles from downtown — the museum was on the National Mall where it drew 765,000 people in its final year.
The casual tourists are now gone, but scholars, military service members, doctors, Civil War buffs and school groups are among those who still seek out the museum. "This is definitely a destination attraction," Solomon said.
Officials wouldn't comment on how another move might affect the museum's visibility. It receives funding from the Defense Department and through private grants and donations.
Altogether, the museum has nearly 2,000 specimens from the Civil War era. And museum curators still occasionally hear from families who believe their relatives' remains are part of the collection.
"In the nine years I've been here, families have never been wrong," said Lenore Barbian, the museum's assistant curator for anatomical collections. "They're thrilled that they have a family member that's part of a museum."
The collection doesn't end in the mid-19th century. The exhibit "Battlefield Surgery 101: From the Civil War to Vietnam" details the evolution of military surgery with artifacts and photographs from the nation's major wars.
And there are exhibits that show — sometimes in gruesome detail — how the body functions in sickness and health. Besides gawking at the giant hair ball and swollen leg, visitors can see deformed fetuses, including a pair of conjoined twins floating in a small jar. There's also a skeleton, sitting in a rocking chair, of a man who had such severe arthritis that all his bones fused together.
"I was like, ehttp://www!" said Kisses Martinez, a pathology student who visited the museum. "It opens up your eyes to a lot of things."
Only 1 percent of the museum's approximately 25 million artifacts are on display at any one time, Solomon said. In the past, many specimens were laid out for all to see — often with little explanation. Now, however, the museum strives to provide context with story-driven exhibits.
Among the many treasures stashed behind the scenes is the skeleton of Able, the first monkey to fly in space. In a blue cabinet across the room, the spinal cord of Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, rests alongside a jar that contains President Dwight Eisenhower's gallstones.
The collection also includes a piece of President Garfield's vertebrae, which was pierced by an assassin's bullet in 1881 (though historians say doctors ultimately caused Garfield's death three months later, when they used unsterilized tools to probe his wound).
In the very next locker are two drawers filled with bones that belong to the crazed lawyer that shot him, Charles Julius Guiteau. There's even a jar that contains Guiteau's brain.
___
On the Net:
National Museum of Health and Medicine: http://www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum
2/24/2006
Blogthings - What American City Are You?
Blogthings - What American City Are You?: "
"
| You Are Las Vegas |
 Wild and uninhibited, you enjoy all of life's vices. You're a total hedonist, especially with sex, gambling, and drinking. You shine brightly every night, but you do the ultimate walk of shame each morning. Famous Las Vegas residents: Wayne Newton, Howard Hughes, Penn & Teller, Siegfried & Roy |
Jury Deliberates Texas Mom's Fate - Yahoo! News
I Think she(the mother) should be executed slowly and painfully, that poor little baby, poor innocent little thing to be treated so horribly, the B*&^H should FRY!!!! My Opinion, this happened in our neck of the woods, when I heard about it I really almost threw up I was so upset just ask G-man...
How can people do Shite like this..?
"McKINNEY, Texas - Jurors in the murder trial of a woman accused of cutting off her baby's arms resumed deliberations Friday, a day after telling the judge they were deadlocked.
The jury had deliberated for two days in the trial of Dena Schlosser, 37, before sending a note to State District Judge Chris Oldner on Thursday saying they couldn't agree on a verdict. Oldner urged them to keep trying.
Schlosser pleaded innocent by reason of insanity in the death of her 10-month-old daughter Margaret. Police said they had found her soaked in blood, holding a knife and listening to a hymn as the baby lay dying in her crib.
The defense says Schlosser didn't know right from wrong during the 2004 slaying.
Her attorneys want her committed to a state mental hospital. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence.
Before adjourning Thursday night, jurors asked to rehear testimony from three doctors who said they believed Schlosser suffered from severe mental illness and did not know right or wrong at the time of the baby's death.
They earlier reheard testimony from a Plano police officer who described how Schlosser screamed, prayed and begged for forgiveness in a hospital the day her daughter died.
During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Bill Dobiyanski displayed a bloody kitchen knife and urged jurors to hold Schlosser accountable for the death of her daughter. He said psychiatrists were merely taking educated guesses when they testified Schlosser didn't know right from wrong.
Defense attorney Bill Schultz said the case came down to whether Schlosser knew what she was doing was wrong. He also said prosecutors have no business questioning medical professionals."
How can people do Shite like this..?
"McKINNEY, Texas - Jurors in the murder trial of a woman accused of cutting off her baby's arms resumed deliberations Friday, a day after telling the judge they were deadlocked.
The jury had deliberated for two days in the trial of Dena Schlosser, 37, before sending a note to State District Judge Chris Oldner on Thursday saying they couldn't agree on a verdict. Oldner urged them to keep trying.
Schlosser pleaded innocent by reason of insanity in the death of her 10-month-old daughter Margaret. Police said they had found her soaked in blood, holding a knife and listening to a hymn as the baby lay dying in her crib.
The defense says Schlosser didn't know right from wrong during the 2004 slaying.
Her attorneys want her committed to a state mental hospital. Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence.
Before adjourning Thursday night, jurors asked to rehear testimony from three doctors who said they believed Schlosser suffered from severe mental illness and did not know right or wrong at the time of the baby's death.
They earlier reheard testimony from a Plano police officer who described how Schlosser screamed, prayed and begged for forgiveness in a hospital the day her daughter died.
During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Bill Dobiyanski displayed a bloody kitchen knife and urged jurors to hold Schlosser accountable for the death of her daughter. He said psychiatrists were merely taking educated guesses when they testified Schlosser didn't know right from wrong.
Defense attorney Bill Schultz said the case came down to whether Schlosser knew what she was doing was wrong. He also said prosecutors have no business questioning medical professionals."
Report: Kennewick Man Deliberately Buried - Yahoo! News
WASHINGTON - Kennewick Man was laid to rest alongside a river more than 9,000 years ago, buried by other people, a leading forensic scientist said Thursday.
The skeleton, one of the oldest and most complete ever found in North America, has been under close analysis since courts sided with researchers in a legal battle with Indian tribes in the Northwest who wanted the remains found near the Columbia River reburied without study.
Douglas Owsley, an anthropologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, discussed his findings in remarks prepared for delivery Thursday evening at a meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Seattle.
'We know very little about this time period,' Owsley said in a telephone interview. 'This is a rare opportunity to try and reconstruct the life story of this man. ... This is his opportunity to tell us what life was like during that time.'
Researchers have disagreed over whether Kennewick Man was buried by other people or swept up in a flood and encased in sediment.
Owsley concluded the man was deliberately buried, between two and three feet deep, his body placed in the grave, head slightly higher than feet, hands placed at his sides.
The location was riverside, with the body parallel to the river and head pointing upstream.
Using an industrial CT scanner, Owsley was able to study the skeleton in fine sections and also get a better look at a spear or dart point imbedded in Kennewick Man's hip.
The point has previously been described as a Cascade point, typical of the region, but Owsley said that is not the case. Cascade points tend to have two pointed ends and are sometimes serrated, he said"
The skeleton, one of the oldest and most complete ever found in North America, has been under close analysis since courts sided with researchers in a legal battle with Indian tribes in the Northwest who wanted the remains found near the Columbia River reburied without study.
Douglas Owsley, an anthropologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, discussed his findings in remarks prepared for delivery Thursday evening at a meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences in Seattle.
'We know very little about this time period,' Owsley said in a telephone interview. 'This is a rare opportunity to try and reconstruct the life story of this man. ... This is his opportunity to tell us what life was like during that time.'
Researchers have disagreed over whether Kennewick Man was buried by other people or swept up in a flood and encased in sediment.
Owsley concluded the man was deliberately buried, between two and three feet deep, his body placed in the grave, head slightly higher than feet, hands placed at his sides.
The location was riverside, with the body parallel to the river and head pointing upstream.
Using an industrial CT scanner, Owsley was able to study the skeleton in fine sections and also get a better look at a spear or dart point imbedded in Kennewick Man's hip.
The point has previously been described as a Cascade point, typical of the region, but Owsley said that is not the case. Cascade points tend to have two pointed ends and are sometimes serrated, he said"
LAMB STEW WITH LEMON AND FIGS Recipe at Epicurious.com
1 1/2 cups plain whole-milk yogurt
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled
1 2 1/2- to 3-pound boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons (or more) olive oil
2 onions (about 1 pound), thinly sliced
1 small lemon (preferably Meyer), ends trimmed, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 rounded teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 cup dried figs, stems trimmed, quartered lengthwise (about 4 ounces)
2 1/2 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth
Crispy Noodle Cake
Set strainer lined with double layer of cheesecloth over medium bowl. Place yogurt in strainer; cover and chill 3 to 5 hours to drain. Transfer yogurt to small bowl. Stir in mint; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill.)
Place 1/2 cup warm water and saffron in small bowl; let stand at least 20 minutes to infuse.
Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook lamb until brown on all sides, adding more oil as needed, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to large bowl. Pour all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot (or add 1 tablespoon oil if dry); heat pot over medium heat. Add onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saut� until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add lemon, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne. Stir 1 minute. Add saffron mixture; stir, scraping up browned bits. Add tomatoes with juice, figs, and lamb"
CRISPY NOODLE CAKE
12 ounces fresh linguine
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally.
Drain. Transfer pasta to medium bowl; toss with 1 tablespoon oil and parsley. Season generously with salt and pepper.
(Can be prepared 1 hour ahead. Let pasta stand at room temperature, tossing occasionally.)
Lightly oil large plate.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat.
Add pasta to skillet, spreading evenly, flattening top, and pressing down with spatula to compress. Cook until brown and crisp, about 3 minutes.
Carefully invert cake onto prepared plate. Return skillet to medium heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Slide noodle cake into skillet and cook until brown and crisp on bottom, about 3 minutes.
Transfer cake to cutting board, cut into wedges, and serve.
Makes 6 servings.Bon AppétitFebruary 2006
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads, crumbled
1 2 1/2- to 3-pound boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed, cut into 1- to 1 1/2-inch cubes
2 tablespoons (or more) olive oil
2 onions (about 1 pound), thinly sliced
1 small lemon (preferably Meyer), ends trimmed, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 rounded teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes in juice
1 cup dried figs, stems trimmed, quartered lengthwise (about 4 ounces)
2 1/2 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth
Crispy Noodle Cake
Set strainer lined with double layer of cheesecloth over medium bowl. Place yogurt in strainer; cover and chill 3 to 5 hours to drain. Transfer yogurt to small bowl. Stir in mint; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill.)
Place 1/2 cup warm water and saffron in small bowl; let stand at least 20 minutes to infuse.
Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook lamb until brown on all sides, adding more oil as needed, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer lamb to large bowl. Pour all but 1 tablespoon fat from pot (or add 1 tablespoon oil if dry); heat pot over medium heat. Add onions; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saut� until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add lemon, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, and cayenne. Stir 1 minute. Add saffron mixture; stir, scraping up browned bits. Add tomatoes with juice, figs, and lamb"
CRISPY NOODLE CAKE
12 ounces fresh linguine
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally.
Drain. Transfer pasta to medium bowl; toss with 1 tablespoon oil and parsley. Season generously with salt and pepper.
(Can be prepared 1 hour ahead. Let pasta stand at room temperature, tossing occasionally.)
Lightly oil large plate.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat.
Add pasta to skillet, spreading evenly, flattening top, and pressing down with spatula to compress. Cook until brown and crisp, about 3 minutes.
Carefully invert cake onto prepared plate. Return skillet to medium heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Slide noodle cake into skillet and cook until brown and crisp on bottom, about 3 minutes.
Transfer cake to cutting board, cut into wedges, and serve.
Makes 6 servings.Bon AppétitFebruary 2006
Dutch artist brings cars alive with classic hairstyles - Yahoo! News
...ok this dude has been hanging out in the " dutch coffee houses" to much...
Blogthings - How Evil Are You?
Blogthings - How Evil Are You?: "
"
| You Are 86% Evil |
 You're the most evil person you know. The devil is even a little scared of you! |
2/23/2006
Where's my copy of the Gladiator Rulebook? - Yahoo! News
LONDON (Reuters) - Gladiators may have fought and died to entertain others in the brutality of the Roman arena but they appear to have abided by a strict code of conduct which avoided savage violence, forensic scientists say.
Tests on the remains of 67 gladiators found in tombs at Ephesus in Turkey, center of power for ancient Rome's eastern empire, show they stuck to well defined rules of combat and avoided gory free-for-alls.
Injuries to the front of each skull suggested that each opponent used just one type of weapon per bout of face-to-face contact, two Austrian researchers report in a paper to be published in Forensic Science International.
Savage violence and mutilation, typical of battlefields 2,000 years ago, were out of order.
And the losers appear to have died quickly.
Despite the fact that most gladiators wore helmets, 10 of the remains showed the fighters had died of squarish hammer-like blows to the side of the head, possibly the work of a backstage executioner who finished off wounded losers after the fight.
The report confirms the picture given of battles in the arena by Roman artwork, which suggests gladiators were well matched and followed rules enforced by two referees.
Kathleen Coleman of Harvard University, who was historical consultant for Ridley Scott's film "Gladiator," agreed with the findings of the report.
"The fact that none of the gladiators' skulls was subjected to a repeated battering does seem to confirm that discipline was exercised in gladiatorial combat and its aftermath," she was quoted by New Scientist magazine as saying.
The scientists, Karl Grosschmidt of the Medical University of Vienna and Fabian Kanz of the Austrian Archaeological Institute, used special X-ray scans and microscopic analysis to investigate the gladiators' deaths.
The bones were uncovered in 1993 and are thought to date from the second century AD.
Tests on the remains of 67 gladiators found in tombs at Ephesus in Turkey, center of power for ancient Rome's eastern empire, show they stuck to well defined rules of combat and avoided gory free-for-alls.
Injuries to the front of each skull suggested that each opponent used just one type of weapon per bout of face-to-face contact, two Austrian researchers report in a paper to be published in Forensic Science International.
Savage violence and mutilation, typical of battlefields 2,000 years ago, were out of order.
And the losers appear to have died quickly.
Despite the fact that most gladiators wore helmets, 10 of the remains showed the fighters had died of squarish hammer-like blows to the side of the head, possibly the work of a backstage executioner who finished off wounded losers after the fight.
The report confirms the picture given of battles in the arena by Roman artwork, which suggests gladiators were well matched and followed rules enforced by two referees.
Kathleen Coleman of Harvard University, who was historical consultant for Ridley Scott's film "Gladiator," agreed with the findings of the report.
"The fact that none of the gladiators' skulls was subjected to a repeated battering does seem to confirm that discipline was exercised in gladiatorial combat and its aftermath," she was quoted by New Scientist magazine as saying.
The scientists, Karl Grosschmidt of the Medical University of Vienna and Fabian Kanz of the Austrian Archaeological Institute, used special X-ray scans and microscopic analysis to investigate the gladiators' deaths.
The bones were uncovered in 1993 and are thought to date from the second century AD.
American Idol: MyIDOL
a blog about Taylor Hicks...
our new pick for American Idol...he is very original.
our new pick for American Idol...he is very original.
BACON-WRAPPED SALMON WITH WILTED SPINACH Recipe at Epicurious.com
Wrapped with bacon, these delicious fillets self-baste during broiling, eliminating the need for a sauce.
click photo to enlarge
4 (5- to 6-oz) center-cut pieces skinless salmon fillet (about 1 1/2 inches thick)1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons whole-grain or coarse-grain mustard4 bacon slices2/3 cup sliced shallots (2 large)2 tablespoons olive oil10 oz baby spinach (16 cups packed), rinsed but not driedSpecial equipment: 4 (10- to 12-inch) metal skewers
Preheat broiler and put broiler pan under broiler so that its rack is about 4 inches from heat.Pat fish dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then spread curved sides with mustard. Lay 1 bacon slice lengthwise along top of each fillet, tucking ends of bacon under fillet (ends will not meet). Thread 1 skewer through length of each fillet, entering and exiting fish through bacon to secure it.Arrange fish, bacon sides down, on preheated rack of broiler pan and broil 3 minutes, then turn over and broil until fish is just cooked through and bacon is crisp, 3 to 4 minutes more.While salmon broils, cook shallots in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until spinach is just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.Serve salmon with spinach.Makes 4 servings.GourmetQuick KitchenFebruary 2006
click photo to enlarge
4 (5- to 6-oz) center-cut pieces skinless salmon fillet (about 1 1/2 inches thick)1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepper4 teaspoons whole-grain or coarse-grain mustard4 bacon slices2/3 cup sliced shallots (2 large)2 tablespoons olive oil10 oz baby spinach (16 cups packed), rinsed but not driedSpecial equipment: 4 (10- to 12-inch) metal skewers
Preheat broiler and put broiler pan under broiler so that its rack is about 4 inches from heat.Pat fish dry and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then spread curved sides with mustard. Lay 1 bacon slice lengthwise along top of each fillet, tucking ends of bacon under fillet (ends will not meet). Thread 1 skewer through length of each fillet, entering and exiting fish through bacon to secure it.Arrange fish, bacon sides down, on preheated rack of broiler pan and broil 3 minutes, then turn over and broil until fish is just cooked through and bacon is crisp, 3 to 4 minutes more.While salmon broils, cook shallots in oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until spinach is just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.Serve salmon with spinach.Makes 4 servings.GourmetQuick KitchenFebruary 2006
2/22/2006
Mutant Chickens Grow Full Set of Teeth
Chicken will grow teeth when pigs can fly.
Well, better start searching the skies for flying pork — scientists have discovered a mutant chicken with a full set of crocodile-like chompers.
Researchers also tweaked the genes of normal chickens to grow teeth.
The mutant chick, called Talpid, also had severe limb defects and died before hatching.
Although it was discovered 50 years ago, no one had ever examined its mouth.
"What we discovered were teeth similar to those of crocodiles — not surprising as birds are the closest living relatives of the reptile," said Mark Ferguson of the University of Manchester in England.
What happened
Around 300 million years ago, the ancestor of all modern fully terrestrial vertebrates gave rise to two lineages, the mammals and the reptiles/birds.
The oldest reptiles, such as crocodiles and alligators, had cone-shaped teeth. So did the earliest birds, called archosaurs.
Then, around 80 million years ago, modern birds emerged without teeth.
"So what would you expect bird teeth to look like? You would expect them to have teeth like their ancestors and their most closely related living relative," study co-author John Fallon, of the University of Wisconsin, told LiveScience.
Indeed, Talpid's teeth are conical, much like an archosaur's and closely resembling the teeth of a baby alligator or crocodile, Fallon said.
If the chick had survived, the teeth would most likely have been reabsorbed into the mouth.
The archosaurs had mouths similar in shape to a reptile's. It turns out that developing a beak caused birds to lose their teeth.
"The reason that birds lost their teeth is that in forming a beak, the two tissues that ‘talk' to each other to make a tooth become separated," Fallon said. "They can't have the conversation to make a tooth. In the mutant, these tissues are brought back together."
Make more mutants
The finding made scientists curious whether healthy chickens still possessed the 80-million-year-old genetic pathway for producing teeth.
By making a few changes to the expression of certain molecules in the pathway, the researchers were able to induce tooth growth in normally developing chickens.
These teeth also looked like reptilian teeth and shared many of the same genetic traits, supporting the scientists' hypothesis. None of these chickens were allowed to hatch.
This is all good news for hockey players. A direct application of this research, Ferguson said, could be re-growing teeth in people who have lost them through accident or disease.
The research is detailed this week in the journal Current Biology
Well, better start searching the skies for flying pork — scientists have discovered a mutant chicken with a full set of crocodile-like chompers.
Researchers also tweaked the genes of normal chickens to grow teeth.
The mutant chick, called Talpid, also had severe limb defects and died before hatching.
Although it was discovered 50 years ago, no one had ever examined its mouth.
"What we discovered were teeth similar to those of crocodiles — not surprising as birds are the closest living relatives of the reptile," said Mark Ferguson of the University of Manchester in England.
What happened
Around 300 million years ago, the ancestor of all modern fully terrestrial vertebrates gave rise to two lineages, the mammals and the reptiles/birds.
The oldest reptiles, such as crocodiles and alligators, had cone-shaped teeth. So did the earliest birds, called archosaurs.
Then, around 80 million years ago, modern birds emerged without teeth.
"So what would you expect bird teeth to look like? You would expect them to have teeth like their ancestors and their most closely related living relative," study co-author John Fallon, of the University of Wisconsin, told LiveScience.
Indeed, Talpid's teeth are conical, much like an archosaur's and closely resembling the teeth of a baby alligator or crocodile, Fallon said.
If the chick had survived, the teeth would most likely have been reabsorbed into the mouth.
The archosaurs had mouths similar in shape to a reptile's. It turns out that developing a beak caused birds to lose their teeth.
"The reason that birds lost their teeth is that in forming a beak, the two tissues that ‘talk' to each other to make a tooth become separated," Fallon said. "They can't have the conversation to make a tooth. In the mutant, these tissues are brought back together."
Make more mutants
The finding made scientists curious whether healthy chickens still possessed the 80-million-year-old genetic pathway for producing teeth.
By making a few changes to the expression of certain molecules in the pathway, the researchers were able to induce tooth growth in normally developing chickens.
These teeth also looked like reptilian teeth and shared many of the same genetic traits, supporting the scientists' hypothesis. None of these chickens were allowed to hatch.
This is all good news for hockey players. A direct application of this research, Ferguson said, could be re-growing teeth in people who have lost them through accident or disease.
The research is detailed this week in the journal Current Biology
Blogthings - The Simpsons Personality Test
You Are Mr. Burns
Okay, so you're evil...
You have big plans to rule the world, and you'll destroy it in the process if necessary!
You will be remembered for: the exploitation of the masses
Life philosophy: 'One dollar for eternal happiness? I'd be happier with the dollar.'
Okay, so you're evil...
You have big plans to rule the world, and you'll destroy it in the process if necessary!
You will be remembered for: the exploitation of the masses
Life philosophy: 'One dollar for eternal happiness? I'd be happier with the dollar.'
Melanie- Forest Service Traps First Wolverine
MAZAMA, Wash. - The U.S. Forest Service has trapped the first wolverine ever captured and fitted with a radio collar in the Pacific Northwest. Biologists are hoping to learn more about the habits and range of the elusive creatures known for their ferocious nature.
"No one's ever studied them in the Pacific states before," said Keith Aubry, who's heading the pilot study through the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Biologists caught their first one just over a week ago in a subalpine forest northwest of Mazama in north-central Washington. It was a 19-pound female, who measured nearly 3 feet from her nose to the tip of her 7-inch tail. She looked much like a small bear cub, only with long ivory-colored claws.
They named her Melanie, after wolverine expert Jeff Copeland's granddaughter, because he missed the child's birthday party to lend his expertise to the wolverine expedition.
While she was tranquilized, biologists weighed Melanie and punched in an ear-tag, keeping part of the skin for a DNA sample. They fitted her with a radio collar that will emit a signal so she can be tracked through July 2007. They'll find out how far she travels and what elevation she covers.
The biologists were particularly excited to catch a young female. That means she's probably part of a resident family, and not just wandering through, they said. They're hoping to catch two more wolverines this winter.
John Rohrer, a Forest Service biologist at the Winthrop Ranger Station, and Winthrop's state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Scott Fitkin, built three traps all together, all in the high elevations above the Methow Valley, and opened their lids in mid-January.
The largest land-based member of the weasel family, wolverines sport a thick, brown coat with a light stripe down their backs. Some Native American tribes used to call them "skunk bear."
A candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act, wolverines have already disappeared from parts of their historical range, which once dipped down to the Sierra Nevadas in California, Aubry said.
Some thought they also had died out in the North Cascades during the 1960s, '70s and '80s, but they either recolonized this region, spreading down from British Columbia, or became more populous, Aubry said.
There have been several confirmed sightings over the past 10 years in the mountains above the Methow Valley, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and in other areas above Leavenworth, Aubry said.
The first year of the study will cost about $50,000, Aubry said. Half of the money will come from a Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management program for sensitive species. The rest will come from other state and federal sources.
___
"No one's ever studied them in the Pacific states before," said Keith Aubry, who's heading the pilot study through the Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Biologists caught their first one just over a week ago in a subalpine forest northwest of Mazama in north-central Washington. It was a 19-pound female, who measured nearly 3 feet from her nose to the tip of her 7-inch tail. She looked much like a small bear cub, only with long ivory-colored claws.
They named her Melanie, after wolverine expert Jeff Copeland's granddaughter, because he missed the child's birthday party to lend his expertise to the wolverine expedition.
While she was tranquilized, biologists weighed Melanie and punched in an ear-tag, keeping part of the skin for a DNA sample. They fitted her with a radio collar that will emit a signal so she can be tracked through July 2007. They'll find out how far she travels and what elevation she covers.
The biologists were particularly excited to catch a young female. That means she's probably part of a resident family, and not just wandering through, they said. They're hoping to catch two more wolverines this winter.
John Rohrer, a Forest Service biologist at the Winthrop Ranger Station, and Winthrop's state Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Scott Fitkin, built three traps all together, all in the high elevations above the Methow Valley, and opened their lids in mid-January.
The largest land-based member of the weasel family, wolverines sport a thick, brown coat with a light stripe down their backs. Some Native American tribes used to call them "skunk bear."
A candidate for protection under the Endangered Species Act, wolverines have already disappeared from parts of their historical range, which once dipped down to the Sierra Nevadas in California, Aubry said.
Some thought they also had died out in the North Cascades during the 1960s, '70s and '80s, but they either recolonized this region, spreading down from British Columbia, or became more populous, Aubry said.
There have been several confirmed sightings over the past 10 years in the mountains above the Methow Valley, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and in other areas above Leavenworth, Aubry said.
The first year of the study will cost about $50,000, Aubry said. Half of the money will come from a Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management program for sensitive species. The rest will come from other state and federal sources.
___
Death By Air Guitar...Dumbass!
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A teenage guitarist got so carried away while bouncing up and down on his bed mimicking a rock star that he flew out of a third floor window to his death, a Singapore newspaper reported Wednesday.
The Straits Times said Li Xiao Meng, a 16-year-old from China who was studying at Singapore's Hua Business School, was a keen musician who liked to jump up and down while playing his guitar in his hostel room.
"But on November 17 he took things a bit too far," the newspaper said, reporting on a coroner's court findings.
Ruling death by misadventure, the court said evidence "points to the deceased unintentionally falling out of the window to his death when he was hyped up with exhilaration, jumping up and down on the bed placed against an open window while mimicking a rock guitarist.""
Normally the windows were locked, the newspaper said, but students sometimes forced them open so they could smoke, something prohibited by the hostel.
The Straits Times said Li Xiao Meng, a 16-year-old from China who was studying at Singapore's Hua Business School, was a keen musician who liked to jump up and down while playing his guitar in his hostel room.
"But on November 17 he took things a bit too far," the newspaper said, reporting on a coroner's court findings.
Ruling death by misadventure, the court said evidence "points to the deceased unintentionally falling out of the window to his death when he was hyped up with exhilaration, jumping up and down on the bed placed against an open window while mimicking a rock guitarist.""
Normally the windows were locked, the newspaper said, but students sometimes forced them open so they could smoke, something prohibited by the hostel.
Girl Weds Dog to Ward Off 'Evil Eye' -
....some people should take this advice, the dog is a better choice than some who have been picked as a mate.
ThinkGeek :: Shirt of Smiting
You see a large wooden door. You open it.
You enter a dark cavernous conference room. There are whiteboards, notepads, and a speakerphone. The faint smell of dry erase markers and stale coffee hovers in the dank office air. The fluorescent light above you flickers briefly.
You see hidden in the shadows the glistening, faceted eyes of your manager. The foul smelling monster breathes heavily -- drooling on a stack of TPS reports. What do you do?
I attack. I swing my 2-handed sword at the fell beast! Luckily I'm wearing my +20 Shirt of Smiting, otherwise my roll of 17 would have been merely a glancing blow against his AC 37 scaly hide. Thanks to my new shirt (which also acts as a keen edge spell), it's a critical hit! DOUBLE DAMAGE!
Where are the Cheetos?
100% cotton heavyweight t-shirt in black. Don't be deceived by its comfy feel and relaxed fit: with "+20 Shirt of Smiting" printed on the front in white, you're practically invincible!
You enter a dark cavernous conference room. There are whiteboards, notepads, and a speakerphone. The faint smell of dry erase markers and stale coffee hovers in the dank office air. The fluorescent light above you flickers briefly.
You see hidden in the shadows the glistening, faceted eyes of your manager. The foul smelling monster breathes heavily -- drooling on a stack of TPS reports. What do you do?
I attack. I swing my 2-handed sword at the fell beast! Luckily I'm wearing my +20 Shirt of Smiting, otherwise my roll of 17 would have been merely a glancing blow against his AC 37 scaly hide. Thanks to my new shirt (which also acts as a keen edge spell), it's a critical hit! DOUBLE DAMAGE!
Where are the Cheetos?
100% cotton heavyweight t-shirt in black. Don't be deceived by its comfy feel and relaxed fit: with "+20 Shirt of Smiting" printed on the front in white, you're practically invincible!
ThinkGeek :: The Amazing Desktop Dinosaur Plant
A Pre-historic Evergreen That Just Won't Die
This one-of-a-kind plant has lived on the Earth for over 290 million years and has the ability to “come back to life” (much like the undead) over and over again for hundreds of years! Simply place this seemingly dead ball of foliage in water and within hours it transforms into a vibrant green blood-sucking evergreen. Ok, we are kidding about the blood-sucking part. It's still amazing though! It's also great for lazy folks since you can forget to water your Dinosaur planet whenever you want! It will simply dry up and hibernate for up to fifty years and will spring to life every time it is given water.
Some Interesting Tidbits about your Dinosaur Plant:
During the Carboniferous period these plants used to grow over 120 feet tall (bigger than a T-rex)
When dry it curls up into a tight ball so that the wind can easily roll it to a new location or cubicle, hopefully closer to moisture.
Retains 3% of its water when it is dehydrated.
Grows to be about 4"
Enjoys life so much it survived the Ice Age
Kit includes:
Live Dinosaur Plant
Bag of genuine Volcanic Lava Rock
Display Bowl
This one-of-a-kind plant has lived on the Earth for over 290 million years and has the ability to “come back to life” (much like the undead) over and over again for hundreds of years! Simply place this seemingly dead ball of foliage in water and within hours it transforms into a vibrant green blood-sucking evergreen. Ok, we are kidding about the blood-sucking part. It's still amazing though! It's also great for lazy folks since you can forget to water your Dinosaur planet whenever you want! It will simply dry up and hibernate for up to fifty years and will spring to life every time it is given water.
Some Interesting Tidbits about your Dinosaur Plant:
During the Carboniferous period these plants used to grow over 120 feet tall (bigger than a T-rex)
When dry it curls up into a tight ball so that the wind can easily roll it to a new location or cubicle, hopefully closer to moisture.
Retains 3% of its water when it is dehydrated.
Grows to be about 4"
Enjoys life so much it survived the Ice Age
Kit includes:
Live Dinosaur Plant
Bag of genuine Volcanic Lava Rock
Display Bowl
ThinkGeek :: Hal 9000 USB Memory Unit
One Gig of HAL's Mind?
Who knew computers would be so advanced in the year 2001? Certainly not us... we were damn impressed with Furby and along comes HAL. HAL was created in 1992 at the HAL plant in Illinois... then had some minor "issues" during a 2001 space mission. Subsequently HAL's memory units were removed for later examination and some of these happened to fall into our hands... or that's what some Dave guy told us. Technology wasn't quite as refined back then but these slim USB thumb drives can hold 1 Gig of your files and interface using USB 2.0, an engineering miracle at the time. All of HAL's schizophrenic tendencies should be removed but we guarantee nothing. Watch your computer carefully for any erratic behavior and please leave your pod bay doors open.
Who knew computers would be so advanced in the year 2001? Certainly not us... we were damn impressed with Furby and along comes HAL. HAL was created in 1992 at the HAL plant in Illinois... then had some minor "issues" during a 2001 space mission. Subsequently HAL's memory units were removed for later examination and some of these happened to fall into our hands... or that's what some Dave guy told us. Technology wasn't quite as refined back then but these slim USB thumb drives can hold 1 Gig of your files and interface using USB 2.0, an engineering miracle at the time. All of HAL's schizophrenic tendencies should be removed but we guarantee nothing. Watch your computer carefully for any erratic behavior and please leave your pod bay doors open.
2/21/2006
Historian Jailed Over (Very Dubious) Opinion
Controversial British historian David Irving has been sentenced to three years imprisonment by an Austrian court for denying the Holocaust. The trial focused on comments Irving made in Austria back in 1989 when, despite vast evidence to the contrary, he claimed that there had been no gas chambers at Auschwitz (in fact, the commandant at Auschwitz led development of gas chambers for mass murder), and that Jews hadn’t been killed in their millions (even though the Nazi genocide killed twelve million, six million of them Jews). Austria is one of eleven countries in which denying the holocaust is a crime. However, Irving’s imprisonment raises some controversial questions for historians, especially the extent to which there should ever be an official ‘state’ history, and the extent to which speech should be restricted by law.
Doctor walk-out delays execution - Yahoo! News
...because it was not ethical???
They did not want to cause him undue pain and suffering????
WHAT THE F#$K!!!!
What about the 17 yr old girl he raped and murdered , guess she didn't have any pain or suffering???
Dumbasses, someone feed that pig a bullet...
DISCLAIMER....
::: The opinion expressed is purely my own(Bluewolfesse's)-Bluewolfess does not condone the use of violence or the use of weapons against any one living or dead for that matter....
They did not want to cause him undue pain and suffering????
WHAT THE F#$K!!!!
What about the 17 yr old girl he raped and murdered , guess she didn't have any pain or suffering???
Dumbasses, someone feed that pig a bullet...
DISCLAIMER....
::: The opinion expressed is purely my own(Bluewolfesse's)-Bluewolfess does not condone the use of violence or the use of weapons against any one living or dead for that matter....
Cabin Decor, Rustic Lighting & Lodge Bedding at Black Forest Decor.
...a store site for rustic, woodsy things , very nice stuff.
2/20/2006
funny
"A mechanic who worked out of his home had a dog named Mace.
Mace had a bad habit of eating all the grass on the mechanic's
lawn, so the mechanic had to keep Mace inside.
The grass eventually became overgrown. One day the mechanic
was working on a car in the backyard and dropped his wrench,
losing it in the tall grass. He couldn't find it for the life
of him, so he decided to call it a day.
That night, Mace escaped from the house and ate all the grass
in the backyard. The next morning the mechanic went outside
and saw his wrench glinting in the sunlight. Realizing what
had happened he looked toward the heavens and proclaimed:
'A grazing Mace, how sweet the hound, that saved a wrench for me!'"
Mace had a bad habit of eating all the grass on the mechanic's
lawn, so the mechanic had to keep Mace inside.
The grass eventually became overgrown. One day the mechanic
was working on a car in the backyard and dropped his wrench,
losing it in the tall grass. He couldn't find it for the life
of him, so he decided to call it a day.
That night, Mace escaped from the house and ate all the grass
in the backyard. The next morning the mechanic went outside
and saw his wrench glinting in the sunlight. Realizing what
had happened he looked toward the heavens and proclaimed:
'A grazing Mace, how sweet the hound, that saved a wrench for me!'"
2/17/2006
Greek Hiker Finds 6,500-Year-Old Pendant -Click link to view the artifact.
THESSALONIKI, Greece - A Greek hiker found a 6,500-year-old gold pendant in a field and handed it over to authorities, an archaeologist said Thursday.
The flat, roughly ring-shaped prehistoric pendant probably had religious significance and would have been worn on a necklace by a prominent member of society.
Only three such gold artifacts have been discovered during organized digs, archaeologist Georgia Karamitrou-Mendesidi, head of the Greek archaeological service in the northern region where the discovery was made, told The Associated Press.
"It belongs to the Neolithic period, about which we know very little regarding the use of metals, particularly gold," she said. "The fact that it is made of gold indicates that these people were highly advanced, producing significant works of art."
She said the pendant, measuring rough 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 inches, was picked up last year near the town of Ptolemaida, about 90 miles southwest of the northern city of Thessaloniki. Karamitrou-Mendesidi is to present the artifact at a three-day archaeological conference that opened Thursday in Thessaloniki.
Greek police confiscated a hoard of 33 similar pieces of hammered gold jewelry from smugglers in 1997.
The woman who found the pendant did not want a reward and wished to remain anonymous, Karamitrou-Mendesidi said.
Similar finds have been excavated in modern Turkey and the Balkans, particularly in Bulgaria.
Around 4500 B.C., when the pendant was made, Greece's early Neolithic farming settlements were consolidating into structured trading centers with a developed knowledge of metalworking.
In November, archaeologists announced the discovery of two prehistoric farming settlements dating back as early as 6000 B.C. in the Ptolemaida region.
The settlement digs uncovered burial sites, clay and stone figurines of humans and animals, pottery and stone tools.
Another 25 prehistoric settlements have been found in the area.
The flat, roughly ring-shaped prehistoric pendant probably had religious significance and would have been worn on a necklace by a prominent member of society.
Only three such gold artifacts have been discovered during organized digs, archaeologist Georgia Karamitrou-Mendesidi, head of the Greek archaeological service in the northern region where the discovery was made, told The Associated Press.
"It belongs to the Neolithic period, about which we know very little regarding the use of metals, particularly gold," she said. "The fact that it is made of gold indicates that these people were highly advanced, producing significant works of art."
She said the pendant, measuring rough 1 1/2 by 1 1/2 inches, was picked up last year near the town of Ptolemaida, about 90 miles southwest of the northern city of Thessaloniki. Karamitrou-Mendesidi is to present the artifact at a three-day archaeological conference that opened Thursday in Thessaloniki.
Greek police confiscated a hoard of 33 similar pieces of hammered gold jewelry from smugglers in 1997.
The woman who found the pendant did not want a reward and wished to remain anonymous, Karamitrou-Mendesidi said.
Similar finds have been excavated in modern Turkey and the Balkans, particularly in Bulgaria.
Around 4500 B.C., when the pendant was made, Greece's early Neolithic farming settlements were consolidating into structured trading centers with a developed knowledge of metalworking.
In November, archaeologists announced the discovery of two prehistoric farming settlements dating back as early as 6000 B.C. in the Ptolemaida region.
The settlement digs uncovered burial sites, clay and stone figurines of humans and animals, pottery and stone tools.
Another 25 prehistoric settlements have been found in the area.
2/16/2006
Unexplained Mysteries :: When deja vu is more than just an odd feeling
British researchers are embarking on what they're calling the world's first study of chronic deja vu, a condition where people can recite details of situations or people they've never before encountered. One retired electrical engineer who complained to his family doctor that he had an awful sensation of deja vu was told to go to a memory clinic."He said, 'Well there's no point. I've already been before', " says Dr. Chris Moulin, a psychologist and memory researcher at the University of Leeds.Except he hadn't.Another woman stopped playing tennis in the firm, but mistaken, belief she was playing the same rallies over and over again.Another man insisted he'd already been to his friend's funeral.The phenomenon, which may affect one in 200 people with memory problems, is unlike the fleeting, eerie feeling people get from time to time that they've experienced something before, and that they know what's going to happen next.Instead, chronic deja vu sufferers are constantly overcome by the sensation something new has happened before. Depression is common, and some sufferers are initially misdiagnosed with epilepsy or labelled "delusional" and put on anti-psychotic drugs.Social interactions become impossible, Dr. Moulin says, because people think they've met everyone before, "which means they're overly trusting of people, and possibly inappropriately friendly."Since word of his study was published last month in a University of Leeds newsletter, Dr. Moulin has been inundated with e-mails from people convinced they have chronic deja vu; one Canadian woman said it described her mother perfectly. Another thought she was going mad until she read the story online.Dr. Moulin says studying deja vu can help better understand the relationship between feelings and consciousness and states associated with memory and how memory functions.One patient who travelled to Europe for the first time complained he'd been everywhere before."They're really quite striking. The most important thing for us, scientifically, is they're not confused by mundane, repetitive events. It's almost like the more novel and the more striking the event is, the more likely they are to get these sensations of deja vu," says Dr. Moulin. That suggests they're not making it up.
Board: Teflon Chemical a Likely Carcinogen - Yahoo! News
Guess I'll have to shelve the pots and pans and take up spitting the meat on a stick and cooking over the fire pit..NOT!!!
...Idiots, everything just about causes cancer....
...Idiots, everything just about causes cancer....
Doping strikes the Winter Games - Yahoo! News
"Russian athlete Olga Pyleva, who took the silver medal in Monday's 15-km individual biathlon, was suspended pending a disciplinary investigation into doping "
A Russian on Steroids, and this is surprising how????
A Russian on Steroids, and this is surprising how????
2/15/2006
The Science Channel :: Episode :: Extreme Astronomy
This was the show that was on after the show on the Super Novas,, this was even more interesting..It was fascinating to "see" the universe in a different light as it were, ultra violet ,infrared, the use of gamma, and xrays, to look at the Crab nebula, and to actually see the pulsar at the center of it pulsing(all in the infrared)they also featured other nebuli and stars, large pockets of energy and gas clouds. ...Was pretty cool considering that a professional astronomer can look at this nebula, and then look again in a week and it will look totally different,. I found this program to be wild, all the unseen things in life that millions will never see......
.....Yeah we are that geeky...
At the edge of the spectral frontier strange things go BANG! in the night. X-rays, gamma rays, and other radiation are producing interesting information. This story explores exploding suns, deep-space cataclysms and the energetic people who track them.
The Science Channel :: Episode :: From Here to Infinity
What is the fate of our universe? How will it end? Will it end at all? Dr. Saul Perlmutter leads his team of young scientists in a quest to find the answers to these questions, which could challenge current thoughts on the history of space and time.
It was all about the finding and viewing of super novas, this was a very interesting show, you can still catch it on the science channel
FEB 15 2006@ 11:00 AM
FEB 15 2006@ 03:00 PM
FEB 19 2006@ 06:00 PM
It was all about the finding and viewing of super novas, this was a very interesting show, you can still catch it on the science channel
FEB 15 2006@ 11:00 AM
FEB 15 2006@ 03:00 PM
FEB 19 2006@ 06:00 PM
Oobi - Lovely!
Oobi is an original series based on NOGGIN’s own Parents’ Choice Gold Award-winning short-form series. Oobi, a bare-hand puppet (with eyes and accessories) focuses on the stage in a young child’s life when everything in his or her world is new and incredible.
Oobi is a show about wonder. It speaks to the stage in a young child's life when everything is new and incredible: building a block tower, making cookies. Oobi is a show about children's first awkward attempts at mastery and meaning. It's a show about the everyday revelations.
I Like this show , so do the kids:) Oobi, Uma, Keiko, and of course GrandPoo.
MAHOGANY CHICKEN
1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts (original recipe called for bone-in thighs with skin)
pepper 2 teaspoons
vegetable oil 1/2 cup
soy sauce 1/4 cup
sugar 2 tablespoons
mirin or sweet sherry or white wine 2 teaspoons
grated fresh ginger
1 medium garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
2 scallions, sliced thin on diagonal
Dry chicken thoroughly with paper towels and season with pepper. Heat oil in large nontstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Cook chicken, skin side down (thighs will fit into pan snugly), until skin is deep brown and crisp, (15 to 20 minutes). Chicken should be moderately brown after 10 minutes. If too browned, reduce heat; if pale, increse heat. Turn chicken over, reduce heat to medium, and cook until second side is brown and meat is thoroughly cooked, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk soy sauce, sugar, mirin, ginger, garlic, and cornstarch together in small bow. Transfer chicken to plate and pour off fat. Add soy mixture to skillet and return to medium heat. Return chicken to skillet, turn to coat with sauce, and simmer, skin side up, until sauce is thick and glossy, about 2 minutes. Transfer chicken to serving platter and sprinkle with scallions. Pour remaining sauce into small bowl and pass separately.
Israeli dogs donate blood to toxic pet food victims - Yahoo! News
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A rare public appeal went out on Wednesday to Israeli pet owners to bring their dogs to donate blood to help save more than a dozen canines poisoned by toxic American pet food.
Approximately 23 dogs have died in
Israel' in recent weeks from liver failure after eating Nutra Nuggets, manufactured by the U.S.-based Diamond Pet Food company. Veterinarians say at least another 17 pets have been poisoned and that only a handful was expected to survive.
At the Beit Dagan Animal Science Institute, where 14 dogs are being treated for poisoning, veterinarians said dozens of people had brought in their pets to give blood after they made their appeal on Israeli television, radio and newspapers.
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration' ordered a recall of several Diamond Pet Food products in December after tests showed many bags were contaminated with aflatoxin, a potentially lethal chemical found on grains.
Diamond estimated that more than 75 dogs died in the United States. Israel's Agriculture Ministry recalled the products in February after several dogs in Israel died.
Approximately 23 dogs have died in
Israel' in recent weeks from liver failure after eating Nutra Nuggets, manufactured by the U.S.-based Diamond Pet Food company. Veterinarians say at least another 17 pets have been poisoned and that only a handful was expected to survive.
At the Beit Dagan Animal Science Institute, where 14 dogs are being treated for poisoning, veterinarians said dozens of people had brought in their pets to give blood after they made their appeal on Israeli television, radio and newspapers.
The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration' ordered a recall of several Diamond Pet Food products in December after tests showed many bags were contaminated with aflatoxin, a potentially lethal chemical found on grains.
Diamond estimated that more than 75 dogs died in the United States. Israel's Agriculture Ministry recalled the products in February after several dogs in Israel died.
So who wants to buy a Roman tombstone?
Britain is likely to lose magnificent Roman tombstoneBy Dalya Alberge, Arts Correspondent
EXCITEMENT over a Roman gravestone discovered in the centre of Lancaster has been dampened by the news that, although the artefact is barely out of the ground, Britain is likely to lose it to an overseas buyer.
Archaeologists said yesterday that the gravestone, which depicts with great clarity a mounted trooper holding a sword and the head of a man he has just killed, was a unique find.
NI_MPU('middle');
The stone has yet to be dried, conserved and studied, but its owner — the developer on whose land it has been found — has already sought valuation advice from Sotheby’s.
Christopher Tudor-Whelan, director of Tudor-Whelan Property Holdings, which specialises in commercial investment properties, hopes to sell it in New York. He confirmed yesterday that he has been told that he can expect to sell it for “up to $100,000” (£57,500).
The gravestone, which commemorates a cavalry officer of the late 1st century or early 2nd century AD, was unearthed when archaeologists excavated land in the city centre before construction work began on a block of flats. Experts are overwhelmed by the artefact’s quality, although it is in three pieces and yet to be reassembled.
The stone, which originally would have measured 2.5m (8ft) in height, features a solar face, reminiscent of the famous Medusa head from Roman Bath, above the trooper’s head. The beheaded victim kneels on the ground, holding his sword.
Although beheading war victims was accepted Roman practice, it is thought that no such depiction of a man on horseback has been found before.
Importantly, the stone also bears an inscription that provides clues to the man to whom it was dedicated — a citizen of a Celtic tribe in northern Europe, the Treveri, which is known to have occupied an area where Belgium, Germany and France meet. The tribe was said to have provided Julius Caesar with his best cavalry.
The inscription refers to a man called Lucius Nisus Vodvilleius, or Insus, son of Vodullus. The precise name is unclear as it is abbreviated.
He served in the Ala Augusta, the Augustun cavalry stationed in Lancaster in the late 1st century. Although he had not been granted Roman citizenship, he had clearly achieved considerable status in the Roman Army.
The discovery will be published by British Archaeology tomorrow. Mike Pitts, the editor of the magazine, described the stone as “immensely exciting and seriously important”. He said: “Much of Roman sculpture is very fragmentary and, even if it is in good condition, it is not of a particularly high quality aesthetically. This is more or less complete, with a carving whose quality is superb.”
The stone is drying out now at the Lancashire County Museums Service in Preston. Mr Pitts believes that its rightful home is one of the Lancaster museums. “I can see people queueing down the block to see it,” he said.
Stephen Bull, curator of archaeology at the Museum of Lancashire, described the carving as “one of the sharpest and clearest I’ve ever seen”.
The developer confirmed to The Times that he was “in discussion” over selling it through Sotheby’s. Asked how he had felt when it was unearthed, he said: “The archaeological guys were more excited than me. I thought, ‘Oh my God, this will hold up the development’. At the end, the proof of the pudding is how much it is worth.”
An export licence will almost certainly be required for such an important piece, as it meets all the criteria governing the export of cultural objects.
EXCITEMENT over a Roman gravestone discovered in the centre of Lancaster has been dampened by the news that, although the artefact is barely out of the ground, Britain is likely to lose it to an overseas buyer.
Archaeologists said yesterday that the gravestone, which depicts with great clarity a mounted trooper holding a sword and the head of a man he has just killed, was a unique find.
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The stone has yet to be dried, conserved and studied, but its owner — the developer on whose land it has been found — has already sought valuation advice from Sotheby’s.
Christopher Tudor-Whelan, director of Tudor-Whelan Property Holdings, which specialises in commercial investment properties, hopes to sell it in New York. He confirmed yesterday that he has been told that he can expect to sell it for “up to $100,000” (£57,500).
The gravestone, which commemorates a cavalry officer of the late 1st century or early 2nd century AD, was unearthed when archaeologists excavated land in the city centre before construction work began on a block of flats. Experts are overwhelmed by the artefact’s quality, although it is in three pieces and yet to be reassembled.
The stone, which originally would have measured 2.5m (8ft) in height, features a solar face, reminiscent of the famous Medusa head from Roman Bath, above the trooper’s head. The beheaded victim kneels on the ground, holding his sword.
Although beheading war victims was accepted Roman practice, it is thought that no such depiction of a man on horseback has been found before.
Importantly, the stone also bears an inscription that provides clues to the man to whom it was dedicated — a citizen of a Celtic tribe in northern Europe, the Treveri, which is known to have occupied an area where Belgium, Germany and France meet. The tribe was said to have provided Julius Caesar with his best cavalry.
The inscription refers to a man called Lucius Nisus Vodvilleius, or Insus, son of Vodullus. The precise name is unclear as it is abbreviated.
He served in the Ala Augusta, the Augustun cavalry stationed in Lancaster in the late 1st century. Although he had not been granted Roman citizenship, he had clearly achieved considerable status in the Roman Army.
The discovery will be published by British Archaeology tomorrow. Mike Pitts, the editor of the magazine, described the stone as “immensely exciting and seriously important”. He said: “Much of Roman sculpture is very fragmentary and, even if it is in good condition, it is not of a particularly high quality aesthetically. This is more or less complete, with a carving whose quality is superb.”
The stone is drying out now at the Lancashire County Museums Service in Preston. Mr Pitts believes that its rightful home is one of the Lancaster museums. “I can see people queueing down the block to see it,” he said.
Stephen Bull, curator of archaeology at the Museum of Lancashire, described the carving as “one of the sharpest and clearest I’ve ever seen”.
The developer confirmed to The Times that he was “in discussion” over selling it through Sotheby’s. Asked how he had felt when it was unearthed, he said: “The archaeological guys were more excited than me. I thought, ‘Oh my God, this will hold up the development’. At the end, the proof of the pudding is how much it is worth.”
An export licence will almost certainly be required for such an important piece, as it meets all the criteria governing the export of cultural objects.
"Eight Below" delivers above-average adventure -
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Disney may have written the book on live-action animal adventure stories, but it has been quite a while since there has been a chapter as terrific as "Eight Below."
Based on actual events but inspired by the 1983 Japanese blockbuster "Nankyoku Monogatari" ("Antarctica"), this highly involving story about a team of eight sled dogs who are stranded in the harsh tundra and must fend for themselves for close to half a year has been Americanized in the best sense of the word -- as opposed to, say, "Snow Dogs."
There will always be those coldhearted types who will cry "mush!," but "Eight Below" has the satisfying emotional tug of a "March of the Penguins" that should handily translate into a warm welcome at the box-office. Down the trail, the picture will fetch even bigger numbers on DVD.
While the original incident occurred in 1957, director Frank Marshall and screenwriter David DiGilio have moved up the story to 1993, the last year sled dog teams were employed in Antarctica. (The practice stopped in an effort to protect seals from distemper.)
Paul Walker''s Jerry Shepard is a survival guide on a research mission who has grown quite attached to his team of skilled sled dogs. They have again demonstrated their prowess and loyalty by pulling meteorite-seeking geologist Davis McClaren (
Bruce Greenwood) to safety after he breaks his leg on the treacherous terrain.
But when the onset of the mother of all winter storms forces an immediate evacuation and the severe weather conditions prohibit travel back to the outpost for months, pack leader Maya and her team are forced to brave the bleak elements on their own.
Meanwhile, back in America, Jerry is doggedly determined to find a way to rescue his four-legged friends, with a little assistance from his bush pilot ex-girlfriend and a goofy cartographer
Everything about "Eight Below" is refreshingly above average, from newcomer DiGilio's clean, uncluttered script -- he was in Disney's New Writer's program when he was hired to tackle the screenplay -- to Marshall's nicely weighted direction and the on-the-money performances from humans and canines alike.
Conveying the screen presence of a young
Kurt Russell' , Walker lends a convincing commitment to his lead role, while comic relief Biggs, rugged Greenwood and fresh-faced Bloodgood make for a crack support team.
Speaking of team, the picture's most remarkable achievement are those sled dogs (played by 16 animal actors) and their trainers responsible for creating eight very individual, very engaging characters in their own right. Somewhere there has got to be a plush animal factory working overtime, because Maya, Max and company are merchandising gold.
Behind the scenes, Marshall, quite in his inclement element after having directed 1993's "Alive," and cinematographer Don Burgess ("Cast Away") mine the maximum chill factor from the British Columbia and Greenland backdrops subbing for Antarctica, while editor Christopher Rouse ("The Bourne Supremacy") keeps things involving, especially during an unexpectedly nerve-jangling sequence between the dogs and a territorial leopard seal.
Based on actual events but inspired by the 1983 Japanese blockbuster "Nankyoku Monogatari" ("Antarctica"), this highly involving story about a team of eight sled dogs who are stranded in the harsh tundra and must fend for themselves for close to half a year has been Americanized in the best sense of the word -- as opposed to, say, "Snow Dogs."
There will always be those coldhearted types who will cry "mush!," but "Eight Below" has the satisfying emotional tug of a "March of the Penguins" that should handily translate into a warm welcome at the box-office. Down the trail, the picture will fetch even bigger numbers on DVD.
While the original incident occurred in 1957, director Frank Marshall and screenwriter David DiGilio have moved up the story to 1993, the last year sled dog teams were employed in Antarctica. (The practice stopped in an effort to protect seals from distemper.)
Paul Walker''s Jerry Shepard is a survival guide on a research mission who has grown quite attached to his team of skilled sled dogs. They have again demonstrated their prowess and loyalty by pulling meteorite-seeking geologist Davis McClaren (
Bruce Greenwood) to safety after he breaks his leg on the treacherous terrain.
But when the onset of the mother of all winter storms forces an immediate evacuation and the severe weather conditions prohibit travel back to the outpost for months, pack leader Maya and her team are forced to brave the bleak elements on their own.
Meanwhile, back in America, Jerry is doggedly determined to find a way to rescue his four-legged friends, with a little assistance from his bush pilot ex-girlfriend and a goofy cartographer
Everything about "Eight Below" is refreshingly above average, from newcomer DiGilio's clean, uncluttered script -- he was in Disney's New Writer's program when he was hired to tackle the screenplay -- to Marshall's nicely weighted direction and the on-the-money performances from humans and canines alike.
Conveying the screen presence of a young
Kurt Russell' , Walker lends a convincing commitment to his lead role, while comic relief Biggs, rugged Greenwood and fresh-faced Bloodgood make for a crack support team.
Speaking of team, the picture's most remarkable achievement are those sled dogs (played by 16 animal actors) and their trainers responsible for creating eight very individual, very engaging characters in their own right. Somewhere there has got to be a plush animal factory working overtime, because Maya, Max and company are merchandising gold.
Behind the scenes, Marshall, quite in his inclement element after having directed 1993's "Alive," and cinematographer Don Burgess ("Cast Away") mine the maximum chill factor from the British Columbia and Greenland backdrops subbing for Antarctica, while editor Christopher Rouse ("The Bourne Supremacy") keeps things involving, especially during an unexpectedly nerve-jangling sequence between the dogs and a territorial leopard seal.
Willie Nelson Releases Gay Cowboy Song
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Country music outlaw
Willie Nelson' sang "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" more than 25 years ago. He released a very different sort of cowboy anthem this
Valentine's Day "Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly (Fond of Each Other)" may be the first gay cowboy song by a major recording artist. But it was written long before this year's Oscar-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" made gay cowboys a hot topic.
Available exclusively through iTunes, the song features choppy Tex-Mex style guitar runs and Nelson's deadpan delivery of lines like, "What did you think all them saddles and boots was about?" and "Inside every cowboy there's a lady who'd love to slip out."
The song, which debuted Tuesday on Howard Stern's satellite radio show, was written by Texas-born singer-songwriter Ned Sublette in 1981. Sublette said he wrote it during the "Urban Cowboy" craze and always imagined Nelson singing it.
Someone passed a copy of the song to Nelson back in the late 1980s and, according to Nelson's record label, Lost Highway, he recorded it last year at his Pedernales studio in Texas.
Nelson has appeared in several Western movies and sings "He Was a Friend of Mine" on the "Brokeback Mountain" soundtrack.
Strange New Products: LEGO Shaped Eggos
The old saying "Leggo my Eggo" will soon be missing one letter "g" with the arrival of a new co-branded product.
Look at the product photo, and you'll notice a new "LEGO" variety of Eggos shaped into LEGO brick pieces.The box states, "Toast, break & build!"
No word on when we might see this in stores. The other two new varieties, Blueberry and Flip-Flop, are mentioned on Kellogg's Eggo website, but not the LEGO variety.
Look at the product photo, and you'll notice a new "LEGO" variety of Eggos shaped into LEGO brick pieces.The box states, "Toast, break & build!"
No word on when we might see this in stores. The other two new varieties, Blueberry and Flip-Flop, are mentioned on Kellogg's Eggo website, but not the LEGO variety.
2/14/2006
Blue Oyster Cult......Don't Fear The Reaper.....Lyrics
All our times have comeHere but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain..
we can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...
Valentine is doneHere but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet Are together in eternity...
Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday......
Like Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday......
Redefine happiness
Another 40,000 coming everyday......
We can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man
Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared...saying don't be afraid
Come on baby...and she had no fear
And she ran to him...then they started to fly
They looked backward and said goodbye...
she had become like they are
She had taken his hand...s
he had become like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain..
we can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man...
Valentine is doneHere but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet Are together in eternity...
Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday......
Like Romeo and Juliet
40,000 men and women everyday......
Redefine happiness
Another 40,000 coming everyday......
We can be like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
Baby take my hand...don't fear the reaper
We'll be able to fly...don't fear the reaper
Baby I'm your man
Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared...saying don't be afraid
Come on baby...and she had no fear
And she ran to him...then they started to fly
They looked backward and said goodbye...
she had become like they are
She had taken his hand...s
he had become like they are
Come on baby...don't fear the reaper
frontline: the kevorkian verdict: Summary of Art Work | PBS
ok some really weird stuff here, proceed at your own risk, , not naked stuff , just profoundly disturbed "art".
THE HISTORY CHANNEL - Digging for the Truth
Hey this is a really good show, we watched it last night...I think we will be regular viewers...very interesting...the host is abit strange, for example:
He repelled down the sheer rock face of Mont Seigur in Southern France , site of the last strong hold of
"The Cathars" , a religious group branded as heritics, who were thought to have and guarded and hid treasures(ie The Grail). He was seeing if the legend of how four Cathars escaped from Mont Seigur the night before the Inquistion burned the remaining 200 souls at the stake, could have possibly been done....He proved that it was hard but could be done, I found this show to be very interesting and the historical facts in it were also quite accurate...I will definitely be watching again.....
The Holy Grail.Aired on Tuesday, February 14 at 2:00am ET
For all its fame, the Holy Grail remains shrouded in mystery.
What exactly was it? Could it have survived to this day?
Why has it inspired so many treasure seekers?
To Christians, it is the holiest of objects, the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper, also believed to be the chalice that Joseph of Arimathea used to catch Christ's blood as he died on the cross.
Though now thought of as a goblet, the actual word "grail" comes to us from the Latin word gradalis--a flat dish or shallow vessel brought to the table during various courses of a meal.
The story itself did not originate until medieval times, when it helped inflame the Crusaders' quest.
Host and adventurer Josh Bernstein follows the Grail's trail from Holy Land to medieval French castles to a dark chapter in the Nazi saga, when Hitler financed a search for the Grail to unite a secret society of knights.
On the way, Josh learns its true meaning and power.
He repelled down the sheer rock face of Mont Seigur in Southern France , site of the last strong hold of
"The Cathars" , a religious group branded as heritics, who were thought to have and guarded and hid treasures(ie The Grail). He was seeing if the legend of how four Cathars escaped from Mont Seigur the night before the Inquistion burned the remaining 200 souls at the stake, could have possibly been done....He proved that it was hard but could be done, I found this show to be very interesting and the historical facts in it were also quite accurate...I will definitely be watching again.....
The Holy Grail.Aired on Tuesday, February 14 at 2:00am ET
For all its fame, the Holy Grail remains shrouded in mystery.
What exactly was it? Could it have survived to this day?
Why has it inspired so many treasure seekers?
To Christians, it is the holiest of objects, the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper, also believed to be the chalice that Joseph of Arimathea used to catch Christ's blood as he died on the cross.
Though now thought of as a goblet, the actual word "grail" comes to us from the Latin word gradalis--a flat dish or shallow vessel brought to the table during various courses of a meal.
The story itself did not originate until medieval times, when it helped inflame the Crusaders' quest.
Host and adventurer Josh Bernstein follows the Grail's trail from Holy Land to medieval French castles to a dark chapter in the Nazi saga, when Hitler financed a search for the Grail to unite a secret society of knights.
On the way, Josh learns its true meaning and power.
BROWN BUTTER SODA BREAD Recipe at Epicurious.com
Rosemary and black pepper make this bread anything but typical. Wedges are delicious with plenty of butter and your favorite preserves.
click photo to enlarge
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter3 1/2 cups all purpose flour1/2 cup old-fashioned oats1 tablespoon sugar1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper plus additional for topping1 3/4 cups buttermilk1 egg white, beaten to blend
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Stir butter in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.Stir flour, oats, sugar, rosemary, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl to blend. Pour buttermilk and melted browned butter over flour mixture; stir with fork until flour mixture is moistened.Turn dough out onto floured work surface. Knead gently until dough comes together, about 7 turns. Divide in half. Shape each half into ball; flatten each into 6-inch round. Place rounds on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 5 inches apart. Brush tops with beaten egg white. Sprinkle lightly with ground black pepper. Using small sharp knife, cut 1/2-inch-deep X in top of each dough round.Bake breads until deep golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool breads on rack at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.Baker's wisdom: You'll get the most tender soda bread by kneading the dough gently and briefly, just until it comes together, so the gluten is minimally developed.Makes 2 loaves.Bon AppétitFebruary 2006
click photo to enlarge
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter3 1/2 cups all purpose flour1/2 cup old-fashioned oats1 tablespoon sugar1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary2 teaspoons baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper plus additional for topping1 3/4 cups buttermilk1 egg white, beaten to blend
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Stir butter in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until melted and golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.Stir flour, oats, sugar, rosemary, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper in large bowl to blend. Pour buttermilk and melted browned butter over flour mixture; stir with fork until flour mixture is moistened.Turn dough out onto floured work surface. Knead gently until dough comes together, about 7 turns. Divide in half. Shape each half into ball; flatten each into 6-inch round. Place rounds on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 5 inches apart. Brush tops with beaten egg white. Sprinkle lightly with ground black pepper. Using small sharp knife, cut 1/2-inch-deep X in top of each dough round.Bake breads until deep golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool breads on rack at least 30 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.Baker's wisdom: You'll get the most tender soda bread by kneading the dough gently and briefly, just until it comes together, so the gluten is minimally developed.Makes 2 loaves.Bon AppétitFebruary 2006
Happy Birthday Dear Fido, Fluffy and Polly
Cool, well lets see the next pet birthday is Bonk's in June I believe...hummm wonder what theme she would like...? armadillo shaped cake?
King Without A Crown - Matisyahu
Chorus:
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my G-d all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing
You're all that I have and you're all that I need
Each and every day I pray to get to know you please
I want to be close to you, yes I'm so hungry
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
Without you there's no me
You're the air that I breathe
Sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
With these, demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe
I'll stand on my own two feet
Won't be brought down on one knee
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till midnight
Said, thank you to my G-d, now I finally got it right
And I'll fight with all of my heart, and all a' my soul, and all a' my might
Chorus
Bridge:
Me no want no sinsemilla.
That would only bring me down
Burn away my brain no way my brain is to compound
Torah food for my brain let it rain till I drown
Thunder!
Let the blessings come down
Strip away the layers and reveal your soul
Got to give yourself up and then you become whole
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
If you're trying to stay high then you're bound to stay low
You want G-d but you can't deflate your ego
If you're already there then there's nowhere to go
If you're cup's already full then its bound to overflow
If you're drowning in the water's and you can't stay afloat
Ask Hashem for mercy and he'll throw you a rope
You're looking for help from G-d you say he couldn't be found
Looking up to the sky and searchin' beneath the ground
Like a King without his Crown
Yes, you keep fallin' down
You really want to live but can't get rid of your frown
Tried to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground
Given up your pride and the you heard a sound
Out of night comes day and out of day comes light
Nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray,
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze
Chorus
Reelin' him in
Where ya been
Where ya been
Where ya been for so long
It's hard to stay strong been livin' in galus (exile) for 2000 years strong
Where ya been for so long
Been livin in this exhile for too long
What's this feeling?
My love will rip a hole in the ceiling
Givin' myself to you from the essence of my being
Sing to my G-d all these songs of love and healing
Want Moshiach now so it's time we start revealing
You're all that I have and you're all that I need
Each and every day I pray to get to know you please
I want to be close to you, yes I'm so hungry
You're like water for my soul when it gets thirsty
Without you there's no me
You're the air that I breathe
Sometimes the world is dark and I just can't see
With these, demons surround all around to bring me down to negativity
But I believe, yes I believe, I said I believe
I'll stand on my own two feet
Won't be brought down on one knee
Fight with all of my might and get these demons to flee
Hashem's rays fire blaze burn bright and I believe
Out of darkness comes light, twilight unto the heights
Crown Heights burnin' up all through till midnight
Said, thank you to my G-d, now I finally got it right
And I'll fight with all of my heart, and all a' my soul, and all a' my might
Chorus
Bridge:
Me no want no sinsemilla.
That would only bring me down
Burn away my brain no way my brain is to compound
Torah food for my brain let it rain till I drown
Thunder!
Let the blessings come down
Strip away the layers and reveal your soul
Got to give yourself up and then you become whole
You're a slave to yourself and you don't even know
You want to live the fast life but your brain moves slow
If you're trying to stay high then you're bound to stay low
You want G-d but you can't deflate your ego
If you're already there then there's nowhere to go
If you're cup's already full then its bound to overflow
If you're drowning in the water's and you can't stay afloat
Ask Hashem for mercy and he'll throw you a rope
You're looking for help from G-d you say he couldn't be found
Looking up to the sky and searchin' beneath the ground
Like a King without his Crown
Yes, you keep fallin' down
You really want to live but can't get rid of your frown
Tried to reach unto the heights and wound bound down on the ground
Given up your pride and the you heard a sound
Out of night comes day and out of day comes light
Nullified to the One like sunlight in a ray,
Makin' room for his love and a fire gone blaze
Chorus
Reelin' him in
Where ya been
Where ya been
Where ya been for so long
It's hard to stay strong been livin' in galus (exile) for 2000 years strong
Where ya been for so long
Been livin in this exhile for too long
2/13/2006
: Bo Bice :
'The Real Thing' World Premier
Bo wanders the empty streets in search of 'The Real Thing' in the video for his hit single.
Watch the exclusive premier!
Bo wanders the empty streets in search of 'The Real Thing' in the video for his hit single.
Watch the exclusive premier!
Dogs welcome evening at German eatery, small children not - Yahoo! News
I see noting wrong with this, I hate noisy kids when I want some peace and quiet, and a nice dinner,
I know I have kids and they drive me batty too...
and the dog thing, most dogs (no offense) are better behaved than small kids anyway...
I know I have kids and they drive me batty too...
and the dog thing, most dogs (no offense) are better behaved than small kids anyway...
MATISYAHU -He is Awsome, very cool.
Matisyahu Miller, vocals/beatbox
Jonah David, drums
Aaron Dugan, guitar
Josh Werner, bass
Matthew Miller was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania on June 30th 1979, corresponding to the Jewish date of the 5th of Tamuz 5740. Shortly after his birth, the Miller family moved to Berkeley, CA and eventually settled in White Plains, NY. Growing up, Matisyahu's parents sent him to Hebrew School a couple of times a week, but like many kids, he resisted the additional school hours and was frequently threatened with expulsion for disrupting the lessons.
By the age of 14, Matthew Miller slid comfortably into the laid-back lifestyle of a teenage hippie. Having fallen in with the "Dead-Head" crowd, he grew dreadlocks and wore his Birkenstocks all winter long. He played his bongos in the lunchroom and learned how to beat-box in the back of class. By 11th grade, despite his carefree days, Matisyahu couldn't ignore the void in his life. After nearly burning down his chemistry class, he knew his mission must begin immediately. He decided to set off on a camping trip in Colorado. Away from his suburban life in White Plains, Matisyahu had the opportunity to take an introspective look at himself and contemplate his environment. It was there in the awe-inspiring landscape of the Rocky Mountain's, that Matisyahu had an eye-opening realization: there is a G-d.
After Colorado, his spiritual curiosity piqued and Matisyahu took his first trip to Israel. There, for the first time in his life, he felt a connection to the G-d he discovered in Colorado. Israel was a major turning point. Matisyahu relished the time he spent there, praying, exploring, and dancing in Jerusalem. In every nook he encountered, his dormant Jewish identity stirred into consciousness.
Leaving Israel proved to be a difficult transition. Once back in White Plains, Matisyahu didn't know how to maintain his new connection with Judaism. Feeling dejected, he fatefully dropped out of high school and began following Phish on a national tour. On the road, Matisyahu thought seriously about his life, his music, and his thirst for Judaism.
After a few months, burnt out and broke, he returned home. By this time his parents insisted that Matisyahu go and "straighten" himself out at a wilderness school in Bend, Oregon. The school encouraged artistic pursuits and Matisyahu took advantage of this time to delve further into his music. He studied up on reggae and hip-hop. He attended a weekly open-mic where he rapped, sang, beat-boxed, and did almost anything he could to stay creatively charged. It was then that he started to develop the unique reggae-hip hop sound for which he would one day become known.
After 2 years in the "sticks," the 19-year old Matisyahu returned to New York a changed man. He moved to the city to attend The New School where he continued honing his musical craft, and also dabbled in the theater. During this time, he happened on the Carlebach Shul, a synagogue on the Upper West Side, well known for its hippie-friendly vibe and exuberant singing. This encounter further fueled his soul-fire, turning him on to the mystical power of song in Hasidic Judaism. Now, instead of beat boxing in the back of the classroom, he was leaving the classroom to pray on the school's roof. (Religious or not, this guy ain't made for the classrooms.)
While studying at New School, Matisyahu wrote a play entitled "Echad" (One). The play was about a boy who meets a Hasidic rabbi in Washington Square Park and through him becomes religious. Shortly after the play's performance, Matisyahu's life strangely imitated his art. Indeed, years after the initial sparks were lit, Matisyahu met a Lubavitch rabbi in the park, spurring his transformation from Matthew to Matisyahu.
A person who was once skeptical of authority and rules, Matisyahu began to explore and eventually fully take on the Lubavitch Hasidic lifestyle. He thrived on the discipline and structure of Judaism, making every attempt to abide by Jewish Law. The Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy proved to be a powerful guide for Matisyahu. It surrounded him with the spiritual dialogue and intellectual challenge he had been seeking for the past decade. The turmoil and frustration of his search subsided, and now, 2 years later, Matisyahu lives in Crown Heights, splitting his time between the stage and his yeshiva.
Combining the sounds of Bob Marley and Shlomo Carlebach, yet remaining wholly original, Matisyahu's performance is an uplifting, powerful experience for all in his presence. Even the most pessimistic in his audience is inspired by his ability to so honestly convey such a delicate, topic as faith/spirituality. It is his dedication to his belief and openness to others that compels one to respect his artistry and message. It's in that fleeting moment when our skepticism melts and our souls open up, that Matisyahu enters with his booming sound of faith.
Jonah David, drums
Aaron Dugan, guitar
Josh Werner, bass
Matthew Miller was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania on June 30th 1979, corresponding to the Jewish date of the 5th of Tamuz 5740. Shortly after his birth, the Miller family moved to Berkeley, CA and eventually settled in White Plains, NY. Growing up, Matisyahu's parents sent him to Hebrew School a couple of times a week, but like many kids, he resisted the additional school hours and was frequently threatened with expulsion for disrupting the lessons.
By the age of 14, Matthew Miller slid comfortably into the laid-back lifestyle of a teenage hippie. Having fallen in with the "Dead-Head" crowd, he grew dreadlocks and wore his Birkenstocks all winter long. He played his bongos in the lunchroom and learned how to beat-box in the back of class. By 11th grade, despite his carefree days, Matisyahu couldn't ignore the void in his life. After nearly burning down his chemistry class, he knew his mission must begin immediately. He decided to set off on a camping trip in Colorado. Away from his suburban life in White Plains, Matisyahu had the opportunity to take an introspective look at himself and contemplate his environment. It was there in the awe-inspiring landscape of the Rocky Mountain's, that Matisyahu had an eye-opening realization: there is a G-d.
After Colorado, his spiritual curiosity piqued and Matisyahu took his first trip to Israel. There, for the first time in his life, he felt a connection to the G-d he discovered in Colorado. Israel was a major turning point. Matisyahu relished the time he spent there, praying, exploring, and dancing in Jerusalem. In every nook he encountered, his dormant Jewish identity stirred into consciousness.
Leaving Israel proved to be a difficult transition. Once back in White Plains, Matisyahu didn't know how to maintain his new connection with Judaism. Feeling dejected, he fatefully dropped out of high school and began following Phish on a national tour. On the road, Matisyahu thought seriously about his life, his music, and his thirst for Judaism.
After a few months, burnt out and broke, he returned home. By this time his parents insisted that Matisyahu go and "straighten" himself out at a wilderness school in Bend, Oregon. The school encouraged artistic pursuits and Matisyahu took advantage of this time to delve further into his music. He studied up on reggae and hip-hop. He attended a weekly open-mic where he rapped, sang, beat-boxed, and did almost anything he could to stay creatively charged. It was then that he started to develop the unique reggae-hip hop sound for which he would one day become known.
After 2 years in the "sticks," the 19-year old Matisyahu returned to New York a changed man. He moved to the city to attend The New School where he continued honing his musical craft, and also dabbled in the theater. During this time, he happened on the Carlebach Shul, a synagogue on the Upper West Side, well known for its hippie-friendly vibe and exuberant singing. This encounter further fueled his soul-fire, turning him on to the mystical power of song in Hasidic Judaism. Now, instead of beat boxing in the back of the classroom, he was leaving the classroom to pray on the school's roof. (Religious or not, this guy ain't made for the classrooms.)
While studying at New School, Matisyahu wrote a play entitled "Echad" (One). The play was about a boy who meets a Hasidic rabbi in Washington Square Park and through him becomes religious. Shortly after the play's performance, Matisyahu's life strangely imitated his art. Indeed, years after the initial sparks were lit, Matisyahu met a Lubavitch rabbi in the park, spurring his transformation from Matthew to Matisyahu.
A person who was once skeptical of authority and rules, Matisyahu began to explore and eventually fully take on the Lubavitch Hasidic lifestyle. He thrived on the discipline and structure of Judaism, making every attempt to abide by Jewish Law. The Chabad-Lubavitch philosophy proved to be a powerful guide for Matisyahu. It surrounded him with the spiritual dialogue and intellectual challenge he had been seeking for the past decade. The turmoil and frustration of his search subsided, and now, 2 years later, Matisyahu lives in Crown Heights, splitting his time between the stage and his yeshiva.
Combining the sounds of Bob Marley and Shlomo Carlebach, yet remaining wholly original, Matisyahu's performance is an uplifting, powerful experience for all in his presence. Even the most pessimistic in his audience is inspired by his ability to so honestly convey such a delicate, topic as faith/spirituality. It is his dedication to his belief and openness to others that compels one to respect his artistry and message. It's in that fleeting moment when our skepticism melts and our souls open up, that Matisyahu enters with his booming sound of faith.
2/12/2006
Cheney accidentally shoots hunting companion - Yahoo! News
pretty funny....happened in our neck of the woods...
I said to G-man "Guess who shot the lawyer down here?"(it was on the local news) ..."Cheney",...
"He was down here shooting quail".
G-man snorts and said "Huh I didn't know Dan was down here?" (Dan Quale)
ROFLMAO
I said to G-man "Guess who shot the lawyer down here?"(it was on the local news) ..."Cheney",...
"He was down here shooting quail".
G-man snorts and said "Huh I didn't know Dan was down here?" (Dan Quale)
ROFLMAO
2/11/2006
Sam & Susie's Blog: Beautiful Editorial Tribute by Robert Ward
If you are A SAM FAN, you might want to read this...
I Miss SAM alot.....
I Miss SAM alot.....
Conan O'Brien Seeks Reward for Finn's Win - Yahoo! News
HELSINKI, Finland - Conan O'Brien, who endorsed the re-election of Finnish President Tarja Halonen with mock ad campaigns, said Saturday he expects to be rewarded with a Cabinet position as inspector of saunas.
Hundreds of fans welcomed the American talk show host on Saturday to a freezing Helsinki, the capital of the land of the saunas — only two weeks after Halonen, 62, secured a second six-year term as Finland's first female presudent.
The quirky, self-deprecating O'Brien said he will ask "Tarja" for a Cabinet position when he meets her Feb. 14.
"I'd like to be the inspector of saunas, mostly women's saunas," he said.
Organizers said some 2,000 fans waited for hours in subzero temperatures to catch a glimpse of the TV host who has become unusually popular in this nation of 5 million on the northern fringes of Europe.
O'Brien has joked that his show is highly popular here because of his resemblance to the fair-skinned, red-haired Halonen. Last year, he caused a political stir for endorsing her during her campaign, broadcasting mock ads promoting her and attacking her opponents.
"Why do I support Tarja Halonen? Because she's got the total package: a dynamic personality, a quick mind, and most importantly — my good looks," the comedian told The Associated Press.
A soldier in uniform said "the army loves him."
"He lightens our lives in the evenings quite a bit," said Corp. Mattias Ronnberg, an 18-year-old conscript.
Hundreds of fans welcomed the American talk show host on Saturday to a freezing Helsinki, the capital of the land of the saunas — only two weeks after Halonen, 62, secured a second six-year term as Finland's first female presudent.
The quirky, self-deprecating O'Brien said he will ask "Tarja" for a Cabinet position when he meets her Feb. 14.
"I'd like to be the inspector of saunas, mostly women's saunas," he said.
Organizers said some 2,000 fans waited for hours in subzero temperatures to catch a glimpse of the TV host who has become unusually popular in this nation of 5 million on the northern fringes of Europe.
O'Brien has joked that his show is highly popular here because of his resemblance to the fair-skinned, red-haired Halonen. Last year, he caused a political stir for endorsing her during her campaign, broadcasting mock ads promoting her and attacking her opponents.
"Why do I support Tarja Halonen? Because she's got the total package: a dynamic personality, a quick mind, and most importantly — my good looks," the comedian told The Associated Press.
A soldier in uniform said "the army loves him."
"He lightens our lives in the evenings quite a bit," said Corp. Mattias Ronnberg, an 18-year-old conscript.
Dark and embarrassing confessions find outlet on artist's website - Yahoo! News
Post Secret is not such a secret anymore....
check out the article.
check out the article.
Strange New Products: Crumb Pets
Crumb Pets are little vacuum cleaners made to look like farm animals.
They're designed to adorn your kitchen countertop, and then clean up the little crumbs that get left on the counter or dining table.
So, if you eat like a pig at the dinner table (me!), you can get the little pig to snort up the left-overs. Runs on 2 AA batteries.
£5.99 from DrinkStuff
They're designed to adorn your kitchen countertop, and then clean up the little crumbs that get left on the counter or dining table.
So, if you eat like a pig at the dinner table (me!), you can get the little pig to snort up the left-overs. Runs on 2 AA batteries.
£5.99 from DrinkStuff
Oops! - Bush Unaware Mikes Were Still On - Yahoo! News
Once again our Fearless Leader- Uncle George, shows that he has done nothing wrong , even in his private conversations.
Stupid fracking moon bats...
Stupid fracking moon bats...
Save the PitBulls...
"U. S. Citizens Protesting the Seizure and
Execution of Innocent Family Pets within the City of
Denver, Colorado"
hosted on the web by our free online petition
service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/savepits/
If you would like to help some more to support
the cause of this
petition, it would be great to take a moment now
and send a quick email
message to let some friends and allies know about
it.
Here's some text you can just copy and paste into
your own email message
to help spread the word about this petition:
+ --------- copy from here --------- +
Dear Friends,
I have just read and signed the online petition:
"U. S. Citizens Protesting the Seizure and
Execution of Innocent Family Pets within the City of
Denver, Colorado"
hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free
online petition
service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/savepits/
I personally agree with what this petition says,
and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please
take a look, and consider
signing yourself.
Best wishes,
Bluewolfess
Execution of Innocent Family Pets within the City of
Denver, Colorado"
hosted on the web by our free online petition
service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/savepits/
If you would like to help some more to support
the cause of this
petition, it would be great to take a moment now
and send a quick email
message to let some friends and allies know about
it.
Here's some text you can just copy and paste into
your own email message
to help spread the word about this petition:
+ --------- copy from here --------- +
Dear Friends,
I have just read and signed the online petition:
"U. S. Citizens Protesting the Seizure and
Execution of Innocent Family Pets within the City of
Denver, Colorado"
hosted on the web by PetitionOnline.com, the free
online petition
service, at:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/savepits/
I personally agree with what this petition says,
and I think you might
agree, too. If you can spare a moment, please
take a look, and consider
signing yourself.
Best wishes,
Bluewolfess
2/10/2006
the real Valentine Poo...I really Like this Dog:)
Bup has named the poodle:WONDER LOVE POODLE....
???? ok where did that come from,
G-Man got it for me :)
???? ok where did that come from,
G-Man got it for me :)
Coal and Wonder Love...:)
R. Lee Ermy
Golden Globe nominee and Boston Society of Film Critics Award Winner for Best Supporting Actor in director Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, R. Lee Ermey, after more than 25 years in the business, is one of the most successful and talented actors in film and television today.
His numerous roles in feature film include: Switchback, starring opposite Dennis Quaid and Danny Glover, Dead Man Walking, Seven, Leaving Las Vegas, Murder In The First, Life, The Frighteners and Sommersby, as well as his critically acclaimed role opposite Jared Leto in Prefontaine. He continues doing numerous voiceover roles which span from The Simpsons to Toy Story("1" and "2").Ermey served 11 years active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. He rose to the rank of staff NCO, served two years as a drill instructor and a tour of duty in Viet Nam. Medically retired in 1971, he used his G.I. Bill benefits, and enrolled at the University of Manila in the Philippines where he studied drama. Francis Ford Coppola was filming Apocalypse Now in the area and cast Ermey in a featured role. He has since gone on to star or appear in approximately sixty films.
Ermey is no stranger to prestigious television either. He has starred in numerous telefilms including HBO's Weapons of Mass Distraction, TNT's The Rough Riders, and TNT's You Know My Name, starring Sam Elliot, as well as Showtime's The Apartment Complex.Lee starred with Elizabeth Pena in the feature On the Borderline. Just before that, Lee was in the feature film Skipped Parts, with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Drew Barrymore. Recently, Lee starred in Saving Silverman with Jason Biggs, Jack Black, Steve Zahn and Amanda Peet. Lee appears opposite Jeff Bridges in Scenes of the Crime and Harvey Keitel in Taking Sides. For New Line he appeared in Run Ronnie Run and starred in the remake of Willard with Crispin Glover. Also for New Line, he stars in the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Lee is also hosting his own show for The History Channel, MAIL CALL, which focuses on military technology past, present and future. It continues to be one of the highest rated series on The History Channel. Lee has recently begun filming Cheer Up with Tommy Lee Jones for Revolution Studios.
His numerous roles in feature film include: Switchback, starring opposite Dennis Quaid and Danny Glover, Dead Man Walking, Seven, Leaving Las Vegas, Murder In The First, Life, The Frighteners and Sommersby, as well as his critically acclaimed role opposite Jared Leto in Prefontaine. He continues doing numerous voiceover roles which span from The Simpsons to Toy Story("1" and "2").Ermey served 11 years active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. He rose to the rank of staff NCO, served two years as a drill instructor and a tour of duty in Viet Nam. Medically retired in 1971, he used his G.I. Bill benefits, and enrolled at the University of Manila in the Philippines where he studied drama. Francis Ford Coppola was filming Apocalypse Now in the area and cast Ermey in a featured role. He has since gone on to star or appear in approximately sixty films.
Ermey is no stranger to prestigious television either. He has starred in numerous telefilms including HBO's Weapons of Mass Distraction, TNT's The Rough Riders, and TNT's You Know My Name, starring Sam Elliot, as well as Showtime's The Apartment Complex.Lee starred with Elizabeth Pena in the feature On the Borderline. Just before that, Lee was in the feature film Skipped Parts, with Jennifer Jason Leigh and Drew Barrymore. Recently, Lee starred in Saving Silverman with Jason Biggs, Jack Black, Steve Zahn and Amanda Peet. Lee appears opposite Jeff Bridges in Scenes of the Crime and Harvey Keitel in Taking Sides. For New Line he appeared in Run Ronnie Run and starred in the remake of Willard with Crispin Glover. Also for New Line, he stars in the remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Lee is also hosting his own show for The History Channel, MAIL CALL, which focuses on military technology past, present and future. It continues to be one of the highest rated series on The History Channel. Lee has recently begun filming Cheer Up with Tommy Lee Jones for Revolution Studios.
Stiletto workout: part of the heeling process - Yahoo! News
Good grief...idiots all of them...
I've worn heels since I was 17 years old
and prefer the higher the better....
STUPID YUPPIES.......
I've worn heels since I was 17 years old
and prefer the higher the better....
STUPID YUPPIES.......
EXCLUSIVE: "ADDICTED TO LOST" video...
awsome!!!this rocks....
This is one of our fav shows....next to BSG, and House.
This is one of our fav shows....next to BSG, and House.
cesar.com | Sundance Film Festival
Enter for the chance to win a Grand Prize trip to the 2007 Sundance Film Festival®, including:
Airfare
Five days/four nights hotel accommodations
Gala passes
Premiere screenings
PLUS: $2,000 to spend on pampering, dining out, car rental and, of course, shopping!
1 First Prize winner will enjoy a CESAR® Doggie Spa Goodie Bag (think beautiful small dog couture; gorgeous leashes; fetching accessories; spa items and more!). 10 Second Prize winners will receive Christopher Ameruoso's "Pets and Their Stars" book, plus a sumptuous selection of CESAR® Canine Cuisine.
Airfare
Five days/four nights hotel accommodations
Gala passes
Premiere screenings
PLUS: $2,000 to spend on pampering, dining out, car rental and, of course, shopping!
1 First Prize winner will enjoy a CESAR® Doggie Spa Goodie Bag (think beautiful small dog couture; gorgeous leashes; fetching accessories; spa items and more!). 10 Second Prize winners will receive Christopher Ameruoso's "Pets and Their Stars" book, plus a sumptuous selection of CESAR® Canine Cuisine.
Eclectic Boogaloo: "Son's Gonna Rise" by Citizen Cope
Check this out, this artist rocks, Citizen Cope.
I like this song, listening to it in the car , hot wind blowing in the window, groovin, very much the ear worm as G-Man says, seems to suit Texas to me.
I like this song, listening to it in the car , hot wind blowing in the window, groovin, very much the ear worm as G-Man says, seems to suit Texas to me.
Useless information...weird, funny..."The Coldest Profession!"
Antarctica's Red-light District.
How would you feel if your mate came home after spending the night with a member of the world's oldest profession? I think it's safe to say that you probably wouldn't be very happy.
Well, for the first time it has been observed that the male specimen of Homo sapiens is not the only species to pay for someone else's services. Yes, it has been scientifically determined that the male Adelie penguin, which lives on Ross Island down in the Antarctic, also pays for the special favors of a female.
I can just picture it now:
The female gets all dolled up and puts on her sexiest skin-tight tuxedo (what else would a penguin wear?). She then heads out for a night on the town. A potential male customer is spotted out in the distance. She sways her hips back and forth and approaches the gentlemen.
“Hey, honey.” she says in her sexiest Mae West-like voice. “How would you like me to warm your chilled bones?”
The lonely male penguin is attracted to her like steel to a magnet. They agree to terms and do their thing.
Now, I know what you are thinking. (Well, maybe not.) Penguins don't carry cash and they have never been known to carry an American Express card, so just how do they pay?
With stones.
Yes, you read that correctly - stones. Also known as pebbles, cobbles, and rocks. It makes no difference if the payment is sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. All types of Flinstonian currency are accepted.
Let's get back to reality...
Actually, the Adelie penguins are known to mate for life. At least that is what the male is led to believe.
Every so often, the female wanders off in search of stones to build her nest with. Since there are no trees or grasses to be found in this frozen wasteland, stones make the best nesting material by default. But even stones are difficult to find in this cold climate. Those that do exist are most likely frozen solid in the mud or ice. The stones are of such great value to the penguins that they will steal them from each other, even though they face a high risk of being attacked by the owner of this hard currency (and this currency certainly is hard).
But wait!
The female Adelie penguin has figured out a better way. She exchanges copulations for the stones. The female slips away from her mate and just happens to wander over to the nest of an unpaired male.
Hmmm… What could she be thinking?
She goes through the standard courtship procedure. You know, the usual dip of the head and the coy look from the corner of the eye. If the male shows some interest, she will just lie prone as an invitation to mate. Once the mating is over, she picks up her payment (the stone) and heads back home to her unsuspecting mate.
Believe it or not, this is truly serious science. A researcher named Fiona M. Hunter of the University of Cambridge has been studying these cheating penguins for years. (Why anyone would ever want to study in such a cold place is beyond me. I was once offered a complete scholarship to do my graduate work in Antarctica. All the money in the world couldn't get me there. Instead, I decided to stay warm and chose a different college.)
Hunter also observed ten different females who played an even smarter game. Each of these penguins went through the whole mutual courtship routine, picked up their payment, and just left before any hanky panky ever took place. Oddly, the males showed no aggressive behavior for being denied their pleasure. In fact, these same females actually had the nerve to return for more pebbles. One female managed to get 62 stones from one male in just one hour. (Obviously, she was the Pam Anderson of the bird world.)
And her husband was the last to know…
Useless? Useful? I’ll leave that for you to decide.
How would you feel if your mate came home after spending the night with a member of the world's oldest profession? I think it's safe to say that you probably wouldn't be very happy.
Well, for the first time it has been observed that the male specimen of Homo sapiens is not the only species to pay for someone else's services. Yes, it has been scientifically determined that the male Adelie penguin, which lives on Ross Island down in the Antarctic, also pays for the special favors of a female.
I can just picture it now:
The female gets all dolled up and puts on her sexiest skin-tight tuxedo (what else would a penguin wear?). She then heads out for a night on the town. A potential male customer is spotted out in the distance. She sways her hips back and forth and approaches the gentlemen.
“Hey, honey.” she says in her sexiest Mae West-like voice. “How would you like me to warm your chilled bones?”
The lonely male penguin is attracted to her like steel to a magnet. They agree to terms and do their thing.
Now, I know what you are thinking. (Well, maybe not.) Penguins don't carry cash and they have never been known to carry an American Express card, so just how do they pay?
With stones.
Yes, you read that correctly - stones. Also known as pebbles, cobbles, and rocks. It makes no difference if the payment is sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. All types of Flinstonian currency are accepted.
Let's get back to reality...
Actually, the Adelie penguins are known to mate for life. At least that is what the male is led to believe.
Every so often, the female wanders off in search of stones to build her nest with. Since there are no trees or grasses to be found in this frozen wasteland, stones make the best nesting material by default. But even stones are difficult to find in this cold climate. Those that do exist are most likely frozen solid in the mud or ice. The stones are of such great value to the penguins that they will steal them from each other, even though they face a high risk of being attacked by the owner of this hard currency (and this currency certainly is hard).
But wait!
The female Adelie penguin has figured out a better way. She exchanges copulations for the stones. The female slips away from her mate and just happens to wander over to the nest of an unpaired male.
Hmmm… What could she be thinking?
She goes through the standard courtship procedure. You know, the usual dip of the head and the coy look from the corner of the eye. If the male shows some interest, she will just lie prone as an invitation to mate. Once the mating is over, she picks up her payment (the stone) and heads back home to her unsuspecting mate.
Believe it or not, this is truly serious science. A researcher named Fiona M. Hunter of the University of Cambridge has been studying these cheating penguins for years. (Why anyone would ever want to study in such a cold place is beyond me. I was once offered a complete scholarship to do my graduate work in Antarctica. All the money in the world couldn't get me there. Instead, I decided to stay warm and chose a different college.)
Hunter also observed ten different females who played an even smarter game. Each of these penguins went through the whole mutual courtship routine, picked up their payment, and just left before any hanky panky ever took place. Oddly, the males showed no aggressive behavior for being denied their pleasure. In fact, these same females actually had the nerve to return for more pebbles. One female managed to get 62 stones from one male in just one hour. (Obviously, she was the Pam Anderson of the bird world.)
And her husband was the last to know…
Useless? Useful? I’ll leave that for you to decide.
2/09/2006
Casket Furniture - Caskets, Coffins, Bedroom Furniture & Office Furniture
sort of cool...I could live with that..or should I say Die with that....
Intact tomb found in Egypt's Valley of the Kings - Yahoo! News
CAIRO (Reuters) - An American team has found what appears to be an intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings, the first found in the valley since that of Tutankhamun in 1922, one of the archaeologists said on Thursday.
The tomb contains five or six mummies in intact sarcophagi from the late 18th dynasty, about the same period as Tutankhamun, but the archaeologists have not yet had the time or the access to identify them, the archaeologist added.
The 18th dynasty ruled Egypt from 1567 BC to 1320 BC, a period during which the country's power reached a peak.
The Valley of the Kings in southern Egypt contains the tombs of most of the pharaohs of the time but the archaeologist said the mummies in the newly found tomb need not be royal.
"There are lots of non-royal tombs in the valley. It wouldn't be the only one by any means," said the archaeologist, who asked not to be named because the Egyptian authorities are planning a media event at the site on Friday.
"The archaeologists haven't been inside properly yet. It's very small and cramped but it is late 18th dynasty," she added.
A statement from the government's Supreme Council of Antiquities said the tomb was found by a team from the University of Memphis in the United States.
The five sarcophagi, which are carved to human form, have coloured funerary masks and the tomb contains a large number of big storage jars, the statement said.
"For an unknown reason they were buried rapidly in the small tomb," it added.
The tomb, 5 km (three miles) from that of Tutankhamun, was covered with the rubble of workmen's huts dating from the latter part of the 19th dynasty, more than 100 years after the tomb was sealed, it said.
The tomb contains five or six mummies in intact sarcophagi from the late 18th dynasty, about the same period as Tutankhamun, but the archaeologists have not yet had the time or the access to identify them, the archaeologist added.
The 18th dynasty ruled Egypt from 1567 BC to 1320 BC, a period during which the country's power reached a peak.
The Valley of the Kings in southern Egypt contains the tombs of most of the pharaohs of the time but the archaeologist said the mummies in the newly found tomb need not be royal.
"There are lots of non-royal tombs in the valley. It wouldn't be the only one by any means," said the archaeologist, who asked not to be named because the Egyptian authorities are planning a media event at the site on Friday.
"The archaeologists haven't been inside properly yet. It's very small and cramped but it is late 18th dynasty," she added.
A statement from the government's Supreme Council of Antiquities said the tomb was found by a team from the University of Memphis in the United States.
The five sarcophagi, which are carved to human form, have coloured funerary masks and the tomb contains a large number of big storage jars, the statement said.
"For an unknown reason they were buried rapidly in the small tomb," it added.
The tomb, 5 km (three miles) from that of Tutankhamun, was covered with the rubble of workmen's huts dating from the latter part of the 19th dynasty, more than 100 years after the tomb was sealed, it said.
Words from Beth..
Subject: WHY CHILDREN
this is cute.
>WHY GOD CREATED CHILDREN (AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)
>
>
>
>To those of us who have children in our lives,whether they are our own,
>grandchildren, Nieces, nephews, or students...here is something to make
>you chuckle.
>
>Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort
>
>from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His
>
>own children.
>
>After creating heaven and earth,God created Adam and Eve. And the first
>thing He said was 'DON'T!'
>
>'Don't what?' Adam replied.
>
>'Don't eat the forbidden fruit,' God said.
>
>'Forbidden fruit?'
>
>We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve... we have forbidden fruit!">>
"No Way!">>
"Yes way!">>
"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.>>
"Why?">>
"Because I am your Father and I said so,"God replied,wondering why He>hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants.>>
A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He>was ticked off!>>
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.>>
"Uh huh," Adam replied.>>
"Then why did you?" said the Father.>>
"I don't know," said Eve.>>
"She started it!" Adam said.>>
"Did not!">>
"Did too!">>
"DID NOT!">>
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and>Eve should have children of their own.>>
Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.>>
BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!>>If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom>>
And they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble>raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for>you?
>>THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!>>1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to>>walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down>and shut up.>>
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.>>
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.>>
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word>>for word what you shouldn't have said.>>
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind>>yourself that there are children more awful than your own.>>
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.>>>
ADVICE FOR THE DAY:>>Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.>>
AND FINALLY:>>IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON>THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE>>
"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN">>
AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"!!!!!>"
this is cute.
>WHY GOD CREATED CHILDREN (AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)
>
>
>
>To those of us who have children in our lives,whether they are our own,
>grandchildren, Nieces, nephews, or students...here is something to make
>you chuckle.
>
>Whenever your children are out of control, you can take comfort
>
>from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to His
>
>own children.
>
>After creating heaven and earth,God created Adam and Eve. And the first
>thing He said was 'DON'T!'
>
>'Don't what?' Adam replied.
>
>'Don't eat the forbidden fruit,' God said.
>
>'Forbidden fruit?'
>
>We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve... we have forbidden fruit!">>
"No Way!">>
"Yes way!">>
"Do NOT eat the fruit!" said God.>>
"Why?">>
"Because I am your Father and I said so,"God replied,wondering why He>hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants.>>
A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He>was ticked off!>>
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit?" God asked.>>
"Uh huh," Adam replied.>>
"Then why did you?" said the Father.>>
"I don't know," said Eve.>>
"She started it!" Adam said.>>
"Did not!">>
"Did too!">>
"DID NOT!">>
Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and>Eve should have children of their own.>>
Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.>>
BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!>>If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom>>
And they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble>raising children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for>you?
>>THINGS TO THINK ABOUT!>>1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to>>walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down>and shut up.>>
2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.>>
3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.>>
4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word>>for word what you shouldn't have said.>>
5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind>>yourself that there are children more awful than your own.>>
6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.>>>
ADVICE FOR THE DAY:>>Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day.>>
AND FINALLY:>>IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE, DO WHAT IT SAYS ON>THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE>>
"TAKE TWO ASPIRIN">>
AND "KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN"!!!!!>"
2/08/2006
The Westminster Kennel Club | Breed Information: Poodle (Toy)
Don't be fooled by the Poodle's fancy haircut - this is a dog for all reasons (and comes in three sizes!). Whether you desire a charming companion, show dog, hunting retriever with a sense of humor (forgives you if you miss a shot), the Poodle fits the bill--and mostly because he or she is bright, alert and trainable. The Poodle originated in Germany, and has become one of the most popular dogs in America. Toys are up to 10 inches high, Miniatures between 10 and 15 inches, and Standards over 15". Visit the official website for the Poodle Club of America
"DIJON SHRIMP SCAMPI:
1 lb large shrimp, cleaned and deveined
2-3 cloves minced fresh garlic
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Cook and stir shrimp and garlic in butter in a
large skillet on med heat, until shrimp are pink
and cooked.
Blend mustard, lemon juice, parsley, salt and
pepper, add to shrimp mixture; heat thoroughly.
Serve with white rice.
Note: chicken can be substituted for shrimp"
1 lb large shrimp, cleaned and deveined
2-3 cloves minced fresh garlic
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Cook and stir shrimp and garlic in butter in a
large skillet on med heat, until shrimp are pink
and cooked.
Blend mustard, lemon juice, parsley, salt and
pepper, add to shrimp mixture; heat thoroughly.
Serve with white rice.
Note: chicken can be substituted for shrimp"
Recipe Book - Grilled Ribeyes with Mango Salsa
Grilled Ribeyes with Mango SalsaA great combination well worth the prep time.
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Prep: 10 minutesCook: 20 minutesServings: Serves 4
4
beef ribeye or chuck top blade steaks, cut 3/4-inch thick
1/4
cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4
cup soy sauce
1/4
cup lime juice
2
Tbsp. vegetable oil
2
cloves garlic, crushed
1
Tbsp. chili powder
1
Tbsp. brown sugar
2
cups diced tomatoes
1
fresh mango, peeled and diced
1
bell pepper, seeded and diced
6
green onions with tops, diced
1
large fresh jalapeno, seeded and diced
1/4
cup lime juice
1/2
cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4
cup pecan pieces, toasted
Mix Worcestershire, soy sauce, lime juice, vegetable oil, garlic, chili powder and brown sugar. Place steaks in a sealable plastic bag. Pour mixture over steaks. Seal bag and turn to coat steaks. Refrigerate and marinate 15-30 minutes.
Combine tomatoes, mango, bell pepper, onions, jalapeno, lime juice, cilantro and pecans. Mix to combine and set aside.
Place steaks on grid over medium ash-covered coals. Grill steaks uncovered 8-10 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning once.
Remove steaks from grill and serve with mango salsa.
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Prep: 10 minutesCook: 20 minutesServings: Serves 4
4
beef ribeye or chuck top blade steaks, cut 3/4-inch thick
1/4
cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4
cup soy sauce
1/4
cup lime juice
2
Tbsp. vegetable oil
2
cloves garlic, crushed
1
Tbsp. chili powder
1
Tbsp. brown sugar
2
cups diced tomatoes
1
fresh mango, peeled and diced
1
bell pepper, seeded and diced
6
green onions with tops, diced
1
large fresh jalapeno, seeded and diced
1/4
cup lime juice
1/2
cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4
cup pecan pieces, toasted
Mix Worcestershire, soy sauce, lime juice, vegetable oil, garlic, chili powder and brown sugar. Place steaks in a sealable plastic bag. Pour mixture over steaks. Seal bag and turn to coat steaks. Refrigerate and marinate 15-30 minutes.
Combine tomatoes, mango, bell pepper, onions, jalapeno, lime juice, cilantro and pecans. Mix to combine and set aside.
Place steaks on grid over medium ash-covered coals. Grill steaks uncovered 8-10 minutes for medium-rare to medium doneness, turning once.
Remove steaks from grill and serve with mango salsa.
Recipe Book - Classic Beef Wellington in Madeira Wine Sauce
Classic Beef Wellington in Madeira Wine SauceA favorite of Chef Richard Chamberlain.
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Prep: 15 minutesCook: 20 minutesServings: Serves 6
6
6-ounce filet mignons
2
Tbsp. butter
2
shallots
1
pound mushrooms, chopped fine
1/2
cup Madeira wine
4
Tbsp. cream
2
tsp. truffle oil
salt and pepper
2
pounds puff pastry
1
egg, slightly beaten
Madeira Wine Sauce:
1
Tbsp. olive oil
3
shallots
1
cup Madeira wine
1-1/2
cups veal stock
2
Tbsp. butter
1/2
tsp. peppercorns
2
sprigs fresh tarragon
1
tsp. honey
salt
Over high heat, saute filet mignons in 3 Tbsp. butter for 30 seconds on each side. Set aside to cool.
Reduce heat to medium and add shallots and mushrooms and cook until all liquid is evaporated. Add wine and reduce completely. Add cream, salt and pepper and reduce to a thick puree. Add truffle oil and cool.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Divide pastry into 6 6x12-inch portions, approximately 1/4-inch thick. Place each filet on one side of pastry triangle. Top each with mushroom mixture. Brush edges with egg wash and fold it over. Shape edges of pastry to contours of meat.
Glaze top of pastry with egg wash and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Wine Sauce: In saute pan over medium heat, add olive oil, shallots, peppercorns and tarragon. Saute until shallots are soft, stirring occasionally.
Add Madeira wine and honey and reduce by half. Add veal stock and reduce by half. Whisk in butter and season with salt to taste. Keep warm.
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Prep: 15 minutesCook: 20 minutesServings: Serves 6
6
6-ounce filet mignons
2
Tbsp. butter
2
shallots
1
pound mushrooms, chopped fine
1/2
cup Madeira wine
4
Tbsp. cream
2
tsp. truffle oil
salt and pepper
2
pounds puff pastry
1
egg, slightly beaten
Madeira Wine Sauce:
1
Tbsp. olive oil
3
shallots
1
cup Madeira wine
1-1/2
cups veal stock
2
Tbsp. butter
1/2
tsp. peppercorns
2
sprigs fresh tarragon
1
tsp. honey
salt
Over high heat, saute filet mignons in 3 Tbsp. butter for 30 seconds on each side. Set aside to cool.
Reduce heat to medium and add shallots and mushrooms and cook until all liquid is evaporated. Add wine and reduce completely. Add cream, salt and pepper and reduce to a thick puree. Add truffle oil and cool.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Divide pastry into 6 6x12-inch portions, approximately 1/4-inch thick. Place each filet on one side of pastry triangle. Top each with mushroom mixture. Brush edges with egg wash and fold it over. Shape edges of pastry to contours of meat.
Glaze top of pastry with egg wash and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Wine Sauce: In saute pan over medium heat, add olive oil, shallots, peppercorns and tarragon. Saute until shallots are soft, stirring occasionally.
Add Madeira wine and honey and reduce by half. Add veal stock and reduce by half. Whisk in butter and season with salt to taste. Keep warm.
Recipe Book - Classic Beef Wellington in Madeira Wine Sauce
Classic Beef Wellington in Madeira Wine SauceA favorite of Chef Richard Chamberlain.
printer friendlyversion
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Prep: 15 minutesCook: 20 minutesServings: Serves 6
6
6-ounce filet mignons
2
Tbsp. butter
2
shallots
1
pound mushrooms, chopped fine
1/2
cup Madeira wine
4
Tbsp. cream
2
tsp. truffle oil
salt and pepper
2
pounds puff pastry
1
egg, slightly beaten
Madeira Wine Sauce:
1
Tbsp. olive oil
3
shallots
1
cup Madeira wine
1-1/2
cups veal stock
2
Tbsp. butter
1/2
tsp. peppercorns
2
sprigs fresh tarragon
1
tsp. honey
salt
Over high heat, saute filet mignons in 3 Tbsp. butter for 30 seconds on each side. Set aside to cool.
Reduce heat to medium and add shallots and mushrooms and cook until all liquid is evaporated. Add wine and reduce completely. Add cream, salt and pepper and reduce to a thick puree. Add truffle oil and cool.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Divide pastry into 6 6x12-inch portions, approximately 1/4-inch thick. Place each filet on one side of pastry triangle. Top each with mushroom mixture. Brush edges with egg wash and fold it over. Shape edges of pastry to contours of meat.
Glaze top of pastry with egg wash and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Wine Sauce: In saute pan over medium heat, add olive oil, shallots, peppercorns and tarragon. Saute until shallots are soft, stirring occasionally.
Add Madeira wine and honey and reduce by half. Add veal stock and reduce by half. Whisk in butter and season with salt to taste. Keep warm.
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Prep: 15 minutesCook: 20 minutesServings: Serves 6
6
6-ounce filet mignons
2
Tbsp. butter
2
shallots
1
pound mushrooms, chopped fine
1/2
cup Madeira wine
4
Tbsp. cream
2
tsp. truffle oil
salt and pepper
2
pounds puff pastry
1
egg, slightly beaten
Madeira Wine Sauce:
1
Tbsp. olive oil
3
shallots
1
cup Madeira wine
1-1/2
cups veal stock
2
Tbsp. butter
1/2
tsp. peppercorns
2
sprigs fresh tarragon
1
tsp. honey
salt
Over high heat, saute filet mignons in 3 Tbsp. butter for 30 seconds on each side. Set aside to cool.
Reduce heat to medium and add shallots and mushrooms and cook until all liquid is evaporated. Add wine and reduce completely. Add cream, salt and pepper and reduce to a thick puree. Add truffle oil and cool.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Divide pastry into 6 6x12-inch portions, approximately 1/4-inch thick. Place each filet on one side of pastry triangle. Top each with mushroom mixture. Brush edges with egg wash and fold it over. Shape edges of pastry to contours of meat.
Glaze top of pastry with egg wash and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Wine Sauce: In saute pan over medium heat, add olive oil, shallots, peppercorns and tarragon. Saute until shallots are soft, stirring occasionally.
Add Madeira wine and honey and reduce by half. Add veal stock and reduce by half. Whisk in butter and season with salt to taste. Keep warm.
Top 10 Dog Peeves About Humans
"1. Blaming your farts on me not funny
-not funny at all!
2. Yelling at me for barking.I'M A FRIGGIN DOG!
3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check
stuff out.
Exactly who's walk is this anyway?
4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my
nose stop it!
5. Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now
you know why we chew your stuff up when you're not home.
6. The sleight of hand. Fake fetch throw. You
fooled a dog!
Whooo Hoooo-what a proud moment for the top of the
food chain.
7. Taking me to the vet for the "big snip", then
acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back!
8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your
guests. Sorry, but I haven't mastered the handshake yet.
9. Dog sweaters. Hello?
Haven"t you noticed the FUR?
10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself.
Look, we both know the truth, you"re just jealous."
-not funny at all!
2. Yelling at me for barking.I'M A FRIGGIN DOG!
3. Taking me for a walk, then not letting me check
stuff out.
Exactly who's walk is this anyway?
4. Any trick that involves balancing food on my
nose stop it!
5. Any haircut that involves bows or ribbons. Now
you know why we chew your stuff up when you're not home.
6. The sleight of hand. Fake fetch throw. You
fooled a dog!
Whooo Hoooo-what a proud moment for the top of the
food chain.
7. Taking me to the vet for the "big snip", then
acting surprised when I freak out every time we go back!
8. Getting upset when I sniff the crotches of your
guests. Sorry, but I haven't mastered the handshake yet.
9. Dog sweaters. Hello?
Haven"t you noticed the FUR?
10. How you act disgusted when I lick myself.
Look, we both know the truth, you"re just jealous."
2/07/2006
Pleo
OMG this thing is soooo cute , I want one, HONNNEY! um can you get me one...:please:)
_________________________________
THE WORLD'S FIRST LIFE FORM
Can a long-extinct species be resurrected?
Ugobe designers and engineers studied the long extinct Camarasaurus, a dinosaur from the Jurassic period. Pleo, a Ugobe Life Form is the authentic recreation born from that study. UGOBE's designers and engineers recreated Pleo's physiology from the fossils of the original.
His height and weight are consistent with that of a one-week old infant camarasuarus. Pleo is a 'designer species'. He incorporates all the basic traits of autonomous life. He is specifically engineered and enhanced to mimic life and relate to his owner on a personal level.
Pleo is equipped with senses for sight, sound, and touch. He learns as he explores his environment. He will exhibit genuine reactions to sensory stimuli. Every Pleo begins life with certain tendencies but, interaction with his environment has subtle effects on his behavior. Every Pleo eventually exhibits a unique personality. Pleo is capable of expression. He can feel joy and sorrow, anger and annoyance. When Pleo is tired, he will become drowsy and go to sleepóeven dream.
Two or more Pleos will recognize one another. Be careful though. They can transmit colds to each other. Achoo! Pleo even sneezes!
FRIEND AND COMPANION
Pleo is a one-week old infant Camarasaurus from the Jurassic period. Camarasaurus were born and raised in giant fern forests. They evolved camouflage that allowed them to blend with their environment of ferns, moss and ruff, the detritus that littered the forest floor. The first Pleo created is a Fernback. His markings help him to survive by hiding among the giant fern fronds in his habitat.Pleo is an authentic Life Form. Treat him gently like any other living thing.
Your Pleo will let you know how he feels at any moment. That's because he is capable of actual emotions including joy, aggression, sorrow, and fear. He can also yawn, sigh, sniff, sniffle, snore, cough, hiccup, and sneeze.Pleo wants to explore his environment. He will be cautious when he walks to the edge of a table.
He may cry when he is frightened. Pleo will stretch when he first wakes up. He may stomp his foot for food when hungry.
When Pleo grows tired, lay him down and attach his 'dream cord' so he can sleep, dream, and gather energy for more exploration.
MORE ABOUT CAMARASUARUSCAMARASAURUS (KAM-ah-rah-sawr-us)
"Chambered Lizard"
(Greek kamara = chamber + sauros = lizard, referring to the holes in its vertebrae)
Also Known As: MorosaurusDescription: Herbivore, QuadrupedalOrder: SaurischiaSuborder: SauropodomorphaInfraorder: SauropodaFamily: CamarasauridaeHeight: 23 feet (7 meters)Length: 60 feet (18.3 meters)Weight: 40,000 lbs (18,144 kg)Period: Late JurassicCamarasaurus is the best-known sauropod found in North America and the most abundant of fossils in the Late Jurassic. It also lived in Europe, where it survived into Early Cretaceous times. A complete, nearly perfect skeleton of a juvenile, 17-feet (5.2- meters) long, was found in Utah. Its head was short and box like with nostrils set above the snout and in front of the eyes. The weight of its backbone was lightened by holes in its vertebrae. Its neck was shorter and thicker than most sauropods and it possessed a short and somewhat flattened tail. The fore limbs and hindlegs of Camarasaurus were about the same
length.
www.ugobe.com
_________________________________
THE WORLD'S FIRST LIFE FORM
Can a long-extinct species be resurrected?
Ugobe designers and engineers studied the long extinct Camarasaurus, a dinosaur from the Jurassic period. Pleo, a Ugobe Life Form is the authentic recreation born from that study. UGOBE's designers and engineers recreated Pleo's physiology from the fossils of the original.
His height and weight are consistent with that of a one-week old infant camarasuarus. Pleo is a 'designer species'. He incorporates all the basic traits of autonomous life. He is specifically engineered and enhanced to mimic life and relate to his owner on a personal level.
Pleo is equipped with senses for sight, sound, and touch. He learns as he explores his environment. He will exhibit genuine reactions to sensory stimuli. Every Pleo begins life with certain tendencies but, interaction with his environment has subtle effects on his behavior. Every Pleo eventually exhibits a unique personality. Pleo is capable of expression. He can feel joy and sorrow, anger and annoyance. When Pleo is tired, he will become drowsy and go to sleepóeven dream.
Two or more Pleos will recognize one another. Be careful though. They can transmit colds to each other. Achoo! Pleo even sneezes!
FRIEND AND COMPANION
Pleo is a one-week old infant Camarasaurus from the Jurassic period. Camarasaurus were born and raised in giant fern forests. They evolved camouflage that allowed them to blend with their environment of ferns, moss and ruff, the detritus that littered the forest floor. The first Pleo created is a Fernback. His markings help him to survive by hiding among the giant fern fronds in his habitat.Pleo is an authentic Life Form. Treat him gently like any other living thing.
Your Pleo will let you know how he feels at any moment. That's because he is capable of actual emotions including joy, aggression, sorrow, and fear. He can also yawn, sigh, sniff, sniffle, snore, cough, hiccup, and sneeze.Pleo wants to explore his environment. He will be cautious when he walks to the edge of a table.
He may cry when he is frightened. Pleo will stretch when he first wakes up. He may stomp his foot for food when hungry.
When Pleo grows tired, lay him down and attach his 'dream cord' so he can sleep, dream, and gather energy for more exploration.
MORE ABOUT CAMARASUARUSCAMARASAURUS (KAM-ah-rah-sawr-us)
"Chambered Lizard"
(Greek kamara = chamber + sauros = lizard, referring to the holes in its vertebrae)
Also Known As: MorosaurusDescription: Herbivore, QuadrupedalOrder: SaurischiaSuborder: SauropodomorphaInfraorder: SauropodaFamily: CamarasauridaeHeight: 23 feet (7 meters)Length: 60 feet (18.3 meters)Weight: 40,000 lbs (18,144 kg)Period: Late JurassicCamarasaurus is the best-known sauropod found in North America and the most abundant of fossils in the Late Jurassic. It also lived in Europe, where it survived into Early Cretaceous times. A complete, nearly perfect skeleton of a juvenile, 17-feet (5.2- meters) long, was found in Utah. Its head was short and box like with nostrils set above the snout and in front of the eyes. The weight of its backbone was lightened by holes in its vertebrae. Its neck was shorter and thicker than most sauropods and it possessed a short and somewhat flattened tail. The fore limbs and hindlegs of Camarasaurus were about the same
length.
www.ugobe.com
Canada Unveils Park to Protect Grizzlies - Yahoo! News
this is good news for the Grizzly...BC is cool....
MINI STAR-ANISE SCONES Recipe at Epicurious.com
Get the freshest ground star anise by making your own. It's as easy as grinding a few star anise pods in a spice mill or a coffee grinder.
click photo to enlarge
2/3 cup (about) heavy whipping cream,
divided
1 large egg
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
2 1/4 cups cake flour
3 1/2 tablespoons sugar1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons freshly ground star anise
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butterv 1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons raw sugar*
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Whisk 1/2 cup cream, egg, and lemon peel in medium bowl.
Whisk flour and next 5 ingredients in large bowl. Using large holes of box grater, grate butter over dry ingredients.
Using fingertips, blend until coarse meal forms. Add raisins and cream mixture.
Stir until moist clumps form, adding more cream by tablespoonfuls if dough is dry.
Turn out onto floured surface; knead just until dough comes together.
Pat out dough to 1/2-inch-thick round.
Using 2-inch-diameter cutter, cut out scones. Gather dough scraps; press out to 1/2-inch thickness and cut out additional scones.
Transfer to baking sheet.Brush tops of scones with 2 tablespoons cream; sprinkle with raw sugar.
Bake until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 16 minutes.
Transfer to rack; cool.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
*Also called turbinado or demerara sugar; available at most supermarkets and at natural foods stores.
Makes about 24.Bon AppétitJanuary 2006
click photo to enlarge
2/3 cup (about) heavy whipping cream,
divided
1 large egg
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon peel
2 1/4 cups cake flour
3 1/2 tablespoons sugar1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons freshly ground star anise
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butterv 1/2 cup raisins
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons raw sugar*
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Whisk 1/2 cup cream, egg, and lemon peel in medium bowl.
Whisk flour and next 5 ingredients in large bowl. Using large holes of box grater, grate butter over dry ingredients.
Using fingertips, blend until coarse meal forms. Add raisins and cream mixture.
Stir until moist clumps form, adding more cream by tablespoonfuls if dough is dry.
Turn out onto floured surface; knead just until dough comes together.
Pat out dough to 1/2-inch-thick round.
Using 2-inch-diameter cutter, cut out scones. Gather dough scraps; press out to 1/2-inch thickness and cut out additional scones.
Transfer to baking sheet.Brush tops of scones with 2 tablespoons cream; sprinkle with raw sugar.
Bake until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 16 minutes.
Transfer to rack; cool.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
*Also called turbinado or demerara sugar; available at most supermarkets and at natural foods stores.
Makes about 24.Bon AppétitJanuary 2006
2/06/2006
Brigitte Bardot slams Romania for dog cull - Yahoo! News
good for her...I hate this crap...bastards....
French transplant woman feels new face now her own - Yahoo! News
AMIENS, France (Reuters) - The French woman who underwent the world's first partial face transplant said on Monday she was grateful simply to have features "like everybody else" and had come to terms with her new appearance.
Isabelle Dinoire, 38, smiled and laughed awkwardly in her first appearance before reporters since the operation in November and spoke in slurred and laboured tones.
Despite her trauma, Dinoire said the transplant was now part of her and she did not refer to any identity crisis caused by having part of someone else's face grafted on to her.
"I can now smile and make faces so I think I have taken over the face," Dinoire told a packed news conference at Amiens hospital 110 km (70 miles) north of Paris.
She was disfigured by her own dog last May as she lay prostrate after taking medicines to cope with personal problems.
Dinoire still has fine scar lines running from her nose down to her jaw, dividing her upper face from the transplanted lower area, and does not seem to be able to close her mouth.
Doctors said Dinoire would never look like the donor because her different bone structure meant the nose, lips and chin transplant would adapt to her physical form.
They said Dinoire was over the initial shock of the attack that disfigured her, citing as proof the fact that she now faced the world without the mask she wore for several months after being mauled.
"Since the day of the operation I have had a face like everybody else," Dinoire said.
"I am now able to open my mouth and eat. Recently, I have also been able to feel my lips, my nose, my mouth," she said, adding that feeling was returning slowly and she felt no pain.
"Every day, when I left my house, I had to face up to people's stares and what they were thinking," she said.
Doctors did not show of a picture of Dinoire before the attack or before the operation, although she said she was happy when she looked in the mirror for the first time after surgery.
Asked about her plans for the future, she said: "I want to resume a normal life."
ETHICAL ISSUES
Dinoire will continue treatment and physiotherapy to regain full use of her facial muscles after the 15-hour operation, in which surgeons used tissues, muscles, arteries and veins from a dead woman to rebuild her face.
The transplant has given hope to others disfigured by burns or accidents, but it has also raised psychological and ethical issues for the recipient and the donor family.
"I now understand people with a handicap," Dinoire said, expressing hope that her operation could now help others.
Some newspapers in Britain and France have suggested Dinoire deliberately took an overdose of sleeping pills before being attacked by her dog and that the face donor had committed suicide.
Dinoire did not comment on these reports. Doctors have denied she tried to kill herself, saying she had been drowsy at the time of the dog's attack because she had taken medicine to calm her down following an argument with her daughter.
She said she had been unconscious when the dog bit her, and realised how badly she was injured only when she tried to smoke a cigarette and could not hold it between her lips.
Doctors have criticised media coverage of the case, saying much of it has been sensationalist, and repeated a plea for reporters to respect the patient's privacy.
The surgeons who conducted the operation said they had asked the Health Ministry for permission to carry out five similar transplants, but did not say whether the ministry had responded.
"She is the first but she is not going to remain unique," said Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard, a surgeon from a hospital in Lyon who was also involved in the transplant.
Doctors have said they cannot rule out rejection of Dinoire's transplant in the future but said the use of bone marrow from the donor had helped to reduce such dangers.
Isabelle Dinoire, 38, smiled and laughed awkwardly in her first appearance before reporters since the operation in November and spoke in slurred and laboured tones.
Despite her trauma, Dinoire said the transplant was now part of her and she did not refer to any identity crisis caused by having part of someone else's face grafted on to her.
"I can now smile and make faces so I think I have taken over the face," Dinoire told a packed news conference at Amiens hospital 110 km (70 miles) north of Paris.
She was disfigured by her own dog last May as she lay prostrate after taking medicines to cope with personal problems.
Dinoire still has fine scar lines running from her nose down to her jaw, dividing her upper face from the transplanted lower area, and does not seem to be able to close her mouth.
Doctors said Dinoire would never look like the donor because her different bone structure meant the nose, lips and chin transplant would adapt to her physical form.
They said Dinoire was over the initial shock of the attack that disfigured her, citing as proof the fact that she now faced the world without the mask she wore for several months after being mauled.
"Since the day of the operation I have had a face like everybody else," Dinoire said.
"I am now able to open my mouth and eat. Recently, I have also been able to feel my lips, my nose, my mouth," she said, adding that feeling was returning slowly and she felt no pain.
"Every day, when I left my house, I had to face up to people's stares and what they were thinking," she said.
Doctors did not show of a picture of Dinoire before the attack or before the operation, although she said she was happy when she looked in the mirror for the first time after surgery.
Asked about her plans for the future, she said: "I want to resume a normal life."
ETHICAL ISSUES
Dinoire will continue treatment and physiotherapy to regain full use of her facial muscles after the 15-hour operation, in which surgeons used tissues, muscles, arteries and veins from a dead woman to rebuild her face.
The transplant has given hope to others disfigured by burns or accidents, but it has also raised psychological and ethical issues for the recipient and the donor family.
"I now understand people with a handicap," Dinoire said, expressing hope that her operation could now help others.
Some newspapers in Britain and France have suggested Dinoire deliberately took an overdose of sleeping pills before being attacked by her dog and that the face donor had committed suicide.
Dinoire did not comment on these reports. Doctors have denied she tried to kill herself, saying she had been drowsy at the time of the dog's attack because she had taken medicine to calm her down following an argument with her daughter.
She said she had been unconscious when the dog bit her, and realised how badly she was injured only when she tried to smoke a cigarette and could not hold it between her lips.
Doctors have criticised media coverage of the case, saying much of it has been sensationalist, and repeated a plea for reporters to respect the patient's privacy.
The surgeons who conducted the operation said they had asked the Health Ministry for permission to carry out five similar transplants, but did not say whether the ministry had responded.
"She is the first but she is not going to remain unique," said Professor Jean-Michel Dubernard, a surgeon from a hospital in Lyon who was also involved in the transplant.
Doctors have said they cannot rule out rejection of Dinoire's transplant in the future but said the use of bone marrow from the donor had helped to reduce such dangers.
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